The National Register.
London, England, 1813-07-11 00:00:00

N°. 9q9.

POLITICAL .DTS2UISITION.

POLITICAL CHANGES.

1-Tow sudden and astonishing are the political changes of
.our times ! A few months since the total emancipation of
the Continent appeared certain The prospect then rapidly
turned, and U.,urpation was seen striding over fields of blood
to regain her former power. For a moment all seemed to
dye way before her, and an Armistice, supposed to have
been diciated by her mill to her helpless foes, created the
expectation of im attempt on their part to procure a general
iI
peace. Austria then emerged from the shade, and en 11,2 r
fiat the fate of the world was. thought to eepend, when a ray
of hope and glory burst from the WeJ, and in the blaze cf
British triumph, the destructi:in of one limb of French ,
despoti,m was too clearly read, not to inspire our northern
Nnicrs with fresh courage to attack the head and endeavour
to complete the downfall of their gigantic enemy. Now all
the pacific appearances conjured up by the Armistice are
rapidly vani,hing away. France alone remains calling for
that boon, which she so lately fancied-she would be implored
to bestow. Her calculations have been erroneous. After
along series of disasters, her first successes in this campaign
were too unhoped for and therefore t9O grateful to her chief,
not to dazzle and mislead him. Like the Allies after they
had driven his troops behind the Elbe, besfancied, when
he entered Breslau and reached the Oder, that 'lie had
closed the war, and had nothing more to do, taut' to
dictate his own terms to his retreating enemies. Hence
he proposed (it is now said) and easily procured an Armistice,
of which he thought they would gladly avail themselves to
Obtain peace. But he had mistaken both their state and
their spirit;_ and the . misrepresentations of some of our
Daily Papers,• which, pretending to communicate authentic
intelligence, positively assured us that the armistice had
been " solicited by the Allies, to whom alone it was Aso-
lady necessary, ass,Nithout it, but few of their troops would,
have ever re crossed the Vistula," had produced the same
deception on the British public. Hence, the General Con-
gress which" NAPOLEON'S anticipations announced was
equally expected here, and the probability of an approach-
ing peace, discussed and credited. When the pretended
friendh of the Allies in this country, renresented them as
saved only by the policy of their foe, and having no other
resource than the barely possiLle determinatinn of Austria
in their favour, a wish must have naturally arisen, that a
treaty might be concluded, which NAPOLEON'S apprehen-
sion of forcing his father-in-law to the field .against him
by his unreasonable pretensions, and the Mire of consoli-
dating his empire, might render advantageous enough not
to be rejected, in' such circumstances. It might be sup-
posed that, taught icy his winter teiteries, • he'would not trust
lal. VI. Ns. CCLXXX/X.

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N°. 949.
POL
1-Tow sudden an
.our times ! A fe%
the Continent app
turned, and I:,orp
to regain her font
Ove way before bo
been diciated by
expectation Of
peace. Austria tl
fiat the fate of the
of hope and glory
British triumph,
despoti,m was too
Alficrs with fresh ci
to compiete the dc
the pacific appeal
rapitUy vani•bing,
that boon, which s
to bestot Her
along series of dis
were too unhoped
not to dazzle and
had driven his t
he entered. Mesta
closed the war,
dictate his own
he proposed (it is
of which he thong
obtain peace. TR
their spirit;_ and
Daily Papers, whi
intelligence, posit
been " solicited 1
lutely necessary,
have ever re (To
1 deception on the
press which" N
equally expected
ing peace, discuss
friendh of the 21
saved only by the
resource than th
in their favour, a
treaty might be
sion of forcing
by his nnreasonal
dating his empire
to be rejected, ii
posed that, taugh
VI. Nt.