The National Register.
London, England, 1815-01-15 00:00:00

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the end of the war tits state last sum.
Oh. but!' exclaims an advocate for war, • Will the American
people he fooliNli enough to take such paper?' We say, yes, they
will takeiit—they have tikes' it."
We say no; and we say more, that we do not believe
there is eec word more of truth in this repreee'ntation'of
the Bctual state of things than in that of the past;.• for bad
as was the American faith before the Constitution of
1789, the Government never sanctioned such swindling.
it certainly was at market, and claims, which after the
adoption of the Constitution: were werth-f2Cis. were an
article of trade at 2s. 6d. But the Governinent paid the
actual holder 295. So much for the Editor's correctness !
However, justice compels us to express our uniting
with the Editor of The Chronicle in his sentiments on the
subject of the mode of warfare that ought to have been;
and,.indeed, ought to Le adopted, as well as on that of the
Orleans Expedition. The latter will, we fear, turn out
too correct.
But the most offensive part of these paragraphs is the
following
It is happy for the reales that they (the Allitsistdrs)
yeteseted
the itsprae,icable pretamions which they jet up, after
having proved their ineffieiestry aa.to the taktot or mean to support
them. That they here luottitect theateetses it, the dust, creel have
asamebv brentgle, diairedit- on their matey, it certi.ia; but they have
green their folly, and it is better to cover thenti4elveit with mieklotht
Itau Is, der° te NV% kinite6ia, ie gm calamities insoper»big teve the
joie etiaMpt of maintaining *err Aprif Arreemen lif,esrer they
may settle the point "ar mildest btunliindott with their Royal
"% Wm* the sedate and thinking part of the eanhosaity sdi safeties
in the Nesbit.*

Here we behold the cloven foot of petty... rt.-lig op-
ponents are degraded " it is happy fer the realm," al-
though " discredit is brought on the country." How-
'ever they may setlle " the point of ne.tionalhumiliation
with their -Royal Master, the sedate and thinking will
rejoice at the tesult." The sedate and
.thinktifig will re-
joice at a Treaty, which leaves the Meat. Witte'. British
arms—the hauling down the British ensign,!iiifore the
American flag—tht':sneace of 111,000"liviti, itncl- the de-
vastation of 'a valkniblA ititlo:nY; fresh in the minds of the
people of /kinetic:at of lisir9pe,
.of the work], syrthout an
adequate attempt either to regain our Teptaation or obtain
some recoth pen se fa r Our lows. .. •
• .
.this will not satisfy Tio Morning chronicle ; for
is their conduct towards Annirica-Nkinisters haze shewn
.44 4:: wine: abandonment of thesambitious, projects which
." asoinont of intosiestios Mil 'ad vancedlV and they
ere. te Ira io. the-same way at-Vienna. 'it eettaibly would
;please The Chronicle, althoughlt would injure the court-
-try, been party spirit must be gratilied—thore's the rub !
- Wi cannot eOncinde thisarticle better ?than with the
foHowing just *and appropriate observations,:—" The
Ministerialist maiaffect to forget that the British flag
Was-ever struck to the' American. TheskfOitigng Chro-
.44 may tell you) that invite Of "national.homlliation"

.12n VP go.
the tiudersiabilusg of ult, k; u- •uppus
DE the paper. It it reduced by tee first
Ms by the aecond to 131. 6.. 841 , and at
kie itax only to find totter; fur flit. last own.

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and " discredit brought -on the country," he " rejoices"
because Ministers " have humbled themselves to.the dna."
With the principles which we have uniformly maintained
.--with a zealous affection for. the interests of the country,
and for that which is its best interest, its honour--each of
.tlose modes of considering this important...subject is alike
inconsistent. It is inconsistent with common sense to
deny that our naval reputation has been injured in this
short but disastrous war. It is inconsistent with the
spirit and feelings of English:nen not to regret that the
means of retrieving that reputation are cut off by a pre-
mature and inglorious peace. Is this a " personal bate
and revenge against Mr. Madison ?" Is it a wish to
" make war in the spirit of personal malice and *en.
geance ?" Oh ! no. It is a far different, a far higher
sentiment, a feeling innate in English bosoms, which teaches
us that far the loss of honour there is no reparation.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND irs ADMINISTRATION
UNDER SIR JOHN GRADOCK, K. B.

Is it not, we would.ask, a most singular and extraordinary
circumstance, that long as the colony of the Cape of Good
Hope his been in our hands, the Dutch laws still continue
in full force and vigour in that settlement. This we have
from a pamphlet lately published by Mr. Fisher, brother
to the Bishop of Salisbury, a gentleman who with much
legit education has the peculiar advantage of great local
knowledge on the subject, having resided neatly two years in
the colony. He has not confined himself to this object
merely, but has afforded Much useful information on the
general value and importance of the colony to this country.
The picture he draws of the state of the jurisprudence
and the mode of administration of the laws, is really a most
distressing one.

