The National Register.
London, England, 1808-07-24 00:00:00

JULY 24.

,‘ claims to the friendship of your new Ally, than y can
possibly pretend to. We will not insult your under-
" standing, by arguments to convince you of sour own
interests, nor lessen the merit of voluntary acquiescence,
by going through the forms of negociation. N e has e
" nothing at present to tear from your weakness, and
" though we esteemed your courage, we never appre-
" hended your enmity. Ifte therefore give back beur
4, fleet, because the atrocities committed in Spain :aid in
" Rome must now convince you of the perfidious cha-
" ratter of Bonaparte. You may join Europe vgaihst the
" common tyrant, or resume your ancient lucrptile lieu.
66 trality ; frir we do not arrogate, as a detestable enemy
66 would insinuate to cuntroul the conduct of other Co.
vernments ; and we will not allow them the slightest in.
" terference in our Maritime rights."

Let us conceive the admiration which this magnanimity
would prodwee on the Continent. What change intu ten
months are capable of effecting in public affairs. sing{,:
occurrence enables us now to follow the natural dictates
of our national character, nod to adopt a magnanimity
which some time ago it would have been both villain‘
folly in the extreme to propose. It proves, at the same
time, that the situation of a people is never desperate,
till they, or their Government have the baseness to think
it so.

Our Ministers, in the unprecedented difficulties they have
been placed in, by only acting up to this maxim of Ito-
man policy, That the slightest concession, in a dangerous
crisis, is tantamount to ruin, saved the country from the
most imminent peril, and according to human ealeulation,
Europe from the bondage of the most loathsome and
detestable ruffian that ever disgraced the annals of history.
A happier prospect is now before us ; and if our Ministers
display as much moderation in prosperity, as they did
firmness and dignity in an unpropitious moment, they will
justly deserve the glorious title of being the saviours of
Europe. It has been very jwlly said, that prosperity is a
surer test of judgment than adversity. As they hare,
however, under the most trying difficulties, deserved the
confidence and gratitude of the country, we may expect
from their future exertions as fortunate a result. It is not
the character of this Paper to attain popularity by hubs.
criminate abuse, or undistinguished commendation ; but
it seizes with pleasure this opportunity of doing justice to
an Administration, which in the most awful conjuncture,bus
displayed, in the management of our foreign affairs. a
rare union of firmness and moderation. We are not afraid
of being grateful, where gratitude is due, and as long as
they continue to have the same distinguished claims to Pub-
lic confidence, we will continue to be the organs of the
honest and enlightened among our fellow -citizens, and he-
stow on them the commendation they merit.

If Denmark has conducted herself with an extrava-
gant display of rancour, and with ridiculous animosity,
the very idea of her present inability to render us any
direct or indirect injury, immediately disarms our ven-
geance. We can have no dispute with that. State, but
in consequence of an impertinent interference in our
Maritime Rights. Rut the tremem':nts example we lin‘e
given, how dreadful we arc as enemies, and how useful
we have been as friends, will teach her more prudence for
the future. She will not be so eager to enter into a new
Northern Confederacy, or armed Neutrality. tier mis-
fortunes, in curing her of her rashness and presumption.
will leach her to appreciate her relative strength ; and
that if a war with us be the greatest calamity that can
befit! her, our friendship is the securest prop of her inde-
pendence and prosperity.

Though the present King of Denmark possesses a great
deal of exaltation and eccentricity, he is far from being a
weA, and by no means a dishonest, man; we believe him.
ou the contrary, to possess a great fund of probity and