The National Register. — London, England, 1808-12-25 00:00:00

i! ItEGISTtR. VIE NATIONAL tl ,;~ c No. 52. POLE DISQUISITION: NUMBER Ell." 1 1. ..—.dle m.i.JEsTrs bEct.ARATitiN TO titE LATE OVERTURES FROM FRANCE AND RUSSIA. There ire few pertons, WitateVer their abhorrettiC of on 1 1:flitted warfare, or their party"-hiaS may be, who must übt read, with satisfaction thiS interesting document The principles it enotinced; were to coMptetely the reverse of that system of spoliation Me enemy pursues t the language so dignified; that when Contrasted with the prevarication, scurrility; hypocritical cant, and unblushing arrogance of the French Bulletins', that Such as feel au intereit iii the li&.. nonr of their country, must perceive with pleasure; that the convulsions of our time, which have Sapped altruist universally the morality of states and individuals; hive not contaminated as yet our natibtml probity. It has 'weft re marked of an age, when . moral profligacy attained the greatest height - , and was *Mod 'Widely dittoed, that public and prisate virtues likewise displayed their most astonish ing elects. The ekamptes were few, MA so powerful; as ¶ - o reconcile iiditcritv frith the most degraded and revolting 'period known in history. The age, which immediately followed the Christian Sera; though cursed %kith the exist ':nee of such monsters as Tiberius; Caligula; Nero; and Domitian; and with il l .rate of men perfectly stiitable to such masters . , vaunted; at the same time, examples of the Sublimest virtues: Iu the universal wreck of itatibnal rights, and the •alarming eucrease tif public depraNity, Which marked the end Of the last and the beginning bf this century, it furnishes us matter of titi uncomtbott tritthiph, that the public and private virtues bf thik country have ra ther augmented than diminished, within that Very itterval. What cuereases the pleasure of thi's reflettitin, is the hues- Nity we are Oared under of ektentling their influence, if we will surmount ?he diflicultibS of our situation. It 6 only the utmost range, of the social duties which offer% us securirs ;;;•ftinst the confusion and vices ofthe present time: To be Safe. we arc obliged to tie virtuous. Under this point of view, we arc hot enabled to appre liate the policy; as well as justice .%f his 'Majesty's Declara tion : and we are happy that neither the menaces; nor the late illusory overtures of the etilmny, hairt been able to etake our goYerunieut swerve from that rigid probity, it is kilr true interest in adhere to. Petite is a great and desk ablc object z but to ttitain its advantages, by violating the lima s!creil engagements, by sacrificing; a people we have Solemnly pletige4 ourselves to Support, would induce every i ndividual in Great Britain to sacrifice his latt mite; sooner than consent to so disgraceful a comprtnnise. Our adher ence to honourable, iu prelereuce to selfish, policy, be comes impe r i ous ly urgent by the conviction we must now i l'f'l, that concession, though it might appear to appease for a year or two, the inveterate animosity of the enemy, '''°"ld ultimately tend to expose us noieh weaker, and less Vol. L-11'6'; 1.1 r. Out /Julie, conitftation, nub 11a1130. ME/.//l/ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1808. PRICE 811. ... prepared, to its most dire effects. Li the intermediate time, those which now have the appearance Of ins dependence And ineah4 of resistance, would fdll a Sacrifice to the tk•ratit t and, after he bad divided the continent among the members of his. family, aed organised, for his own purpose, its inerrense resourees, he would then throw off the troublesome 'flask of moderation, and employ the new accumulation ilf Strength to etlect our destruction. Ilis NlajeSty'S MinisterP have nut been insensible to this circutu.; stance; and very justly 010.erveil, that'd The continued ap. " pearance Of a odgticiation; when peace was found to be utterly uhattatilutide; Could be advantageous only to the " enemy. 1 ' It might citable French to to* distrust and jettlouSy in " the "Commits df those Whei ere combined to tesiss her oppressitin i and; if; attlong the nations who green under 1 6 the tyranny Of French alliance, or among these which 1 ' niainteln agaiult Eranee a &tub! ful and inetefious pendenee; there should be hey which even no are balate. ifig betWecti the certain iitin of a prolonged activity, and " the edutingent danger Of an effort to save theleselves froth " that ruin; to Wiens so situated, the delusive prospect " of a Peace betel:eh Great Britain and Frauce could not fail to be peculiarly injurious, Their preparations might " e Velaied by the vain hope of returhing tranquillity t Or " theft' purl oie •iliaken by the appreheesioe of being left Ig td Contend ileac with the undivided strength of the enettle 4 It is impossible to refuSe dir eikint ithd unlimited iippfre• bation to this part Of the Declaration; and it impresses so mach eimviction that it would be impertinent to Clement • on it. We Only regiet that Minislet4 who, on the first re ceipt Of the dispatches front Erfiirth, could not leeve been inseusihle to thug, had keen islaced in the mortifying predi4 CatiiCnt, In toniequence of our party tbuds, as to permit the Cartel, whlih breught these ifitisory overturcsi to touch on our shores. lint We are sensible what obloquy and abuse such dignified pefity Widd have exposed theen to i however; the Moment they received the tyrant's message to the Legislative Rudy, they were justified to break Id ever.: kind of intercfittm. The ithinient Bonaparte made known his intention of prosecuting his nefarious:egg-million against the Spaniards, they were. teleas,•,l from their . embarrassing delicacy; and Should immediately hasten to retnove the anxiety of those powers, which arc barairing b e n vec h tie, certain rain of dpintOngeft activity, anti the Conlingent dan ger 1* P (rt 10 m savc theselvet :rrtnr. Matt ruin. They left tiitrla in the carward state of her military prepara ticiS, Whet' tier co-operatiee in the f:ivoiir of the l'Atriets *as so neteSsary, in the rad 4 dreadful utcerta.iqty and anx iety relative to the iitie of polity our Government meant to pursue. In order Id itetp its, this interval of anxious sus pense, Bonaparte depArted to put hileself at the head of hos arinies, and consequently afforded at plausible excuse fur de ferring an answer to the proposal of our Cabinet. Whatever confidence Austria might be inclined to repose in the deters mination of this coiintl.y, not to retract froth her enga t ,ee.. tee“ts,she could have come to tte tettimatc 4ccisidv, as long 1 1 5' i S i y 1 t 14th the Aiwa S a 1 0 4 1 apei, i 2 ►4 9 i 4 0 it 6 11:11:k •qurr edUS qate rted. this . _•...1. I