The National Register. — London, England, 1809-10-01 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Lord GREN VILLE has declined accepting the offer made 'Dim, of taking office in the present Administration. His Lordship arrived in town late on Thursday night. A letter, of which the following has been given as the sub stance, had been received by Mr. Peacevst from Lord GRENVILLE, in the course of the day : His Lordslbip acknowledged (he receipt of Mr. Pesez- VAL'S letter, and understanding it to be an official commu nication of his MAJESTT)I. COIIIMMIdS declared his readi ness, as in duty bound, immediately to attend in London. But his Lor.!sbip desired to defer all discussion of the Subjects noticed until after his arrival in town. Earl OREIr has declined coming to town, in a letter which entered more into detail than Lord GRENVILLE'S, and .w.laich considered Mr. PERLLVAL'S letter as not contain ing a message coming direct from his MAJESTY; but as merely inviting his Lordship to join the present Adminis tration. In this view of the subject, Earl GREY declared to Mr. PERCEY L, that he did not consider his presence in town could he at all necessary. his sentiments and political ,principles, nut allowing him to believe it possible that any arrangement could be entered into which could induce him to co-operate with the present Ministers. His Lordship peretore remained in Northumberland. Lord GRENVILLE, supposing, as we have already said, the letter from Mr. Fikcxv,AL to convey 9 message from his MAJESTY, and we ,do not see how any person could entertain a different sup position, came to town immediately, and early en Friday morning notified his arrival t? Mr. PERCEY AL, in a letter. of %bleb *following has been published by a cotempo • car; . print as the substance ; " That his Lordship took the earliest opportunity of ac quainting Mr. P ERCEVAL with his arrival, and of commu- D4ating his sentiments on the subject of the intimation which he received in the country, and which lie begged slight be laid, in the most dutiful manner on his part, be fore his MAJESTY. 4 6 That in declining to unite with his Majesty's present Maisters, he was not actuated by any motives of personal hostility, but he felt convinced, that in joiniur, his Majesty's Councils in the present crisis, he could be of no real service to his country. That with him it had uniformly been a chief object to !ninth, rather than foment political animosities, which sys tem he thou ht, at this moment, more particularly expe dient than ever. " He therefore begged that his sentiments might be du tifully communicated to his MAJESTY, with a hrm assur ance-that his zeal should be unremitingly, when titere ap peared a prospect of its being successfully, exerted in his csr r's ser v ice. Whether the above be a correct sketch of his Lordship's letter we know not.—An interview, we believe, took place After the receipt of it, between his Lordship and Mr. PER• OZ,AI. and the Earl of LIVERPOOL, the result of which *as, a decisive REJECTION IN THE PiRT OP LORD GREN rILLE TO THE OVERTURE DADE HIM. jp the course of the morning his Lordship had an midi lance of the Prince of WALEq, of Lord HOLLAND, Mr. trizaNcy, and most of the Members of the late Admi iiistration who are in town. To them he communicated the offer made him, and his rejection. We understand that the vacant Offices may be expected'to be filled before the next Levee. We are in a critical situation, but it is the crisis of a great and powerful, of a yet strong and mighty nation. Has selfishness obliterated all %elm of public virtue in public men ? Are there no apprehensions, entertained for our eventual satety ? Is ail zeal for our honour goat'? Is the love of our country become as ob solete term, and is the attention to SELF, SELF, szi,F, become so general (and so contracted too), as to make every public man the centre and almost the circuinferenci• of every Ojai( that is dear to him ? What is become of that aoble, dignified, and true sullishness, which derives its OCT. 1, highest gratification from the visible happiness of most enlarged connections ? Is love of our country no louger an argument, .or principle yf action ? Not not even with .men whose family and relations have so long subsisted upon its bounty. Is the character of the nation so lower ed, so debased, that the slow approaching fame which re wards us at present by the .conscionsness of deserving, is this become too remote a principle of action ? If it be so, we are gone as a nation indeed. In private life, which is the nursery of public men, there is a strong disposition to vir tue, and the people at large want neither generosity or spirit. My Lords GRE N VILLE and GREY, be assured you mistake the character and the feelings of your country men—,-be assured, my Lords, that this condibct will not restore confidence to profession, nor will it fix the respect due to. ability upon esteem,. The discharge of your public duty is imperiously called for b y the situation of your country, and it is treason against er safety to refuse.. A conduct of this sort at.such a moment is a direliction of a duty. which may perhaps entail a continuance of its pre!. sent distractions and makes you guilty of the future ruin which it may bring upon the country." Rumours of a very contradictory nature prevail respect ing the situation of France and dustria. By some it has been affirmed that rejoicings have been heard upon the French coast, which indicate, that some reliance is to be placed upon the reports of Peace having been concluded between the two countries. On the other hand, it has been stated, but upon what authority does not appear, that the Emperor FRANcis has actually refused to comply with the ultimatum of they French Expect .a. To - this it has been added, that the Emperor ALEXANDER has encouraged the Austrian MONARCH to refuse the terms offered, and that he is prepared to support him in the event of Buo NAPARTZ not acceding to more moderate terms. When rumours so various and contradictory are afloat, and the preponderance of evidence or authority does not incline to either, we can only offer our opinion. We do not believe that the Emperor AI.EXA NP ER'S eyes are open to the danger of his situation, and we do not believe that BuONAPA RTR will suffer himself to be baffled by the counsellors and ad. visers of the Austrian EMPE R OR. The fate of Austria is written, as far ag the Coßsiclor can write it, in the book of fate; and B D ONAPARTE wilt not leave him the power of escaping. That some difficulties have and may still occur,. is evident from the length of the negociatien ; bat the state of suspense in which we have so long been kept, and the total privation of all information upon the subject for so extended a period, may afford us some data &Om which to estimate the power which he has over the Continent. Whatever may be the ultimate determination of Ministers as to the war in Spain, or whatever may be the fate of that injured and oppressed country, we cannot but be pleased at the intelligence which i 3 given in the Spanish Papers that were received in town on Friday. The brave and loyal defence of Gerona has at length met with the reward it merited. A division of BLAKE'S army command ed by DON JAwe G - AR4 has succeeded in breaking the enemy's line and entered Gerona with a supply of provi sions and warlike ctores. The brave insurgents of Arragen are likewise finding employ meut for their merciless in vaders, and if they were as unassailable by the treachery of their friends, as by the powers of their enemy, the Penin sula might be again indebted to them for its liberty. it is added that the important fortress of Java has fallen through cowardice into the hands of the French. The following particulars have transpired respecting Lord Wellington's army :—The army are hutted; head quarters at Badajos. General Sherhrook's division extends from Lol4n to Merida ; a brigade of German artillery is at Lohan ; a troop of horse artillery at Merida, and also some cavalry ; General Crawlerd's light brigade of infan try is at Ncrsa and Portalrgre ; another division of the army is near Campo Mayor and . Albuquerque; the 401 h, garrisua 31, Badajos s pAd the 27W is at Liken j a park of ,