The National Register. — London, England, 1813-11-07 00:00:00

: • THE NATIONA No. 306. POLITICAL DIS2UISITION. ' PRINCE REOENT'S SPEECH. No Session of Parliament ever opened under more auspiL cious circumstances than the present, and never was better use made of prosperity. Instead of suffeting exultation'to betray us into justifiable, though perhaps immoderate pre tensions—instead of trampling Ivith unmerciful revenge on the enemy who lies prostrate at our feet, we avail ourselves raf our fortunes to extend the olive branch, and not to spread the desolations of war; to restore the independence of En_ rape, and not to blot out one of its kingdoms. Unconquer able in arms, tremendous in our hostility, but wise in our councils and moderate in our success, the example which we now give will convince the world, that the blood which we have shed, and the treasure which we have expended. were no' shed or spent for the attainment of private objects, but for the general freedom and happi ness of mankind. Should the misrepresentations of the. enemy, respecting our views in the prosecution of the contest in which we have been so long engaged, reach posterity, we do not wish for the survival' of a more com plete refutation of them than that which the PRINCE RE . ARENT'S speech to both Houses of Parliament presents. Dignified in its language and sentiments, manly in its tone andmoderate in its pretensions- 6 4.0iRpletely repels the art- . ful charges made by France against our pretended .ambition ! and should the calamities of war continue to devastate the world, it points to the present and future ages their real author. The topics which this speech embraces are such, that had they been anticipated by any politician thirteen months ago, when NAPOLEON planted his eagles on the Kremlin in the centre of the Russian Empire, the prophet must have been classed amongst those fit to become the inmates of St. Luke's or to edit our foretelling Al manacks.•W hat then was the situ ation of that continent, which we now see rescued from the chains of despotism and in the first dizzy moment of libera tion, almost doubting its happiness ? Let us inquire with Mr. C. GRANT, the eloquent seconder of the Address to the PRINCE REGENT on Thursday night, " what was the state of Germany 12 months ago ? No movements in her fields, save those of armies marching to rivet her chains, or dragging her population to bleed in the cause of their tyrant. No voice, but that of the conqueror insulting his victims. No hope springing to light up the future, but an overpower ing despotism crushing every mental energy of man, and quenching every idea of possible relief."--Let us now see with him what is the present situation of the continent. " Where is now that empire which seemed built on the pillars of the world, not to he Oaken but by universal destruction ?—ile who showed n• Vol. VI. No. CCCVI. IA PRICE 9d mercy, is now reduced to a condition to implore mercy. He who made many miserable is now plunged into the gulph of misery himself. Ile who thought his power resistless, has now seen it melting away in his grasp, and, despoiled of his former glories, driven from the positions which he had vainly fortified, deserted by his Allies, hunted from river to river, and dragging after him the wrecks of his defeated armies, not (July beholds whole kingdoms torn from his yoke, hut find* - them amongst hip enemies, foremost in the van, uprooting the last remnants of his power."—Such is the comparative view of the continent at the close of 1811 and 1913, even in all the correctness of truth, and with the fervour of elo- .cc,_. by one of our young and promising Sena . tors; and such are the prospects, which, instead of creating hopes of boundless conquest in a 'lath* whose long efforts and repeated sacrifices in the cause of.. European independence, arc at last crowned with success, only leads her to declare, in concert with her Allies, that e • No disposition to require from France sacrifices of any description, inconsistent with her honour or just pretensions, as a nation, will ever be on our part or that of our Allies, an obstacle to peace." If any thing is likely to add the blessing of pacification to those of emancipation, it hi •:, Zs a declaration issued at such a moment. Despair has some times been found to impart a sudden accession of strength, which has wrenched the palm from the conqueror's hand, It is, therefore, always prudent to prevent the operative energy of despair, by opening a door to hope. There is besides, another reason which increases the prob.ibility of a successful and secure termination to the present war, in consequence of our pacific tender. The Tyrant to whom it is made, cannot reject it without s incurring the tenfold hatred of his subjects. Surround?d with the blaze of victory, he might inked dare to counteract. their wis h es as he has frequently done. But ladeh with the disgrace of repeated defeats, how can he justify himself in the eyes of the French Nation for rejecting terms which we publicly declare shall be corvistent with her honour and just pretensions ? Can he point out brighter hopes than those, when every report be sends from the army brings a tale of discomfiture and ruin ? Can he retain what he may be asked to surrender ? or can he make them believe that it is in his power to realise his boast that he will not relinqui4s a single foot of territory ? They must soon know the full ex tent of his losses, and when they see the olive branch put forth towards them from the shores of England. they will not only gladly seize it, but will overturn or destroy all individual obstacle which may stand •in the way of peace. Ile must be too well aware of this f esh dan ger, to have sufficient boldness to encounter it, and we may therefore expect that the late Lord of the Continent will b 3 soon compelled, both by the desperate situation of his Waif.: Car ling, Cottitituttan;alp tato. PUBLISHED AT NO. 11, NEWCASTLE-51'RM, STRAND. SUNDAY. NOVEMBEH 7. 1813. REGISTER.