The National Register.
London, England, 1809-08-20 00:00:00

AUG. 20.

Manifested a disposition indeed! ipc ground anti front au
difficult 1 Is there a military man in the kingdom who can
be imposed upon one moment by such unaccountable
stuff? It is an insult of no ordinary na;.:.; re which is otf,!red
to the understandings of the public to imagine they can be
deceived by such barefaced prevariotion.

But what does all this amount to ? why Oat he was either
afraid of their cowardice or their treachery—and as a matt
of judgment well as spirit, he k)dopted the only chanco
left for success or even safety, and has detailed the fact
like a Statesman rather than like a General; if he really
did wile This sentence. The Spanish Army seem.
to have adopted the cunning policy of engaging the two
powers who have chosen to make their country the scene
of confLict, to plunge Oto trcubled waters, (accordingg to
the proved)) while itself takes the sure part of holdini; the
rlotkesof the swimmers.

It would appear from this view of things that we de-
precate any further interference in the business of Spain.
This indeed would seem to be the most obvious line of
conduct, if our determination were to be taken from a
superficial view of our present relations with that Country.
It must be ncknowledged that we are not equal to the de-
fence of Spain, if she will not defend herself; and it strikes
home to •the honour and feelings of every Englishman,
that men who will not fight for their liberties on 4 Sunday
are not fit to enjoy them during the rest of the week.—
But it is not. merely with relation to the Spaniards, hut to
ourselves and this rest. of Europe that we arc to consider
the subject. Mr. LozuE somewhere speaks of persons who
arc to be called men of one idea. They Tee one step only
at a titre, and cannot recognize the second till events bring
it forward.—Such men cannot embrace even in thought the
colossal danger of the extended despotism of France, or
the extent of the sacrifices that we ought to make to lessee
its amount and to keep it at a distance.---Politics re-
quire a cool head and an extclioive eye; they must be
viewed with temper as to their immediate state, and
with foresight as to their oltericr consequences, for as.
in war there is seldom room for second mistakes, it is the
same in politics in most cif its deeper and more important
cases. Viewing the situation of Spanish affairs through the
medium of our hopes, we have been disappointed that our
exertions have not proved more serviceable to them and
to Europe, but taking into our consideration not only the
evils which have been prevented, but the possibility of
affording our .assistance so as to erect a barrier against
their extensions, we arc more inclined to cherish the idea
of what may be done, than of what has been already ef-
fected, and to do this we arc urged by eyery motive and
consideration that can arise out of the present situation of
the Continent. It is a saying in fabulous philosophy that
serpens non fit draco, nisi seipentem devoratteril, and am-
bition, (which whether it is lowly and creeping, or high
crested and rampant is always deadly,) is a monster of the
same kind. BUONAFAATE is continually enlarging his
power, and is growing more and more terrible, in propor-
tion to the quantity of prey he devours; and what appears
still worse, and calls upon us to oppose him till we are driven
back even to our own shores for their defence, is the cir-
cumstance that the Tyrant of the Continent has at length
succeeded in converting conquest into traffic by making