The National Register.
London, England, 1811-09-22 00:00:00

TIO

will keep the who) on Bou-
log one and the expected accomplishment of his
threats. Should then the scale of war prepnderate,
and any European power be compelled by his ag-
gressions to trust for protracted existence to the
chance of battle, he will suddenly exclaim that our
'gold alone has bribed that State, and procured its
Hostility. He will unblushingly call- the • whole--
world to witness how near he • was effecting our
erils and unable by
ruin, when trembling at our p
our native force to avert them, we found weapons
-in the corruption of others, and to shelter ourd
t fields
from the ravages of war, once more spreahem
over pacified Europe. He will inveigh in terms of
better scorn and hate, against those Monarchs, who,
according to his artful misrepresentations, blind to
their real interests, and regardless of the welfare of
Immanity, sacrificed both to their cupidity ; and
having thus ensnared men with their own feelings,
turned by falsehood and calumny into traps for
their undemanding, he will, as ke has already de
one,
hasten to the field, no longer deemed, by th
an unjust aggressor,
. thoughtless multitude,
but assisted with their mums,
as having drawn
an
the sword only in their defence. This ad-
vantage may appear trifling to a superficial observer,
but its importance will be conceived when we add,
that it is to this conviction alone, skilfully impressed
on the mass of the French people, that wise poli-
ticians av ribute the total absence of insurrections
amongst his oppressed subjects, whenever he has
waged war at a distance of eight hundred or a
thousand miles from his own frontiers.

GEE ER 4L SARRAZIN.

_ .
TO TILE EDITOR OF TIIF. NATIONAL REGISTER.
___.

SlR,—Wheu I transmitted to you my letter of the 13th August
last, in reply to that from Aristides, on the subject of the above
GenFiral, it occurred to me that it would occasion another episto-
lary communication from the former ; and although I might,
pci haps, nut have deemed an answer necessary,
when to argsuchuments are
~
amplifying those he had primarily adduced, ,yet,
subjoined to an attack on allcgations contained in my letter, I
feel it incumbent again to address you on this subject; it not to
negative the former, at least to repel the latter. Though it is
alleged by Aristides, that the General is " sinking fast" into
4 4 di ;graceful obscurity" (yet not so rapidly but that he felt: it
nec.ss..iry to give him another push, by his last letter, hereon) I
trait, Sir, you for the sake of humanity towards the Gelle-
r a, act with more circumspection and feeling, than is sometimes
t le case in the field of battle, and refrain from assisting Aristides
in his favourite project of consigning the General, prematurely,
to the dead man's hole, whilst there is the least iwa of resusci-
tatini, by inserting in your valuable paper, a few more observa-
tions I beg to make in his defence.

tion ot Aristides, it is impos-

ITELL

Aristides, which I meant to be emblematical of the future con-
duct of the General, that could be decided only upon the trial
of his veracity; I find him excluded from such trial, and a ques-
tion ungenerously put, in effect to know on what ground such
quotation is advanced ? Thug tying the hands of the General, and
then giving him a sword to defend himself from assault. But, even
thus fettered, I say, the remorse for his past offences, and the ulti- •
mate verification of the quotation, may be in some degree appreci-
ated by his abandonment of the cause of the tyrant, not for a Hie
of glorious inactivity, or suspicious idleness, nor to say any thing of
embracing the cause of liberty ; and though it may be urged that
this, his step, was dictated by private resentment towards Buona-
parte, yet, he has advanced so far towards reformation, and the
latter well knows," that those who arc not for me, are against me."
Next, my assertion that the General laid his information before this
country without "fee or reward," is disputed, and here a little
tergiversation has been deemed necessary, by charging me with
asserting, such information was not afforded from an.expectation
of fee nor reward, thereby introducing the substantive surrep-
titiously : the term I used, and not asserted ;_analogous to this,
was calculating, thereby inferring, that without remuneration,
he would not have given any information, had he been a man
fter
of
sordid and selfish principles; now, continuing his essays a
he had lost " the countenance of the British Government" whilst
it affords the best answer to this disputed point, warrants the
term I used ; and that he gave the information spontaneously,
He might, however, have a " hope of bettering his situation"—
who, from a sense of ungenerous treat-
very natural for a man,
ment, had relinquished " great advantages;" he did not fix a
ratio for his labours, but left such to the discretion of his Ma-
jesty's government.
As to the " teinporate imprecation" detioiteed by Aristides to
be contained in the General's letter to Buonapai'te, I must dissent
from the construction the former has put on it, by asserting,
that it is not by assassination he means to be revenged; for, if
my recollection serves me, in such letter the General asserts,
that it is in the armies of England or Rus)ia lie hopes to deal
out vengeance. Aye! in the field of battle. I wish Aristides,
for the sake of impartiality, had given this part of the letter; but
he knows what is essential for him to advance, and will, if lam
wrong, correct me on this point.
As it is not my intention (was it necessary) to wade through
thick and thin for the General, I do not stand in need of dicta-
tion as to the mode to be adopted in repelling the asseverations
against his conduct ; and if Aristides finds those untenable, I
must beg to be discharged from all interested nurives, being
induced to step forward merely in opposhig what I deem male-
volent and uncharitable insinuations.
In conclusion—however pure the conduct of the British Go-
vernment may be in not accepting the services of the General,
In some way, whilst I, an humble individual, bow with all de •
ference to its wisdom, I cannot but lament, established custom-
has prevented, as well my I ,ord Wellington profiting by the
abilities of General Surrazin in the Spanish campaign, as the
latter from testifying his zeal in gratitude for the protection
he has received here. Oh ! when I think of the blond that un-
successfully flowed from the warriors of the allied nations, on
the walls of Badajoz, in the abortive attempt to reduce that
place, it is a source of grief to me (recollecting the General's
opinion on the subject), that he was not aiding the Councils
which directed that operation. I say this with no disparage-
ment to the consummate abilities of our renowned Chief, for
his noble mind, I am couvinced, Would have duly estitnate
of Go-
the valuable service, had it met with the concurrence
vernment, and who also is aware how effectual it is to fight
the enemy with his own weapons.

I rvinaiu, Sir, with respect,
Your most obeaieut servant, •
B. P.

London, iGth September, 1811.

cp,• ITE NATIONAL
5
the whole mind of France fixed on
Bon- Ark
_r is:r duct

On perusing the last communication nt Aristioe!,, ... . ....,.__
si . • • ',"%li ;Atlver, a precious confusion of present, with the
-. 3.. ,;. - of fvure events; and a little rol•represen-
.
p• .. , ..,,I, • . Ttllll.o6.together with a happy felicity. And
..c.t
.
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