The National Register. — London, England, 1812-05-03 00:00:00

268 world. They are all, we have no doubt, unfounded.— BCONAPARTE may have proposed peace, but he did it through motives widely different from those attributed to hint. On the eve of renewing the contest with Russia, probably supported by Sweden, his aim was either to obtain, through terror, what he must exert the force of arms to effect, the total submission of that Power to his will, or else so to alarm her as to cramp her exertions in the - approaching conflict, and ensure her ruin. :cloth these effects may be produced, or either, according to the present temper of AIiXANDER'S mind, by the same cause, the opening of negotiations with France. The knowledge of this single fact, as long as their object is not made public, must stiike anxiety and apprehension into the hearts of our Allies, lest we should be induced by the clamours of the seditious and discontented at home, to abandon their cause. It must operate still more forcibly on those Powers, who, hesitating between a desperate resistance to foieign oppression, and a quiet submission to superior strength, would adopt the former, if they saw any pro spect of assistance, and in want of it, would reluctantly embrace the latter. It is therefore calculated to produce a particular effect upon Russia, which, according to every account, remains in that state of painful suspense. " At the time . you pretend to oppose my will, and encounter the combined power of the French em pire, Prussia, Austria, and the Confederation of the Rhine," BUONAPARTE will tell her—" I am dictating terms of peace to England, the only nation from vhom you could expect assistance. Left to yourtelf, re sistance must prove your ruin. Lay down the sword, and purchase the continued existence of your Crown by im plicit obedience to my will." Such will he the language which NAPOLEON will hold, not only to RUssia, but pos- Sibly to Spain and Portugal, where, although less likely to have so dangerous an effect, it may awaken the jealousy of the people, or damp their spirit. It is therefore in cumbent on Ministers not to suffer the negotiations to be pt otr acted to any length, unless they see a fair prospect of obtaining a final settlement of differences, as advantageous to our Allies as to ourselves. But with such a man as NA POLEON, so used to obey no other itnpu!se than that of in terest and ambition, and to sport with the sacredm.ss of tr eaties, who can reasonably hope to form a safe and last ing agreement ? TIIE TALENTS. The indecent and illiberal language made use of by the organ of the Opposition, and the other Journals which ' affect to advocate the cause of Liberty, whenever they advert to the conduct of the PRINCE REGENT in retaining his ROYAL FATHER'S Ministers, is presumptuous in the highest degree, What, we would ask these calumniators of Royalt - Lave e✓er their party done to entitle them tither or of the People ? whom the tomb has nature, where the moti and HEIR APPA BEN style of arrogance unp; justice demands that leaders of the Op- ppsi than the present Mini,,ters to the unlimited government of the State ? How er to jpnfidence of tie PRINCE c : , Ash _d /U s - IL * moby_of those "ne 4;719'16 this r , 1. !! Lives ug it; • tlre a r:•:; •i IT to _ • , ast , '•••• iaralle ,v.. • ' - .fintry, twe shot •n. v Z the Ic ition have don,ltrerifitiet em more THE NATIONAL REGISTER. MAY 3 did Mr. Fox, the great Champion of the People, and the model which those imitate who pretend to have adopted his principles, show that he was worthy the confidence of . his SOVEREIGN ? Was it by a steady adherence to his friends ? Did he never desert those for the sake' of power? Let those who recollect his indecent coalition with Lord Nowi'ii say whether, in that transaction, he displayed much regard for rectitude, for public opinion, or for the honour of Parliament. Did not Mr. Fox, la this single act, demonstrate that the Opposition were unworthy of credit, by showing the terms on which they were ready to support any Minister and any measures, or to connect themselves with any man or set of men capable of bring ing them into office ? When called to fill the situation of one of his Majesty's Secretaries of State, do we find this would-be patriot employing his eloquence in the Senate, or his talents in the Cabinet to better the condition of the Country ? On the contrary, do we not find " All the Talents," who were then in possession of the helm of the State, engaged in increasing the burdens of the People by doubling the Income Tax ? What stronger proof do we require than this, to show that these men could not be placed in that situation again, consistently with the safety and honour of the Country ? As to Lord GRENVILL, we have already said enough on his public conduct, when he was in office, to mark him out as a Statesman whose measures were every way calculated to involve the nation in difficulties. With regard to Lord GREY, we may re mark, that if a supercilious and haughty demeanour towards his inferiors, arc qualifications essential to the office of First Lord of the Admiralty, then is his Lord ship's claim to that situation indisputable. As a Member of the Privy Council, this Nobleman approved of all tile measures adopted by the then !Ministers ; he, therefore, comes in for a share of the odium of his colleagues. Who then can blame the PRINCE. REGENT for discovering, in the first instance, the want of principle and the want of talent which these men evinced when they were put to the trial by his Rol-A r. FATHER ; and, in the second place, for re fusing to repose in them a trust which they had so very xecently abused ? Had his ROYAL [CNN Ess acted in any other way than he did, then indeed might he have trem bled for the consequences ; but, weighu ;g candidly the undeniable facts to which we have generally alluded, and which stand - on record, we cannot discover on what princi ple of justice those inconsiderate vilifiers of the PRINCE test their accusations against him. We can easily suppose that they feel disappointment at his retaining his FATIIVICi Ministers, to their exclusion ; but we have yet to learn how he is to receive more ht their hands than he would have received from Lords GREY or GREN V I LLE. The power of the one party would not have been less than that of the other ; and its stability would have rested as much in the one case on the will of the PRINCE as in the other. Where then are we to find any other motive for his ROYAL HiouNliss acting as he did, than that of a sincere desire to promote the welfare of the People ? Much has been said about the stability of the Throne being end,ingered by the continuance of the present Ministers. Those, how ever, who urge this plea in support of a change .ice bound to show, before it can be listened to, that the PRINCE is insensible to the value of :t Crown, and thiit those whom they wish to set up as its guardians are much better fitted for the task than the individuals who haye already given proofs that they are at least capable of nnua. taining it. - I .11