The National Register. — London, England, 1814-03-27 00:00:00

'1! THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Cur Sing, Constituttok, atm talus. PUBLISHED AT NO.. 11, NEWCASTLE-STREET ) STRAND. No. 3t4. SUNDAY, MARCH 9.7, 1814. PRICE POLITICAL DISQUI,SITION. THE BOUKBONS. Little did we think, when we lately expatiated on the eventful fertility of the times, that occurrences as new 'as important in their nature, were on the eve of taking place, which would once more change the whole face of the contest and the destinies of the world. We then viewed France, invaded by all the nations of Europe, but *till obstinately resisting, under her military chief, their combined efforts. Faithful to the cause of her usurper, ahe seemed resolved, with him, to conquer or to fall. Her constancy and her attitude had checked the progress, re duced the hopes, and almost disarmed the hostility of her invaders. The destruction of her Continental tyranny had been effected, that of her Ruler at home was on the eve of being spared. Near thirty millions still acknow ledged his authority ; innumerable hosts still marched and fought under his banners, and the coalesced Princes, doubtful of final success ; and yielding to the partiality of Austria, began seriously to think of granting peace to the French Despot.. Such was the state of affairs at the close of the last Week. The preliminaries of peace were drawn, and intelligence of their being signed was momen tarily expected. The two parties, in which all the poli ticians of the land are ranged, were venting forth, the ones their regret and the others their exultation, when on Sunday last the thunder of the Park and Tower guns suddenly surprised the metropolis. No doubt was enter tained but they announced the conclusion of hostilities, when it was found, on the contrary, that victory had once more crowned our arms, and that Lord WELLING vox, having forced the passage of the Adour, was rapidly advancing towards Bordeaux. This intelligence, it was at first supposed, would hasten the signature of peace, by inducing NAPOLEON to agree to the terms proposed by the Allies, and which be was thought to have hesitated in ac cepting. Later information, however, proved how un founded are the calculations of modern politicians. No sooner had the British standard cast its protecting shadow on the banks of the Garonne, than the whole population of Bordeaux, headed by its MAYOR, advanced to meet our warriors, and with them a Prince of that House, whose downfall opened the gates of ruin on mankind. The Imperial Eagles were laid prostrate, and the Royal Lillies exalted. The white cockade re-entered the scene, the airs of ancient loyalty hailed the descendant of a mar tyred King, and the name of BOURBON was proclaimed with the enthusiasm of liberated patriots. This event, so unexpected after the instance of indifference and sper- VIL No. CCCIIIK \ -f /~ ~+:.:: Little did we ti eventful fertility 'as important in tl place, which wot the contest and viewed France, ii *till obstinately r combined efforts. ahe seemed resolv constancy and he duced the hopes, invaders. The d bad been effected eve of being spar( lodged his Ruth() and fought under doubtful of final Austria, began al the French Despc close of the last drawn, and intell tp.rily expected. ticiaus of the la ones their regret I Sunday last the suddenly surprise twined but they when it was fou once more crow] vox, having fore( advancing towar at first supposed, inducing NAPOLk Allies, and whit cepting. Later founded are the sooner had the Bi on the banks of of Bordeaux, he our warriors, ar whose downfall The Imperial Ea Lillies exalted. the airs of ancien tyred King, and with the enthusia unexpected after V.I. VII, No, viency which France had hitherto displayed, rekindled hype and animation on our shores. Peace, always cons templated with dread, notwithstanding the favorable na. tare of its conditions, as long as it was to be made with BUONAPARTE ) immediately saw the number of its sup, porters diminish. The call for continued war was re. newed, and it was wisely advised that if the preliminaries should be drawn before the intelligence of this incipient counter-revolution should have reached the seat of Rego elation, they should be suspended, and the final treaty broken off, Such are the feelings which the display of revivin; loyalty and patriotism, even on the hostile soil of France, has produced amongst us. In what a noble light do they set the majesty of the British character. low honourable that confidence reposed in us by our enemies, whenever they return to a sense of justice, virtue, and liberty. En. vied by all the nat:ons, threatened by Europe in arms, we gave the world a few years since, the glorious spectacle of an unconquered, because an undaunted and unite 4 people. The sword of justice in our hands, we taeght them the power of ft eedom, the beauty of virtue, Over. awed and admiring, the hostile weapons fell in wccession from their grasp. They hailed us with returning friend. ship, and emulating our conduct, turned their strength against the bulwarks of that tyranny, which they had blindly assisted in erecting. Tottering under its own weight, It soon began to strew the ground with ruins. Every one of its pillars had crushed the energies of an empire. As they fel, the lattev rose with elastic activity, until all its outwelks bein; overthrown, the body of the vast fabric ex posed to the attacks of liberated nations., Hitherto it had repelled every assault, and almost exhausted the pas tience of its assailants ; but at the important hear whea they were consulting whether they should raise the siego and retire, intelligence from within tf.ld them they had friends in the garrison, who, having shaken off the Huth°. rity of their chief, were rcady to assist them with ail their power in getting possession of the citadel. Such, in fact, is the situation of France, her usurper, and her loyalists. Pushed to his last ground, arid just able to maintain himself against the tren.endous force of his co. reign enemies, he now sees defection withiu his lines, nod finsls new foes where be looked for ani3tut.3co and sup. port. Whether the Allies will draw from this event all the advantages which it is capable cf yielding, whether, abjuring the doctrine which they have hither. . to professed, of tenderness towards usurre r. the , will encourage the people in every yrok i ee e to feats I`kc' I ICV 11111 , - 40 •