The National Register. — London, England, 1809-04-02 00:00:00

TIIE NATIOisTAt REGISTER. It ussia ; and kept their Sovereign and country in the most abject state of dependence, that they might have au op portunity of gratifying their own rapacity, Whatever policy the usurping Cabal may think expedient to pursue, we are happy to be informed; that our Govern , Inca is determined to persevere in the operations which had been projected for the Baltic, previously to the late revo lution; and that it will keep that sea open in spite of the opposition of Sweden, should it evince a wish to resist. For this purpose a formidable feet is preparing with the great est expedition. Sir -I -AMES SAIJMAE.EZ has been sent to Sheerness and Chatham to superintend the equipment of 20 sail of the line and 15 frigates, which are to sail imme diately to the North. That gallant and distinguished Offi cer, at the head of so large a force, will he the most effica= cious Negociator this country can employ, to arrange our differences with the States situated on the shores of the The great subject of peace, or war, in Germany Is not yet brought to a conclusion ; but every article assumes a stronger tone of hostility; every new arrival preludes more and more every prospect of an amicable adjustment. It isimpossible form any thing like a de cisive spet ulation on the possible result of the impending contest, considering the difficulties we labour under to ob tain positive information of the resources and spirit of the two parties. We have only the coloured, distorted and partial accounts of the enemy to guide us on this occasion. When these make therefore a concession in favour of Austria, prudence would inculcate the necessity of be lieving them to more than their full extent; and when they detract from the resources of that power, common experience would justify the highest degree of scepticism. We have no certain data to regulate our judgment, no other information to guide our speculations, than what we collect from the very cabinet of the tyrant, or from those of his agents, who are the organs of his will at A thsterdam, Hamburg and Frankfort. Not a single article appears on any of the papers published in the extensive tract, com prising the French empire, that is not dictated, or re iced by an agent of the French government. Freedom of discussion has long ceased on the conti nent. The communication of a single fact, obnoxious to the views of the tyrant, would be succeeded by the imme diate seizure of the property and person of the imprudent publisher; and his life pay the penalty of his indiscretion. Inder such restrictions, there is no possibility of obtaining in this country, certain intelligence from Germany. What we receive is purely French. From that source every thing, ns may be expected, magnifies the armies and finances of the enemy, as much as it endeavours to depreciate those of Austria. We are obliged to estimate the means of the lat ter, the sentiments of her inhabitants, and the energy of her Government, from documents similar to those with ti hich we are occasionally favoured from Paris ) relative to the actual state of the Spanish nation. A letter from Lisbon, by the last packet, discloses a fact of great interest. A French spy was discovered, and his person and papers secured a few hours after he had left Lisbon. He had previously imposed himself on the Mem bers of the Regency, as a secret, but accredited agent from the Court of London, and in that character obtained from time to time the whole of the plans for the future move ments and disposal of the British, as well as the Portu guese troops. His censummate address introduced him to the inspection e%en of the Government dispatches. Ile was about to quit Po. tugal, whett he was recognised by au aciinaintai ce as the editor and conductor of the Bayonne Gaz.ette. He was nu usagy anxious that his real name feio Aid pot transpire, he slated that his appearance in Por tugal wks on affairs 01 th e utmost importance to his private interests. This concealment, so eagerly solicited, excite.l suspicion and led to entriries, the result of which was an tatter from the Regcncy to secure his person. He had, how. APRIL ga ever, in the interval, effeeted his escape front Lisbon ; but his route was discovered; and in a tew hours afterwards he was pursued and overtaken by a party of cavalry; with whom was the gentleman to whom he was really known. His papers are of the utmost importance ; and many of them are already in London. They lead to discoveries of real consequence to this country, and will we understand, involve several persons here in extreme difficulty and ger. We copy the following paragraph from an American Paper of the i4th of February, which states it to be the substance of the dispatches about to he transmitted to Bri tain and France An offer is to be made to each of the bellige•ents to this Amotint—lf you will annul your ob noxious orders (or decrees, as the case may be) we will immediately recommence our commercial intercourse with you : and if your antagonist, to lahom we have made the .amc °tier, refrises to abolish his unlawful edicts, we will join you in a war against him. If you both refuse to ac cede to our demands, we will raise our embargo in Nay next, or as soon as our dispatch vessels return, and force a trade on the ocean, at the risk of being at war with both of you."—( /Voshin,l t m Federalist.) IfOItSE•CiIARDS, '2o.—The Commander in Chie, s received the King's command to make known to the Armyf that his Miljesty thought fit to command that the following ;emulations 01411 hereafter be strictly observed in regard to Pro ino;iwis in the Army, and appointments on the Stall', viz. `• No Ofliter shalt be I rontoted to the rank of Captain, until lie hEls been three years a ~übaltern. g . No Officer shall be promoted to the rank of Field Officer, until he has been seven vears in the service, of which he shall been at least two seats a Captain. Nu Officer shall be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-4 Colon e l, until he has been nine years in the service, of which he shall have been at least two :ears a Majors 4 6 No Officer shall be allowed to fill any Staff Appointment, that of Aid-de-Camp excepted, until he has been one year a Captain." By the Commander in Chief's command, 11 ItRY CALVERT, Adj...oolL F,451110.1 , 'S FOB ...111111L, The cloth and velvet mantles and pelisses, trimmed with gold and silver lace and fur, are fast yielding to those formed of sarsnets rind shawl must ins. The former ate eithet of plain or ti;ored twills, variously shaded and the latter are either %if the teal Lillian shawl fabric, or of imitations equally rich and beauv tiful in effect; these are lined throughout with sarsnets of well= contrasted colours. The Spanol mantle,- Cossack pelisse, and Turkish coat, hare each a lktrge share of fashionable dis 4 laction. The demi robe-pelisses are constructed so as to wrap from one side entirely round the figure in front, and meets the other side, with which it is united, and which flows loose from die shoulder to the feet. The collar is high and rounded, the back formed in cross straps, the front laced with cord, or ornamented take, and the sleeves are full, with deep arched cull's; it is, per. haps, impossible to invent a style more calculated to display a line figure to advantage. The jockey hat ; the French poke, placed towards one side, and edged and trimmed across the crown, n ith rihband in reversed plaits, or with variegated floss trimmings, with a full bunch of dasies or other spring flowers, are very fashionable. The hair cropt, in full curls, or partially in ringlets, bat ex posing the ear nearly as high as the commencement of the temple, ornamented with bands of wrought gold, silver, pearl, or dia ►nonds, nr with coronets, diadems, and combs of gems corre-• sponding with the other ornaments, now universally distinguish this species of costume. Flowers in the hair are not so much worn as is usual at this season. A few days since, a husband tound his frail rib in a very suspicious situation with a mole friend; not choosing that ,his wife should entertain such guests at the expeuce of his . hononr, and shunning the expence of a legal divorce, he took the fair delinquent to Sutton oil Monday last, and ex posed her for sale in the public street, With a halter rouud her neck. The gay seducer being the highest bidder, led off his precious bargain in triumph. 'rho parties are all residents of Billillittelaus. F