The National Register. — London, England, 1809-10-29 00:00:00

NATIONAL RECtIS .. - -. 46 - 6 •• • N •• . . As a . • . . CanOtttution : . anD Labg.. s IJND AY . , .9 - . 'CO - T3t._,4* 29, 96. /, .r t. 41. " POLITICAL D.ISQUISITIDINT. X WILBER M PEACE. Is it attainable upon conditions uhiell imply no aiihc, .uourable sacrifices ;—n hen attained, does it oiler a prospect v( duration;—do we find in the past a rational ground else vita), for the future ;—can we discover in the moral cha racter, of the enemy motives for confidence on our side, or, on his, as assurance of a religious observance of the treaty ; is there a probability of his employing the interval of re. pose in acquiring what be does not now possess, a navy and seamen ;—and . should he hereafter demand from us couces limas which we could • not grant without ruin, sbal we be prepared to .resist his increased and better. organised means of annoy ance,—are questions we must revoke seri= only, and answer satisfactorily, before we have the cou rage to. congratulaii our readers. upon a reported nwoci .. *lion? A rumour to this effect has, fur sQIIIC time, pre . Tailed, aid obtained, during the course of the week, con-. . piderable creJit. At has been whispered at Lloyd's, men . tioned upon the Exchange, as a matter of fact; and is said to have occasioned a rise in the funds. The papers, which are called ministerial, have come alluded to it with confi "deuce, and nonevithe Mornhtg Post excepted) deoied. R . atreadydraws off from the Jubilee,. aun the ‘l6ltbrbances ai Covent Carden, 4 part of .tbe public ipterest and conversa tion. What isms generally believed, and communicated . through iueh a variety of channels, apparently rests upon a 'solid foundation. Au Evening Paper, devoted to the inte- . cests of the present mististxy, and, in general, correct in its • communications, goes so far as to assert that a nepoe!atian . tor a general Peace, in which this country is incLided, has actually cOmmenced under : the mediation of a great Northern Power, (we suppose Russia)... Before the ez. pectations of the public are raised too 'high, and to obviate' the painful . @recta of disappointnient,./Int ns tnamine the questions proposed in the beginning •of this disquisition: Is peb.ce attainable upon conditionti which:iinply no disho ngurahle sacrifices.? • The principal object of discussion, and which appears to _offer an insurmountable impediment to pacification, is Spain. The minor subjects are Portugal, Siples, Ilan: -over, Malta, Gibraltar, and our recont conquests. Can • we abandon the • Spaniards, and recognise JOIMPII BONAj . • • ItAtrrig Kipt of Spain' and the Indies,' after the nteequiTocal ' and' sillithin pledge our gsivernment has given 'the for mer ? It it cons istent with interest; honour, good faith, and our f u tur e sec uri ty ? . 'e 'ailitiow that the idea-of.au , k • .4cculnmodation is ellimerical,-unlcas we sanction,. by our assent; the atrosious• injury offered to• the Spanish. nation.. It may be .objectedi that,-at airy; efforts ire cad 'mike to- pro. Tent the subjugation of .lhe Peninsula, may be unavailing*, There would tie more thazs:true honour or poi 'licY, in• inaking 'Spain ii,Seisions iwpediment to thc•conelu'- . lion* of PeaCe• tje there Whiligereece betwcen.thl .110 of sanctioning and approving of, and the Wu of bavitlr P4l. 110.1-No. orCPI. /• ~ ** ' 1809. f PRICE 94. J • made a generous . edbrtlo preiretit the.executiOn cif, ad ib famous measure ? When we have acted au honest and an honourable pact, when we have acquitted ourselves bel:tro Heaven and men, when we leave : preserved our character fur generosity and rectitude, , and exertions.to pre vent the ruin of a free people . have iseen.isietractuat, we would then act, perhaps, ton high a part, were we to insist on the evacuation of the Peninsula as a Preliminary, to ne crociation. Apprehension of the enormous power of the House of Austria did not prevent QUCEDsELIZAUETB from succour ing HENRY IV. of France, or assisting the Dutch in their attempt to shake a the Spanish yoke. There is not 4 more parallel point in history. -The power of PHILiP 11. was relatively asgreat as that oftluortArA RTE. II is midd waseqUilp ly ferotious, subtle, restless, and unprincipled. Ile was equally hostile to the insaittitioas of this country. The shanees .against the Dutch were as unfaVourable;, their cause was not equally legitimate, nor the injuries they complained of so atrocious. But these consideratiOns did not. intimidate ELizattern, nor prevent that .great and nigh-minded So vereign from espousing their cause. She succeeded, and her succes4 humbled fur ever the towering ambition of the House of Austria; .eitabliiheci. the t liberties of Europe (si Llseced the. thunders of thr Yeqap t and laid 0 . 0 broad • ofor l ittiaioti Of our / preset' t greatness. .- SuCh i r e. ite. g rom ' thing..,w - i*lii perieVeimce,.c.ottragit sad inlisiability liiiii little. means, sire eitpabie of ~a,m4Ogi . After . such in O. ample in .our (I wa;,hiatory . 1 ; .° ' (--- tt 6'0!1,01 , '114;11 eight of f. pus.ll. lanimity, and petsay.ashainefsit'llegeneraey'in'the uaticinal character, Ire.r we, from a semic of diffiCnlties,:te nuike nu e;Thr.tsirtagre(a. aud good cause: 'l l be Minister .who.w(n;l4l. advise a similai measnre is neither a Ku itt.rtG‘u nor a Cu 4 -1. IiAM, • and will ' i l.l classed ti by p' among those Wreak and unworthy S i tatesmen whose. idininistration is an tera 'of disgrace .inthe history of a country... The most honour able is gen - crafty the most uvfnlpolicY. ' In the prseitt in- • atanceit seams us the go . ott wishes and admirai t ifin o f i n* n _ k indond even extorts , the esteeui elf the French pe;; R le" tad soldiers, who cannot fail to make an oc • easional ci)mOrii, Th :between the gUnerosity of our coudu.ci, .ail tiO un t jttt iptl ignominious:part they are compelled to play: Py ab'andon ;kg it we gain no possible advantage; • we n tt.hk.y mollify ibe ferocious temper of the en.einy"„nor hid.- ce . him, 6 ) r e. • pounce farther pretensions. We exPoio o: rselves'io ()te execration and: contempt of the ttniierse, ,ithent gaining an equivalent fur the honour. we fin-feit. We, tiartaiit i lfay : the likerty of our .allies. Omitinint *ae --; pendeucc or natioll* against 'tat? '' au* qrskat! t thing.: By..perfornul quire„ very nvery thiiig, risk. :,Attletast,-'.w. , .0f having actd, right. -41' rrissot fOr mortals to command success. • , . " Wo'ki do *.Fos 1 ) 1111/1141)91me—welk &aerie it.. * ' ... .` • "`; . - • , • - -..~., allies, ,t,rAfgc. with the ?ernitining Inds. our own reputation, - ,snd momentary . f4vOur of. 00 miist;capri t ti- iifarny , we. piti I) (i- -nking *q bl+o4,sakie pyt; .:we - igi,t4out rs Trs..s c; ! .lkreiktig • h 1.1 an Nt ;tie sfkiroAide I •- • . I 14 4 15 141: 4 rbt. . . • • • • •