The National Register.
London, England, 1818-05-03 00:00:00

limitittr+

Our ing, Comititution anb UAW.

SUNDAY, MAY ti, 1818.

in the course of time, perhaps at a virile not very dis-
tant, we may find in the Netherland: a foe more for-
midable than we have reason to anticipate, we shall
find in France. IL: commercial intuaasts elasli more
with our own—her situation readers her more neces-
sarily a Yawl Power, and when we coats mind what,
not many years since.. Holland was 4/oata, ve may form
some iva of what, under a good and energetic govern-
ment, she is cnpabie e= becoming with the annexation. of
the coast and territory she has lately acquired. We arc
far from wishing the depression of any state or cf any
people; but with the facts above mentioned before our
eyes, we cannot but ccnceive that the ftndsappro?riat-
ed to strengthen the power of a nation whieli is as
likely to prove hzreafzer a foe as an ally, might have
been much better employed in our own country, in the

construction of a Fort Wellintua for tits pretection of
our own persons, or even in a low new churches fo7
the benefit of our souls.

Having thns freely given our opinion as to the source
from which the peenmary means for effecting this rapid
and general armament of the Belgic frontier arc to
spring, and stated our reasons for regretting what we
knont and cantioning ngsiest wEat we fear—we turn
with considerable interest to :he consideration of a point
which some of the foreign Journals hare more than
once alluded to, namely, the retirement-of th Aihcd
troops, now in France, within the line of the Bel.gic
frontier, where they arc to remain s time. atter
evactiatir.7 the French teritory. as as Obser-
vation. l'oese rarnours have indeed bee:, eentradicteti
by most of the official Journals of the.,..4l4tigsnt, bu., it
seldom flappers, that rumours cc soticivie 114.7,7 nut
some foundation; we should not, hownif*atve 7 oticed
them but from a colour of probability At n on them
by the preparations rcrw making for ilk putting the
fortresses into a state of defence. It t o confidently 1,
asserted that the Allied troops will l an* enncuated
France before next winter, according to th- terms of
the treaty of the sOtls November 14 te.t. 'lbis point
must now be settled, and of course known to the differ-
ent cabinets of the Allied powers, butt as 7a:lo:ingrain:jai
has yet transpired, we are inclined to vie .7 this incident
rather as corirborrative of the flying rumours in circu-
lation than otherwise, We should regret to find oar
fore` clings verified. If the existing V.overanient
France have not yet acquired either the power or the
credit to esuse itself to be respected by the nation, it
would be almost vain to hope that, of itself, Mover will
do so; and, in that ease, how long rid this"psople of
Europe to be burthened with the supyart;te armies,
for the mere defence of the mere abstract principle of
hereditary descent of the regal power. Ala general
principle we are. not at all disposed to quotiosi its ex-
pediency :—for the personal character et fie present
King of France, we entertain etety due retpoet, but if
after the sacrifice and the gigantic c have
made to pace him on the thrtme of his ancestors, he
cannot continue to preserve it by his own means, we
really do think that it would be forty in our (lovern-
inent to eN-tet tcl another guinea it. hopeles:: a cattse.
France, reduced as she now is, ittigat, to eta opinion,
satl‘ly be left to herself In. taking tip the assuniption,
that her present Government rni,ht vet be able to sup-
port itself, it was for from oar otroion that she itould
lot. With the exception of soul.: her soldiery, who
still regret the days of licetnied pinuder, and -rapine
under I3uonaparte witlto.3t ail other motive of Lamb-
meat to him or hisGovernment,-17'nuieu, wt. can venture
to zrz:,,.rt, :1 as r.ticli disposed to Prase a:: a:7.T nation of
Europe. Tine horrid scenes of the late Levolntion, the
arbitrary sway oi military despotism Linear NaPolooll,
arc still fresh in the minis of her inhalttinita. They
fully appreciate tint present opportunity fin i•epose, at
leant the majority do, and evon those who do not, we
verily b.::iieve are ac'...ated in that ;Laing by the

irritation produced by the presence and support of a
foreign army than from any other cause whatever.
short if the Allies are really desirous of conciliating
France, and to preserve tranquility the surest means
they can adopt to effect these ckjects is to leave hts
Government and people to themselves,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Moio.al., Aron. 27.
No bosinesa of importatice this day.
'll:EsriAy.
No bu.tiness of importance this day.
WEDISESII.IY.

OFFICERS WIDOWS' I'ENSIONi,
The Marquis of l..+ssuoty,F rose to move that the parcel
laid on the table of fly!. House, tclative to the Widao, aad
Officers enjoying pensions Phould be printed. 1k laced not
add how much lie was gratified. and low melt the commu—
nity at large was gratified by what had occurred. In fart the
retialation to which he alluded, was at once a measure of
paltry economy, and of great haichne3, The only alt.-rn.,
tivt he could vii,ll in the exieting regulations, would tr hi t
assimilation of the Navy with the Army on the. snbie't vi
Pensions to the Officers'

The Earl of Livitr.roor. agreed with th,:, latter part of thy.
speech °lda?. tioLle Marquis, but did not think flit if gulatioa
sh..nld altogether be given lip.
After some obsematiors from Lord Melville and the Mar-
quis of Laasilovrue., the Miaian was then agreed to.