The National Register. — London, England, 1808-09-19 00:00:00

SVPTEMBER 19. Ivry, secure impunity to the traitors who had espoused their cause, require hostages for the fulfilment of the condition, insist on the liberty of serving again, wherever their mas ter should employ them, we would not expect that such a stigma on our arms should have been proclaimed, like the victories of NELsox and Asencftomay, with the firing of the Tower and Park guns ! But the popular feeling better announced the national character. Whatever judgment Europe, or the future historian, may pass on the transac tion, they will say that it was not pusillanimity on the part of the inhabitants of the United Kingdom, or indiffe rence to the interest and honour of their country, which justified the necessity of it. No I had the feelings of the public been consulted, it would have been proclaimed throng!) the streets of the metropolis with muffled drums, the tiriug of minute guns, and our bells sounding a funeral dirge, as the interment of our . national honour. Our ances tors frequently indulged in the pride of comparing our cha racter, inditutions, and manners, with that community of heroes and statesmen who conquered the universe, could they have foreseen that their descendants would have submitted to thepresent degradation, in the very peninsula, where a Ho man Consul, for having signed a much less dishonourable capitulation, wits delivered up to the Numautines, naked, and with a halter round his neck, by the order of the Se mite, they would have been more cautions in indulging this effusion of self-love. The Roman Senate, as may be expected from that council of statesmen, refused to sane lion the ill condtict, incapacity, and cowardice of their (ieueral, and sent him back like a fugitixe Jaye, to atone, by his punishment, for their violation of a compact, so op posite to their policy and martial spirit . We would analyse this capitulation of 32,000 British sol diers to 14,000 discomfitted Frenchmen, were it for no other purpose, than, by stimulating the public indigna tion, to prevent the possibility of a future General vio lating the national honour ; but where every article is equally reprehensible and impolitic, we would strain our language, and not find words sufficiently strong to mark our disapprobation and disgust. The only motive of consolation we feel, in the midst of the universal gloom is, that Government will not, and cannot, ratify the Con vention. It is not withont • precedent. Every Gover nment has given an example of that kind ; and it is far better to be guilty of injustice, than of infamy. The effects of the former may be palliated by the imperious necessity of the measure, but the consequences of the lat ter are indelible : they leave an impression which will con tr:!:ate iy.ore to national relaxation, than a series of de- G.:as by sea and land could possibly effect. In a porten. Cons crisis energy alone can save a community ; and, we hope, there is no man so unfeeling as to deny that the pre sent moment is awful. We frequently had occasion to congratulate the public on the vigorous measures of the present Ministry. They produced consequences so bene iirial, that the most sanguine would have scarce expected in the arduous situation we had been placed iu after the Peace of Tilsit. We acknowledge, however, that if the French army be permitted to return home in the manner stipulated in the Convention, we consider the arrival of oiir troops in Portugal as one of the greatest calamities v. - hich could have befallen the common cause. Had our army remained encamped on our shores, they would have Dept th e enemy i n anx i ety , an d compelled them to keep a considerable force on the opposite coast. The brave CAs- TANOS with his Andalusian', after having compelled Du posT to surrender, would have •speedily !,crated Portugal from her oppressors. lie would never have consented that Joplin should quit the country with all the honours of war, and the plundered effects of the unfortunate inhabitants. We have not a doubt on our mind that this would have taken place withouta material inconvenience to the opera tions of the Spanish Patriots - . That enterprising and ge ner.ous people would have acquired new laurels, new repu tation, and new confidence, had the liberation of Portu gal been left to them. • They would have kept Joamr and r , ?3•%J. i • . . THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 603 his army prisoners in their country, and thus diminished the numbers of their opponents, But what will now be the consequence, if Government is guilty of the impardons able weakness to ratify the impolitic conduct of our Gene• rals ? The moment they are landed at liourdeaux or Ro chelle, they will be sent off in forced marches to swell the immense mass which is moving towards the Pyrenees.— They will act on more favourable ground, and under inure auspicious circumstances, against that very country which we have enabled them to quit, after having placed in secu rity the fruits of their rapacity. Whatever way we view this transaction, the more cause we feel for regret and astonishment. We love our Country and Government too much to repress our feelings. The national honour and interest outweigh every individual consideration. Were the majority of our countrymen even of a different opi nion from us, were the Ministry to approve of the trans. action; were the vague assertions of El. DALItYIIPIA supported even by more cogent reasons, we would not. cease to raise our voice against a measure, which even the destrnction of half our army in Portugal would not justify. This loss, though painful, would have been easily retriev ed. A calamity, even of that nature, so far from depres sing the courage of the public, would only encourage them to proportionate efforts. Are there no means of relicuiug our national character from the disgraceful effects of this Convention ? Are the public sufficiently apprised of the fatal consequences it will have on the people of Spain, on the several nations of Europe ?. What confidence will they repose in our future exertions ? The more we reflect 41LL the subject, the more we are confounded and revolted. Our former conjectures relative to the conduct which Bosrmeitrurc would observe towards Spain, are confirmed by the Official Documents communicated to the Senate; and which are given in another part of our Paper. Thu Minister of Foreign Affairs. instead of attempting to palliate or excuse the treachery of his infamous Master towards the Spanish people and government, discloses with the most unparalleled effrontery, that motives of con venience and rapacity occasioned this unexampled act of atrocity. The Tyrant affected to speak the language of moderation and justice, as long as he imagined so despi cable an artifice would serve to impose on the people he had so wantonly outraged. But as soon as lie perceived that his villainy was unsuccessful, and his discomfiture no torious, he hopes by the boldness and inflexibility of his intentions, relative to the subjugation of that country, to cover the disgrace he has already suffered. His declara tions are perfectly consistent with the whole tenmir of his imblis conduct. The same disrepect for laws and treaties ; the same ungovernable arrogance; the same licentious pretensions to universal empire ; the same tissue of false hood and impudence are visible in the present Official Docu ments, as have distinguished his preceding ones. We never doubted that he would abandon his nefarious fuojects on Spain, but were apprehensive that he would attempt to conceal them. lie may have made this direct avowal from policy or front pride, it wilt not be less advantageoes to the cause of humanity. lie has exaggerated his resources and announced his intentions. We are consequently prepared for the conflict. Oh, let us make up by our subsequent. conduct and activity, for the unpardonable fault we have committed in Portugal. The means of the man are great ; we feel the full extent of the danger ; but we arc convinced we have the means of resisting ; and w h en we ecnsider how closely our security is connected with the independ ence of Spain, we hope no remissness will be visible in our 'co-operation. These important documents remove at the same time every doubt about the anxiety and jealousy he feels relative to Austria. In order to intiroMate that Power he makes through the organ of his War Minister, a pompous and extravagar t display of his armies. tint this vaunting, this irrascibility, and this affected d:.Treciar'on, would but ill conceal from a judicious observer his pre,wnt emharrassmonts. Two hundred tbousaud men ar , .: go 'N gor":""fte , -4= l A 1