The National Register.
London, England, 1812-03-29 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

MARCH 29.

of thc rest of the Continent to our merchandize, she is
compelled to open some of her own to trade direct with
this country. Monday last two vessels arrived from Ha-
vre with about 500 bales of silk, a third also came from
Ostend. Letters brought by these vessels state, that Buo-
NAPARTE has lately issued an unusual number of licenses
to every French port, am' that they are considered as a'
certain indication of a war with the North ; as it has been
remarked, that he always relaxes the severity of his de.
crees on the eve of some great military expedition. This
is done, no doubt, for the two-fold purpose of conciliating
his subjects. so as to render them less averse to a new war,
and more likely to remain quiet during his absence and
that of his armies, and that of filling his coffers, as at
such a time the duty on imports produce an abundant
supply of ready money to his treasury. We have already
stated, that every facility had been afforded to trade on
our part. It remains for us to consider, whether the mo-
mentary benefit which we derive from this commercial ac-
commodation is not more than balanced by the additional
power with which it arms the enemy ; and whether, at the
very time we are paying subsidies, and shedding the blood
of our bravest wan iors, to counteract his designs, we do
no: in fact provide him with ampler means to carry them
into execution, and to annoy and injure us. This is a
consideration which ought to have some weight with the
Board of Trade, before they grant, as our enemy himself
boasts they do, 20,000 licences, and thus, without being
compelled to it by the law of necessity, partly renounce
our Act of Navigation, the principal foundation of our
power.

FRENCH PAPERS.
On the 10th inst. the Conservative Senate opened its
sittings at Paris, when the Ministers for Foreign Affairs
and War presented two reports, containing the project of
a senatus consultum, which was unanimously adopted on
the 13th. The report of the Minister for Foreign Affairs
begins with an examination of the rights of neutrals, as
settled by the Treaty of Utrecht. Here we find it again
asserted, that " The flag covers the merchandize—enemy's
goods under a neutral flag are neutral, as neutral property
under an enemy's flag is considered as belonging to an
enemy."—A doctrine which the French themselves do
not acknowledge in their practice, and which is only vio-
lated by the Berlin and Milan decrees, as our Orders being
retaliatory, cannot affect rights which the former had de-
stroyed. The report, after,. falsely representing our Orders
in Council, as issued before the Decrees of France, insists
on the necessity and the efficiency of the latter, in conse-
quence of which we are told that our 44 manufacturing
towns are become deserts : distress has succeeded to pros-
perity hitherto increasing; the alarming disappearing of
money, and the absolute want of employment, daily dis-
turb the public tranquillity."
The propriety of uniting all the neutral coast to the
French dominions, is then attempted to be vindicated,
and it is recommended that the disposable force should
march to whatever place the " English or denationalized
flag attempts to land." The Berlin and Milan decrees
must remain in full vigour against those Powers who allow
their flags to be denationali-ed .."—a plain declaration t 3
America, that unless she declares war against us, her trade
will be subject, as usual, to confiscation. In order to be
able to close every inlet to British commerce, "the French
nation must remain armed."
The report of the war minister, equally warm in sup-
Port of the Continental system, which we arc told in fit-

201

teen months has reduced " England to the last .gash,"
proposes the levy of an additional army, to line and pro-
tect the coasts, to secure the exclusion of our vessels and
merchandise, and set at liberty the regular troops now
employed for that purpose. Thus all the present military
power of France, will become a disposable force, ready
to hurl the imperial thunders at an immense distance,"
without leaving the empire defenceless. This,..rdditiond
army or national guard, is to he raised out of the conscr's
who for the last six years had been excused from actual
service, and out of two other classes hitherto beyond the
reach of conscription. It is to be divided into three Bars.
The first Ban comprehending the conscripts from 1806, to
1812, will produce, it is stated 600,000, out of which:
only 100,000 are to be taken and formed into cohorts cc.
1000 men each. These are to he constantly under arm!,
under the chiefs of the line, and so di:,posed, that in fivo.:
days a force of 30,000 men may be assembled at any.;
threatened point, and in less than ten days CO, or 80,000.,
The second and third Bans composed of men from 26 to
40, and from 40 to 60 years of age, are to form the re-
serve and to be called out only in case of necessity.

This mighty display of internal force has been made,,
according to most of our contemporarie:;, on account of
Ore approaching war with Russ:a. We do not yet credit
this. We think it is more likely, that the plan of attack
so openly mentioned by Lord COCIRZANE, in Parliament,
has called forth this measure to counteract dangers, of
which BUONAPAETE would perhaps have had no iaea, had
they not been pointed out so publicly by our own patriots.
Secrecy alone, could make Lord CocI•IRRANE's proposed
mode of hostilities succeed, and he has most wisely pro.
claimed it aloud for months to the whole world. When
any Officer has formed plans which he deems likely to
prove useful to his country, would it not be adviseable
that he should communicate them privately to those who
alone can put them into execution ?

A vessel is arrived from Havre, which she left on the
24th inst. but she has brought no additional information.
The Nereus frigate is arrived from Buenos Ayres and
Rio Janeiro, by which veesol we have accounts from the
former place to the 4th of J.lnuary. It appears, that
the army of Buenos Ayres, and the Portuguese troops
which marched to the assistance of Monte Video, have
had some serious disputes relative to the execution of
that article of the treaty between Buenos Ayres and
Monte Video, by which it was stipulated that the Portu-
guese should retire to their own frontier. It is even said,
that thoy had proceeded to hostilities, in which the army'
of Buenos Ayres had been the conquerors. From these
circumstances serious cons.quences were expected to
result.

The China fleet sailed on Wednesday from Portsmouth,
under convoy of the Thvban frigate.
It is with heartfelt satisfaction that we announce to the
public the safe arrival at Falmouth of his Vlafesty's ship
the Conquestador. It is with particular gratification that •
we give this information, a wicked report having been
Tread, that this ship had foundered at sea, a midshipman
and 17 men being the only persons saved.
Lord CASTLEREAGH, since his coining into office, has
lost no time in

departure of
Commodore
missioner

sail with his

n making the necessary arrangements for the
F our Contnissioners for South America. I
COCKBURN, v:110 is now become Chief Corn-
Lce the- appointment of Mr. SYDENHAM) will
iii—,1
colleague in a few days for Cadiz.
1
4
ii.
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