The National Register. — London, England, 1814-05-15 00:00:00

s:4 TTIF NATIONAL REGISTER. FRANCE CAPABLE OF A MEE GOVERNMENT. The conduct and I anguoge of certain journalists have . of late been so inconsiderate, that, if 'we f‘7.-:1 it our duiy- to notice their vaeoes top'cs, we di it without passion— and without invective. But, if all supposed danger is passed—if 'mankind are called upon to deliver themselves sr,a to a delirium of joy—if the halcyon days of peace are about to obliterate the ravaees of war—it may, perhaps, l' wise to mix a little reason with our exultation, lest an infatuation should lead ins ieto the coetrary extremes, and, in our gratitude for bvi:ig escaped frown ono class of evils, we fall into others eaually fatal to the repose, liberty, and happ!ness of maekind. It mould appear, inde , stl, from the sentiments of the leading ministerial journal, The Courier, notwithqambng the noble self-devotion of the " Universal French Na tign,'.' for we copy their expression, " that theie is a ity - i sical impediment La the character . et* the lesople to the Isnowledee and enjoyment of true liberty, and that the wisest thing tiley could do would he to • return ae nearly as possible to the blessings and resignetions of the ancient. ReAhne." What blessin;s these are, Psenin-philosopers may perhaps condescend to tell us, when the other topics of eulegium are exhausted, that are intended to advance the chaacter of the one country Over the other; but, fer our parts, who believe the conformetion of mankind tnuch the Same to either—rill or pleasure, we csimot see the Ficnch are incapahle of a frre and a reoresenta tive government. We Lave beard reticle of certain secta ries who profess an eeclusive morality, end here we arc favoured with new clectr'eres upon .poli:ical respensihili ties that would apply to- the nrcldent.; of country wed climate, an exception to the common benehts of csperl ence and improvement. How far the lliiuse of Bourbon will thresh_ tits ;n is r this indiscreet zeal rill he seen in the reselutiou with which they reject Their dectrines ; and we shoe:-.., is d ed, have cause to deplore, if all theist the raotl; n!i'. a cl geed have been led to expect from the recent revelutien, for We cannot call it a restoration at present, .lis4pate it pelf in adulatory addresses, and humenehe psrstie. fact is, that in France a free press and a EtTref;o% t' government have never had a fair experielent. The vie lence of the revolutionery peeled Was sueeeeded by one of expedients, which finally resolved • itself into the mi litary despotism that had nearly subjugated the whole of Europe. The sudden change has done little to TOM OVP COLS disposition for CC trs glO ire j" and to attempt to era dicate it would again probably involve that unhappy conn tryein the miseries of domestic warfare. France, to be really benefitted, must lose much cf her military ardour : the civic virtues must take place of the marital ; and until she has been taught to respect mile), free,..and equitable institutions, she can nsver regain the ascendancy she has lost, by the recent conquest of her country. If any sys tem can be devised - to'zffett these desirab!e ends ; it' a nie thing can be looked to as promising strength iud dura. ~,~ ~,;, a;td if 11-r itostiiutions " have grown up with ~., c eatness," it i.; thi flee nature of theFe institutions haTe, .11:r she is, and given tier that wNlout whick ro cr , .!n! , ..v can eitlwr be great or hap. XV 11' he will -if% py. Iftt wise, ig r gn b;yond his pronm - c than depart an iota from it. sp upon ilvtant prfection would be equally and unnatural ; but to deny France the rc prescu. tative system, would be t gretml of other re.volu lious; and the mill' ny , .lni cif avertin; th.:un is by gill)); lwr, as so?n as possible, th:l fullness of that po F sessioa which ameliorates whlrevar it is felt, and equally agg an. L rr:f.os tite progress of the intellect, and the philosophy of ' cxn,:rimcnt 11?:* It is said t 3 be determined tl►at the Congresc, for the negodation of a general peke. sh:til he held in Loo - don, and the treaty to be entitled the Treaty of Lorlon, in considera tion of the part which Great Biitain has acted, and the suc cour, as well as example, she has given to all the Belligerent Allies. The Paris Papers state, that the Doke of Welfington is ap pointed Antlxwadurr to the Ccurt of ['lance. Thursday cyders wrsre sent down from the Admiralty to the Naval Officer commanding in the Downs directing the Captains of the Royal Sovereign and Queen Charlotte yachts to hold themselves in readintss to sail on Monday morning for Calais, to receive- the Emperor of Russia and King cif. Prussia, and their respective suilev. Ge.n. Blucher haying signified his intention, through the Prussian Minister, of passing over to England a short time. to pay .his respects to the Prince Regent, apartments will he prepared for his reception at Carlton £louse. MAY 15 bility, besides bringing together those who ce,mmand, and these who obey; by distributing to all racks a legicalative character ; by securing the privileges of all ; by making the law paramount either to the will of the sovereign, or the turbulence of the people, it is the balance of a free constitution, emanating out of the - representa ti ye chai acter, and maintained and invigorated by the firm but temperate exercise of a free press. If this be not the fact, how is it that The Courier puti in so large a claim to our admiration and gratitude for its recent exertions ? Where could they have written or spoken ?nit in England ? What then is there in the charac. ter of the French people that should sul)ject them to theso libels? Are they only capable of getting rid of one ty ranny to receive another? Has expvi2llC3 (lane nothleg for them ? Are they never to be sobered ? It is tdrurd to talk of the divine identity of Megland to the prejud:!ce of other na tions. Why all this objection to the extensiOn of the only le gitimate principle of a wise government? The way to make France harmless is to make her free. The way to make I;.r generous is to give her the advantage of a free press. The way to make her happy is to exalt, not . to depreciate he; national character. 'The way to make her a friend, is to communicate,the priiileges of all that we have fought for, and the retention of whieh is the only compensation we hope or eesire for the millions we have spent. Magna: imity is the true character of wisdom. Eng'and ':as acted a noble aid disinterested nart in this astonishing TtTere has h:thorto ben nothing exc!usive itt her firnma.