The National Register. — London, England, 1809-09-10 00:00:00

F; • R E G 413'.1r timg, Coniltaution, anb ~~: •. . sTER. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1809. No. S 9. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. 20.01111.. a EEG UTY-SEV NECE. , :slrr OF A P.47tr,l.lll::NiliZl' ENQU'irtir is•rn Tut cArtsts or Tilk FAILU al: OF I:I In whatever light persons holding difThrent political opinions, may consider the present sate'of Europe, however they may difIZT as to the policy, the expediency, or the necessi'v of the present war ; however they may disae.ree ns to the :node adopt ca by Government for carrying it on ; iii w:iatever wey they may view the state of the public min4l ; whatever may be their din - ere:l ,- e of sentiment, upon tlwse several objects, they will all agree in one conclusion with respect to this country ; namely, that • this is • a period of all others, in which that which is always material, and always important, sheold be most material and most important ; we mean that the government should stand high in the opi nion of the people, aed that it should be entitled to this confidence, by shewing, (hat it is really and honestly actu ated by a hearty zed for their dearest and most valuable interests. The practical service which any Administration can render to the country, mast in a great measure depend upon the extent, and degree of that respect and confidence which it possesses, %%Inch it is its duty to maintain, and which it cannot hope to maintain without - deserving.— Nobody will deny that the situation of the Continent has ut length reduced this country to a crisis dangerous and ,:arming, and however disposed we may he, and conscien tiously avow that we are inclined to strene•then the hands of Government, we neither can or will bestow • a blind and implicit confidence, wi;l►uut grounding, it upon a serious and complete in‘cstigation of ifs eon duct, upon occasions in which its greatest euergies have . been called for, the expectaCons of the people wound op to thtt highest pitch, au i chagrin, humiliation and disappointment have been the result. Whoever will look back to the events of former periods of the war, and will take into his account the most nalortunate of them, (the retreat of Sir J. Mooac.) and will compare these with the disgraceful termination of the rx F .edition, win sec that the losses sustained upqn that occasion, were triEing in com-'l prison to those we 01111 now feel, and costi - ast will be still stronger, if we compare the .consetpiences of that . period with the effect which is likely to result from the failure of the recent expedition. \Vltc' Sir J. Mooan re treated from Spain, the disposition of the universal Spanish Nation, seemed to be hostile to UtiONAPARTE, and it was restrained rather than subdued by his presence, and the forcep of which be wa then maater.ia o.ie heart, and in the capital of that country. • The spirit of Austria was unsub dued, she was making the most formidable preparations; and from the loyalty 3n41 discipline of her army, as well as from the enthusiasm of the people, every thing was to be expected. Prussia was mortified, litunbisd, and almost crushed, hutlier wishes, and her disposition were to be cal • culated upon, in the event ()ranch assistance, big afrordeg `el. LXXXIX. r PRicE 9'. as might enable her to act against [IUL) NA PA It T M Widi effect. The rope of sand w Bich bound the federation together, would ca:silv be broken, it Austria were successful. lu short, the last ray of hope gilded the political ho r i zon with a !mire w!!ielt danled and confounded with its glare, melt of no maul coasiJeration. How is the prospect changed! Great and momentous as that period undoubt edly was, it wears art aspect total!y different; when corn:: pared to the moment in which we are now writing. Toe Austrians h lye put forth their strength, have been defeated, and are now at the feet of the col:vim - or. The Spaniards, lukewarm, cowardly, ;tad perhaps treacherous ; incapa ble of delendiug themse!ves, aad utterly incapabie of being deft:tided. Russia in the toils of Buoisaeaierr. Prussia without hope. The Dutch still the same servile race, who deny the saviour at Java, and bow their knee to the iyraat of the Continent. England alone retains the prold pa eminece of her station, and sepports an, unequal contest against the power which under the directing genius of one man, has easlaved nearly the whole of Europe.— How important then in fact ; how necessary is it that we should, under these circu ',stances, examine with more than common jealously, every thing which may lessen our consideration as a power, or compromise our ultimate safety as a nntion. Circumstances may convert confidence into a -vice, sled jealoesy into a virtue, and of all' the pt.th lic virtues, ino s :s undoubtedly conffleare is that which is most dangerous, and its opposite the most tolerable of public vices. These reffectio.3 are drawn from us by the strot.g feelings which the fate of our g . , and armasuent has excited•; we believe there is not apan in the country totally inseusible to thedisgrace which it has brought bark ts ith it. Thie people will not he satisfied with -another " Conveation Enquirt ." We arc of opinion that the Honse.of Commons alone are equal to a buimess of this importance ; that it will and ought to be their inclination, as it certninly is their dot, to institute a vase and solemn Enquiry into the cau,,es which have produced this degrading failure. Administra tion are humid to SllppOrt it for Their Own sakes, for the sake o f L or d c uar n a m, and above all for the sake of the People. The House of Commons ought to do it for their own sake. The Enquiry will be advantageous to Minis• ters, by shewing that they have conceived their plans with prudence and wisdom, and have used the necessary mea sures foi• carrfiag them into end, with energy and vigour; although the resalt has been unfortunate and illiStiereS4. ful. However calaintous this may have been, if it•has not been prodeted by any fault of heirs, certainly the confidence of the country ought not to be withdrawn. We are net inclined to give - more to success than is really due. It is -by no means the criterion of wisdom, and we are .. _ among . the number of those who can reverence tinsueetawAl fill abilities and talent, when exerted With diligence. But when a lavish expenditure of treasure . and of blood . i f s ob. vions, and at the same time has availed comparatively no - bing, we earnestly recommend . the Government of: the wintry not to deny a full and impartial E nqu i r y t o rho ' minded feelings of the People, tint. they may ascertain, t ' i - r y e ,