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2] ANNUAL REGISTER
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|tizen of the world will shed a tear, on the utter subversion of almost all the remaining monuments of public liberty; and tremble for the very few that yet continue.
The present violent dismemberment and partition of Poland, without the pretence of war, or even the colour of right, is to be considered as the first very great breach in modern political system of Europe. It is not (say the politicians of the continent) sapping by degrees the constitution of our great western republic, it is laying the axe at once to the root, in such a manner as threatens the total overthrow of the whole. Such is the condition of mankind, that we are ever in extremes, and when we have carried any one to its greatest extent of evil or folly, we fly back with equal violence to its opposite. The surprize of a town, the invasion of an insignificant province, or the election of a prince, who had neither abilities to be feared, nor virtues to be loved, would some years ago, have armed one half of Europe, and called for all the attention of the other. We now behold the destruction of a great kingdom, with the consequent disarrangement of power, dominion, and commerce, with as total an indifference and unconcern, as we could read an account of the exterminating one hord of Tartars by another, in the days of Genghizcan or Tamerlane.
The idea of considering Europe as a vast commonweather, of the several parts of being distinct as separate, though politically and commercially united, of keeping them independant, though unequal in power, and of preventing any one, by any means, from becoming too|
|powerful for the rest, was great and liberal, and though the result of barbarism, was founded upon the most enlarged principles of the wisest policy. It is owing to this system, that this small part of the western world as acquired so astonishing (and otherwise unaccountable) a superiority over the rest of the globe. The fortune and glory of Greece proceeded from a familiar system of policy, through formed upon a smaller scale. Both her fortune and glory expired along with the system.
Some of the most desart provinces in Asia, have been repeatedly the seats of arts, arms, commerce, and literature. These potent and civilized nations have repeatedly perished, for want of any union, or system of policy of this nature. Some Scythian, or other barbarian, has been suffered, unnoticed, to subdue his neighboring tribes; each new conquest was made an instrument to the succeeding, until at length become irresistible, he swept whole empires with their arts and sciences off the face of the earth. In the same manner a banditti, who were afterward called Romans, were suffered to accumulate power, until they had subdued the bravest and fiercest nations, and became the masters and destroyers of the best part of the world. Each state looked on with indifference, or enjoyed a malignant pleasure at the ruin of its neighbor, without reflecting that the weapons and power of which he was deprived, would be quickly employed to its own destruction.
It will not be denied, that the idea of supporting a ballance of power has in some cafes been carried to an extreme; that by artfully employ-|

For the YEAR 1772.

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|employing it to operate upon the passions and jealousies of mankind, it has been made an engine subservient to the designs of interested and ambitious persons, and has perhaps thereby, been productive of some innecessary wars. The same objections, with others, might be made to that glorious jealousy with respect to civil liberty, which has been the admiration and envy of all ages; which for the happiness of mankind should subsist in full vigour in every state in the world, and to their misfortune and punishment is scarcely alive in a few. Even that, the noblest quality of the human mind, has been productive of wars, and of other evils.
We are not to look for perfection in any thing that we are capable of understanding. All human regulations are intermixed with evil and error, and all that is in our power, is to adopt those which are the clearest from both. The same principles that make it incumbent upon the patriotic member of a republic, to watch with the strictest attention the motions and designs of his powerful fellow-citizens, should equally operate upon the different states in such a community as Europe, who are also the great members of a larger commonwealth. Wars, however it may be lamented, are inevitable in every state of human nature; they may be deferred, but they cannot be wholly avoided; and to purchase present quiet, at the price of future security, is undoubtedly a cowardice of the most degrading and basest nature.
We find, however, that it has been at all times the language of a voluptuous and frivolous age, that while a state is flourishing within itself, and suffers no immediate in-|
jury from others, it has no concern in the quarrels, interests, or misfortunes of its neighbours. At such a time, that selfishness which looks only to the present moment, becomes a fashion, if not the standard of policy; it is as painful then to look forward, as it is to those who have weak nerves to look down a precipice; treaties, alliances, and a common cause, are exploded, as matters which do not concern the present day; and all enlarged ideas, of general justice, of a political equality, and of remote, though certain consequences, are ridiculed as the dreams of lunaticks.
How far such a description, may be at present applicable to a considerable part of Europe, we shall not pretend to determine; in particular, how far the insular situation of Great-Britain, weakens the application of these general principles with regard to her, may be a question. It may not, however, be altogether an hazardous opinion, that a single man, cast out from the laws, the protection, and the commerce of his whole species, might in that solitary situation, with as rational and well-grounded a probability, propose to himself convenience and security, as any single state, in the present political and physical state of Europe, could expect independence and safety, unconnected with all the others.
The free states and cities of Germany, seem to be more immediately affected by the present extraordinary transaction, than any other part of Europe. Indeed if the partition of Poland takes place in its utmost extent, the existence of the Germanic body in its present form, for any length of time, will be a matter rather to be wished for than
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