The National Register.
London, England, 1811-02-24 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

114

Such are, Sir, the arguments which the ambitious
and designing use, either in ter_kritiugcor
hi
speeches hi public meetings, to impose additional
taxes on the credulity of the people. Their un-
daunted confidence alone insures their success.
Conscious that a native boldness of expression is the
distinguishing characteri,tic of truth, they make
audacity a passport for deceit. Heralds of their
own fame, they sound its note so long and loud in
the ears cif the community. that those whom they
at first disgusted.or alarmed, grow at length accus-
tomed to the sound. What becomes familiar soon
ceases to be unpleasant. The first impression
wears away in the minds of the weak and. tinreflec.
ting, and in the course of time they become ardent
admirers, zealous supporters, and unconscious dupes,
of the political quacks whose folly began by excit-
ing their contempt, or whose designs at first struck
them with dismay.

That this is a fact, a single glance at the features
of the times will prove. Are we not crowded with
pigmy politicians, who at the call of a few ambitious
men have suddenly started from the deepest obscu-
rity into public existence ? And what advantage
does the State derive from their patriotism ? Do
they even pretend to assist it, by exerting their influ-
ence over the people, in the tremendous struggle
for national existence and liberty, in which we are
engaged with France ? No : instead of enforcing
the necessity of incessantly and resolutely resisting
the encroachments of the enemy ; they try' to im-
press our minds with a sense of weakness, which
does not exist. They tell us that our means are
unequal to the contest, and in shameless defiance to
truth and experience, denounce those very mea-
sures, as imbecile and vain, which have so long
checked the once uninterrupted course of French
triumphs in the Peninsula. They exclaim, that to
support, however successfully, and successfully it
has hitherto been, the cause of Portuguese inde-
pendence, is to waste the blood and treasures of the
nation in unprofitable wars, and to disarm our
country of that internal force which may soon be
needed to repel invaders froM shores. Either
they are. blind, or on this point of so much vital
importance, they wish to deceive the nation into
ruin. They know, that by maintaining on the
Tagus the brave army which has never fought
without conquering, we compel
./slAror. EON to col-
lect nearly the whole of his. veteran legions in the
Peninsula, in order, if unable to drive us, as be
vainly boasted, into the sea, to prevent us from
snatching both Spain and Portugal for ever from
perceive, that as long as the
Empire is detained at such

a distance from our coasts, no attempt at invasion
can be _made, and yet availing themselves of the
natural prejudice which has always existed in the
people of this country, against campaigns on the
Continent, they endeavour, through the means of
popular clamour, to obtain the recall of our troops,
and thus in a short time to transfer the seat of war
to our plains ! Is this a pledge of patriotism ? I
am mild, Sir, and put the best construction on
things, when I say, it is a proof of complete imbe-
cility. Others may -probably deem it the result of
a treacherous' intelligence with the enemy, but for
the honour of my country
.1 will not encourage
such a supposition, although founded on the most
plausible grounds.

But, Sir, if the conduct of modern patriots, either
through folly or design, tend to encrease the dan-
gers with which we are threatened,. and that such is
their conduct and its tendency, no doubt can be en-
tertained by" those who have heard their. declama-
tions and perused their writings, what titles do. they
possess to • our gratitude ? What claim can they
urge on our liberality ? But the people of this
country is infatuated. Ever ready to abuse its /130 J
sincere friends, it yields a willing support to its most
bitter enemies. Thus has political deceit become
a profitable trade. Let a. man write or talk against
abuses and administration, and he will suddenly 'be
surrounded by an host of admirers. If his sole
longing be after praise, he needs go no fur.
they, He may add that he is the champion
of the people, and he will be most religiously be.
lieved. But if fortune he his aim, let hint on some
popular ground make a resolute stand against the
laws of his country : let him enter the lists with
superior power, and however unjust he his cause,
his fall will dralN down a golden shower from the
admirers of his audacity, and he will ultimately
rise again, renewed in his circumstances a " sub=
scriptioned" and wealthy man. It is this hope,
Sir, which has, I am credibly informed, braced the
nerves of so many political culprits in our Courts
of Law : their fortune depended on the degree of
rashness w:tich they displayed before the highest
judges of the land, and the temerity and impro.
priety of their conduct form a fair scale, not indeed
oftheir patriotism, but of their want of, or love for,
the money of the people.

Trusting that }you will not deny insertion to these
remarks in a Paper, which has never ceased since its
establishment to unmask hypocrisy.

••/

:31~?'.

I remain, Sir,
Your constant Friend, tj
. • AMOR P.A.-TRIAls-
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NATIO•

I,OIIEIGN INTELLIGENCE.

