The National Register. — London, England, 1809-09-24 00:00:00

6 14 aid to have taken up a osition at Badajoz. From this movement we should infer, that the war in Spain is still to he prosecuted. We see nothing to alter the opinion we have so often expressed, that it is not in our power to save that nation. A Statesman will never send an army with a view merely to take the chance of success; be will look at his object, and take into his reckoning- the probable exitec tation of gain by the experiment, and nut wautonly ex haust the resources of the country. It is likewise said, that the possession of Schowen is ne cessary to our security at Flushing. If this be the case, and knowing that our men are destroyed by the climate, mare than by the sword, let us give up our present as veil. as ulterior objects, and bring our sickly sol diers home to tight our own battles upon our own shores.—Let us have some definite object if we must send our population abroad, and not perform the office of 3nere gad-flies to teaze and torment the Continent with ineffectual attempts to nibble at the little islands which arc attached to it. In the opinion of many great military characters, Walcheren is altogether untenable, and if it were otherwise the expenditure of men would be enor mous; we wish, sincerely wish it were otherwise. We have aio objection to havittg a force always ready and near, our old allies—but we fear it cannot be done wisely, or safely. Spanish Papers to the 4th inst. have been received in town; they contain two very interesting documents—the order of Ferdinand the Seventh to the Marquis Itomana to repair to Seville. The Royal Order states, one of the greatest objects which now claim its attention, and which might to occupy it with the greatest activity, is the con vocation of the Cortes, the must impo..-taot object ivhich ran or ought to occupy the Supreme Junta." This ought to have occupied their attrntion long since, was it neces sary for those who have so ill managed the energies of the Spliiiish nation to view the miseries of their co:nary before that al earls ought to have been done at first, was reluctant set alma at last ? What enabled the French to resist suc cessfully all the attempts made upon their territory by Austria, ..I'russia, Russia, and England, at the commence rnent of their RevolutiOn ? It was the enthusiasm which per vaded every rank (excepting perhaps the highest orders) ; the people became identified with the Governmeel, and fought for their own liberties. Urged by oppo sition, and events they rather anticipated than pursued. progressive measures to establish their principles, their means, and their conduct becoming more and more decisive in proportion to the:r danexr. Events, it is trne, led the way, but they followed them with sagacity and vigour. . lii proportion to the pressure of external pressure, the vast mass of the French Revolution descended from time to tiine in order to seek . ..he base ii hit would best bear the enrreasing weight, and it saccessivdy passed by all those milers of men, all those actors in the ;great strugg:e who Were resolved to mhintain their original stat ions. It re:ited at /ast, and at last triumphed from being identified with the liberties of the people, which enableal it to animate O l e most hearts, and to arm the mos!. hats in its defence. We are reluctantly obliged to repeat what we have re peated so often, that the two Zinperors have not vet made up their minds upon the important question of peace or war. it seems impossible to conceive that the mere ques tion of terms between the two powers can have occupied so wach time, at such a period of the year, eor can we he here that BVONAPARTE would have sutured the negotiation he so long protracted, if ulterior interests which require active genius to develope and sc.ttiv, .13t. ! DOI engrossed the attention and mened the persons of the two rmperors the spot upon which they are to be aettlod. It is very SEPT. 24. , . i nconsistent with the con duct of Buosi APA RTE Who. , U. - to iiffer his enemy to gain any advantage or security by delay. This must be the case, if by losing the season for action, he - suffer autumnal sickness, resistance, or even a success which calls for garrisons to secure conquests to procrastinate his progress till winter brings its protection to the Aus trians, who are in fact at home, whilst BUONAPARTE must in that event depend upon convoys for his sup plies. We argue, therefore, that, BUONAPARTE is de tained by some ulterior arrangements, which in all• probability will find occupation fur the Austrian troops in the event of Peace with France. And we fear the Turkish dominions are the bait which he will hold out to the unprincipled cupidity of the Austrian Emperor. It is too fatally true that Treaties of Peace have other objects acrd other sanctions besides integrity.—They include the calculations of an adversary as to the probability of success in continuing the war; the comparative expeuce of it, and the concurring zeal or obedience of the Na'.ions which ars to support it. The war of comprom4e and indemnity seems to have been added to the list in modern times, and it seems to have been assumed in the great lines of military morality that might makes right. BUONAP•RTE it would appear has said to the Emperor FRANCIS : " We have fought and vit. nothing but hard blows, you have been injured, but I have not been benefitted. An easy prize more valuable than that for which you struggle offers. It belongs indeed to another, but if you find resistance I will assist you, but remember though I offer you my assistance to procure this indemnity for ‘shat 1 propose to rob you 0f,.1 claim a part of the spoil, not only to meet you upon equal terms if we should quarrel again, but because part of what 1 want will enable me to get at my bosom friend ALEXANDER if he should prove refractory by and bye," In a matter so doubtful as politics, it would be inexcusable to think that events are not to happen, because they are in their nature surprising; at the same time that the present age has, perhaps, been more prolific in extraordinary events, than any period of the world which has preceded it. There are many of us who have viewed the progress of Russia from her cradle. The declension of Turkey, and the revolutions of Ame rica and France, are events of the present day ; the de struction of Poland, the subjugation of Italy and Holland, the annihilation of Prussia, the fate of the Catholic reli gion, the magic of modern artists and natural philosophers, —all these are circumstances which ought to render us less incredulous upon subjects respecting which we cannot argue from any data with which the philosophy of his tory is able to furnish us. The French papers have not failed to gratify the vanity of their nation by the details which they afforded respecting the retreat of Lord WEL LINGTON ; they represent the British army as abandoning its baggage, artillery and sick. The correspondeaee between his Lordship and General MORTIER respecting the wounded is published. Every liberal mind will be pleased hana,tti althouJi some of the French Generals in Spain appear to have beet removed for discovering symptoms of returning humanity, as Englishmen we cannot but applaud feelings of. this nature even in au enemy. SUch feelings cannot make any considerable progress under the reign of BUoNAPARTE. IiTJONAPARTE like some animals who pos- sess simi:ar dispositions, can never be tamed—he may perhaps have his nails pared, and his teeth drawn, he may be rendered innoxions, or indeed safe to look at, but hu manity can never dwell in the bosom of aTy rant,—a Ty rant by nature, rendered more ferocious by success. There has been .a bloody engagement Nvith the army of VcNneas. The French state the loss on the side of the Spaniards to have been 8000 in killed, wounded and pri soners, S 5 pieces of cannon, 300 waggons, &c. The battle took place ;it A lmonacid, on the 1 Ith of August. JOSEPH BuONAPARTE hal returned to Madrid, where Te Donn was celebrated. Ile boasts of having decided the fate of Spain during his absence of 22 days. We fear this boast will be realized. Every thing depends upon the detennination of the negociations in Germany. The French are expected. THE NkTIONAL REGISTER.