The National Register.
London, England, 1809-01-08 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER,

18

head the disapprobation was general. Nevertheless, with
the exception of one distinguished officer, who has, for the
future, the justest claim to the esteem and confidence of
his Country and Sovereign, all the Members of the Board
have approved of the _Armistice. This is a most extraor-
dinary circumstance ! and, when contrasted with the uni-
versal abhorrence it excited in Portugal, Spain, and Great
Britain, we can account for it in no other manner, than
that of fellow-feeling. on the part of those who approved.
Opinion is almost every thing, in war. That of the con-
tinent in favour of our military superiority and discipline
had considerably abated since the conclusion of the campaign
of 1793. Some uufortunate Expeditions, since that time,
did not contribute to dispel this prepossession ; and the brav-
est army upon earth sank low iu the estimation of Europe. ,
This was a subject of equal indignation and regret to those
`• who were• acquainted with our army ; and, whilst every
part of the Continent resounded with-the crash of Thrones,
or writhed under the scorpion lash of the most abomiaable
I.vrant, our assistance, always successfully invoked by the
weak and oppressed, was declined as useless. We were
the only people capable and wilting to stop the alarming
evil; and, the descendants of those very men, who opposed
a bar to the overwhelming ambition of Pnittr 11. and,
who arrested LEWIS XIV. in the tide of his fortunes and
the torrent of his conquest, were considered to have so -
much degenerated-from the spirit of their forefathers, that
their interference, in a much more alarming period than
either of the above-mentioned, was rejected and scorned.
This deplorable misunderstanding sealed the doom of
European independence ; and the detestable people and
their ruffian chieftains, who waded in the blood of nations,
and gorged in their plunder, exhausted abuse, raisrepre•
sentatioli and intrigue, to keep up the fatal prejudice.
Our own Government seemed, for a time, to have imbibed
monething of the delusion; and, whilst Austria was strug-
gling, in the apparently last stage of her existence ; whilst
Prussia, Naples, Portugal, llP.nover, Ilesse Cassel, and
Brunswick, were making desperate efforts to av,:rt the
impending destruction, the British people, whose voice and
sword had formerly so much weight in the transactions of
Europe, stood aloof, and were restrained from taking a
part in the mighty conflict.

Such as felt the injustice, and were sensible to the dis-
advantages of the erroneous opinion entertained of our
army, ardently wished an opportunity might offer, when
our soldiers could recover their ancient reputation. It
came, auspicious as Fortune could give or patriotism wish :
and, whilst the feelings of the country came in aid of the
combinations of policy, a British army was transported to
the continent to secure this desideratum of the Statesman
and Patriot. Our army lauded in Portugal, inferior to
the enemy in number; and the gallant officer who eom•
tuanded them, and who proved himself so worthy of con.
ducting British soldiers, proceeded immediately, though
labouring under this apparent disadvantage, to give JIINOT
battle. He acted right, and in perfect conformity to the
soundest principles of political calculation : for it was not
sufficient to beat the enemy—Europe and our allieS were
to he convinced, that our troops were superior, in every
requisite of the soldier, to the vaunted legions of France.—
The battle of Vitneira attested this superiority ; and we
considered it, in consideration of its consequences, as one
Of the most important occurrences in our history. The

JAN. ft

public at large seemed to feel 'as we did; every tongue was
profuse of applause; and every countenance glistened with
unspeakable pleasure, at the first account of this splendid
victory. A defeat of 11,000 Frenchmen was not capable
of producing this universal sensation ; but, whilst our
hearts had cause to exult, our understandings and principles
were satisfied, that the affair of Vimiera was not a useless
scene of blood and carnage, it offered to Europe* certainty
of emancipation, might have torn from its pedestal the
Colossus of French preponderance, destroyed that system
of rapine, itamorality, and carnage, which had prevailed for
nineteen years, and raised our beloved country to the
summit of earthly grandeur and happiness.
These were the consequences the
.public expected, and,
had a right to expect from the victory of. Vimiera. Any
individual, therefore, however high his rank, or
pre-emi-
nent his former aervices, or distinguished his " zeal and.
firmness," who, by his incapacity or pusillanimity, marred
these expectations, deserves a measure of censure propor-
tionate to the injury he has occasioned. We abhor that-
political indifference or faint heartedness, which. is afraid
or unwilling to offend private feelings, when the dearest
interests of their country require this sacrifice. We thank
Heaven, we are also not without humanity, and feel as
much reluctance as any of our brethren to' contribute tq
the distresses or afflictions of others. But shall we be base
enough, from motives of interest, weakness or fear, to be
silent, or even approve, what we know to be a national
disaster as well as disgrace, and has already been produCtive
of such signal disadvantage to our allies. We abhor and
loudly disclaim every party feeling on the occasion; and
eau boldly appeal to our readers, if a single sentiment ever
appeared in the NATIONA L REOISTEZt which did not breather
an ardent desire to see the honour as well as interests of the
country promoted.
Unwilling, therefore, to have the honour of our arms, or
the reputation of the country degraded, we abominate, and
will never cease to condemn, every measure which may, in
the slightest sense of the word, contribute to either. The
public, in their addresses to the Throne, have been unani-
mous in their condemnation of the Armistice and Conven-
tion of Cintra on this very principle; and the Sovereign has
himself declared, that they disappointed the wishes and
expectations of the country : We trust, therefore, that
a more competent tribunal, than that of the Board of
Inquiry, will still examine the merits of the Armistice and
Convention.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FROM THE FRENCU PAPERS.

SEVENTEENTH BULLETIN OF THE ARMY OF'
Minato, Dtc. 10.—His Majesty reviewed yesterday on the
Prado, the Duke of Dantzic's corps, which arrived the day be-
fore yesterday at Madrid. He expressed his satisfaction at these
brave troops.
To.day he reviewed the troops of the Confederation of the
Rhine, forming the division commanded by General Leval. The
regiments of Nassau and Baden behaved well. The regiment of
Hesse Darnutadt did not sustain the reputntiimn of the troops of
that country.. The Colonel and Major appear to be men of
moderate talents.
The Duke of Istria set off on the sth for Guadalexera. fie
scoured the whole road from Saragossa and Valencia— made 500
prisoners, and took a great deal of ba4;ga.rae. At Bastoa a bat—
talion of,sooolen, summoned by the cavalry, were broken id
upon.