“Sir,—I observe in your
paper of yesterday a statement that the Allied Sovereigns are to issue from
Frankfort a declaration ‘that the people of France are at perfect
liberty to judge for themselves, that their territory shall be unviolated,
and their public institutions held sacred, and hostilities only to ensue if
they shall determine to submit to the authority of one
individual.’ (Buonaparte, whom
these sovereigns think proper to proscribe.) And this seems to be regarded as a
safe and happy expedient, by
| 230 | WILLIAM GODWIN |
“Now, sir, I beg to suggest, through the medium of your paper, that this is a refinement, rendering the interference of foreign powers in the internal affairs of a nation ten thousand times more intolerable and odious than if it were brought forward in any other form. They might issue a declaration in which they should state, beside the hereditary indefeasible right of the family of the Bourbons, that they are the choice of the whole French nation—that they have been expelled by an insignificant faction with arms in their hands, and that the Allies march accordingly to rescue thirty millions of men from an ignominious yoke, and to preserve them from being dragooned by a military despotism into subjection to a tyrant who is detestable in their eyes: and such a declaration, though containing many falsehoods, would be to a certain degree according to rule, and would undoubtedly be infinitely less insulting than the declaration your paragraph announces . . . .
“Why is this man selected as the individual they may not choose? The selection is not made at random: the name is not brought forward because the person is indifferent. He is named because the Allies find the greatest reason to fear that he will be the man of their choice, and that an infinite majority of the French people are eager to adhere to him. Never did a sovereign ascend the throne of any nation under such astonishing instances of general favour, as Buonaparte has just now ascended the throne of France. The Allies therefore say to the French people, Take any course you please, we promise not to interfere: only there is one course upon which your hearts appear to be set, and that we interdict you.
“Is it possible that such a declaration should not render Buonaparte infinitely more dear to the people of France than he ever could be before? Does it not show them their honour as bound up with him, and their independence and character as a nation, as invaded by a pretended attack upon him.
“How will the Allies say that the French shall rid
themselves
| SHELLEYS AT BINFIELD. | 231 |
