The National Register. — London, England, 1811-03-24 00:00:00

II II M . • i • \ • • . Pri . . -- kill dtt6 Zatl. . - • - ••• ,•- ' , , WM `INI° 1,66. 7CAL...DZSQ-I.IISITION. • o. 157.. S.UNDAY,- MARCO 24, 1811. ~'f GTTSTAVUS' RETLIUN TO SVVEDNe To perplex and darken, instead of elucidating,'. forms the chief characteristic of the policy of mo dern patriots. 'They hate ''king extolled the advan tages of a free press, drid . la i mented the fetters im posed 'upon - it, and what h:rs been' the cOnseqmened of their conduct ? The attention of • the public is nor • almost entirely atti acted by the fantastic host of dangers which they have set in array acialtist the press, in order to display their courage and utility; by attacking shadows of their own creation, and its true nature remains uninvestigated and unknown. With the very extent of its power, although it is a point too important not to be deeply consider ed, and if possible clearly ascertained, men in ge neral ate but little acqtiainted. Reflection, however, and reasoning might do much. The comparative experience gathered from the history of different nations might enlighten a subject on which the fate of kingdoms may depend ; but when incessant cla mours stun the ear and confound the mind, reflec tion is lost and experience forgotten. To some individuals, opportunities seldom found have opened the private correspondence of States men, and even of Kings ; and, however strange it may appear, it is there they may find the fullest and most correct information respecting the almost in credible influence which the press, even in those countries where it is greatly limited, possesses over the plans of Cabinets and the conduct and policy of Monarchs. They will find; and we speak from knowledge, that an apparently trifling paragraph, sprung perhaps from thg fancy of its writer, has more than once deranged a whole system of politi cal manoeuvres or military operations, by exciting distrust, and creating a belief that the secrets of the State had been divulged. They will also learn that the expression of sound truths, the recommen dation of useful measures, and the 'discovery of threatening peril have not always been unnoticed, and that the proudest Governments, without, it is true, ackno-wledging their source, have frequently made the humble journalist's hints the basis of plans afterwards disguised by their skill and enlarged by their power, for the invention and exe which they have obtained the watefid Yr 17. gaa. 41411rwiliNi‘ift"4.'4111111tamir.4.01411 Iry xecution of I granted, the same expte a. .-* ueves be. warming... .7Q t - • ,t? • 4 . • t i lliCF, of posterity. Since the secret influence of the press may lead to results so .highly important, ought it ever to be degraded into a mere vehicle for party ,spirit, and recriminatory abuse,? Ought it not, in a land where . its .operations are unchecked, to pour forth useful truths, instead of wilful misrepresen xatibns. But in aim has been artfully perverted among us by the advocates of that revolutionary system which has desolated Europe... Armed with the most powerful weapon which civilized man possesses, they only wield it to effect the ruin of that political fabric ,under whose shelter they have been reared. They spread delusive blindness at home, and disgust among our Allies. abroad, whom they represent as vainly, if not unjustly-, waging war with the inveterate foe to their liberties and happiness. Indignant at their audacity, we have constantly endeavoured to disappoint the views of their interested' ambition, and to prove, with nO other guide but tru.h, the fallacy of the opinions disseminated, and of the statements contained in their publications. We have not rested satisfied - with snatching the British public from the toils pre- • pared to ensnare them. We have extended the sphere of our exertions, and, in conjunction with those papers who still maintain the 'cause of loyaltir and true independence, have invariably counteract. ed, as for as it lay within our power, the effects which the discouraging harangues of our dema gogues, and the writings of their hirelings, were • calculated to produce on our Allies. We have not - viewed the Iberian Peninsula as the gravt. of cur - warriors, but as the cradle of reviving freedom. We have not told the still contending patriots of • Spain, you have taken up arms rashly,. and your efforts, instead of tending to vindicate the indepen dence of your country, only serve to protract her . sufferings, and to delay the improvements which" the Usurper of her throne would ctherwi3e troduced amongst you. We bailed their first up.: rising with rapture, witnessed their ciefeats with grief, and still view their unsubdued firmness with . confidence. We, therefore, never ceased to applaud . the liberal policy-of our Government which supplia them, not only with the nerve of war—money, butr . with the animating example, of our heroes ; app whatever - be the men by %thorn that support t , # -. th , :pressfon. olr Wablin appric444ol