The National Register.
London, England, 1809-02-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

FEB. 5.

10 OUR MI IsSe:tatiEßS AND THE PUBLIC.

It is tree intention of the Prcprietors of the National Register
to present their Subscribers and the Public in general with a
COMPO.ETE SERIES OF PORTRAITS of the whole of the MALE
BRANt"!IES of the ROYAL FAMILY, from Paintings by the
most distinguished Masters, in the same splendid and beautiful
manner as thePoRTRAir of his Al AJCSTirs which was distributed
GRATIS ON SUNDAY LAST. The choice and first impressions
of -Oie Plates will be, of course, selected for the Subscribers to
this Paper ; therefore early applications will secure the most
valuable Portraits. The National Register will contain a Bto-
GRAPH Y OF TUE PRINCES, by ON ESIMUS; a task which
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and which will-be regularly accomplished so as to accompany
the several Portraits in succession. THE LIKEN i:ss or TII E
PRINCE OF WALGS will be ready for delivery on Sunday next,
February 11th.

The object of the Proprietors is to put the British Commu-
nity in possession of faithful Portraits and Characters of the
principal Personages of the ILLUSTRIOUS HOUSE OF
BRUNSWICK ; but as their.loyal intentions cannot be accom-
plished with their confined resources, they have resolved, though
still abandoning all idea of profit, to charge Sixpence for each
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This Series will form a Set of Pictures of the Illustrious
House of Brunswick, worthy the Drawing Room or the Ca-
binet, and will render the National Regibter particularly va-
luable, as presenting the only complete Set of the Royal Family
extant. t

.4 Chronological Table of the Events of the past Year, tope-
21ter with a Copious index, to complete the First 'Volume of this
Paper, Ia now ready for delivery, which may be had of all the
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Price Eight-pence.
POPULAR I/ILEAC/MRS in nur next.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Lontou,
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1809.

POLITIC4L OP THE WEEK.

Wes are sorry to state, that positive advices have been
received of the invasion of Portugal by a considerable
French force, and that all the British were preparing to
leave that country, as also the principal Portuguese fami-
lies. Au observation, supremely true, forces itself on our
minds on this occasion, that falsehood is sooner or later
detected, sophistry exposed, and bluudcrs followed by dis-
grace and punishment. Our readers cannot but remember,
that the reasons assigned for acceding to the Armistice
and Convention of Ciutra, consisted in the almost impreg-
nable strength of the works which JUNOT had thrown up
in the neighbourhood of Lisbon. Have these works
been demolished ? ur have they vanished into air ? We
gave no .credit, at the time the merits of the Cintra busi-
ness were the subject of discussion, to the existence of these
fortified positions; and we founded our disbelief on the
probability that JUNOT would not have so easily consented
to their evacuation, had they been so very tenable as the
Conventionists, their friends, and dependants had repre-
sented them. But a short time will prove the truth or
fallacy of the conjecture we then hazarded, We sincerely
wash it wore uufouhded• We. would willingly suhmit to
/;

95

. _
the mortification. of being detected .an au erroneous and
precipitate conclusion, if future occurrencas sbew the pos-
sibility of our troops being able to maintain themselves
in these positions WI the arrival of reinforcements, or a
change of fortune, in favour of the patriotic Spaniards,
should compel the enemy once more to evacuate the coun-
try. But these arc pious wishes we dare not indulge in ;
and future events, we arc much inclined to apprehend,
will too strongly demonstrate that the cries of indiguatioef
repeated from one extremity of the Empire to another,
were not only just, but even too moderate, considering
the disgrace N% e sustained, and the pernicious tendency it
had to sow discontent among the Portuguese, and to render
them indifferent to the liberation of their country.
A false and dangerous opinion begins to gain ground,
fostered, as usual, by party spirit, and re-echoed by hire-
ling writers,—that Great Britain should make no etiost to
favour of the Continent, unless the natives Isere to
make corresponding exertions and sacrifices in support of
their independence. To lay this down as a principle,
would be the most dangerous maxim we could adopt
in pol t cal reasoning, or in practical government. Tee
moment we take it as the rule of our conduct, we re-
nounce, for ever, every hope of curtailing the present
alarming preponderance of the enemy, and abandon
every wish of resisting his future cucroachments.
thing is more flattering in Pre present depraved state of.
society, and in the universal lack of public spirit, than ge-
neral maxims, which gratify our selfishness and love of
ease. individuals are unwilling to meet the great sacrifices.
which a system of enesgetic policy imposes on the comma-
nity ; and, notnithstanding their conviction of its advan-
'l tages, cheerfully abandon it iu favour of their effesnittan.fa
and avarice.
It must be recollected, at the same time, and constantly
repeated, that we are not fighting for the Portuguese and
Spaniards exclusively :—W'c arc contending for our own
safety, our own rights, our own freedom; in the present
state of mankind we would be* afraid to repeat,—ter our
own glory. and pre-eminence. These words are like the
voice crying in the desert, they are spent on trees and
Jocks,—they can extract no correspondiug sound from the
cold, unfeeling hearts of the present generation. Let us,
however, without a single particle of sensibility fur the
sufferings of the Spaniards, or of abhorrence foe the
atrocity of the aggression, make some efforts to prevent the
french from obtaining undisputed possession of the Penin-
sula ; to occupy his attention in such a manner, that it be not
solely directed to the invasion of our own shores. part iculas
nose of Ireland. If the natives of Spain do Rot possess
ail the energy and enthusiasm we were led to expect,
tney have displayed more of both than could reasonably
be hoped for flint) a people, who, for two centuries, had
been oppressed by the most galling and odious despotism.
They arc still in arms; their detestation of their invaders
has not abated ; they have the sublime courage to cliug
fast to the last plank of their sinking country ;, they have
manifested no inclination as yet to purchase- safety vii.tla
dishonour; and the correspondence of the traitor MonLa„
describing the heroism of the people of Madrid, notwith.
standing the treachery of their lead,ms, and the immense
force of the enemy, is sufficient to refute the despicable-
falsehoods that have been lately published of that people.
' W!:0 dues not recollect the generous enthusiasm which
inspired the people of this country, when the first account*
of Spanish resistance were conveyed to our shores. When
nas it evaporated ? Oh I we must not be so eager. to dig..
over a mote in our neighbdfir's eye, when we have a beam
in our own I We scoff at, we proclaim aloud the relaxa.
tion of Spanish energy, with an intention, no donbt, -to
palliate our own apathy. Even Ministers seem to despond.
Their silence is alarming. The Taunted reparations
for a formidable expedition have terminates, it seems,
in orders for the transports to go round to Chatham. We
were so proud of the spirit which began to manifest itself
some months ago; we hailed it as the revival of 04 ye-,

