The National Register.
London, England, 1809-09-10 00:00:00

SEPT. 10

s what they are taught to esteem, and that the louse of
Lommous is that which we contend it is, if at a moment
like this, %%lieu the plans of the executive Government,
whether culpable or taudalge, have been attended with dis-
grace and defeat, that the House of Commons, under the di-
rection of that governmen t,can sit still w i tho ut eliq ui ring into
the causes which have pioduced this state of things ? Can
it in prudence, or even with that degree of consideration it
they must wish to preserve, be above calling upon the ex•
ecuti'e government to account for that failure vi filch has
attended the most extensive measure ever planned in
almost any period of our history. If at:the meeting of
Parliament, the same confideuce should be continued with-
out enquiry, if the House should nut appear to he actuat-
ed by the common opinion of the public, wThout enquir-
ing how far so large a portion as eleven millions the
public money has been expended, fur the honour and
fur the safety of the empire, and so much of its best blood
made to flow, if Ministers should press thisline of con-
duct upon the house, and the }louse should be induced to
adoptit, in what manner arc those who contend against the
idle projects of visionary reformers, to defeed the liouse
and the Constitution?
How are we to contend that the British Constittilion,,as
by law established is the best constitution, and that the
louse of Commons as now constituted is the
.best security
for the safety, honour and happiness of the people. What
can we say to these
,reformers in such a case when they
desire us to explain how that can be good which defends
and secures impunity to vvhich is bad ? What are we to say
when they ask us how can that stale of representation be
good which can suffer such' failures in its executive Go-
vernment without punishment, and not only viithout pu-
nishmeat, but Of it be, not allowed) without even inquiry.
If no answer can in reason or in conscience be made to
these questions ; and we see none if inquiry be not most
rigorously insisted neon and preac2uted, what is the irre-
listable conclusion ? fhat the .3 stein cannot even in theory
be gond, which in practice is had. and that the constitu-
tion cannot be worth defending which can protect a want
of energy and vigour, or winch can present indemnity to
failures, much greater than haepen under those Govern-
ments that we stigmatize as arbitrary, despotic, and into-
lerable. But are not these precisely the practical effects
el a had constitution, if they arc not, what are ? We do
therefore sincerely urge to Ministers, that in compliance
with the wishes of t:a; people, they bring. forward this un-
fortunate business at an early period of the session, and
whatever may he the consequence to individuals, that they
do not sit as if they were indiarent or nuconcerned spec-
' tators of a calamity admitted tm all hands, as the moat
mysterious and disgraceful that has happened, we had al-
most said in.the annals of the country. We have pur-
posely avoided saying any thing here of the merits of the
business, or.of the supposed difference of opinion between
the military and naval emu:minders, but even this is an
argument of great moment and should have great weight..
—We hope it will. • * •

FOREIGN INTELMGENCE.

FROM' Tux FRENCH, DUTCH, .1 G PAPERS.

PA n is, Au G. 29.,-Letter from the Minister of Police, to the
Mayor of Paris.
" Sin—After the Pence of Tilsit, the English. whose power
was In,t if war ceased upon the Continent, wished to burn Co-
petthageu. Now the umria is ready to receive r'eace front
the conqueror, the IntgliAt would burn Fitsslting : they threaten
with there bombs Aittlyttrp, whose clock-yank, lately so de-
sertid, have rapidlv increased, at the voice of our k•nwsrur,
the fleets that were I►repttritt4 to conquer tho,e of Engiand•
The Eogli,h fl.o ter themselves with able to bet tire to
our Coasts. tf.m.r fluty accortl, all France will fly to their
leretter ; hitt we must. regulate nohle itapuhe, in order to
render it useful. What is the force of
.Navolveni. 11111 Y 411