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

SEPT. 10. It will tic tit vitin that Ministers will endeavour to defend Lord CUATTLANCS conduct without sOhmitting it to the test of a 'mist rigorous investigation. , We do not mean such a one as took place with respect to the Cintra Convention. We mean a candid and fair enquiry into the causes of the failure of the greatest armament that was ever scut urn' the ocean from this country. It will be in vain for Ministers to pretend that they consult the interests of the people in opposing their wishes upon this subject, and by substituting their own for the express and obvious opinion of the na tion at large. The clanger of such a step even to them selves can be equalled only by its folly and presumption What Call be a greater mockery of common sense and common propriety than to make the opinions of thousands who arc douied the means of forming them accurately, subservient to the oilinions of a few, who resist an ecainination of that evidence _upon which their own is made up. The more tenacious any administration. has been of inaintaillin4 their own . rower by resisting the pro per claims of the public, the more it has lost of that power which can exist with adyantage to the state, so long only as it is supported by the confidence of the people. Indeed an unreasonable opposition to their just and proper de mands, has frequently been attended with consequences itnexpected to themselves. The people of this country have sAlont failed of succeeding. ullienately, and gai:iing their original object, when they have carried reason, justice, and temperance along with then ; and it will not he denied, at this period, that with prima facia evidence of incapacity, mis;otidnet, and consequent calainities, the people have an innionhted right to call for a most severe and rigorous account of what has produced them. Among the reports circulated on the Continent is one re- I4ting to a difference which is said to exist between Buoy A• PA run; and the Emperor A LEx.tNoca, resrcting Ga and Turitey. It is said that the former nas demanded the cessioa of a considerable part of the Pritssisn territories, including Berlin, Seth), &c. and that Prussia was to be in demnified by the cession of Austrian Silesia. A more in timate connection is said to 5c forming between Ittnssia and Prussia. That these two Potentates will quarrel at present Nye do not believe. Russia has not vet learned from ex perience what is the Lion's share when the Royal Hunt is ov:r. When we recollect the spirit that guided the politits of the long reign of CATit.t aINC, When We recollect her jonrhey to Cherson, (or rather to Taurica Cherscmesus) to be there inaugurated by anticipation in the Creek, or I:vteris Empire. When we recollect the ridiculous de cep? ions put upon her in that journey, the Greek names given to her grand chit:ll%-n, whess we join to all these pre paratory circtunstancey, the Treaty of Tilsit, arid the otherwise unaccountable subsequent policy of A LCXA '.sit! cannot doubt of what will continue to be ti n : tech; , er and conduct of the Russian Court, and what her ohjccis and must he with respect to the Tut 'tisk don-iittotts, anti to -Asia generally. Lord Cu kilt.% lc, tf . ter consumjg: almost a month ir. South Fewlaud, teik us tinit his duty lea% 04 him no alirri.ative but o aband o n all the tilterior ohfretg f the :',%petlition. 1 hi, is said with as mach swig * fruit! n 4 it the \nhle Corammttler in Chief had merely scut home.a-.1. thnt, he had reii,eived the kit dispatches. from the cberittarF of siate ; and think his Lordship would have bestowed inure eon , latiQraetion upon a kite( that aCkuowleOged the receipt of 1 !11:11C. • . . • . I's the Nohie .Coumnatior .S 1 little acquainted with the VIE NATIONAL REGISTER. 581 tlritis character as to belies e that the expenditure of so many millions, the iives of so many soldiers, the sacrifice ol` so much national honeur, the reluctant abandonment of se many hopes, can be ellected with as little ceremony as we can put of a g:lett coat or a night-cap ? Is it pos• Bible that his Lordship can suppose that some ac count will not be expected Of what has been doing since !he 3d of August. What force was there to oppose the complete execution of these ulterior objects out that day ?—The order for collecting this force was only dated the 3,1, and at last what was the force ? The inhabi tants of the Maritime Frontiers! What army of veteians, or even of soldiers, was there at this period ? Bttt we aro • told forsooth, that at the end of a month there were more than 35.000 men collected from all quarters.—But this he expected, certainly, and with th is ex pectation in his thoughts our troops are permitted to loiter on South Bevelaml, • doomed to a cursed and fatal inactivity. At length it ill discovered that they are afflicted with the usual disorders of that clinrde ! Ami what in the name of God ,Siafr to encore our soldiers against them. Inactivity is a disorder of itself, sufficient to destroy an army.—But we are told that do Noe, who was on his march to Germany to ith 30,000 men, changed his course, and came to the relief of Antwerp. Thisgrat wtoiis lakehood is not supported even by the probability of the thing. Read the dispatches of the indignant officer Szir it. STTI A CITA K. I)oes it appear that our naval commanders were of opinion the ulterior objects of the Expedition ought to be abandoned I No such thing. Sir Rica aro, makea an unqualified .otter of the assistance of the •vivy ; and would he have done this if it had net consisted with his opinion that the measure was practicable APer being. three weeks in Bevelsnd, the Commander in Chief hint not r made up his mind; so says the .Admiral. Two dass after he is determined to give up every thing he was se t t to do—and he does not even con ()tweed to tell ea the reasons that justify this conduct. The French had collected in great force—true; but why did you not attack them 'before this force was collected ? If you had not the means, why not say so ; why leave your friend 3 to guess at this, and your enemies to anti-. cipate the futility and absurdity of such an excuse ? When a great and g!orious service is achieved, we arc satisfied without examiniug into the details. But when disgrace and confusion - is brought home to our doors unexpectedly, we expect some satisfactory account. • of the causes that have led to this. There is a moment ous and important period of three weeks unaccounted for. What was the army about ? Only 9.3,000 infantry, and 9.000 cavalry able to take the field at the end of a month, besides the garrison of l lushinr. Is this possible ? %Vat nothing to he reckoned upon 10 or 15,000 marines and sadors in a sort of amphibious rencontre ? Was the navy • averse, or even lu'se-warm ? No such thing. Whatever diss-race attaches, it is 'to the Military Commander,. and perhaps a hcaseer responsibility never tested upon the shoulders of one num. There is not, there cannot be, two opinions. Much and sincerely as we wish that his Lord .ship may ha able to account for his conduct, we. in.st think it is impoasible to do it with satisfaction to the coun try. Much and sincerely as we revere the names of erre and Cu %Toast, WC fear 41isgrace will tor ever rest upon 4 , 11 C of theta, not for what he hes, but for what he has not, done. We agnin repeat, that the conduct Ministers isnot to be ledge(' of les the event of the Expedition. The objecissit it • were legitimete objects. The destruction of the COCllliti fleet, wool(' _have enereased . h e security of the . country. A diversion wisely phoned. and ably executed might re , lieve and reeder the disparity' between'the treed' and British troops iu Spain, les injurious and alarming. The couriers of Ministers upon this occasion ins not h:ng :4) do-wiltt the. conduct the Commander; ' Let everts tub rs upon its orn'hot.tion. if Ministers havemegieeted any sk i mp. whielithtl oughtto balm thme , en.vireclurteso, It wat t no doubt; be made to appiabrasitenAtievlthy trial • - _ rrve4-; _akyrescul, uo such accusatiQpis•eion wiuspareil. •