The National Register.
London, England, 1808-02-14 00:00:00

NATION AI. REGISTER..

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74,1

incc, that nothing was so difficult as to shake his
.1, or to induce him to chan,te any line of conduct
had once adopted; and that he was sure no connection
texisted between the French and Danish Governmenis previous to
'r attack en Copenhagen.

;."...,‘.4;‘,llthen said, that I believed Lord G. L. Cower had delivered
t4te
Imperial Majesty's Minister a note on the subject ;to
b his Imperial Majesty answered that he had, but that the
tents of it were nuoutory, as it contained"no sufficient ex Oa-
)ion or otFer of satisfaction. llis Imperial Majesty then pro-
ed to state the great concern which our unjustifiable aggrcE-
.
:
n had given him; that the French Government never had done
thing so strong—that it justified every thing they had done
might do hereafter. If such proceeding,: were adafiss;ble,
sere was an end of all those relations which had usually infiu-
aced the conduct of nations towards etch other ; that every
body was at liberty to do just what they pleased, and that he
plight attack Sweden to-morrow. 11 is.lmperial Majesty then
told my in the most peremptory language, tone, and manner,
'that he would have satisfaction, complete satisfaction, for tlii•-
unprovoked aggression. That, it 1% !IS his duty as Emperor of
'Russia to demand it, and that he would have it; and he asked
me, whether even I of,elicottli venture to ditier with him on
.bat subject 3 He then said that he was bound to Denmark by
the most solemn treaties and engagements, which treaties and en-
lagements he was determined to adhere to ' and fulfil. II is Im-
perial Majesty then added, that he supposed we meant to make
:an attack on Cronstadt ; he did not know what the event of that
Istack might be, but this he knew, that he was determined to
mist to the last man, and to prove himself not entirely unwor-
fy of filling that high station to which it had pleased I'rovi-
-4ince to call him.

" I told his Imperial Majesty that I had strong reason to hope
Id
believe, that uo attack would be made on Crow•tallt. Hi,
Imperial Alajesty said he was prepared for such an event, and
kad taken his determination upon it, which was that which lit
r*ad before stated to me. Be then elo,ed the conversation, b‘
e peating with much emphasis, that '•he wouldiaa..e satisfac-
tiou for Deutuark."

The estranged and hostile tone which now appeared k not a
abject of wonder. There was not a thinking man in England
,by whom it was not anticipated as a natural consequence of the
lipedltion to Copenhagen. This, it was said, mot of necessit
Ipreekre as the enmity of Russia, who regards herself as the arhi-
tress ef Ike Baltic, and will nut, without extrcuce jettlousy and
tndignation, behold so violent an inroad upon her pretensions.
The evidence of the case seems to be altogether uncommon.
s ascertained that the Treaty of Tilsit did not annihilate the
friendly sentiments of Russia towurds England ; they werc an-
•iihilated at the moment of the attack on Copenhagen; this cause
is sufficient to account for the elect, and no other cause can he
be shewn to exist.

Full of the idea of the unjustifiable nature of the measure, the
Emperor asked Lord Hutchinson what he thought of it, whether
be, even he, had any thing to say in behalf of his countrymen ?
•Difilcult Was the situation in which his Lordship was here placed !
It appears that his heart recoiled from the transaction as it pre-
sented itself in its outward features; and he was obliged to as-
time that the hostile designs of the Danish Government had been
tia matured, and so manifest, as to justify it. This the Emperor
Immediately and confidently denied from his general knowledge
of the circumstances; he appealed to Lord Hutchin,on's own
knowledge of these circumstances, if his assumption was not un-
reasonable, and his Lordship was obliged by his silence to ac-
knowledge the force of the appeal. It now appears, after the
.defence of our Ministers is before Europe, that the Emperor was
'tight; that no evidence existed of any hostile designs un the par;
vrf the Danes; and that the attack was made on the sole appre-
°tension of hostile designs on the part of Bonaparte, v. hid) Den-
thark, it w4s concluded, was unable to resist.