FRENCH PAPERS.

- PARIS, FEB. 12. • 1
pvpORT Ot :lint STATE OF THE ARM? IN PORTUGAL, AT
THE DATE OF JAN. 20, 1811.
The French army in POrtugal,' after having remained above '
a month hs its position at Sabra], under the English .entrench-
silents, found it necessary to draw nearer the country whence
its supplies are derived, and has occupied a line more in the rear,
the lett of which has-its appai at Santarem, where the second
urps is stationed, and the right of which rests on Tretnes and
Alcanlieda, where the troops of the eight corps are posted.—
The advanced posts are masters of Rio-Major, the bridges of
Celorico, Calhoris, and Assaca ; Oureui, Leyria, Thomas- and
rombai, by the sixth and ninth corps, and the reserve of the
cavalry, which pushes its detachments towards Coimbra and
the sea. The head-quarters of the army are at Torres Novas.
Tile division of Loison has been posted on the Zezere, which it
pas.;ed at Punhete and Martinchelon over bridges of boats, de-
fended by tele.l 4a pont. The artillery, the sappers, and the 44th
marine battalion, animated by the same zeal and activityas their
officers, have succeeded in establishing two sus of bridge-appa-
ratus, consisting of SU boats each, destined for transporting our
troops to the left of the Tagus. The country afforded no re-
sources for these great works; the cordage, and even the instru-
ments employed in levelling the first trees, were created by the
industry of our workmen. The army is in excellent condition,
and has suffered no kind of privations. Down to the present
time, the soldiers have been amply supplied with bread, maize,
butcher's meat, and almost always with wine. The regiments
have numerous herds of cattle, sheep, an allowance of biscuit
for thirty days, a great quantity of maize, corn, and vegetables.
The plains of Golgou, which for the last three months have sup-
plied the army, begin to be exhausted. Our detachments have
gone in search of corn, even on the banks of the Mondego.—
The army has but few sick, their number amounting only to
twelve hundred. There are no deserters. All that the nglish
publish, on,this subject, is invention: On the contrary, no day
passes without two or three English deserters arriving in our
camp. We do not reckon the Germans and Portuguese among
deserters. The soldiers are animated by a gallant spirit ; they
burn with ardour to combat the enemy, and to merit the appro-
bation of his Majesty the Emperor and King. The cavalry
have suffered nothing ; the horses are fed with maize, and are
in tolerably good condition. The artillery has 3600 horses fit
for service. On the 22d of December the Count of Erlon, with
his second division, formed a junction with the army of Portu-
gal, the divisions of Claparede being at Lamego, on the banks of
the Douro. It had attacked and destroyed Silviera and Trant.
The division of Foi had advanced to Almeida. The English
army has its out-posts on the Rio-Major; their troops are placed
en cc/talon, on the ground enclosed by that river, and the en-
trenchments which cover Lisbon. Their head-quarters are at
Cartaxo. The enemy has fortified himself in his position, and
has mined the bridges of communication with our lines. He
has thrown over the left bank of the Tagus a division of from
12,000 to 15,000 men, which occupies Alnicyrin and Chaniusca.
This corps has erected over against the mouth of the Zezere
some redoubts, to render the passage of the Tagus snore difficult
at that point. The English have nc, bridge upon this river;
they cross it in boats to Villa Franca, Mugeni, and, above all,
to Azambria. Abrantes is occupied by two regiments. of the
line, and three of Portuguese militia, commanded by an En-
glish oflicer. The garrison is in want of provisions, which oc-
casions a considerable degree of desertion. The English lines
before Lisbon are covered by redoubts, to which the enemy
have added new works. These labours, and above all the na-
ture of the ground, render this a strong position: The popula-
tion of Lisbon, greatly increased by the peasants, whom the
English have forced to abandon their habitations on the approach
of the French troops, is a prey to the most dreadful famine.--
The.discontent of the Portuguese has arrived at its height.—
The position of the English becomes each day more critical ;
they snake immense sacrifices to maintain their tooting in Por-
tugal. All their pro Visions come from England ; even forage
for their horses is sent in transports. The English have organ-
ized in the :interior of the country some companies of the Or-
dinenza to intercept our conummications ; but the peasants who
compose them are badly artned,and betake themselves to flight
at the sight of the weakest of our detachments. Monsieur the
Duke of Abrantes was struck by a ball on the cheek, as he was
reccAnnoitering the enemy's out-posts. The wound is slight,
and affofds no ground for uneasiness.
(Signed) CASSABIA NCA,
Major and Aid-de Camp to his Excellency Monsieur
the Marshal Psince•of.,Eoling.
Paris, Feb, 9,1811.