The National Register.
London, England, 1814-10-23 00:00:00

Y, OCTOBER 23, 1814.

Notwithstanding the opening of the Congress, and the
commencement of those discussions which involve the future
form, balance, and happiness of, the European world, our
eyes wander from Vienna, over the Atlanti-, to the seat of
protracted desolation, as though war had more attractions
than peace. In the opinion of many it is indeed preferable.
The ears accustomed to the thunder of battle, and the
shouts oft riumph, find but little harmony in racific anthems
and thanksgivings. The eyes wont to enjoy the bustle of the
field, the glittering parade of embattled_ hosts, the conflict
of wan iors or the pomp of victory, perceive no charms in
the -stillness of domestic life and what is still more unfa-
vourable to peace, the fortunes that are made or supported
by war, are so numerous as to render the interests of a very
large portion of the community directly hostile to a general
pacification. !knee the protraction of the contest, though
epugnant to every feeling of humanity, is still viewed with
complacency. In the present instance, however, that com-
placeney. is not confined to the individuals who derive ad-
vantage from the continuation of hostilities. It expands into •
something like patriotism, and is dignified by the Wish of
humbling these who have long made war upon us in dis-
guise, and when they thought us too deeply beset with Eu-
ropean enemies to emerge from surrounding perils, openly
declared against us, with the vain hope of deciding our fall.
The-importance of the war in America being admitted, its
general features remain. to be considered. Has it been con-
ducted hitherto in a manner likely to bring it speedily to
its only legitimate termination, peace? The length of its dura-
tion, even since the main bulk of our military power has been
liberated from the Peninsula, partly answers this question.
We have been, throughout this contest, too lenient. Like
men insulted by boys, we have withholden the chastisement
due to their rashness, till our puny adversaries have grown
up into manhood and meet us on nearly equal terms. All.
Europe has witnessed the enthusiastic spirit, the noble pro-
fusion of our blood and treasure, the undaunted pei severance
and the matchless activity with which we carried on in Por-
tugal and Spain, and even within the 13:som
.of France, a
war in which all selfish consideration was lost in the great
interests of mankind. Now that our efforts have been
successful ; that the Continent, freed from the yoke of des-
potism, only wants the aid of our counsels, not that
of our swords, we may cert. linty, without incurrirN
the charge of egotism, attend to concerns more immediately
our own. Foremost amongst the cotifedrates, we have con-
tributed to hurl the political arch-enemy of Eutope from
his throne, and shall we suffer that of Atntrica to live on our
Vol. VII. No. GCCILIE

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clemency, only to deride and insult it? Thehour of his lot•
miliation ought long ago to.have struck. It lately seemed to
have arrived, but the cup or his bitterness has since been
mixed with sweets. When flying from the field of battle and
seat of his authority, amidst the execrations of the people
whom. he had sacrificed to his imbeci itv and ambi•ien, hw
beheld d the metropolis blazing "aehind him, and was obti.,e
to conceal his name in order to secure his fife, then indeed
he appealed to be sinking into that sea of Tracedi- which
must ultimately overwhelm 'hon. From this, lytwever, he
has been partly reieved : not by the superiority or even
equality of American valour, but by the want of a sufficient
force on our part on every point where we attempted an at-
tack. Thus did Baltimore the very ficus of American insult
and hatred against us elude our veugeance. Thus did we
net only lose the command of Lake Champlain, but the
whole of our squadron in a contest in which bravery proved
unavailing. Thus is Mr. Madison able on meeting the
Congress, to set off against the capture of the capita?,
the rapid retreat of the strongest British force vet en-
gaged in America from the re-conquered walls of Malts-
burg. That any successes should have gilded the Pre-
sident's declining sun, is matter of serious regret, as besides ,
reviving the spirits of the people, they may delay the t on-
elusion of that advantageous peace whicb we have a right :o
deMand, and which late advices from Ghent represeated as
on the eve of being concluded. But they can never affect
the ultimate fate of the war. They will teach U 3 our duty.
litough we have bound ourselves to maintain a large force
in the Belgic provinces, yet composed as it chiefly is of Ila-
hoverian troop?, it leaves a much larger proortion of our.
veterans at liberty to cross the Atlantic, than have yet been
sent to chastise our American foes. Let those to whom the
toils of such a war will seem light, after having overcome
the toasted heroes of the European continent, and who arc
still unsatiated with gloty, let these resistless warrior;
.j.•io
those who now fight our battles on the populous coasts cf
America, or amidst the w;lds of Canada, and *no
will again rot the transcendant courage of its rneccl, and
our country of that prompt and glorious peace, her
power when fully exerted cannot fail to command.
Encouraged by the consciousness of our socegth, some
have been found amongst us, who even . went heyond the
prospect of peace, and set another end to our eftrts, win h
neither policy nor justice will allow. Tlv..y have recon:-.
mended, not metely the humiliatiun, but the` eoncreq of
America. They have wished us to pail rig tin the long sf2pa-
rated branches on the parent tree. But they little
thi 1.
that both are now become unfit for such an union. To us
whilst wedcould not conrer
they would prove a burden,
en
.them any advantages considerable etiouLb to render their ad-
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