The National Register.
London, England, 1808-02-15 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

99

thing the French (tor ernment had done;" a clear expression of
his opinion how lawless and abominable the conduct of the
French towards other countries had been. The expression which
follows, too, is still more remarkable. " This aggression of
ours," he said, "justified :very thing tvitielt the French might
hereafter do ;" a decisive proof of his fears, that the French
would not yet cease in their h leas and aggressive career, and
were still dangerous neighbours. Arc such opinions as these com-
patible w ith the idea ola voluntary association, antecedent to all
pro7ocation, for the aggrandisement of Bonaparte, and the
subjugation of Britain ? Certainly not ; nor can a doubt remain
that to the attack on Denmark, and to that attack alone, we
owe the great and important change from friendly to hostile in
the Councils of Russia. This fact, which was highly probable,
from general evidence before, is, by the conferences which
Lord Hutchinson has related, placed beyond a doubt. Whether
we have by that attack averted any other evil equally great
with the enmity of Russia; whether we have attained any ad-
vantage of sufficient magnitude to compensate it ; rr Nether any
evil which it could avert, or any advantage it could procure,
could, in the eye of reason and justice vindicate it, are questions
of a diderent sort, the discussion of which we Inuit reserve till
another opportunity.

REVIEW OF POLITICAL DECLAIMERS.

No. VII.

MR. COBBETT'S SPITEFUL ATTACKS UPON TIM

AMERI( ANS.

If it has been violently objected to Mr. Cobbett, that his
opinions are mutable, and short-lived, he may defy his bitterest
enemy to bring this accusation against his resentments. These
would appear to he as deep and durable, as the others are hasty
and transient. Whether this peculiarity of character is a proof
of great wisdom, and great virtue, or the contrary, is not the
present question. The tact is undeniable, and is of no little
consequence toward enabling its to form a judgment of the Nv tat h
of his sentiments relating to the momentous questions on the
snliject of our relations with America. Almost all the opinions
which Mr. Cobbett held on the other side of the _Atlantic are
now changed. Mr. Pitt he then regarded as an angel for
talents, and a saint for purity ; he now designates him as the
,hrillow• hearted Pitt, and descrilws him as having been a cor-
rupting, jobbing, squandering oppressor. Sir Francis Burdett
was then a fiend let loose front the sulphurous pit ; he is now
only man who has a chance to be tat:' saviour of his country.
At that time lie d.seribed the British Constitution as equati,,
perfect in practice and in theory ; he now represents it as prat -
tically teeming wit abuses and corruption. Sue% is a ghost
specimen of the changes in Mr. Cobhett's opinions ; but his re-
sentments against the Americans appear to be as keen as ever.
He seems incapable of forgetting the violent quarrel he had with
them, and the loiscs and hardships which it cost hint. There is
something in this. however, extremely nereasonahle.
It wzri in preaching with violence and fury those very opinions
which Mr. Colibett has now renovated that he created those ene-
mies w hose ill offices have trades° tkep air impression on his mind.
Is it not extraordinary therefore that Air. Cobbett does hat reflect
that as his violence and fury in favour of opinions which he now
condemns, was highly nur:asonable, he may have given consi-
derable cause for that enmity which he excited, and against
which is resentment is yet so intense ? if so many of his opinions
were entirely wrong when he was in America, why may it not
happen that the very bad opinion which he formed of the
Annoicons themselves was st rang likewise Without adverting
to any other evidence of this allegation, may we not wonder
why Mr. Cubbett tides not reflect that this opinion which he
footed of the Americans. was little better than a corollary from .. •
the erroneous notions utiler which he then laboured. If Mr. Cob-. t
bett. when in America cannier:A all Kings, with their sods, ne2.
talcs, and clergy as deini-ois, her tr.-t ant 8T: els ; and by coheir
eau, 1;4.e linted vvloi had violent prejudices against thralls
al: ; and if Mr. Cobbett nos th:s .;ktreatl., alte:.:d his opini • - .•
fumy. sops. wat clergy, lo It
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