The National Register. — London, England, 1808-12-18 00:00:00

Dv% 18. tip. J. MOORE are of the sth, anti no mention is made of the arrival of the enemy at Madrid. The Duke of ISTRIA ap peared before that capital with the cavalry on the 2d ; the event might therefore be easily known at Salamanca on the sth, the date of Moones dispatches ; as the distance is not more than 150 miles. The enemy is capable of every art, in order to relax our exertions, or retard our reinforce- ment ; but we dare not indulge in the pleasing delusion. In great calamities men should take the worst, and collect courage to resist, to surmount them. We have the means, Heaven knows, to overcome greater ditliculties,if there were num capabie of wielding to advantage the great resources of this country. Let us, speculate nu further on that des ponding subject ; but rather examine what may be still dune for a people whose cause we have so strongly and aitlentiv advocated. We feel their anguish ;we are not callous to their sufferings ; we follow with execrations the barbarous iuvatErs who are persecuting, who are driving from their homes, separating from their families, robbing of their property, and setting a frice on the heads of the worthiest and most respect able characters in that country. We sympathise in the sufferings, and share the indignant feelings of these generous fugitives ; but their resources are still great ; and tho occupation of the Capital has no more influence as their cause, than that of Burgos had. The invader is pla . ting a desperate game; the more he advances, the more hazardous it becomes. Actions of eclat are ueces- aarv, on his part, to impose upon Austria, and discourage aigorous exertions on our side. His troops do not occupy a fourth part of the Peninsula, and the whole of the southern and eastern provinces remain unsubdued.— They oiler stroager and much more formidable means of resistance; and the success of the enemy will decrease the aannosily of the natives. Though the tyrant may advance to the very camp at St. Ruch, the subjugation of Spain is, however, far from being effected. We should, neverthe less, neglect nothing, and always have shipping enough to transport the Patriots to a place of safety, where they !right be embodied again, in order to rush, as soon as a favourable opportunity offers, on their oppressors. This is not a fit season for economy; no expenses must be spared, if they only contribute to keep up a single spark of that di vine tire, which has so ardently glowed in the breasts of the Spaniards. Ceuta, or the I3elearic Islands, would afford most eligible places olarnisfor the refugees; and in case of extreme emergence, we; might collect there an army sufficiently for midable to effect, a second time, the expulsion of the ene my from the Peninsula. Our fleets should keep up an un ceasi!lg. communicatiou with the land, to encourage the Patriots in their attachment to the noble cause, to hold out to them a prospect of salvation, and to transport such as were willing to embark, to the great body of the fugitive Patriots. But Ileavea be praised, these desperate measures are not necessary ; and we propose them only in case of extreme emergency. The cause is still strong ; we have only the French accounts as yet; those which arrive through another clntuuel, betray neither despondency, nor es ince a wish to coaciliate the tyrant by submission. The French Papers contain a very long account of the late occurrences in Turkey, and positively assert, that the proposals of Mr. ADA 1K have been rejected : and that he was refused permission to proceed to the Capital. This we disaelieve ; and the. Fast accounts from Malta speak of L arrival in Coostantiuuple, where he was received THE NATIONAL REGISTER. so, with the greatest distinction. lie had several confer ences with Musrseu A liAl CTA It ; and the strong est hopes were entertained, that t:iis intelligent and active Negociator would succeed in his mission. We have frequently alluded to the folly and dangerous tendency of listening to the overtures of Boxaseta.Ts. favery man, who feels a similar conviction, in common with us, must have felt a proportionate pleasure in perus ing his MAJESTY'S Declaration. We regret that the spirit of parties in this country, and the generous, though Quix otic, notion, of reclaiming the EalpErOr ALEXANDER, did not permit Ministers to adopt this resolution as soon as they received Boyars wre's Address to the Legislative Body. The character of the Usurper is a strong composi tton of dissimulation, remorseless villainy, profound hy pocrisy, supportixl by considerable talents, astonishing versatility, uncommou perseveraece with the um t sove I reign indifference to the means he employs to attain his object. It is deplorable, therefore, that the abuses - of party spirit should reduce Ministers to the mortify ing em hart assinent of joust:let ug the '‘Ord ?FACE, by appealing to listen to the pacific proposals of a mousier, whose every action, word and gesture, be.ray the most in • etcraie animosity, and the most corsummate ihirst of vetigeance against every one that bears the name of Engi.shman. Who does not even affect to conceal it; the raticour of which has so strongly blended itself with his existeece; forms so prominent a part of his impressions, that Ile net er alludes to this country, directly or indirectly, whether in offering us the olive branch, or unsheathing the sword of vengeance, that he does not express a degree of animesity, which neither sacrttices, nor .arbmiscon, nor the lowest de basement could appease ; —extermination, and the destruc tion of every vestige of our L ereatness and freedom, :mild alone satisfy his ;inextinguishable hate. It is, therefore, folly of the most dangerous si.eetes to oppose meekness to arrogance, and moderation to the most insulting bettality. We disclaim and strongly condemn the pusillanimity of re turning polite and measured eemity, for the most savage hatred. The man abhors us; we ktow it ; and if we had a particle of the proud, unyielding B,•irit of our ancestors, we should exult in • his abhorrence ; for the detestation of a man stained with the most enormous crimes, and capable of conamittitig, without compunctioe, atrocities of the blackest dye, should afford matter of triumphant satis faction to a people, proud, and conscious of !teir integrity and humanity. A most barbarous :iud crim al abuse of the word toleration has been prevalent of ia e years ; and which, if not repressed, will cony( the sta nem of re 7 feelings, and substitute the glare atilt the sentimeut al cant of pseudo-humanity, for the sablene virtue itseti; which is as inseparable from jostice, as heat from time. Better men and better times knew nothing of this distinc tion; but, with hold integrity, rind an unerring knov - ledge of men, opposed censare and energy to ineorrigib!e depravity. Were any person to propose tameig the old tyger, who weltered for y ears in blood and carnage, or to appease the cravings of his ravenous appetite by so , things; and was guilty of the folly of approaching him, in order to try the dangerous expertinent ; there is nobody who vv mild not condemn his folly and rashness, and prooonnee hull, without hesitation, a lust man. Ilas not BoN p.t,-rr, in every action of his public Ide, betrayed as iestinctiee an appetite for blood ; and, can a single example be pre duced, where the u sery and caraagc of whole le ov nces checked him in the career of his ambition Ila ye friead ship, services, concessions, humiliation, virtues, er sut plication, been able to move savage heart, when he marked out a victim for destruction. 1 orsootli 1 . he assists his family and followers ; so does the tyger take care t f her young ones; but the human savae, more ferocious and onne, ural, would immediately murder the most lime _ • :! ed of his dependents and family, were they to ilmad h fi I ' 1 in his ambition.