The National Register.
London, England, 1809-02-26 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Highness would have availed himself of this occasion for
the ultimate display of his ability and patriotism. His coun-
try, it is now palpable, gained nothing by resisting his
laudable ambition. It is small consolation to reflect, that,
in opposing the appointment of our Commander in Chief
over the Expedition to Portugal, we procured for ourselves
the Convention of Cintra t Nothing could have happened
worse than what has really ensued. Valour has not added
one unfailing; laurel to our brows ; and royalty has been
denied the noblest opportunity that occurred for the exer-
tion
of its highest duties, and the display of its brightest
effulgence. 1 feel more satisfaction, however, in adverting.
to the official domestic regulations of the present Com-
mander in Chief. Certainly, whatever immaterial inaccu-
racies may he imagined to have existed in the military de-
partment of the government, his Ho. al Highness has essen-
tially ameliorated, and constitutionally improved, the con-
dition of our land forces. Disaffection has disappeared
from among the soldiery, and discipline superseded insub-
ordination. The very documents, it should be observed,
adduced against him, and which were supposed to criminate
his character in other respects, evidence, beyond con:ra-
diction, his attention to his professional avocations. lie
could not nabosam himself, even to the confidant of his
sentiments, without alluding, at the same time, to the
higher objects of his pursuit. Where was otherwise the
necessity for his mingling, with his amatory intercourse,
an account of his " visiting the works at Dover, of his
reviewing,; the troops there, and exemining the coast as
far as Sandgate and of his setting off immediately to
along the coast to Hastings, reviewing the different corps"
as he passed, which would again occupy him, at least,
" thirteen hours ?" This does not seem to be the confi-
dential letter-writing of one who is neglectful of his public
duties. A man may have incautiously erred, when there
is no reason to believe that he has wilfully sinned. He
;nay have been wrongly practicable, without being any
thing like seriously criminal.
Assuming it as granted, however, that the Duke of
York feels himself perfectly free from the charges which
have recently been preferred against him, I consider him
rather misadvised in the formation of the Letter communi-
cated from him to the House of Commons. He therein
concedes too much respecting himself, but too little as it
affects his country. Instead of intimating the " hope that
the House of Commons will not, upon such evidence as
they have heard, adopt any proceeding prejudicial to" his
own " honour and character," and submitting himself to
the ordinary forms of jurisprudence, observed as to similar
impeachments, only " if, on such testimony as has been,
adduced against" him, " the House of Commons can think"
his " innocence questionable" instead of this line of
conduct, which more than insinuates the utter falsity of his
accusers, and seems to petition the clemency of his present
judges, how truly would it become his Royal Highness,.
whether as it refers to the honour of his country or the
welfare of his family, to step boldly' forward, and, be the
vote of the Commons what it may, still demand an open
trial before his Peers ! It is here, therefore, that he acts as
if he was not strictly admonished to consult the opinion of
the country.
With respect to his private amours, he has conceded
more than any rational person could have desired. While
his Royal Highness did " observe, with the deepest con-
cern," his " name coupled with transactions the most
criminal and disgraceful." there yet appeared no absolute
necessity for him so publicly to " regret and lament that
a connection should ever have existed which has thus ex-
posed" his " character and honour to public animadver-
sion." No man thus exacted from him the part of the
repenting Efrodigal. His own personal dignity seems to
have been attended to as little as the satisfaction of be
public. It is to the Horse-Guards, and not to Glorcester-
place, that the attention of the public is anxiously di-
rected. Whoever assures the present Duke of York other-
wise, is, however uuwittingly, his greatest enemy.

.tx*

131

.-•
The people of this country, distinguished as they are
for national probity, still abhor the individual attecta.
Lion of being " righteous -ovtirmuch." It is not so
much good men, as wise men, that existiug
stances unhappily demand. Having long appreciated the
morality of monarchy, men begin to wish for the abi-
lity of monarchy also. This is now the great political
desideratum. I regret, therefore, let me repeat it, that,
instead of being detained at home to meet the charges
of courtesans, the Commander in Chief was not sent
abroad to encounter the enemies of his country. The
present Duke of York will, I trust, be some day autho-.
rised to emulate the conduct or one of the greatest modem
Generals.—" Being constantly busy, he (Prince Eugene)
held the passion of love cheap ; as -a in amtuntnent,
that served only to enlarge the power of women, and to
abridge that of man. He was accus:vmed to sly lean
amourenx scut dans la sotieles cc que les fanatiques sonl en
religion."
Why shonld,not his .Royal *Highness derive as much sa-
lutary instruction by his military errors, as by his amatory
mistakes? He has already reformed the latter, and may.
live amply to repair.the former. There is some reason to
indulge this opinion, when, as it confessedly appears, we
reflect that to amatory mistakes we must impute Hiany of
our military errors.
February '25, 1809.

01VRSIMUS.

A MONUMENT TO THE MEMORY OF SIR RALPH
ABERCROMI3IE,

From the masterly Chisel by W ESTM ACOTT. and beantifally
engraved byWoo LNOTH, will he published, by special prmis-
sion, in Le Bean Mantle Magazine on Wednesday next, The
Friends of the deceased Ilero, and the Army, will encourage
this tribute to a man whose deeds and life shed au immortal
lustre on his country and its arms.
Immediate Orders should be given for Le Beau Monde Maga-
zine, to secure early Impressions of the Plate, at the Offices
No. 11, Catherine-street, Strand.

