The National Register.
London, England, 1808-11-21 00:00:00

NOV.- 2i•-

. .
was never made to our Gouverument, that it was not pre-
ceded by a violent diatribe against our national character.
They invariably appeared in the double character of mes-
sengers of fate, and of commiserating mortals. They
pitied,, from a sense of humanity, our infatuation ; but,
urged on by fate, they unceasingly and inexorably repeated
the tremendous denunciation, " Pilonda fit Carthago."
_lnd had we had the weakness to listen to the suggestions
of present case and convenience, this menace had been
sooner or later executed, and we should, like that ill-fated
community of merchants, bewail our folly, in expecting
from the deceitful promises and insidious friendship of an
implacable enemy, the security which energy alone, on
Our own parts, could possibly have secured. But, thanks
to our exertions and- enlightened policy, all these fulmi-
nating denunciations have evaporated in smoke ; and we
are represented now, by the infuriated orator, in a strain of
desperate, heart-gnawing conviction, as a community de-
veloping, all at once, the vast resources of two centuries
of unahatieg preparations and accumulated energies. Ile
:niv represent us, if he pleases, as the disturbers of the
tranquillity of the Continent, as the levers of the insurrec-
tion in Spain ; we regret only, that our strength has not
been more efficaciously put forth ; that we did not use to
greater advantage, the happiness of our position, in order
to rouse effectually the entombed inhabitants of the Con-
tinent from their death-like swoon. it is, however, by no
means too late ; and much are we indebted to Cretet for
the insinuation; if our Government has only judgment
and energy enough to make use of the instructive hint,
in the regulation of their future coodnct. Our means
are incalculable, if they are properly employed ; but that
has been unfortunately the gloss:defect in our policy, that
we never had art enough, nor sufficient knowledge of
our situation, to make the full display of our means,
during the whole course of the revolntiouary war. It
is this ignorance, and unwarrantable diffidence in our
strength, which have been the principal cause of French
preponderance. We may feel as much repugnance as we
please to make the humiliating confession ; but what ese
have we made, until within these three months, of the
inexhaustible resources of the state. We have remained,
cooped up within our islands, spectators of the most san-
guinary and decisive contest recorded in history ; or when
we interfered we did it in so ineffectual a manner, as only to
excite contempt or irritation. This is not a moment for
palliating language : the man who is a friend to his coun-
try, must not be ashamed, nor afraid, to speak boldly the
truth. Placed as we are in the narrow isthmus of our
fintunes—at the one extremity, permanent security ; at the
other—danger the most imminent—the slightest relaxation
might plunge us into an abyss of misery, from which
neither time nor subsequent exertions may be able to rescue
es. A candid avowal of former mistakes is the surest
mptom of reformation ; and we may, therefore, indulge
in the pleasing anticipation, that the future display of our
power, on the Continent, will neither excite the distrust of
our friends, nor the contempt of our enemies. It was not
our expeditions that the enemy apprehended ; it was una-
nimity of sentiment and views, on the part of the people
of the United Kingdom. -The most fortunate event has
preduccd that auspicious- result. The sacred flame of in-
surrection in Spain has collected in a common focus all the
wishes of this country. No complaints are now uttered
about the continuance of the war ; no doubts are started
as to its object and tendency ; but every heart and every
hand are open and ready to contribute to its vigorous
prosecution. It is this manifestation of unity of wishes and
views, which converted the menaces' of an overhearing and
inveterate enemy, into a deprecation of the consequences
of our new resolutions. With the rapidity of the electric
fire it will operate on the Continent. The enemy antici-
pate with all the convulsions of despair, the effects of this
reeovated energy hi the people of this • country The!‘
.
formerly laughed at our Lien:ices and faint exert wits.—
We were hefl out to Europe as objects of their derkiuu s

741.

. .
but this tone has suddenly altered ; and we are now paint.,
•ed in the terrific character of a Colossus, whose mighty.
form overshadows both hemispheres.---Had we been before .*
ignorant of the conduct we ought to pursue, this exposi- •
tion of Cretet has removed every trace of uncertainty,
It is not by con#ining our national strength to defensive
operations, that we can expect to recover the respect and
-preponderance we formerly enjoyed in Europe : it is only.
by sending out new reiulorcenients to our army in Spain,
and raising fresh levies, that we have any right to claim
this distsnguished pretension. Bonaparte has frequently .
given us a lesson in politics, as well as in the military art :
lOn commencing a war, he frequently repeated to his Senate
the necessity of employin, the whole resources of France,
and of augmenting the military force, in order to bring Ike
:contest, not only to a frrtunate, but a speedy conclusion !
The line of conduct we ought to pursue at present is thus
marked out to us. In order to relieve the country from
!the accumulating burthens and sacrifices of this unprece-
•dented war, let one bold and vigorous display of national
energy produce that desirable result. There is not a man
in Great Britain who mill not give his hearty consent to so
enlightened a Fine of policy ; for it is as flattering to his
self love, as to his ardent desire of future tranquillity.
The present army we employ on the Contiuent, numerous
and respectable as it is, is not, however, of that imposing
magnitude as to fix the fortune of the Contest : let us
double the number, and the destinies of Europe cease to be
problematical. It requires only common comprehension
to perceive the decided preference of the latter to the
former policy. ; and had we in this moment an army of
100,000 men in Spain, e could say to the people of the
United Kingdom, << We shall conquer a durablc'peuce before
the end qf the ensuing spring."

COUR 1' OF INQU ICY.

Ft it Sr 1).8.1".
moNp.ty, vEutirß IT.

The Members of the Board, convened by virtue of his Mi-
jestN's Warrant, under the Manual, assembled this morning
in the Great Chelsea hospital, to enquire into the causes
and circumstances of the late Treaty of Armistice, and Coutien.,
lion of Cintra.
General Sir David Dundas, on observing that all the 'Aleinbers
were present, proceeded to the Chair appropriated for the Pre-
sident, and requested the rest of the General ()dicers ti: take their
seats at the Board, which they immediately did, in the follow.,
lug order

PItENI D IS T.—General Sir D. 4 VII) DU N $•
Earl Moin t.
PETER Cm tIG.
Lord IIiEATMEIELD.
Earl PEMBROK
Sir G. N EGLI N
01.1vra
The Board being conAituted without any formality, the Hun.
R. Ryder, Judge Advocate, read his Majesty's Warram, of
which the following is a correct copy :
" cr.outa; R.

Ccnera Is

Limit -General', ..

'' Whereas, we were plPazed, in the month of July, 1805, to
constitute and appoint Lieut.-t howrat Sir 1 Lew Dali•ytnple, Kitt.
to the command of a body of our forces, employed to act on the,
coasts. of Spain and Portugal, or in such other part of the Conti-
nent of Europe as he might hereafter lie directed to, and the said
Lieutenant-General did, pursuant to our instructions transmitted
to him, proceed to Vortug•al, and did on tile ':"d of August, I SOS,
land in that country, smut tal/4e upon himself the command of the
said body of our forces accordingly. And whereas it appears
that on the same 22d of Atignst, and bubsequently to his !airing
assumed the command, an Armistice was concluded as foltows-
[ Ilcre is reciled the ~Irmislice as staled in Sir licw Dalrymple's
dispatch.]

" And. whereas, it appears that oil the 30th clay of ngatg,
'SOS, ;t Convention was concluded as folio%rs :--[lit re ;..; recited'
Vic Conventional staled in Sir 4leav Diarstople's