The National Register. — London, England, 1816-03-03 00:00:00

I great contests, anti to exult in great sneeesses, that a tendency to admire deeds of arms, and military establish ments, is in danger of being produced, crud ought to be re pressed, rather than encouraged. The march of our army in Portugal, Spain, France, anti the Netherlands, has been distinguished by the most astonishing victories. During the period of three or four successive campaigns, every packet or arrival from the scene of action was ex pected to bring us news of important military movements; and public curiosity WILY kept on the stretch, or public admiration gratified, by the report or occurrence of great triumphs. The news of battles spread from the coast to the War-oflice; from the IVar-office, to the journals ; and front the journals, to the lowest and most sequestered par,s of our population. The guns of one fortress or eas tle told them to another; illuminations and rejoicings followed the passage of the mail ; and the towns unit vil lages of our empire rung with the praises of our gallant countrymen, who were reaping for us such a harvest of glory. Amid the labours of the field; at church ; and in the common intercourse of life, the fame of our troops be came the common topic of conversation and pride. But the clergy, we are convinced, did not lend their aid to diffuse this military spirit, or to invest the character of the soldier, with attractive attributes. They did not, to any considerable Extent, recommend war and glory, by descanting on our successes ; or imitate the martial bi shops and cardinals of thriller times, by inculcating on their flocks ; the necessity of becoming a church militant, by forming themselves into an army. But, it is to be feared, that on oceasionsof thanksgiving fin. victories, and on the bite occasion of raising a contribution on charity, for the relief of those who suflered in our greatest victory, they may inconsiderately have lent their sanction to the prevalent and growing taste of the times, instead of op posing it. Nothing can be more pernicious to the morals of society, or more dangerous to its liberties, than a mili tary spirit; and nothing of course can be more inconsis tent with the character of a Christian teacher, as a friend to both, than any attempt to difilise it. The character of soldiers seperated from the laxly of the people, and liv ing in annparative indolence, has been pmverbial, in all ages, for dissoluteness in morals ; for disregard of religion, and neglect of social ties ; and therefore, however much we may be grateful for their exertions; when made for onr defence, we ought never to inculcate an admiration of their distinguishing qualities. The very efficiency of an army depends upon its passive obedience to superior command, and its renunciation of many of the feelings of citix,ns ; and, therefore, we ought never, if we have any regard to freedom, to render its existence popular beyond the period of active service against a fitreim enemy. Let us bestow the laurel, or more substantial reward, upon our soldiers, when they fight successfully in our cause ; let us be grateful to God for the victories, which, under his superintendance, they achieve for us; but let us never, as Christians, or as freemen, sanction a taste for the trade of war and bloodshed; or a passion for military parade and estab:ishments. We carry a sword where our per sons are in danger ; we may raise batteries where we dread attacks ; but no man would encumber himself or his property with these things; when he might live in security without them ; or when there was a danger that they might be turned against his family, or his interests. It was not necessary to introduce the subject of war, or the defence of the military profession, for the purpose of attaining the end proposed, of succouring those who bled or lost their relatives in a battle, .which we trust in God will render a military attitude less prevalent in Europe. The gospel has commanded ns to relieve the wants and bind up the wounds of our fellow men ; and surely, when they have suffered in our service, their claim upon our sympathy and benevolence is strengthened. We tra vel the nearest way to the place of happiness, when we pass through the hospitals and prisons, where our fellow mortals languish, and distribute to them the greatest re lief that we have in our power.—We arrive most se curely when on the road we disencumber ourselves of our superfluous wealth for the benefit of less fortunate pil grims. To raise u contribution, therefore, for the aid of the soldier, we are not bound to admire his character, any more than, by assisting the .penitent, we arc required to imitate his example. (We shall make a few further oh semations on this subject, and give a few extracts in our next Number.) FRENCH PAPERS. CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.