The National Register.
London, England, 1812-12-20 00:00:00

756

this to say to Rus,ia—" You are making a noble effort against
tyranny, riot only for yourselves but for us, for Europe, for
the world ; you are not, however, to expect that we can
afford you the most trifling assistance, because we ourselves
are obliged to submit to some privations !" Such language
would degrade us in the eyes of every people on the face of
the earth. We did not expect that Mr. \V HITBREAD'S
Drury-lane ceconomy would have misled his reason so far as
to make him the advocate for such conduct. Having done
thus 'math, he would not have lowered hinvelf in our esti-
mation, if he bad proposed, that instead of assisting the
Russians, a sum should be voted for the relief of the
claimants on the late Drury-lane theatre, who have been
persuaded to dispose of their claims, at great loss, to the pro-
prietors of the new one.
Sir F. BURDETT, when the grant was first mentioned,
disapproved of it altogether. To him it appeared not only
extraordinary but insults, g to the people of this country.
Insulting indeed ! What sort of idt.a can the Ilon. Baronet
have of English feelings, if lie thinks the petrel?. of this
country can consider themselves insulted, when an effort is
made to sooth the affliction of a brave ally, who with un-
exampled valour has employed the whole of his vast re-
sources, to oppose, and to chastise the bitterest foe this coun-
try ever knew ? However generosity and gratitude may
shock Sir F. BuRDETT, they will not outrage the feelings of.
English:nee ? Fortunately, thank Heaven, we arc not yet
so fallen ! The people, we rejoice to know, arc not so in-
oculated with the sentiments of the Hon. Baronet, nor so
far corrupted by the dissemination of such principles, as to
feel that as an insult which humanity and policy combine
to dictate. They may consider themselves insulted, when
they are described as being too poor to feel sympathy, and
too much reduced to be grateful.
In candour we will suppose that Messrs. WHITEREAD
and BURDETT, really fancy that we are too poor to be
generous. We will give them credit for this, and believe •.
that at heart they would wish assistance to be given to Rus-
sia, but are of opinion we cannot afford it. Admitting this
to be the fact, we would ask, what claim have those men to
respect as politicians, who because we are in disttcss, would
deny such trilling aid to Russia, as it is now propos-
ed to give. Has England no interest in the miOity
struggle ? Do not many of her hopes of future prosperity
rest On the basis of an alliance and open trade with Russia ?
Can any thing more effectually relieve England from time
difficulties under which she now labours, than a t-ttecesful

termination of the present contest ! Can any thing more
completely blast her hopes than a new peace between France
qnd Russia? Few, we believe, will be disposed to answer
these questions but by a negative. Away then with hutria-
iiity, generosity, and gratitude ; let it be admitted we can-
not afford to feel these, and be our conduct .rego!ated by
the most sordid policy, by meanness and cupidity. What
is the result ? Why Russia will be assisted in the manner
proposed. It is the interest of England to encourage her
to continue the war. For our own sake, for the sake of
the suffering manufacturers in this country, assist Russia. In
pity to those who are out of work, and who want bread in
England, assist Russia; and how can we more successfully add
new energy to her exertions than by thus soothing the
? li you give the poor
200,0001. prop9scd to be
,c benefited to the amount
• it to Russia, and the pro-
to a hundred times that
with that country. Such
our countrymen alto are

sorrows of her atßicd children
inanufa .._ ''‘ , .. tuntry.... tire
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bat it:, ay 11,,-3,1:4::.c
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