The National Register.
London, England, 1808-06-27 00:00:00

Provinces have already followed their example, what can
the inhabitants of two districts (Asturias and Gallicia)
however brave, however Patriotic, perform ? Does any
man expect that they will be able to defeat the French
to march to their own capital, emancipate their country,
and drive the French invaders beyond the Pyrennees t No.
Such hopes cannot be seriously entertained, for a moment,
by any man, in the smallest degree, ,-..-Table of estimating
difficulties, or balancing proba►bitities.
What then will be the consequences of the patriotic re•
sistance of these two Northern Provinces to the French Usur•
per? The efforts of these brave men may, for a season, en•
gage his attention, distract his force, and render his conquest
less easy, and less secure. These are, no doubt, events of
considerable importance, if we make use of the interval to
increase, strengthen, and consolidate our Own means of
defence and annoyance, but fatally delusive if they are to
encourage hopes that Spain is destined to form a barrier to
the extended ambition of Bonaparte.

The truth is, our danger is at the present moment more
imminent than it has been, at any period, since the coma.
mencement of the presentivar. This proposition has been
very ably illustrated by Mr. York, in his excellent speech
in the House of Commons, on lgoirlly last, respecting the
Defence of the Country. If, therefore, we do not speedily •
and elTectually rouse• from that lethargy. into which all
ranks among es have unfortunately fallen ; if we become
not fully sensible of the peril of our situation; if we blind.
ly trust to our naval superiority, and await with a lament•
able inaction, and a presumptuous, a criminal, confidence,
the coming storm ; if we prepare not, with extraordinary
exertions, to sleet the surrounding dangers; and if we
foolishly expect, or feel the smallest confidence in any
foreign aid, the hazard is incalculable (and melancholy fur
a Briton to allow) our destruction not impossible.
Let us. therefore, he fully convinced of what is almost
indubitably certain, that we may soon be exposed, alone,
to the entire, the undivided, the concentrated sire: TA of
Europe. We arc opposed to a man, who, though highly
aided by Fortune, 14 still more highly gifted by Nature:
who restlessly pursues his schemes: who has hitherto ob.
tained the objects of his ambition : who bates us, our
power, our libe;ty, and our iudependance, with an un-
'extinguishable hatred ; whose interest, whose Power
whose happiness depends, in a considerable degree, on our
destruction.
This man now wields the sceptre of Europe.—He has
subdued the Netherlands, llolland, and all the States of
Italy : he has conquered Prussia, defeated and terrified
Austria, humbled Russia, conciliated Denmark, acquired
the confidence and friendship of the Porte, seized upon
Portugal, and has now taken possession of Spain. Let us
consider,- for a moment, the inenns which he possesses of
' invading our shores. He has all the wealth of the Conti-
nent at his command. A million of sediers, brave and
adventurous, accustomed to warfare and victory, are as-
sembled under his banners. All the Continental Ports
which are open to the Atlantic and German oceans, from
Cadiz to the Tele), are now under his controul—M