The National Register. — London, England, 1815-08-27 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. Cur ting, Constitation, an Wars. PUBLISHED AT NO. 11, NEWCASTLE-STREET, STRAND. No. 400. SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 1815. PRIrE W. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. TOLTCHE'S PLOT AGAINST LOUIS XVIII. Two documents of the highest importance, if they are authentic, have this week been produced to the world, like baleful meteors portending devastation and death. The first purports to be Fouche's Report to the King on the situation of France and the relations with the foreign nrmies: the second, the answer of the French Ministers to the official note of the Allied Sovereigns respecting the dispersion of their armies through most of the departments of France. Strong doubts have been expressed of their authenticity, on account of their having been transmitted to this country through a private channel, without being published in the King's Official Gazette. Some of our papers have even declared themselves authorised to state that those documents were totally unknown to Go vernment, and that there were the best reasons to believe they were fabrications. It is very possible, however, that they should be unknown to our government, to whitim they were not addressed, as none of the complaints urged against the Allies applied to the English, who are even specifically excepted. It is also likely that state papers of this mature would not be given to the public until every means of preventing a final rupture had been found ineffi cient, for their publication by authority would be tanta mount to a declaration of war. The reasons adduced to in validate their authenticity, will not, therefore, be decisive, unless the documents themselves contain, either in point of style or of sentiment, internal proofs of fabrication. The result of this last ordeal, with all those who have read them attentively, must be a strengthened conviction that they arc not suppositious ; for, placed by the side of all the declamatory productions of revolutionary power, they display a kindred violence ) equal insincerity, and pro found cunning. If after having•considerecl their style aud general tenor, we pass to an examination of their tendency and seek what secret' springs they are likely to set in motion, and what effect to produce, we shall see . additional reasons for thinking that they have been attributed to their right au thors. Hypocrisy will be found to form their chief r . racteristic. Under the mottle of public spirit and Plttfiecji zzirii fog) ism, deceit and treason lurk. Full 'of affected *o/. 1ll ) No. CCCC. ~, Louis XVIII. their teal end is to work his ruin. The exaggerated picture which they give of the sufferings of France, and of the pretended misconduct of the Allies is not only calculated to rouse the people to resistance, but to direct the first explosion of their rage against their own monarch, who is represented 'as becoming, through impotency, an accomplice of all the calamities inflicted on his subjects. It may be said that his intention is defeated by the want of publicity of the Report : but this is only another specimen of Fouche's experience and ingenuity. He well knows, that in France secrecy doubles the strength of every libel, and that whatever is mysteriously circulated, is read with the most credulous avidity, whilst authorised publications-excite but little curiosity at their birth, and speedily sink into insignificance. Ile there fore silences the press, in order to open a boundless range to that underhand influence which has already effected, and probably will again accomplish the ruin of thrones. A proof that this is not a vaia assertion, is the case and rapidity with which this' .baneful document is handed round all the Parisian and provincial circles. Were it not Fouche's production, and did he disapprove of its contents, the vigilance of his police would soon re press its circulation. The next object after ren dering the King odious to his people, is to in veigle him far from his real protectors, the Allies, into the hands of his bitterest enemies. " In this excess of evils," says this artful minister, " what line of conduct remains to your Majesty, but that of removal Q The public functionaries, in the same manner, will quit their places, and the armies of the Sovereigns will then be at issue with individuals freed from all social ties." Here let us inquire of Mr. Fouche to what place he proposes the king should remove ? Does he mean that he should once more drop the reins of the state, and' seek for peace and security on onr shores ? No ; for he would then no longer'be within the Patriot's power. Neither is it possi ble, lithe public functionaries (ides:, Fouclie and his fac tion) arc to follow him, that he should take up his aboef , in a foreign laud, for then such an attendance would prove useless. It is evident, therefore, that the King is advisee! .bandon the metropolis, and, in fact, to give him , r. l l the arms/ (!f the Loire, the continued union li, even aftCr the decree for its di!.bandieg t up of *