There is something, even in the complaints of the Emperor,
which prove hot► well founded, and strong were his prejuaii-etk
against the French, and how far he was, previous to this unfor-
tunate transaction, from any leaning of utfeeti!,:i to the cnu'e
Napoleon. " Our fo►tl aggre►tsion," ha salt!, " justiUacl every'

*O.
~.•

t:7;Fig French cerement had done ;" a cle:ir e pre:o ou of-
opinion how lawless and abominable the conduct of the
French to wards other countries had heed. The expression which
follows, too, is still more remarkable, " This' aggression of
ours," he said, " juitified every thing which .the Pernek might •
hereafter do :" a decisive proof of his fears, that the FreaCh
would not yet cease in their lawless and -nr:ressive career, and
were still'clangerois neighbours. Are Welt opinions as these coma
patible with the idea tart voluntary association, antecedent to alt
provocation, for the aggrandisement of tionaparte, and the.
• übjugatinu of Britain ? Certainly not nor can a doubt remain
that to the attack on Denmark, and to that'at tack alone, we
an a the great and important cfpure from tlieudly td boAlle in -
t!ie Councils of This fact, which was highly probable,
from general evidence before, is, by the conferences which
cord Hutchinson 100 related, plac,-(1 beyond a doubt. %V hethee
we have by that attack averted any other evil equally great
it h the enmity of 1? tusia ; whetlirr we have attained any :A+
vantage of sufficient magnitude to compensate it ; whether any
evil which it could avert, or any advantage it could procure,
could, in the eye tif reason and justice vindicate it, are question* •
of a different sort, the discussion of which we mast reserve till
another opportunity.

REVIEW dF POLITICAL DECLAIMERS,

Na. VII,

COBBETT'S SPITEFUL ATTACKS UPON till

AMER IC ANS,

If it has been viilently olkeeted to Mr. Cohbett, that his
opinions are mutal.le, and short-lived, he may defy his bitterest'
enemy to tiring this accu,:ition zvr,aint his resentments. These
would appear to he as deep and (Jura bte, as the others are hasty'
and transient. NV het her t pt"'lti r: iv of character is a proof!
of great wisdom, and gre!lt vitine, or flyy contrary, is not the
present question. The fact is undeniable. stud is of no little
consequence toward enahlim: 1,5 to foil); a judgment of the worth
.tf hie sentiments reiatoig to the mcment on- :!tie,rions on the
-object of our relations ss its America. Alato-t all the ()pinions
which Mr. Cobbett held on the ot!ier side of the Atlat.tic tare.
now changed. Mr. Pitt he then regarded as an angel for
alents, and a saint for pa; ity ; he miss designates him as the
dtallow• hearted Pitt, and describes him as having been a cor-
rnpting, jobbiat;, squandering oppresbur. Sir Francis Burdett
was then a fiend let loose from the sulphurous pit ; he is now the
ugly n.an who has a chanee la be the ,i,eif.tir of his countr.
At lilac time he described the Eritish Coustitutiun as equally
perfect in practice ;tad in the:A.). t he now represents it as prat..
tically teeming with abuses and corruption. Such is a short
specimen of the
:changes in :Air. Cobbeles opinions ; but 144 re-
sentments against the Americans appear to be as keen as ever.
Ile see:as incapal.le of forvetting the violent quarrel he had with
them, and the lo.,ses and hardships which it cost him. There is
something in this, however, extremely unreasonable.
It was in preachi4 with violence andfury those very ()pinkies
which Mr. Cobbett has now renovated that he created those en..
inies w hose ill ()dices have mules() deep an impression on his mind,
Is it not e xtra ord Mar., therefore that Air. Cobbett does nut reflect
that as his violence aild fury in favour of opinions which he nosy
condemns, WAS highly unreasonable, he may have given consi.
&Table cause for that enmity which he excited, and against
whica is resentment is yet so iateqse ? If :o many of his opinions
were entirely wrong when he was in America. why Inas it not
happen that the very bad opinion which he formed of the
A mwieans themselves was wrong II ke ise ? Without adverting
to any other evidence of this allegation, may we not wonder
why Mr. Cobbe:t doe% not reflect that this opinion which he
r irmed of the Americans, was I state b..tter than a corollary from
t'n'erroneous notions under which lie t;lenlabaured. If Mr. Cob.
/WO, NI hen in America considered all Kings, with their song, fm.
lies. and clergy as dent-ltols, heroes and en .els ; and by cm ie.
Auence hated ilpeople who bed vielent prejudices against them
dl; and if Mr. Cobh; now 14s greatly altered his °pillars
respeetiog &lap, and their seas, nobles and clergy, is it not
. •

