The National Register.
London, England, 1814-02-20 00:00:00

SUNDAY, F EBR VARY 20. 1814

No. 319.

POLITICAL DISQMS ITIO N.

CONFLICT OF OPINIONS.

The annals of the world do not present a more interest-
ing and awful period than the present. When has so
much anxiety, so much hope, and so much fear, filled
the heart of man ? When have more contradictory re-
ports and a greater vacillation of counsels, contributed to
encrease the perplexity of the public mind ? As long as
war raged and empires fell at a distance, we could retain
sufficient self-command to mark with precision the course
of devastation and the progress of the mighty ruin.
Placid in the immediate vicinity of the 'seat of action,
and almost within the sphere of the whirlwind which
now shakes the power of France to its foundations, all
our perspective faculties seem gone. We see, and do not
linovr; we hear, and do not understand. The fate of the
world is deciding by our side, but, in the tumult and
chats of events, we are led on as by an irresistible im-
pulse, without exactly knowing the views which are
pursued, or the prosy; t of success with which they are
attended. We hear every nation calling aloud on the
sacred name of peace, and at the 'same time baring the
sword for renewed slaughter. We see proposals made and
accepted, and yet no suspension to the ravages of war.
We behold a Congress assembled, Ambassadors from all
the nations of Europe exchanging their powers, meeting
to discuss bases which have already been settled, and as-
suming the language and deportment of friends to each.other,
and yet no treaty, and, we are falsely told, no negosiations
are carried OR. Couriers pass through the enemy's capital
ill order to hasten the progress of peace : our funds rise to
att unexampled height in that expectation, and the organs
of Ministers proclaim that they have resolved to treat
iilth NAPOLEON, because, notwithstanding the advance
of the Allies almost to the gates of Paris, no disposition
has been shown either by his people or his armies to over-
throw, or even to desert him, and, because our Plenipo-
tcntiaries state it, as their opinion, that lie retains too
inucli power to be put down by a continuance of
hostilities—yet, on a sudden, we hear of diilerences-
in the Cabinet. Our Allies are for peace, Lord
C %.iTLLREAGN and Lord LIVERPOOL are for peace,
the enemy is for peace. The terms are proposed,
accepted, and of such a nature as to reduce the
power of the French Dc..,spot below that of France under
her Kings. The object for which nations have so pro-
fusely bled, and England has made such constant and
enormous sacrifices, seems therefore at last attained, and
years of universal rest ar3 anticipated, when those dKer.
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ences in the Cabinet, or rsther between the Cabinet and a
higher rower, are said to break out. Lord Liviateoor,
offers his resignation ; but the value of the administration
to whieli he belongs is too strongly felt to allow of its dis-
solution. Councils are assembled: the determination which.
is to doom three or four hundred thousand victims to uus
timely graves, or to draw closely again the bonds of
European brotherhood, is reconsidered, and a medium
is found to reconcile the advocates of peace with the
supporters of war. Peace is not entirely rejected ; -but
the negociations ordered to be protracted, that the
sword may not be cramped in its exercise, and that the
value of the terms already obtained may be heightened by
the fresh torrents of blood they will cost.---Scarcely had
this account gained credit, when it was contradicted by
another, given with all the pomp of authenticity, and
stating that the dispatches sent to Lord CISTLER EAGH
were decidedly anti-pacific; that the negociations were
closed, and that the Allies had been peisuaded not to re-
new them until tinv should be in possession of Paris,
when the fate of Napoleon as. a monarch and a man woniJ
be settled accoriling to the real disposition of the people.
which had not revealed itself during their advailea. Th 4
• revolution produced in the public opinion by this account
did not last long, for though published by one of the sup-
-posed organs of administration, it was immediately
pronounced false by other ministerial prints ;. which
contended that the intentions. of. our Cabinet (though
averse to recognising BuoNxe.tr.er if the banished House
could be restored with the consent of the Allies and.
the French people), were to accede to any terms of peace
w hick the former might think sufliceiit to render the
Despot harmless, rather than to expose the alliance to
dissolntion by an unreasonable and impolitic secession
from the views of the. Powers of which it was composed.
No Alteration, it was maintained, had. taken place in the
instructions transmitted to Lord CASTLEREAGJI, and the
Congress opened at Chatillon. had not stopped its pro-
ceedings, • notwithstanding his Lordship's journey to
Troyes. As the disposition of the coalesced Monarch
was decidedly paeific, it was expected that the arranie,e-
mut of preliminaries would soon be completedj and a
port was added of their being actually signed.
Such have been the contradictory statemer.ts, wh:ch,
for the last fortnight, have agitated and effectual!)-
, blinded the public mied. What is the real state' of the
case, remains a profeend sesret in the midst of so many
explanations. To pretend to superior iliforniuticn on et
subject with which the chief agents in the importanti events
now passing, are alone acquainted, would only b(' to ens
crease the number of thoseitccounts which merely serve to
perplex the judsrnent, and to.:pro orl terwie_;
r,a,nvexaieltst.ite
fairs of
weeks. perb:inT a few .-t
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