The National Register.
London, England, 1808-01-03 00:00:00

fi P-

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TO THE PUBLIC.

- THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

which the British Islands will sustain, from a blockade
by sea, while the enemy dares not send out a single vessel,
unless by stealth, into the Ocean, cannot much alarm us; and
the saute circumstances must free neutrals from any con-
siderable apprehensions. The terms of the decree, how-
ever, show how ready he is to sacrifice the interests of his
own subjects, and of all other nations in the universe, to
gratify his ungovernable resentment.
But it is France that must chiefly suffer from this im-
potent ebullition of vengeance. To the decree is subjoined,
in the Moniteur, a Circular Letter from the Minister of
the Interior, in which the miserable condition to which
France is reduced by the prohibitory edicts of her master,
is forcibly though unintentionally depicted. The Minister
here breathes nothing of that lofty tone which has hereto-
fore promised the speedy conquest of Britain, the sack of
London, and the utter annihilation of the great rival of
France. He tells the owners of privateers, that they will
have greater chance fur booty ; he expresses a hope that
neutrals may possibly elude our cruizers ; he consoles his
countrymen that their privations will be o►►ly temporary ;
and that substitutes will probably be found for ll►e neces-
saries and comforts of which they will he deprived. This
is truly an altered tone for a Minister of France ; and what
must give the strongest idea of the indefensible absurdity
of her ruler's present measures.

In the course of the week, a number of American
papers have been received. They contain the first proceed-
ings id Congress relative to the disputes with Great Britain.
There is much bullying in the tone of the American
orators, yet it appears evident that they arc much afraid
of the consequences of a rupture with this country, as
indeed they may. The merchants of Philadelphia and- of
several other places, have presented strong memorials
against the Non-Importation Act, which the policy
of Jotferson has never enforced, though left at his dis-
cretion. These memorials, which discover such a marked
aversion to any rupture with Great Britain, have been re-
jected by a majority; but at the same time, some ♦io-
ient Resolutions against Britain! have been rejected with
equal firmness. The Report on the affair of the Chesa-
peake was very intemperate ; but the junction of the great
opposition orator, \t r. RANDOLPH, formerly the staunch
friend of Britain, with the advocates for war, chews his
opinion that the American Government is inclined to paci-
fic measures. It is, indeed, said that our wise abandonment
of any pretension to search ships of war, has entirely done
away the hostile feelings of the American Government ;
and in this case we need not fear the foolish violence of
those demagogues who would vainly attempt to wrest from
us even the right of searching merchantmen.
There is one circumstance which we cannot pass unno-
ticed. Lord ERSKINFI it seems, had some time ago, from
what motive we do not presume to conjecture, invested a
considerable portion of his property in the American furies.
When his son was appointed American Ambassador, this
very circumstance was stated as one of the causes of that
appointment, as it was supposed his interest in America