The National Register.
London, England, 1809-03-05 00:00:00

1:6

nish an almost conclusive testimony that BONAPARTE is
preparing to accomplish the destruction he meditates
against that Power. Whether he succeeds, entirely de-
pends on the rapidity with which the former anticipates
the attack. As the present force he has in Germany and
in Italy is perfectly incompetent to the attainment of his
object, he will, probably, attempt to lull Austria, by a
semblauce of negociation, into security, until the necessary
reinforcements arrive from Spain. But this dis Simulation,
we would reasonably suppose, could not impose on the
most limited and artless peasant on the Croatian Moun-
tains, much less on a Cabinet which has experienced so
many proofs of the insincerity and treachery of the tyrant.
It is impossible, however, to determine how far the credu-
lity and infatuation of Cabinets may not extend. But of
the departure of the greater part of the French force now
in Spain, with the obvious intention of giving the last blow
tri German independence, we do not entertain the remotest
doubt. In this the tyrant acts consistently, and according
to the principles of the justest political calculation. That
he has been evidently disappointed as to the facility with
which he expected to bend the Spaniards to the yoke, is
notorious from his own. declarations some months ago,
when be said that even was to be accomplished before the
Ist of January. Another gross deception he fell into was,
the indifference he supposed the great body of that people
would feel to the atrocious means he employed to compass
that end. He has now learned, by personal observation,
that all his triamphs and dearly-purchased victories in that
Country, have not brought him a step nearer to the ac-
complishment of his purpose, than he had been ih Attgust
last. lie has broke and dissipated their armies ; but; in
proportion to their reverses, their abhorrence of him and
his detested family, has acquired additional force in the
breasts attic na ti yes. His promises, his threats, his cajolings,
his menaced vengeance, and profound dissinmlationf have
not gained a single partisan among the middling and lower
classes; and he has sustained the corroding mortification;
that all his artifice, and seduction, and promised reform,
the not produce even a particle of confidence, or abate the
deep rooted, national antipathy to himself and parti-
sans. As long as the natives were animated with these
sentiments, he had no other prospect of exacting obedience
and submission, than by keeping there a military force suf-
ficient to awe the entire population. This was totally im-
practicable, and dangerous in the extreme, whilst Austria
retained a semblance of free will, and continued her arma-
ments. Besides, a much less profound politician than BONA-
PA RTE unquestionably is, would have discovered, from
some symptoms in the North of Europe, that the Empe-
ror ALEXANDER begins to display coolness, if not signs of
decided hostility; and that a great alteration has taken
place in the views and sentiments of that Cabinet, he might
have surmised, from the continuation of the armistice in
Finland. The journey of theKlisto and QUEEN of PRUSSIA
to St. Petersburgh, contrary to his unquestionable inclina-
tion, and in manifest contempt of the permission he grant-
ed them to return to their capital, has changed surmise
into certainty. This determination of FREDF.RICK WIL-
LIAM has disappointed him besides of another royal prey ;
for had they been guilty of the unsuspecting generosity to
return to their former capital, whilst Stettin, Dantzic, and
other fortresses were garrisoned by the French, they would
mow, according to human probability, share the fate of the
Royal Family of Spain. The toils were finely laid ; but
the illustrious victims did not forget the Palma el bona
Prentes,
Such is the imperceptible change which has lately oc-
curred in the politics of the eastern and northern empires
of Continent. The precipitate return of BON APA RTE
to Paris, and the short sojourn he is said to have made
there, seem to confirm that the revolution io this elrect is
even greater than Ise have the courage to hope. Time con-
duct of the Prussian Government, since the evacuatiou of
its provinces, iil oidering the arrestation of 1 till CoUtt, who
filled a pi: c‘; of eVtliiiikfillAto coulltleuce wetter the.. l'rcuch,

MARCH 5.

and that of several other obnoxious individuals, who were
likewise employed, during the occupation, by the enemy,
can be explained and accounted for, or even justified, only
by the revolution which we suppose to have taken place in
the Russian councils. By this measure the Kier; of PRUSSIA
threw the gauntlet in the tyrant's face, and destroyed
every possibility of future reconciliation or pardon. A
circumstance, not sufficiently adverted to, though mention-
ed in the German and Dutch papers, will shew, in the
clearest light, the sentiments of the most distinguished
persons in Prussia, on the present vacillating state of con-
tinental politics, and fully corroborate our own conjec-
tures. As soon as the enemy had evacuated Berlin, every
Officer, civil or military; began, a short time after, to dis-
pose of his etrects, or to transport them ta Koningsberg,
—a proof they had received intimation that their Sove-
reign had no intention of returning to that capital, though
pressed to that effect by BONAPARTE.
Such is the present situation of that part of the Continent;
which is not under the immediate and absolute controul of
the enemy. Another change, not less auspicious, has
taken place iu Turkey ; and the Divan has already con-
cluded a peace with our Government. It was necessary to
take this view, in order to estimate the chances which
Austria has, in case of a rupture with France. We have
given, in a former Number, some details relative to her
present military force. We have, in the same Number,
adverted to the propriety of acting now, in preference to
any future occasion ; and our reasons wills we believe,
have convioced the most obstinate, silly, or knavish oppo-
nent of Continental resistance. Procrastination, the mania
of negociatinn-, a concealment from her subjects of her
whole mass of grievances, and the folly of relying on the
arts of diplomacy, instead of the sword, are the principal
dangers we apprehend for that Power in the present crisis.
Another more propitious opportunity of recovering- her in-
!
dependence, than the present, will, we arc afraid, never
again present itself. On the rapidity of her movements
her fortunes depend. Before the tyrant is able to draw a
single regiment from Spain; she ought to overwhelm Ba-
varia, and secure the possession of Tyrol, where the
Austrian Government is enthusiasiically loved. The inha,
bitants of those mountains were always celebrated for their
loyalty and bravery ; and, during the whole coarse of the
revolutionary wars evinced more zeal and ardour than any
other province of the Austrian empire. They have of late
skewed a most refractory spirit, and, on several occasions,
broke out into acts of rebelYton against
the Bavarian Go-
vernment, to which they were made over by the Peace or
Presburg. The same discontent pervades every part of
the South of Germany, where the introduction of the con-
scription has completely alienated the minds of the natives
from their respective Governments. A single spark is suf-
ficient to set Switzerland in a blaze, where French out,.
rages and tyranny have festered every heart; and filled it
with the most rancorous sentiments against their wanton,
brutal oppressors.
BONAPARTE is not ignorant of the popular sentiment in
Germany, and is probably prepared to meet its effects.
" The French army will evacuate the Spanish provinces as
tranquillily will be spread, and as they shall unite around
our throne." These are JOSEPU'S words in his circular let-
ter to the Bishops and Archbishops, and arc evidently in-
tended to disgui:ic the real cause of their departure. The
pompous and fastidious descripl ion of his entrance into
Madrid, aud the mention of so many deputations from the
several provinces to do homage to •the usurper, are calcu-
lated to impress on the minds of the Parisians the belief,
that as Spain is now completely tranquil and obedient, a
great military force is unnecessacy. This will explain the
affected silence of the last Bulletin with regard to military
occurrences.

Tiwig!' we believe, .with the fullest confidence, that
110.tilities in Germany are not remote, we still entertain
doubt: of BO NAPA RTE'S departuru from Paris. An
ewat of that LAs lioeu 'hitherto in-cue:led b; su:itc