The National Register.
London, England, 1808-01-04 00:00:00

JAN. 4.

Allies, or fall into the hands of their ships of war or pri-
vateers. The British Islands are declared to be in a state
of blockade, both by sea and land ; and every vessel, of
whatever nation, going to or from the ports of Britain, or
her Colonies, is declared to be lawful prize. To conclude
this singular edict, it is declared to be a mere measure of
retaliation against England.
This decree serves to chew how far BONAPARTE may be •
carried beyond the bounds, not only of policy, but even of
reason, by the headstrong fury of his passions. The damage
which the British Islands will sustain, from a blockade by
sea, while the enemy dares not send out a single vessel,
unless by stealth, into the Ocean, cannot much alarm us ;
and the same circumstance must free neutrals from any
considerable apprehensions. The terms of the decree, how-
ever, show how ready he is to sacrifice the interests of his
own subjects, and of all other nations in the universe, to
gratify his ungovernable resentment.
But it is France that must chiefly stiffer from this im-
potent ebullition of vengeance. To the decree is subjoined,
in the Moniteur, a Circular Letter from the Minister of
the Interior, in which the miserable condition to which
France is reduced by the prohibitory edicts of her master,
is forcily though unintentionally depicted. The Minister
here breathes nothing of that lofty tone which has hereto-
fore promised the speedy conquest of Britain, the sack of
London, and the utter annihilation of the great rival of
France. Ile tells the owners of privateers, that they will
have greater chance for booty ; he expresses a hope that
neutrals may possibly elude our cruizers ; he consoles his
countrymen that their privations will be only temporary ;
and that substitutes will probably be foivid for the neces-
saries and comforts of which they will be deprived. This
is truly an altered tone for a Minister of France; and what
must give the strongest idea of the indefensible absurdity
of her ruler's present measures.
No thing has occurred in the course of the French de-
predations more cruel and undeserved than their present
inseter►te hostility to the House of Brauganza. It is evi-
dent that family has done nothing that could have _called
down its present fate; but BONAPARTE has already formed
a plan for the disposal of Portugal among his minions.
The arts by which he endeavours to conciliate the ignorant
Portuguese are equally extravagant and singular. Ile
took care that his troops should raise the French colours
at Lisbon on the very anniversary of that day on which
the !louse of Braganza first raised the standard of free-
don against the :.paniards ; and this the French represents
as a miraculous coincidence of two deliverances ! It is
also told, that a violent earthquake shook Lisbon to its
foundation, hut immediatvly subsided on the entrance of
the I'rench.

In the course of the week, a number of American
papers have been received. They contain the first proceed-
ings in Congress relative to the disputes with Great Britain.
There is much bullying in the tone of the American
orators. et it appears evident that they are much afraid
of the consequences of a rupture with this country, as
indeed they may. The merchants of rhiladdphia and of