Although  this  Speech  could  hardly  be  con-
sidered in  any  other  light  than  as  a  declara-
tion of  war,  M.  de  Chateaubriand  gave  a  curi-
ous specimen  of  diplomacy,  by  directing  the
French  Charge  d*  Affaires,  «*  when  he  communi-

vol.  i.  *  r  6


252

"  cated  it  to  Mr.  Canning,  to  accompany  the
"  communication  by  a  more  profuse  expression
ft  of  the  desires  of  the  French  Government  for
"  accommodation,  and  by  a  more  profuse  de-
"  claration  of  their  wishes  for  the  good  services
*•'  of  the  British  Government  in  producing  that
"  accommodation,  than  had  ever  been  made
"  by  them  at  any  previous  period  of  the  trans-
"  actions."

This  might  have  been  a  clever  expedient ;
but  it  certainly  did  not  deceive  Mr.  Canning,
who  saw  through  its  nature.  The  speech  was
made  with  a  view  to  satisfy  the  violent  war
party  in  France,  who  certainly  composed  the
great  majority  of  the  Chambers.  The  profes-
sions of  a  desire  for  peace  seemed  evidently
made,  not  because  any  sincere  wish  to  perserve
it  was  entertained,  or  any  real  hope  of  it  was
cherished,  but  from  the  fear  that  a  speech  so
singularly  violent  might  excite  to  an  hostile  de-
monstration the  British  Government.
