The National Register.
London, England, 1809-12-03 00:00:00

.heck upon official depravity and weakness. 1 cur
coediugs will prove, whether, with the form, the spirit of
the institution has been presened ; and the effect of your
petition shew how far it is qualified to answer the patriotic
views of our ancestors. 1 need not remind you, that ful-
some, impertinent adulation, is no mark of loyalty; and
that qualified censure produces a very slight impression
upon the 66 ferocious turpitude " of public delinquents.
Give an example, in this important crisis, of your unshaken
loyalty to the Sovereign,and of attachment to the country,
by your mai ked abhorrence of the causes and consequences
of those disgraceful expeditions ; and let your conduct prove
that the old English spirit, always fatal to an imbecile, or

corrupt administration, is still to be found amongst us.
Your voice and your example have great and deserted ef-
(feet upon the other corporations of the United Kingdom;

and the sentiinents, uttered in Guildhall, will be soon. re-

peated in the other Muncipal Halls of the Empire.
You are not ignorant, Gentlemen, how instances of mis•
management have multiplied within these few years. The
army and the navy displayed their wonted superiority of
courage and devotion—the people contributed, without
reluctance, the hard-earned fruits of their industry, to sup-
port the accumulating exigencies of the state—the wishes
of Government were, in fact, anticipated by an ardent,
!eye', and unanimous population ; and. with all these ad_
vantages, our assistance, in favour of Ow allies, has been im-
potent, tardy, and injurious to them and disgraceful to our.;
saves. The same effect, such as our interference produced,
might have been made with the fifth part of our physical,
military, and pecuniary resources; and the most limited, or
the most callous, must .he sensible to the consequences of
so flagrant a irnisapplicatien of the finances and military
force of the Empire. The evil increities progressively;
and every year is marked with grosser bliicalers, acid more

calamitous incidents. How, and when, this progresTion ofi
folly and disaster will terminate, is a question which 'must
excite the Most .alarming apprehensions. Each expedition
has exceeded tha antecedent in misornduct atul.dis4.ritee.;:
and experiment bas only served to mit. experience. The
plains of Brabant, Holland, South Ankeriea, 'anti ;:paio,
have, in succession, been tinged with a redder die, and
stamped with monuments of grosser folly. In the mean
time,. the men who advised, planned, and executed these
ill-fated enterprizes, so far from sua:ering the punishment
due to Their imbecility, brave the public indignation ; in.
stilt the public distress; ace lionourlll in proportion as time
country is disgraced; and continue to bask in the sunshine
of Royal favour. Indulgence to an official delinquent is
the greatest outrage to the people; and contaminates the:
very source of humanity and order. Bet ..to extend fa-
vour and protection to the same individual, is draiiging
justice from ber seat, and delivering the sword aid balance.
into the monkey-paw of court-intrigue.
Let us take, Gentlemen, a retrospective viont.of the ocr
currences, which immediate!, preceded and occasioned the
last unfortunate expedition. The disastrous terinivatiun et

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