The events of
Europe coming to us in astonishing and rapid succession, to wit, the
public bankruptcy of England, Bonaparte's successes, the successes
on the Rhine, the Austrian peace, mutiny of the British fleet, Irish
insurrection, a demand of forty-three millions for the current services
of the year, and above all, the warning voice, as is said, of Mr. King,
to abandon all thought of connection with Great Britian, that she is
going down irrecoverably, and will sink us also, if we do not clear
ourselves, have brought over several to the pacific party, so as, at
present, to give majorities against all threatening measures. They go on
with frigates and fortifications, because they were going on with them
before. They direct eighty thousand of their militia to hold themselves
in readiness for service. But they reject the propositions to raise
cavalry, artillery, and a provisional army, and to trust private ships
with arms in the present combustible state of things. They believe the
present is the last campaign of Europe, and wish to rub through this
fragment of a year as they have through the four preceding ones,
opposing patience to insult, and interest to honor. They will,
therefore, immediately adjourn. This is indeed a most humiliating state
of things, but it commenced in 1793.
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