The National Register. — London, England, 1808-07-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL No. 30• Our Icing, fronOtituticin, anb Lan N. REGISTER. PRICE 84. SUNDAY, JULY 24, 1808. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. NUMBER TIIIRTY• .-.11M1DN.... PEACE WITH RUSSIA AND DENMARK-RESTI- TUTION OF TH3 DANISH FLEET. A great General, when he has obtained a considerable advantage o.:er the enemy, unremittingly pursues it. Not a moment's repose is granted ; but the pursuit continued from one strong position to another, till the enemy is to tally annihilated, or obliged to surrender at discretion. A great Statesman should act on the same principles. The glorious change which has taken place in Spain and Por tugal, is unquestionably the only decided advantage which has been obtained over Bonaparte since the commencement of his nefarious career. The more unexpected this disaster, the greater must be his astonishment and consternation. Men who have been invariably fortunate in their pursuits, are more confounded at a sudden reverse of fortune, than others who are more inured to disappointment. An indi vidual, who had run so madly in the career of fortune, who had so frequently vaunted her propitious influence, is suddenly opposed by almost insurmountable difficulties, at the very end of his course, where he least expected them, and where he was least prepared to meet them. But this extraordinary man has so often baffled calcu lations, so frequently turned, to his advantage the difficul ties which seemed most to menace him, that in beholding a brave people defying his immense resources, whilst we admire their courage and virtue, and take the liveliest in terest in their success, we feel as involuntary apprehension that they may be unsuccessful. Not that we doubt of their flail success, but their interests are so interwoven with our own, their liberty so inseparably connected with that of Europe, that we behold this contest with the animated sympathy of strongly interested spectators. We see our friends, our relatives, (related to us by the strongest ties of interest, love of independence, and horror of oppres sion) contending with a bold, unprincipled ruffian, and his ferocious soldiery.' We know the remorseless heart of that sanguinary monster ; and our imagination, aided by past experience, draws a horrid picture of desolated fields, burned habitations, and plundered cities. We know the man, we know the insult he has received, and we know that his vengeance, if it be in his power, will be equal to the mortification he sutlers. The people of this country, who arc as celebrated for their humanity as for their love of freedom, agitated by these reflections, shrink with horror at the idea of the, atrocities which may he exercised on Spain. In their ar dent interest for their Spanish brethren, they Overlook pos sibilities, and reproachfully ask our Ministers, why have not our several Expeditions already sailed ? Convinced of the bravery of our troops, they anticipate their success. National feelings arc here absorbed by more comprehensive sentiments; they are totally insensible to the dangers our soldiers are going to encounter. They impatiently wait for the first news of their arriTal on N. .1 XX.--ret. 1. Spanish ground, of their junction with the Patrio.s, of their marching at their sides to engage the perficikus one my, and of their victories. With the same anx.ety they enquire if Austria intends to make no diversion ; and if our Government has done nothing to conciliate Russia and Denmark ? Now they say is the moment IV*l. petty cow. . siderations and unmeaning disputes must yield to therm', interests of humanity. We have defied the united efforts of Europe. We have convinced the Powers of the North and of the south of their inability to scare us aato a renunci ation of our maritime rights. It is time to awaken them from their IMal delusion, in order to turn all their energy against their common tyrant. These are the reflections which appear to occupy the at teution of the public in this moment ; and these are the motives which induce us to resume a subject, which has been so frequently and ably canvassed. However, as it is of the highest expediency to conciliate the States of the Continent in this important juncture: And as the seizure of the Danish Fleet was the principal, and in fact, the only specious pretext for their unnatural confederacy against us, it is a consideration of the first magnitude, that we re. asinine a subject which appeared to have had such decided infthenre on the resolutions of the Russian Court. It gave the French fiction in f;t. Petersburgh such an opportunity for charges and invecti-ve against our Government, that no consideration, no • sacrifice is too weighty, when put in cuivipetitiun with the advantages we gain, were Husain brought over to the r,oloMoll cause. The part she taken will have a decided influence on the other States of the Continent; and were the Restitution of the Danish Fleet, now that we have nothing to apprehend from it, capable of effecting a salutary change in the Councils of that Court s the most enlightened policy would suggest the imperious necessity of making that Restitution immediately, and even unconditionally. The unprincipled ambition of Bonaparte, his inveterate hatred to this country, and the weakness of the Danish Government, together with the animosity which the Danes felt against us since the memorable 2d of April, now convince us that the present Ministry were not only justifiable in seizing it, but deserved !he gratitude of their Country, for having prevented it fallieg into the possession of the enemy. Had they, three months ago, over ruled by the indecent invectives, and affected love of jus tfce of sonic members among their o'pponf to the Danes their fl eet, instead of coati; i us4a, or any other State on the Continenl sion would have been attributed to pusi the desperate opinion we entertained of This ill-timed moderation would show, fiance of their pretensions, their contempt and whilst these States would dastardly crouch Usurper, they would endeavour to •effac their cringing servility to him, by an imolai' our rights. The wnole conduct of our delicate affaif, was thai of consummate kin:less in resisting the clamocis of factli critical humanity of disappviated ambition, . ecttla to% e or jos- nents, given back iliating Denmark, - . 1 . eat, their concei. ; :,,l villanimiti vitt, .44 of our sitnittii4il''l -: bi ants ;e4itlitNtit : = -•; • • • • 41 Ilt rt of cot% q:- .. , 3 : '.. Duch to the r '..: t ~,a ace the shatilte. 4 4{ 4 ' olent resistance 4, • Ministers, in Statesmen. Their, ion, anti the li`yorg=, 1011, was Inure !ken*" :-* . • 1; .