XXIV. BOOK cluding within its limits the strong and important fortress of Oczakow. This being peremptorily refused, the empress broke off the conference, and determined to prosecute the war. 1791. On the 28th of March, 1791, Mr. Pitt delivered a message to the house of commons from his majesty, importing, "that the endeavours which he had used in conjunction with his allies to effect a pacification not having proved successful, his majesty judged it requisite, in order to add weight to his representations, to make some further augmentation of his naval force." And this message being taken into consideration, Mr. Pitt enlarged much on the necessity of attending to the preservation of the balance of power in Europe. "The influ ence of the Turkish empire (he said) was of great effect in the general scale. Its present situation was such as to afford just cause of apprehension to other powers and to PRUSSIA in particular it must be highly injurious to suffer the Turkish empire to be diminished in force and consequence. He therefore moyed an address, assuring his majesty that his faithful commons would make good such expenses as may be found necessary." This address was opposed with the whole strength and energy of the opposition. Formidable Mr. Fox said, "the right honorable mover of opposition in partia the address had enveloped himself in mystery and ment, and consequent importance, but explained nothing. When the XXIV. 1791. retractation balance of power was mentioned as a reason for BOOK arming, it ought to be shewn how it was endangered. We had no quarrel with the empress of Russia: we had no alliance with Turkey. But of Mr. Pitt. by the absurd pride of interfering in the affairs of every sovereign state, we involved ourselves in continual expense, and were exposed to the perpetual hazard of war. It was to second the ambitious policy of Prussia, and not for any interests of our own, that we were now called upon to arm. The czarina, it was well known, had offered to give up all her conquests but a barren district, unprofitable and worthless except for a single place contained in it, which place was Oczakow. But would any one seriously pretend that the balance of Europe depended upon the trivial circumstance, whether Oczakow should in future belong to the empire of Russia or of Turkey? That this was even with ministers themselves a novel idea was plain; for Oczakow had been taken in 1788, and in 1789 his majesty had assured the parliament and the nation, that the situation of affairs was such as promised us a continuance of peace."-The question was at length carried in favor of the address by 228 to 135 voices. The prospect of a war with Russia, on these frivolous grounds, gave more dissatisfaction to the public at large than any measure of Mr. Pitt's administration. And on the 12th of April Mr. XXIV. 1791. BOOK Grey moved, and supported with a very extensive display of knowledge and political ability, a series of resolutions expressive of the impolicy and inexpediency of this measure. On the part of the ministry the importance of Oczakow was magnified to a most ridiculous excess. It was styled the key of Constantinople, whence it led to the acquisition of Alexandria and the Lower Egypt. The success of the ministry in former negotiations was ostentatiously dwelt upon, and the confidence of the house challenged in terms unusually strong and pointed. Mr. Sheridan with sarcastic keenness asked the minister, "on what: basis this confidence was to rest? Did he recollect the different prospect to which we had been directed to turn our eyes in this year? Did he recollect that this was the promised millennium, that halcyon year in which we had been flattered, instead of fresh burdens, with a reduction of expense, and a clear surplus for the extinction of the public debt? The system we had adopted in concert with Prussia was (he said) a system of ambition, of vain glory, and of intrigue, and it had fastened upon us a concern above all others pernicious-that of English interference in German politics. As to the doctrine of confidence in ministers, he totally abjured it. The more constitutional doctrine was that of suspicion and watchfulness. The minister had in XXIV. 1791. deed risen wonderfully in his demands. He re- BOOK collected the time when he had contented himself with asking only for a guarded and rational confidence. He then advanced to the pitch of a firm and steady confidence: and it was at last grown to a blind and implicit confidence. And it appeared that the degree of confidence required rose in an exact ratio to the absurdity of the measure to be adopted." On the division, the effect of the extreme unpopularity of the war without doors, and the ability with which it was exposed and ridiculed within, strikingly appeared, the numbers being 179 ayes to 259 noes. To enter into a war in the face of such a minority was wholly impossible. The point in dispute was instantly and wisely given up by the ministers; Oczakow and its district remained with Russia; and in the course of the ensuing summer (August 1791) peace was concluded and signed at Calatz in the vicinity of Jassi, between the two empires. While that formidable armament was fitting out in the English ports, which was designed to force the empress to a peace with the Turks, the prince of Nassau presented to her a project said to be suggested by a Frenchman, M. de St. Genie, for marching an army through Bocara to Cashmire, and thence to India, in order to expel the English from the continent of Asia. This design, so consonant to the lofty genius and enterprising ambition of the em BOOK press, was received by her with visible marks of XXIV. 1791. State of affairs in France. approbation, but she contented herself with ob serving, in reference to the hostile disposition displayed by the British minister; "C'est un ministre de preparatifs, qui ne vient à bout de rien." When in danger of an attack from Sweden, incited by England and Prussia, while her armies were gaining victories on the Danube, she said scornfully to the English ambassador at her court: "Since the king your master is determined to drive me from Petersburgh, I hope he will permit me to retire to Constantinople."* The session of parliament terminated June 10, 1791, his majesty expressing his perfect satisfaction at the zeal with which the two houses had applied themselves to the consideration of the different objects which he had recommended to their attention. The state of affairs in France, though passed over in total and discreet silence in the speech, was now become very critical. That once popular minister M. Necker, finding his measures thwarted and opposed by the more popular leaders of the Assembly, and equally destitute of the confidence of the court, had sent in his resignation September 1790, and was suffered to retire without one expression of public regret-such is the caprice and inconstancy of the people! Previous TOUKE's Life of Catherine II. |