The National Register.
London, England, 1809-04-09 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

234

of her inhabitants ; and the two energetic proclamations,
addressed by the Archduke CIIARLESI one to the army,
and the other to the body of the people at large, give us
reason to hope that every faculty of the state will be ad-
vantageously employed to oppose the approaching danger.
The force of the enemy, we know from fatal experience,
Is gigantic; but, we maintain, has rather diminished than
gained since the peace of Presburgh. He cannot now em-
ploy his undivided strength, as he did during the war
previous to that occurrence, in an attack upon the
Austrian frontiers. He is reduced to the absolute neces-
sity of maintaining, at least, 100,000 men in Spain,
if he is determined to retain its possession ; and that num-
ber is incompetent for the purpose. The French force now
in the Peninsula exceeds it ; and for the last two months, if
we except the capture of Saragossa. they have done no-
thing by any means corresponding with their first exec-
-40119, and their vaunted promises. In several provinces
their progress has been completely checked ; in others they
• have sustained reverses ; in all they have to awe, or to
contend with an impatient }instil; population. If the
Spaniards, labouring- under the impression of recent disas-
ters, have been able to stop them in their career; it is rea-
sonable to hope, that when they are assisted by a British
force of 40,000 men, conducted by the most intelligent and
enterprising officers in our service, and aided by Portu-
guese co-operation ; they will be enabled, with this
tional army of, at least, 70,000 men, to driv-
from the capital, and pursue them once
.m(
walls of Pampeluua and Barcelona.
According to probability this is not the 0.
our Government will make in favour of
whole line of Coast from Boulogne to the
Elbe mnst be carefully guarded by the
there is not a Tart of that extensive k
is not vulnerable. And, if a plan of host
sued, w Lich has been so frequently r;:com,
to the utility of which we have so often ad
is not a league of Coast, from Boul,:gue t
where we might not compel him to keep a
for its protection. The services rendered h
RAN r) an" the imposing- sanction of Lord N
strongly recommend the expediency of part
the enemy's shores ; 10,000 men arc adequa
vice, and might occupy 50.000 of the eiv2:o y.
to the same apprehensions and alarm en the
as long as we maintain a force in Sicily. W
from thinking that the manners of u arf
dilatory, or his Government so benign, the
implicitly on the services and affections of hi!
were Sir JOHN STEWART to make, in the pre:
an attack upon his mushroom kingdom.
Sic ly offers very great advantages
a di%ersion. If the force under Sir Jo.
were reinforced with only ten thousand rn,
sot only prevent Muria's, from detaching an'
BONAPARTE, hut reduce him to the necessit
for some. In every point of view this reintl;
advisable ; as occurrences may happen,
render its co-operation in the neighbourhoo
or Venice, decisive in favour of Austria,
4flversion towards either of these points,
ot- a hard contested campaign, might inv
Vie scale in favour of that power; the uni
vat of a single regiment has often decided
nately fought engagement. A force of 15,000
rear of an invading army, might stop it in
and force it to renounce all the advantages
after a series of sanguinary conflicts.
If these observations be just, BONAPA TIT
150,000 men minus at his disposal, than he b
1805, when he commenced the last war a;
lie has acgaired, to make up for this loss, a
49,030 Westphalians and Saxons ! But wit'
t7nce, wil! these unfortunates fight to support
of a tyrant they have so mach

APRIL 9

test! If, in political combinations, we are to take
the feelings of mankind into consideration, the same
repugnance must be felt by every individual in Germa-
ny. They cannot wish to promote a system of rapine,
which seals their own misery and degradation. They
are, in this inoineut, the most miserable slaves. They
have neither country nor name ; and their property
is diminishing daily. Under the former Germanic consti-
tution, the Princes now forming the Rhenish confederacy,
were indepeodent Sovereigus, uncoutrouled by foreign in•
thience, unless they voluntarily submitted to it. At pre•
sent they are as abject slaves of the Corsican Upstart, and,
in fact, more so than any of his Marshals.
But how different is the present situation of Austria to
what it was at the commencement of last war ! Her ar-
mies are mere formidable and numerous ; unanimity
exists in every order of the state ; new principles have
been adopted ; the ancient, routine has been exploded;
the affections of the people have been engaged; tbeir
• passio.,is are appealed to; the language of patriotism
and freedom is heard from the Chancellery at Vienna
• and every sentiment, every demonstration, and measare,
prochim a clew ern in their administration, evince a better
spirit in their councils, and shew that the genius of a Hero
and a Patriot has triumphed over former intrigues and
prejudices.

