The National Register. — London, England, 1812-07-26 00:00:00

4.i0 NNW against us, NAPOLEON endeavoured to obtain an Ally, still more serviceable in the present state of affairs in the Peninsula, the Prince of BRAZILS. It is not generally known, but we have received the information from a respectable quarter. that the agents of France communicated to the go vernnient of Rio Janeiro, the terms proposed to England i the basis of negociations for p eace, about the same time 'they vivre sent to this count, y. It will be recollected that in I These, NAPOLEON artfully offered to confirm the House of BRAGANZA in the possession and sovereignty of Portugal. This was a deep laid snare ; for, conscious that his overtures could not fail to be rejected. he caused it to be rell t esented to the Court of Rio as;tteo, that if we did not agree to his proposals, we were doing the Prince of BRAZILS an injustice, and compelling him both to waste the lives of his subjects, and the revenue of his European kingdom, and to remain an exile fiom his country, for British objects, and not in the cause of Portugal, which France was ready to restore and secure to its lawful sovereign. These representations, joined to the information, perhaps equally unfounded, that 3% Portuguese vessels bad been captured by our cruisers on the coast of Africa, produced seine effect on the minds of the people of Brazils. " Such", it is said, in letters, from Rio Janeiro, " was the displeasure of the Portuguese at Bahia, that they, rather unceremoniously. turned their English lodgers into the streets. A British frigate, which had ap peared off that port. was sent to by the Governor, to desire that none of the crew would land, lest they should be in sulted or maltreated by the mob ; but it was added, that if they did, it would be necessary, for the security of their per sons, to appoint a guard to attend them. The frigate, it is said, stood out to sea." We trust, however, that the good sense of the Portuguese Government never suffered itself to be blinded by these artful misrepresentations ; and that they remain fully convinced that BCONAPARTIS only view wa., to obtain the evacuation of the Peninsula by our troops, in order to secure its full possession either to himself or to.his brother. Had we ac cepted his terms and withdrawn our soldiers. instead of re tatting his armies, he would have put them in the pay of JOSEPH, and merely changed their denomination. . Whilst contemplating the unprincipled invasion of the Peninsula, and the atrocious ravages committed by the French in that country, once the seat of high chivalric boom' r, then of indolence and effeminacy, and now of burning vengeance and activity—W hilst viewing the invaders now flying before the Britisii oayonets, or falling beneath the sword of the Guerillas, loaded with execration and di.grace, who could think it pos . sible that the companions in arms of these cruel and discom fited oppressors, but lately recalled from Spain, which they cursed with their rapine and excesses, should now he ex tolled in another part of Europe, as the deliverers of nations. the friends and warriors of freedom! t such is the protean power of ambition and its agents, that to obtain their ends,they sometimes assume a fair shape, and even perform services to humanity, which men, blinded by gratitude, ascribe to motives of pure benevolence. Of such a description is the present act of NAPOLEON. The destroyer of Holland as a republic and a kingdom, of the independent states of Italy, the lawless ifivaderpain and Portugal, is now the restorer of Poland? Thiaiigdom, which sunk under the unprin cipled.amhition of its powerful neighbours, and disappeared from the map of Europe; this kingdom, wrenched in three• successive campaigns from th*hands of its spoilers, now rises from its grave sih lace 'among the nations. =• Yet Os! Po /4!!, A 11 - de to NAPOLEON. Not for them '7 - • .'i has be revived their JULY (26. national existence. The reestablishment of Poland was necessary to him, to dazzle Europe and assist in the destruc tion of Russia; but bow little his heart was interested in the restoration of that kingdom may be gatheied from the olTer he made in his late negociations with Russia, to bind himself never to support the Poles in any attempt to recover their ancient territory and constitution, if the conces•ions he pre ' posed were made. Let the Poles reruse BAss A NO . S letters, and the ardour of their gratitude will cool. Let them con sider that the blessing of national exil:tence must be pur. chased at the price of their national freedom, and the tumult uous transports of their joy will subside. Resolved "to annihilate the Russian power, N 0 LEO": has not attacked it only with the sword ; he has wielded against lit the still more powei ftil weapon of political intrigue. lie 1 has not only' drawn both Prussia and Austria to the field but be has contrived through the secret influence of his agents, to dissolve the treaty of peace betwden ALEXANDER and the Porte, which restored to the fut mei - , the use of i!'s best exercised and bravest veterans, against his western invaders. Directed by French counsels, the Gm and Signor has not only refused to ratify the treaty, but strangled and drowned those by whom it was approved, and depoqAl others, amongst the rest, the Mufti, who bad declared themselves in favour of peace. Such are the interesting features of the times; yet. in the midst of wars and revolutions, of kingdoms anniliiiated or restored, there is no country that presents so noble and gratifying a spectacle as the British Isles, secure amid the ceaseless vicissitudes that affect surrounding States, the seat of true liberty, and the avenger and supporter of injured nation 3. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. MR. MTERRELL. Mr. Robert M'Xerrell, whose evidence before age Coma mittee on the Orders in Council, has been represented Mr. Brougham as so disgusting as to be expunged from the minutes, has published his correspoidence with that gentle man, in which he demands justice, for what he terms " as sertions so false and calumnious." Mr. Brougham abide' by his statement and announces his intention of applying tdie House of Commons in self-defence, should Mr. M'Eemi not desist from demanding reparation ; and the latter de clares that he has obtained a copy of the Fhort-hand writer's notes of his expunged evidence, which does not contain a word of that nature Mr. B. has asserted. Why then does he not publish it subjoins the following letter which he has received in consequence of Mr. B.'s statement. To Messrs. M'Kerrell, IVatling-street. You proud Scotch rascal, how dare you to make use of such an expression, to say, that oatmeal and water was good enough for an Englishman ? Kilhug is no murder to rid society of a tyrant, au op pressor of grievances, and au unfeeling wretch lil, e yon. You Infernal, your fate is decreed ; and you shall soon be with that tormzntor lo the wicked, who is wait'ng with anxiety fur such damned brutes us 'on. I am one that can feel for the misfortunes of my count I men, and rehoe their distresses by sponging from the face of the earth a villain hi,. thee. " A POLD EN6I.ItIIIIAN." " 7o Mr. VlCerrell, who attended the Cothmittte in the House of Commons, wu the Orders in Conned." A very serious failure took place in the City, on tt anes. day morning. The banking-house of Messrs. KLNSINGTONt Srvart, and ADAMS, stopped payment. The failure is at tributed principally to its having accepted largely for a hour in the City, in the distillery line. A number of banks in. Scotland were connected 7evith this house; and it is haposs:• bit yet to ascertain how gtr the mischief will extend. 0