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

disre4:lrd, or coo:teni. The most :Ilion-sighted are seosit,le,
that the disa,ters which menace us accumulate, and are coming
10 a crisis; and we feel. nevertliele,,s, an increasing reluctance

to prepare seriously fur the event, and postpone, from nit!. to

day, w ith unaccountable remissness and L•vity, to adopt the ne-
cessary means of resi.tance. We ntsgleet ourselves, aod do no-
thing for others ; and, whatever he the result of the impeading

struggle, we blush to confess, that our present vigour, or fore-
sight, is not adequate to meet its pressure.
These reflections, humiliating as they are, present themselves,
on adverting to the approaching contest between Austria and
France. We appear to manifest as much indifference on the

occasion, as if it were a dispute between two Indian tribes.
No preparations are made by Government, no strong inter..st is

displayed by the public ; and we shew the same remissness
though infinitely less enthusiasm, than we did in the case of
Spanish resistance. Our negligence and inaction blasted every
hope which that propitious occurrence hatl justified ; and we
now purine the same conduct, after experience has snewn its
disgraceful and ruinous tendency. We were among the mot at.-
(eat advocates in favour of vigorous policy in support of the
Spanish Patriots ; and however unsuccessful oar effort* have

been, however disappointed our hopes, we will still persevere
in recommending and impressing its utility. It is equal who the
people are; their co-operation in the same cause cancels every
former iiijury ; and they are affiliated the moment they evince

, a desire to he free. Austrians or Spaniards, Russians or Turks,
they become instantly naturalised Britons, as soon as they have
declared themselves enemies of Frances and this single act givOs
them a sight to our armies and treasures. Enmity to am abort*•
nable and hated country, is friendship to us; and resistance to
tyranny should couonsand the services and esteem of freemen.
We discard totally, from our code of political morality, the ob-
liption of philanthropy to a state, which aims at our destruc-
; and, so far from R3.3npattlising, we would glory hi its dis-
asters. Sentiments, like these, produced the astonishing effect%
we admire in GI eciati and Roman history ; and similar senti:
meats are atone capable of producing among other nations siini/ar,

egects.
Were these feelings strongly ingrafted in the hearts of our
countrymen, and regulated the policy of govermnent, every anx-
iety about our future fortunes would he chimerical ; and we
could laugh at the menaces and unavailing rage of a loathsortte
and unprincipled tyrant. Whatever people rose to resist
our navy would transport, with the rapidity and execution of
intense hatred, a formidable army to assist their efforts. At
the slightest demonstration of Spain or Austria to that effect, our
entire military force would have meuaced, like a black cloud,
the enemy's coasts; and if a particle of the spirit of our fore-
fathers remain, the first cannon that is fired on the Danube,
will he the signal of our renovated energy.
Let us imagine then, that Ministers, sensible at last of the
dhgraCeful and weak part the country has acted under their
auspices, would adopt measures of foreign policy more confor-
mable to our ancient maxims, and the alinost inexhaustible rc
sources of the State. It might then he asked, how they could
wield the energies of the empire A% ith any effectual advantage to
Austria,--a country situated at so considerable a distance frora
ours? The reply to this objection is, that they need ouly at here
to the very plan, which they so unfortunately pursued relatise
Spain, namely, to effect a diversion as remote ai possible from
the direct scene of hostilities. A change of circumstances ren-
ders imperiously urgent, what was the highest impolicy at that