—SITTING or Frs. 22. The Minister fin• Poteign Affairs and General Police, who WWI introduced iota the Chamber while ~J• de Seems was at the Tribune, after that member hail concluded his speech, re quested to be heard. He ascended the tribune, and ice a tone which announre.l the profound emotion produced in his mind by the met iticholy cOmoutilication with svleiele he was charged, e>,pres•cd hine>elf in yearly the following tereees:— •' Gentlemen, the Kum has elimged us with 4 communica tion to yon, which most deeply lout tt your hearts." A profound silence now preyailed. The Chamber seemed to anticipate the object of the enutinuoication—A sentiment of emotion was impressed me every imuottmauce. Cunt - A.& Cataes continued —'"l'he death of the just is never lost to posterity. It always coos eys grave and sa due v lessons. Providence hail permitted that a written trace oh' the last thoughts, the last wishes formed far his people, by a monarch whose name is tier ever consecrated in the ri nit itibiante of mankind:should be preserved. It was its se ill that the testa ment eA Louis X% t. should mast. t. But ?nelasielioly consolation had not been granted to te , , aiming the touching recollections left by the n io .it and must untOcttumte of mothers, of wives, and of queens, Um THE NATIONAL REGISTER. deseendant of Alaria Theresa, that princess worthy of the son of St. Lipids, worthy to share his (-town and his inarly God alone had heard the %Give of the dying queen: her almost ilLii2liter did not collect the expression or her Lt•t wishes. Tivi my-three years have passed aoav rititig was traced at the last hour of the most beloved, as well meths) most unfortunate of sovereigns. Hatt Providence bog at length per mitted that it should be presented to the angina daughter of our kings. :toil bring . ronsolatiun to sorrows, arch While it renews them, This letter is recognizable by the hand writing of the queen, the characters of which were never more firmly and correctly formed, it to she w the calmness of her soul at that awful nioniimt. It is not signed, but its :milieu. ticity is guaranteed by a testimony which inspires horror. The testament lit the victim is sighed by her inurilerci s. " This test: •nt bre.itlies the ti itilereess of a mother, the dignity of a towels, the firmness lira philosopher. It is worthy of being heard, along with that august and sailed testament, %%hick merited the being read in the pulpit of• truth after the word of God." Count Cases bore read the following:— LETTER 1110 M THE ot Flt.VNirc, M %Rif? 4NTOHILTIV, TO MEN sISTER, MAL/Alit. IMIZABFTH. " ()et. lii. Half-plot Four. " I write to you, sister, for the last time; I have just been condemned, not to a shamehil death, it is only so to the I: l liitY ; but to eo and rejoin your brother, innocent as he wits. I hope to show the same tortituile as he did in these last moments, " I am calm as our is when one's ciaiscii pier does not re proach its. I feel iliwp sorrow at aluinilinung my poor children —good and tender %js.lcr, situ know I lived hot for them and you—by your afiectimi sun have sacrificed every thing to 1w with us. •In what a situation do I leave you! I learnt, by the pleadings in my east, that nay daughter was separated from you. Alas! poor child, I dare not write to her—she would not receive my letter. I knua lint %%hither this even will reach you. Receive for them both my blessing. I hope one day-, Wi11•11 they %sill be older, they will be able to rejoin yon and enjoy all your tender care. Let them both reflect upon what I hive never ceased to instil into them, that the principles and exact execution of their duties arc the tint oases of life, and that affection and mutual confidence will eon ! stitute the happiness of it. Let toy daughter feel that at the Age she is, she ought always to assist her brother with the coun sels tv hich the greater experience •he will have and her affec tion mm suggest to her : let my son, in his turn. :administer to his sister all the solicitude and sere ices which affection can in spire: filially, let them feel that in whatever position they may be, they cannot be truly happy but by their union. Let them take example by us --how often in our has our infection affivrded us consolation—in happiness we have a doable enjoy ment when we can share it with a friend. And %%Vie eon any be timed more dear and lender than in one's own 1 " Let my son never forget the last words of his 'killer, which I repeat expressly. Let him never seek to revenge our death? " I have to speak to von of something very painful to my heart. I know how much pain this child has given you. For give him, my dear sister; think of his age, how easy it is to make a child say what one pleases, and even vs hat lie does not understand. A day will come, I hope, when he only will feel more deeply the value of your goodness and tenderness for both. " It remains for me to confide to you my fast thoughts. I would have ts ritten them at the commencement of the process; but, besides that they ivoidd not suffer me to write, the march of events has been so rapid, that I have not had in reality the time. " I die in the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman religion—in that of my father's, in which I was brought