The National Register.
London, England, 1809-03-26 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

MARCH 26.

Motion; to which Lord ALTHOR PC proposed an Amendment,

stating that as his Royal Highness resigned the command of the
army, the House does not think It necessary now to proceed any

further. To this Mr. PEKCEVA L moved an Amendment, that
the word now he omitted. Mr. PERCIVA. es Amendment was

earried by a majority of 235 to 112. Lord FOLKESTONE has
given notice of his intention to make some further statements
respecting his Royal Highness, on the 11th of next month.
As far as it aas possible to ascertain the public opinion on this
momentous goestinn, it seemed to coincide, at least, in the neces-

sity in which the DuliZ of YORK wai placed to renounce his ap-
pointment of Commander in chief. Whatever maybe the sentiment
of his guilt and innocence, the feeling, we will risk to say, was
general, that his Royal Highness had given proofs of weakness
and inconsiderateness, to speak of him as tenderly as possible,
which disqualified him for an office of such great respotisi,
bility. As to his military talents we will say little ;-..they never
produced a single brilliant advantage to his country. As to the
services he may have rendered in his capacity of commander in
Chief;--we would he the last persons in esistence to detract

from them, either from party motives, or private- malignity ;
but it is impossible to impute to his single exertions, activity or
patriotism, any amelioration which may have taken place in
the militpry department. This amelioration, should, with more
propriety, be attributed to the menacing and accumulating dan-
gers of our situation ;—They were so urgent as to fix a mass of
talents and attention on that department,
This collection of means and knowledge and circumstances
must necessarily have operated beneficially on the army ; and it
has become, w hat it now is, the terror of our enemy, and the ad-
miration of every man who has attentively examined its organi-
zation. Therefore, we are far from thinking that other Officers
are not, at least, as fully competent to fill so important an
office as his Royal Highness ; or that any relaxation of zeal
or discipline will be apparent now that the 1)t: ter, of YORK has
yielded to the unanimous voice of the Public. The crimi-
nal weakness he displayed during his connection with Mrs.
CLARKE rendered his resignation not only urgent but indis-
pensible ; and we are happy to perceive that the DUKE
has complied with -this necessity.
It is impossible not to advert on this-occasion to the enlight-
ened principles of our constitution, which enable the public
opinion to exercise a controul so beneficial and decisive, over
the servants of the state. The public judgment may err, but
the public feeling never ; and though a great mass of the people
may have peen incompetent to unravel the perplexing mass of
evidence laid before the House of Commons, and discriminate,
with the over nice distinction of the bar, between specious and
positive wilt; there was not a single individual of that number,
however limited his intellectual bense, that had not moral sense
enough to perceive, that the writer of the " dear•" letters to
Mrs. CL4ELKE was not a fit person to be intrusted with an office
of high responsibility.
It is as difficult to pass over the manly, firm, and patriotic i
conduct of Mr. WARDLE, who brought forward these ch:lrges,
under difficulties and menaces, which induced a number or per-
sons, who admired his conduct, to tremble at the consequeoces
of his zeal, integrity, and patriotism. It would betray a pro-
found ignorance of our history, as of the abuses inseparable from
power, to overlook the important advantages the people acquire
from having a man of his ivaexibility, and courage, in the number
of their representatives. He has merited in a full measure the
thanks of his country ; and we are happy to perceive that
the citizens of Canterbury, have voted him the freedom of their
accompanied with their thanks for the manner in which
he conducted the proceedings on the charges against the late Com•
wander in Chief. The Cities of Glasgow and Rochester have con-
vened meetings fur the same patriotic purpose ; and we trust this
hoLourable example will be followed by every other corporation
iu the United Kingdom. This is the fittest recompance for men w ho

201

render distinguished services to their country ;—it resembles
the civic crown, the laurel branch, conferred by the ancients 0Q
their benefactors and heroes. A remuneration in money was
thought of when the exertions of individuals tended more to
promote the views of the Prince, than the interests of thecom-
munity.
Sir DAVID DUNDAS was presented, on Wednesday to his
MAJESTY at the Levee, upon receiving his appointment as
Commander in Chief, and was sworn iu a member of the Privy
Conseil. He is a brave and meritorious Officer ; but me would
rather see this important Office entrusted to a Military Board,
nu a plan somewhat similar to that of the Board of idnxi-
rnity,

Letters dated the2tst inst. have been received from Ifol-
land. They do not corroborate the previous accounts, re-
ceived through the same channel, of hostilities baying ac-
tually commenced between Austria and France. The ex-
treme caution they observe in adverting to the occurrences
in Germany is a proof of the rigorous precautions which
have been adopted to prevent intelligence of the real state
of that country being transmitted to this. By a carmpa-
thon of their contents, the following particulars: may,
however, be collected and relied on,—The Austrian armies
are universally in motion ; and are far more numerous,
formidable, and better organised, than they have been
represented in the papers under the controul of the
tyrant. They have arrived before now, amply and
better supplied than in any former campaign, with
every article essential to a vigorous prosecution of
ilostilities, at their respectise places of desteettion, and
have probably sustained already the first shock ..of the
enemy. Tne nomination of the Archduke •CH ARLES to
the chief and uncontrouled command of the respective ar-
mies, has produced the highest. confidence in the ()Thee,. and
soldier, and diffused among; every cias3 of Austrian subjects,
the most sanguine hopes of success. Ile places nimseif at
the head of that force wherever it may be, which shalt be
opposed to that commanded by R -ON APA RTE. rrson. The
highest unanimity prevails in every province of Austria, and
a cheerful submission to the measures, proposed by go-
vernment in this important juncture, distinguish's the con-
duct of the peasant, as well as that of the Nobleman and
Merchant. The militia evince as much zeal :cud alacrity
as the regular corps; and the Ilungari:ms, so often the
terror, and in a crisis almost equally dangerous, the last
prop of the Empire, display as much ardour on the re-
sent occasion, as they did in that memorable one, sslien
they stepped forward to support the rights of Mattis THE-
RESA against the united efforts of France, Prussia, Spain
and Bavat ia.
The following facts may likewise be relied on. A strong
:ermentation exists in Tyrol; and these brave Mountaineets
have exhibited such marks of disaffection to the Bavarian
Government, that the greater part of the BA varian troops
has been ordered, muter • Baron Vos WnEosl, to keep
them in awe. Sentiments, equally fevourn We to the cause
of Austria is going to contend for, are manifested, though
not so openly, by all the States that have volitatarily
entered, or been presse4 into the Rhenish Confede-
racy. The desertion from the Bavarian and Wurtemberg
troops was so universal, that it was foutvi expedient, towards
the end of last month, to remove them to a greater distance
from the Austrian frontiers.' The co-operation of Saxony
in this iniquitous aggression, is not only doelkful but may
be denied with safety. • And, if we take the raoral character
of the Sovereign, the feelings of the Saxo,is and the long-
established family alliance between the twa courts, into
consideration, we feel less hesitation to discredit the re-
ported repugnance of that Prince to contribute to the :rser-
throw of Austria. The hostile demonstrations said to he
made by the' KING of P e-USSLA may postlibly originate in
the speculations • and wishes of the writers of these letters,
in which they are unequivocally mentioned ; hat it* env
political conjecture to
that ile-pece eeek fte terel oe the