Such was also the aim of Mr.
Wickham's note. _Such is still, that of the notices given at
this time in the English papers_.
This aim will appear evident, if we reflect how difficult it is
that the ambitious government of England should sincerely wish
for a, peace that would _snatch from it its maritime
preponderancy, would reestablish the freedom of the seas, would
give a new impulse to the Spanish, Dutch, and French marines_,
and would carry to the highest degree of prosperity the industry
and commerce of those nations in, which it has always found
_rivals_, and which it has considered as _enemies_ of its
commerce, when they were tired of being its _dupes_.
"_But there will no longer be any credit given to the pacific
intentions of the English ministry when it is known that its
gold and its intrigues, its open practices and its insinuations,
besiege more than ever the Cabinet of Vienna, and are one of the
principal obstacles to the negotiation which, that Cabinet would
of itself be induced to enter on for peace_.
"They will no longer _be credited_, finally, when the moment of
the rumor of these overtures being circulated is considered.
_The English nation supports impatiently the continuance of the
war; a reply must be made to its complaints, its reproaches_:
the Parliament is about to reopen, its sittings; the mouths of
the orators who will declaim against the war must be shut, the
demand of new taxes must be justified; and to obtain these
results, it is necessary to be enabled to advance, that the
French government refuses every reasonable proposition of
peace.
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