The National Register.
London, England, 1816-06-10 00:00:00

POLITICAL DISQUISMON.

FREirl C%USF-41 OP DISSENSIONS IN EUROPE.

WE lately directed the attention of our Readers to the
insecurity of the European edifice ; and the commotions
which, originating in France, threatsned once more to
disturb the tranquillity of the world. These have since
extended to a different part of the country ; and, religions
persecution against the Protestants, has been re-kindled
in all its fury in the SAW'. It is not our intention,
however, at present, to dwell on the enormities allowed,
if not encouraged, against our fellow-believers at Nismes.
To describe them in adequate language, would only serve
to create unavailing indignation and regret. The doors
of pity are shut against the suffere,rs in the only quarter
in which compass Lat could be productive of relief. Could
they have been re-opened, the miracle would have been
effected by the simple and heart-rending relations of Sir
Samuel Ram*, in the Hoak of Commons. But they
were diseegarded ; or, only awakened rebuke and ridicule.
No effort of ours could, theretioe, prove successful ; and
we rerign n task, in which perseverance cannot hope to
render sympathy fruitlbl.
A new source. of anxiety has arisen since our last ; and
apprehensions of a rupture between France and Sweden
are seriously entertained. It would scarcely be supposed,
timat in her reduced and exhausted condition, Frarce
should mutt a quarrel with another nation. Her Go-
vernment, however, is in this instance the aggressor; and
the reasons on which that agrression is grounded, will be
Bond in the principles which it professes, and the ancient
sway of which it is bent upon restoring. It is not with-
out alarm and jealousy, that the Bourbons have viewed
the aeinowledgment of Bernadotte as Crown Prince, and
presumptive heir to the Swedish Crown. They dissimu-
lated at the time of their first restoration, because the as-
sistance of his arm kid been exerted to remove Napoleon,
and, in that moment of political convulsions, might have
proved sufficient to re-place him on the throne. Their
intrigues in the Congress were directed nt once against
Murat, and against him; and now that they see them-
selves re-established and supported, chiefly on the princi-
ple of legitinwy, they are emboldened to avow their
hostility, and to adopt measures to carry it into execu-
tion. What could be more insulting to the King and
Crown Primed of Sweden, than to put their ambassador
under the virreillanee of the French police ? To bribe
his secretaries and servants ; and, as in the case of Sir
Robert Wilson, to break open and peruse every dispatch
which he sent or received Ixfore they reached their desti-
nation ? And when this most disgraceful practice was re-
vealed by one of the repenting agents to the ambassador,
and he complained of this breach of faith to the French
Ministers,—what could be more decidedly hostile than
to justify the outrage on the ground of expediency ? It
is not astonishing that the Swedish Minister should have
demanded his passports, and retnrned in disgust to Stock-
holm. But what consequences are likely to arise from
the aggression of the French- Government ? Is it pro-
bable that a war may ensue between nations sa distant
from each other, and who have no means of :trailing their
respoeive &minions ? We do not think it is : but a war
of ne:swiation and intrigue will be carried on, which
me/ ultimately pawe a cause of dissension between other
Powers; and may re-kindle the flames which lately raged
throughout the Continent. As to Bernadotte himself,
however we may disapprove of the duplicity and unfair-
ness displayed by the French Government in the transac-
tion, we canna* urge any thing in his defence
The man who ta►es up arms against his benefac-
46r—who assists in ravaging the land that gave him
life, and sundering the hand that raised him to honours
and power, deserves to meet wish that ingratitude, of
which he has himself disdlayed an example. His

fate, wbatcver it be, cannot exeite either regret or
sorrow. Fla has burst asunder the ‘1,..1-ist and most sa-
cred bonds upon earth, and has no claim to that faith
which he has not kept towards Lis country. As his
course has been inglorious, so may his end be an end of
shame. Rut other Sovereigns may coluider ii their po-
licy to uphold, for a time, his tottering hopes and autho-
rity. The tool may still be too usefal to be thrown
away ; and it is on this ground alone, that the quarrel
between France and Sweden may involve the rest of Eu-
rope in fresh dis?votsions. W trust, however, that even
Russia, although inclined, it is slid, t, support the claims
of the Crown Prince, will pause, lvlbre she exposes the
world to renovatel destdatian, in order to maintain a
military adventurer on the Swedish throne.