The National Register. — London, England, 1812-10-18 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. In This ee.)arture from the contract, although founded on very plausible grounds, revived a spirit of mistrust in our Cabinet, that expressed its unwillingness to return to a mode of assistance which had hitherto invariably proved vain. The Assembly of the States took place at that time in Sweden, and BZRNADOTTE. in his speeches to the-various Orders, markedly abstained from noticing what the whole Dation confidently expected he would announce—approach ing hostilities with France. He, indeed, intimated an inten tion to arm, in case he should be attacked; but promised to use his best endeavours to maintain peace. This declara tion had its desired effect. It alarmed both ALEXANDLR and our Government, who- anticipated the most important results from the proposed diversion ; and whilst it made the former urge the necessity that we should extend our subsi dizing liberality to Sweden, it disposed Ministers to accede to a request, the rejection of. which, they perceiyed, wouldbe attended with total inactivity on the part of the CROWN PRINCS. A subsidy, we are credibly informed, was then g , anted, and the- movements .of troops re-commenced. A few transmrts were collected at Stockholm,and the whole garrison of Finland, consisting of about 30,000 Russian troops, who had been kept in that province to join the Swedes, held itself in readiness to effect that purpose. But the Swedish Expedition did not quit its ports. A few men and guns bad been embarked; they were re-landed, and for a time the enterprise appeared to be entirely abandoned. The public reason given for this delay, was a pretended offer of the King of DEN rt ARK to unite with the Allies ; which had rendered an expedition, destined, it was said, to subdue that kingdom, useless. The true cause, however, was a new diffi culty started by BERNADOTTE, who now insisted, as the' price of his aid, on the restitution of Finland to the Swedish Crown. This demand could not be very agreeable to a Prince who had just reluctantly given up some of his most fertile provinces to his enemies; and who, therefore, must have found it particularly hard to be also plundered by his friends. ALF.XANDER hesitated; our Minister at Stockholm exerted all his ingenuity in vain; and instead ef the instant departure of the Expedition, at the sole time when it could be useful, a Congress was appointed at Abo, where ALEX•NDER, BERNADOTTE, Lord CATHCART and RobtANZOrt met. Here the point in question was dis cussed ; but what arrangements were made has not hitherto publicly transpired. .Some accounts state, that a promise of the restitution of Finland was given; others, that 'it was agreed ButriaroorTg should indemnify himself by uniting Norway to his Crown. However, all parties separated with a seeming understanding, that all difficulties were settled, and that the Swedish Expedition should at last set sail. How far that expectation has been realized, all Europe has sow seen. The CROWN PRINCE, on his remit, marched his troops backwards and forwards, from one part of the country to another. embarked and disembarked some divi *lona, received our transports, and, after amusing us for two months with his evolutions, once more relapsed into inac . - tivity. Such is the faithful history of this long-promised Expedition, which attracted the eyes of mankind, only to disappoint evert hope its preparations had excited. The Swedish troops are now once more divided : one portion,lt is said, is marching to occupy Finland, and , sthe other to make a demonstration against Norway ; for as to a real Attack, the nature of the Cduntry, and the severity of a polar winter, will resider _ t ilt impossible. Meanwhile the French have reached Moscow without any interruption from an invasion of the counties in their rear, and the season is so far advanced, that even should,. all the Swedish tromps at last F•C411,41 elders le - ssiabatit, it not isuprobable that befit* OCT. 18. they are read for sailing, they will fitid probably themselves ice-bound within the harbour of Stockholm. • From this brief but correct sketch of the conduct of Swedenb ever since the renewal of hostilities in the North, it may be seen, that had the CRowN PRINCE been sincere in the cause which he professed to espouse, and promisill to uphold, he would have - seized the repeated omortuniik s which occurred, of making a timely and efl'ectual diversion in favour of Russia. When the French entered Lirllitinia, and the rapidity of their advance ou two chosen points corn pelled the cordon formed by the Russian armies to break asunder and fall back hastily to avoid being penetrated, hid the Swedish Expedition appeared oil Dantiick. which con tained all the magazines and bartering artilleev of the ene my, his march would have instantly been suspended. Or, if he resolved to proceed, he must have dispatched sin h a force to raise the siege of that city, then of vitae importance to his support, as must have considerably weakened his invading army. In the former case, therefore, the Russians Would have gained time to effect their re-union within their lines on the Dwina, which* could not have been forced without inflicting such a loss on their adversary, as might have dis abled him from further hostilities. In the latter, they would have had an opportunity of attacking him successfully, at the hour of his weakness, and repelling him from their terri tory. Occasion once lost, returned again, but-to be equally • neglected. When Smolensko had fallen, and the issue of the sanguinary battle of Valentina bad decided NAPOLEON to march to Moscow, Prince WIT GENST EIN fought several actions with the division covering the left flank of the grand French army, in most of which he had the advantage. Had BERNADOTT es Expedition landed at irtga then, and joined this brave and active Russian Commander, it would have given him a superiority of force which would have enabled him to drive his opponent back across the Dwina, and to effect A junction with TORMASOW'S corps from %Trilby uia, in the rear of BUONAPARTE, who must have stopped short in his progress, if not returned to restore his commuoic Along with Lithuania and Poland. But ere he could have erfected that purpose, might not the• Russian armies, which would then have completely hemmed ;iim in round, have attacked him with a decided advantage ? Then Moscow would have been safe, and Europe would. not have to mourn the destiue- • tion of one of the most ancient and superb capitals that adorned her bosom. . Nay ; .the war might have perhaps been finished at one bloW. But not only did BERNADOTT tardiness, or insincerity, let the golden hoar pass by unim proved; not only did he not make any diversion in behalf of Russia, but he produced one most effective in ,favour of her enemy. By his repeated promises, and vain demonstrations, he kept in Finland a Russian division of 3(1,000 men, who were to join his Expedition, and who, had they not been de tained by his delays and artifice, would have been united two months ago with the corps of NVI T OENSTEIN, which they would have swelled int , a powerful army, able of itself to engage that under the immediate command of NAPOLEON, and not compelled, as it now to remain idly on the defen sive, whilst he ravages and destroys tire fairest cities io the Empire. From this statement of farts, and from the forbearance of Islarot.ton, in not expressing the least doubt of the fi delity of Sweden. or taking any precautions against her threatened hostility, may not a suspicion be entertained, that a secret understanding existed all along between them ? May not some communication, to the following effect, have been made isy tie Gallo-Swede, previous to the actual com mencement of the Russian war, to BUONAPARTE, and V e reduced the pbroomerk eve have &scribed ? Vf* . • • .. I A