The National Register.
London, England, 1812-04-12 00:00:00

Q 4

out patriotism. Courag•• is almost their only virtue,- and
any invader svho.should hold out emancipation to them,
might be welcomed as a deliverer instead of being resisted
as a foe. • Hence, the dangers which threaten ALEXANDER
are far greater than any which he has hitherto encoun-
vied. His armies arc divided, and the most experienced
portion of his veterans is engaged in a fruitless contest on
the banks of the Danube, and the coasts of the Black
Sea. Winter might hold a shield of • ice before his tel
; but he is assailed at a time, when the ap.
p:o .ch of summer loosens the rigour of the cold,
and melts the bartiers which the climate opposes
to solohevn constitutions: As long as the Russian
soldiers fouobt in distant lands, the offer of emanci-
pation would have been lost upon them. But were
such a proposal made to the people itself, within the seat
of their vassalage, would they remain faithful to their
Pi ;nee, and to their chains, and not suffer themselves to
be deceived by the offer of pretended freedom ? These are
the real ms which make us view the approaching contest
with alarm, rather than wirii iwpe. According to all
human probabilities, Russia cannot withstand the torrent
of military force that rushes against her. But there is
an Almig:ity Po‘ver that revives the withered arm and
repairs the broken spear.
The recall of troops from Spain, is an additional proof
of the proximity of a Northern war. A few week,: produce
a mighty change in the situation and relations of States.
A short time since, we fancied that the demonstrations of
France, would have the effect of intimidating her supposed
antagonist, and that a way would still be avoided by sub- '
mission on the part of A LEXAN DER. It now appears that
not his submission, but his tett' ruin, ss wanted by Napo-
]. la-rx, and that no concessions, howc.er see vile, could
clie:k the execution of his plan. He is not satisfied with
• having sent the whole of his regular force lately within his
dominioas, to the North, and provided for the internal
qukt of his empire by the formation of a numerous army
of National Guards, under a new appellation. He has
drawn some of his best troops from Spain, and the last
Frets, lr Papers, received to the 6th inst. tell us, that four
ito-inients of Imperial Guards and 6'h of Polish soldiers,
holy belonging to the army,.of Arragon, had reached
Paris at the beginning of the present month on their way
to Poland: This was probably intended, at the eve of a
new contest, to diminish the horror with which the Pal i-
sians must behold the approach of war, by deceiving them
into a belief that its ravages have not proved as great as
they had been represented.
We rejoice to find that Sweden continues to yield proofs
of an independent spirit. Her weight, in the scale of war,
_would cettainly not be considerable.—But if unable to as-
sist Russia powerfully in the field of battle, she could
make some effective diversions on the rear of the French
armies. Accounts have been received, that the King of
SwEnses had issued an order for restoring the amount of
the sales of the Carlsham ships to the owners, and direct-
log that all vessels, seized under similar circumstances,
should be given up. This order, it is estimated, will pro-
duce the restoration of nearly 3,000,0001. of confiscated
propertylin which British merchants are chiefly interested.

APRIL LI.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8.

The Bishop of OXFOAD, introduced by the Bishops of London and
Norwich, took the oaths and his seat. Lord Plymouth also took the
oaths, and his seat.
A message from the Commons brought up the Pilot's Regulation
Bill, Lord Wellington's Annuity Bill, and several other Bills, which
were read a first-tim-e; - •
The Thames Navigation Bill was read a second time.
Earl S 1./trine/PE said, that having been lucky enough, near the close
of the last Session, to bring in a Bill; the effeet-ot which had been in
soma degree to ameliorate the situation of the tenantry of this country,
he should, on Thursday week, bring in a Bill for the purpose of re•
the tenantry of Ireland, who are at present liable to be called
upon to pay their rents two, three, or four times over. Their Lord-
ships were ordered to be summoned for that day.
Earl SI ANnoPE said he had prepared a Bill also to qualify certain
classes of Protestant Dissenters to hold Offices; but until the fate of
the discussion on the Catholic claims should be decided, he would not
fix a day for bringing it on. •
On the motion of the Earl of LIVERPOOL, the names of Major-
Generals A. Campbell; C. Stewart, Baron Rolle, and two other Officers,
were ordered to be inserted in the Vote of Thanks for the capture of
Ciudad Rodrigo, they having been unintentionally omitted on the for-
mer occasion.