The National Register. — London, England, 1809-03-19 00:00:00

178 TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER, virtue. It is unexpected ; but, therefore, the more daz xl:ng ; and assisted by the artificial heat of the treasury and Lord CASTLEREAGH'S Office, must produce a growth of patriotism which may tend to lessee its present extiorbit ant price. It is painful to reflect that Governments never grow sen sible of the abuses which undermine, and threaten to sub vert them, until the explosion has taken place ; or think of reforming until the project is impracticable. There is not a courtier, a placeinan, or an ex-prince, who once , rioted in the corruption which overturned the thrones oi the BOURBONS, that has not shed many an unavailing tear at the folly and extravagance of his former conduct. They were reminded of the volcano on which they were dancing, singing, feasting with their parasites and mistresses; but they laughed at the absurdity of the advice, and thought Bicetre a fit mansion for such an extravagant wight ; or corn plained of the licentiousness of the press, got the adviser immured in the dungeons of the bastile. They continued to carouse and to debauch the public morals, till one huge explosion swallowed themselves, the Sovereign and coun try in one common inexpressible ruin. We did exult sincerely and ardently in the investigation, and ' we bestowed our most unqualified approbation on !tir.Wsit- DLE for his patriotism, courage, and constitutional indepen dence. His example, as we forsaw, would create emulation and an imitation of his manly conduct. However the pub lic may have been disappointed in the result of the proceed ings, they affori greater cause fit triumph than depression. The accused - has been acquited, and we bow with due de ference to the decision; but when we reflect on the number of respectable Members who voted for Mr. 'WARDLE'S ori ginal motion, we think we have cause to congratulate the country, that it possesses 124 individuals in the list of its Representatives who consider its interest as paramount to every other obligation. Even this circumstance, impor taut and consolatory as it is, we regard as a secondary con sideration, when compared with the salutary impression ! which the precedent leaves on the minds of the public. There is no character so exalted in rank, but may be brought to trial on charges of misdemeanours; and this advantage should outweigh, even in the opinion of the alarmists, any inconvenience which the I):-hi or YoaK may have suffered ' in consequence of the pznlicity of his amours. We would advise them, however, not to let the idea prey too much on 1 their feelings, as if his Ro!.11 Highness sliffered very poig nantly from the disclosure ; for we are very much mistaken is that Illustrious Personage, if he k not as completely in different to their sympathy as he is to our strictures. The great fault in his character is not excessive delicacy : his contempt of Mrs. Clarke's menaces, his conscientious in difference to the claims of a female who, for four years was the object of his dearest atlections, the centre of all his happiness, his solace amidst the anxiety and embarrass ments of his arduous office, leave little doubt of the stoicism of his princely mind. There is no observation so supremely true as—that no thing is so dangerous as an imbecile friend. The DUKE, of YORK must have felt the full force of this remark ; for his pretended advocates, from an intemperate wish to displzay their zeal in his behalf; have represented him as one of the weakest, silliest, and most culpable men on the surface .)f our globe. Their defence reminds us of the bear in the fabie, and his au kward, clumsy zeal for his sleeping friend.. Tht:y also knocked out the DUKE'S brains (and some persons insist that brains are a very useful article to a Commander - in Chief) when they re presented him, for four years, as the miserable dupe of the worst of women... If she was the despicable wretch, the insa depict her, what opinion the man, who sa crificed the esteem of so worthie of curious specu lation before the Sena red by Mr: WAa- MARCH 19 DIX. To be convinced of an impartial decision on the part of that illustrious body, we will go back to the period of the second Punic War; and consider the e:der AFRICANUS as the party accused. The choice is rather auk ward, we acknowledge ; for our Readers will probably recollect au adventure of that hero whilst he commanded in Spain, which, whatever similarity there may be in military talents, raises some doubt whether the two commanders were equally sensible to the fascinating powers of beauty. But we will not press the speculation too far ; and will confine ourselves to the observation, that if this supposed occur rence had taken place, even on the anniverary of the battle of Zama, the order of the illustrious Roman to his Judges to follow him to the capitol, in order to return thanks to the Gods for that memorable event, would not have been so implicitly obeyed. We will now close our strictures on this subject for ever. They have caused us some paiu, and we never undertook a task with greater reluctance. But every motive, which could influence the citizen and the man, forced us to pur sue the path we have taken. Great energy and great courage are requisite in the pre sent crisis; and the tendency of our age, in direct contra diction to a flippant assertion of Mr. CANNING and his friends, is rather to flatter, than to defame, men vested with power. But in the hour of danger, should it ever arrive, it will be then seen that the persons who arc now branded wit h the epithet of Jacobins, will display as much ardour in the defence of their country, and perhaps more, than those very mon who are now in the possession of its highest honours. It is the most revolting insolence, as well as the most danger ous abuse of authority, to accuse individuals, who benefit the state by their labours and talents, of disaffectionsto the establishment ; because they are too independent, or too honest to bestow indiscriminate approbation on every act of a Minister. The impartiality of their censnre is the test of their disinterestedness, for the road to ministerial favour is neither freedom of judgment nor an avowed abhorrence of corruption. But there is a reward far above the smile of a Court and the patronage of a Minister; and that re compence every man may find in the applause of his own conscience. There is, besides, in some bosoms a consum ing love of freedom, an intense hatred of corruption ; their loyalty is not fashioned nor calculated according to the profits it may produce; they love their country pas sionately, and detest such as dishonour it. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. FROM TILE DUTCH PAPERS. ItfILLETIN Or Tyr r ARMY OF SPAIN. 44 The Duke of Dalmatia arrived at Toy on the 10th of February. The whole province is subdued. He collected all his forces in order to cross the Minim on the following day. lie ♦vas to reach Oporto between the 13th and 20th, and Lisbon between the 20th and 28th. 66 The English have embarked at Lisbon,. in order to abandon Portugal. The rage of the Portuguese was at its utmost height, and every day considerable and bloody con flicts between the Portuguese and English took place. In Gallicia the Duke of linchingen had completed the organiza tion of the province. Admiral :',lassaredo is arrived at Fer ro!, anti has begun to revive the labours of fiat important arsenal. Peace is restored in all the provinces under the command of the Duke of Istria, which lie between the Py renees, the sea, Portugal, and the chain of mountains which cover Madrid. Security follows days of disorder and desolation. Daily deputations repair on all sides to the King., at Madrid. Re-organization and public spirit are quickly springing mp under the new Administration. The Duke of Beluno has marched to Badaios ; IR: has restored to peace and disarmed the whole of Lower £strema.dura. , • atiable harpy,•the . • *re.. pleased to Ido they f , 4 : . 1.. .1 . : rtai n . o f 1 hono - • •s- - s to 40. t •,..Ivc , .. ' ass , : ... , , tier , . se i , ; . . - ra il 1 4 . k t 4 I % . dui 1 ( •, I f o& . V. . 7 , i ' ' \ s i .. ~ ;., - 1 1 ‘4l o I.' / % 4:' , • "I' i l