CEP

~ cars wau to ‘eupive** Al•ae%•• 1 w %•-•■••y•,..- ••••- - • •-- • ---•--- --- --- -- --- -- rs- -J
t Paper, is now ready for delivery, which may be had of all the voice crying in Lthe desert, they are spent on trees and
Newsmen and Booksellers throughout the United Kingdom. Jocks,—they can extract no correspontliug sound from the
Price Eight-pence. . cold, unfeeling hearts of the present generation. Let us,
POPULAR PREACIIERS in nor next. however, without a single particle of sensibility fur the
. sufferings of the Spaniards, or of abhorrence for Use
THE NATIONAL itEGIS'I.ER. atrocity of the aggression, make some efforts to prevent the
french from obtaining undisputed possession of the Peniu-
ssursamamagr.... '--'-'11"--7---'*"' sula ;to occupy his attention in such a manner, that it be not
LonDott, solely directed to the invasion of our own shores. partii;ulas ly
hose of Ireland. If the natives of Spain do not possess if
ail the energy and enthusiasm we were led to expect,
have displayed more of both than could reasonably 1
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1809.
~1j
POLITIC4L BVII:NTS of THE WEEK. he hoped for fioin a people, who, for two centuries, had 1
been oppressed by the most galling and odious despotism. 1
Chet' arc still in arms; their detestation of their invaders
+!-
We are sorry to state, that positive advices have been
has not united ; they have the sublime courage to chug :4
I received of the invasion of Portugal by a considerable
fast to the last plank of their sinking country ;, they hale
French force, and that all the British were preparing to
manifested.. no inclination as yet to purchase safety wialla
leave that country, as also the principal Portuguese lami-
dishonour;
snonour ; and the correspondence of the traitor Ma oLt,
lies. Au observation, supremely true, forces itself on our
describing the heroism of the people of Madrid, notwitb... ..
minds on this occasion, that •falsehood is sooner or later
standing the treachery of their leaders, and the immense
detected, sophistry exposed, and bluudcrs followed by dis- force of the enemy, is sufficient to refute the despicable-
grace and punishment. Our readers cannot but remember,
falsehoods that have been lately published of that people.
that the reasons assigned for acceding to the Armistice , Iv
. ..:0 dots not recollect the generous enthusiasm which
and Convention of Ciutra, consisted in the almost iinpreg-
i_nesi,;are.d..:tshhe people of this country, when the first account*
1 . Liable strength of the works which JUNOT had thrown up resistance were conveyed to our shores. When •
in the neimhhourhood of Lisbon. have these works "11'1
~. nas it evaporated ? Oh I we must not be so eager to dig..
been demolished ?ur have they vanished into air ? We over a mote in our ncighbOiir's eye, when we have a beam
gave no -credit, at the time the merits of the Ciutra bust- in our own I We scoff at, we proclaim aloud the relaxa.
I 1 uess were the subject of discussion, to the existence of these
tpiaiolii. of Spanish energy, with an intention, no doubt, -to
fortified positions; and we founded our disbelief on the lat e our own apathy. Even Ministers seem to despond.
probability that JIINOT would not have so easily consented ,Choir silence is alarming. The Taunted reparations,
to their evacuation, had they been so very tenable as the fur a formidable expedition have terminated, it seems,
Conventionists, their friends, and dependants had reprc-
in orders for the transports to go round to Chatham. We
seated them. But a short time will prove the truth or
were so proud of the spirit which began to manifest itself
fallacy of the conjecture we then hazarded, We sincerely some months ago; we hailed it as the revival of thit ye-,
Wash al wore oufoundedo We. would willingly suhmit to
. .
.ijr