The National Register.
London, England, 1808-10-02 00:00:00

. the contrary, we henked drtlentiy forward from the very
heOne—tog to an effeciiv'e interference on your part.
Whatever event has taken place latterly in l'ortugal to
idiot,* 'the diigractful tendency of the Convention, tile
reinains Blatt able, and calls for the Strictest
investigation. if a eeturning sense of shame, the indig-
nant remonstrances of our pruntlered allies, and the mit.-
„tours of our brave army, have prevented a full execution
of the articles as far as they regarded the property of the
Pprtuguese, it is oeierthelcss indispensably necessary to
convince 4nrope that the British nation and government
aro not insensible to the miicOnduct of their officers.
This deference to the feelingi of mankind, in. the
present unprecedented crisis, when the sublimest etc.
aninlei of zeal and rectitude are almost insufficient to
ward'off the danger whirl' menaces us in common with
other Elates, will he expected from a nation which is the
hist support of freedom and right. It is not thoescape of
fifteen ur twenty thousand
.Frenchmen, or the return of
the Russian sailors that we complain of ; but it is the dan-
ger of the example, and the fatal sanction it Limy give to
national and
.Military relaxation. .Itio half ireasurei, no
partial investigation will be sufficient to maid oil this evil;
but if a recurrence of the dangerous precedent is to he
avoided, a severe, but salutury, example must be giv:.n,
and the fortunes of Europe not be endangered filen a Fp-
iniect for person!, or mistaken untions,of
When an indivldual yticret's through, the negligence. or
treachery of another.; 111i*Jst we commiserate, his distress,
we cannot avoid Mingling with our pity, some indignation
at his credulity, and some disgust at his want. of discern-
ment. But vt hen a cominunity, consisting of seventeen
millions, whose prosperity happens, at the san* time, io
be indissolubly connected with that of a large portion of
the human race, is exposed to disaster or disgrace by the
incompetency of one or two individuals, '1,4. feel, together
with the former sensations, something like humiliation,
that the happiness of so many should depend on causes so
comparative!). trivial. This reflection is undoubtedly the
most discouraging cheek to ii di% idual exertion and to na-
tional selflov,.. We begin ,to be sensible of the weakness
and inefficacy of the best civil inslitutiens and political nr-
rangeinents. l'Aery wish to employ our resources to their
fall extent istestrained by the tonsitleration,'how insigni-
ficant a circumstance may frustrate the best-concerted pro-
,ieet.—A plausible pretext •is thus aftinded to the sugges-
tions of egotiSlTl and ease.—! ivAividitals crow selfish and
inditrerent ; and the community ;inks at last into weakness
and
'This -.lts the secret of the ~Igileace and nriviety
tested by ancient Coserninents in the c!,eice or their ger-
vaistir; and even the scliyiitesl inista;le, in conformity to
these principles, %ens punished with unrelenting. sever*.
These inexoraiile Patriots could not comprehend how. in-
'competency coal.) be a plea for dishonour. They pardon
ed a defeat ; they even C-,11.c.1ti the defeated flelieral fin.
hiS 'NlX:Sweet in himself and Lis tellow-c.itizensa but thy
glitlignatsonressign to the. ekeiny. Ole most trivial artcri-
Lee of the national- bonunr r.fti d with dea h. With