The National Register. — London, England, 1808-12-04 00:00:00

ft . ss 7O .a • lion woutd convince evn - ica — superticial observer, that it is not soil, nor climate, but good institutions, which give rise and encouragement to talents. After wishing to expose tl:e sophistry, and detect the shameful source of the fore going opinion, we are strongly inclined to believe that Prov►dence has conferred on every age and generation an coal portion of abilities, and that incitement and oppor tunity are only wanting to call them into action. If this llst observation be just, of which we entertain very little doubt, every government must impute, solely and exclu s•.vely, to its ow u incapacity, negligence, want of virtue and discrimination, any disasters which may occur from the in cletacy of the military force, or the misemployment of the national resources. This is a most important observation, aid deserves to be carefully weighed and invariably attend- ti to. No political institutions, perhaps, ever existed, which of f( red a greater incitement to national emulation, or the &splay of individual exertions ; and no country a greater proportion of active, intellectual power, perseverance, and enterprise, than our own. It would, therefore, be tray-a most unpardonable remissneass and apathy, on our part, and be a sore symptom of the declension and irre trievable state of our affairs, if we thought further im provement impracticable, and progression impossible. There is not a branch of our internal economy that is not susceptible of amelioration ; and if we have courage and virtue enough to set our hands to the work of reform, we may be certain of rising far beyord our present level. The consideration, that States have either a progressive or re trograde movement, and that repose is as unnatural in the politica!, as the physical, world, should encourage us to commence, wthout del'.y, the important operation. The most striking cl,fects in our military establishment, are the inefficacy, or incompetency of what may be called the Ministerial Department of the Army ; the sale of com miasious (a most revolting and pernicious abuse) the want ()fat sufficient number of military academies fur the educa tion of cadets, and, of a military order of knighthood, open fo the private as well as the officer : lastly, the want of a sufficient provis:on for the families of such, as die a distinguished death in the serv ice of their country. That par!, w ! l ; c h ri lls mos. immediately and imperiously for refoi in, is. beyond :di doubt, the ministerial depart ment ; for were it to take place there, a change would be soon etii.rted in every other. Whits that is defective, we may look in vain for the re-appearance of a Marlborough, an Argyle, a Peterborough, and a Wolfe; nor expect the return of such days, when, in the same campaign, Mir 11•.4ions were Niclorions on the Banks of the Ebro, the Selield, and the Danube. Dere the reformation must first 'begin ; and when that derartment is entrusted to a corn ni.ttee of officers of profcasicairil skill rnd experience. under the direction of a man of tried abilities, activity, :Ind integrity, our army Nvill reeo vcr IS an :ieat splen dour and superiority ; and the Scheid and the Seine become again the theatre of its achievements. We &all then no more blush at the ignorance of our coin maikrs ; nor sce our brave soldiers fly ignentiniouslv from the scene of action ; nor our generals sign dishonour• %tile Conventions ; nor a Whitelocke entrusted with an im portant service; nor behold a renewal of the disgraceful transactiows at Ferrol, Dunkirk, mad the Helder ; nor would a Sir Harry llorrard, nor a Sir Hew Hain n l,lr he ent to aupi.lant an officer of distinguished merit, and ren- THE NATIONAL REGISTER. nr,e. 4. der useless one of the most splendid victories w our annals. When we reflect on our ancient reputation ; when we consider that our army is incomparably the bravest upon earth ; when we we cons niced theN is no greater deficiency in this country than in any other those rare attributes which constitute the distinguished commander, we shall not certainly he accused of en , ar rentable motives, in recommending measures, %illicit iniot prevent the recurrence of the events of the last fifteen years. The next change we would most ardently desire is ia the nomination of Officers. The present mode of selling and pur chasing commissions, frequently excludes humble merit and virtue from this honourable career, and may open it to the worthless and profligate. The Commander in Chief, who has, it is said, struck at the root of sn . eral abuses, could he contribute to effect a salutary innovation in this respect, would render a service to his country, which would infal libly secure him the gratitude and applause of the good and . enlightened. This reformation, and the introduc tion of a simpler and less costly uniform, would open a wider field to emulation and genius ; and our army become once more, as it has formerly been, the admiration and umpire of Europe. The foundation of new military academies, in which the sons of officers, who had been killed in fighting the battles of their country. might find a secure asylum and education, would serve as a uursery of heroes, and afford the soldier of misfortune the plea ing conviction, that his sons would be secured against the pressure of poverty, should he have the fortune to fall in performing the duties of his profession. Were these advantages combined with the establishment of a military order, equally open to the private soldier as the General, under the name of the Military Order of St. Georgc, we might then see an enthusiasm kindle in our armies, and a splendid period open in our annals, which would not only secure us against the alarming perils of the present moment and leave a bright and solid inheritance to the future ge neration, but place our beloved country above the region of storms, and at the summit of earthly grandeur. It is peculiarly adapted for the exercise of great virtuN, and the performance of splendid exploits ; it woold therefore be unpardonable degeneracy nail pusillanimity in her sons, were they, in consequence of some difficulties and sacrifices, to renounce what policy and honour equally recommend. We tc;11 make in our next Number some ohcerratenns on th• k:nrsnE , Run II t:rlErr, and hope to prove the fallacy of its ,r -culalions on the issue of the Spanish contest. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. FROM THE SPA-NISH PAPERS. -...N1P1N....". The following is the official accoont nr the operation , Pr Cr neral flake's artn, , as comamnicuted by himself to the Supreme Junta : SUPPLEMENT TO IThE NADI:in G.IZETTE or To: 13 r II N ov 1:m it FA: . An i vi t• r.z, Nov. z, No I.l.—The Lieutenant-C. en eral Don .1 ilh. 101 - (111 in) Blake has adilres , ed the follow in:t di-pP t ehu" , ' 1 " 1 " ith aril Sth instant, to the Secretary of Statelor the War l) 1 partment : 1 " 4110 ' r Everr.r.nrcr SIR, or " In oritf.r to etrect t h e coin cot rat ion of my Forces, imp t t:tot 141 all ori•n%iim , :, :Hid rii -iirtilaily i.o tinder the ci( um btzuwes of my being attacked by i, (ince so decishcly ?operi"ri