The National Register.
London, England, 1813-04-18 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

•
sent hour, like a wizza' a whose spell is broken by a superior
influence, but who retains the wand and the robes of his art
without their power, still weals the imperial mantle. The
crown still encircles his brow: the sceptre is still in his
hands; hut the illusions of his fame, on which tested his
chief strength, are fled. lie has been Confounded at the
time he had put. forth all his might, and the earth has wit•
bessed the complete ovetthrow of his ambitious desins.
los,es have not been gradual and partial. They
have been sudden and overwhelming. The hand that
has arrested the course of his successes, smote him at
their height, when universal empire seemed already within
his grasp. lie lutil marshalled Ow flower of Continental
chivalry against the wild horde:; of Russia. They marched
under the most valorous and expetienced commanders, as
though to conquer the world ! But their weak remains are
scarcely visible—shut up in besieged fortresses, captive in
distant provinces, or scattered among new levies, whcim they
vainly instruct to avenge their defect, and to whom they
are at once a monument of past and future ruin. Driven to
the very borders of his empire, Napoleon beholds the nations
lire ht.d so long oppressed rising in vengeance against him.
Abandoned by some of his late allies; distrustful of the rest,
he calls upon his discontented people to redeem, and recon-
quer for him, by the sacrifice of their blood and the exhaus-
tion of their remaining wealth, the extensive sway his impru-
dence has lost. The enemy thickens in his front, insurrec-
tions multiply around him, and a dispirited and despah ing
nation sends him slowly her reluctant youth to perish in his
cause.—With such a man, is it now politic and advisable to
maintain an offensive and defensive alliance ?

The Austrian Government has two point to consider: its
immediate and its prospective interest. By joining with a!l its
force the Coalition against France, at this moment, it might
regain the territory it has lost on the Adriatic, in the Tvrol,
in Italy, and even beyond the Rhine. Nay, it might, for
who knows where the impulse given to the Germanic popu-
lation would stop, perllaps assist in the conquest, and
share in the spoils of ancient France itself. But for-
mer Hit al, the Prussian Monarchy would then be revived
and enlarged, and the augmentation of power which Russia
would receive would make her as dangerous as Napoleon had
lately been. This consideration, however, might be coun-
tea balanced by the addition to its own strength and terri-
tories, which in such a case, Austria would also obtain, and
consequently, cannot be regarded as an objection likely
to influence its present conduct. It may, therefore, be•
assumed, that to further Ins own immediate interests, it
would be politic on the tart of the Emperor Francis, to
rise against his Somin-law. What are the prospective ad-
vantages he would derive from remaining his Ally ?
Ills daughter is now not only Empress of FRANce, but
during the absence of her consort, and in case of his death,
invested w:th the sovereign power in the capacity of Regent.
Through her, Austria has therefore regained all its former
influence in the councils of the -French empire. The re-
verses of N,‘PUL EON have compelled him to concede that
unbounded authority to his wife, as a means of defence
against the possible treachery of his subjects, to protect
ter whilst he is absent, and to secure the order of succession
when he no longer exists. This influence she will use as an
Austrian Princess, to advance the interests of her house.
Ilex son will be educa!ed in the same principles. As his fa-
ther can boast no pomp of ancestry, but his fortune is the
daughter of his sword, the youth will be taught to conside:•
alone the noble blood of Ilapshurgh that flows thro-tigh his
'veins. Hence, when he ascends the throne, he will draw a
efforgetfulness over all that regards the humility-of his

"{IL

paternal origin, and will endeavour by his conduct and po-
licy, to make the world only remf.mber that he proceeds
flour the ancient house that tils the Austrian throne.
France will, in some degree, once more become a vassal
of the Court of Vienna, and the more she retains of
her present power, time more advantageous it will be
for the limpet or FRANCIS or his snccesors, who will
be secure of her summit and co oper,ition, to carry into
eflect any views of personal aggiandizeme:a which they may
entertain. For, in fact, the blood of the N A POL EONS,
being lost, as it then ‘:ill be, in their own. their El.,use will
at once occupy the two tir,i:t thrones of the continent, with•
out having to dread either an opponent or a rival.

These are the consideralions which make us incline to
doubt the pleasing intelligence of Austria's seees,:iot, front
the French cause ; unless the popular ferment should have
been so cou,,iderable as to compel the Uovelmnent to ad pt
that step in scA. defence. Of this we have no means of judg-
ing' : but we do not think it likely. The loyalty of the sub-
jects of the Austrian Emperor is en'husiastie, but passive.
They would die to sere c his true interc.qs, but not agaiim
his will.