The National Register.
London, England, 1808-01-04 00:00:00

JAN. 4.

tract on which Mr. Cobbett lays the greatest stress, appeared
in The Political Register three weeks after Mr. Spence's pam-
phlet was published !!!
Hut it would appear, from this reply of Mr. Spence, that
Mr. Cobbetes charges were not altogether the result of igno-
rance; that Mr. Cobbett quoted in his Register five pages of
the commencement of Mr. Spence's pamphlet, and in all these
omitted only four words, in which it was distinctly stated, that
the opinions treated of were those of the Economists!!! But if
Mr. Cobbett had allowed his readers to know the truth, how
could he have arrogated to himself the discovery of these opi-
nions ;—The suppression was a master-stroke of policy !
We may pause and admire, when we recollect that this very
Mr. Cobbett arrogates to himself a monopoly of all the political
sagacity, honesty, and candour of the age—this very man who
cannot even pretend to political consistency, who has refuted in
one part of his writings whatever he has advanced in another,
who appears to copy authors who have written before him, and
then flatly accuses them of plagiarism; and who seems to want
even some grains of common honesty. We shall hereafter have
abundance of opportunity to exemplify the modesty, candour,
and moderation with which this immaculate reformer attacks
eery one who presumes to differ from Isis opinions.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.
'ROM THE FRENCH P.IPRRS.

Paris, Dec. 26,
IMFERTII. DECREC.—REJOIRDER TO BIS BRITANNIC MA-
JkATY's OIIDER IN COUNCIL., OF THE 11TH OF NOV. 1807.
At our Royal Palace, at Milan, Dec. 17, 1807.
Napoleon, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, and Pro-
tector of the Rtlinish Confederation :

Observing the measures adopted by the British Government,
on the II th of November last, by which vessels belonging to
neutral, friendly, or even Powers the allies of England, are
made liable, not only to he searched by English cruizers, but to
be compulsorily detained in England, and to have a tax laid on
them of so much per cent. on the cargo, to be regulated by the
Briti.h Legislature.
Observing that by these acts the British Government &nation-
a!,:es ships of every nation in Europe, that it is not competent
fur any Government to detract from its own independence awl
all the Sovereigns of Europe having In trust the sove-
reignties and independence of the flag ; that if by an unpardonable
weakness, awl vs tacit, in the eyes of posterity, would he an in-
delihle Ctain, such a tyranny was allowed to he established into
principles and consecrated by usage, the English Mould avail
themselves of it to assert it as a right as they have availed
themselves of the tolerance of Governments to establish the in-
famous principle, that the flag of a nation does not cover goods,
and to give to their right of blockade an arbitrary extension,
and which infringes on the Sovereignty of every State : we have
decreed, and do decree, as follows:
Art. I. Every ship, to whatever nation it may belong, that
shall have submitted to be searched by an English ship, or to a
vu'. age to Lngland, or that shall have paid any tax whatsoever
to the English Government, is thereby, and for that alone, de-
clared to be donatiunalized, to have forfeited the protection ut
its King, and to have become English property,
Art. 11. Whether the ships thus denationalized by the arbi-
trary measures of the English Government, enter into our ports,
or those of our allies, or whether they fall into the hands of our
ships of war. or of our privateers, they are declared to be good
and lawful prizes.
Art. 111. The British Islands are declared to be in a state of
blockade, both by laud and sea. Every ship, of whatever na-
tion, or S\ hatsaever the nature of its cargo may be, that sails
from the ports of England, or those of the English Colonies,
and of the Countries occupied by English troops, and proceed-
mg to Lnglaud) or tki the Loglish Colonies, or to Countries oc•