The National Register.
London, England, 1809-04-09 00:00:00

TIIE NATIONAL REGIS'

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From this view of the present state of the Peninsula,
it is easy to anticipate the most brilliant result to the
expedition which is preparing to sail under Sir Arthur
Wellesley. It will amount iu the first instance, to altout
30,Q00 men, a large force of cavalry and artillery inclu-
dem. We cannot help expressing, on this occasion, our
regret at not seeing the name of the gallant Gen. FERG ti SON,
among the general officers who accoivany Sir 4
It.
After the distinguished services which that young and
meritorious officer rendered at the battle of Vimiera, we
trust that the independence anti integrity he displayed,
during the late investigation, will not be considered by his
Majesty's Ministeri as a 'disqualification to future pro-
motion, and the further exercise of his professional
talents. Could we 'maintain so despicable an opinion
of their principles anti understanding., we would consider
them the last. Men existing fit to he entructed with the ad-
ministration of the country. :This sentiment, we trust,
is asgefieral as just; and we cannot entertain that paltry
opinion of any set of Ministers, as to iniag,ine that indepen-
dence in the Senate excludes promotion in the army. We
will, therefore, .rather suppose that it is-the reported indis-
position of 'General. FinswsoN, and no !mkt intrigue,
which deprives the country at present of the benefit of his
talents. _ _ _

It has not transpired as vet, whether the force under Sir
ARTHUR NVE.IESLEY is to remain for the defence of Por-
tugal ; or to Penetrate immediately into GalHein, in order
to co-operate with the Asturians and Gallicians, and wrest
from the enemy the fleet at Ferrol. We have reason, how-
ever, to think that so enterprising an ollicer,with the powers
entrusted' to hiin, will seize, with avidity, the present aus-
picious moment to act on the offensive. Caution and de-
lay frustrated'the effects of the last co-operation.By vigour
and rapidity we may now retrieve the senseless blunders
Which were corniiiitted during that unfortunate campaign ;
and recover the honour of the British arms. Every man
of every party and persuasion must take an animated in-
terest in the object of this Expedition. If successful,
whilst it raiser' the national reputation, and offers a
greater chance for future security, it avenges a ge-
nerowi rind 'an outraged nation, it drives the invaders
beyond the Pyrenees, it -re-estAlisheS the Spaniards hi
the possession of their' independence, and gives them time
and !means to prepare against future danger. These are
motives powerful enough to 'operate on minds more slug-
glish, and on hearts more contracted than the British Na-
tion were ever thought tci possess. Formerly an act of
6PPression to a neighbouring' people, roused every indig-
nant-feeling -in the breasts of Englishmen ; and their hand
and their purse were. willingly offered in support of the in-
jured party.. • They have not degenerated, we are cer-
tain,.' froth those ennobling principles; and the ardent in-
terest they will display on the present occasion, will convince
Europe, that the preminent trait, in our character, is
still the• same.—Sympathy in the misfortunes of others.
an 'ardent love cif freedom, and an abhorrence of injtistice

occupation of 'this province, in a military point of view,
is of the highest importake; and if the Austrians succeed
in obtaining yossession of lCuffstein and one or two
more mountain fortresses, the inhabitants themselves.
who are the first sharp-shooters in the world, au4
bold and enterprising, to an astonishing degree, frona
the very nature of their occupation, which is bunting.
wits be able to maintain their independence, if assist
only by a small auxiliary force of Austrians, against any
number the eneniv will be able to detach against them foe
sonic time. Their neighbourhood to Switzerlaud is an-
other object of the highest consideration, and we cau,
without any spirit of prophecy, predict, that should the
Tyrolese rise, as we expect, in favour of their former
Severeizn, the spirit of "resistance to Corsican 041)091
will not he confined to their mountains, but wilt cornm!;-
.
nicate rapidly to Graubinden, and the smaller AiWnis,
cantons.
The demonstrations which are making, on !Roth sides, along
the extensive line of frontier, from Gallicia eastward to the
mountains of the Tyrol to the south-west, are as formidahle,
as, the atrocity ofthe aggression is iniquitous and unprovoked;
and the motives to resistance imperiously urgent, Duripg
this awful interval, the mind of the observer is impressed with
inexpressible sensations ;—it fluctuates incessantly betwee¢
the strongest fears and hopes, without indulging, for an 7
time, in either unmixed. Whilst we cannot but admire the
determination of Austria, and are happy to perceive 'that
her measures correspond with the danger that menate her;
whilst we take the liveliest, the most personal interest, in
her fate, and ofter up to that power, who holds the destinies
Of nations in his hand, the west fervent supplications in
her behalf-Tour anxiety and alarm inci case Ri proportion
as the decisive moment approaches. 'fills uneasiness must
not be explained as the eftect of despondent anticipation
of misfortupes likely to overwhelm that power ; it pro,
ceeds, from a consideration oft hose that May ensue.
The-stake, which both parties are going to play f'or, is
so extremely unequal, that this very circumstance gives a
more sombrc colonriog to our feelings;--the success, or,
at most, the life of a solitary ruffian is laid against
the repose, independence, and morality of an entire
generation ! The idea immediately substitutes indig-
nation fqr nneasiness ; and we take, leaving Our own
national interests out of the question, an animated, a par.;
tial part in favour of Austria. She is the party in-
jured ; it is she who plays at such unequal oddsi—that had
the present subject cif contention been related to us as
event which had taken place seine thousand years ago,
every generous, every humane principle in our nature
would be instantly roused by the recital. But when the
occurrence is passing before our own ekes; hen it
corns a neighbouring and a friendly state ;is it is only '
the prelude to demonstrations of a much more hostile and
alarming tendency against ourselves—we then feel all that
interest or sympathy, in their warmest eft'usions, can inspire.
The fate of Austria decides that of Europe. if she fall,
oppression, with the rapidity and devastation of a torrent,
which in its alarming progress had been restrained by son
strong and high mound, it at last swept away, will level th 6,
remaining traces of independence. In less than a year after.
that event, a flat of the tyrant, after having torn from the.
Russians all the acquisitions they have made since the time
of PETER Tar GREAT, will pronounce them a tartar horde
too rude, too savage, to rank amoug the civilized nation*
of Europe. Should such a period arrive; should vice and
cowardice occasion so monstroni a revolution, every evil
which the insolence of successful villainy, or the wildest
suspicion of-gloomy despotism, can inflict, will visit largely
and wantonly, the nations of the earth.
These arc the anticipations, which must agitate every
man, as often
.as he reflects on the .:mpending contest be-
tween France and Austria. • The preparations made by the
latter remove every doubt, that her government is not in-.
sensible to the accumulating peril of her situation. Loud
and frequent apieals arc made to the pat rie tisir V


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