The National Register. — London, England, 1809-09-17 00:00:00

1. ~. r . , ... • - .. t . .1.: . .ii , +-q-.:•ow • • . . . , . • 4. - • z( • :... , 4. •. ' . ' ..:.. .'' - aIN AL •••• • i s i ~.T, 1745 •.' ~ I. . itEGISTEA-. - `,, 1 a_ ~. • OUT Cling, eanOtutian, anb -SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1809. No. 90 PRICE 9(t; POLITICAL DISQUisrno.N. •N U 318 Irit . EIGHTY SIGHT. • ll' PEACH BR CONCLUDID lIRTWIIEN PRANCE AND AUSTRIA, IMMEDIATE EPPECT WILL THAT CIRCUMSTANCE NAPE UPON THIS COUNTRY 2 , Ti 4 is . a question which every thinking man will have fut. to himself, and which the most ordinary Tyro in Po- Mies may answer without .hesitation: 'Without endeavour ing to specify the order, or moment of his several acquisi- A 0111 69 without entering . into a detail of the _probable Means by which BooNA P 411. TE will subject the whole *Con tinent, we-nisy state generally that its subjugation is ine vitable. He is not only become belligerent by profession, but has acquired immense strength, and has contrived to place himself in.the Midst of a . multitudeof objects of prey. Re has turned'conqttest into traffic, and makes every new One pay the expellee, of that which is to.succeed. the energy and versatility of his genius, he converts these con quests into fresh resources, by adding recruits from them to swell his old armies ; and by acquiring additional terri tory, he is enabled to Maintain them/ The fascinations of uncontrotticd - power, for there is no earthly check *now to his career, if/di as they ever have done, prove too Much for human virtue . and human 'intellect to withstand; and his ambition, whether it is creeping or rinipant, whether it alttetrwith-Ohl'atabition of ast64 her; or wraps itself u ii the cloak of his own imaginary dignity, will have but. one aided, which it prey,• and but one enemy, which is liberty. • No - one wilt now be hardy enough - lb deny that Buoxs waam without-any other check than his oWn modera tion, is unquestionably able to subdue the continent. Some attention, perhaps, may be paid for a time to the parties in possession, and they will be perinitted to remain as military vassals; his-great object, for thq moment, being to secure a supremacy, and a support in all his subsequent projects, with w reversion as to the future. In this situa tion of-things the antientjealousy of France, will pass into the bosom of its new proprietor, and as the navy of gng land will at once: affront his pride, and be the only check to his ambition and interest; Delenda est Carthago, will be come the settled and increasing policy of The Tyrant to wards this country. That we are fast approaching to this period, the most puerile politician will not deny. We will not at present enter into the question as to the omnipo tence of Our wavy. We, will merely observe Ist. That a navy js necessarily more or less the appendage of coasts. clfdly. That the master of the continent must also be master of its coasts. Silfy. That the operations of a navy are subject to disappointments, from calms, from storms, and from uncertaintraato -the-motions of an enemy. itthly. That when so short a trip is in question, - ..'as a passage from the neighlitsttrifigShOltes to 'lrefand, or Erigland, a 'great deal less:skill, a kw navy,' . and fewer" Sailors, are necessary than format', carried oft at a distance., bth. That a successful Ibmiling salty e.Milj . end- in- the deg-ruction • of our naval arsenals and dock-yards. And lastly that when an enemy ('O4 XC. _ ..- shall once have gained a looting in eitaer country, there i• not a single fortress in its internal parts to oppose his pro- greys. It may be truly objected, that in the present state of out navy, and of our wealth, these dangers are remote. But what is the respite of a few years, to, such of us who are young, or who have posterity for whose welfare we; are in, terested ? Upon such au occasion let no frail hope be placed upon our navy, or our wealth. History speaks too intelligibly fur us not to know, that beyond a certain point the laud has always governed the sea, and iron has always mastered gold, of which the of Carthage.by the Romans furnishes the double ,example. Nothing then is safe but precaution, where precaution and whilst precau.: tion can be.useful. It will be too late to think of it when the opportunity of employing it is past. If we leave any thing till to-morrow that weean do to-day, we shall almost deserve to be surpried. If the ins7car situation of Great Britain, and i tmai _strength, has si inuch abated our jea4 lousies and 941:inainediate.feers, if.we are too confident to be apprehensive of danger on our own shores, let us look, to what way .happen, during suck a struggle, from other quarters. But before we proceed to this part of our, subject, let.us examine our real situation more in detail.--.oer po-: potation does not, perhaps , exceed twelve, millions;. and) this amount is weakened by . being divided between. two' islands. one : ef which, at. least, CU., ouly.be.iiefeaktk, Rio t difficulty. Its land forces bear no propos . Lien to Mimes which can be mustered against it under the circumstances . we have previously supposed. A navy must ,form its prin cipal defence, and here, in case of actual invasion, we. come, to the uncertain operation of winds and waves before al-. luded to, and likewise to the ignorance of the precise , spot, •as in the time of the Danes, to which an hostile fleet from the northern shores may choose, to . direct its attack, whether on our east or west coast. We should be equally embarrassed to deter-. mine whether a southern fleet is to portend invasion to Great Britain or Ireland,. at the.same lime thet a strong guard must be placed upon the operations that may be go ing on in the-ports of the Low: Ceunt ries in the East. The! materials and foundation for all these hostile arrangements. are to be found in the various ports of the Baltic, the Low. °Countries, France, the Mediterranean, Sic. ; or, perhaps,, ,they are to be had in the will of despotism alone, when that :will is directed to the attainment of one object; for Itu.oe.s., ;PART-E, who has made ALII;XANDER his model, and the an, tients his study, will cherish the ambition and pride in ex... 1 coed in naval :natters the :redden efforts of Rome and Ptri.: thage, of Athens and Macedon,,•as . much..as he certainly hes , surpassed them in military genius, ..protnptitride, and exertion. • The distance too, as we have before observed; is short y ,.. and therefore requires less expeuce and skill;. but if tits. ports of the Baltic are closed to us, if Am.eriarbe estrauc..; ed, from whence than_ wilkcixe the masa of opposing itoW; pertaps, but of a progressively increasing navy is the -hands of the Tyrant. But let us look a little to :7 al