The National Register.
London, England, 1813-11-07 00:00:00

THE NATIONA

No. 306.

POLITICAL DIS2UISITION. '

PRINCE REOENT'S SPEECH.

No Session of Parliament ever opened under more auspiL
cious circumstances than the present, and never was better
use made of prosperity. Instead of suffeting exultation'to
betray us into justifiable, though perhaps immoderate pre-
tensions—instead of trampling Ivith unmerciful revenge on
the enemy who lies prostrate at our feet, we avail ourselves raf
our fortunes to extend the olive branch, and not to spread
the desolations of war; to restore the independence of En_
rape, and not to blot out one of its kingdoms. Unconquer-
able in arms, tremendous in our hostility, but wise in our
councils and moderate in our success, the example
which we now give will convince the world, that the
blood which we have shed, and the treasure which we
have expended. were no' shed or spent for the attainment
of private objects, but for the general freedom and happi-
ness of mankind. Should the misrepresentations of the.
enemy, respecting our views in the prosecution of the
contest in which we have been so long engaged, reach
posterity, we do not wish for the survival' of a more com-
plete refutation of them than that which the PRINCE RE.
ARENT'S speech to both Houses of Parliament presents.
Dignified in its language and sentiments, manly in its tone
andmoderate in its pretensions-64.0iRpletely repels the art-.
ful charges made by France against our pretended .ambition!
and should the calamities of war continue to devastate the
world, it points to the present and future ages their real
author.

The topics which this speech embraces are such, that had
they been anticipated by any politician thirteen months ago,
when NAPOLEON planted his eagles on the Kremlin in the
centre of the Russian Empire, the prophet must have been
classed amongst those fit to become the inmates of St. Luke's
or to edit our foretelling Al manacks.•W hat then was the situ
ation of that continent, which we now see rescued from the
chains of despotism and in the first dizzy moment of libera-
tion, almost doubting its happiness ? Let us inquire with
Mr. C. GRANT, the eloquent seconder of the Address to the
PRINCE REGENT on Thursday night, " what was the state of
Germany 12 months ago ? No movements in her fields,
save those of armies marching to rivet her chains, or
dragging her population to bleed in the cause of their tyrant.
No voice, but that of the conqueror insulting his victims.
No hope springing to light up the future, but an overpower-
ing despotism crushing every mental energy of man,
and quenching every idea of possible relief."--Let
us now see with him what is the present situation
of the continent. " Where is now that empire which
seemed built on the pillars of the world, not to he
Oaken but by universal destruction ?—ile who showed n•
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PRICE 9d

mercy, is now reduced to a condition to implore mercy.
He who made many miserable is now plunged into the gulph
of misery himself. Ile who thought his power resistless, has
now seen it melting away in his grasp, and, despoiled of his
former glories, driven from the positions which he had vainly
fortified, deserted by his Allies, hunted from river to river,
and dragging after him the wrecks of his defeated armies, not
(July beholds whole kingdoms torn from his yoke, hut find* -
them amongst hip enemies, foremost in the van, uprooting the
last remnants of his power."—Such is the comparative view
of the continent at the close of 1811 and 1913, even in all
the correctness of truth, and with the fervour of elo-

.cc,_. by one of our young and promising Sena .
tors; and such are the prospects, which, instead of
creating hopes of boundless conquest in a 'lath*
whose long efforts and repeated sacrifices in the cause of..
European independence, arc at last crowned with success,
only leads her to declare, in concert with her Allies, thate•
No disposition to require from France sacrifices of any
description, inconsistent with her honour or just pretensions,
as a nation, will ever be on our part or that of our Allies,
an obstacle to peace." If any thing is likely to add the
blessing of pacification to those of emancipation, it hi •:, Zs
a declaration issued at such a moment. Despair has some-
times been found to impart a sudden accession of strength,
which has wrenched the palm from the conqueror's hand,
It is, therefore, always prudent to prevent the operative
energy of despair, by opening a door to hope. There is
besides, another reason which increases the prob.ibility of
a successful and secure termination to the present war,
in consequence of our pacific tender. The Tyrant to
whom it is made, cannot reject it without sincurring
the tenfold hatred of his subjects. Surround?d with
the blaze of victory, he might inked dare to counteract.
their wishes as he has frequently done. But ladeh with the
disgrace of repeated defeats, how can he justify himself in
the eyes of the French Nation for rejecting terms which we
publicly declare shall be corvistent with her honour and just
pretensions ? Can he point out brighter hopes than those,
when every report be sends from the army brings a tale of
discomfiture and ruin ? Can he retain what he may be
asked to surrender ? or can he make them believe that it is
in his power to realise his boast that he will not relinqui4s
a single foot of territory ? They must soon know the full ex-
tent of his losses, and when they see the olive branch
put forth towards them from the shores of England.
they will not only gladly seize it, but will overturn
or destroy all individual obstacle which may stand •in the
way of peace. Ile must be too well aware of this f esh dan-
ger, to have sufficient boldness to encounter it, and we may
therefore expect that the late Lord of the Continent will b 3
soon compelled, both by the desperate situation of his Waif.: