The National Register. — London, England, 1811-02-17 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 0 , t Our king, gam:muttony anb Latutl, ~t~.?~Y' ~i f'i - ~ ~ N°. 164. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY r, 1811. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. -♦ No. 153. •-••- We have long followed the self-denominated patriots. of _the. day , through the maze of their po licy. We have displayed -the motives of their con duct ; not by calling wild suppositions to our a id, hut by pointingout their actions and . qu'oting their words. Clamorous against men in power, when they hoped the loudness of their complaints would t reate a belief that they were just, we saw them in creasing in violence at a time when the unfortunate ~imation of his Majesty, and the necessity of re voting the exercise of the Royal Authority, ten Cered the continuance of the present Ministers' in office doubtful. Their exultation revealed the tia titre of their patriotism. it did not spring from the sole prospect of a change of measures, but from the expectation of a change of men. The daily and weekly organs of their sentiments expressed their confidence in the appointment of certain political characters, who, although thus publicly gazetted, nova find - them %el yes left on the .unprotitable benches of the Opposition. This unexpected dis-' :1 p pointmem has not only overturned all their plans, but has cowed their audacity, and for awhile checked the tide of abuse which they poured forth in cessantly against their political adversdries. They are ;now placed in the most difficult situation to which men whose sole guide is interest can be reduced. Those Ministers, whose removal from office, as they lately ac knowledged in Parliament, all their skill, energies, eloquence, and patriotism have been ex erted for years to effect ; whom they have repre s-nted as the squanderers of the public money, the betrayers of the Constitution, and the assaithers of the Throne ; against whom they endeavoured t. - = raise every prejudice which can bias the mind of plan, still wield the helm af the State, notwith standing the election of a Prince Regent. " When `die exercise of the Regal Authority shall be restor ed," exclaimed the patriotic declaimers, " when the Prince whose eye has long viewed your measures with d:Tust, said be vested with that power which the r.ccessities of tile State require, and which you try in wain to abridge or to withhold from him, your mis. oonduct shall receive its reward. you have usurped Vol: I f :4. CL.3.1-37. PR ICE 9d. the authority of the Throne itself, and used it as your own. When your Monarch was incapacited by illness, you have armed yourselves with his sceptre, and compelled the nation to submit to a ministerial % reign of three months; unprecedented in tlle history of the land. These. are crimes which call aloud for punishment, and which the Regent whom you have so insultingly laden with restric 7 tions, and so long and criminally deprived of the ruling authority, will not fail to visit heavily on your heads." Such were lately the exulting excla mations of modern patriots, oppositionists, and re formers, whilst lifting their hands to seize the rod of power. That rod however was snatched away. The PRINCE REGENT tried the conduct of men, not with the prism of prejudice, but with the glass of truth. He perceived - that men who dared to per . - form their duty, even whilst their 'probable interest pointed out a different line of action, were true patriots, faithful subjects, and worthy Ministers. 'He glanced at his pretended friends, and descried among them much apparent zeal , used as a cloak to veil the eager pantings of their hearts after power. He saw them, in order to secure his fancied approbation, wilfully closing their eyes •to the merit and stettdyr loyalty of iheir opponents, misrepresenting their conduct and perverting its motives. The contrast was 'too striking not to produce a deep effect. He placed himself in his revered Father's situation, and comparison easily 'enabled him to discover who would then support his rights or desert his cause. From these wise con siderations, sprang his determination. He left power in the hands of those who bad only used it to secure the inviolability of his Parent's Crown, even against possible dangers. Undaunted in the execution of the high trust that devolved upon them, neither the attacks and occasional triumphs of their opponents, .the calumnies of their enemies, nor the apprehension of incurring the displeasure of -a Prince, whose nobleuess of soul his pretend. ed friends degraded to suit their narrow, selfish views, had ever led them astray from the path of strict duty to their Sovereign and their coun try. They had been tried and iscop. found want, ing. They had been his r4her's 'counsellors and faithful 'blends, and. became his ov;rn. Tc reward their csastancy, and avail binuFlf of their services, he 44 out hesitate to . • `; . • ~'~