The National Register. — London, England, 1811-09-01 00:00:00

NATIO] Franca,—•that island of Corsica which, according to Rousseau's presentiment, was one day to astonish Europe. Corsica has astonished all Europe ! Out of her has come that man, Emperor or Destroyer, 44 who declared, in the face of the nations, (observed Prometheus) " that he would destroy the Papal power; who, self-crowned as self-raised, disdained to accept his diadem from the hands of a Roman Pontiff; who has since anuiliilatcd the Inquisition, that most dreadful engine of Popi*h politics; and who seems rapidly dissipating the grossest Ecclesi astical Superstitions." Repudiating his former wife, has not this man, Napoleon Buonaparte, keeping his great promise, contracted another marriage, the fruit of which, threatens the Papal powers with utter destruction ? The King of Rome i• born! Ile is born ; and he lives. Connected with those leading events which are yet to be, connected with the extirpation of the papacy, is the - long and still fateful drama of the Peninsula. Spain will feel this. Portugal cannot remain exempted. The true cause of both is the same cause. The day is far spent—the night is at hind. Superstition's sun is fast descending ! This state of things will be felt here. Whilst the rule lasts with France—overtures for pacification, but pacification still rejected. France must yet work eur woe. Looking fairly then at the scene before us, how can we expect to escape the efTects of Domestic Divisions, religious and political; of popular Cah3llings, and Discontents; of Commercial Disappointments; r:f Military Depredationa, and Theological Animosities; of, perhaps, Legislative Impeachments ; and of Public, Libels, v.-ith all the insidious retinue of what men term lesser evils ? Tiler? are causes enough for these. Causes must produce their cfects. Iconld bring the foregoing admonitions home to all heitts. But their accomplishment draws near. They speak that which .an will soon feel, and which all must thus at length own. Eng land will mourn with Europe; Europe will mourn with Eng land. The axe is laid to the root. Some will not have, what all sigh for,—Peace!—and hence hearts still bleed, and eyes weep. ' War, war, war; has been their gain, and is their cry ; and still they bait, and let loose, the dogs of war ! Thew du not wish for peace, for they do not love peace. Through these we have wars. Corsica so fulfilled the predicti, n of P.cnsstau! Britain stands singly. :Jay the long stand! Amidst the wreck of States, she has been their sea-mark. What is to come ! Britain will yet thus stand, if she looks to herself. 'What is to c(xne ?—Eventful futurity is rapidly disclos'ng . Let men wake, and not sleep ; let them watch, and not doze ; let them hope, and not faint. I lope might work much. Hope In truth ; hope ar,,iinf.t hope ; hope of heart. August, 1811. PROMETIIEUS. SiIDL ERS' lIALL 00N. 'Thursday being the day appointed for another ascension of Mr. Sadler, in his balloon, from the Mermaid, at Hackney, a repetition of the same scene as occurred• in the last ascent, pre sented itself on all the roads leading to that spot from the me tropolis—the only difference was, that th:usands were Increased to tens of thousands, and the pressure of carriages and pedes trians wai in tenfold proportion to_ what it was on that occasion . The gardens of the Mermaid were also crowded with rank, beauty, and fashion, anxious to become spectators of the nine teenth ascent of the venerable aeronaut. The balloon was lilted in the same spot as on the former occasion, and displayed a repetition of the same magnificent spectacle. The ground was kept by a detachment of tile Tower Hamlets Militia, and • great ntisiber of constables. •'Two military bands, as on the occasion of his last a c cent, had been procured to play a number • of the molt favourite enilitary airs for :he amusement of the ausupiay promenading the grew, and nothing which could 'add _- _fll_.J___.. had been omitted b gr. Sadler. The filling of Ow- balloon conunenced about ten o'clock, and was completed at half-past two, when an apparatus of a superior description, a number of pigeons, and other thing', together with a sufficient quantity of ballast, having been pladce in' the car, Mr. Sadler, followed by Mr. Beaufoy, jun. son of Colon. I Beaufoy, proceeded across the green, amidst the shouts of the spectators. The car having been prowl) , arranged, the travellers took their seats, and at twenty-one minutes before three o'clock, the cords were let go, and the machine, with the adventurous travellers, mounted most majestically In a perpen- ciicular manner, 411 it attained a height above the trees, when it took a direction north by east, rising very gradually, and the aeronauts continuing to wave their flags and salute their friends whom they bad left behind them, who, In return, greeted them with loud acclamations. They had not proceeded far before one of the flags was dropped, and was Rieke up at a short dis tance from whence the balloon started. From the cloudy state of the atmosphere, the voyageurs did not continue so long in sight as when Mr. Sadler .ast ascended from this spot. After having remained in view about six minutes, the balloon entered a cloud, through which it appeared Asif encompassed in a tu!sit s and so continued for about ten minutes, at the end of which time it totally disappeared. The spectators continued to express the satisfaction t*.ey felt, by loud shouts of applause, to the great gratification of the aeronauts family, who were on the spot. Amongst the company present s were Lord Barrymore, Sir Daniel Williams, Rabbi Herscbell, the Jewish High Priest, and several other persons of distinction. The voyage ter minated at ten minutes past four, when the voyageurs landed at a little village called East Thorp, within a few mites of Col chester. It was some time before they could find a chaise, but one was at List procured from Kelvedon. and the aeronauts, after taking necessary refreshment, set off on their return to Hackney. They arrived at the Mermaid about ten minutes before eleven, where they were received with every demon• stration of satisfaction and joy. FURTHER PARTICULARS. The balloon, on its rising, continued rapidly ascending, and the travellers finding themselves much inconvenienced from die number of things with which the car was loaded, immediately began to make the necessary arrangements for their proposed experiments, in the course of which the flag which had been held by Mr. Beaufoy, and which he had placed behind him on the seat, unluckily fell over the side of the car, and was picked up in Church-fields. Mr. Beaufoy described the scene which was now for the first time presented to his view, in the most glowing terms, and said it far exceeded any thing the most fer vent imagination could have pictured ; and although the pros pect was considerably circumscribed by a thick mist, he yet had a view of the Nore, and of all the country in thlt direction; — but from the density of the atmosphere towards London, he was unable to get sight of the metropolis. On their passing over Walthamstow, they distinctly heard the report of several minute gnus, which were discharged by Mr. Forster, the banker, in consequence of previous concert. The concussion occasioned by this noise, however, had no effect upon the bal. !non, which pursued Its course in the most majestic style. At about . half-past thrte, while over Chelmsford, it entered a cloud, which was so extremely dense, that the earth was soon completely hidden from the view of the zronauts, who wire now exposed to the effects of a severe storm, which forced ;he balloon to and fro in a frightful manner, and twirled it about with great rapidity. While in this state they were visited lay a hail storm, which ra - tled against their vehicle with great vio. lence, and from the subsequent inking of the stones, exposed them to all the inconveniencies of the water, which trickled H from the balloon. Nutwithstanding these difficulties, Mr. Beanfoy-expres ed a desire to ascend sill higher : but Mr. 844. or observing by the compass that they were taking s direaim JAL REGISTER. 7 1 to the accommodation of hiefriends