The National Register.
London, England, 1809-09-10 00:00:00

sTER.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1809.

No. S 9.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

20.01111.. a EEG UTY-SEV

NECE.,:slrr OF A P.47tr,l.lll::NiliZl' ENQU'irtir is•rn Tut cArtsts

or Tilk FAILU al: OF I:I

In whatever light persons holding difThrent political
opinions, may consider the present sate'of Europe, however
they may difIZT as to the policy, the expediency, or
the necessi'v of the present war ; however they may
disae.ree ns to the :node adopt ca by Government for
carrying it on ; iii w:iatever wey they may view the
state of the public min4l ; whatever may be their
din-ere:l,-e of sentiment, upon tlwse several objects, they
will all agree in one conclusion with respect to this
country ; namely, that • this is • a period of all others, in
which that which is always material, and always important,
sheold be most material and most important ; we mean
that the government should stand high in the opi-
nion of the people, aed that it should be entitled to this
confidence, by shewing, (hat it is really and honestly actu-
ated by a hearty zed for their dearest and most valuable
interests. The practical service which any Administration
can render to the country, mast in a great measure depend
upon the extent, and degree of that respect and confidence
which it possesses, %%Inch it is its duty to maintain, and
which it cannot hope to maintain without- deserving.—
Nobody will deny that the situation of the Continent has
ut length reduced this country to a crisis dangerous and
,:arming, and however disposed we may he, and conscien-
tiously avow that we are inclined to strene•then the
hands of Government, we neither can or will bestow •

a blind and implicit confidence, wi;l►uut grounding, it

upon a serious and complete in‘cstigation of ifs eon-
duct, upon occasions in which its greatest euergies have.
been called for, the expectaCons of the people wound
op to thtt highest pitch, au i chagrin, humiliation and
disappointment have been the result. Whoever will look
back to the events of former periods of the war, and will
take into his account the most nalortunate of them, (the
retreat of Sir J. Mooac.) and will compare these with the

disgraceful termination of the rxF.edition, win sec that the
losses sustained upqn that occasion, were triEing in com-'l
prison to those we 01111 now feel, and costi-ast will be
still stronger, if we compare the .consetpiences of that.
period with the effect which is likely to result from the
failure of the recent expedition. \Vltc' Sir J. Mooan re-
treated from Spain, the disposition of the universal Spanish
Nation, seemed to be hostile to UtiONAPARTE, and it was
restrained rather than subdued by his presence, and the
forcep of which be wa then maater.ia o.ie heart, and in the
capital of that country. • The spirit of Austria was unsub-
dued, she was making the most formidable preparations;
and from the loyalty 3n41 discipline of her army, as well as
from the enthusiasm of the people, every thing was to be
expected. Prussia was mortified, litunbisd, and almost
crushed, hutlier wishes, and her disposition were to be cal •
culated upon, in the event ()ranch assistance, big afrordeg
`el. LXXXIX.

r

PRicE 9'.

as might enable her to act against [IUL) NA PA It T M Widi effect.
The rope of sand w Bich bound the federation together,
would ca:silv be broken, it Austria were successful. lu
short, the last ray of hope gilded the political horizon
with a !mire w!!ielt danled and confounded with its glare,
melt of no maul coasiJeration. How is the prospect
changed! Great and momentous as that period undoubt-
edly was, it wears art aspect total!y different; when corn::
pared to the moment in which we are now writing. Toe
Austrians h lye put forth their strength, have been defeated,
and are now at the feet of the col:vim-or. The Spaniards,
lukewarm, cowardly, ;tad perhaps treacherous ; incapa-
ble of delendiug themse!ves, aad utterly incapabie of being
deft:tided. Russia in the toils of Buoisaeaierr. Prussia
without hope. The Dutch still the same servile race, who
deny the saviour at Java, and bow their knee to the iyraat
of the Continent. England alone retains the prold pa-
eminece of her station, and sepports an, unequal contest
against the power which under the directing genius of
one man, has easlaved nearly the whole of Europe.—
How important then in fact ; how necessary is it that we
should, under these circu ',stances, examine with more
than common jealously, every thing which may lessen our
consideration as a power, or compromise our ultimate
safety as a nntion. Circumstances may convert confidence
into a -vice, sled jealoesy into a virtue, and of all' the pt.th-
lic virtues, inos:s undoubtedly conffleare is that which is
most dangerous, and its opposite the most tolerable of public
vices. These reffectio.3 are drawn from us by the strot.g
feelings which the fate of our g., and armasuent has excited•;
we believe there is not apan in the country totally inseusible
to thedisgrace which it has brought bark ts ith it. Thie people
will not he satisfied with -another " Conveation Enquirt ."
We arc of opinion that the Honse.of Commons alone are
equal to a buimess of this importance ; that it will and
ought to be their inclination, as it certninly is their dot,
to institute a vase and solemn Enquiry into the cau,,es
which have produced this degrading failure. Administra-
tion are humid to SllppOrt it for Their Own sakes, for the
sake of Lord cuarnam, and above all for the sake of the
People. The House of Commons ought to do it for their
own sake. The Enquiry will be advantageous to Minis•
ters, by shewing that they have conceived their plans with
prudence and wisdom, and have used the necessary mea-
sures foi• carrfiag them into end, with energy and vigour;
although the resalt has been unfortunate and illiStiereS4.
ful. However calaintous this may have been, if it•has
not been prodeted by any fault of heirs, certainly the
confidence of the country ought not to be withdrawn. We
are net inclined to give-more to success than is really due.
It is -by no means the criterion of wisdom, and we are
.. _
among. the number of those who can reverence tinsueetawAl
fill abilities and talent, when exerted With diligence. But
when a lavish expenditure of treasure. and of blood
.ifs ob.
vions, and at the same time has availed comparatively no-
- bing, we earnestly recommend .the Government of: the
wintry not to deny a full and impartial Enquiry to rho-
' minded feelings of the People, tint. they may ascertain,t'i