The National Register. — London, England, 1809-01-22 00:00:00

THE NATIONAI,4 REGISTER. its 'minion resources are abandoned to his discretion ; 'and the few states which now maintain a shadow of independ ence, will be as Subject to his controul, as Holland and Italy are in this moment. Who is there among us that csu relied on the possibility of such an event without moiety ? Sgvereign master of the resources and popula tion of Spain, Partugal, Germany, Italy, the Russian and Austrian empires, he would set all the dock-yards and arsenals, from Trieste to Petersburgh, at work, to gratify his vengeance against this country, and to destroy the last sanctuary of freedom and independence. For this put. , pose, the shipping and mariners of Europe woutd be cols lected in five or six convenient ports, from the mouth of the Elbe. to that of the Tagus, and Europe compelled to furbish money and soldiers towards the execution of this fa vorite enterprise. Every Government, sunk in the most ab ject debasement, to avoid incurring his indignation, would 'vie with each other in4eal and readiness to execute his or ders; and their armies and treasures be employed for our destruction. The immense force which Austria has in this moment to support her own independence, would be marched from the Danube to the coasts of Holland and Brabant ; and thus a formidable army, which might con tribute to the liberation of the Continent, be employed to rivet its chains for ever. Five hundred thousand Russians, roles, Germans, Italians, and Spaniards, conducted by French Officers, and encouraged by the promised plunder of our islind, could be kept in constant readiness to in vade our shores ; and the remorseless tyrant, indifferent to how many of those wretches might perish in the attempt, would shasten to accomplish its execution. Who can think with steadiness on the possibility of such an event ! Whatever confidence we may place in the en:lin siastic courage of our fellow citizens; and however certain we may be of the ultimate extermination of the invaders, we still Inflect wits horror on the misery, desolsption and disorder, that mutt accompany their footsteps, Then , banditti would fall victims to British patriotism; but betom they fall. there is not a family in England that would not have cause to mourn the death of a son, or husband, and the outraged virtue of a daughter. There is surely none among us, however desirous he may be to signalize him self iu the service of his country, that does not heartily de precate the possibility of a similar visitation. This calamitous occurrence is, as we have already ob served, sooner or later unavoidable, should the enemy be come uncontroulled master of the Continent, by the con quest of Spain. On the occurrences in that country we must invariably fix our attention ; and, however alarming or unpromising the present aspect of its affairs may be, the more powerful inducement we have to multiply our efforts in support of its independence. Nobody will deny the advantage of fighting the enemy on Spanish ground, rather than on our own, or in Ireland. If honour, there fore, and the pleasuac of rescuing innocence and justice faom the gripe of oppression and villainy, have no influ ence on our determination, let the most imperious interest, and the strong cry of self-preservation, keep us faithful to our engagements. GM' :AC is indissolubly connected with theirs; and our rxertions m. st correspond with this con- Money , arms, and clothes, must be given them in pro:usiou ; and every thin; offered, which can encourage their hopes, or excite their perseverance under the arduous diffi culties of their situation. Their cause is invincible, their resources inexhaustible. We need only to impress this JAN. W. conviction on their minds, by our perseverance in its sup port, and they will still perform what their first efforts le& us to expect. Every day, every week, is a new addition of 'strength to them,. and a diminution of that of the enemy. They are hurled into that extraordinary crisis, which it sure of generating great talents and virtues. Through unavoidable circumstances, the management of their affairs fell, in tho beginning, into the hands of ordinart lueu—creattlre4 Of intrigue and favour ; but the whirl of events will draw inure competent persons into action. If a CURSTA, a CASTAXOS, and a AlnitlA, prevented the full efict of their earls enthusiasm, the present oc‘ currenees, so favourable to the bold Ind the entetptising, are capable of creating a PALIFOIC, in every province, in every town. The young and the enthusiastic, in the ab sence or relaxation of regular authority, will seize the situation most conformable to their talents and courage. Nature has been profuse of her choicest gifts to the people of the Peninsula, and the present fermentation of their minds will excite a hardihood of thSnking and a, force of ' sentiment which will enable them to devise, as well as execute, the boldest projects. After this view of their character and situation, too obvious to be mistaken, we cannot conceive the instability of the public opinion on their concerns. Neither our judge ments nor our hopes were the result of reflection, aud we consequently varied, every week, from enthusiasm to de pression, from extravagance to despondency. Unacquaint ed with the country, its resources and peculiarities, we created a chimerical people—children of our imagination * aud fashioned by our wishes. Every propitious fairy was invited to bestow some peculiar mark of her favour on the fondling ; and, in the wildness of our predilection, we would conceive no modern Spaniard but iu the dress and qaracter of La Mancha's hero. This extravagance is un. wprthy of thinking mien; and if we learn to appreciate the. Spaniards as they really arc—faithful to their engage. ments, constant in their pursuits, and with a sense of honour bordering, on the romantic, we will cease to be agitated by such aguish feelings in their behalf, and our esteem and support will be more rational and constant. FOREIGN' IN TELLIGENCE. FROM THE FRENCH pdpves. THE TWENTY-FIRST BULLETIN begins with an account of the entrance of the' Englisl into Spain, on the 29th October, and gives a detail of our operations to the taking of General Lefebvre, on the 29th December. On the 28th December, Buonaparte's head-quarters were at Valdera3, the Marshal soult at Maticilla, and the Marshal Ney at Viliafer. The weather is very bad ; we suffer, but the English suffer more. TWENTY-SECOND BULLETIN. BENEVENTE ) JAN. 21.—The head-quarters of the French wen here yesterday. The Marshal Bessieres passed through Benevente un the 30th at night, and pursued the enemy to Pio ente. The flight of the English is so quick, that _they leap; their sick and wounded in the hospitals, and shoot their hones that were fatigued or wounded—they haven's° been obligert tar barn a superb inagazine of.cleathing, &c. All the Germans in the bervice csf the desert. The French army will be this evening at Astorga, and near the confines of Galicia. TW I:NTY-THIR.D BULLETIN. lir,lntnNTE, JAN. 1.--- The Marshal Soult arrived at Mao- , cilia on the *Mt, which Was occupied by the enemy's left mius wider Flu:liana, .% ' - J .Ah ~ ~,. 4 .1, (,:t t 1 :.;