Page:The Annual Register, or a view of the History, Politics and Literature for the year 1802.djvu/267

252 dent republic, and that their independence was guarantied by France, Helvetia, and the Italian republic.

Europe had now enjoyed peace for a few months since the treaty of Amiens, but the elements of fresh war had rekindedrekindled [sic] in Switzerland. We have seen that the smaller cantons decidedly rejected the constitution offered by France; and in Germany, the question of indemnities agitated violently the whole empire. France had, however, the address to convert the pacific dispositions of the emperor of Russia, into a most powerful instrument for dictating to the German empire. The plan of indemnities was drawn up in concert between the Russian and French ministers, and then presented to the empire with a force of mediation which appeared irresistible. Austria with great reluctance submitted to this coercive interference: she had lost far more in the war than any other power, and it was her rivals or enemies who obtained the greatest indemnification. Prussia had no moderation or decency, in demanding compensation for losses she alleged to have sustained. The power most favoured, however, in the indemnities was Bavaria; that state had certainly lost much in the Palatinate, but the indemnities allotted to it in the empire contained a population of nearly 1,000,000 of souls, which was a wonderful accession of power to his electoral highness. The grand duke of Tuscany, on the other hand, who had lost considerably more, and was promised to be fully compensated, had very inadequate indemnities assigned him. This evident partiality, in favour of those powers which France might expect, to make use of in future wars against the empire, was necessarily very revolting to the feelings of the emperor. He was obliged however finally to submit, but he submitted with dignity, and with such reluctance, that the mediating powers consented to enlarge the indemnities to his brother the late great duke of Tuscany.

At one period, however, during this long negotiation, it appeared as if war would have recommenced. The elector of Bavaria, who acted as the tool of France, endeavoured to seize, by force of arms, the city of Passau, which was assigned to him among his indemnities: the emperor, however, marched an army into it first, and threatened to oppose force by force. The mediating powers took fire at this decided conduct in Austria, but the emperor replied with firmness, that when the negotiation should be terminated, and had decided to whom the city of Passau was to belong, he was ready to yield it, but not before. When it is considered that, upon this occasion, France, Russia, Prussia, and Bavaria, were all leagued against the interests of Austria, it will appear surprising that the emperor should have acted with so much boldness; but, be that as it may, he certainly conducted himself with a great deal of firmness and resolution, and gained, if not much territory, at least, that esteem and respect which is always paid to those, who conduct themselves with dignity and spirit, under very difficult circumstances. His brother's indemnities were however somewhat increased, and with this modification he was