The National Register. — London, England, 1812-05-10 00:00:00

p.MN= I • I MAY 10. whom he loads with honours and riches. • It 'provei that his most obsequious partizans secretly detest him ; and such seems to he the'intolerable character of his rule, that no tie or obligation, the voice of brother or benefactor, will secure to the tyrant a single heart. His brcther's; his most favoured Generals fly from him, when a safe oppor tunity presents itself . ; and to remove every doubt of the opinion they entertain of him, they throw themselves into a!te arms of his greatest adversary. First, the resistance of Louis BUONAPARTE, then the flight of LuctEN, and now the iipen hostility of BERNADOTTE, enable us to form a pretty correct opinion of the feelings and views ot.MAs sEN A, AUCEREAU, MACDONALD, SOULT, DAVOUST, ,d of others. Examples of hatred alrea ly accumulate; and nothing is so dangerous to the authority of an Usurper, as a few instances of defection on the part of his.mnst trusted adherents. Those who continue faithfill remain in a con stant state of alarm, and their fears, or a miscari iage, ren der them at last open enemies. Whom can BUONAPARTE confide in at present when his brothers and one of his most favoured generals have deserted him ? He will suspect all indiscriminately ; and his jealousy will convert many into traitors, who have no such intention at present. It is difficult to enumerate all the beneficial effects which the policy of the Swedish-Governmak may pro duce towards the emancipation of Europe. Exclusive of the force of example in exciting others to imitation, k will lame the energy and confidence of BUONA PA RTE, and greatly distract his councils. He full well knows 'he dangerous sort of adversary he has to deal with—a man who has studied his character, is master of his most important se crets, who is acquainted with the most obnoxious trans actions of his life, and is able to turn against himself his own arts and machinations. Of all the documents which this age has produced, the War M a nif es t o o f BERNADOTTE, in the event of a rupture between him and his late Master, Will be the most curious and interesting. What acts of perfidy, which are now concealed, will then come to light ! The CIiOWN PRINCE of SWEDEN is not deficient in mili tary talents ; he has, on the contrary, displayed consider able activity, courage, and skill. He was next to Mo- REAU, the great favourite of the French army, and he• seems to have acquired a great ascendancy over the Swedes. This is certainly a proof of great versatility of talents and commanding powers of mind, as well as of fascinating manner. He excelled all his countrymen in his humanity towards the conqnered Sta•es, and always endeavoured to alleviate as much as possible, the miseries of war. He was also, as may he expected, an object of their esteem and attachment. He evinced, what will appear more surprizing, an early admiration of the English character ; and l is thought to be a sincere friend to the freedom of mankind. A character of this desci iption must be an important accession to the great cause we are engaged in ; and we consider him, directing the energies of a warlike people, .as a main stay of the surviving independence of the Continent. If BERNADeTTE adhere faithfully to the policy he now seems to embrace, BL;ONAPARTE will not be very anxious to involve himself in a contest with Russia The latter is perhaps sfatsible of tt.is repugnance; and it will encourage her, we confidently hope, not to yield to his menaces. Whilst an army or sixty thousand Swedes, which may be conveyed to S . ratsund in twemy-four h :ars, and an En glish force ready to make a descent near the mluths of the Elbe, Weser, tr Ems, menace his rear, he will not, ,'N'tbnnt loeing gu;•ty of the greatest temerity, advance far 1 Auto Rvissia. Ii would leave behind him an immense - ~~~ 2.8 tract of country, where the. minds of the people are moss iufl ,med, and who have been the greatest sufferers in con sequence of the recent changes which have occurred in Europe. An army coming to their aid would probably rouse them to - general resistance. It would require not less than a f ate of 100,000 men to kei p (:pen the com munication between the Rhine and Vistula, controul the natives, and meet an invasion of the Swedes and English. A few British ships, stationed near Copenhagen, and a small Swedish forcer opposite Zealand would keep the Danes in check ; and they would not send a regiment into Germany, whilst their capital should be threatened with a bombardment and siege., The season for military operations has scarcely. begun in the-N. rth of Europe. A few weeks will, however, decide if BUONAPARTE be serious in his demonstratiims against Russia. We think he is ; and these are our rea sons for thinking so. Every month will render his influ ence in that quarter more precarious, and his hopes •of success more doubtful.. The example of the Swedish government, and the hostile attitude of Russia might im pel others to a spirit of imitation ; and he cannot give way now, without farseeing the certainty of a more for midahle coalition than' the present organised• against him. He will strike the blow now ; or the- promptitude, vigi lance, and foresight, which so strongly marked his politi cal and military character, have lately suffered a mareiial decrease. It he has made overtures, as is reported, to Otis government fir a relaxation, or total abolition of the 11rlin and Alan Decrees, we may tr:tce this unexpected spirit of moderation to the embarrassments in whicli he has involved himself with the Northern States. Ile is anxious to hove it supposed - that •he concedes to a fair compromise with us, wilat he really abandons frOm a sense of the. difficulty and danger of his . new situati..n. His overtures should be met, on our side, with gteat 'firmness and . caution ; and we should strongly deprecate any tem porary difficulties at.home, which might prevent us from taking advantage of his urgent embarrassments. The conduct of our Cabinet will determine his;' and if we are deaf to the plausibility of his offers, he must fling himself intsi a contest, in he' Has little to gain, and every thing to lose. All peat and sudden extensions of empire arearnpolitic: The conqueror has not time to mould tips manners and Conquer the affections of the subdued. Every new accession of territory which BUONAPARTE may acquire, will render his empire more unwieldy, more veil. unable, and more subject to. convulsions, without render. ing himself more secure, or More powerful. IM FERIA L PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS. MONDAY, MAY 4. The Trish Tobacco Duty, Gold Coin, and .Pensions Duty Bill; were read a third time and passed —Adjourned.. TIMIDAY, MAY 5. AMERICAN MESSAGE. Lord HOLLAND rose to call the atte don of the House to the Corres pondence whico hid been so much talked of, aid to c upon Aiinisters to vindicate the honour of the country in the tra!oitiction. He dis.:l Tinily all considirati•in of the question of American policy, :ind grounded his motion on the general relutiou of civiiized State, . Some enquiry was absolutely necessary and for the purpose he would shape his rrdion in any way their Lordships pieas-d ; it should be for ..n *.ddrefte or for a Select Cnnimitt-e; that nbvtating 01.. mention of names, or in any mode that might vindicate the goi.il ft:ith of the country. He then ved," t'ia: an Aldress be presenied to the Prince Regent, praying that the co: c. spot) • -nce and papers connected with Cap tai n H enr y's mission, sliould h. ht fore the H.,use." The itaxl of Livititroot then rote. before he ►hould enter into the THE NATIONAL REGISTER. 7