The National Register.
London, England, 1809-11-05 00:00:00

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1809.

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POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

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NVMUEie Nuirrir-rova.

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THE MINISTRY.

This Country, like tho lever of Aitcniminrs„ might, at
diseretiou, IL lON L: the elrth‘, were its powers wielded «ith

competent skill. To judge the merits of the present Ca-
.binet, we must examine how far or how little they are
..qualifie4 to:wield this powerful instrument. The discus-
. .sioa has, therefore, nothing to do with the relative merits
preceding Administrations, butio confined to the simple
_point, whether. the present have skill and strength to oppose
eactually the resources of the country to the dangers
which•menace it. It would be absurd to calculate the ef-
fects that may be produced by the operation of a great
...engine, according to those of some imperfect instrument.
it would betray equal folly were we to form an ()pinion of
the competency of the existing, from that of the preced-
iag, Administration. It is not our . business to inquire
whether more or less blunders are likely to be committed ;
whether we ate exposed to a repetition of similar dis-
asters; but, if Mr. PERCEVAL and his. new associates have
lability enough, in a crisis portentous as the present, to ap,
.to their full extent, the moral and physical energies
tfie country. The Peace between Austria and France
• has considerably increased our difficulties,. and impresses
• even upon the most limited understanding the necessity of
greater talents, greater 'vigour, and more vigilance, in our '
future councilS, • than were requisite•at any. former
The genius of Mr. PITT, quickened-14 the 'liveliest seitsi,:
-bility, and supported by uncotimon popularity sank underi`
the unequal contest with the enemy. The ADDINGTON ad-p
ministration was brand. ..,d by dishonourable
The FoXITES, after an ineffectual attempt to conciliate, Op-
posed, in vain, this dangerous anta:sroMst. The late: Mim,l
nistry, animated with the best intentions, and the strongest
hatred, saw all their efforts, though favoured by the. most
• propitious circumstances, terminate in disgrace and disap►
pointment. The result of all their efforts has been the sit).
premacy of France, and the subjection of the Continent.-.--
It is in vain to say that we ourselves haw suf:‘ered no-
thing. Is the subjection of all our allies nothing ? Is the in,
creased strength of an inveterate enemy nothing ? Is the
vast expenditure of blood aod money nothing ? Are the
disgraceful expeditiora to Brabant, llol!and, Spain, acid
Antwerp, also nothing ? Just Ilearens! with what feel-
ings must those men be endow ed, who call all these tic-
thing ?
To remedy tiles!. disasters, and to oppose .the future en-
mity of Fiance, assisted tt.e co-operation of half Europe,
and directed against us exclusively, the present Administra-
tion has been f)rmed. We anxiously inquire who those
men are, who have the courage to undertake this arduous
and responsible task ? After the useless efforts made, tin-
der less trying difficulties, by the greatest statesmen, which
this country; perhaps, prodgred, we feel admiration, win-
IQi.

glee the. strongest ,ympatliy, upon hearing, that a
new body of rhampionah:lve entered the lists to assert the
-honour and itiderud..nce of their Country, and break a
lance-with N PO LCON %lON PA itTp• Who are they, and
What have they performed before, we anxiousl.y inquire?
For -their success' we offer to Heaven the most ardent
vows. We applaud their courage ; trenible for their safety
k and out own ; rush to the barriers to behold them enter.
Ileavens.andearth ! what a sl,ectaclef whit a motley 06-
cession! !f tho gods of Hoses existed in our days, • the
vavltted roo.s of 01:1 mpus would riu with laughter. Upon
a closeieiaMiniiticm; and haviug taken a peep under the
visors of these tell-dubbed Knights, we "recogn'se in theth
.the.aimotir-bearers to former champions.
But to drop .figure and burlesque, 1.4.9- the subject is far
too serious for the flights of mirth, or fancy, we cannot
concei.ve what mad ambition must have seized Mr. Seer+ C'Elk
PERCEYAI., and perverted that homely understanding he
formerly possessed, when he, with no other associates than
Lords LIVERPOOL, BATHURST, WOTMORELAN DI CAMDEN,
and CHATHA ; Messrs. ItYntrn, rUN DAS. SAVN OER S, form-
.ed the project of administering under the accumulating
pressure of occurrences, the affairs of this country. Wbat
malicious Dmmon, inimical to British honour, could have
inspired him with the rash resolve I The public offices
„might have been ransacked, and he would have found it
difficult to disc Over amongst.the oldest, the 020 Si uumal-
kable drudges, amen such helpless, destitute creatures, as
those just tuentioned.• We would take the liberty of i
quiring, at the same time, of Mr. PERCAY AL, what are his
-previsions to the rank of Premier? He' must be. eitit
. totally ignorant of the responsibility attached to such A
station, or he is the vainest man existing upon the face of
the'carth. The spirit of the country must be miserably
ialleni its courage broken.don n by repeated insults, if the
public will remain silent and indifferent at this appointment.
in a Situation,- where Bo aLEIOU himself, or the Great Lord
.0 4A THAN!' might slunchle, to see a roan of Mr. PERCLV AO;
talents; is the most alarming symptom of danger, acrd,
,perhaps, approaching ruin, that we have discovered for the
last twenty years. This Gentleman is vaunted by his friends
for his poitical integrity; but v,e would ask them how
theV ran reroneile that character with so flagrant an abuse
of the royal confidence ? It is- difficult to decide whether
the no:nivation- e 7 cited a greater degree of surprise,
contempt, or indigna6on. The s:ncerest friends of Go-
vernment were o,sol.ltely everwheimed with shame nal
a Eger, when they first heard of this exaltation of an indi-
vidual, wht, during the whole adminis: ration of mr.• Pte,,
was ne ter thought competent to fill even a secondary place,
out of his protewsional career. lie remained, for a number
of years, and under the eyes of a very discriminating States-
man, unnoticed beyond the limits of his profession; and
this very man bursts out suthirly, unexpectedly, and to.
the Wier astonishment of his cotemporaries, with all the
dazzling luere of the most distinguished Minister! In what
mina did this sparkling merit lie concealed; or what thick
veil of modesty hid it from our view ? Mr. PascavAL ii

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