The National Register.
London, England, 1808-01-24 00:00:00

INA L 11 EG IST Eit .

JAN 21.

fon% ard, it is dillictlit to conceive. Do they expect instir
rections on the Continent, in ennsetpience of the present restric-
tions on trade? Or do they imagine that Bonaparte will be
mined by the miseries of his people to renounce any of his pre-
sent pretensions ? There is something in the phrase of toot nego-
ciatit unless upon a footing of perfect equality, which we do
not well understand. Has Bonaparte eocupropsieed to treat
with us as a subordinate nation? Has he evp• presumed to in-
sinuate that'the independence of Britain was VI t as complete as
the independence of' France? 0f...1ch pretensions we have
never heard the least Whit:ohm; tIM It is therefore to smne-
thing else that the language of' our Ministers must refer. Per-
haps they expect that those allies whom we were unable to de-
fend, should be restored to their territories and to independence,
in order that 13E41'0.. and France might be placed, at the com-
mencement of negociation, on an °equal footing as to their re-
spective influence iu Potrope.-11 such wild speculations ever
enter into their Counsels, in vain shall we pray for the return
of ikace, in vain lament the devastation of perpetual war.

REVIEW OF POLITICAL DECLAIMERS.

No. IV.

THE INDEPENDENT WHIG.

We shall never cease to be the ad visetttes of the free and manly
publication of every one's sentiments, through the medium of
trite press. The full and independent discussion of every public
measure, the clear exposition of All the Arguments which can
be brought forwards, both by its friends and enemies, and the
universal diffusion of these reasonings among ati the inhabitants
of the kingdom, we consider as this most certain preservative of
public tranquillity, the most impregnable bulwark of our Go-
vernment and Constitution. The British Government rests,
nut upon fear, but upon public opinion: its only danger pro,
coeds nut ttuu iono ranee of the great mass of the people, which
make-, them liattise to become Cite dupes of desig-ning men, and
k apt to precipitat • them into disorders, and even rebellion,
from mere misapprehension. When the people are well inform-
ed with regard to the measures of Government, when they are
accustomed to discuss them frocly in their families and in their
clut,s, there is no danger of misappreherhion ever leading to
v iolenee : if the men:it res of (o‘t-rnment be sc.,lly wbe and good,
the arguments in tt,t irfavour hill at least silence the disaffected;
and even when these measure' are tutjustifiable. men accustomed
to discussion will declaim, wit! prim, will take every me,
thod of rendering. their disapprobation
,pulilic, but will never
have recount' in the eld barbarous practice Or mobbing and
burtMig hou,es, hiub, t4tw know, %lilt only brim- down speedy
pimb=hineitt upon themselves, and render every vse man theft-
enemy.

IVliile, on these accounts. we are :lex inns that politirat
knowledge should be dilliised alnfl el:L.ly portion of the lours:
classes of the community. we are the noire taltilineil with indig-
nation at those cleelainier, who attempt t' ; aio• Ihr favour of the
common people, b% c*i ft iii their It:cent:swot against thrir
rulers; who are inere.autly employed • il, 'rivet:Mg vulgar pre-'
indices instead t.f removing them. and who ore gh.d to pain a.
circulation for their papers, at this privecof rendering the peo-
ple discontented, clamourous, and seditimet. These arts the real
enemies of Government ;tad ;mid order ; these are ii; truth thi
mast dattgerous eitemies of the people, whole passions and pr-
judiees they flatter. They convert that knot% ledge which
would he the great source of national happiness, into a cor-
rupting and destroying ; and petilwag the reign of
ilea and delusion, by the triumph which they give to the hatci
of istprovement and civilization.
These etuniderations have drawn from us some observations
on The lisifependriat Whig, a pitper, which, ne understand, ha;
acquired a robsiderable circulation among, the lower orders 01
the people. The Whig seemed, at first, to be a scion of that
faction, .frown tt hich it deritem its nausea; but it has since en-
tirely coale-red h ith a party which professes to hale N big and.
'fury egitall, ; a party which us yet is ouly distinguished by
• havirer Sir frunils Mullett litad. Jihe chief characteris-
tic of this p:sper is uougual che men co of language, in apirlicatioo

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