The National Register. — London, England, 1813-08-08 00:00:00

W • " . .... .111 ' - • • -410.•—iis v. •••••••••040 IF WM ft w o o %_ • a ''•' lo • s . ... .. ... .• 40 or 1 • ••■lO • • O AI T . . . '‘. REGISTER. I THE NATIO .~ . . • NO. 293. Whilst an armistice continues to close the scene of war in the Not th, and the assembling Congress prepares to involve the fate of Europe in the obscurity of negociation, we turn in vain our eyes towards the Peninsula, to trace the move ments of the contending armies. Since the arrival of SouLT at Bayonne with reinforcements, and the re-organization of Joscrtes defeated host, no intelligence has been received that confirms the expectation of a fresh battle, now con .fidently entertained. This silence may precede a new explo sion, but with the example of the past before us, we await it, not only without alarm, but with the most sanguine an ticipations, and the best founded hopes. The urgency of relieving St. Sebastian and Pampeluna may be great, and may induce SOULT to risk a general engagement with the 'force he has collected to effect that purpose, yet we almoit fear that considerations still more weighty will restrain him. The army which be now commands is the last that can be assembled for a considerable length of time on the western frontiers of France. If it is beaten, who can check our pro gress through the most fertile French provinces ? It is, therefore, both his interest and his duty, to endeavour to raise the siege of St. Sebastian and Pampeluna, by demonstt•ations only. It is equally our interest and duty to compel him to fight a battle. Ile is now playing NIARMONT'S•game before our victory at Salamanca. With greater means than he then .possessed, our WELLINGTON is onliis guard to avail himself of his first error, and to give him an equally decisive over throw. Whilst the statesmen of the north wield .the.pen,' and the warriors of the west the sword, and wild t the fate, both of negociation and' of war, still hangs undetermined, an opportunity is left us of directing our attention to other objecti, highly interesting, if not of such immediate import ance. _ . Few, who consider the astonishing changeS which th e last _ eight months have produced alternately in the relative situa tion of. France and Russia, and who view the menacing atti: titude which the. former, notwithstanding so many reverseF,. 'has Dnce more been able to take, will think an inquiry - into her real state, the spirit of her population, and the nature and resources of her government, uninteresting or misplaced.. For this, we shall not .enter the wide field of conjecture, and speaking, like many of our daily politicians, from our own surmises, deliver oracular opinions, founded, like those of the Delphian priestess, on vapour alone. We shall draw our information from that of an • eye-witness,..whO .having lately traversed France in various directions, has had the most favourable opportunity for observation. We mean the Spanish Governor of Tarragona, whose heroic defence Vol. VI. No. CCICIIL Cur Iting, Constitution, assu laths. PUBLISHED AT NO. 11, NEWCASTLE-STREET. STRAND. SUNDAY, AUGUST S, 1813. of that city (taken by storm the 28th of June, 1811, by SUCHET) was puui•hed by NAPOLEON with confinement in a strong castle in a mountainous department pf France. This gallant veteran effected his escape from the place of his captivity on the Ist of October, 1812, and wandered, during eight months, through almost every pat t of NA POLEON'Sdo minions, endeavouring to find his way to England, which he was only able to accomplish at the beginning of June last. That he should have remained so long and successfully concealed, in a country abounding with such hosts of spies, and where his betrayer would have been certain of receiving the highest reward from'government, is in itself a most con vincing proof of the little affection of the French to their present Ruler. From the conversation of this Commander, who is preparing an account of the Siege of Tarragona, with remarks on the present State of France, for the press, we have gathered the following information. It will unlock many mysteries, and make us dive beyond the glitter of NA POLEON'S fortune, to the means by which he produces such almost universal delusion. .`The Press, the support in free States of the liberties 'of the people, becomes in a tyrant's hand the most powerful engine of despotism. To it, Bucus AP AR TE is indebted for the cre dit, in which his professions are still .holden by foreign Powers, as well as the apprehensions with which he but too frequently inspires them, and much of the influence which he possesses over the French. It is his organ and only speaks hip language. Whenever the public opinion is most decided against him, he seizes that opportunity of dis playing his cthitrottling power, by exacting the basest flat tery from his minions. Thus, when at the end of last De cember, he entered Pills. gs a fugitive, he made the consti tuted bodies and pri,nrip'al towns in France, send him depu. tations, whose speeches were diCtated by . himself. These, however disgusting to the well-informed, served to mislead the multitude, who thought thernielves justified in adopting the-opinion expressed by their superiors. Hence, although detested, he continues to dazzle, and . so far neutralizes the public spirit, as to prevent its rising against him. Hence 'also, he meets with 'no opposition to his wishes, however vexatious and burthensoine. The Senate and Legislative Body arc only employed to circulate, not modify, his de crees. Appointed by the constitution as counter-balancing weights to the supreme authority, they do not in rea;ity form the least check to his despotic power. They are not, only ready to obey, they anticipate his commands. When he appeared among them, •to inform them that he had lost. four hundred thousand men amidst the snows of Russia,. they did not let him ask, they granted him twelve pun millions of flanks, seven hundred thousand troops 1 line and national guards, and eighty thousand cav With these, he formed in three months his army of the ndrecl ,f the valry. Elbe, 1 3 (MITI C.. 4 I. DISQUISITION. MATE OF FRANCE. *. .. . PR ICE 9d• ;