The National Register.
London, England, 1811-09-01 00:00:00

NATIO]

Franca,—•that island of Corsica which, according to Rousseau's
presentiment, was one day to astonish Europe. Corsica has
astonished all Europe ! Out of her has come that man, Emperor
or Destroyer, 44 who declared, in the face of the nations,
(observed Prometheus) " that he would destroy the Papal
power; who, self-crowned as self-raised, disdained to accept
his diadem from the hands of a Roman Pontiff; who has since
anuiliilatcd the Inquisition, that most dreadful engine of Popi*h
politics; and who seems rapidly dissipating the grossest Ecclesi-
astical Superstitions." Repudiating his former wife, has not
this man, Napoleon Buonaparte, keeping his great promise,
contracted another marriage, the fruit of which, threatens the
Papal powers with utter destruction ? The King of Rome i•
born! Ile is born ; and he lives.

Connected with those leading events which are yet to be,
connected with the extirpation of the papacy, is the -long and
still fateful drama of the Peninsula. Spain will feel this.
Portugal cannot remain exempted. The true cause of both is
the same cause. The day is far spent—the night is at hind.
Superstition's sun is fast descending !

This state of things will be felt here. Whilst the rule lasts
with France—overtures for pacification, but pacification still
rejected. France must yet work eur woe. Looking fairly
then at the scene before us, how can we expect to escape the
efTects of Domestic Divisions, religious and political; of popular
Cah3llings, and Discontents; of Commercial Disappointments;
r:f Military Depredationa, and Theological Animosities; of,
perhaps, Legislative Impeachments ; and of Public, Libels,
v.-ith all the insidious retinue of what men term lesser evils ?
Tiler? are causes enough for these. Causes must produce their
cfects.

Iconld bring the foregoing admonitions home to all heitts.
But their accomplishment draws near. They speak that which
.an will soon feel, and which all must thus at length own. Eng-
land will mourn with Europe; Europe will mourn with Eng-
land. The axe is laid to the root.

Some will not have, what all sigh for,—Peace!—and hence
hearts still bleed, and eyes weep. ' War, war, war; has been
their gain, and is their cry ; and still they bait, and let loose,
the dogs of war ! Thew du not wish for peace, for they do not
love peace. Through these we have wars. Corsica so fulfilled
the predicti, n of P.cnsstau!

Britain stands singly. :Jay the long stand! Amidst the
wreck of States, she has been their sea-mark. What is to come !
Britain will yet thus stand, if she looks to herself.
'What is to c(xne ?—Eventful futurity is rapidly disclos'ng.
Let men wake, and not sleep ; let them watch, and not doze ;
let them hope, and not faint. I lope might work much. Hope
In truth ; hope ar,,iinf.t hope ; hope of heart.
August, 1811.

PROMETIIEUS.

SiIDL ERS' lIALL 00N.

'Thursday being the day appointed for another ascension of
Mr. Sadler, in his balloon, from the Mermaid, at Hackney, a
repetition of the same scene as occurred• in the last ascent, pre-
sented itself on all the roads leading to that spot from the me-
tropolis—the only difference was, that th:usands were Increased
to tens of thousands, and the pressure of carriages and pedes-
trians wai in tenfold proportion to_ what it was on that occasion.
The gardens of the Mermaid were also crowded with rank,
beauty, and fashion, anxious to become spectators of the nine-
teenth ascent of the venerable aeronaut. The balloon was
lilted in the same spot as on the former occasion, and displayed
a repetition of the same magnificent spectacle. The ground

was kept by a detachment of tile Tower Hamlets Militia, and
• great ntisiber of constables. •'Two military bands, as on the
occasion of his last accent, had been procured to play a number
• of the molt favourite enilitary airs for :he amusement of the
ausupiay promenading the grew, and nothing which could 'add