The National Register. — London, England, 1809-02-12 00:00:00

108 foundation of the Spanish ►nonarchy, your religion your " Sovereign andyour laws. By your valour you have asserted 44 your independence, crossed the sea•, conquered the coast •• of Africa, vanquished the nations of the East, and form " ed a vast Empire in the finest part of the new World. •• We, we alone have performed such prodigies of valour. hDo we not still possess the same religion ? De we not j • still breath the same air? Are svc not the same Portu -44. guese ? A valorous nation is not made to be the slaves of s• a tyra►►`." These papers also contain some particulars from Spaiw. An article from liadajoz states that the Duke of INpAN drauo is posted at Cuenca with his army, which already exceeds 40,000 men ; that of Arrogan is estimated in the same article at 30,000, and that of Estremadura, at 20,000. Those of Andalusia wid Catalonia are said to have en creased; but their number is not ascertained. An account, dated Saragossa sOth Dec. mentions some amccess obtained over the blockading army by a part of the garrison, consisting of 4000 men, who were s nt to make a reconnoitering party. The object of the opera tion was to ascertain the position of the enemy, and the nature of the works which had been erected on the banks of the Ebro. It was attended with the most complete suc cess ; and the French were dislodged with coasiderabie loss. Though no direct accounts have been received for Rome 'time from Spain, the intelligence we receive by the way of Portugal, confirms the private and public accounts we have previously communicated of the patriotic exertions, which the Southern and Eastern Provinces of the Peninsula continue to make in support of their independence. The Supreme Junta are indefatigable in their efforts ; and their actions and their words evince a strong determination to employ, to the utmost extent of their powers, the resources which the country possesses. It is a mortifying- reflection for self-love, that experience is to be acquired by most men only from misfortunes and reverses ; had it been instinctive, the principal efforts of the Spanish and British Governmetts had bees directed in the commencement of the contest, to or ganise in the Southern Provinces those great means of resist ance, which the nature of the country, and the enthusiasm of the natives so amply offered. No contest ever began under such favourable auspices, and never were hopes so cruelly slisappointed. A dreadful responsibility attaches some where. We acquit the majority of the two countries, without any hesitation, of having frustrated, by their stpathy, the noblest prospect of safety to Europe, and freedom to mankind, that has presented itself for a series a years. But the vast advantages of the auspicious mo went were mrred by '(dial ignorance and presumption. Thig is the fatal secret of the reverses of Europe. There is no master-hand to direct the concerns of any of its states ; end whilst an active and intelligent ruffian is conspiring daily, with greater success, against the happiness and in dependance of all, the individuals who arc entrusted with the arduous task of providing aga . nit the accumulating danger, betray more ahrin'ng sip-.s of incapacity and want of foresight. What a dreadful presentiment forces itself on our minds, at the contemplation of these glaring tenths. Distant danger may render us inirros Went, and The Parliamentary business of this week was almost ex clusively confined to the investigation of witnesses on Mr. WA ttni.F.'s motion. We intend deferring our comments on this extraordinary business until it be finally terminated. We feel however, au uncommon satisfactigu that the sub- ing frustrated, by their , and Denmark. The hatred which the Swedes entertain r f safety to Europe, and for the Russians, is inveterate; and their animosity against givp 'ciente(' itself for a series 11 the Danes is equally rooted, but with this distinguishing es of the auspicious nio. : character, that it is blended with the most supreme con- loratice and presumption. I tempt. The people, who are, comparatively speaking, mses of Europe. ► There is I the poorest in Europe, may, perhaps, express some discon- -,... cerlis of any of its states ; I tent in consequence of the burtheas occasioned by the pre- • . , gent ruffian is conspiring i sent war ; but their national antipathies will render them ~ !Ist the happiness and in- ! insensible to its pressure, and they will contribute with Is who arc entrusted with alacrity to any measure which favours this passion. figa . nit the accumulating —ow— :.• The Parliamentary business of this week was almost ex- ,L ;rs of incapacity and want : 1 elusively con fi ned to the investigation of witnesses on Mr. presentiment forces itself 1 w Annut : s motion. We intend deferring our comments on [dation of these glaring this extraordinary business until it be finally terminated. dcr us 'will ruN Went, and 1 We feel howcycr , au uncommon satisfactigu that the sub- • . . . ~. IMIMIIIMMIMMMMNMMIIIMIIMMIIIMIIIIIIIIMIIIMIIIIIIIWISIIII THE NATIONAL REGISTER. FEB. 12. habit indifferent to the fluctuations of our time; hut if any love of liberty survive., if any attachment to our institu tions and soil still warms our breasts, we will commence a vigilant survey of our concerns, and examine, with a. jealous eye, the conduct and merits of those to whose ma nagement they are confided. The characteristic mark of the phenomena of our time is the celerity with which they surprise us : we must be, therefore, prepared for their appearance, or a moral certainty exists, that we are over. whelined by their rapidity and unexpected approach. Accounts have likewise been received from General DoYLE, of whose fate some apprehensions were enter tertained. This gallant Officer accompanied the armies of CAST. NOS and P .I.AFox, and we are happy to state that he arrived at Tortosa, from whence his last letters were dated. lie continues to entertain the most favourable opinion of the Spaniards, and says that the enthusiasm of the people of the South is as ardent, as it bad been in the commencement of the war against France. The Christiana has arrived at Cowes from Stockholm. The information she brings, absolutely contradicts those rumours of discontent -which was said to exist to a Very alarming degree, among the Swedish nobility. On the con trary the greatest tranquility prevails; and every class of the community was eager to assure the SOVEREIGN of.4heir loyalty, and to give him marks of their zeal and readiness to assist him in the prosecution of the honourable conflict he is engaged . in. A Gentleman is arrived in town who left Elsineur on the 6th ult. states, that a courier had reached that place the day before from Stockholm, who reported that the most vigorous preparations were making in Sweden for carrying on the war against Russia ; and that the King had refused, in the most peremptory manner, to listen to any accomo. dation proposed by the Emperor ALEILANDER 4 which did not stipulate the restitution of Finland, and does not admit the principle of Commercial intercourse between Great Bri tain and Sweden. This Gentleman is likewise said to con tradict the accounts in the last German papers, referring to the pretended dissatisfaction of the Swedish Nobility. Those persons know little of the Swedish history, who give credit to every absurd talc of conspiracies in that country, in consequence of actual hostilities with Russia and Denmark. The hatred which the Swedes entertain for the Russians, is inveterate; and their animosity against the Danes is equally rooted, but with this distinguishing character, that it is blended with the most supreme con tempt. The people, who are, comparatively speaking, the poorest in Europe, may, perhaps, express some discon tent in consequence of the burtheas occasioned by the pre sent war ; but their national antipathies will render them insensible to its pressure, and they will contribute with alacrity to any measure which favours this passion.