The National Register. — London, England, 1812-04-12 00:00:00

a THE NATIONAL Ii EGISTE • Cur 'Zang, •Conaitutinn, anb PRINTED AND PUBLISIILD AT NO. 5, PICK ETT-STREET, STRAND, NE.I LI TEMPLE BAR. N°. 0 :11 • SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 11412. PRICE 9d. POLIIICAL DISQUISI lION. No. 210. WAR BETWEEN RIT:SIA AND FRANCE. When clouds lower on the horizon, it is natural to ex pect a storm. When armies are collecting, and the force of empires is marshalled in battle array, it is reasonable to think that so vast and expensive a display is not made for the purpose of useless parade. Everts of the most important nature may, then, considered as sil:ntly growing in the womb of fate : the ear may listen for the approaching clash of arms, and the feeling heart bleed at anticipated destruction, or exult at the prospect of re deerrod independence. The confused rumours of war, which almost every gale wafted from the Continent to our shores, have at last given way to clearer and more certain information. The preparations of France and Russia nre no longer of a doubtful nature. The complicated movements of troops, intended to conceal their real object, are no longer confined to the interior. The French and Prus sian legions have crossed the Vistula, and the Russian arms, reinforced by the Guards from St. Petersburgh, has passed the frontiers and entered the Prussian terri tories. The last accounts from Gottenburgh state, that the Russians were advancing towards Memel, and recent letters from France add, that they actually took posses. sion of that place, together with the magazines it con tained, on the '2sth ult. Should this account prove correct, and it is so probable in itself as to leave us but little doubt of its authenticity, the sword has at length been openly drawn, and the campaign may be considered as begun.. Our readers have perceived that hitherto the French rapers have been remarkably cautious of giving any clear annunciation of a war in the North. Conscious of the weight of public opinion, and of the disgust which his subjects experience at the continuance of the contest with Spain, Portugal, and England. NAPOLEON has carefully avoided to let them see that his restless ambition was on the eve of plunging them wantonly into hostilities with another Power. The more successfully to blind their ob servation, he has remained in his capi!al whilst his armies were marching towards the North, and has delayed his departure until he should have an opportunity of imposing en the credulity of his people. By the magnitude of his preparations, both on the confines of Russia and in Poland on almost the very edge of the Russian frontiers, he created the utmost alarm an the Court of St. Petersburvh, and compelled them, in common prudence, to assemble the largest army in their power to meet and counteract Iris possible designs. This arming and collection of troops he will now represent as an act of undeset ved mistrust on Vol. V. No. CCXXIV. • the part of Russia, which justified ,hii c kending his legions to the banks of t he Vi s t u l a . For,;witli his usual disre gard of truth, he will, as in the case of the Berlin and, Milan Decrees and Orders in Council, desciibe the conse quence of his obnoxious conduct, as its cause, and throw on ALEXANDER all the blame of a rupture to which he obliges him to have recourse. By his coalition with Prussia, his announced interview with the Emperor of Nuscera, the actual junction of his troops with those of the former, and the avowed expectation of a powerfulco operation on the part of the latter, he deprived Russia of all hopes of an amicable arrangement. He showed he; the might of three States assembling against her, and that., her only mode of defence was an appeal to the sword. 1 Under such circumstances he knew what line of conduct I she must adopt. Unable to prevent war, it became her duty to secure every advantage within her reach, in order to wage it with success.—Memel had been made a depot of military stores. It was a kind of bait to invite Russia to an open act of hostility, and its occupation by the Russian corps will enable NAPOLEON to tell his people that the territory of his Ally, the King of PRUSSIA, has been lawlessly invaded : that our gold has bought the Cabinet of St. Petershugh, although we have had no communication whatever with that Court, and that it is incumbent orr him to avenge the insult thus offered to his dignity, and the injury inflicted on his friends. Armed with this frivolous pretext, which, notwithstanding its shallowness, will be sufficient to deceive, if not to satisfy, the unthinking people whom he oppresses, he will instantly repair to his army, :aid as it is already on the field, within a short distance of the enemy it has to encounter, will commence his operations without loss of time, and at the opening of the most feveurable season of the year. It is probable that ALEXANDER having once acted in so decisive a manne , , will hasten to coneteract the Misr e. presentations of the French, by publishing to the world, in a solemn Manifesto, the reasons that have compelled him to take up arms against his late Ally. According to all appearances, if his spirit did nut shrink once more before the power and nts of his antagonist, and he maintains the att.tude of defimce which he had assumed, this Declaration -viil have been issued immediately after the occupation of Memel, as a justification for that act. This must have taken ph,ce about the commencement ht March. Previous to that period, we find the French and Prussians had already reached Koningsberg, and the rest of the army was advancing rapidly towards the banks of the Niemen. Active hostilities might therefore commence in the course of a few days, and from the comparative force which the two chief Belligerents are understood to bring into the field, but little hope of a successFul resistance on the part of ALEXANDER eau be entertained. He fights, it is true, on the confines, and probably ere long within the frontiers of his native land. He contends, not for the possession of a province, but for the existtnce of his Crown. The war is not one of ambition, but of self-defence on his part. But he stands at the head of a nation of slaves, groaning under the heavy yoke of yasolge, rithout pul;lic spirit ) MA whits