The National Register. — London, England, 1815-12-17 00:00:00

THE NATI This Paper is now pdblislied at No. 89, CHANCERY LANE (oppo_ site Symond's Inn) ; where all Communications and Advertise_ mcnts are requested to be sent.—The New PROPRIETORS beg to observe, that they are anxiously studying by what means they may add to the utility and interests of its contents : and that no labour or expence will be spared to render it worthy the general patronage of a liberal and discerning Public. PRICES OF STOCI 3 per Cent. Consols shut 3 per Cent. Red. 601 Ditto tin Acct. 62.1 4 per Cents. 7.1/ 1 .S YESTERDAY. 5 per Cents. Navy shut Omnium Li pr. Ditto for payment 1.514 I India Stock THE NATIONAL REGISTER. LONDON : SUND.IY, DECEMBER 17. ON THE FATE OF MARSHAL NEY, AND THE AMNESTY. TH E trial, conviction, and execution of Marshal has afforded an instance of what is called the reviving en ergy of the French Government. It has been followed by a proposal for a law of amnesty by the prime Minister ; not in the sanguinary terms of that introduced by the violent party among the royalists, but exactly corresponding with the King's Proclamation upon his late return to Paris. In this we may observe the ameliorated sentiments of the present, compared with former ages. Kings and legislatures have evidently a greater tenderness for the lives of their subjects, than in the days of 'bigotry, and the times when the doctrines of divine right were too often associated with the practice of vengeance. which sunk the character below humanity, instead of raising it to a level approaching to the exalted nature from which, it is now the fashion in France to say, all power is derived. If " allpovser is truly from God," it were well to see it manifested only inmercy and beneficence, attributes which are to us apparent in all the works of God. As men animated with the views of an enlightened policy, we hail the amnesty therefore, rather than the execution, as the sure sign of vigour in the government. The frequency of punishment is an infallible symptom of well-grounded or imaginary fear ; since, if not prompted by a sense of danger, punishment is at all times the offspring of cruelty ; while, if a government is strong without terror, it may safely indulge in mercy without bounds. Estranged from France for a quarter of a century, it might be expected that the house of Bourbon could find few attachments among the modern race of French youth; who, having been nursed in the cradle of revolutionary enthusiasm, have bent only to the rod of despotism, because its magic potency deluded them with, the dazzling dreams of military glory. But, in truth, such is the nature of political society in this age of commerce and industry, such is the absolute demand for government and political restraint, as a necessary of life, that the race of the monarch and the form Qf the government ) are in reality little considered. The DEC. 17 i INA L REGISTER. many are content to earn their daily t ii . the turbulent, who are fond of novelty, will ni'ver with any thing; whilst in general the militar% will fi •tlt, an the courtiers will fawn, for any one that has power to gra tify their ambition and their vantty. Property having long settled since the Revolution, and new laws and novel usages having been reeularly iturafred :he manners of the people durity , the imperial government, we are convinced, that if these are not cltatL , ,ed. and e-ars for the safety of property introduced by the returning claims of the evicted emigrants. eager to appropriate to themselves all power, place, honour and emolument, — France, in its new state, will as readily rei•eive :he de. scendant of its ancient monarchs. as a vcsset newly eqeippecl bears its old commander. but " the fear of Climate perplexes not monarchs only, but their people," anti to this alone we attribute the sudden defection of all France ; that is. of atl the moveable force of France, the military an , '. political adven u ers, upon the re-appearance of Boni.- parte. Ne.y, to believe his accusers, was actuated more by a sense of indignity to his wife, than by any other feeling, in theeager reception that he gave to his old comrade; w horn, it must be observed, he had- previously deserted w•th grog facility, and who!n, since his failure in the battle, he luti condemned with equal asperity. Of this victial to his im patience, and his meddling eagerness to be the foremost the fight, and the first in every political change, we tire inclined to think, that he was not a long prei»etlitatt d trai_ toii indeed, be seems to ha ve p remeditated nothin g , but to have acted from a momentaneous impulse, with headmtig zeal and irresistible versatility. That when he kis,:ect the King's hand, he had received, like Judas, the commis;iion to betray him, is so unlike the character of a soldier, that we would fain disbelieve it; but though we could allow much for a patriotic feeling, not to involve a nation in civil war, when its agreement for a revolution was manifest, and the King's danger had compelled him to flight, which is equivalent to abdication, yet we hold not a promise so lightly, as to be broken almost as soon as it is made. Oati;s of Allegiance, though not ties to bind beyond the pops er of human strength, are not, like vessels of a fragile pottery, to fall asunder while the wheel that turns and the hand that moulds them are moving round. Net] should never have 'joined Bonaparte after the lo ft y p romises he had made to the King. In this sense,—whatever, to repeat the sentiment of the King's Advocate, may be our regret, that he who was the architect of his own glory, which he built up with that of his nation, should be the hand to destroy the temple of hia own honour, we cannot but agree, that in selecting Neg as one of the principal examples of vengeance, the house of Bourbon has not committed its interest ; and we shall be happy, if it can feel, that, with this example, it may safdly check its force. The actual moment of Ney's 'desertion is a point oa