11)0

possible that were he now to go to America, be would greatly
alter his opinion of the Americans?
ne has laboured with great assiduity during the considerable
period in which our relations with the United States have been
matter of public attention and an ‘irty In render the Americans
at once contemptible and odious to the people of this country.
He bas ascribed to them every vice and every meanness; while
be has studied to persuade us that they hated this tuuntry, and
what was still a greater crime, that they loved Ft ;owe. About
proof 11-. etibbett seldom troubles himself. We had all this
in good rouud assertion. And unfortunately assertions with a
great portion of mankind are fully as cogent A% proof.

After abundant endeavours to make ns believe that the Ame-
ricans are a most ()thous rare, and Om they hunger and thirst
for mischief to this countly, his nest object is to per-uade us.
that they are very deleoceless, and may be easily trodden down
in the dirt, in short, that sse may insult and abuse them, as we
please, for they cannot injure us in return. There is somethine
uncommonly illiberal in the strain of 11r. Cobbct's attacks upon
the American? ; and there is SCalTdy mimic of his assertions that is
not unfounded.

In the first place, the Americans have virtues and vices very
much like onrsely es. They are a shoot from our own stock,
and they exhibit very di/millet marl,. of their affinity with the
parent tree. They are a people of strimg and manly passions,
3$ Ke ourselves are ; and we are sery apt to blame in them
what we applaud in ourt•elves. 'I hey are a most industrious
Slid enterprising people ; the peculiar a-pert which their
virtues and vices ;14 ime, is the rilert untirely of the peculia-
rity of their situation. We are apt to designste them as a
rapacious people ; but in every t ommtry, it here intiu-try is in
ills infant' here caimital is extremely scarce and extremely
N:nluable, titis appearance ill invariably be exhibited. As
the scope for capital is more unimunded in America than any
where else ; this cause operates there wt ith a force peculiarly
great. But effects, exact!" similar, are experienced even in our
West India Islands, though these arc both of limited extent, and
*re fed with all time opulent capitals of our West India met.-
DierrhAnts, As they arc a people too, nuisily agricultural, and
thinly spread over this immeme surface, with few neeacions of
social intercourse, they exhibit but little of the polished man-
ners of Luropean cities ; and a republican familiatity is fre-
quently affected, whieh is found highly offensive to .tich Eu-
ropeans as are enamoured with aristocratical distinctions and
ceremonies.

In the next place it is perfcctly untrue that the Americans are
distinguished by an aversion to this country. The contrary is
ineontrovertibly the fact. One of the chief sources af their
pride is their descent from this country. It is commonly spoken
of among them by the name of The Old ClintrN, a term, ex-
pe,•-sing at once the memory of their connexion, and their vene-
ration for the country of their fathers. Their laws, and even
their forms of legislation, ac well as their fashions, customs, and
manners, are all borrowed from us. It is undoubtedly true, that
the restrictions which we hate imposed open neutral trade dur-
ing our present contest with France, have inflicted upon them the
greatest hardships; and it was not timintural for them to com-
plain. 'They are, like ourselves, a blustering people ; and when
thee hive to complain of another nation, they do it in a prettN
They are at present, no doubt, very much provoked
against this country ; but e‘en at present there is among them a
large fund of esteem and good K ili toward this country, which
only wants a favourable season to produce the happiest effects.
There i- among them, as there is among us, two parties, one of
-which is more repahliean than the other ;.and these two parties
brand elle another ; the one w ith the epithet of the French
part, and the other with that of the British. But the epithet
of French is just as improiterl applied among them, as it was
some Tt'ar, ago among us, to Mt,.. ox and his party.

In the last place, the Americans are, by no means, as Mr.
Cobbeit would have us believe, enemies entir,ly to b« despised.
Tito. cannot conquer our fleets. or invade Ireland: but, as we
4o not agree with Mr. t obbett, that our commerce is our carte.
we eatmot, in the pre.sent situation of the world contemplate.
without I;vely emotion, the 11).4 of our intercourse with a na-
tion, that has for a number of sears taken off more goods of
British produce anti manufacture, than the tv hole continent of
Europe As this, hove ever, is a subject of va t itoporiance, we
ill not trespuAs any further beyond our limits. We have, a!
gel ',tiered up:ma the suluert. It wilt agaiu come
'we consideratiom.

