The National Register.
London, England, 1813-07-18 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL

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N). 2CM.

4, - Y LITI CAL DIS2U ISITION.
EFFECTS OP'. 'R. VICTORY ON PARTIES AT HOME.

How lamentable, at the close of the last week, was the
.state of the Opposition ! Our army had achieved one of
the greateq triumphs recorded in history : our a dispirita'
, sailors bad restored, in all its glory, the pre-.eminence of our
!ualtv : France was threatened by our arms, and the Allies
.iliepirited to follow our example and to prefer renewed hos-
tilities to an unsatisfactory peace. 'What causes of disap.
• pointment What sources of despondency and grief !
..Who would henceforward credit the prophetic tales of 'our
ruin, which had hitherto, through anxiety and apprehen-
• sion, secured them the attention of the people ? Who
• would listen to their patriotic lamentations and continue to
think that every thing had been mismanaged by Ministers,
the honour and interests of the nation sacrificed, and the
resources of the state wasted or misapplied to unattainable
objects ? Who would any more shut his eyes to conviction
and his bosom to hope ? Who could deny unity, constancy, 1
_-..and jamas:Ass of-plan,-and activity to carry into cxrecut ion, to 1
.the " governing faction,". whose imbecility had been the
theme of so many accusing letters. The blow, it must be
acknowledged, was both unexpected and terrible. Unex-
pected because those who bad so long reproached Ministers
with a total want of ability, had at last persuaded themselves
(but themselves only) that their charge was well founded,
and that it was as impossible for any M ember ofthe Administra-
tion to wish and effect the good of his country, as for one of
• their own tribe to see threugh any other medium than that
of party interest. It was terrible,. because it not only held
a fair promise of restoring the independence of the Penin-
sula and the equilibrium of Europe, but disarmed them of
every ground, even the least plausible, of complaint. At
first they had unanimously declared the war hopeless, al-
- perhaps politic. When repeated victories had shewn
that the heroes of France could be conquered, they inveighed
against the parsimonious spirit lishich frustrated our triumphs
by withholding from our Commander the means of turning
them to advantage. We had fought with honour, but bled
in vain. To carry on the war in that desultory manner was
to serve the intentions of the enemy, who only wished to
protract the contest in order to exhaust our resources, justly
convinced that whenever he pleased he. could put forth his
superior strength and crush us at once. A strong effort
should be made by all cur collected power, and if it did
ricA provesuccessful, the cause of the Peninsula should be aban-
doned. But when this had been done : when ample means had

been furnished, extensive arrangements secretly made, and
t bei rresult had been a victory, prospectively decisive of the fate
of the world, how could the parties whose incessant and un-
J'ol. VI. 10. CCt C .

; , {.l I 7

Our Ming, Conotitntion,. anti tat.

PUBLISHED AT NO. 11, NEWCASTLE-STREET, STRAND.'

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UNDAY, JUL Y 18, 1813.

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founded anticipations of ruin it had disproved, conceal
their mortification? The " Talents" of 1807 remained
aghast and regretted that for three sticks they had foolishly
lost the helm of the State, which they now saw confirmed
to their antagonists, and for ever placed beyond the reach
of their own ambition. The " Greatest Statesman" of the
age exclaimed, " VETus has gone too fat, he has flogged
these men into activity, and they will now gallop so fast, that
laden as I-am with Indian fame and venal flattery, 1 0;1.11
never be able to overtake them," The " Patriotic Baro•
net" swore it was unconstitutional to gain victories abroad,
which caused such expense in lighting up at home, and de-
clared that they were nothing more but fresh taxes imposed
upon a gutTering people. Ile lamented the bad effect they
were likely to have, if'followed by promotions that would in-
crease the alarming disparity of ranks in this free country,
and contribute to extinguish the sacred principle of equa-
lity to tshich France owed her glorious revolution, and from
which alone England could expect her regeneration.
As a friend to the liberty of the people, a sound lover of
his King and country, and a staunch supporter of our
noble Constitution, even in its present mutilated state, be
would therefore stifle in his bosom every sentiment of appro-
bation, of such ruinous victories, and withhold every public
demonstration of joy. As in the commotions of 1810, he
would give a great example to the people, to be followed if
they retained any portion of the spirit of their ancestors, and
as he had then encouraged them by his conduct to tumult and
sedition, lie would now draw them from an ill-founded ex-
ultation, to despondency and gloom. " Having ended this
soliloquy, which he afterwards put down in the shape of
notes for a speech to his consituents at the next select
meeting in Palace-yard, he magnanimously ordered a few
dim candles to be placed in his windows, not, as be.beauti-
fully remarked, for the purpose of illumination; but like
the lurid flames in MILTON'S hell, to " make darkness
•
sible."

Such was the first effect produced by' the glotious-wietory
of Vittoria on the three heads of the Opposition. •TheYltad
never been very friendly together, though harkineiri-Con-
cert at the Administration and their Priiice. But .the
Cerberus .now perceived the dangers of 'situation
and the necessity of union, and immediately assemble
heads for a conference. The result was a determination, since
misrepresentation could not be employed with success at
such a moment, to try what a politic affectation of 'candout
would do, in the hope that in the mean time some calamity
might occur, w'cich would relieve them from acting a ratt
so iiksorne to minds intbued. with the true spirit pf paity
In this lanientable'state ofcoustraint, in whiCh the smiles of the
lace Must conceal the distress of the hearh. they spent.a:te•
ditms week, not uneheered however by some ray of hc►peb