The National Register. — London, England, 1809-11-05 00:00:00

•f!rffE‘:..NATIONAL • : g ..t - a. • 2, 41 1 Ik T o . 97.. . . ! 4' REGISTER. ding, anD ..% P.;" PRICE 91. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1809. • • 1 POLITICAL DISQUISITION. .. - . ioi NVMUEie Nuirrir-rova. .• THE MINISTRY. This Country, like tho lever of Aitcniminrs„ might, at diseretiou, IL lON L: the elrth‘, were its powers wielded « ith competent skill. To judge the merits of the present Ca .binet, we must examine how far or how little they are ..qualifie4 to:wield this powerful instrument. The discus . .sioa has, therefore, nothing to do with the relative merits preceding Administrations, butio confined to the simple _point, whether . the present have skill and strength to oppose eactually the resources of the country to the dangers which•menace it. It would be absurd to calculate the ef fects that may be produced by the operation of a great . ..engine, according to those of some imperfect instrument. it would betray equal folly were we to form an ()pinion of the competency of the existing, from that of the preced iag, Administration. It is not our . business to inquire whether more or less blunders are likely to be committed ; whether we ate exposed to a repetition of similar dis asters; but, if Mr. PERCEVAL and his. new associates have l ability enough, in a crisis portentous as the present, to ap , .to their full extent, the moral and physical energies tfie country. The Peace between Austria and France • has considerably increased our difficulties,. and impresses • even upon the most limited understanding the necessity of greater talents, greater 'vigour, and more vigilance, in our ' future councilS, • than were requisite•at any. former The genius of Mr. PITT, quickened - 14 the 'liveliest seitsi,: -bility, and supported by uncotimon popularity sank underi` the unequal contest with the enemy. The ADDINGTON ad -p ministration was brand. ..,d by dishonourable The FoXITES, after an ineffectual attempt to conciliate, Op posed, in vain, this dangerous anta: s roMst. The late: Mim,l nistry, animated with the best intentions, and the strongest hatred, saw all their efforts, though favoured by the. most • propitious circumstances, terminate in disgrace and disap ► pointment. The result of all their efforts has been the sit). premacy of France, and the subjection of the Continent.- . -- It is in vain to say that we ourselves haw suf:‘ered no thing. Is the subjection of all our allies nothing ? Is the in , creased strength of an inveterate enemy nothing ? Is the vast expenditure of blood aod money nothing ? Are the disgraceful expeditiora to Brabant, llol!and, Spain, acid Antwerp, also nothing ? Just Ilearens! with what feel ings must those men be endow ed, who call all these tic thing ? To remedy tiles!. disasters, and to oppose .the future en mity of Fiance, assisted tt.e co-operation of half Europe, and directed against us exclusively, the present Administra tion has been f)rmed. We anxiously inquire who those men are, who have the courage to undertake this arduous and responsible task ? After the useless efforts made, tin der less trying difficulties, by the greatest statesmen, which this country; perhaps, prodgred, we feel admiration, win- IQi. glee the. strongest ,ympatliy, upon hearing, that a new body of rhampionah:lve entered the lists to assert the -honour and itiderud..nce of their Country, and break a lance - with N PO LCON %lON PA itTp• Who are they, and What have they performed before, we anxiousl.y inquire? For -their success' we offer to Heaven the most ardent vows. We applaud their courage ; trenible for their safety k and out own ; rush to the barriers to behold them enter. Ileavens.andearth ! what a sl , ectaclef whit a motley 06- cession! !f tho gods of Hoses existed in our days, • the vavltted roo . s of 01: 1 mpus would riu with laughter. Upon a closeieiaMiniiticm; and haviug taken a peep under the visors of these tell-dubbed Knights, we "recogn'se in theth .the.aimotir-bearers to former champions. But to drop .figure and burlesque, 1 . 4.9- the subject is far too serious for the flights of mirth, or fancy, we cannot concei.ve what mad ambition must have seized Mr. Seer+ C'Elk PERCEYAI., and perverted that homely understanding he formerly possessed, when he, with no other associates than Lords LIVERPOOL, BATHURST, WOTMORELAN D I CAMDEN, and CHATHA ; Messrs. ItYntrn, rUN DAS . SAVN OER S, form .ed the project of administering under the accumulating pressure of occurrences, the affairs of this country. Wbat malicious Dmmon, inimical to British honour, could have inspired him with the rash resolve I The public offices „might have been ransacked, and he would have found it difficult to disc Over amongst.the oldest, the 020 Si uumal kable drudges, amen such helpless, destitute creatures, as those just tuentioned.• We would take the liberty of i quiring, at the same time, of Mr. PERCAY AL, what are his - previsions to the rank of Premier? He' must be. eitit . totally ignorant of the responsibility attached to such A station, or he is the vainest man existing upon the face of the'carth. The spirit of the country must be miserably ialleni its courage broken.don n by repeated insults, if the public will remain silent and indifferent at this appointment. in a Situation,- where Bo aLEIOU himself, or the Great Lord .0 4A THAN!' might slunchle, to see a roan of Mr. PERCLV AO; talents; is the most alarming symptom of danger, acrd, ,perhaps, approaching ruin, that we have discovered for the last twenty years. This Gentleman is vaunted by his friends for his poitical integrity; but v,e would ask them how theV ran reroneile that character with so flagrant an abuse of the royal confidence ? It is- difficult to decide whether the no:nivation - e 7 cited a greater degree of surprise, contempt, or indigna6on. The s:ncerest friends of Go vernment were o , sol.ltely everwheimed with shame nal a Eger, when they first heard of this exaltation of an indi vidual, wht, during the whole adminis: ration of mr.• Pte,, was ne ter thought competent to fill even a secondary place, out of his protewsional career. lie remained, for a number of years, and under the eyes of a very discriminating States man, unnoticed beyond the limits of his profession; and this very man bursts out suthirly, unexpectedly, and to. the Wier astonishment of his cotemporaries, with all the dazzling luere of the most distinguished Minister! In what mina did this sparkling merit lie concealed; or what thick veil of modesty hid it from our view ? Mr. PascavAL ii -! :7~¢ ispopilft