The National Register. — London, England, 1808-01-04 00:00:00

JAN. 4. Allies, or fall into the hands of their ships of war or pri vateers. The British Islands are declared to be in a state of blockade, both by sea and land ; and every vessel, of whatever nation, going to or from the ports of Britain, or her Colonies, is declared to be lawful prize. To conclude this singular edict, it is declared to be a mere measure of retaliation against England. This decree serves to chew how far BONAPARTE may be • carried beyond the bounds, not only of policy, but even of reason, by the headstrong fury of his passions. The damage which the British Islands will sustain, from a blockade by sea, while the enemy dares not send out a single vessel, unless by stealth, into the Ocean, cannot much alarm us ; and the same circumstance must free neutrals from any considerable apprehensions. The terms of the decree, how ever, show how ready he is to sacrifice the interests of his own subjects, and of all other nations in the universe, to gratify his ungovernable resentment. But it is France that must chiefly stiffer from this im potent ebullition of vengeance. To the decree is subjoined, in the Moniteur, a Circular Letter from the Minister of the Interior, in which the miserable condition to which France is reduced by the prohibitory edicts of her master, is forcily though unintentionally depicted. The Minister here breathes nothing of that lofty tone which has hereto fore promised the speedy conquest of Britain, the sack of London, and the utter annihilation of the great rival of France. Ile tells the owners of privateers, that they will have greater chance for booty ; he expresses a hope that neutrals may possibly elude our cruizers ; he consoles his countrymen that their privations will be only temporary ; and that substitutes will probably be foivid for the neces saries and comforts of which they will be deprived. This is truly an altered tone for a Minister of France; and what must give the strongest idea of the indefensible absurdity of her ruler's present measures. No thing has occurred in the course of the French de predations more cruel and undeserved than their present inseter►te hostility to the House of Brauganza. It is evi dent that family has done nothing that could have _called down its present fate; but BONAPARTE has already formed a plan for the disposal of Portugal among his minions. The arts by which he endeavours to conciliate the ignorant Portuguese are equally extravagant and singular. Ile took care that his troops should raise the French colours at Lisbon on the very anniversary of that day on which the !louse of Braganza first raised the standard of free don against the :.paniards ; and this the French represents as a miraculous coincidence of two deliverances ! It is also told, that a violent earthquake shook Lisbon to its foundation, hut immediatvly subsided on the entrance of the I'rench. In the course of the week, a number of American papers have been received. They contain the first proceed ings in Congress relative to the disputes with Great Britain. There is much bullying in the tone of the American orators. et it appears evident that they are much afraid of the consequences of a rupture with this country, as indeed they may. The merchants of rhiladdphia and of THE NATIONAL REGISTER. lt several other places, have presented strong memorials against the Non-Importation Act which the policy of Jefferson has never enforced, though left at his discretion. These memorials, which discover such a marked aversion to any rupture with Great Britain, have been rejected by a majority ; but at the same time, some violent Resolutions against Britain have been rejected with equal firmness. The Report on the affair of the Chesapeake was very in temperate ; but the junction of the great opposition orator, Mr. RANDOLPH, formerly the staunch friend of Britain, with the advocates for war, shews his opinion that the American Government is inclined to pacific measures. It is, indeed, said that our wise abandonment of any pretension to search ships of war, has entirely done away the ho►tile feelings of the American Government : and in this case we need not fear the foolish violence of those demagogues who would vainly attempt to wrest from us ev en the right of searching merchantmen. There is one circumstance which we cannot pass unno ticed. Lord ERSKINE, it seems, bad some time ago, front what motive we do not presume to conjecture, invested a considerable portion of his property in the American funds. When his son was appointed American Ambassador, this very circumstance was stated as one of the causes of that appointment, as it was supposed his interest in America would render him more anxious to preserve amity between the two countries: a dangerous and impolitic principle, which might often set the interests of an Ambassador in direct opposition to his duty to his conntry. It appears that Mr. ERSKINE, alarmed at the discussions between this country and America, had recently transferred his father's property in the American funds, to secure it at all events. This circumstance, which so impolitically indicated his ap prehensions, excited in the demagogues a desire not to let such a prey escape them; and a motion was accordingly made by one LYONS to prevent such transfers of British property in the American funds. The motion was ne gatived; but the evident impolicy of this s::dden transfer by our Ambassador was not removed. The Couriers passing and repassing through France, to Count STARHEMBERG, have excited much attention, and en rise to innumerable reports. To us they only seem to indicate that Bonaparte is tittle anxious to force Austria into hostilities, which cannot possibly do us any harm. The stay or the departure of Count STAHREMBERG is an object of equal importance. Sonic letters have been published, which passed between Gen . . WHITELOCKE, and laNiaas the connuander at Buenos Ayres. They are chiefly remarkable for the utter igno rance of the s►tuation of the enemy which the English Ge neral displays. On the 4th of July, he summoned General LINIERS to surrender, with great professions of his own cle mency; and on the sth, LisriEns with equal professions, returns the same summons, to which General Nirnerr- LocKE, now better informed, finds hiieself obliged to consent. A vessel, which• arrived yesterday from the coast of France, brings the topics of conversation at Charante and Bourdcaux. These arc a meditated repudiation of the Empress JosF.entNE, and a marriage of BoN.teAnTE with a sister of the RUSSIAN Emeeiton ; to which is added a pro ject of giving I.vcleN I3oNarA rure. the Crown of Spain, and indemnifying - the Prince of Au tiTtililAS sith that oti'ort;:gal. ' i.• i 11 I 3 , . • , I hi •• %:‘