The National Register. — London, England, 1812-01-12 00:00:00

JAN. P 2. that state towards which France was commencing to verge. She had become a fictitious power. Still clothed in the celapity which her struggles and vic tories under FItEDERICK the GREAT had acquired, she inspired respect And leer. Her army remained un impaired and passed for the best disciplined in Europe. Dazzled by her own tame, she was unconscious of her real weakness ; and after having viewed the overthrow of her rnigh test neighbours,. not only without yielding them any assist ince, but with secret exultation, now stepped forth in the vain hope of exalting heiself on the ruins of their conqueror. The French Chief, deceived by appearances, fancied he had now to contendi with the same army whom FREDERICK had taught to conquer. To meet the most celebrated veterans in Europe, he brought all his own, and only found that his enemy consisted princi pally in Officers and recruits, perfectly skilled in discip line, hut without any military experience, after he had defeated them 'with immense slaughter on both sides, on the plains of A uerstadt. At one blow he had prostrated the Prussian Monarchy, but this triumph had cost him still dearer than the former, and he had. not terminated the war. He had to encounter . the advancing hosts of Russia ; and in order to be able to meet them, was ccrii relied to replace his lost veterans with conscripts. Hence the character of the campaign that ensued totally differed from that of the preceding. The Russian troops were ex perienced warriors, his own were now mixed. His pro gress became slow, and was frequently checked. His boldness turned into extreme caution. Instead of hurry ing on decisive battles, he fought many actions, in which he deemed it victory not to be defeated, and with no other end in view than to eNercise hii conscripts, and inure them to danger. After every engagement he gave them rest by returning i!Ito cantonments, instead of pursuing any advantage which he might have obtained ; and it was only after he had spent several months in trials of their discipline, skill, and courage, that he resumed the main . object of the war. Even then he only conquered after repeated battles of the most sanguinary nature, which. deprived him of additional numbers of his veterans, and of multitudes of his new soldiers, so that at the close of the conflict, althov.:4ll he was able to form Kingdoms and Duchies out of the territory , he had acquired, he re mained still more weakened in effective strength than before. He returned laden with the laurels and spoils of the war, but with a sword blunted for future conquest. (To be continued.) PAROCHIAL WATCHING. Parliamentary proceedings shew that the SECRETARY for the Horne Department has determined to submit . the important business of Nightly Watching to legislative in vestigation. Circumstances having " produced increased Nigitance on the part of the Magistrates," Mr. RYDER, desirous of obtaining the judicial assistance - of " many Meinliers who were absent at the Quarter Sessions," has delayed his-motion tilt Friday next, when it may be reasott ably cxpeced that some operative remedy against noc• .turnal depredators will be seriously propo - sed, and, •at length; efficaciously adopted. The present system of watching, .if system it may be called, cannot with safety be persiqed in,—the sooner it is .superseded , the better ; but the evil. his deep,, and therefore we are not of opinion that it can be either so- easily or speedily removed, as many of our contemporaries think. All will be done, doubtless, that san be dcz:-. • ' done, w * nl e i r e eT;e with the th; b 6o - v — e - riina'ent of the United Stites ot ,t men .. z.... /I remain unadjusted, the dillculties vrhich the affair of the Cbeearah• THE NATIONAL REGXSTrit. TYMERIXVP,FRETAkt 2.adisi.— • HOUSE OP LORDS. ..-", TUESDAY, JAN. .7. • • At half past three o'clock this day the Lords appointed by virtne of the Prince Regent's authority for opening Parliament by Commission, hav ing taking their seets on the Woolsack, • The Lord Cueece Leon directed.the said Commission to be read by the Clerk at the table, which being done, the Lord Chancellor then read the Regent's Speech, which was as follows:—. 