The National Register. — London, England, 1808-01-03 00:00:00

onbon, SUNDAY, JANUARY, 3, 1308. POLITIC-IL EVE.VTS OP THE WEEK. Among the articles of intelligence which we have re ceived this week, the most important, or at least the most surprising, is a new decree of BONAPARTE agpinst our commerce. One would have imagined that his last edict had exhausted his schemes of vengeance ; but the retaliat ing proclamation of our government has again set his in vention to work ; and, since we are beyond his reach, he has resolved to wreak his vengeance on all neutrals who will not sacrifice their commerce to complete his schemes of vengeance. In this new edict, he decrees, that every ship, to whatever nation it belongs, that has undertaken a voyage to England, paid any tax to our government, or even submitted to •he searched by an./ English ship, shall, for that action alone, be denationalised, be considered as having forfeited the protection of its king, and become English property ! All tl►e Vessels thus denationalised, are declared to be lawful prizes, whether they enter the ports of France and her ~'lies, or fall into the hands of their ships of war or pri valvers. The British Islands are declared to be in a stale of blockade, both by sea and land ; and every vessel, of whatever nation, going to or from the ports of Britain, or her Colonies, is declared to be lawful prize, To con clude this singular edict, it is declared to be a mere measure of retaliation against England ! This decree serves to shew how far BONA PARTE may be carried beyond the bounds, not only of policy, but even of reason, by the headstrong fury of his passions. The damage JAN. 3. The PROPRIETORS of THic NATIONA I. REGISTER do not come before their Readers with AN APO LOGY. They hare ►nade professions ; they have endeavoured to fulfil them and bd the success of these endeavours they desire to be, udged, and in stand or fail in the public opinion. At present they only erme for►eard to pledge themselves that there will be No r 4 LI.- ING (IFF or THIS PAPER; that the sante tatentl, the Annie in- dostry will be employed to complete EVERY NUMBER as the TTnsT; and they . feet assured, that if they have proved them- selves worthy of the Public favour, it will be vouchsafed them. It is truly satisfactory to their feelings, to have to express in their First Number, their gratitude to en unprecedented List of Subscribers, distinguished 11 . 7 their rank in society, by ti n it poll- Heal eminence, by their taste and learning. They feel proud, that the very indication of their Nan has attracted such mark ed attention, and no pains or expence will, of course, be spared to secure a continuance of the same fliittrth,g approbation. They beg leave to inform their 'leaders, that an A p propriate Emblematical Title-page was folded up in every Paper of This Day's NATIONAL REGISTER, previous to its leaving the Office ; but (f through any acri4ent it should not be de livered, Subscribers will be immediately furnished with it by sending to the Office. THE NATIONAL REGISTER. fi P- • - TO THE PUBLIC. - THE NATIONAL REGISTER. which the British Islands will sustain, from a blockade by sea, while the enemy dares not send out a single vessel, unless by stealth, into the Ocean, cannot much alarm us; and the saute circumstances must free neutrals from any con siderable apprehensions. The terms of the decree, how ever, show how ready he is to sacrifice the interests of his own subjects, and of all other nations in the universe, to gratify his ungovernable resentment. But it is France that must chiefly suffer from this im potent ebullition of vengeance. To the decree is subjoined, in the Moniteur, a Circular Letter from the Minister of the Interior, in which the miserable condition to which France is reduced by the prohibitory edicts of her master, is forcibly though unintentionally depicted. The Minister here breathes nothing of that lofty tone which has hereto fore promised the speedy conquest of Britain, the sack of London, and the utter annihilation of the great rival of France. He tells the owners of privateers, that they will have greater chance fur booty ; he expresses a hope that neutrals may possibly elude our cruizers ; he consoles his countrymen that their privations will be o►►ly temporary ; and that substitutes will probably be found for ll►e neces saries and comforts of which they will he deprived. This is truly an altered tone for a Minister of France ; and what must give the strongest idea of the indefensible absurdity of her ruler's present measures. In the course of the week, a number of American papers have been received. They contain the first proceed ings id Congress relative to the disputes with Great Britain. There is much bullying in the tone of the American orators, yet it appears evident that they arc much afraid of the consequences of a rupture with this country, as indeed they may. The merchants of Philadelphia and- of several other places, have presented strong memorials against the Non-Importation Act, which the policy of Jotferson has never enforced, though left at his dis cretion. These memorials, which discover such a marked aversion to any rupture with Great Britain, have been re jected by a majority; but at the same time, some ♦io ient Resolutions against Britain! have been rejected with equal firmness. The Report on the affair of the Chesa peake was very intemperate ; but the junction of the great opposition orator, \t r. RANDOLPH, formerly the staunch friend of Britain, with the advocates for war, chews his opinion that the American Government is inclined to paci fic measures. It is, indeed, said that our wise abandonment of any pretension to search ships of war, has entirely done away the hostile feelings of the American Government ; and in this case we need not fear the foolish violence of those demagogues who would vainly attempt to wrest from us even the right of searching merchantmen. There is one circumstance which we cannot pass unno ticed. Lord ERSKINF I it seems, had some time ago, from what motive we do not presume to conjecture, invested a considerable portion of his property in the American furies. When his son was appointed American Ambassador, this very circumstance was stated as one of the causes of that appointment, as it was supposed his interest in America ...., .e...., e! 11 i • t. V t. • 1 . 4 11 ZIO