The National Register.
London, England, 1812-07-19 00:00:00

456

On the side of France, so far as the French and the Poles
are concerned, we see ambition and revenge inspiring the
combatants with ardour for the fi ht ; on the side of Russia,
we mark the exertions of a Power that has every thing at
stake, aided by a neighbouring kingdom, which has every
thing not only to gain, but to preserve, by victory.
and which, with Russia, must be annihilated by de-
feat.
At a crisis so big with fate, the question what line of con-
duct ought the Government of Great Britain to pursue, be-
comes truly important ? That England should remain an
unconcerned spectator of the contest is not to be-thouglit of,
but whether her conduct should he the same as in former
wars in which Russia has been concerned, may reasonably be
doubted. The propriety of subsidising that power as here-
tofore may fairly be questioned. Engaged as Russia is in a
struggle to which she is alone prompted by the principle of
self-preservation, it may reasonably be contended, that if
she cannot conquer without, she cannot with, a subsidy. It
ought always to be borne in mind, that without directly ad-
vancing, any sum to Russia on the present occasion, she
will viitually have the benefit of a much larger subsidy
than was ever allowed her in any former war. While the
armies of England keep employed from one to two hundred
thousand French soldiers in the Peninsula, Russia, from the
powerful diversion thus made iu her favour, may be said to
be assisted by a subsidy of.no less than twenty millions an-
nually.... She will learn to appreciate the value of such as-
sistance from the overtures made to this country by BONA-
? ARTE,- when about to lead his armies against her. Under
such circumstances we repeat it, it may fairly be asked,
has Russia any right to expect a direct subsidy from
England ?

That these considerations will be duly felt by Ministers
before they finally determine in what way to assist Russia,
we have not the smillest doubt ; but that they will never
give up the grand principle which 112. s long marked our con-
duct—that of unequivocally manife<ting to the world that
wherever a spit it of resi-tance to the tyrannical mandates of
France displays itself, there may the countenance and assist-
ance of England he calculated upon we. are equally confi-
dent. To this principle. a principle equally honourable and
politic, we are convinced they will firmly adhere—anytious
that surrounding nations may still look to England as to a
rallying point, whenever they feel themselves strong enough
to take up arms against their oppressor. Sorry should we
be to sec this principle sacrificed to any sordid feeling of
economy. Yet, looking to the etiect produced by subsidies
in former wars, we incline to the opinion that to give none
in the present instance might be a harmless experiment,
and that, as in the case of Portugal, British warriors, either
joined to the Russian arms, or acting in the rear of the
French. will yield much more eifectual assistance than Eng-
lish guineai.

Ankh Papers received, mentioned that SOU LT
from Seville, with 7000
rpose of forming a jutic
also added, that the 6th
either to attack General
(v/our of M ARNIONT.

H

The last Spanish Papers received,
innrched, on t4c, iOt It ofinst month,
infantry acid -_- ~;.',.;••• tel the flu
tion w itit : i P., V_ .. -- ;;-: is
~..,„ ,::=.• N..\ . '
army 1,40,0, -., -I-. • • ..',. ~ tls
4)
. • ...... ... „..
14 %tlt * r-I
' - . .
--ILLi A e;-: , , -:,:,,,i4v- ..; ~, ~ .in
: ' It-,.. %.:4,3... • *CI' 4.. 6,...
•,; ' :'%;:: .....-4,17
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