The National Register. — London, England, 1808-07-10 00:00:00

- THE_NATIONAL REGISTER. experienced we liaie been highly amused by the whole of the transaction. Who indeed could contemplate without s smile, the disinterested opposition c f parties holding large Reversions themselves—the calm 'upport of certain of the Ministers—the dignified interference of the Princes of the Blood—the amiable pliability of Mr. banks—and last, mil [bast, an unanimous Address from the Common Council men of London. , We have lately entered so elaborately into the subject of Catholic Emancipation, that nothing remains for us here, but to notice the unusual circumstances which attended the Debate in the Douse of Commons. Never was a question, as to argument, carried more triumphantly. The total absence of all force in the replies of Administration, would countenance the idea of their division on this subject, did .not the pertinacity with which they have carried several miner . punts against the Catholics, too clearly show the absence of any friend to their cause in the Cabiuet. We allude to the curtailment of the Maynooth grant, the ap pointment of Dr. Dujgenan to the Privy Council, the pa tronage of (iffard, lice. As no pica of necessity could be urged fur this conduct, we presume the Anti-Catholic part of the Administration meet with little opposition from the wel!-bred indfference of their Colleagues. In the House of Lords the minority in favour of the Catholic Claims were very respectable, both in number and weight. The speech of one :if Bishop of Norwich) pranced a con siderab:e sensation. The. Carnatic and other Questions, relative to the con duct of Lord Wellesley, in India, have at length been got rid of—and as far as such a disposal of the facts will an swer the purpose, his Lordship's character has been finally whitewashed. Of the policy of this Nobleman's conduct in India, much doubt may be entertained, hut we cannot sec the utility of bringing it before the country at this period. The business has now, however, dropped, whether by its own weight or the want of talent to support it we do not deckle. It is a pity the Hon. Baronet who last interested himself in these enquiries, had not been aware of the ap proaehin.r change of Administration, before he called the attention of tl - 1 10iitiC to the subject. 'ln consequence of a statement in the public Papers, that his Majesty haditen the Duke of York 50,000/. out of the Droits of the Actinically and Crown, a motion was made by Sir Francis Burdett for an account of the amount and ap propriation of the funds in question. With some modifica tions the motion was agreed to. Setting aside the case of Sir Home Popham, it certainly requires to be considered how far it is eligible for such enormous forfeitures to be come individual property. A Charles 11. in want of mo ney, might make terrible use of the privilege of seizing prizes before: the declaration of war. The I. if!ancc thisine:s of the :'-essions has been conducted with to:e7able ability in the way of Loan, and with respect to 1140..1, if the regulation, or in other words the increase of the Assessed Taxes and Stamp Duties, do not give gene ral setisfactiAnn, we fear few could be substitAted that would be more successful. The Annuity Plan we consider highly objectionable. The measure of stopping the Distillation from Corn to aid the consumption of West India Prod:tee has been ar gued in the house of Commons, with nil the zt•al which a sense of personal interest can inspire., and probably with more pertinacity than the point required. 'We deem it more likely to injure as a case of precedent than of fact. Under the head of Domestic Regulation we nave to no tice Lord Llienborough's Bill for the relief of small Debtors, and that of Sir Samuel Hominy for a better classification of crimes and punishments as entitled to considerable praise. We wish we could say as much of the Indictment bill.—Our . Readers already know our opinions on that snbjecl.—The reject:on by the Douse of Lords of the Sti peadiary Curates' Bill in its garbled state cannot be deemed of such consequence. • Vile union of all parties and opinions on the National Conduct to be adopted towards Spain has given a peculiar termination to the Sessions, and of course foi cipal kature of the. Speech which conclui fervently we hope the Speech destined to of may have to dwell on the success hich has united efforts of Spanish patriotism and Briti REVIEW OF POLITICAL. DECL, No. XXVII. COBBETT ON THE AFFAIRS OF That impartiality, discrimination, and foresigi sential qualities for a practical Politican, will be allowed by all. That they are perfectly unnecessary to the sarcess of a political Journalist is equally evident—multitudes read but few combin e . Indeed, the generality are little solicitous to connect any chino 'of reasoning w hich might lead them to a discovery Of error in what they do think, or ofcorrectuess in what they do not. One writer is a favourite, because he defends the Party in potier `another, because he supports that which has lost it—and a third is read with the utmost avidity, because he zealoush la bours to degrade Public Alen, Measures, and Institutions. T o inculcate an opinion that the most base and sordid motives equally operate from a Legislative Grant of the greatest tulle 01,11 to a bonus for the discovery of Vaccination. 