)

Olen, wan tnis anal-
,to drive the invaders BONAPARTE AND MASSENA. J;
mce more under the ---mm--.
i 1
An anecdote of a most extraordinary nature, respecting
I
A the only diversion the conduct of this t.l rant towards one of his generals,
:air of Austria. The has, for some days past, been the topic of conversation
to the mouth of the ;u all the fasho;nable circles. It has been commimis
by the enemy; for cater! to a nobleman in this country, by an English offi-
I
'sive line, where he cer abroad "As it may be interesting," says the
1
of hostilities be Four- officer'S letter, .. to have an authentic relation of the at
rccominended, and cions attempt of Ponaparie to destroy Massena, 1 shall state ,
tfri len adverted, there it as it was told by a cre itlenian who had it from Count
is
do“rue to the Adriatic, Tok'oi, the It essinn ambss,ador at Paris." Bonaparte,
t.
reels a military l'orce nerthier, Massena, and Count Tolstoi, were on a shooting
lered by Lord Coca- party
.together at Fontainbleau, the day before the 'Our-
.,
oord NELsoN's opinion, per left 1. ranee for Eder:. The two former were standing
of partial descents on together in the course of the day, and the two latter were at 'i
adequate for this ser- some distance trot» them, hut close to each oilier—when
eiv:iny. lie is exposed Bonapa.rte seized the favonrabie motnent to tire directly
en the side of Naples; at Massena, and wounded him in tie face and e.,e. He then 0
oily. We are very far', turned round to Berthier, and demanded who had tired ; ,
chAT arc so very cen- lierillier replied, that he had not discharged his gun, as
iign, that he can rely it was vet loaded. The tyrant then thundered out—
ns
of his new subjects, Ou'an ne me replique pas .1---,, Let me have no answer!"
the present juucture, , Massena, is said to he entirely blind. 'l'olstoi has two
on. shots thi °ugh his arm.
tages in favour of 1 This allair is so vaguely and so variously stated, that we
Sir Joarot STcwanT arc inclined to reject it as unauthentic. Not that we be.
usand men, it would heve the heart of BONAPARTE would recoil from the per-
ling
any assistance to petration of any atrocity ; but we think his onderstanding
necessity of applying would suggest a less bungling me!hod of getting rid of an 1
is reinforcement were obnoxious iudividual. Masses/A has never been popular, (
ippen, which might either with the army, or people: they acknowledge his
)ourhood of Trieste, military talents; hut never failed to•honour him with the
Austria. A trifling c title or Fripon (Knave). His popularity r ould have ex-
points, in the event cited no alarm in the breast of lioNaesn're, and, in this I
ght immediately turn respect, there are a number of distinguished officers in I
; the unexpected arri- France, who, in consequence of their friendship to Mo- i
decided a most obsti- REAL:, stand very high in the public. esteem ;—these are
of 15,000 men, in the Licounnr. and MACDONALD ; neither of whom has been 1
op it in its progress, employed since the trial of that celebrated General. Ls- 1
vantages it acquired, FA VETTE is likewise alive ; and has a number of partisans. I
Canyor is the great favourite of the republicans, who 1
xspAnTe has at least are still numerous and formidable. But as long as MOREAU
ian he had m October is in existence, he is deservedly the great object of the
. war against Austria tyrant's apprehension and jealousy. We cannot, there-
Is loss, an accession of fore, conceive any motive so imperiously urgent, as to ', '
But with what. relne- ;induce Bonaparte to commit so intemperate an act ; and c
;upport the unjust am- the time, when it is sated to have taken place, coin- i
)
mach cause to de- kletely undermines its credibility. litassena is saii: t' hale i
•