up. sod which I have always professed, having no spiritual consolation to ex. pect—not k -lug if there still existing priests of our religion; and ascii the plate where I am would expose them too much, if they once entered it. " I sincerely ask pardon of God for all the faults I may have committed ' , lifer I was born. I hope that in his Routines* he will receive my last wishes, as well as those I have lon g ' put up, that he will receive my soul in his mercy and goodness. I ask pardon of all I know, and of you, sister, in particular, for all the riin 1 may, without meaning it, have caused you. " I forgive all illy enemies the ill they have done me : I bid adieu here to my aunts, and all my brothers and sisters. " I had tlieads; the idea of being separated from them for ever and their troubles, are one of the greatest griefs I have in dying. Let them know, at least, that, to my last moment, 1 thought of them. " Good and tender siger, farewell! May this letter reach you! Always think of me ! I embrace you with all ray heart, as well as my poor dear children. Oh, my God! what agony It is to quit them for ever. Adieu! Adieu! " And now I will resign myself wholly to my spiritual duties. As I am not free in my actions, they will bring inc perhaps a priest; but I protest hese I will not say a word to him, 411 d that I will treat him us a perfect stranger." Conformable to the original wriiiint, entirely in the hand- riting of the Queen, blink Antoinette. The Minister of Po lice (Signed) Conte tic CUES. After the letter had been read, it wac long liti . ore the Minister was able to proceed. His own emotion as well us that or the itsetuhly prevented him. A long silence intervened before be was able to resume his disci urse. " Gentlemen," said Count Ctzes, " the King, in directing us to make this communication, IlBYLiitliuiised us to state, that In making choice of us foe that purpose, it wits his d c ,,ir e to lion tile Deputy aslilliCh it, the Minister. His Majesty wiidies that you should ace, on thii communication, 0 IffOUl . 4ll' hii 4,44 3 t o. mix all his ferhugs with those of his ilroidc, and to wake you. participate in the consolations he receives as he ►hares your hopes and your carer. I deposit on the Bureau a certified copy of the Queen's Testament. His Majesty has directed nie to state, that he has ordered a jar-siniih: to be taken, a copy of %%hick will be deli vered to each oldie Members of the Chamber." At these words the whole assembly rose up, amidst cries of Fire le Laine, " Gentlemen, what an affecting interruption has tbe communication. which has just agitated our heat ts made in 0111.1101iticed and how much Cant' have ace to p u t a vein on those passions which subvert statt v. anti which plunged France into all the calamities of which the reading of thi s ro y a l letter meals the reno iniwance! The emotion I feel k too powerful to allow me to pursue this idea. However, the ex. pressiun of the List sentiments of out Queen raises us to ideas much hit:her than than alts eminected with polities; it elevates our souls towards religion, awl reminds us that religion is alone capable of being ihr most poworful support or government, What a security for nations, when it tills the hearts of kino ! What peace, what happiness for sovereigns, it it penetrate into the hearts of the people as wed as into royal hearts! But I perceive I anticipate the expression of your sentiments : we ought to be less moved, and to have inure time to e stir( ss them worthily. I propo,e, Gentlemen, that an bumble Adamss he presehted to the which, if it be his pleasure, sisal' citr. MARCH S. lied it!) to him by .1 lie ;.iititikm of 2; members. Did the mini- I wo. of your hearts reqpiire wt e‘isalp!e, I shenld tell you, wialt I have joist been informed, that theClantiber .I . Peeis ha. cored an address tu the king, which is tu he prt!sented by n grand de. potation. A erneral rry of-. To rote !to the rote I- :rite whale assem. blyquickly •,))))d sir!). . The Prehident I eileated the motion of M. Laine, %%hi ( I I w a s onattimme•ly adopted, with tries 'if Fire le The President theta gave the Milah•ters an acknowledgment of the r llllll4 having been made w thc chamber : and a err:died copy or the letter wa, ordered to be deposited in the archie% • or the chamber. The Prevld.uft.—ltetnes net appear to he the ish of the chamber in confirms the vh.cussiun with which it was previ ously occupied. A ery ti•nni atl%ides—Nn no! be l're•itletit then anatantred that the interrupted discos_ shun should 1,4- trattoull tiontoieovr, at noun; and proposed th a t the ettamhet should now resolve itself biro 4 secret co 11111 l ittet, in order to ri% e effect to M. Laine's twaton. The elizm her writ into a secret committee accordingly. CMAMiIF.R OF PEERS. tit t•Lariti rtlr 'lll 611'14 %I. OF O• EON Fsomr, gen. The Nliiiister for Foreivu Atfaini, Pre.dilent of the Council of Ministers, and the Al inister for General Pollee, were introduced. The first of these intiiistrrs couunimieated to the chamber, on thepoi t ot' the King, a letter written to Madame Elizabeth b) (lie imfortionite Queen 3larle Antoinette five hours before her 'knob. This letter, entirely written in the queen's hand, oas f. d among fire papers of the ex-rousentionalist Cuiirtois. Illajeqy Fishes that the chamber of Peers should receive the first iminimmication of this interusting *lmminent (liar which see the chamber of deptutit sj. A foi.: of it 'bile been en eraved, copies of which will tomwriow be delivered to the peers and (11.putirs.. •i . - A seount Chateatthriand expreasml with equal animation and dignity the sentiment., which this melancholy co ttttt tunication e‘eitt•il in the te.svitibly. He proposed to it.immit to the king, by a grand tleputati tttt , the homage of the sentiments of the chamber. 