The National Register. — London, England, 1809-01-15 00:00:00

JAN. 15. hind, whP did not honour Vienna, nor Berlin, with a stay pf more than two or three days, remained stationary near Madrid at least seventeen days What can account for this change of system Z ills reputation, battered as it is by atrocities and falshqeds, must, neverthelesa have some value in his own estimation i and how will his arrogant liranity he able to support the sneers and sarcasms of his fol lowers, who, thoagh they wear an air of grave composure in his presence, do not get his for vaunted promise of . , tran quilizing Spain, before the expiratioq of last %ear. NO people existing are fonder of a laugh than the French soldiers ; and they indulge themselves cordially at the ex pence of the mortified liraggart. A stay of seventeen days near Madrid! It is astonishing that a circumstance, which affords so much matter for speculation, has been noticed by none of our coteipporaries. Was all this time necessary to make preparations for the coronation of his broi her ? pc, who unites in his own persou the qualities of the Sol the pontiff, and the :_;7, who poFsesses sn many pawned and pilfered crowns and diad-ms, who inir,ht have been accosted with the s to the ears of a fcrocio.ls 1.1..:• gro.ais and exe prations of the numerous p.:,,oiation cap,tal t I did not want so much time tbs . preparations. Tlo simple circumstance undermines OA. whole , _!dinee of his Bulletin, artfully construc:cd as it is; and is, in our judgment the most convincing pro,k . e could .-eceive, Wit he is himself apprehensive of meeting more ditlicaltics in his attempt ti subjugate Spain, than his admirers in this coun try imagine. With an . army of 60,00 U men before Madrid, and we have his own statement for it, he remains caressing the Zephyrs, indulging iq the pleasures of the seaso n, en ; joying the fine air of the cquntry ; like another CNC% it, rio ting in the arms of a CLEOP ATRA, he risks the conquest of Spain, to enjoy the fine weather in the neigbourhood of the capital, Unaccountable indeed f He has either received alarming intelligence from his agents at Vienna; or the in. habitants of Madrid coutigue to display an heroism, an un governable hatred and resistance, that he dares undertake nothing of importance against the Eastern and Southern frovinces, as long as these symptoms continue. " The Euraaoa has given the army some da)s rest Ile is grown excessively humane of late. in the blake climate of the North, he did not feel so much compassion for the sufferings of his soldiers, who, after the battle of Jena, were obliged to march incessantly, in pursuit of the Prosian fugitives, under Prince Hon ent.oup:, and Ge neral &MOW. There was no rest allowed those poor wrotelant at that time ; they were - forced, in the most tempestuous weather, to wade up to their knee% in mud d , through the almost impassable roads of Pomerania an lieckkn'burr, till they reached Lubeck. if celerity of operation was at that time advisable, it is become im riously urgent at present, when every day gives a new augmentation of strength and con fi dence to the po isolation of the South and East.dis it is of the itighest importance to obtain tinct information on this head. The Bulletins are exclusively composed for our perusal, and that of the Court of Viennait would be more than good nature, if we trusted for intelli gence to these documents. Notwithstanding the affected fonehalance, with which which they are dictated, it is easy, on an attentive examination of their respective con tests, and on comparing a number of circumstanc4as, to per.- ceive that they ace a comp olition of falsehood, bombast, THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 41 and concealed apprehension. The regularity, with which they are transmitted to tuis country, confirms our suspi cions; and We see every reason to conclude, that the spirit of the Span** is es unbroken as it was in the first ino meat of resistance. The inhabitants of Leon. Asturias, Gallicia, and- Castille, as soon as the severity of the wea ther has abated, which is intense in those Provinces, during . the course of the winter, will resume their offensive opera tions against their invaders. It could not be expected that the poor naked peasants should display that sublime energy • as tO brave all the rigours of the season, in their dreary • mountains and fastnesses, without tents, shoes, hats, and the most indispensable articles of clothing. The writers of several papers, who, for the miserable purposes of faction t or to gratify their abhorrence of every their, that is great and good, condemn the lulcevrarmness of those poor people, should have at least the impertiality to remind their readers of the sublime examplea of devotion to the cause of their country these peasants gave at the battle of Rio Seco, ani in several other engage, cents under General MAKS. hunger, excessive cold, and want of clothing, drove them at last to their homes ; from whence they will issue with renewed energy, as soon es the mild influence of the sun renders fire and warm clothing unnecessary. It is easy for those ignorant brutal declaimers enjoying the comforts of an English fire side, to rant about patriotism, privations, &C. and to treat the poor Asturian and Gallician mountaineers with contempt, because they are not capable, en masse, of displaying a degree of per severance and energy, almost beyond the reach of human nature. The extreme poverty of the country, would ex pose them'at the same time to the danger of starvation. ;lad they persevered in the romuantie design of guarding their passes against the invaders. The inhabitants of the South are not exposed to these inconveniences. Their mild climate and fruitful soil enable them to sustain the rigour of a winter campaign. The 'pring commences there about the middle of this month 4 and thus the tyrant's plah is frustrated of terminating the. business during the winter. An armed peasantry are na turally obliged to retire to their homes during the incle mency of that season ; but if their spirit be the same., as we have no reason to doubt it, and it continues so during the Spring and Summer, BONAPARTE, s willob the number of soldiers he has at his disposal, he able to make no impression on the country. The desultory and irregular mode of war the Spaniards will probably wage fur the future, will, by degrees, consume hiS forces. ‘Vhen he least expects it. new armies will appear in his rear, oft his flanks and in front. His detachments will be cut off; he will be straitened for provisions ; he will be harassed incessantly on every side. During the spring and summer eights, a constant alarm will be kept up in the quarters of his several corps ; and, according to human probability. Austria, as well as other states, will give him some occupa tion about that t i me. Would it then be politic, or honourable in oar Govern ment, under these circumstances, to relax in its exertions, or despond of success ? Are are unwilling to entertain that paltry opinion of the understandings and hearts of British Ministers. With a particle, even, of vulgar' ambition; with a desire to have their names *recorded heyOnd the precincts of the church - yard , in which oil . shall be One day entered; with the Slightest wish to promote the fame and preponderance of their co s untry l . they will persevere 4. 1‘ '; 1 4 1 k a k i l t, 1 }k: 1 t I , It 4 1, ' V ki ki i 1 I 1 / ,1 , 1.1 I