The National Register. — London, England, 1808-07-31 00:00:00

1 THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Our Ring, constitution, anD Law.. No. 31 -. . ..~ ..r-: .. SUNDAY, JULY 31, 1808. PRICE Bd. scale of her destinies. A people, whose moral sense, 6,01 institutions, and national resources give them a prepon derance more than sufficient to incline the balance. The measures adopted for their assistance are as compre hensive as they are judicious. The choice, the prompt!. tude, the execution, are equal to the exigency, and afford an honourable testimony of the capacity of the men to whom they were confided. Nothing has been left to chance. Every thing which wisdom could suggest, or honesty ap prove, has been adopted. The gauntlet, which the foe had been threatening, for more than fifteen years, to throw on our shores, we have wrenched from his hand, and are ready to fling it on his own coast. NVherever the combat is to be decided, it would be worse than pusillanimity to doubt of its success. We have the justice of our cause, the wishes of mankind, our undivided, national strength, and the approbation of Heaven in our support. There never was a period of our history, in which this country offered so imposing an aspect. Unanimity at home; our army more numerous, and better disciplined than at any former time—our fleets riding, without a rival, on the ocean—The riches of the state and of individuals double what they were thirty years ago—our national character with a strong reputation of probity, and oar Government of vigour. Such is our situation. Let us now turn our attention from Spain to her Colo nies. Here we must pause for a moment ; and revert to a circumstance, the disastrous effects of which will now he the more sincerely regretted. It has left unfavourable impressions which even our conduct towards the Mother Country will not easily efface. It is unnecessary to men tion that we advert to the unfortunate expeditions to Buenos Ayres. Without endeavouring to increase the public contempt or indignation against the projectors or commanders of the ignominious euterprizes, we reprobate, strongly do we reprobate,the callous insensibility of those men who brought this•stigma on our arms. In a vast ex tent of country, where our name was revered, the bravest and most d . Nth branded with the epithet r the justice of his much his doom ; and we wi of his con science and inions. Let us turn away our atten tion on the c The Transatlav present us a con siderable fit ruercial and political poi we could be biassed only by motives of interest in the assistance we afford the Spaniards, we would find a snffic;ent compensa tion for any sacrifices we should make in the advantages we should enjoy from an unprohibited intercourse with their Colonies. In an immense tract of country, wirer.: the climate, a defective system of internal adinicistration, and the jealousy of the Mother Country -restrained the progress of industry, a free market will be open for our manufactures. Almost every article, from the coarsest rug to the most finished articles of luxury will find there consumption. Whether we shall enjoy the privilege of --- .• • isinterested nation upon earth is br of coward *AO plunderer. Ho , revet i offended cP - Nry has plemouced oit t A r i or ill abaoo ' to the repllotehes I l the con . ,is former compal iy from the pain Atect, and fix , . • object of our ilisqu ton. nsatlantic possession.. of soakt preset eld for speculation, both 'in a cony Ant of Niew. Were it possible that POLITICAL DISQUISITION. NUMBER THIRTY-ONE. SPAIN AND lIER COLONIES. Spain still continues to fix exclusively the public atten tion. The exertions of her patriotic inhabitants are read and listened to with avidity. This strong interest has spread through all the gradations of society ; and its effects are as visible in the discourse of the mechanic, as in the discus sions of the turned. This universal sympathy in the af fairs of a nation, which, only a few weeks ago, excited as general a degree of contempt, blended with pity, on ac count of the despicable servility and moral dotage of her Government, impresses on the mind of the observer the awful consideration of their decisive importance. No mo tive, inferior to universal liberty or subjection, could effect so quick a transition in the sentiments of the public. They appear to feel strongly that the success or miscarriage of their exertions will decide, whether the States of the Con tinent are to enjoy the blessings of freedom, local institu tions and emulation, which was productive of some dis adv:►ntagcs, and of inestimable advantages : or become the exclusive patrimony of an individual ; who, in order to acquire and secure it, is compelled to pull down all the fences, which experience and virtue have planted against the inroads of cupidity and self-love. Such are the awful reflections which force themselves on the political inquirer, as often as he makes Spanish affairs the subject of his dis quisitions. Impreried by the magnitude of the subject, he wishes to disembarrass himself of impressions, as far as they arc local and individual, in order to bring coolness, impartiality, and judgment to the comprehensive investi gation. But the heart is too warmly interested, not to communicate its warmth to the head ; and he declaims, when he should reason. But if the danger of that country be great, the resources are ei7tal, if not superior, to it. If traditionary accounts and the annals of mai , : is furnish too many examples of vice triumphant over virtue ; they afford us at the same time the encouraging lesson, that every community, ani mated with a strong Sense of resistance to the encroach ments of a foreign tyrant, has been almost invariably suc cessful. Nationii, like individuals, when exposed to ordi nary dangers, never display a tenth part of their vigour. It is when the peril becomes excessive, when it is aggra vated by flagrant injuries, that those extraordinary energies are developed, which confound calculation, and insure success when it is most improbable. Such is the situation of Spain. Had the lawless insatiable ruffian, who founds his greatness on the misery of so many millions, acted with less refinement of villainy, her fate had been already decided ; and she would have been hurried, with very little resistance, into the vortex of his ambition. But she is not abandoned to her own resources and exer tions. A people, and wir are proud to say it, who have the will and the means to assist her effectually, have declared their intention of throwing their entire weight into the No. ..Xlll.l.—Vol. f. .~` _ -r t 11