The National Register. — London, England, 1808-11-21 00:00:00

NOV.- 2i•- . . was never made to our Gouverument, that it was not pre ceded by a violent diatribe against our national character. They invariably appeared in the double character of mes sengers of fate, and of commiserating mortals. They pitied,, from a sense of humanity, our infatuation ; but, urged on by fate, they unceasingly and inexorably repeated the tremendous denunciation, " Pilonda fit Carthago." _lnd had we had the weakness to listen to the suggestions of present case and convenience, this menace had been sooner or later executed, and we should, like that ill-fated community of merchants, bewail our folly, in expecting from the deceitful promises and insidious friendship of an implacable enemy, the security which energy alone, on Our own parts, could possibly have secured. But, thanks to our exertions and - enlightened policy, all these fulmi nating denunciations have evaporated in smoke ; and we are represented now, by the infuriated orator, in a strain of desperate, heart-gnawing conviction, as a community de veloping, all at once, the vast resources of two centuries of unahatieg preparations and accumulated energies. Ile :niv represent us, if he pleases, as the disturbers of the tranquillity of the Continent, as the levers of the insurrec tion in Spain ; we regret only, that our strength has not been more efficaciously put forth ; that we did not use to greater advantage, the happiness of our position, in order to rouse effectually the entombed inhabitants of the Con tinent from their death-like swoon. it is, however, by no means too late ; and much are we indebted to Cretet for the insinuation; if our Government has only judgment and energy enough to make use of the instructive hint, in the regulation of their future coodnct. Our means are incalculable, if they are properly employed ; but that has been unfortunately the gloss:defect in our policy, that we never had art enough, nor sufficient knowledge of our situation, to make the full display of our means, during the whole course of the revolntiouary war. It is this ignorance, and unwarrantable diffidence in our strength, which have been the principal cause of French preponderance. We may feel as much repugnance as we please to make the humiliating confession ; but what ese have we made, until within these three months, of the inexhaustible resources of the state. We have remained, cooped up within our islands, spectators of the most san guinary and decisive contest recorded in history ; or when we interfered we did it in so ineffectual a manner, as only to excite contempt or irritation. This is not a moment for palliating language : the man who is a friend to his coun try, must not be ashamed, nor afraid, to speak boldly the truth. Placed as we are in the narrow isthmus of our fintunes—at the one extremity, permanent security ; at the other—danger the most imminent—the slightest relaxation might plunge us into an abyss of misery, from which neither time nor subsequent exertions may be able to rescue es. A candid avowal of former mistakes is the surest mptom of reformation ; and we may, therefore, indulge in the pleasing anticipation, that the future display of our power, on the Continent, will neither excite the distrust of our friends, nor the contempt of our enemies. It was not our expeditions that the enemy apprehended ; it was una nimity of sentiment and views, on the part of the people of the United Kingdom. - The most fortunate event has preduccd that auspicious - result. The sacred flame of in surrection in Spain has collected in a common focus all the wishes of this country. No complaints are now uttered about the continuance of the war ; no doubts are started as to its object and tendency ; but every heart and every hand are open and ready to contribute to its vigorous prosecution. It is this manifestation of unity of wishes and views, which converted the menaces' of an overhearing and inveterate enemy, into a deprecation of the consequences of our new resolutions. With the rapidity of the electric fire it will operate on the Continent. The enemy antici pate with all the convulsions of despair, the effects of this reeovated energy hi the people of this • country T h e!‘ . formerly l aug h e d at our Lien:ices and faint exert wits.— We were hefl out to Europe as objects of their derkiuu s 741. . . but this tone has suddenly altered ; and we are now paint. , •ed in the terrific character of a Colossus, whose mighty. form overshadows both hemispheres.---Had we been before .* ignorant of the conduct we ought to pursue, this exposi- • tion of Cretet has removed every trace of uncertainty, It is not by con # ining our national strength to defensive operations, that we can expect to recover the respect and - preponderance we formerly enjoyed in Europe : it is only . by sending out new reiulorcenients to our army in Spain, and raising fresh levies, that we have any right to claim this distsnguished pretension. Bonaparte has frequently . given us a lesson in politics, as well as in the military art : lOn commencing a war, he frequently repeated to his Senate the necessity of employin , the whole resources of France, and of augmenting the military force, in order to bring Ike :contest, not only to a frrtunate, but a speedy conclusion ! The line of conduct we ought to pursue at present is thus marked out to us. In order to relieve the country from !the accumulating burthens and sacrifices of this unprece •dented war, let one bold and vigorous display of national energy produce that desirable result. There is not a man in Great Britain who mill not give his hearty consent to so enlightened a Fine of policy ; for it is as flattering to his self love, as to his ardent desire of future tranquillity. The present army we employ on the Contiuent, numerous and respectable as it is, is not, however, of that imposing magnitude as to fix the fortune of the Contest : let us double the number, and the destinies of Europe cease to be problematical. It requires only common comprehension to perceive the decided preference of the latter to the former policy . ; and had we in this moment an army of 100,000 men in Spain, e could say to the people of the United Kingdom, << We shall conquer a durablc'peuce before the end qf the ensuing spring." COUR 1' OF INQU ICY. Ft it Sr 1).8.1". moNp.ty, vEutirß IT. The Members of the Board, convened by virtue of his Mi jestN's Warrant, under the Manual, assembled this morning in the Great Chelsea hospital, to enquire into the causes and circumstances of the late Treaty of Armistice, and Coutien., lion of Cintra. General Sir David Dundas, on observing that all the 'Aleinbers were present, proceeded to the Chair appropriated for the Pre sident, and requested the rest of the General ()dicers ti: take their seats at the Board, which they immediately did, in the f o llow., lug order PItENI D IS T.—General Sir D. 4 VII) DU N $• Earl Moin t. PETER Cm tIG. Lord IIiEATMEIELD. Earl PEMBROK Sir G. N EGLI N 01.1vra The Board being conAituted without any formality, the Hun. R. Ryder, Judge Advocate, read his Majesty's Warram, of which the following is a correct copy : " cr.outa; R. Ccnera Is Limit -General', .. '' Whereas, we were plPazed, in the month of July, 180 5 , to constitute and appoint Lieut.-t howrat Sir 1 Lew Dali•ytnple, Kitt. to the command of a body of our forces, employed to act on the, coasts. of Spain and Portugal, or in such other part of the Conti nent of Europe as he might hereafter lie directed to, and the said Lieutenant-General did, pursuant to our instructions transmitted to him, proceed to Vortug•al, and did on tile ':"d of August, I SOS, land in that country, smut ta l / 4 e upon himself the command of the said body of our forces accordingly. And whereas it appears that on the same 22d of Atignst, and bubsequently to his !airing assumed the command, an Armistice was concluded as foltows- [ Ilcre is reciled the ~Irmislice as staled in Sir licw Dalrymple's dispatch.] " And. whereas, it appears that oil the 30th clay of ngatg, 'SOS, ;t Convention was concluded as folio%rs :--[ lit re ;..; recited' Vic Conventional staled in Sir 4leav Diarstople's THE NATIOIT4.L RFfISTyR..