The National Register. — London, England, 1808-08-28 00:00:00

71,,TRF"7.77 - 3: ::• • • ' .. r AUEOW.IIII '‘ • iPa g Ak i a l Ot4 4 friki **el 'Mite- se. sir, anAuntogs imiyhisol that ao.sitch party dot:l44st 40110 that yea aselleiskpableutapproving of sods a dangerous In **ovation in our constitution, it is a duty incumbent on every %boat than to dkeet the *malignant and unconstitutional princi ples (An PamphletAlr; who could invent so bold a fabrication. The very idea of your being favourable to the existence of sueb A party would threw an odium on your character, which the most distinguished services wduld not be able to efface. Thrice happy is that state, where the principles and the solid interests of the monarch harmonise with the liberty and rights of the subject. We are that happy community, and we seen vauntingly say that the power and security of our Sovereign and family are greatest, in proportion as the people enjoy their liberty wadi miuished. The dangerous tendency of this declaimer may be perceived in his attempting to isolate you from his Majesty's confidential sec rants. if they enjoy the confidence of their Sovereign; if they are men respectable for their tilents and services, why does he assert that your Royal Highness feels a reluctance in associat ing with them? Does not your office of Commander in Chief imply such a connexion ? But if they are unqualified for the high station they fill, why don't you make use of that access which you have to his Majesty, in order to enlighten him with regard to their incompetency. Your double duty of son and citizen, would render delicacy and circumspection on so awful a subject, an enpardonable breach of trust. But we know his motives for endeavourieg to occasion a schism in the Cabinet. The present Administration, in the most portentous situation in which this country had been ever placed, have displayed so much energy and undeviating adherence to the interests of the hlonarchy, that they must be particular objects of detestation to the worthless and disaffected. If there exists an individual in this country, who is dissatisfied with the present establishment, he must mark out the existing Ministers as peculiar oldects of his rancour and obloquy. We have strong reasons to believe, that Oh; very writer, who is so profuse of his auitnadversious on a certain class of declaimers, is more intimate with the Cobbetts, the P----s, and the W--s. than he might think it prudent to ac knowledge in a publication, in which he proposed to himself no °thee object, than to make it sell to advantage, by amusing the credulous with the supposed neglectand injustice your Royal Highness suffered from the Members of two consecutive Admi nistrations. That an individual should be daring enough to pub lish the m9st glaring falsehoods, and the vilest calumny against the worthiest and most distinguished members of the community, for the purpose of gratifying the most indecent avidity, will not he credited by persons who are unacquainted with the tricks'of some unprincipled writers. Our belief of a connexion between this pamphleteer and a certain class of libellers, has been ebnng ed into certainty, on remarking that extracts of his publication have appeared, without comment, in a paper of the most exten sive circulation, and whose principles are in such perfect unison with the persons we have alluded to. In another place this hypocrite makes a most whining appeal to the interests and feelings of the Ministry, and expresses a great deal of astonishment, that in a time soh( 0 there is so little respect and obedience to Government. that there is no defensive union among them. Dues be mean to insinuate that the people of this country feel a want of affection and respect for the best of Sovereigns. What proofs will he bring forward in support of this daring outrage ? had your Royal Highness an opportu nity of hearing unobserved, their effusions of unadulterated at tachment to their King, you would be better able to appreciate the character and viewa of their detractors. There is not a useful or accomplished quality of the great, which is lost on them. But it were to be sincerely regretted, if they had the misfortune to suppose that rank and station, without virtue and merit, will obtain their respect. It is hams" , for the great, Mir, and for us all, that the feelings of the people in this respect are unadulterated. This just discrimination will be a surer et- . not ,i.~i have any influence on their affections. Behold their manilas • tic veneration for Nelson, Pitt, Chatham, Abercromby, At& and you will turn away with indignation from the vile calum niators of a public, who know to appreciate rear merit and virtue. We have no intention of discussing in this Letter the great question relative to the competency or incompeiene y of your ttoyal Highness for the command of oar Expeditions. But we have reason to suppose you possess that liberality and knowledge of the principles of to free Constitution, as to bud neither matter of surprise nor offence in this freedom of discussioss. We are not unaware, however, that some have manifested indiscretion, 1111. berality, - and intemperance oo the sultject. We as sincerely condemn these effusions of malevolence or unveiled% seal, as your Royal Ilighness will despise them. But our rights, our liberties, our preponderance, our existence as a community, and the interests of our Sovereign and Family, are so closely connected with this nomination, that it would be an alarming symptom of approaching ruin, were the public indifferent to this choice. As a candidate for public honours, you must expect to have your claims freely and fully discussed. What pleasure would it afford to a generous mind to bear he owed his exalta tion, not to merit and services, but to the degrading advantage of bieth and protection. Whatever detractors may allege, we have that opinion of your high sense of honour, that you would disdain any promotion you did nut owe to the honourable way of competition. The career of preferment is open to every citizen in a free country ; and n hceC tirere is most genius, ex• perience and personal worth, there the preference ought to be given. It is this freedom of competition which raised Item to universal empire; which created so many heroes and statesmen, iu the small States of Greece, and as soon is it ceases among us, our country descends from her preseut height, to move in •the degraded situation of a vassal State. This detestable writer, who is well acquainted with this cir cumstance, and would, perhaps, End mat exultation in the degradation and ruin of his country, has t filmy to insinuate that the present Ministry have been guilty of injustice, and feel a kind of jealousy and prejudice agaiust your Royal Highness. But he honours Mr. Canning, in particular. with a principal share of his malignity. He knows too well what a loss they recession of so distinguished a member would be to the country in the preseut crisis; nor does he forget what a vast preponde rance his splendid eloquence, his knowledge, his reputation of in, tegrity and disinterestedness would throw into the scale of anuthet party. This is the secret of his clumsy accusation. Because this distinguished Stateman does hot neglect the important duties of his °ince, in order to refate the malevolent (barges of every petty writer in our papers, he is, therefore, guilty of injustice I •ti arils your Royal Highness, and unqualified fur the station he tills. We will willingly acquit you Royal Highness of counte nancing so insane an opinion. The Ministry deserve the grati tude of their country for esainiiiiag minot t .j . ,; the merits of every competitor. On them the responsibili t y fulls. And their in. tegrity in this respect proves them worthy of the confidence of the public, and entitles them to your utmost esteem and support. Men, who would be capable of overlooking the son of their Sose reign, when they can find a more distinguished olliker, and when Ore magnitude of the service Calls for this impartiality, would not lose in the eLtimatiou of a British pubic, were they, in conse quence of it, exposed to your disapprobation. We speak with this degree of Candour to your Royal if Witless, because we coin. dale so far with this pl!ifal Declaimer, that flattery must be unwelcome to a mind which preteuds to soar above the vulgar level. 1.11111.. Carle. • • • 411 , t,1 .;* gmaibtAtasi2:iAiigitaifigNil &MI ki41 1 11.6 101 ,141*- 1547 1101111111111.1.11111•11111 source in tho Ircin ssuisitg re dr4 o r iirmies or our say t a e man, who is as superior to siihtlagigo. .cal t sym,. dot envy, vir. toe and useful accomplishincat, y Royal Highness possesses, will be done justice to by a public; but without thus* qualities no adventitious cue of birth or fortune will . ^ I "4* tr • ,• V k 4 / 1 1 4' I 0 .1 1 1 i i I t... 1 i !al