The National Register. — London, England, 1809-04-23 00:00:00

APRIL 23. The joy, however, was considerably damped, by a report that the gallant Capt. CoettnAtit fell in the action; but this proved to be a mistake. The Gazette Extraordinary, which will be found in another part of our raper, was pirblished at nine o'clock. We never remember an occasion, in which the town was more animated, in which the success was Thore and had so little to alloy it. WAR BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND FRANCE. What we had foreseen, indeed, what we have dreaded, has at length occurred, and after years of vacillation, of alternate decision and irresolution, of menace on one side, and an equivocal submission on the other, France and Austria are again committed, and have again resorted to the last appeal of nations. This resort, in whatever point of view it is to be considered, is of a most important nature, and may eventually lead to consequences which may again entirely vary the face of Europe. The calamities of the Continent, and the passive submission which resulted from them, had began to give an air of tranquillity : there were certainly murmurs, and perhaps curses, not lotul. but deep, but people seemed reconciled to their degradation,• and as sumed at least the external appearance of a patient expec tation of better times. Austria has at length taken her resolution, and .whatever there is of the disaffected and turbulent, must now rally around her. The Austrian proclamation is very strongly characterised with the present actual disposition of Austria,—with her hopes and her fears,—with her desperate effort and with her due sense of its perilous nature. The Archduke CIIARLES is too great a General not to know the peril to which he puts his country—he too welt understands the relative situation of France and. Austria, to have any other hopes, but on the most valiant efforts of a united nation and soldiery, seconded by that assistance which Providence, in an honest cause, often bestows on the weak when opposed to the strong. It would be uncandid in the most extreme degree, to congratulate the British public on an event which at best is perilous in the extreme. We have never dealt in such general delusion, and we will not now begin. Austria has our wishes, our most ardent hopes; . but our hopes are trembling, and our Wishes are blended with our apprehensions. We feel for Austria, as, in simi lar circumstances, we should feel for ourselves. Our feel ings, on such an occasion, should not depress our energy— we would do all that we could, and look to the protecting hand of Heaven to second our efforts. There are one or two circumstances in favour of Austria. In the first place, the German Confederacy, at present in alliance, indeed in actual incorporation with France, may -very naturally be presumed to have more sympathy for Austria, than for the Emperor NAPOLCON. This Confede racy was very skilfully put together by France; hut it was put together at a time and period when Austr:a was in a different situation to what she now exhibits. Austria, powerful and ambitious, the supreme power in Germany, was an object of terror, and therefore of envy, to all the other German Princes. They were pleased, therefore, to see her humbled, and in the moment of the gratification of their envy forgot the interests of their own safety. They forgot that if Austria, by her superior relative power, trespassed on. them herselt,—if she occasionally assumed a tone, and perhaps an active power, which was contrary to their privileges,—they forgot, we say, that she was enabled by the same power to become their protector, that she was their natural barrier against foreigners, and thateven a state of jealousy and domestic rivalry with a powerful neighbour, was better than absolute subjection under •a, 'foreigner. They forgot this at the time, but have doubtless become wiser by experience. Austria, therefore, may look with expectation to this quarter, and it is evident that she enter tains these hopes from the very language. of the Procla maim • .i " Year lrlnotshnti ; never Clow for Foreign interests and Fo reign nointousisests. not on you shall the curse alight to annihi late innocent pations;• and over the bodies of the slaughtered de fenders of their coniitry to pave the way fur a foreigner to the usurped throne. A happier lot awaits you ; the liberty of Lit rope has taken refuge under oar banners. Your victories will loose its fetters, and your brothers in Germany, yet in the ran:.3 of the , enemy, 'long for their deliverance. Yoe are engaged in a just cause; othemise I should not appear at your head." This is an evident allusion to the Gorman Confederates in the Freich Armies', and we scarcely think that this allu sion would !mire been made, unless there was some reason. able hope that it will he verified. The personal abilities of the Archduke Cnantik;may awaken a reasonable hope, that whatever can be done bf human effort, will be•done by him. The Archduke ttrAnini is confessedly the most able General 'in hurope, and 'had' the natural timidity of the Emperor fn.kscfs, suffered him to have his tieelscope,*he would have precluded the necessity of signing the Peace of Presburgli.—lt must be Still within the memory of all our Readers, that the Archduke CHARLES had advanced within three days Imaisah.of Vienna, when the Emperor FRANCIS wag induced. to ,s9l,icit ran Armistice.— The. Emperor FRANCIS is doubtless possessed of some amiable qttalities,—he, is beloved by his Veeple forhis gen tleness, *1,14 still more far the . patriotic aftectionihich he has alma, exhibited ~t owards his country . — B ut the Em. peror unfortunately been placed in situations for which he is , peculiarly unfitted. In a stale of peace,, and lama' tranquillity, thero.could not have heen a better Sovereign, but theaeasou of peril is not suited to a Prince; whose olery quality, natural and acquired, is pacific. SO We may expec t ' LP bear by, l tim next :arrivais t . Ofit BONAP:ttrri has put himselfat Ile bead of • his arinseis,„ Spain has becOme comparatively of little mement. Now is, the time for the Spaniards and Portuguese to work • out their own deliverance. Lathan avail themselves of it, or be slaves fur ever. - a Many Foreign Papers have arrived in the course of the late week, they are strictly however Dutch, and therefore being only a kind of second hand intelligetice. The open inc. of the Dutch ports promises almost to deluge us with these' journals. ' The affairs of Spain, as they may be collected from these Papers, are rather unfavourable; it is stated that General SEBASTI ANT has defeated the army of Andalusia, and taken Cindad Real, whilst the Duke of BELLuNo'has routed .Ge neral CUESTAS, . and in consequence obtained posseision of Merida. These accounts arc given in the Dutch papers a 4. extracted from The Morilteur. In' contradiction :0 thee; statements, it has been asserted that government have re. ceived intelligence by Captain SCHONBERG, • of the Loire, that three actions had occurred between °Marshal Soeur and Rommva, in which the latter was completely defeated,. and in consequence compelled us to fail back upon Por tugal. Upon the collation of the two accounts, it must be ac knowledged that the French intelligence is more circum stantial, more particular. The Dutch .papers, quoting from The.Vonitenr, specify circumstances and particulars, whilst the alledged information by Captain SCHONBERG is but a mere naked statement. The French alledged victories, moreover, have certain visible facts. Ciudid Real is said to be in possession of General SE.sairriast, and Merida, of General CC ESTA. The proceedings of Pulioment in the course 'of the week have. been unusually ,animated and interestiug. Tha second reading of Mr. Pencev A L.'s Bill, was attended with a most impoitant Debate. iu which Lord FoLisToper. took that briiliant.and leading station, to which he is called by the almost unanimous voice of the 'Country.—According to the statement of his Lordship, and indeed by the con fession of the CHANCELLOR of the Excueou ER there seems to he ample room fur a Reform in Parliament.. We are I not the advocates for innovation in turbulent t met:, hut THE NATIONAL REGISTER.