IMPERIAL PAWAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.
Monday, Feb. 20.

The Malt and Pension Duties Bills. and the two Exchequer
Bills Bills, as Avell as the Equity DAtor's Bills, were severally
passed through Committees of the whole House, and reported
without any amendment.
The Earl of I.lvruroor. moved the second reading of the
Militia Enlistment Bill.
The Bill was ordered to be read a second time.—Adjourned.

Wednesda.u, Feb. 22.
The Royal Assent was given. by comtnission, to the Malt Duty ~
Bill, the Pension Bill, and the two Exchequer Bills Bills.
The Cumberland Fishery Bill was read for the first time.
The Equity Debtors Bill went through a third reading, and
passed.—Adjourned.

Thursday, Feb. 23.
STATE OF PORTUGAL:

The Earl of BucatNGTIAMSIIIR relse to mention the notice
he had given on a former day of a motion on the state of Portu-
gal.
The Earl of DA RN LEY vri6hed to know whether the informa-
tion to be laid before the House would relate to the army alter
it left Portugal, to join Sir John Moore.
The Earl of LAYER root; assured the Noble Earl, that the in.
formation would embrace every object necessary to afford satis-
factory enquiry respecting the affairs of Portugal.
The Militia Inlisting Bill was read the third time and passo.
—Adjourned.

Friday, Feb. 24.
Three private Bilis from the Commons were presented; and
the Irish Enlistmegt Militia Bill read for Alse first time.—•..id.
:owned.

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, . duties. A man may have incautiously erred, when- there this tribute to a man whose deeds and tine sued au immortal
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1 is no reason to believe that he has wilfully sinned. lie lustre on his country and its arms.
may have been wrongly practicable, without being any , •
Immediate Orders should be given for Le Beau Montle Maga-
/
thing like seriously criminal.
Assuming it as granted, however, that the Dille off
No. 11, Catherine-street, Strand. zine, to secure early impressions of the Plate, at the Offices
1
York feels himself perfectly free from the charges which ~
,'' •
have recently been preferred against him, I consider him IMPERIAL PAIiLIA MEN T.
ll .
rather misadyised in the formation of the Letter communi- —us,
cated from him to the House of Commons. He therein HOUSE OF LORDS.
concedes too much respecting himself, but too little as it Monday, Feb. 20.
allects his country. Instead of intimating the " hope that
The Malt and Pension Duties Bills. and the two Exchequer , 1
.' •
the House of Commons will not, upon such evidence as Bills Bills, as AM! as the Equity DAtor's Bills, were severally
they have heard, adopt any proceeding prejudicial to" his passed through Committees of the whole House, and reported
own " honour and character," and suhmitting himself to without any amendment.
the ordinary forms of jurisprudence, observed as to similar
impeachments, only 64 if, on such testimony as has been,
adduced against" m, hi "the House of Commons can think"
. The Militia
ihtee Karl
impeachments,
nlistment Bill. of Lty en root, moved the second reading of the
r
Bill was ordered to be read a second time.—Adjourned. 1.
. ,
his " innocence questionable" instead of this line of ,
conduct, which mote than insinuates the utter falsity of his , Wednesday, Feb. 22. . ~
accusers, and seems to petition the clemency of his present The Royal Assent was given, by commission, to the Malt Duty ~..
*Highness, , Bill, the Pension Bill, and the two Exchequer Bills Bills.
i
judges, how truly would it become his Royal
The Cumberland Fishery Bill was read for the first time.
4i
whether as it refers to the honour of his country or the
The Equity Debtors Bill went through a third reading, and
welfare of his family, to step boldly'forward, and, be the passed.—Adjourned.
vote of the Commons what It may, still demand an open ..---.
trial before his Peers ! It is here, therefore, that he acts as Thursday, Feb. 2S.
if he was not strictly admonished to consult the opinion of
STATE OF PORTVGAL:
the country.
I With respect to his private amours, he has conceded The Earl of BucKiNGTIAMSIIIR F. rase to mention the notice
',.
more than any rational person could have desired. While hei!tad given on a former day of a motion on the state of Portu-
i.
his Royal Highness did " observe, with the deepest con- gaThe Earl OrDARNLET wished to know whether the informa-
cern," his " name coupled with transactions the most
tion to be laid before the House would relate to the army after
criminal and disgraceful." there yet appeared no absolute it left Portugal, to join Sir John Moore.
necessity for hint so publicly to "regret and lament that The Earl of Liv ER root; assured the Noble Earl, that the ill.
a connection should ever have existed which has thus ex- formation would embrace every olject necessary to afford satis-
posed" his " character and honour to public animadver- factory enquiry respecting the affairs of Portugal.
swn." No man thus exacted from him the part of the The Militia Uniting Bill was read the third time turd passed.
—Adjourned.
repenting Etrodigal. His own personal dignity seems to
• . . ,
. am.••••••••••..~.
have been attended to as little as the satisfaction of be . Friday, Feb. 24.
public. It is to the Horse-Guards, and not to Gloucester-
x oust di
place, that the attention of the public is an. i .y ..
therrhl7 private
~ Bills from the Commons were presented; and
Irish Enlistment Militia Bill read for' be first time.—•• Ad.
rected. Whoever assures the present Duke of York other- .. , •
mot d.
wise, is, however unwittingly, his greatest enemy. ~ . ,
•
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. ,
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