collected together into a volume, and republished with the
title of 'Essays on His Own Times.' He was especially hostile to France,
and the best proof of the ability and vigor of his anti-Gallican
articles is that Napoleon actually sent a frigate in pursuit of him,
when he was returning from Leghorn to England, with the avowed intention
of getting him into his power if possible. The First Consul had
endeavored to get him arrested at Rome, but Coleridge got a friendly
hint--according to some from Jerome Bonaparte, and according to others
from the Pope, who assisted him in making his escape. Bonaparte had
probably gained intelligence of the whereabout of Coleridge from a
debate in the House of Commons, in the course of which Fox said that the
rupture of the Peace of Amiens was owing to Coleridge's articles in _The
Morning Post_, and added that the writer was then at Rome, and therefore
might possibly fall into the hands of his enemy. Napoleon was very much
irritated by the attacks upon him in _The Morning Chronicle_ as well as
by those in Cobbett's _Political Register_--_The Porcupine_ under a new
name--the _Courrier Francois de Londres_--the French _emigres'_
paper--and _L'Ambigu_, which was rather a political pamphlet, published
at periodical intervals, than a regular newspaper. He therefore thought
proper peremptorily to call upon the English Government to put these
papers down with a high hand. But the British cabinet sent this noble
reply:

'His Majesty neither can nor will in consequence of any
representation or menace from a foreign power make any concession
which may be in the smallest degree dangerous to the liberty of the
press as secured by the Constitution of this country. This liberty
is justly dear to every British subject; the Constitution admits of
no previous restraints upon publications of any description; but
there exist judicatures wholly independent of the executive,
capable of taking cognizance of such publications as the law deems
to be criminal; and which are bound to inflict the punishment the
delinquents may deserve. These judicatures may investigate and
punish not only libels against the Government and magistracy of
this kingdom, but, as has been repeatedly experienced, of
publications defamatory of those in whose hands the administration
of foreign Governments is placed. Our Government neither has, nor
wants, any other