The National Register. — London, England, 1814-03-13 00:00:00

HE NATIONAL REGISTE Gott! eourtittttion, attaLattm. PUBLISHED AT NOI 11 NEWCAS PLE-STREET ) STRAND. No. 320. sr NDA y, ARC II 13. PRrrn Qd. POL !TIC A L D ISQ UIS 11110. V. THE CONDUCT OF THE ALLIES EXPLAINED. !flow king will the minds of men be racked with suspense and anxiety! Interested spectato! s of the momentous and sanguinary drama now acting on the Eurrpean stage, it is inipossib!e they should await its close without mingled and 'violent emotions of hope and fear. Taught by the events - of the last twenty years the fragility of human expectations and human power, and the inconstancy of fortune, even in the midst of successes, we sti!l remain in the situation of Damo cles. The sword which may blast our prospects bangs sus pended by a hair over the triumphal car, and until the desti nies of the times are accomplished, no event, however encon. raging, can restore tranquillity or revive perfect confidence. But is that tremendous consummation so near as some antici pate? The whirlwind that has laid waste the earth, has indeed moved round to the land *bete it first began its course--but is it to sink 4nd . disappear, or to recruit its strength and renew its ravages ? Uncertainty,, which is the common lot of mor tality, is here encreased by the mystery in which the very intentions of the warring Powers are involved. Indeed all that passes at borne and abroad, whether intentionally or not, is calculated to augment this indecision and to'blind the public judgment. In the very centre of action, most o fus only see its intricacy without comprehending its nature, or being able to ascertain its results. We are tossed amidst a political chaos, uncertain when light shall beam, order spring and beauty bloom, or how long the wild uproar may last, and confusion and obscurity prevail. When Napoleon led the armies of Europe to perish amidst the snows of the north, his declarations and his conduct at once proclaimed his object, and the painfulness of doubt was not added to the feelings of indignation with which the free part of mankind beheld this attempt to Enslave the whole Continent. When after the self-discomfiture •f his pride and his ambition, nations resumed their courage and patriotism, and turned against him the arms which they had hitherto wield ed in his support, their glorious object was too conspicuous to , leave any doubt respecting its nature in the minds of men. 'When they crossed the Rhine in pursuit of their vanquished enemy, they expressed their resolution to secure the inde pendence of every State and a safe peace, by the reduction of his power within proper limits. But their conduct has since given cause to think they would not be contented with that object, which the assent of the enemy to their proposals placed within their hands. Hence has sprung all the uncertainty which now involves both the ends and the fate of the contest. Hence the report of divisions amongst the Allied Sovereigns, the passive obedience of the French people to their Despot through ignorance of the exact views of their invaders,4o4 VI. No. Clic- Ult. • ~~^. ~• , r< _~_~~_ the newspaper war, which augments the public perplexity at hom:., and destroys all clue that might lead to a right un demanding of the pending negotiations and of p-ssing events. Notwithstanding the sanguine hopes expressed by some, that a safe and hononrable peace may soon lie made with the French Ruler, and those entertained by others, of his speedy ditruction, it appears that neither of these events can be expected for a considerable period. As far as they are revealed in their conduct, the intentions of the Al. lies do not seem favourable to a prompt termination of the contest. Had they really wanted, as their Frank. fort Declaration announced, to make peace with Buonapartes they would have obtained any terms they pleased from hi% before they had passed the Alsacian plains. Had they, on the other hand, wi , hed to restore the Bourbons to a splendid throne and exteudeci territory, they would have crossed t/te Rhine in their name, and rallied the population round the white standard as they advanced. 'Then would Napoleon have trembled in his capital, and, forsaken by the people, per haps by the army, if not by his generals, would have beep compelled to fly (ruin his throne, and seek a refuge either is Italy or amongst his good friends the Americans. A few weeks might then have been sufficient to terminate the war, by the overthrow of the Napoleon 'Dynasty : but the real object of the allies would not have been accomplished. They, we believe, little care whether F•anee be governed by a Buonaparte or a Bourbon, provided her strength be so exhausted as to secure them, fur a long sefies of years, against the possibility of being attacked by but natttraily war like population. For nearly three centuries, and umter the Bourbons themselves, France has disturbed thc re-ose and threatened the independence of Europe, which she i.ad lately almost annihilated. At the hour of be!. weakness final humiliation, the nations of Europe have more than their ii. berty to demand from her. They have to avenge the pact, and to obtain full security for the future. Had they grant ed peace when beaten France offered to surrender her cott• quetss, the principle of strength would have remained intact in her bosom, and a few years would have served to uns fold it in all its pristine exuberance. Had they put down Buonaparte by exciting a popular t'el ing which would have replaced the bourbons on the throne, they would have not only left . France a dangerous principle of strength, but would have left it in full activity. To destroy it, was therefore their chief object, the true cause of the;r invading the French territory, and the particular kind (4 warfare they How wage. Had they united their firce, in a single mass, and moved it at once on Paris, that capital would long since have been in their possession : but tree war would have bean ended before prance should linve paid the debt of vengeance due to her invaders, and heforp LAhe. shouli have expaiencod a degree of 4era3t4tiim awl a ~.l ti ;.M r A