The National Register. — London, England, 1819-05-09 00:00:00

91 1' ‘; /A4/5, / 3 / 4 ;///,/,fi ribt JP_ationali t(t Our Sim, Consititution anb , SUNDAY, MAY 11, 11110. pan g 90. ject. It might hp gbe *H at d most extravagance, sad eireh i e amor ism& evefi m l ents that sea plIMPS•011114 es easier the plea Of IWO necemity. Wets a brawlbt .of what is wig is Freese owe Ong* Mimed, creams kit that is greeting them better appreelatei, it would appal the teem determined opporsente of retrenchment, and make them shrink from the consequences of that selfish and unprincipled course iu politics they now pursue. It would also go far tewanis suppressing that tons of dictation and reproach which the English journals, devoted to ministers, are in the habit of using, as oft.a ae they advert to the pro ceedings of the French Legislature, or the conduct of the French government. Such language is a violation of all courtesy, and is certainly a gross breach of the quality supposed to exist between independent States. At this moment it evinces a glaring dereliction ofall the olivious rules of policy.; for the French people, whatever may be the feelings of the French government, are net in a temper to bear it calmly. i: llso endangers the security of that legitimate order of government, as it is called, to vindicate trhich England poured out her best blood, and expended immense tremens. To speak of it as mildly as possible, it is as contrary to the spirit of peace and good neighbourhood, as it is insolent towards such a nation as Prance. jag g appos. sa g g amer than in their far-dime aallanyta. Alainstemegt dinut personal as well u recent ob morefilms. **they see Eisen d the utmost con awl to at laser nitre-teethes of eh. - makaat lass than the saw lav a ol y ig is in Francs meld give them thitmatindinsr. IA atteaPt was made on the return die of ltitho.rwu fro the Congress at 41.1 - In Sao them in power, it is not possible to deseribi elf • and indignation it onsastioned. Had it rnutee would be the sues, of a general owing ; and considendsle preprations were alimony amok lys oppose it with force. The defeat of that al-•s: certed and intemperate plan saved the party, lobo were to be actors in it, from sweeping destssesins ; though it must be confessed that the scheme Wm, ha., done the greetest injury to the royal won t 1 - she wed too plainly the weakness of its partisans ; and therefore the advisers of it committed am lento parable error. No experienced Statesman .wrist, bare raised the veil which concealed the feeblenere. of the Royalists ; and that overweening act hat dashed for ever their pretensions to power. The re turn of the Exiles, the removal ..f so many oboes. - ions Prefects, the accession of new Peers, and the law on the Jibe...ly of the Press, have been all eosin quenco.3 of that measure. The popular party haws been mule conscious cf their own strength, as well as of the entire insignificance of their opponents ; and their success will no doubt encourage them to aim at much greater results, The latrine which has been given in concesnence to publu Snell g if astonishing, The French ycuth is particular die play the must lively interest en the occasion ; and begin already to give vent to feelings and to lags'. which, if not checked, would bold out but a mop *fiat prospect far the continuance of gonna& tan quillity. However, the government has the appear ance of being v igilant and active ; and if it can only escape from be ing hurried away by the current of feeling that flows so rapidly at this moment, the danger tot.) , paw sway. In the mean time a great change has occurred hn the conduct and situation of the government ; and a much greater must take place. The charter is no hmger a dead letter ; and no magistrate would now dare resist the positive instructions, cr defeat tbe intentions of the ministry. The nation has spoken , and faction has disappeared. The military are again at the absolute dispoeni of the Cabinet ; and the Prefects and Mayors execute its orders punctually. The government is strong ; because it has the peo ple on its side ; aal there is no security for a rui nistcr at tills moLteat in France, unless he be sup.. ported by popular favour. Besides this inducement, the ministers have another motive fur acting libe rally ; and that is founded on the knowledge the;' possess of the foreign influence that has been used, and is probably used at this very time, to proeuro their removal. To counteract those intrigues, they may be obliged to court popularity still mere ; and there is no doubt but that the cause of the people will gain in the struggle. Should the time come, when France, would be virtually free—when .t should enjoy the full benefits of a free pets!, sad of a representative system, it wet;:ti exercise an astonishing influence upon the polity of other na. tions. No cause but one can prevent this result ; and this would be found in a new revolution, err perhaps in a new war. It Ir. to be hoped thert:fore that the French will have the wisdom to avoid bush. Woe, however, to the government that should med dle in their affairs, and precipitate those upon either ! It would probably be the prelude to hs downfall ; for the time is past when such atrocious policy