The National Register.
London, England, 1812-12-27 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTEIL

the certain consequences of what has occurred in the
North; and only taking these into consideration, nor pre-
suming to calculate on the moral effect wnich we may reason-
ably hope will be produced on the suffering nations of the
Continent by the calamity which has overtaken their ty-
rant, not venturing to set this down as any thing which
may so essentially contribute to the destruction of his au-
thority and of him,—still do we contend, that viewing only
that whirl! is certain, and .not ~that, is probable, England
may well congratulate heiseif on the aspect of affairs, acid
view, in the humiliation of her must inveterate foe, the har-
binger of Peace and Prosperity.
Those who differ f; our us, and whose delight it is to con-
template the gloomy side of the picture, arc exerting all
their energies to make the Public believe, that because the
victory of Salamanca has".not been tollowed by the imme-
diate eapulsion of the French from the Peninsula, we ought
to despair of ultimate success, and regard our situation as
more hopeless than ever. These individuals- magnify the
fitilure of Burgos into . a serious defeat, and seem to -con-
template this us no "mean set off against the glorious vic-
tory gaimed by Lord WELLINGTON. It is, however,, well
worthy of observation, that those very persons who make
so much of the failure at Burgos, seem to think nothing
gained on our part, by the French being forced to raise the
siege of Cadiz. A fiaa zaeeks lost before Burgos by the
l.ngli h, is described as a dreadful disaster, which loudly
calls fur an inquiry ; but this advantage on the part of the
enemy is not at all counterbalanced ley the French being
compelled to relinquish their designs on Cadiz, after a
two years and a half sieg,e!' To us we confess this appears to
furnish grounds not of comfort but of exultation ; nor can
we contemplate what has occurred within the last year in the
Peninsula, that fertile field of Brit;sh glory, but with the
highest satisfaction, and the sincerest conviction that our
prospects are bettered.
With America we arc at war ; but this, however it may
be deplored in itself, is calculated to give us little more un-
easiness or alarm than the state in which thins stood at this
time last year. It may even be doubted whether actual un-
disguised hostility be not preferable to that doubtful situation
in which we were placed, by those tong continued nnavailing
negotiations, which for. years mocked our hopes, while•thev
served to inflame those differences it was their object to heal.
The temper of America made an appeal to the sword inevit-
able. It is, perhaps, a subject of regret that the war on our
- part has not been procecuted with more vigour. The disas-
ters, however, which America by her iirsolem za.;•_;ressions.leas
brought upon herself,, in spite of our folbearauce, may dis.
pose her to adopt a mute pacific line of conduct. Ministers
have subjected themselves to censure for their backwardness
to engage in actual warfare. Yet still there are the.:e who
complain that we have not done enough to conciliate Ame-
rica. Our sentiments on this head are alleadv on record.
We hope the enemy will shortly feel the full weight of that
hostility which has been so wantonly piovoked.
One calamity, great as irrepat able, we have to mourn in
that atrocious act which bereft us for ever of the splendid
talents and spotless interity el a Pt:act:vat,. We have,
however, at least to rejoice that Vs death did not bring into
power that arrogant but despicable fiction who could wan-
tiny sport with the feelings of a nation, at the crasis of it,
fate, by engag' As which, how-
ever t heir att; ion, were too
contemptible a from patriot:
ism, in formi, 'eminent. The
present Minh ves 3uperior to
such conduce !tr to strew that

4

DEC ,

our triumphs in the course of the year were to be
to any thing rather than to ability and wisdom on their i art;
but as imbecility is uniformly imputed to Al,n3steis
unfortunate, it -is but fair to give those who are su—e, fai
some credit for talents befitting their si!cation. lie %to .id
not be spared the.disgraco of defeat, and ought trot t. IT t:e-
nied a participation :it the glory of victory, 'That Yen
has been glorious and triumphant, we thank after vim:
have said, require: no further proof. We feel it 3isilAy
when we recai the hopes and apprehensions of the la't Year,
and still more strongly eo we feel it ':hen looking I:,rv.a dto
the future, for we have a con% iction that such another Yea(
of successful warfare would raise us to a height mole
lime than we have ‘,.et occupied, and the adiniiin world
would own, with equal wonder and gratitude, that "
,I is in the zenith of her glory."

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