The National Register. — London, England, 1819-05-10 00:00:00

44, 'Or / AIL atiat(ali Qt3ur Utna, Cott6titutfon ant No. 1180.—VoL. XII.] FRANCE. -.Co NEXT to the consideration of affairs at home, the political state of France oaght to engage an Eiv lishman's attention. Even the growing power and prosperity of the United States, derived as they are in part from the frame and spirit of the government, have less claim to his notice. It may be asserted with still greater confidemaa, that the revalutiu,ns. which are in progr*:s or in preparation in the rest: of that vast continent, sail] hear no it-tanner of com parison. And as to Russia, wpm: whose arms and policy so much laboured declamation has been em ployed of lute, it will no more stitriti•in competition with France, as to the inflaence.its movements may lave upon this country, than the ordinary powers of man would with those of a steam-engine in lifting a weight. There is not a vibration in French poli tics that does not cause , one in the prlities of Eng land. The two States, from causes we shall not stop here to examine, are•so connected, that as soon as a shock happens to one, it is instantly felt, and almost with the same degree of violence, in the other. The same cannot be absolattly &aid of the United States ; fur the most violott concussion there would not have any thing like u corresponding • effect upon this country. The convulsion, that should cause desolation there, would - not malice any very alarming rise and agitation in the waters ; of our policy. The wreck of American liberty would be a just subject of lamentation to England, whereas the growing power of the commonwealth • may serve, mind usefally, too, to exereise the vigi -7:11ICC of the Bi itish govornment, and atiniulate the' crer2i.s of the - British public. But hare the inte rest positively ends; though attempts are not want jag to produce a very ditrerent impressin. On the contrary, this country has more to hopc.. than fear, more to gain than lose, by the spread of civi!ization • and the trittatpli of sound principles in America. The intlncm:e of South American transactions is still less perceptible. And Russia, notwithstanding the strength of her army, the ambitious character of her councils, and the magnitude of her resoorc-s of every description &Ten no serious cause of alarm to this country. Her government may thwart ours in some point of negotiation ; or may raise envy against us by exaggerating our power. But as to 'striking influence she has none, and will long have none, upon the vital interests of this country. Whereas when a pulse beats more strongly than usual iv. the body politic of Francs. it instantly causes a sensation in England—it affects her lands ; • alarms the government, and inflames the feeliags of the public. ••It is of the utmost importance therefore %to obtain the most accurate information respecting a nation in whose concerns we have at, deep an interest. This information is kept bast ns touch possible ; and, though we shall not throw all the light that is requisite on the subject, we hope to convey some ; and, in doing this, we shall promote as . useful an object, as conies under the denomination of those produced by free discussion. There is nothing at the same time would thew in a clearer or stronger point of view the policy pursued by the British government, than a full knowledge upon this sub- MONDAY, MAY LO, 1819• 1 ject. It might be the means of checking much ext•avagance, and exposing many immoral expedi ent, that arc persevered in under the plea of state necessity. Were a knowledge of what is passing in France more generally diffeted, or the spirit that is working there better apyreciated; it would appal the most determined opponents of retrenchment, and make them shrin,- from the coaseqnences of that •selfieht trity pinorift, "fed zutkpAa if ittpliies ;11 . 07 ~n. rl,l Inmate.. 1t %. , otildatso• go' fair totisras iuTiprerrieje ' thc.t 'tone : cf dictati2n and ro . proach which'!he English joninals,',dhvoted to ministers, are4h;the habit of iisiiig;•as'oft .n as They advert to, ttre:pfro ceedings of ilie'Frencli 'Legislature, or •thecondect of the French governmetit. Such linguage is a • violatioa of all courtesy , mid is certainly a gross • incite}, of the equality supposed to exist . between independent States. At this moraent it evinces a glaring dereliction °fell the ohvions rules of policy; for the French people, whatever nay be the feelings of the French government, are not in u temper to bear it calinly. It also endangers the security of that legitimate orikr ef government, as it is called, to vindicate which Englai..l poured out her best blood, and expended immense treasures. To speak of it us mildly us possible, it. is as contrary to the spirit of peace and goud neighbourhood, as it is insolent towards Fuel, a nation as France. •There is not a country upon earth, in which a more determined resistance exists to every pretent'Am that has rally the sanction of ancient usage in its favour, than in France. -Time does not consecrate titles, privileges,, or even services; and it may be confidently asserted that no honorary distinction, — no meritorious act which has its oigin in a period beyond th of the revolution, is held in repute. We are fir from pretending to say that tbis feeling is correct; we merely maintain that it exists; and nu one can believe to what extent it prevails, unlesshe has bad ocular proof. Th..: name ot' Montmoiency is not held in any t:iing like the same estimation as that af..L.nnues; and the far greater part of French ' men' see more lustre in the title of Montaello than in that of — Luxemburgh. ‘Vith