might be practised with impunity ; and a war or a revolution, in the present temper of the human mind, and in the embarrasied state of the finances of every country, might produce results at the bare ilea of which the imagination shudders. It is ail decidedly the interest of other States to conduct themselves honourably in their relations with France, that only infistuatiea can urn. twat to pursue a different course. There is not a count:: upon earth, in which a more determined resistance exists to every pretension that has only the sanction of ancient uesge in its favour, than in France. Time doer, rot consecrate title•, privileges, or even services ; ma i it may be confidently asserted that no honorary distinction, — no meritorious act which has its origin in a period beyond that of the revolution, is held in repute. We are far from pretending to say that this feeling is correct; we merely maintain that it exists; and no one can believe to what extent it prevails, unless he has had ocular proof. The name of Montmorency is not held in any thing like the same estimation as that of Lannes; and the far greater part of French men see more lustre in the title of Montebello than in that of Luxeraburgh. With such sentiments they were not likely to scquiesce in an order of things, in which the old nobility should have the the exclusive, control. Yet this forlorn cause has still many adherents amongst men of great political influence in England, and some hortiess adherents in France, who pursue the chimera solely in conse quence of hopes held out by the former. The per sons, who, under the shield of British influence, were to act this part, have unfortunately not a sin gle quality of mind to justify the choice. They are, besides, totally devoid of political experience. They moreover display an unaccountable ignorance of the character of their countrymen ; and, in all their discourses, proclaim opinions that are held in the deepest abhorrence. They are not even distin guished for eloquence: and have performed no achievements that denote mirage or ganttness of mind, and which would qualify 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, superficial and indiscreet; and it is strange, as well as in the highest degree suspicious, that these weak and truly insignificant men have powerful patrons in this country—who feed their 4' No. 1179.—V0c. XII.] FRANCE. Alp. Nctre to the consideration of affairs at home, the political state of France ought to engage an Eng sue.ition. 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 lees claim to his notice. It may be asserted with still greater confislence, that the revolutions which are in progress or in preparation in the test of that vast continent, will bear no manner of ones parison. And as to Russia, upon whose arms and policy so much laboured declamation has been em ployed of late, it will no more stand in competition with France, as to the influence its movements may have 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 poll ties that does not cause one in the politics of Eng land. The two States, from causes we shall not stop here to cuisine, are so connected, that as tom es a shock happens to one, it is instantly felt, and almost with the same degree of violence, in the other. The same cannot be zhaslutely said of the United States ; f o r the mss: violent concussion there would not have any thing likes corresponding effect sport this country. The convulsion, that should cause desolation there, would not produce any very alarming rise and agitation in the waters of war policy. The wreck of American liberty would be a just subject of lamentation to England, whereas the growing power of the commonwealth may serve, and useful: , too. to exercise the vigi lance of the British government, and stimulate the euergies of the British public. But here the into. rest positively ends; though attempts are not want ing to produce a very different impression. On the contrary, this country has more to hope than fear, snore to gain than lose, by the spread of civilisation and the triumph of sound principles in America. The influence 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 resoum•s of every description offers no serious cause of alarm to this country. Her government may thwart ours in some point of negociation ; or may raise envy agsinit us by exaggerating our power. But as to striking influence she has none, and will long have some, upon the vital interests of this country. Whereas when a pulse beats more strongly than usual in the body politic of France, it instantly causes a sensation in England—it affxts her funds; alarms the government, and inftumes the feelings of the public. It is of the utmost importance therefore to obtain the most accurate information respecting a nation in whose concerns we have JO deep an interest. This information is kept back as much a 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 comes under the denomination of those produced by free discuisSon. There is nothing at the same time would shew in a clearer or stronger point of view the policy pursued by the British gesernment, than a full knowledge upon this sub. ttr:ei."2.4020)- •A`v 1 ' ' I , 4 s. .= , o 4 ..,.,,i I I , ~'e • _ ...,e-