-

THE NATIOtiAL REGISTER.

FRANCE.

e-G

AMI RICA.

F

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

,

PA RIS, JAN. 16.—The Patritne, of 71 tatins, which left tin
Chesapeake on the 16th of December, arri‘ed at the Ible o
Aix on the Ith innt.—lly it we learn that !11r. :Moore, the Am
bassador from England, had returned un the I.lth Of December
The public papers announced that tin. Seta and Ifu•t of Re
torescinatives had aseinttled w ithout an) exterior commonly:l
film. It way said that the proposals un:de by England to re
dress the gricvatices of the United States, were of a nature lot).
ill received, and that every thing was for war with that country

PORTUGIT,.
nrcnre FOR CONF:!,C.ITING ILI. nnlTl5ll ',nor:tart- IN FOR

All goods, jewils, and silver, as well as mineable and lande
property of any nature whatsoever, belonging to any individtri
subject of Gribat Britain, foand in any territory of the Portu
guew dominions, shall he confiscated.
.111 goods of British manufacture, of any kind whatsoevet
shall be also confiscated.

It is expressly ordained, that any person, of whatever clan!
who shall have in his possession any sum or goods belonging t
subjects of tireat liriinin ehall appear and declare the •ame, i
the conrse of three days, at the Secretary's Oilier, N-1. Lego\
appointed Commissary oft interim, ss hose residence is at No. 11,
opposite the fountain of the Loretto ; and in the interior par
of Portugal these declarations are to he made before th.. Magi,
trate of the place.
Any person who shall not make a true and exact declaratirn
shall forfeit ten times the sum of the object so declared, and sila.
receive besides corporal punishment, if the object should deser,
such.

Any goods or property which may have been any way COD
ccaled by either Portuguese or French merchants, or those (
any other \ ation, shall be declared in the same manner under th
like penalties.
The Adniiiiistrator-General of tile Finances, and the ltegenc
Council, are charged with the execution of this Mercy.
Dated in the Palace of the General Quarters, Lisbon, the 51
of December. (Signed) Jr.ur.

Tasurrit, I7.—The new Decrees and Orders of II
French General Junot, have been regularly transmitted to ti
Regency, and by them put into execution. The furniture of t
British Assembly Room has been sold by Junot for OW. ste
the lower apartments were immediately. afterii olds d
reeled to be converted into stables : and the upper rooms, w hit
are very elegantly constructed and furnished, were presented
Beauharnois, who has taken up his residence then•.
The sum of British property, which, by virtue of the Di
cree of the sth of December, had been entered with Mons. I.
goy, did not amount to 1.10.000 r. sterliior, and no etForts on tl
part of the people were attempted to be mad., to increase t;
amount. The seals had nut been raised from the doors. of tl
Offices of Customs; but this is e y peeled, iwder the sup:
intendance of officers, w ho had been charged to inquire into t.
nature and value of the property . Such as should be found
be in any mariner connected ti: h British subjects is to be conti
cated as British proper( such as shall clearly appear to
long to tye subjects of Portugal, is to be restored, and allow.
to be sold for their benefit."

Difultresost, mere!) ei
our uttcutir
•
0 1,4
41! •
"IR
WZ.. •

FI
ns, which left th.
eel at the Ible o
. Moore, the Am
I.lilt of December
and 11..u•e of Re
ierior communica
by Itit:land to re
c of a nature In b.
with that country
ROMITY IN roa
eahle and lande
to any individua
ory of the Portu
kind whatsoever
of whatever (las!
;spoils belonging t
Aare the• •au►e,
°lliac, M. Legoy
knee is at \o.
the interior par
before thy• Magi,
exact declaratint
declared, and sila
ject should &,m.
wen any way COD
hplltS, or those
e manner under th
, and the Regenr
is Decree.
•s, Lisbon, the 51
.1r
Id Orders of 0
rratwinitied to tl
'he furniture of tl