The National Register. — London, England, 1815-01-29 00:00:00

t S THE NATIONAL REGISTEU Cut Sing, 1 •-• anti 11.41thie. 01 f.),-A4; - . - am, --•••••••- _ $ -V *-414.41*" :~+~3'w ~i. 3 PUBLISHED AT NO. 11, NEWCASTLE•STREET ) STRAND. t .I; No• nO SUNDAY, POLITICAL DiS2UISITION. PRESENT STATE OF FRANCE. Tt is difficult to account for the change that has lately taken place in the_ public opinion in France . towards the English. All the British prisoners of war who r;turn from that counqy praise the conduct of the people, who, reg:lrd less of the differences existing between the two governments bestowed every mark of attention that could lighten the woes of captivity. Even under the sway of Buonaparte, the English were loved and esteemed in France, and setting all reosons of state apart, the French admired -the firmness, the va!nur and unanimity, which the British nation displayed in the contest. At present all is changed. Freed by England from the iron rod of their- oppresser, the Frenchsee in the English nothing but enemies ! In restoring the Bourbons to the throne of their ancestors, England has only followed the public and unanimous wishes of the whole French nation, wbo, cast down by the reverses which she had experienced, perceived in that event a.term to her.miseries, which she never'could. attain upder Buona parte. If :wenty-five years of calamities have sot ornre4 suffi cient to correct the volatile and restless cha :icier of the FICI3C11: If twenty-five years of banislu»ent have not suf ficed to rem , :ive the prejudices of the Bourbons and teach them the art of governing a people, it is not the fault of England, but of Louis XVIII. and of the French themselves. ,t -; If England seeks her own interests, she only performs the duty which every nation owes itself. She is generous, and knows how to• pay due respect to Sovereigns who ren der their subjects happy. even- whilst she contends with their power. She appreciatis great men in every.land. If Louis XVIII. and. the Princes of his family in the maturity of their judgment ► remove those men from their councils and yield to the influence of the ignorant and senseless, the blame lies with them and not with the English. Should the weak and imprudent conduct of the Bourbons draw down fresh misfortunes upon their heads, will they be laid to the charge of England ? Woe to those Princes, if they have forgotten that the Co lossus of the French Monarchy was overthrown, through ig norance of the art of reigning. . . If the striking examples presented to their eyes by the Convention, the ,Asgemblee Constituante, the Jacobins, the Directory, the Consulate, and the Empire, Qovernmenis which considered themselves securely established, and which fe!l, because they• had not known how to acquire the affec tion of the people, never granted but to those who make-it happy, especially at the commencement of a new rej*liii-Stifi VII. IV. CCCLX Y. r e: 6 • • - NLi .4.41 Y 2J , 1815. those repeated and resent instances have not led the Bour bons into th e r i g h t path, is -Englimd the cause of their . blind ness ? t t IY,- • Louis XVIII. and his family ought to be convinced that they govern the same Prance. but not the same people, as their ancestors. If they do not adopt that opinion and alter their conduct accordingly, and the same causes continue to produce the same effects, how can they hope to sit on an unshaken throne? . tEngland considered their restoration as putting an end to all the animosities which had so long divided. Europe, as a bond of close alliance between two great nations capable of appreciating each other, and securing their respective inde pendence and felicity. Such are still the sentiments of Enc.- land towards France. Against her own interests does she not every day tell Louis XVIII. " Consider yourself as the protector of the laws, respect liberal opinions, patronize the arts, the sciences, the manufaCtures ; remember that you are on a Throne, not in retirement ; display an useful magnifi cence, and set free the course and expression of public opi nion, for none but weak or senseless governments rep: ess it Not only England, but all Europe hoped that the return. of the Bourbons would restore order And perfect tracqnillity in France. But, on the contrary, a general disquietude 1 pervades every spirit in that country, and the number of the discontented. augments daily. Opinions are shackled, arbi trary arrests grow frequent, and through the ignorance or want of sense of those placed at the head of affairs, chiefly emi , grants, who wish to govern .according to their old system and find themselves embarrassed and unable to execute their design, a fatal stagnation pervades every department. The Police once so watchful has lost all its activity. Rob beries and murders are committed day and night, and in the most frequented places. The only event the French now look to with hope is the result of the Congress of Vienna, They hope to recover the Low Countries and the Isle of France. On the other hand, the emigrants fear the return of Talleyrand, and seek every means of injuring his credit both with the king and with the nation, and of abolishing the Legislative Bedy. The army, filled,with discontents, only longs for war, espe cially the immense. onrnher of reformed soldiers and Officers ; meanwhile the arts, dui sciences, and commerce languish. The French ealculatolthat this state of political inaction may fast thirty years. Louis XVIII. may live ten years More. But the ok*l. he •will grow, .the less will he be likely to resist his eviFGouncillors and improve the state of things. When Monsieur shall succeed him, he will also be 'much in years, and is not even now considered very able to 1. The Duke of Angouleme's propensities would suit k better than a King. The Duke of Berri is'tliu only N ( A V. . •‘ ; . - • -%>>