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was how to embark the army with the greatest practicable security. Here wo modes presented themselves; the first arose from the local situation of the army, which left them in possession of the great sea dikes, as well as the interior dikes, and thus enabled them to lay the whole of North Holland under water; they had it also in their power to render the navigation of the Zuyder-zee impracticable. The other mode was, by negotiating with the enemy for leave to evacuate the country without molestation. But the former of these means, it was evident, should have been made subservient to the latter. The allies possessed infinite advantages in the ability to injure the enemy; and the voluntary resignation of such advantages justi fied the demand for some privilege or benefit in exchange. By the inundation, the country would be rendered useless and desolate for a considerable time; it was, therefore, most decidedly the interest of the French, who derived the sole advantage from its possession, to prevent, by almost any sacrifices, a measure so destructive. They had, independently of the injury which they would themselves sustain, by the loss of contributions and other resources, from the inundation, a farther and a stronger inducement, inasmuch as it was their interest to keep the people whom they held in subjugation in a state'

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of tranquillity, and nothing could tend more to inflame their minds against the French, than the knowledge that the great losses and inconveniences which they suffered from the inundation had arisen from the obstinacy of the French, in refusing to suffer the allies quietly to evacuate the country; and a free and unconditional evacuation, therefore, was what the English General had a right to command, and what it was the interest of the French General to allow. Such, however, was not the issue of the negotiation which the Duke of York opened with General Brune, through the medium of General Knox, on the 15th of October; and which, after some strange proposals from the French Commander, which he never expected to be admitted, was finally concluded, at Alkmaar, on the 18th of that month. By this convention, the allies obtained permission to evacuate the country on or before the 30th of November, on condition of releasing eight thousand French and Batavian prisoners, to be selected by the two governments, without exchange. The prisoners taken on both sides, during the campaign, were to be exchanged. The army embarked within the limited time; and thus terminated an expedition which had been planned under the most happy auspices, ⚫ which afforded, in its progress, many oppor

tunities for the display of British courage, but which ended in disappointment, if not (in respect only of the terms of the convention) in disgrace. The force employed was certainly inadequate to the attempt; and the period fixed upon for the execution of the plan was delayed greatly beyond that season when it was most likely, from a combination of various causes, to be productive of success.*

* The Dutch Colony of Surinam had, during these transactions, voluntarily surrendered itself, on the 20th of August, to a British force under Lord Hugh Seymour.

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French Affairs---Unconstitutional proceedings of the Directory ---They violate the Elective Franchise---Annul the returns of their Opponents in the two Councils---Propose to confiscate the Property of the transported Legislators--Manly speech of Rouchon on the Question---Charges the attempt with exceeding in cruelty the ferocious deeds of Heliogabalus and Nero---Defends the Exiles, on the ground that they had been condemned without Trial--Riot in the Council---Rouchon hooted out of the Hall--Proposal of the Directory adopted---False accusations of England by the Directory---Misrepresent the Battle of the Nile---They are hated by the People---Are all turned out of office, except Barras---The Abbè Sieyes one of the new Directory---Forms the plan of a new Revolution--Buonaparte's return to France entirely his own act--Strange conduct of the Directory towards him---Conference between Sieyes, Bounaparté, and Roederer--The Councils removed to Saint Cloud---The command of the armed force given to Buonaparté---Barras resigns his seat in the Directory---Infidelity of the Directorial Guard---Buonaparté enters the Council of Elders ---Is questioned as to his views---Reviles the Council-His speech---Remarks on it---He harangues the Troops, and excites them to revolt---Proceedings in the Council of Five Hundred---The members take a new oath of fidelity to the Constitution---Buonaparté enters their Hall---An universal clamour ensues---An attempt is made to stab him with a dagger---He is rescued by the Grenadiers---Conduct of Lucien Buonaparté, President of the VOL. VI.

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Council of Five Hundred---Speech of Tallot---The Members are expelled from their Hall by the Troops, with fixed bayonets---The Council of Elders declare themselves the entire Legislative Body---Memorable speech of Boulay de la Meurthe---The Constitution annihilated, and a Consular Government established---New oath administered to all Public Officers---Reflections on the constant violation of oaths by the French-Buonaparté made (by himself) First Consul---Meeting of the British Parliament ---Means taken for recruiting the Army---Supplies voted for Three Months---Parliament adjourned for the Holidays ---Buonaparte's Letter to the King, on the subject of Peace---Supposed object of it---Reasons for doubting the Consul's sincerity---Lord Grenville's answer---The Consul's reply---Talleyrand's falsehoods and contradictions 'confuted by the declarations of his Brother Patriots, Robespierre and Brissot---The subject discussed in Parliament---The Duke of Bedford and Lord Holland defend the First Consul, and arraign the British Ministry---Conduct of the Cabinet supported by Lord Grenville---Debates in the Commons---Address moved by Mr. Dundas---Opposed by Mr. Whitbread---Mr. Whitbread's errors corrected by Mr. Canning---Mr. Erskine condemns the conduct of Ministers---Mr. Pitt's speech-Confutes the arguments of Mr. Erskine Takes a comprehensive view of the question of aggression---Shews the arguments of Mr. Erskine to have been extracted from his pamphlet, which had been long since confuted---Mr. Pitt asserts the rigid neutrality of this Country towards France previous to the War---States the causes of the failure of the last negotiation---Considers the conduct of France to the Powers of the continent---Describes the ruling principles of the French Revolution---Delineates the Character and Conduct of Buonaparté---Proves the necessity of entering into his personal character in the present disscussion---That

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