The National Register.
London, England, 1808-05-22 00:00:00

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No. 21. SUNDAY, NDAY, MAY 22, 1808.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

NUMBER TWENTY-OPM

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ON BONAPARTE'S PROJECTED INVASION
OF INDIA.

On Wednesday last a letter front the Continent was re-
ceived in London, containing the following information :
" You will be surprised to hear, that the Porte has resolved,
" after all, to declare itself in favour of England. The Turkish
" Government, after having been threatened and cajoled by
" turns by the French Minister, in order to induce it to join
" France and her Allies, to which it was by no Means IOUs-
" posed, has been at length driven to adopt an opposite resolu-
" tion, from the extent of the demands made upon it."
We announced some time ago the determination of Bo-
naparte respecting an attempt at the Invasion of India :
and we inserted, from Foreign Papers, some statements,
• declaring, that the Porte had actually granted
.permission
for the passage of troops through its territory. It Ras
understood that this concession on the part of the Grand
hignior was made in return for the French Emperor's me-
diation, by which the differeacei were accommodated be-
tween Turkey and Russia. Austria and France hav'e been
advancing toward the Tarkish territories, perhapsift order
to take an early advantage of any favourable disposition
in the Grand Signior, and perhaps to overawe him into a
compliance in case of an unwillingness. At the same time
Russia seems not to have been backward in contributing
her aid toward the projected Invasion.
The physical obstacles to an Invasion of India are so
vast, that to an ordinary mind they would seem almost in-
runnountahle. But Bonaparte, like the Arabian Hero,
seems to possess the talismanic sword, that being struck on
Adamantine gates, bids their thousand bolts fly backward,
and when lifted against whole armies, annihilates them in
a moment. That which would have been perhaps imprac-
ticable to unaided France, became a matter by no means
hopeless for France united with Austria and Russia. No
intervening nation could stop the progress of the Indian
Expedition, when Russia had been once subdued : Russia
now is subdued, and if the intention of Bonaparte be real,
if the plan of Invasion be not one of those splendid bub-
bles that the Emperor of the French finds it necessary now
and then to launch for the amusement and occupation of
his soldiery, we cannot suppose that the Porte will be able
to do much toward the prevention of an army's progress,
or overturn one tittle of Bonaparte's magnificent designs.
But though it may be impossible for Turkey to overturn
the designs of Bonaparte, yet we think it by no means un-
likely that sae may be able to retard them. If the intelli-
gence which we have quoted above be really accurate, (and
indeed it is derived from a respectable source,) then it seems
probable that an immediate rupture must take pace be-
tween the French and the Turks, and that a concerted attack
will be made by the three Christian Emperors of France,
No. XI-IL—Vet. I.

, -
no Leaf:
Pnic Bd.

_ and B uuia, against the Grand Signior. Such a
measure, though it appears but too likely to obtain ulti-
mate success, must notwithstanding occasion a considerable
Okla!, and give time to Great Britain for placing her Indian
territories is a state of defence. The rumours of a probable
rupttre seem to be strengthened by advices brought in s
vond that sailed from Palermo on the 17th of April.
Accounts were before her departure received from Smyrna,
that the Turkish Government had actually refused to the
Prenth the permission of passing through Turkey to In-
dia i and, in the expectation of an attack, had caused the
holy standard to be erected, and a levy of the people to be
modem masse. It is rather extraordinary that Turkey
shoult have formerly surrendered herself to the disposal of
Framr, while she might have had the support of an
Engliit Fleet and a Russian Army : and that now, when
the Enperor of the French is in leagite with the Emperor
of tht. Russians, and the British Ambassador has been
drivel away from Constantinople, this same Turkey begins
to bethink herself of resistance.
Time are Certainly two ways of viewing the great ques-
tion of Indian Invasion. Bonaparte may be in earnest, or
he mat only be deceiving his soldiers For a long time we •
were incf4o to think that the project was not seriously
entertained by this accomplished Statesman t and our res.-
_ ta for thinking so was, that we conceived it would be
hazardous to employ, in's,' ethoidav no spin re
force as must be necessary for 076 Idvasion of India, while
the affairs of Europe at home continued in so unsettled a
condition. But Bonaparte has now found means of alter-
ing so completely the situation of Europe, that he may
attempt this Invasion without danger to his power. He
has managed to associate in his own interests those very
potentates who were most likely to impede his plans : and
with an artifice peculiar to himself, he has contrived, not
only to remove their jealousy of his scheme, but even to
employ their troops in the accomplishment of that object,
which every body a couple of years ago must have be-
lieved those troops would be employed to frustrate : In-
stead of drawing off his own armies, and leaving his
neighbours in possession of Europe, he sends the best part
of his neighbours' forces a twelvemonth's march, and re-
serves his own efficient strength at home. This alteration
of circumstances must make a material change in our way
of thinking : and that project which at first appeared im-
possible, will not perhaps be now considered even im-
prudent.
If then there be a probability of such an Invasion (and
against the worst it becomes us to guard), surely it is ne-
cessary for us to place India in a situation of defence, un-
less we deem it politic altogether to abandon our de-
minions there. We will not here enter into the great
discussion, whether India ought to be preserved or
not : we only contend that if the general opinion in
favour of the preservation of India be a correct opinion,
then the system and policy that has so long been pursued
should be ended without dela:. The resistance of the