The National Register. — London, England, 1808-05-22 00:00:00

f • */ O. • 1 .• • , c .--.-vç- • . 4 - 77 77477 IAL-g IXA:eLOMvMMGISTERw_ Out fling, sr -- tok ,r•-••• No. 21. SUNDAY, NDAY, MAY 22, 1808. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. NUMBER TWENTY-OPM • .r.t ON BONAPARTE'S PROJECTED INVASION OF INDIA. On Wednesday last a letter front the Continent was re ceived in London, containing the following information : " You will be surprised to hear, that the Porte has resolved, " after all, to declare itself in favour of England. The Turkish " Government, after having been threatened and cajoled by " turns by the French Minister, in order to induce it to join " France and her Allies, to which it was by no Means IOUs " posed, has been at length driven to adopt an opposite resolu " tion, from the extent of the demands made upon it." We announced some time ago the determination of Bo naparte respecting an attempt at the Invasion of India : and we inserted, from Foreign Papers, some statements, • declaring, that the Porte had actually granted . permission for the passage of troops through its territory. It Ras understood that this concession on the part of the Grand hignior was made in return for the French Emperor's me diation, by which the differeacei were accommodated be tween Turkey and Russia. Austria and France hav'e been advancing toward the Tarkish territories, perhapsift order to take an early advantage of any favourable disposition in the Grand Signior, and perhaps to overawe him into a compliance in case of an unwillingness. At the same time Russia seems not to have been backward in contributing her aid toward the projected Invasion. The physical obstacles to an Invasion of India are so vast, that to an ordinary mind they would seem almost in runnountahle. But Bonaparte, like the Arabian Hero, seems to possess the talismanic sword, that being struck on Adamantine gates, bids their thousand bolts fly backward, and when lifted against whole armies, annihilates them in a moment. That which would have been perhaps imprac ticable to unaided France, became a matter by no means hopeless for France united with Austria and Russia. No intervening nation could stop the progress of the Indian Expedition, when Russia had been once subdued : Russia now is subdued, and if the intention of Bonaparte be real, if the plan of Invasion be not one of those splendid bub bles that the Emperor of the French finds it necessary now and then to launch for the amusement and occupation of his soldiery, we cannot suppose that the Porte will be able to do much toward the prevention of an army's progress, or overturn one tittle of Bonaparte's magnificent designs. But though it may be impossible for Turkey to overturn the designs of Bonaparte, yet we think it by no means un likely that sae may be able to retard them. If the intelli gence which we have quoted above be really accurate, (and indeed it is derived from a respectable source,) then it seems probable that an immediate rupture must take pace be tween the French and the Turks, and that a concerted attack will be made by the three Christian Emperors of France, No. XI - IL—Vet. I. , - no Leaf: Pnic Bd. _ and B uuia, against the Grand Signior. Such a measure, though it appears but too likely to obtain ulti mate success, must notwithstanding occasion a considerable Okla!, and give time to Great Britain for placing her Indian territories is a state of defence. The rumours of a probable rupttre seem to be strengthened by advices brought in s vond that sailed from Palermo on the 17th of April. Accounts were before her departure received from Smyrna, that the Turkish Government had actually refused to the Prenth the permission of passing through Turkey to In dia i and, in the expectation of an attack, had caused the holy standard to be erected, and a levy of the people to be modem masse. It is rather extraordinary that Turkey shoult have formerly surrendered herself to the disposal of Framr, while she might have had the support of an Engliit Fleet and a Russian Army : and that now, when the Enperor of the French is in leagite with the Emperor of tht. Russians, and the British Ambassador has been drivel away from Constantinople, this same Turkey begins to bethink herself of resistance. Time are Certainly two ways of viewing the great ques tion of Indian Invasion. Bonaparte may be in earnest, or he mat only be deceiving his soldiers For a long time we • were incf4o to think that the project was not seriously entertained by this accomplished Statesman t and our res.- _ ta for thinking so was, that we conceived it would be hazardous to employ, in's,' ethoidav no spin re force as must be necessary for 076 Idvasion of India, while the affairs of Europe at home continued in so unsettled a condition. But Bonaparte has now found means of alter ing so completely the situation of Europe, that he may attempt this Invasion without danger to his power. He has managed to associate in his own interests those very potentates who were most likely to impede his plans : and with an artifice peculiar to himself, he has contrived, not only to remove their jealousy of his scheme, but even to employ their troops in the accomplishment of that object, which every body a couple of years ago must have be lieved those troops would be employed to frustrate : In stead of drawing off his own armies, and leaving his neighbours in possession of Europe, he sends the best part of his neighbours' forces a twelvemonth's march, and re serves his own efficient strength at home. This alteration of circumstances must make a material change in our way of thinking : and that project which at first appeared im possible, will not perhaps be now considered even im prudent. If then there be a probability of such an Invasion (and against the worst it becomes us to guard), surely it is ne cessary for us to place India in a situation of defence, un less we deem it politic altogether to abandon our de minions there. We will not here enter into the great discussion, whether India ought to be preserved or not : we only contend that if the general opinion in favour of the preservation of India be a correct opinion, then the system and policy that has so long been pursued should be ended without dela:. The resistance of the ...tAc a pti l iys4 o7 : o4 4 l,„; 4441161110.4.11 .roni■rli ~~ "rir ~: r f 7. - 7T r rr r tr • +~ ~~ S ;i ! • , 111‘ N It a