The National Register.
London, England, 1809-01-22 00:00:00

THE NATIONAI,4 REGISTER.

its 'minion resources are abandoned to his discretion ; 'and
the few states which now maintain a shadow of independ-
ence, will be as Subject to his controul, as Holland and
Italy are in this moment. Who is there among us that
csu relied on the possibility of such an event without

moiety ? Sgvereign master of the resources and popula-
tion of Spain, Partugal, Germany, Italy, the Russian and
Austrian empires, he would set all the dock-yards and
arsenals, from Trieste to Petersburgh, at work, to gratify
his vengeance against this country, and to destroy the last
sanctuary of freedom and independence. For this put.,
pose, the shipping and mariners of Europe woutd be cols
lected in five or six convenient ports, from the mouth of
the Elbe. to that of the Tagus, and Europe compelled to
furbish money and soldiers towards the execution of this fa-
vorite enterprise. Every Government, sunk in the most ab-
ject debasement, to avoid incurring his indignation, would
'vie with each other in4eal and readiness to execute his or-
ders; and their armies and treasures be employed for our
destruction. The immense force which Austria has in this
moment to support her own independence, would be
marched from the Danube to the coasts of Holland and
Brabant ; and thus a formidable army, which might con-
tribute to the liberation of the Continent, be employed to
rivet its chains for ever. Five hundred thousand Russians,
roles, Germans, Italians, and Spaniards, conducted by
French Officers, and encouraged by the promised plunder
of our islind, could be kept in constant readiness to in-
vade our shores ; and the remorseless tyrant, indifferent to
how many of those wretches might perish in the attempt,
would shasten to accomplish its execution.
Who can think with steadiness on the possibility of such
an event ! Whatever confidence we may place in the en:lin-
siastic courage of our fellow citizens; and however certain
we may be of the ultimate extermination of the invaders,
we still Inflect wits horror on the misery, desolsption and
disorder, that mutt accompany their footsteps, Then,
banditti would fall victims to British patriotism; but betom
they fall. there is not a family in England that would not
have cause to mourn the death of a son, or husband, and
the outraged virtue of a daughter. There is surely none
among us, however desirous he may be to signalize him-
self iu the service of his country, that does not heartily de-
precate the possibility of a similar visitation.
This calamitous occurrence is, as we have already ob-
served, sooner or later unavoidable, should the enemy be-
come uncontroulled master of the Continent, by the con-
quest of Spain. On the occurrences in that country we
must invariably fix our attention ; and, however alarming
or unpromising the present aspect of its affairs may be,
the more powerful inducement we have to multiply our
efforts in support of its independence. Nobody will deny
the advantage of fighting the enemy on Spanish ground,
rather than on our own, or in Ireland. If honour, there-
fore, and the pleasuac of rescuing innocence and justice
faom the gripe of oppression and villainy, have no influ-
ence on our determination, let the most imperious interest,
and the strong cry of self-preservation, keep us faithful to
our engagements. GM' :AC is indissolubly connected with
theirs; and our rxertions m. st correspond with this con-
Money , arms, and clothes, must be given them in
pro:usiou ; and every thin; offered, which can encourage their
hopes, or excite their perseverance under the arduous diffi-
culties of their situation. Their cause is invincible, their
resources inexhaustible. We need only to impress this

JAN. W.

conviction on their minds, by our perseverance in its sup-
port, and they will still perform what their first efforts le&
us to expect. Every day, every week, is a new addition of
'strength to them,. and a diminution of that of the enemy.
They are hurled into that extraordinary crisis, which it
sure of generating great talents and virtues. Through
unavoidable circumstances, the management of their
affairs fell, in tho beginning, into the hands of ordinart
lueu—creattlre4 Of intrigue and favour ; but the whirl of
events will draw inure competent persons into action.
If a CURSTA, a CASTAXOS, and a AlnitlA, prevented the
full efict of their earls enthusiasm, the present oc‘
currenees, so favourable to the bold Ind the entetptising,
are capable of creating a PALIFOIC, in every province, in
every town. The young and the enthusiastic, in the ab-
sence or relaxation of regular authority, will seize the
situation most conformable to their talents and courage.
Nature has been profuse of her choicest gifts to the people
of the Peninsula, and the present fermentation of their
minds will excite a hardihood of thSnking and a, force of
' sentiment which will enable them to devise, as well as
execute, the boldest projects.

After this view of their character and situation, too
obvious to be mistaken, we cannot conceive the instability
of the public opinion on their concerns. Neither our judge
ments nor our hopes were the result of reflection, aud we
consequently varied, every week, from enthusiasm to de-
pression, from extravagance to despondency. Unacquaint-
ed with the country, its resources and peculiarities, we
created a chimerical people—children of our imagination*
aud fashioned by our wishes. Every propitious fairy was
invited to bestow some peculiar mark of her favour on
the fondling ; and, in the wildness of our predilection, we
would conceive no modern Spaniard but iu the dress and
qaracter of La Mancha's hero. This extravagance is un.
wprthy of thinking mien; and if we learn to appreciate the.
Spaniards as they really arc—faithful to their engage.
ments, constant in their pursuits, and with a sense of
honour bordering, on the romantic, we will cease to be
agitated by such aguish feelings in their behalf, and our
esteem and support will be more rational and constant.

FOREIGN' IN TELLIGENCE.

FROM THE FRENCH pdpves.

THE TWENTY-FIRST BULLETIN
begins with an account of the entrance of the' Englisl into Spain,
on the 29th October, and gives a detail of our operations to the
taking of General Lefebvre, on the 29th December.
On the 28th December, Buonaparte's head-quarters were at
Valdera3, the Marshal soult at Maticilla, and the Marshal Ney
at Viliafer.

The weather is very bad ; we suffer, but the English suffer
more.

TWENTY-SECOND BULLETIN.

BENEVENTE) JAN. 21.—The head-quarters of the French
wen here yesterday. The Marshal Bessieres passed through
Benevente un the 30th at night, and pursued the enemy to Pio-
ente. The flight of the English is so quick, that _they leap;
their sick and wounded in the hospitals, and shoot their hones
that were fatigued or wounded—they haven's° been obligert tar
barn a superb inagazine of.cleathing, &c. All the Germans in
the bervice csf the desert. The French army will be this
evening at Astorga, and near the confines of Galicia.