The National Register. — London, England, 1813-04-18 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. • sent hour, like a wizza' a whose spell is broken by a superior influence, but who retains the wand and the robes of hi s ar t without their power, still weals the imperial mantle. The crown still encircles his brow: the sceptre is still in his hands; hut the illusions of his fame, on which tested his chief strength, are fled. lie has been Confounded at the time he had put. forth all his might, and the earth has wit• bessed the complete ovetthrow of his ambitious desins. los,es have not been gradual and partial. They have been sudden and overwhelming. The hand that has arrested the course of his successes, smote him at their height, when universal empire seemed already within his grasp. lie lutil marshalled Ow flower of Continental chivalry against the wild horde:; of Russia. They marched under the most valorous and expetienced commanders, as though to conquer the world ! But their weak remains are scarcely visible—shut up in besieged fortresses, captive in distant provinces, or scattered among new levies, whcim they vainly instruct to avenge their defect, and to whom they are at once a monument of past and future ruin. Driven to the very borders of his empire, Napoleon beholds the nations lire ht.d so long oppressed rising in vengeance against him. Abandoned by some of his late allies; distrustful of the rest, he calls upon his discontented people to redeem, and recon quer for him, by the sacrifice of their blood and the exhaus tion of their remaining wealth, the extensive sway his impru dence has lost. The enemy thickens in his front, insurrec tions multiply around him, and a dispirited and despah ing nation sends him slowly her reluctant youth to perish in his cause.—With such a man, is it now politic and advisable to maintain an offensive and defensive alliance ? The Austrian Government has two point to consider: its immediate and its prospective interest. By joining with a!l its force the Coalition against France, at this moment, it might regain the territory it has lost on the Adriatic, in the Tvrol, in Italy, and even beyond the Rhine. Nay, it might, for who knows where the impulse given to the Germanic popu lation would stop, perllaps assist in the conquest, and share in the spoils of ancient France itself. But for mer Hit al, the Prussian Monarchy would then be revived and enlarged, and the augmentation of power which Russia would receive would make her as dangerous as Napoleon had lately been. This consideration, however, might be coun tea balanced by the addition to its own strength and terri tories, which in such a case, Austria would also obtain, and consequently, cannot be regarded as an objection likely to influence its present conduct. It may, therefore, be• assumed, that to further Ins own immediate interests, it would be politic on the tart of the Emperor Francis, to rise against his Somin-law. What are the prospective ad vantages he would derive from remaining his Ally ? Ills daughter is now not only Empress of FRANce, but during the absence of her consort, and in case of his death, invested w:th the sovereign power in the capacity of Regent. Through her, Austria has therefore regained all its former influence in the councils of the - French empire. The re verses of N,‘PUL EON have compelled him to concede that unbounded authority to his wife, as a means of defence against the possible treachery of his subjects, to protect ter whilst he is absent, and to secure the order of succession when he no longer exists. This influence she will use as an Austrian Princess, to advance the interests of her house. Ilex son will be educa!ed in the same principles. As his fa ther c an boast no pomp of ancestry, but his fortune is the daughter of his sword, the youth will be taught to conside:• alone the noble blood of Ilapshurgh that flows thro - tigh his 'veins. Hence, when he ascends the throne, he will draw a efforgetfulness over all that regards the humility-of his "{IL paternal origin, and will endeavour by his conduct and po licy, to make the world only remf.mber that he proceeds flour the ancient house that tils the Austrian throne. France will, in some degree, once more become a vassal of the Court of Vienna, and the more she retains of her present power, time more advantageous it will be for the limpet or FRA NCIS or his snccesors, who will be secure of her summit and co oper,ition, to carry into eflect any views of personal aggiandizeme:a which they may entertain. For, in fact, the blood of the N A POL EONS, being lost, as it then ‘:ill be, in their own. their El.,use will at once occupy the two tir , i:t thrones of the continent, with• out having to dread either an opponent or a rival. These are the consideralions which make us incline to doubt the pleasing intelligence of Austria's seees , :iot, front the French cause ; unless the popular ferment should have been so cou , ,iderable as to compel the Uovelmnent to ad pt that step in scA . defence. Of this we have no means of judg ing' : but we do not think it likely. The loyalty of the sub jects of the Austrian Emperor is en'husiastie, but passive. They would die to sere c his true interc.qs, but not agaiim his will. FOREIGN G ENCE. PRUSSIAN DECLARATION OF WAR, ANI) ANSWER OF THE FRENCH MINISTER. (FHOM 1111•7 MO \ ITEURO The first i$ a note from the Prussian Chancellor Count Harden berg, addressed to the French AmbiisAador St. Ma: . san, and dalci Breslau, March 16, 1813. It is in sniistanee in..aly the sante with the fullowitn: COPY OF A LETTER FROM M. DE KiII'sFATAUCK. Pali-, )liticli :27,11813. Monsieur Le Duc,—l have just received ail order fro, my Sow , - reign to lay before yon the following :—The propositions which I have auteriorly had the honour of submitting to you were of a nutlike to merit a reply equally prompt as decisive. 'flee progress of the Russian arms in the centre of the monarchy, does not permit Pt us sia any longer to prolong. that state of noeertainty in which site is. (to one side the Emperor of Russia, to the king by builds of personal friendship, offers Prussia in this decisive moment, the sup port of his power, and the advantages of his friend.. hip ; on the other, his Majesty the Emperor of the French persists in repulsing an Ally who has sacrificed himselt in his cause, and disdains even to explain himself upon the motives of his silence. For a length' of tine France has violated, in every point, the treaties hich con nected her with Prussia. ?Cot contented with ha‘ieg dictated at Tilsit-a peace, wally hard and humiliating ; she has not eye)) per mitted her to enjoy the trilling advantages which that treaty set mid to allow her. She has made use of odhoe: lir:oust: to sh..ke to their thundations the thrtune of the State, and those of hulividinds. Since that epoch, Prn:sia has been treated as a conquered country, anal oppressed by a yoke of iron. The French armirs remained in it con trary to the ter:as of the 7renty, and liA . ed at disc:ll , lnm in it during eighteen months : exorbitant and arbitrary contributions %%ere im posed upon her; her commerce wa:, ruined by obli , :ing her to adopt the continental system ; French garrisous were placed in the three tbrtresses of the Oder; the cotton.y was obliged to defray the ex pence of their . appointments ; it) short, by the treoty of Boyonve, the property of widows and orphans was disposed of; in manifest contradiction to the stipulati.ois of the treaty of peace : every thit g announced that no sort of regard would be kept with an unfortimate and oopressed state. In this state of things, peace became an illu sory benefit. The King groaned under the enormous weLlit which oppressed his subjects. I ie lfitttered himself with Hanquishing . by the three of condescension and sacrifices, an :animosity the elects of which he knew, but of whose principle he was ignorant. He gave Itimsclenp fo the hopes of sparing his people greater mistorttine , , is fief/Piing sernpidnuliy his engagements tctrards Franc:, and in care fully aroiding every thing which c' o give hr r lknce. By extraor dinary and indicant of efforts, Prussia succeeded in payiug two. thirds of the contrilintion : she was preparing to pay the renn.tinter, when clouds arose between Russia and France, and !ten the Am ; mense preparations of those two powers did not any longer permit her to doubt of the war about to be kindled in the North. 'fife faithful to principle of saving, at any price, tilt; tiat:ona