'flat- Utilise of Chokt ul, in seeoudiug this motion, paid a jll.ll tribute of respell and admiration to the august companion of Limis XVI. The motion Wa s tittanimmedy agreed to, and the npeeeltos of Viwoont Chateaubriitad and the Duke of Caltoikeul wcre orttotati to be printed. IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORlti, Alot4D.ts,Fiii. 26. The nfl, al Assent was given by Commission to the C00411(111 still Indigo Importation MO, and Lord Goo er's Indemnity The C 11111 l nev.ioner. were, the Doke of 31ontrost, the Lore Chancellor, and the Earl of Shaftesbury. After a ti•vr remarks from Earl,Stanhope. Lord I lolland, and the Eat I uf Liverpool, the House Adjourned. - - IL F5l) FED. 27. The House confirmed the claims of Ms Grace the Doh. rW IA iliStl r to vote in the election of trish Rept eseutative Neer.. —Adjourned till Thursday. Tnuusius., FEN. 20. INCOME TAX. Earl ST iN HOPE presented a Petition fl-ero the Ward of Al.. derogate, against the renewal of the Income Tax. The Peti tMo, he said, complained of the tax as most l'exatioui and op pressive, and also objected very much to a large military esta blishment in time of peace; and proved their Lordship s not to agree to the renewal of theineonie Tax under an; modification whatever. The klai I Of SHAFTESTIVItt presented a Petition against the Income Tax from Lintehonsc. Lord NAPIER presented a Petition from the Farmers of the county of Kirkcudbright. (as we understood) praying relief, and complaining of the pressure of the Income Tax. Tax on Horses, &c. The Archbishop of CA NTER BURY moved the second readier of the Clergy Forms Mil. The objeot of it he stated to be to continue a temporary Art on this subject, in order to rive time to bring in and pas+a general A et, relative to the Discipline of the Chin eh, in which the mutters of this Bill would be included. —Read a second time.—Adjourned. MARCH 1. The Malt Duty, and the 11 :gallops txchripit r.bills were read a third time and passed. Lerd King presented a Petition from the Wanl of Altb;ate against the lncume•tax. Ordered to lie on the table. Earl Furtescue presented a similar Petition from the Land. holders and Farmers of the parish of Tiverton, in the totality of Devon. Ordered to lie on the table. Lord KING moved for a copy oflrty representation made by our Ministers at Fienna, at Faris, or elsewhere, for the reco very of the Loans made to Austria in 1795 and 1797. 'llic Earl of Li v xsteum, slated, that after the Treaty of Campo Formio some representations was made t•a Austria for payment of this loan 1 but it was foupd impossible to trigago Austria again in the contest with France if they exacted this pay Intent 60111 bor. war began in !mint, anti there was n intention on the part of Mr. Pitt to enforce this claim, tOr otherwise Austria could not have come into the field. After Austria made a st pirate peace with France, the Right Hon. Gentlemaa (Fox) then at the head of affairs, granted true milling to Austria as a port of her expenees during the campaign ; hut he took not the least notice of any claim nun the part at' this country against Austria, for the riNpayment of this loan, In 11409 Austria was again allowed to join the coalition, lint Lint 4 wind was ►aid about the loan. Russia dosed f i .p a loan at that time, which was refosed on the ground of the t sample of Austria. Would the Wase or the country have pardoned any Minister, who at Um tune of forming a would have thrown impediments in its way to tlic ruin of En. rope, by asking for the payment of this loan ? He bad no die:. cull, in saying, that as this dem mil was not made at the time, of entering into the last utlianee, a would he unjust to mat• it now. motion was negatived sNitt.oo a nil ision.—Adjou ructi till Monday. HOUSE OF COMNIONs, hroaavr, Fes. 20. Sir F. I presented a Petition from the Eleet6m of IVt•st ' ster, against the renewal of the Property Tax; which was read, anti ordered tu Ur on the table. Sir J. SHAW presented a sinlilar one from Broad -street Ward; Mr. W. Smith one, from Norwich t Mr. Mellish ono, from Limehouse; Lord NI atm, one. from Doncaster; one, fruin NortliAllertou; and one, from North and South Kay.. Sir T. ACkLAN 0 presented twenty-seven Petitions from dif. ii;rent parts of North l)t mi. The l'etitiene were read by the Clerk, auJ or& red to lie ea the table,