11 . ers consistency and connection of much consequence in this king writing, we should have to lament that it would he difficult fa. Any author to display more errors in judgment, in an equal portion of time, than has been exhibited by Mr. cobbett in one month's speculation on the Affairs of Spain. Verily, A oat ever obligations (in common with his couutrymen and mankind in general) he may in future be under to. that nobly disposed people, he cannot but he angry at their rising en maw, as it were, to give him the lie. Scarcely a proposition of his on Spanish conduct, which has not been contradicted by the next intelligence, and that so opportunely, that it seemed a part of the regular process of cause and effect, for the affirmative of Mr. Cobbett to produce the negative of Spain. In The Weekly Register of the II th of June, with that happy dogmatism, so peculiarly his own, he pronounces the Revolu tion, dreeted by Bonaparte in that country, to he so com; -. a matter of course, that few topics for observation could on the subject. So convinced, indeed, is he of the apt' indifference of the public mind in Spain, he becomes in( at the application of the word People to its natives.— " people of Spain, indeed !" exclaims he in his most air manner, "There was no such thing as a people in Spain. " were some millions of people walking about on tiv " each; but they were in a political point of view n( " than so many head of cattle. Gregory King's rabbit " beings of an order rather superior to them. W hat fi " suppose that such creatures would make a stand in Bete " their country, &c. &c." This, it must be allowed, is and admirable decision on the character, sentiments, energi disposition of a population of nine millions, and is at least hie as affording a pleasant contrast to the opinion w hide on an individual. General Murat, it seems, is wise, breve, soldirr—a combination of qualities and accidents (as loi would say) which Mr. Cobbett, directed by some internal peringq, finds in be exactly w hat is reqaired to govern a kit The inference, worthy Sirs ! Why, that the Spaniard! such spiritless animals, would be much amended by the G meta of Murat; and that the transit of that General (k CoLbett) from a cottage to a Throne, would quadrate ei with the political fitness of things, and be one of the nu innate Revolutions in the world for a nation which ha , misgoverned.—All being in that unhappy predicament, room for Hope. Courage ! the political Sancho mac y his island. !laving greedily imbibed, and bees fully saturated w delectable doctrines we have detailed, with what surpri , the admirers of The Weekly Register have read the next her. Therein they are informed, that the resistance Spanish Patriots to the wisdom, bravery, and soldier-tit lities of Napoleon, and his General, not only torts—but glorious circumstance. If the same assertion with whit Cobbett contradicts himself, had not been dexterously include " a tine illustration of the doctrine of Sir Frond! Jett," a great proportion of his renders 111110 have bren e to anger. There was also something consolatory in the ►vent, that this people, so resembling " Gregory King . " bits," did not raise a hand to defend the authority so completely Hi could occur Y i n the apathy and 'ernes indignant tl atives.—' The ti s most admired al Spain. There is it on trt o legs view no mote y v 's rabbits mere be W hat folly to te , id in defence of ran wed, is a brief 5, energici, and du at least vain- re. hick MOWS th ir, breve, and a tei k (us logicians co internal wins- ha ern a kingdom. to; laniards being el ! t jy: the Govern- no neral (or Mr. d u ad rate entirely ju, f the most for- a n , Atich has been icament, what may yet have rated with the t surprise must he next Num- istance of the abi- ter ,as—but was a ith which Mr. misty made to Ars Francis Bur- Ba e been excited pal .y in the state- Do 'y King's rah- the dually of the Ch An Vet • ~. 434 y , • w JULY 10. ......, 1 )rms the prin- ides it. Most 1 pen the next, IV s attended the fish courage. s d , AIIIIERS. f a tl P SPAIN. o tl ;lit, are verl ez- tl P allowed by all. a !As of a political 0 lot few combine. li innect any chain V 'very of error in tl ey do not. One al arty in poner-- 1 ) lost it—and a lie zealmiTh la- a nst itut ion:. T o - t‘ sordid motives el greatest 101 ; ~ I. h cinatioo. 11 erm ni :, in till!. kina In . sc Id be difficult ffir Ii lit, in an equal P' Mr. Colibett in tl , Verily, soar- , ' b len and mankind u t nobly divobed ..ii en thaw, as it c • Rion of his on lit ..•... -A I- I . .