The National Register. — London, England, 1809-03-26 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER. MARCH 26. Motion; to which Lord ALTHOR PC proposed an Amendment, stating that as his Royal Highness resigned the command of the army, the House does not think It necessary now to proceed any further. To this Mr. PEKCEVA L moved an Amendment, that the word now he omitted. Mr. PERCIVA. es Amendment was earried by a majority of 235 to 112. Lord FOLKESTONE has given notice of his intention to make some further statements respecting his Royal Highness, on the 11th of next month. As far as it aas possible to ascertain the public opinion on this momentous goestinn, it seemed to coincide, at least, in the neces- sity in which the DuliZ of YORK wai placed to renounce his ap pointment of Commander in chief. Whatever maybe the sentiment of his guilt and innocence, the feeling, we will risk to say, was general, that his Royal Highness had given proofs of weakness and inconsiderateness, to speak of him as tenderly as possible, which disqualified him for an office of such great respotisi, bility. As to his military talents we will say little ;-..they never produced a single brilliant advantage to his country. As to the services he may have rendered in his capacity of commander in Chief;--we would he the last persons in esistence to detract from them, either from party motives, or private- malignity ; but it is impossible to impute to his single exertions, activity or patriotism, any amelioration which may have taken place in the militpry department. This amelioration, should, with more propriety, be attributed to the menacing and accumulating dan gers of our situation ;—They were so urgent as to fix a mass of talents and attention on that department, This collection of means and knowledge and circumstances must necessarily have operated beneficially on the army ; and it has become, w hat it now is, the terror of our enemy, and the ad miration of every man who has attentively examined its organi zation. Therefore, we are far from thinking that other Officers are not, at least, as fully competent to fill so important an office as his Royal Highness ; or that any relaxation of zeal or discipline will be apparent now that the 1)t: ter, of YORK has yielded to the unanimous voice of the Public. The crimi nal weakness he displayed during his connection with Mrs. CLARKE rendered his resignation not only urgent but indis pensible ; and we are happy to perceive that the DUKE has complied with - this necessity. It is impossible not to advert on this - occasion to the enlight ened principles of our constitution, which enable the public opinion to exercise a controul so beneficial and decisive, over the servants of the state. The public judgment may err, but the public feeling never ; and though a great mass of the people may have peen incompetent to unravel the perplexing mass of evidence laid before the House of Commons, and discriminate, with the over nice distinction of the bar, between specious and positive wilt; there was not a single individual of that number, however limited his intellectual bense, that had not moral sense enough to perceive, that the writer of the " dear•" letters to Mrs. CL4ELKE was not a fit person to be intrusted with an office of high responsibility. It is as difficult to pass over the manly, firm, and patriotic i conduct of Mr. WARDLE, who brought forward these ch:lrges, under difficulties and menaces, which induced a number or per sons, who admired his conduct, to tremble at the consequeoces of his zeal, integrity, and patriotism. It would betray a pro found ignorance of our history, as of the abuses inseparable from power, to overlook the important advantages the people acquire from having a man of his ivaexibility, and courage, in the number of their representatives. He has merited in a full measure the thanks of his country ; and we are happy to perceive that the citizens of Canterbury, have voted him the freedom of their accompanied with their thanks for the manner in which he conducted the proceedings on the charges against the late Com• wander in Chief. The Cities of Glasgow and Rochester have con vened meetings fur the same patriotic purpose ; and we trust this hoLourable example will be followed by every other corporation iu the United Kingdom. This is the fittest recompance for men w ho 201 render distinguished services to their country ;—it resembles the civic crown, the laurel branch, conferred by the ancients 0Q their benefactors and heroes. A remuneration in money was thought of when the exertions of individuals tended more to promote the views of the Prince, than the interests of thecom munity. Sir DAVID DUNDAS was presented, on Wednesday to his MAJESTY at the Levee, upon receiving his appointment as Commander in Chief, and was sworn iu a member of the Privy Conseil. He is a brave and meritorious Officer ; but me would rather see this important Office entrusted to a Military Board, nu a plan somewhat similar to that of the Board of idnxi rnity, Letters dated the2tst inst. have been received from Ifol land. They do not corroborate the previous accounts, re ceived through the same channel, of hostilities baying ac tually commenced between Austria and France. The ex treme caution they observe in adverting to the occurrences in Germany is a proof of the rigorous precautions which have been adopted to prevent intelligence of the real state of that country being transmitted to this. By a carmpa thon of their contents, the following particulars: may, however, be collected and relied on,—The Austrian armies are universally in motion ; and are far more numerous, formidable, and better organised, than they have been represented in the papers under the controul of the tyrant. They have arrived before now, amply and better supplied than in any former campaign, with every article essential to a vigorous prosecution of ilostilities, at their respectise places of desteettion, and have probably sustained already the first shock ..of the enemy. Tne nomination of the Archduke •CH ARLES to the chief and uncontrouled command of the respective ar mies, has produced the highest. confidence in the ()Thee,. and soldier, and diffused among; every cias3 of Austrian subjects, the most sanguine hopes of success. Ile places nimseif at the head of that force wherever it may be, which shalt be opposed to that commanded by R -ON APA RTE. rrson. The highest unanimity prevails in every province of Austria, and a cheerful submission to the measures, proposed by go vernment in this important juncture, distinguish's the con duct of the peasant, as well as that of the Nobleman and Merchant. The militia evince as much zeal :cud alacrity as the regular corps; and the Ilungari:ms, so often the terror, and in a crisis almost equally dangerous, the last prop of the Empire, display as much ardour on the re sent occasion, as they did in that memorable one, sslien they stepped forward to support the rights of Mattis THE RESA against the united efforts of France, Prussia, Spain and Bavat ia. The following facts may likewise be relied on. A strong :ermentation exists in Tyrol; and these brave Mountaineets have exhibited such marks of disaffection to the Bavarian Government, that the greater part of the BA varian troops has been ordered, muter • Baron Vos WnEosl, to keep them in awe. Sentiments, equally fevourn We to the cause of Austria is going to contend for, are manifested, though not so openly, by all the States that have volitatarily entered, or been presse4 into the Rhenish Confede racy. The desertion from the Bavarian and Wurtemberg troops was so universal, that it was foutvi expedient, towards the end of last month, to remove them to a greater distance from the Austrian frontiers.' The co-operation of Saxony in this iniquitous aggression, is not only doelkful but may be denied with safety. • And, if we take the raoral character of the Sovereign, the feelings of the Saxo,is and the long established family alliance between the twa courts, into consideration, we feel less hesitation to discredit the re ported repugnance of that Prince to contribute to the :rser throw of Austria. The hostile demonstrations said to he made by the' KING of P e-USSLA may postlibly originate in the speculations • and wishes of the writers of these letters, in which they are unequivocally mentioned ; hat it* env political conjecture to that ile -p e c e eee k fte terel oe the