The National Register.
London, England, 1809-10-01 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

OCT. 1.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

11-on Don,
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1809.

POLITICAL svcsirs OF THE WEEK•

♦lthough the events of the last week have been des-
titute of that meridian splendour which accompanies
brilliant achievements, Set they have not been altogether
without interest.

Our domestic politics have presented the uncommon
scene of our Sovereign soliciting public characters to as-
sist in the business of the nation, and of being refused,
unless he will suffer himself to be dictated to in a way that
no private man could with honour submit to. What
would be thought of a nobleman, who, when he offered
the situation of steward to a person who possessed his con-
fidence, should be told by that person, that he would un-
dertake the trust upon condition, only, of nominating the
the under steward, the secretary, the butler, the coaeiman,.
and, in short, every menial about his establisment ? Is it
to be endured by a liberal and spirited nation; that a family
whose enormous emoluments and consequence, has been
derived from this very Sovereign, shall dictate to an in-
dependent branch of the Constitution ? Shall not a King
of England have the same right to employ whom he please•
as one of his subjects ? Does the public opinion call for
tke services of Lords GREY 'and G RENVILLE ? Certainly
not.—Shall the KING of ENGLAND, then, not be allowed to
select such Ministers as he finds to have views and inclina-
tions most agreeable to, and correspondent with his own ?
Or, if willing to accede to the wishes of those in whom he-has
confidence, he shall direct his attention to men who are
already enjoying the public pay in placid indolence and'
inactivity, is he to expect a refusal, unless conditions are
complied with, derogatory to his dignity, and perhaps to
his conscience ?

Denmark seems to have made some -retrogade mo-
tions from that fierce austerity of warfare, which appears
to be.the result of principle and not of plunder. She has.,
relaxed in her exertions against our trade in the Baltic,
and permits timber, &c. to be exported to friendly ports,
from whence it is conveyed with great facility to England.
The fact is, the inhabitants of Norway have been 'reduced
to the utmost extreme of distress and famine. The com-
mon people had subsisted, till almost exhausted, upon the
bark of trees, ground down and made into a sort. of paste.
We have permitted certain articles of provision to be re
ceived by them, which has literally saved them from the
most dreadful of all the means of terminating existence.
In consideration of this relaxation on our part, the iodul-
aence has been granted to which we allude. So much
more powerfully does commerce harmonize mankind, than
literature or even religion. . Mutual wants and reciprocal
necessities are the strong chains with which. Providence
binds the inhabitants of the whole world together.

BUONAPARTE is still otcupied in Ger-twiny, without hay-
L brought the pegotiations with the pnieror Ft ANC/8 to

ON

termination. Reports have indeed been circulated that
Peace was concluded, but this was merely a conclusion.
drawn from another report that rejoicings had been heard
upon the French coast. The whole rests upon no autho-
rity. As little credit, we fear, is to be given to the other '
contradictory report, that the Emperor FRANCIS. goaded -
by conditions that insulted his pride and cauterised his feel-
ings, had at length determined to resist, and that he had
every assurance from the Emperor ALEkANDER. that he I
would join him. Ile must b 3 a puny politician indeed.

that hiving attentively observed the conduct of-the two;
Emperors of the East and West, can believe such a state.
meat. There is no direct authority for this report7t,
but even supposing the statement to Cand irresistisbiesi
we should certainly form a very diKrent opinion .441
4he transaction. We can readily believe that BVONZ;b:
PARTE has not been able to receive those additions to his.
army which the events in Spain, and his other necessary'
draughts of men required. That in conseqqence of Allis
he has found inactivity favourable to his ties is'; both as
it affords him the opportunity of paying some attention to.,

the affairs of Spain and Holla!id ; and as it gives the Rue,
sian trolps time to arrive, an..!' in a condition for acting.
The crafty policy of the Corsican may, perhaps, induce him
to lull or permit the feeble FRANCIS to be lulled into a be-
lief that the Russian Emperor•will assist him, in the event ,
a rupture, and by that means gel his prey delivered over.

to him bound hand and foot by the power wnom his credu-
lity had induced him to trust.---Poiiey is th same treache.
rous game described by TAcITUS, MACHIAVEL, and 1)■
R ETE.

Of the affairs of Splin we can add but little, Gerona has
eNbibited an example that if it could but communicate
spark to fire the other parts of that Peninsula with the
same bravery anti heroism, we should even now cease to
despair of the cause ; but we fear that it will be unavailing
in its effect, and unavailing as an example. Gerona, has
however, been relieved by a detachment from ItomANA's
army, and it is said the discomated French arc raking
from the siege.

Walcheren is proving the grave of our soldiers. It is,
stated that one half of our army are in the' hospitals at
that place. We wish most sincerely they" were again land-•
ed upon their native shores.
Of the treaiy said to be concluded between France and.
America, we know nothing decisive. That the American.
Government with the little huckstering policy which has
marked its conduct for some time, have sent over a pt.rsoie..
for the purpose of treating with France, we can readily
believe, and possibly think to frighten us by the appreben-
slon, but we trust it will not succeed If that Governme:tt
has reaily been sincere in trying by every expi.dient, by
Muster and concession, by coaxing- and niemace to aaccrt
the horrors of war, ire cannot believe that even in a moments
of irritation •it would quarrel with us, lIICTP:y to thr.qw
itself into the arms of a tyrant, who in the event of a, .....
Illrttia
contest can relieve it from no burthen, or eveh asitis
•it in any shape wha!eter ; but this is the, age A r„u.','t
tiers, and we almost cease to be surprised at whatiner tcrak ..-
politics may take.
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