The National Register. — London, England, 1811-04-07 00:00:00

No. 159. .............- . • .. • , POLITICAL DUPLICITY EZPO!! We have more than once directed the attention of our Readers to the language used by our pro fessedly independent writers, whilst describing the events of the Portuguese campaign, the relative force of the contending armies, and the abilities of their Commanders. It is indeed singularly re markable. Like a two-edged swori it deals a back blow whilst in the very act of striking in front, and the former, because unguarded against, is far more effective than the latter. This is the kind of writing which, and humanity will long lament it, VOLTAIRE has but too successfully used in his attacks on the Christian Religion. When most ostentatiously its defender, he was its secret, but relentless assassin.— The political strictures to which we allude, when tuperficially rear.:, appear fraught with true British spirit. They seem to breathe the most ardent zeal for the reputation of our arms and the •welfare of our Allies. The former they extol in the most glokving terms, the latter they deem entitled to every kind of support. They constantly labour to 'display the superiOrity of our means, the probability, nay, the certainty of ultimate success in the glorious contest in which we are engaged in the Peninsula ; but not satisfied with feeding the reasonable hopes of the nation, they create a confidence of expecta tion, which is the more dangerous, as it is easily produced in the hest intentioned minds, and if dis appointed, is succeeded by public despondency or discontent. Thus are the ends of party answered, more effectually, because unsuspectedly, than if the writers had become the acknowledged organs of a particular body of political sectaries. Thus are men whose genius and activity maintain the honour of our name abroad, and secure the integrity of our dominions, statibed with the very sword which they wield in our defence. Their victories, how ever great, are only made the prelude of future triumphs far more transcendant, which we are told they cannot fail to obtain, g‘ for they possess a ♦ast superiority of force, and the dispirited numbers of their enemy are, rapidly decreasing through disease and debertion.o. Every advantage is placed side, every chance of success is made our Vol. M. CLXXL ran ce, _ General from a natural elevation, the artful writers not only behold with unclouded vision the fields of war, and the operations of armies ; minutely follow every evolution, and foresee the result of every movement, with greater confidence, and, in their own opinion, greater perspicacity, than the very officer by whom they were ordered : they are not only endowed with .the power of sight, but with that of creation. Should they perceive :11,it the undaunted firmness of our Commander, the happy choke of his positions, the skill with which lie has repelled the very possibility of an attack on his lines, and the ability with which, in a defensive campaign, he has contrived ►o make offensive demonstrations, have compelled his disappointed and val., boasting enemy to retreat, they instantly ostensibly fly to share in his triumphs. With a stroke (If their pen, they create allied myriads, which, with a second, they arm and scatter so thick on the flanks and front of the retiring battalions, that they render their escape apparently impossible. Pursued by a superior army : surrounded with the whole popu. lation of a country in arms, and well taught to use them : wasted by famine, and exhaust. ed with fatigue, and marching besides through provinces intersected by rivers and mountains, which must be crossed in opposition to a nume rous ordenanza, and before an active and enterpris ing enemy, how can any doubt remain, in minds deceived by such representations, of the easy and total annihilation of an army so situated, so reduced, so defenceless ? Hope, seduced by such de lightful prospects out of the track of reason, runs wild. The splendour of the triumphs gained sinks in the blaze of those which must necessa ' follow,and the aim of the writers is attained. . . ey know that they have drawn flattering , but delusive pic. tures. They are conscious that the only superiot ity which our army possesses over the enemy, is that of valour, not of numbers : that MASSENAN retreat is not a sudden movement, springing from an un foreseen cause, and therefore carried on in haste and without order ; but that it had been long pre. meditated before it commenced, and its greatest difficulties removed by previous preparations. They that not only bridges have been cast over which he has to cross, but that tetia-da t I 91 . • . . _ " _ . • 4 . ..., . 1 •j . : . q. , 1,. orN P. p , L ...: . E ....„-,;,...... . , -• ...., . ... envotitution, attb Lazo'. _ ... , .. - N°:l 4 il. SUNDAY, APRI L. 7, 1811. . PPTcr 9d. . ~. . _. , .4,, POLITICAL DISQUISITIOI4;` - • that*ietory cannot be attended with honour, and . ';a .fiebre must be deemed the result of rashness, igno- .` 4 ILT_ 1 Pet . - a .'- ' l' ' rance, -and incapacity. From their desks, as a lon our recollect t ' . Rik vas „N • • • ;Ai rzo • 1 1.4 : - i i 'l 4 . i 11" 41‘ ME