Under former governors. it must have been truly dread-
ful; but the late worthy governor, Sir John Cradock. with
that true spirit of British liberty, and that noble mindedittess
so eminently conspicuous in him, did every thing in his
power, she( kled ar be was, to curb the daring spirit of the
Africans, and kept a watchful eye over the proceedings of
those courts, he could not altogether overturn.
Most of the facts, stated by Mr. Fisher, occurred, as we
understand, during the Government of Lord Caledon. Under
the more • wise and prudent administration of Sir John
Cradock, such occurrences would not and could not have
happened. At one period, Mr. Fisher tell us, the Courts of the
Cape assumed the province of an English Jury, to decide be-
tween Englishmen, in a case of libel,, and even where the libel
we; in English poetry. Could any thing he so monstrous.
And yet these, impudent and hardened Dutchmen chose, in
a moment, to understand the English language.and were sup-
posed to possess sufficient acuteness in explaining ittuendos,
becoming only the suhtility.of an Etigtisheausidicus. The
defendent 'vas -kind guilty. Imprisoned in the, Common gaol
with the vilest of malefactors, and actually banished the co-
luny. Another instance is mentioned where an English
merchant, at this time residing in Cape Town, became ac-
quainted with an Englisletady. and solicited her in marriage,
and, probably through ignorance of what is called Colonial
Law, in this rimpect, married without the consent of the Ma-
trimonial Court. For this great supposed offence. Mr.
Fisher (whe well knew the parties) Informs us. that the lady
Weft the. Court, and had not.
rye, was condemned for contu-

inacy. sentenced to banishment. and the sentence was ac-
tually carried into execution. The poor woman was violently
torn from her husband, and _confined with the common
malefactors in the gaol called the Trunk, until she was for-
c.bly put on board ship as a convict, and sent to England.

The whole account of the jurisprudence at the Cape is
highly unfavourable, and points out the absolute necessity
of a total and immediate change.

Mr. Fisher adds, " that the great countenance and indul-
gence shewn by former governors to the Africans, have -
given them an air of consequence and importance, and tl:ey
have been secretly endeavouring to extend their own laws. ,
not only over British subjects resident in the colony, but
even over the British army and navy."
flow truly difficult, therefore, must have been the situation
of Sir John Cradock when he assumed the government of such
a colony, under such circumstances.
As a civil governor perhaps his, power was too confined,
to do much more than watch over and curb the spirit of
the Africans. Yet in ens instance, and that a very ma-
terial one, he effected. as we arc informed from another
quarter, a most important change, which was no less, than
that of throwing open the Courts. which had always before
been close shut. In person, he actually visited and thoroughly
examined the gaols and prisons, and abolished the practice.
mentioned by Mr. Fisher. of imprisoning witnesses. in order
that they might be forthcoming at a trial, on which it was sup-
posed they might be capable of grinding evidence.
From the same quarter we learn, that a his own autho-
rity, and, at his own expellee, he established grammar and
other-schools. And without interfering at all with the ex-
isting laws of the colony, he has laid the ground work -at
least of raising the revenues of the colony. to a most respect-
able state and considerable amount. In this instance, he has
certainly displayed a very great share of political economy.
Deep designs were laid to entrap and ensnare him to
expence, *Melt it was hoped,. would make him leave his go-
vernment, with a wasted treasury ;hut although much was
' done .ty him in repairing the fortifications, in erecting
a fort, now known by his name, and which, by all enquirers,
is supposed, from its judicious situation, to be the most im-
portant of all, and several other public. works. He has, after
all, left the treasury much richer than he received it from
predecessor.
The establishment of a public market at Cape Town, with
a due regulation of tolls and duties, which are not only cheer-
fully paid, but which amount to a very considerable sum.
was likewise effected by Sir John. And lastly, in order to
make himself complete master of the subject. he has actu-
ally made a tour of the whole colony, visited every port and
station, made the most minute enquiries at each, and, as far
as be could. removed every inconvenience.
With all the difficulties of his situation, to have carried
such important points as Sir John Cradock has done, and ap-
parently without giving the lest offence to the proud suld
surly Africans, is really wonderfel ; but that he did it is
eery strident from the may in which he left the colony, univer-
sally beloved and respected. On this subject the testinionie,3
of all the public bodies and constituted authorities (as thew
appeared in the Morning Chronicle) veil! afford the most am-
-arid convincing testimony.
Asa military man, the character of General Sir Je;rn
Cradock is too well known, to require any eulogium. Du-
ring his residence at the Cape as a military governor, every
officer and soldier submitted to his commands with the utmost
alacrity and cheerfulness, and at the same tirnelooked to hitn
as to an afleetionate father and a kind protector.

hsd been summoned
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THE NATIONAi. ttEMS;rEiI.