BAVARIA. This country has undergone several very remarkable changes within the last fortyyears. The first of these political agitations, in point of time, and the greatest, perhaps, in point of general in terest (for, in those days, the European public were not accustomed to the making and unmaking of go vermnents), was the disputed succession in theyear 1778. It was occasioned by the extinction of the reigning branch, by the death of the Elector, on Slat December 1777. The right of succession, on the part of the collateral heir (the Palatine of the Rhine), admitted of no doubt ; but various fiefs, obtained at successive intervals by Bavaria, were of a nature to be considered in the light of Imperial property, on the failure of the direct line. This, however, was but a small part of the expected change--the House of Austria, having long cast an eager eye on a pro vince which lay so conveniently for annexation, and which had so often, by the influence of France proved a thorn in its side, was impatient to avail itself of this opportunity of obtaining possession of Bavaria. Little opposition was to be expect ed from France, the young king (Louis XVI.) being • married to a sister of the Emperor Joseph ; but a very different conduct was anticipated from Frederick II. This warlike sovereign, though now approach ing to his 70th year, came forward in support of the independence of Bavaria with all his characteristic decision ; and though unsupported by the heir of the late Elector, found means, by dint of military and di plomatic exertion, to induce the cabinet of Vienna to desist from the chief part of its ambitious pre tensions. Had England been so situated as to come forward with the appearance of efficient co-operation, the matter would have been speedily brought to issue ; but we were then embroiled with our Ameri can colonies, so that the object of the Prussian court was not attained without formidable arma ments, and a repetition of manoeuvres indicative of hostilities on a large scale. Fortunately, however, the remembrance of the seven years' war, the recol lection of the firm stand made by Prussia, and the disposition to resistance evinced by the smaller courts of Germany, had the effect of producing an adjust ment without bloodshed. The particulars of thib in
teresting episode in German history, are given at considerable length in a pamphlet lately published, under the title of M6moire Historigue de la Nego tiation en 1778, au suet de la Succession de la Be. vare.
From this time forward, Bavaria remained in pro found peace until the French Revolution roused Ger many to arms. The Elector, although pacifically dis posed, felt it necessary to join a cause embraced by Austria and England, and continued to let his con tingent fight along with the Imperialists, until the French found the means of making their way into the interior of the empire. His first departure from the alliance took place in 1796 (August), when Moreau advanced with a powerful assay to his capi tal, and concluded a treaty for a cessation of hosti lities, at a moment when the French were expected to invade the Austrian states in three different di rections. This time, however, the project of invasion failed, the armies being too much divided, and one of the generals (Jourdan) being ill qualified to meet a moment of emergency. The peace of Campo Formic) was concluded next year under circumstances that began to favour the influence of France in Germany, and particularly in Bavaria. This peace lasted hardly two years ; and, in the second war, Jourdan advanced once more (March 1799) to ex perience new defeats at the hand of the Austrians. This army bore the high-sounding name of Arm& de 1 'Execution de l'Empire, but its composition bore many marks of the corrupting influence of an interval of peace and bad government. Ba varia remained free from the presence of contend ing armies for somewhat more than a twelvemonth, until Moreau advanced at the head of a much more powerful and better appointed force. His operations were crowned by the decisive victory of Hohenlin• den, and the influence of France over the em pire too strongly confirmed by the peace ofLuneville.