The National Register.
London, England, 1808-05-22 00:00:00

MAY 22.

that he has been bribed to the surrender. Perhaps it was '
wrong in the Admiral to capitulate ; and as far as we have
any right to give an opinion, on a subject which military
men alone can be competent to decide, we certainly think
that his conduct is to be blamed—but to our minds there
is something excessively ridiculous in the constant allega-
tions of treachery that follow our defeats and those of our
allies. is England really as invincible as the modern plays
represent her, and has she, like the load-stone, not only
a virtue in herself, but a faculty of imparting virtue to
those that are in contact with her, so that she and her al-
lies can be conquered only by treachery ? Let not the
English people lay this flattering unction to their souls.
We and our allies want skill, not courage, nor honesty.
When we have placed our military system on such a foot-
ing that we may bring up good officers of our own, and
gain the means of properly assisting our allies, we shall see
no more instances of Russian and French gold prevailing
against British, Austrian, or Swedish steel. Private letters
state, that the Swedes have been defeated in Norway, and
.driven back to their own frontier. For the truth of this
tatemeut we do not vouch.

The Soleby frigate is arrived at Plymouth from Rio de
Janeiro. She has brought intelligence that the PRINCE
REGENT had arrived at the Brazils. Commodore Moonr,
who went out with him, had been knighted ; a new order
of honour had been instituted, and the people were alto-
grsether in good spirits. Before she sailed the Survillante
frigate had arrived from England, having on board Mr..
HILL, our Secretary of Legation.
In Portugal the condition of the people seems very
pitiable. The following is an extract of a private letter:—
LISBON, Aram 28, 1808.
" It is impossible for any person, unless he is an eye-witness,
to turn: an opinion of the miserable state of this place. Since
the departure of the Royal Family 19,000 inhabitants havie left
thecountry. Numbers have destroyed themselves; and others
when reduced to the extremity of distress, have become prosti-
tutes. All those, with the exception of a few Who were em-
ployed in the lirario Custom-house, and other public tribunals,
have been discharged; and even the few who remained have
had their salaries reduced to half what they earned before.
The soldiers are put into the convent:, and the officers quarter-
ed on the inhabitants. The church plate has been carried tb the
Nita, and coined, and is to constitute a part of the contribution
of forty millions. The French troops are reviewed every Sun-
day, in the Rocio, by the General in Chief. The Portuguese
arms are all abolished, and those of France now only appear;
this is the present situation of things here.

Portuguese Journals received on Friday, announce the
elevation of General JCNOT to the dignity of Marquis of
Abrantes. The title is taken from a road through which
the General effected a painful but glorious march. He
has issued a Decree relating to the Emigrants, and forbid-
ding all communication with the British Squadron.
The Portuguese Minister in this country is said to have
communicated to Mr. Canning the agreeable information '
that his Government holds itself responsible to the subjects
of his Britannic Majesty for all the losses which they. sus-
tained by the acts of the Portuguese Government prior to
the Prince Regent's quitting, Lisbon' but particularly for
those which were occasioned by the decree of the Bth of
November last. This is certainly very noble conduct on
the part of our worthy ally, and we hope that the suffi-
ciency of his means will keep pace with the houourable
;envy of such au engagement.

The following is the account circulated of the pending
negotiation between Mr. CANNING, and the American
Minister, Mr. PinscisNcy :
" Mr. CANNIXG offered to place America on the footing of
the most fa“nired nations, in her commerce with and through