The National Register.
London, England, 1809-02-12 00:00:00

No. 59.

POLI'T'ICAL D ISQ ISITION.

Xt ABER I IFTY•SEV/BX.

-••■410...
SPANISH AFFAIRS.

A cetebrated reaoldtlonary demagogue, after the atrocities of
the revolution had destroyed every trace of predllectiou for its
'principles, is reported to have said, it held out great advantages
to mankind, but it felt into the hands of very bad men. This is
impremely true with regard to the unforeseen, the unboped for,
occurrences is Spain ; they promised Incalculable advaotages, but
they were frustrated by the interference and mismanagement of
wry bad and very weak men. Their Gist appearance was bailed
by the good and enlightened in every part of Europe, and parti-
cularly in this country, as the certain signal of deliverance from
calamities, which men were preparing to submit to as una-
voidable. The universal enthdsiasm they excited In the com-
mencement, could have been alone produced by a strong sense of
imminent danger, and the unexpected certainty of escaping it.--
We participated strongly in the feelings of our cotemporaries;
but as we never desponded, and never harboured an idea of sub.-
witting with resignation to the pressure of public misfortunes,
however alarming, we felt no other Sensation on the occasion,
bat that triumphant one which men of a certain character feel,
wben they see their speculations in favour of human virtue and
energy realised by occurrences. Our joy belrayed neither ex-
traordinary zuituoisbnient, nor symptoms of fOrmer despondency,
bat it Rowed from the colremplatian of innocence and freedom
totally triumphiagavor injustice and violence.
• We were far, however, from being insensible to those alarm-
lag marks of !Wildcat apathy add indivialual selfishoets, which
begin to Creep into society in the train of overgrown opulence
: Sind luxury; and we looked with some anxiety to the persons
on whose capacity, firniness, and versatility of mind depeudtal
the fortunate issue of Spanish resistance. We might have been
discouraged from entertaining over sanguine expectations by
the experience of the inadequate measures adopted by nieces,
sive admiuistrations for the last fourteen years ; but we were in-
clined, at the same time, to trust, that repeated disappoint-
ments and reverses had sufficieatly impressed the inexpediency
of their measures, and that a system of vigorous policy would
succeed, at last, to the miserable, shuffling, and spiritless half
measurta, hich, during that interval, marked and disgraced
- our exertion& We were nut unaequaiuted with the resources
and former success of the enemy ; we bad followed him with
painful attention in the career or his victories and conquests;
and bad, by no means, forgot that former efforts, on the rata of
other states, to stop him in the rapidity of his course, termi-
nated In their abasement or subjugation. We knew all these
circueastatees ; but we would rather appear, in the estimation
of our cotemporaries, as senseless drivellers and extravagant
visionaries, than lay claims to soperior penetration ana judg-
ment, if this reputation were only to be acquired by expressing
our contempt of thepresent generation, auts proclaitntogtheft.l4
of expecting from their efforts an effectual opposition to the
Overwhelming inroads of usurpation and tyranny. Never Will
II sentiment, implying so contemptible an opinion of man-
kind. dishonour the columns of this paper; but an unceasing
appeal Mill 6a made to the characteristic energy aad patriotism
of our countrymen. We will remind them of the virtues and ex-
ploits of their ancestor, of the trials tbel eateostatasedp awl. the
;4!.. PIA%