The National Register.
London, England, 1809-11-19 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

ations of his armies in Spain ; nor have we been able to as-
certain whether a considerable part of the French force
lately employed in Germany, has.passed the Rhine on their
way to the Pyrenees. The only corps which appears to
proceed in that direction, is that commanded by the Duke
of A filtA NTES. This consists of the quotas furnished by
some Members of the Confederacy of the Rhine, and
amounts to about 27.,000 men. We have not heard that
French troops have received a similar destination ; and we
have been told that they received a promise not to he em-
ployed in that service. Junot's corps, together with the new
levy of 36,000 conscripts, will, probably, constitute the
force, With which BUONAPARTE treans to renew offensive
operations in the Peninsula. MA nmorces Corps has been or-
dered
to return to Dalmatia, and reinforced by a part of
the Italian Army, will, in the first place, co-operate with
the Bavarians, in order to reduce the brave Tyrolean); to
subjection; and having performed that iniquitous service,
invade the western provinces of the TUrkish Empire.
The three corps, commanded by MAISZNA, DAVOUST and
OUDINOTI remain partly in the Gcrrnan provinces, ceded
by Austria, or proceed to Poland, from whence they may
check, or impel the career of the Russians to the South of
the Danube; and support the further changes which Bvo.
NAPARTE may think it expedient to make in Poland. The

report is revised that EUGENE BEAUTIARNOIS is to be consti-

tuted King of that uountry. A formidable army, amount-
ing to 60,000 men, is to be stationed on the Danube, in
order to watch the movements of Austria; and see the
conditions of the late treaty executed.
The termination of hostilities in Germany diverts the
torrent of BUONAPARTE'S ambition from that eountry to
Spain. Like an ever-burning, always emitting volcano,
after having made the fields and habitations of one region,
a dreary scene of devastation, hesuddenly turns his destruc-
tive course to another quarter, and there renews with in-
creased violence, the work of desolation. There are few,
who, since the signature of the Armistice, were not pre-
pared for this event ; and, taking all the circumstances of
the titne4, the character of the man, and the nature of the
contest into consideration, we are much more surprised
that it has not taken place sooner, than at its occurring
now. The firmness of the Austrian government, it cannot
be denied, has procured this respite for the Patriots ; and,
when delay is so important, the Emperor FRANCIS has, by
his spirited conduct during the negociation, not only se=
cured more fyorable terms for himself; but given the
Spaniards a fairer chance of asserting their independence.
Ile recognises, in the Treaty of Peace, it is true, the So-
vereignty of JosEec ; hut with the highest deference for
the good faith of the Emperor FRANCII; we entertain not
the slightest doubt, that, .if the Patriots are true to them-,
selves, and able to protract. the struggle for another year,
that Sovereign will not consider it as a restriction to make
another diversion in their behalf.

It is beyond the reach of human foresight to predict the
event' of the Spanish war. Its continuance has already
baffled the Calculation of the enemy, exposed the fallibility
of political reasoning, and established an invaluable

axiom,—that every people, who have the courage to
defend their country, are able to do it if they persevere..
Very few, if any, expected about this time last year, that
the standard of independence should, after the expiration
of twelve months, wave in the Peninsula. But, sif in
defiance of calculation and probability, the cause has out-
lived the armies whit!) first derended it ; and which were
annihilated in Arragon and Biscay. New cohorts, better
organised and more numerous, have arisen, as it were, out of
(heir ashes; and the Usurper is more intensely hated ; has, id
this moment, more resistance to encounter than. ire ilati at
any former period. A deplorable scepticism has succeeded
over—sanguine expectations ; and many finding their intem-
perate hopes disappointed, now run into the opposite ex-
treme. From this untortuilate temper, any speculation,
not harmonising with the su;posed incapahi:ity of the
Spaniards, is received with frigid distrust ; and, to pretend
to pol tical acumen, we must deny the dignity of mankind;
do homage to the malignant star of a t.ra.tit; outrage the
feelings, and deride the efforts, of such as have the con-
rage to oppose him, and, finally, lay down as an invaria-
ble rule in our reasoning, that, no efforts can secure to any
people the blessings of future independence. To that
apathy our minds have not deqcetided as yet ; and as long.
as a banner is reared, or a sound, in favour of liberty, is
heard upon the continent, we shall, not have the baseness to
display our ingenuity of the expense of every honourable,
humane and liberal feeling.

We are not ignorant that the chances ngainst the Spa.
niards are very considerable ; but it would ktray a «i ant
of every generous feeling, to consider their subjEgalion as
unavoidable. The chances against them were great, !.coin
the very moment that they, without arms, or a regu!ar
army, without concert and leaders, rose to assert their
independence against the immense resources of the tyrant
—a man, who :rad previously beaten the veteran armies,
and overrun the provinces of the most formidahle slaws in
Europe ;—who had seized, by a combination of perfidy,
violence, intrigue and cunning, the passes of the. Pyrenees,
the principal fortresses, the capital, and the. public tieais
sures of the country. Under such circumstances, there
was not much. probability that the ill-concerted and
ill-
organized hostility of an unarmed population could op-
pose a protracted resistance to the conqueror of Europe..
The event, however, disproved theie combinations; and
contrary to appearances, calculation, and the ,general
prehension, the Spaniards have, for more than eighleen
months, resisted the open violence, and the secret fraud of
this formidable antagonist.

It implies a very superficial knowledge of the feelings
that pervade the states in the North and East of the Cot:.
tinent, to suppose that BUONAPARTE can employ a very
large part of the force he has now in Germany, in a war
beyond the Pyrenees. He must completely break the spiv
sit of the Ty roleans ; entertain no jealousy of Austria.'
be convinced of the submission of Russia; see no dan-
ger of an intelligence between her and the fanner; and
realize his views with regard to the Ottoman Empire, bc..
fore he attempts to weaken considerably the force ha bar