Lives of the British admirals - 1817 Author:John Campbell Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAP. IV. Naval History of Great Britain from the Commencement of the firit French Revolutionary War to the Peace of Amiens. are now about to enter on the ... more »narrative of the naval operations of a war unprecedented, in whatever respect we consider it, in the annals of mankind ; a war, out of which Britain extricated herself and the nations of Europe, in the most glorious and decisive manner. Before, however, we commence the narrative, it may be proper to premise some observations in the first place, on the causes and circumstances which gave rise to the French Revolution ; and, in the second place, on the causes and circumstances which involved Britain in hostilities with Revolutionary France. We are perfectly aware that we are entering on delicate and difficult ground, when we propose to treat of the causes and circumstances of the revolution of France. That event was so extraordinary in its first aspect and nature, and so tremendous in its consequences, that the mind is overwhelmed in contemplating it ; besides it is at all times and in all cases extremely difficult, if not absolutely impossible, satisfactorily and clearly to trace the causes of general and complete revolutionary movements in states : but in addition to these sources of difficulty and obscurity, with respect to the revolution of France, we must reflect that the passions and prejudices of men, led them to view it in such various lights, and to ascribe it to such various, and indeed opposite causes, that we need not be surprised if the true causes are still in a great degree obscure or unknown. For though the affairs of France and of Europe, it may be hoped, are now again settled into order and tranquillity, yet we are still too near the events of the revolution to view it with impartiality,calmness, and cle...« less