The National Register. — London, England, 1808-09-11 00:00:00

I I 1.7 • aSRI. sanguine to dwell with pleasure on past misfortanes and un m • lied dishonour, when we can enjoy all the exquisite sensatious arising from the contemplation of immediate . and future advantages; and did not a sense of justice to ! Vrards the army indude us to advert to the transactions of that time, we would willingly consign to oblivion an Ad minaitration which bronght so undeserving a stigma on our military and national character. A brighter prospect, than any perhaps in our history, be ghis to open onus. It is the more cheering; because we have ;passed through some dreary and disconsolate scenes before 'we attained this height. In our persevering ascent every ohject about us attempted to mislead and discourage us ; and notwithstanding the insidious remonstrances of treach ery, the timid counsels of the weak and the blustering me n lees of inin.tice, we have now reached that commanding height where no storms can assault us. Let us take, then, a comprehensive view of oar situation and advantages.— •Let no indulgence of frivolous curiosity or ignominious ease turn away, even for an instant, our attention from the object w.; are pursuing with so much boldness and souses. But to drop this figurative language—the immediate consequences of oar victories in Portugal are the emanci pation of that country and the eventual liberation of Spain from the despotism of Frauce. From the extraordinary changes which have occurred of late, let us not be tempted to appreciate those advantages too moderately ; they are of themselves almost incalculahlr. There is something of the extravagance of gamblers introduced into political spcculaticms of late ;—so many States have been won and lost, that the acquisition of one or two , mighty kingdoms. will he considered, perhaps, as a trifling circumstaace.— However, this is a fatal and irretrievable check to univer sal despotism. Mighty armies arise in a quarter where the -Tyrant least expected them. They are ready to inundate the immediate scat of his despotism, and by their presence and victories convince the discontented inhabitants of the southern departments of the contemptible, perfidious, and • equivocating- character of their present Ruler. What a chain of atrocities and falsehoods will be exposed to them ! =How strongly will they fell their own degradation, and the Infamy of their Chieftain and his auxiliary Ruffians ! Their provinces have been the nursery of Jacobinism, and the lass retreat of the Royalists. Till: individuals of this kind form the majority of the popteation. They are, at the same time, the most restles3,the in:l`. active and enterprising; and if we • reflect how egregiously they have been deceived, it would be an excess of political drivelling to imagine that they -will oppose any resistance. The cause of the Spaniar4s is 'attractive for both parties ;—it is that of liberty and of the 'Bourbons. Nothing can be more amusing, if inconsistency st and folly can excite such sensations, than to retrace the fluctuations of opinioa for the last ten years. In the early part of that period the public were periodically entertain -ed with insurrections in the South. A proof that our ape = dilative politicians saw the probability of such an event taking place. But now those very men, who were so for liikrd and sanguine in their expectations from the discon 44nt of the natives, have, since a few years . , condemned as f ,ccal foutabstird every speculation to that effect.— 7 those d were at both periods mi s tak en . Th ey ssui 'were Mistaken, because they had neither local knowledge to direct them, nor the slightest insight into the moral and 'physical character of the natives to guide them. They THE NATIONAL REGISTER. ' I S were mistaken, because without the slier the Continent, without the least acquai springs and motives of the primary and s ten; of the revolution,lhey consulted their theories, and from this troubled source , torted anages, which they had the modest , perfect likenesses. With all deserving gentlemen, a change in that country is though perhaps not so spontaneous, than ing the course of the Revolution. I' , not be effected by themselves, but must abroad. The slightest impulse is sufficr pose; and no one circumstance will so it, as an invasion from the other side of We cannot be certain whether Bona!' this danger. Whether he has that extra , obduracy of heart and head, as to suppose ' ment is so attractive, so paternal, as to victims of his ambition to make exert; his behalf. We believe him too wary, of his own villainies, to rely on his an emergency. There is reason to known character and extraordinary foresight that his precautionary measures will, portionate to the magnitude of the danger his attempting to compromise with Spain, absurd, that it does not deserve a serious foreign accounts, whilst they describe, gerated colouring, his preparations against viucc us that he is not indifferent to threatens him in the South. His desperai popularity, at the feast given by his good an irresistible argument in support of affairs. He would not so ostentatiously person, if lie-did not see the necessity sures as desperate as his present fortune, cumstauce, so apparently trivial, gives 1 into his present embarrassment, than declamation. Let the Country, let the sight for an instant of his present situation. terprising, a wonderful man. It is, after ' reflections, that we are able to appreciate of the victories of the 17th and 21st. Our force on the Continent, flushed with success, themselves and their leaders, can now the Pyrenees. Shall we fix the attention by adverting to the impression which such ing, if necessary, and it is very necessary, in that quarter. But it would be superfl even of the most confined understanding prehend it. The success and safety of nected with the rapidity and vigour of We have no doubt but they will be pro danger of that power. Joined to the tuguese, they will soon drive the French , nets ; and if our Maritime preponderance consideration, and the advantages this ing army, there is reason to suppose they characteristic boldness of the enemy in Whatever way we examine the condL •and Army in Portugal, and the wisdom and first planned the enterprise, we find equal cause sent exultation and future safety. It rescues 'character fiom the stigma which the incur :trt two individuals, and the active obloquy • q? . aztax • ei; ightest knowledge of piaintance with the id subaltern charac- heir vague and cru d e ce gave us th e di s - , desty to assure were ng respect for these is much easier now, han it had been dur- -I'his Revolution will ist be operated from Icient for that pur- -1 easily contribute to of the Pyrenees. aparte be sensible of extravagance, that iose that his Govern- induce the wretched lions and sacrifices in and too convinced I popularity in such imagine, from his Iresight and activity, if possible, be pro- ianger. The idea of ain, is so notoriously ous answer. All the e, in the most mg- gainst Austria, son- to the storm which perate affectation of rood city of Paris, is f the danger of his dy expose his sacred y of adopting mea- ne. This single cir- us a stronger insight n a whole volume of he Ministry, not lose [talon. He is an en. er having made these :jute the importance Our whole undivided success, confident in r proceed rapidly to Lion of our Readers ich an army, consist - , of 80,000 will make xlittous ; every man ing, will easily corn- of Austria are con. cif their movements. Toportionate to the Spaniards and Por- ch beyond the Pyre- once be taken into will give the invad- they will adopt the their operations. Net of our Generals m and -vigour which !qual cause for pre- rescues our military incompetency of one lorry of our enemy