The National Register. — London, England, 1809-03-05 00:00:00

1:6 nish an almost conclusive testimony that BONAPARTE is preparing to accomplish the destruction he meditates against that Power. Whether he succeeds, entirely de pends on the rapidity with which the former anticipates the attack. As the present force he has in Germany and in Italy is perfectly incompetent to the attainment of his object, he will, probably, attempt to lull Austria, by a semblauce of negociation, into security, until the necessary reinforcements arrive from Spain. But this dis Simulation, we would reasonably suppose, could not impose on the most limited and artless peasant on the Croatian Moun tains, much less on a Cabinet which has experienced so many proofs of the insincerity and treachery of the tyrant. It is impossible, however, to determine how far the credu lity and infatuation of Cabinets may not extend. But of the departure of the greater part of the French force now in Spain, with the obvious intention of giving the last blow tri German independence, we do not entertain the remotest doubt. In this the tyrant acts consistently, and according to the principles of the justest political calculation. That he has been evidently disappointed as to the facility with which he expected to bend the Spaniards to the yoke, is notorious from his own. declarations some months ago, when be said that even was to be accomplished before the Ist of January. Another gross deception he fell into was, the indifference he supposed the great body of that people would feel to the atrocious means he employed to compass that end. He has now learned, by personal observation, that all his triamphs and dearly-purchased victories in that Country, have not brought him a step nearer to the ac complishment of his purpose, than he had been ih Attgust last. lie has broke and dissipated their armies ; but ; in proportion to their reverses, their abhorrence of him and his detested family, has acquired additional force in the breasts attic na ti yes. His promises, his threats, his cajolings, his menaced vengeance, and profound dissinmlation f have not gained a single partisan among the middling and lower classes; and he has sustained the corroding mortification ; that all his artifice, and seduction, and promised reform, the not produce even a particle of confidence, or abate the deep rooted, national antipathy to himself and parti sans. As long as the natives were animated with these sentiments, he had no other prospect of exacting obedience and submission, than by keeping there a military force suf ficient to awe the entire population. This was totally im practicable, and dangerous in the extreme, whilst Austria retained a semblance of free will, and continued her arma ments. Besides, a much less profound politician than BONA PA RTE unquestionably is, would have discovered, from some symptoms in the North of Europe, that the Empe ror ALEXANDER begins to display coolness, if not signs of decided hostility; and that a great alteration has taken place in the views and sentiments of that Cabinet, he might have surmised, from the continuation of the armistice in Finland. The journey of theKlisto and QUEEN of PRUSSIA to St. Petersburgh, contrary to his unquestionable inclina tion, and in manifest contempt of the permission he grant ed them to return to their capital, has changed surmise into certainty. This determination of FREDF.RICK WIL LIAM has disappointed him besides of another royal prey ; for had they been guilty of the unsuspecting generosity to return to their former capital, whilst Stettin, Dantzic, and other fortresses were garrisoned by the French, they would mow, according to human probability, share the fate of the Royal Family of Spain. The toils were finely laid ; but the illustrious victims did not forget the Palma el bona Prentes, Such is the imperceptible change which has lately oc curred in the politics of the eastern and northern empires of Continent. The precipitate return of BON APA RTE to Paris, and the short sojourn he is said to have made there, seem to confirm that the revolution io this elrect is even greater than Ise have the courage to hope. Time con duct of the Prussian Government, since the evacuatiou of its provinces, iil oidering the arrestation of 1 till CoUtt, who filled a pi: c ‘ ; of eVtliiiikfillAto coulltleuce wetter the.. l'rcuch, MARCH 5. and that of several other obnoxious individuals, who were likewise employed, during the occupation, by the enemy, can be explained and accounted for, or even justified, only by the revolution which we suppose to have taken place in the Russian councils. By this measure the Kier; of PRUSSIA threw the gauntlet in the tyrant's face, and destroyed every possibility of future reconciliation or pardon. A circumstance, not sufficiently adverted to, though mention ed in the German and Dutch papers, will shew, in the clearest light, the sentiments of the most distinguished persons in Prussia, on the present vacillating state of con tinental politics, and fully corroborate our own conjec tures. As soon as the enemy had evacuated Berlin, every Officer, civil or military ; began, a short time after, to dis pose of his etrects, or to transport them ta Koningsberg, —a proof they had received intimation that their Sove reign had no intention of returning to that capital, though pressed to that effect by BONAPARTE. Such is the present situation of that part of the Continent ; which is not under the immediate and absolute controul of the enemy. Another change, not less auspicious, has taken place iu Turkey ; and the Divan has already con cluded a peace with our Government. It was necessary to take this view, in order to estimate the chances which Austria has, in case of a rupture with France. We have given, in a former Number, some details relative to her present military force. We have, in the same Number, adverted to the propriety of acting now, in preference to any future occasion ; and our reasons will s we believe, have convioced the most obstinate, silly, or knavish oppo nent of Continental resistance. Procrastination, the mania of negociatinn - , a concealment from her subjects of her whole mass of grievances, and the folly of relying on the arts of diplomacy, instead of the sword, are the principal dangers we apprehend for that Power in the present crisis. Another more propitious opportunity of recovering - her in ! dependence, than the present, will, we arc afraid, never again present itself. On the rapidity of her movements her fortunes depend. Before the tyrant is able to draw a single regiment from Spain ; she ought to overwhelm Ba varia, and secure the possession of Tyrol, where the Austrian Government is enthusiasiically loved. The inha , bitants of those mountains were always celebrated for their loyalty and bravery ; and, during the whole coarse of the revolutionary war s evinced more zeal and ardour than any other province of the Austrian empire. They have of late skewed a most refractory spirit, and, on several occasions, broke out into acts of rebelYton ag ainst the Bavarian Go vernment, to which they were made over by the Peace or Presburg. The same discontent pervades every part of the South of Germany, where the introduction of the con scription has completely alienated the minds of the natives from their respective Governments. A single spark is suf ficient to set Switzerland in a blaze, where French out , . rages and tyranny have festered every heart ; and filled it with the most rancorous sentiments against their wanton, brutal oppressors. BONAPARTE is not ignorant of the popular sentiment in Germany, and is probably prepared to meet its effects. " The French army will evacuate the Spanish provinces as tranquillily will be spread, and as they shall unite around our throne." These are JOSEPU'S words in his circular let ter to the Bishops and Archbishops, and arc evidently in tended to disgui:ic the real cause of their departure. The pompous and fastidious descripl ion of his entrance into Madrid, aud the mention of so many deputations from the several provinces to do homage to •the usurper, are calcu lated to impress on the minds of the Parisians the belief, that as Spain is now completely tranquil and obedient, a great military force is unnecessacy. This will explain the affected silence of the last Bulletin with regard to military occurrences. Tiwig!' we believe, .with the fullest confidence, that 110.tilities in Germany are not remote, we still entertain doubt: of BO NAPA RTE'S departuru from Paris. An ewat of that LAs lioeu 'hitherto in - cue:led b; su:itc TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER.