The National Register.
London, England, 1813-03-07 00:00:00

MARCH 7.

But that which has afforded us most gratification, in the
course of the .week, is the French Expose. This annual
performance has commonly delighted its Parisian readers,
by telling of triumphs past, present. and to come. The time
for this is gone by, and, instead of boasting, of .having con-
qdered nations, and threatening to conquer more, it flatly
declines " speaking of military or political events, as on
these topics it can add nothing which is not already known."
This is very true, it can only tell a tale of defeat, disgrace,
and horror, which is already known. It cannot say the
losses recently sustained, will be speedily retrieved. This
were a falsehtosl, too barefaced even for BONAPARTE to
venture on. He has ceased talking of the overthrow of
England, or of the subjugation of Russia: The former of
these subjects was formerly a favourite topic in the
Expose, but it is now so no more, and the latter
is no longer' suffered to• embarrass the calculations
of the French Government. BONAPARTE has
fiiled
to beat the navy of England by " inscription," and he has
been completely foiled in his efforts to subdue Russia by
" conscription." To be sure, he might talk of his intemiontof
raising 350,000 conscripts to be directed against the Emperor
ALEXANDER, who is very liberally described to be the ene-
my of peace, because he had the presumption to defetni
leis
own dominions. He might, we say, talk of this, but It is
unfortunately one of those things of which the folks of his
good city of Paris know quite enough already. The wretched
victims who arc said to be forthcoming from all parts of the
empire can mike them comprehend this sufficiently well. It
must be an interesting sight for those in mourning for their
relations, who were immolated in NAP ART E'S late ridicu-
lous crusade, to see their I emaining kinsmen torn flout their
homes, while an attempt is made to excite their ardour by
holding out to them a prospect, that by possibility they may
have the gratification of matching over the bleaching bones of
those who " covered themselves with glory" in the last cam-
paign. An idea that they may have the felicity of doing this, and
of sharing their fate, must give them fine spirits at starting,
and render any thing on the subject in the Expose, quite un-
necessary. It was much better for BONAPARTE to confine
Itimself /o the.annual repot ts of trade and agriculture in the
present instance, than to venture on politics. People-are not
fond of hearing much of melancholy subjects. He, in the way
of politics, had not ingenuity enough to furnish any thing that
would not come under that description, and under these cir-
cern:stances was it necessary, or even' desirable, that he should
take upon himself to pronounce the funeral oration of the
grand army !

CATHOLIC QUTSTION.
it will be seen from our Parliamentary report, that the
debate on the Claims of the Caitiolics, teiminated on Tues-
day, Mien it was determined that the House should go into
the Committee. The Motion of Mr. Grattan was carried.by
• majority of forty.

On this subject we have, at present, but little to say. We
certainly are not among those who anticipate much good
from going into the Committee. Mr. Perceval always re-1
listed the motion of Mr. Grattan for doing so, on the ground
that if it were acquiesced in, it would only have the effect of
exciting false hopes, which must certainly be disappointed.
This appeared to us a satisfactory reason, and we cannot but
fear that what he apprehended, will now be experienced,—
that this step mill be found but to irritate acid inflame, those
whom its object is to soothe and console.
We, however, cordially agree with Mr. Ponsonby, that the
measure having been resolved upon by Parliament, in a spi-
;it of conciliation, it-in:J.om the .Catholics to meat it ifl 4110