44 MT LORDS KND GENTLEMEN, 44 We are commanded by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent to express to you the deep sorrow which he feels in announcing to yell the continuance of his Majesty's lamented imlispositior, and the un happy disappointment of those hopes of his iMeijesty's early recovery, which had been cherished by the dutiful affection of his family, anti the loyal attachment of his people. " The Prince Regent has directed copies of the last Reports of le r Majesty the Queen's Council to be laid heoere you ; and he is satisfied that you will adopt , such measures as the present melancholvieltigency may appear to require. , • 64 In securing a suitable and ample provision for the supp en of his Majesty's royal dignity, and for the attendance upon his Majesty's sacred person during his illness, the Prince Regent rests assured that you will also bear in mind the indispensable duty of continue g to pre serve for his Majesty the facility of resuming the personal exercise of his royal authority, in the happy event of his recovery, so earm.sr ly desired by the wishes and the prayers of his family and his subj e ts. " The Prince Regent directs us to signify to you the satiefacte.n with which his Royal Highness has observed that the measures which have been pursued tor the defence and security of the kingdom of Portugal have proved completely effectual, and that on the several occasions in which the. British or Portuguese troops have been engaged with the enemy, the reputation already acquired by them has been full/ main tained. "The successful and brilliant enterprise which terminated in the stir prize, in Spanish lestremadura, of a trench corps, by a dettichinent of the allied army under I ieutenant-General Hie, is highly creditable to that distinguished officer, and to the troops under his command, and ha' contributed materially to obstruct the designs of the enemy in that . pert of the-Peninsula. ' The Prince Regent is assured, that while you reflect with prEe and satisfaction on the conduct of his Majesty's troops, and it the allies in those varisius and in.portant services, you will render jiistice to the consummate judgmeet and skill displayed by General Lord Viscount Wellington in the direction of the cantp:tgn. ' "In Spain the spirit ot the people remains unsebdued, and the system of warfare so peculiarly adapted to the actual condition of the Spar)i,ii nation, has been recently extended and improved unk!er the wlv.tuta;:es which result from the operations of the allied armies on the fro 'tier, and front the countenance aiel assistance of his Nl:tjesty's 11.:vy an the c , ;,tit. " Although the great exert loos of the enemy have iii some qt. , rtt rs been attended with success, his Royiil Highness is , er waded y u wild admire the perseverance and gallaetry manifested by the Spanish et inks. Even in those provinces principally occupied b; the feench forces, new e nergy has prod u cede; the peeple, mei the increase of difficulty and danger has more connected 'diem of gene' ai resistance. " The Prince Regent, in the name and on the hebalt his Majesty, cones, mands us to express his confident hope that you will enable him to cup tinue to afford the most effectual aid and a'sistauce in support ot the contest which the brave natioes of the Peninsula J till maintain with such unabated zeal and resolution. 4 ' 'His Royal Highness commandos .us to express his congratulations on the success of the British arms in the island of Java. " 'l he Prince Regent trusts that you will concur with his Royal Hieh nese in approving t he wisdom with whith this enterprise, as well as toe capture of the iilends . "IBriurbon and the Mauritius, hae been conducted under the immediate direction of the Governor-Getieral of India ; and that you will a pplaud the,,dt cision, gallantry, and seirit con .pictiofisey displayed in the late operetions of the brave amity ueder the command of that distinguished Officer Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel eitchmtsty, so powerfully and ably supported by Ms Majesty's vocal forces. " By the completion of this system of operations, great additional security , will have been given to the British commerce and possessions the East In lies, and the colonial power of France will have" been entirely extinguished. His Royal Highness thinks it expedient to recommend to your attt•n tion the propriety of providing such measures forthe tuture governmeet of the British positisions in. India, as shall appear trent experience, and upon mature deliberation, to be calculated to secure their tote. nal prosperty, and to derive from those flourishing dornit ions the utmost degree of advantage to the commerce and revenue of the United hen dorm 46 We are commanded by the Prince Regent no acquaint yen, thet, while his Royal edginess regrets that various important uleeets of difference with the Goveninaent of the United States of Amen , .. etid remain unadjusted, the dillculties vrhic h the affair of the Cbeearah• 777 _. __~,,, ifk