sue!' sentiments. they were not likely to acquiesce in an order of • things, in which the old nubility should I.ave the the exclusive, control. Yet this forlorn cause has still many adherents amongst men of great political influence in Et ;;land, and some hoptless.adherents in F ranee, ‘vi- :,-I.nrine the chimera selely in cense ' quence of hopes held out by tl:e former. The per. *one, who, iniaer the shield of British influence, were to act this part, have unfortunately not a r:n gle quality of mind to justify the choice. They arc, besides, totally devoid of political expericare. They moreover display an unaecountable ignorance of the character of their countrymen ; arid, in al their discourses, proclaim opinions that ore held in the deepest abhorrence. They are not eves distin guished far eloquence: and have performed no achievements that denote courage or greatness of mind, and which wood -qmdify them •for the peril ous part they were selected to act. They furnish in fact an exact criterion of the old French character— vain, restless, stipectie:al.and indiscreet ; and it is stran g e, as well as in the highest degree suspicinns, that these weak and truly insignificant men have porcrftil .patrour in this country—who feed their A r -.- - LP MC E 94d. wild hopes, and encourage them in their factious attempts. We can assart from personal ea well as recent ob servation, that they art objects of the utmost con tempt and abbotream to at blast mine-tenths of the French people ; and that nothing leas than the ex termitiwion id' all the enterprising spirits in Franae could give them the ascendancy. When an attempt was made On the return of the Duke of 'Richelieu from the Congress at Aix-la-Chapelle, to place treat pere;r a kif l not possible to describe the surprise 4,1'1*(4f - ton rit :opeasitined. 'Hai it succecsied, ranceatta.l4l:lie'the scene of a general tronsairaey ; - 4. id agmaidoraliteaareparat ions were actually made to • use it wilt foace. The defeat of that :t ill-ean ip •certed and intemperate plan saved the party, wilts were to Is: actors in it, from sweeping destruction.; though it must be confessed that the scheme itself • has done the greatest injury to the. royal cause, It shewud tan plainly the weakness of its partisans ; and therefore the advisers of it conmeitted Alt irre parable error. No experienced Statesman would have raised the veil which concealed the feeblenesn of the Royalists ; and that °veva:et:n:llg act has daahed for ever their pretensions to power. Tha re turn of the Exiles, the removal t.f so many °bun - ions -Prefects, the accession of new Peers, and the law on the liberty of the Press, have been ull conse quences of that measure. The popular party•have beets made conscious of their (ea a strength, as well as of the entire insignificance of their opponents ; mid their success will no doubt encourage tbtan to aim ut much greater results:, Tile hapulse which has been given in cousequence to pstblie faeli g is astonishing, The French youth in particular dis play the most lively interest on the ssecasion ; and begin already to give vent to fealings and to hopes, which, if not checked, would hod eat but a very slight praspeit for the caatinnance of general. tran quillity. However, the government has the appear ance of being vigilant mak/cave ; and if it can only escape from •beiog hurried away by the current of feeling that flows so rapilly at this moment, tl:c danger may pass away. In the mcan time a great change has occurred is the conduct and situation el the government ; and a much greattr must take place. The charter is ras longer a dead letter ; and 'no at taistrate would now dare resist the positive instructions, or defeat the intentions a Ile ministry. • The nation Lasapokec ; and fact;m - has disappeared. The military are again at . the absolute disposal of the Cabinet ; and time Prefiects and Mayors execute its orders punetualla. Thetoverament is strong ; because it has the peo ple on its side ; and there is no security•for a mi nister at this moment in Franco, unless he be sup ported by papitlar favour. Besides this inducement, Oae ministers have another motive fir acting libe rally ; turd onsets !banded on the haowledge they possess of the foreign ift!lnenee that has been used, unit is probably used at this very time. to procure their removal. To counteract those intrigneat they may be obliged to court popularity still more; and thereis no doubt but that the 42tUSe of the people will gain in the strtiggle. Shoull the time come, when France, woe]." lie virtually free—when k should enjoy the fall benefits of a free press, and of a representative ratem, it would rkerci•e an astonishing influence upon the policy of other na. tions. No cause bet, one can prevent this result; :and this would be . fiscead in a new revolution, or perhaps in a new way. It is to he hoped therefiare that the Frenckacill have the wiadom to avoid both. Woe, howevaa. to the .government that should med dle in their itetirs, and precipitate th an upon either ! It would probal.ay be the prelude to its downfall ; for the time •it past when such atroviuus palicy might be practised with impunity ; aral a war or a revolution, is -the present temper of the humaa mind, and in the embarrassed state of the finances of every coantrn might prance results at the bare i lea of whiaa the imagination shudders. It is so decidedly the interest of other States to combirt themselves honourably in their relationa with France, that only infatuation can urge • them to pursue .a Ziflizent caeursaa " a• .. OWN. ••• ": : .„ i 1. g ) . I\ , C*t ..." J.- ' ' 4" 0* r,.•,x, 4 • w ‘ et., .4...„, .-N---, '.. .i.d/ an, 4f oiAyttr.