The National Register.
London, England, 1808-02-21 00:00:00

122

THE

TO COR RESPOND ENTS.
We thank A 3ubscriser RIO N. R. for their friendly hints.
'We .hall he happy to receive the promised favours a Mr. B.
near N tni at k.
We cannot compliment the CorreFpondent who sine himself
A Friend to Common Senxe and Rational Justice, as be ap-
pears to be iliveEted of both.
We refer Diomede to our Theatrical Criticisms of to-day.

The unprecedented demand for complete Sets of Trur. NA-
TION A bad, durim; the last week, completely ex-
hatt,•ted the I.(litiotis of t'irst Numlnrs of the Paper, as well
us the Eixbitnialical Title- Page; all of which are again xe-
printed, and may he hail of all the Newsmen.

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Lonbon,
s UNDAY, [JAR V 21, 1808.

POLITIC.IL ISVNNTS OP THE 111:10G
All lia! Cottenburgh Mails which were due, amounting
to ten, have at last arrived. Those which were received
on Friday evening conveyed to us the intelligence that
Russia has actually declared war against Sweden. This,
howeNer, was so much expected, that it has not excited
surprise. It is even stated that the Russians had com-
menced hostilities. But this intelligence we are inclined to
think is premature. The moverneats of the Russians are
seldom so rapid. It appears that Sweden has no less than
'25.000 men in Finland, and from the population it is said.
that 20,000 more may be raised. The country itself pre-
sents formidable difficulties to an invading enemy. It is
•mountainous, and the defiles are very narrow, and well
defended with fortifications. The King of Sweden will
make an obstinate resistance; and will, no doubt, be
aided from this country. But will this tend in any degree
to reduce the power of France ? Witt it not, On the other
hand, tend rather to increase her power, by weal cuing that
of the other states, by which she might, hereaiter, be op-
Paris Papers to the 31st have also been. received. They
contained a.Declaration by the King of Prussia, in wnieli
he renounces all connection with England, and shuts 10s
ports against her vessels. The principal feature of this
-Declaration, is the plainness with which his Prussiau Ma-
jesty expresses the necessity under which he acts. The
'measure, hcacknowledges, will bear very hard upon his
suffering subjects, but such is the will of the master
.whom he mum: obey. .
A new decree has also been issued by the King of Hol-
land, in which the exclusion of all British Coninaerce is
enforced with additional rigour.

Wt. have received s'orie intelligence from Portugal. The
French commanders have been pril:tic in Pro:lama:ions;
some of them of the most ignornnt nnd pnrnicious descrip-
tion, Thus, it has been erderol, t!lat the price of bread
and other necessaries shall not be raised ; by which means
they will be prevented from coming to market, and the
miseries of the people will he enhanced beyond even what
the necessity of the war wonld inflict. This proclamation,
at the same time, is undeniable proof of the severe sea/city
which prevails. A rigorous military authority is main,
tamped, and by tbib Luaus a forced tranquillity is pre-
served .

rEI3. 21.

protracted and warm.! The Opposition seem determined

to give the Ministers as little rest as possible, The Orders
in Council have been discussed both in the Upper and the
Lower !Louse but with -little variety or argument.. The
material question is, whether, by the measure, we really do
any materi-al 'mischief to our enemy, or procure any great
advantage to ourselves. The Ministers say we do both ;
the opposition conteed that we do neither. The Expedi.
[ion to the Dardanelles formed the subject of the other
principal Debate. This was introduced by the Deposition,
iu order to vindicate their conduct from the insinuations
which had been thrown out against this measure. It had
been represented as a transaction, similar in principle to
the I:,:ipedition• against Copenhagen ; and we do not see
that the explanation of its authors has placed it in a very.
different light.
We arc happy to notice the intelligence which has been
recived respecting the Rochefort squadron, the particulars
relating to the mode in which an account was conveyed of
its coefse to Sir JOHN Dueswolern, and of his sailing:in
quest of it we have communicated in our Xautical
hr-
telligence. We are sorry to learn, it is Sir Ss mu et.
tfooe's opinion, that the chance of Admiral Dveawoirrn's
overtaking the enemy is not very great. But it is a great
satisfaction to know, that he will arrive in the West Y.
(lies in sufficient time to prevent any mischief which the
squadron might have effected, had it been permitted to
range those seas for any time. Effectual means, too, have
been taken to it form Admiral Cocitasse of their arri-
val; so that we have every reason to hope we shall sooner
or later receive a perfectly good account of them.
The cartel that carried over the Russian Ambassador,
M. A Lorees, landed on Wednesday, at Calais, and reture.ll
to Dover, on Friday. It brought back a packet of Let-
ten from M. Aeorees, which was sent express to the Office
of the secretary of State for the Foreign Department.
One of these letters, address.ed to the Prussian Ambassador,
is sapposed to contain his order to quit this country imme-
diately.
It is s'ate:l, but, we believe, without any authority, that
the Ministers mean to frame a Motion, in 04 House of
Lords, on Monday, for rescinding a Resolution which
was voted vainst them on Thursday night, when they
were surprised by a division at an early hour, at which
their friinds had not entered the House.

Tnc fo:lowin,ir Letter has been communicated to us, dated
Stock bo!m, Feb. 8, which we believe is the latest Weill.
from Iwedcn

" Sweden is on the eve of difficulties. The Russians are ru-
moured to have actually passed the frontiers. So far f know
to a certainty, that the officers attached to the Finland regi-
meats received orders yesterday morning to join their corps im-
mediately. General Klingspor, Commander in Chief in Fin-
land, leaves town Oil:, afternoon with his Stair. It is stated,
that Baron titt•ttingli had sent orders to the regiments on the
rraatiers to collect themselves into a and that be would
come and take the command of them until his Majesty's pleasure
was kno..i n. Baron Stedink was the Swedish Minister at St.
Peter,ourgh. Operations may
.pos,iiltly begin with unexpected
celerity. Finland is a strong military position, of which a
great part, however, can be less successfully defended amid the
snow and frosts of winter, than in the usual season of campaigns,
The actual amount of the Swedish force in or near Finland, it is
nt c..sy to determine precisely. The lowest estimate, is four-
teen thousand, a force certainly sufficient to guard the country
.again,t a surprise. It is said, a number of foreigners arc buying
up sie!ar. coffee, &c. which have risen 50 per cent. in Ham•
hur:h and the Baltic. A large quantity, it is said, is in the pre.
scut difficulty of navigation, going overland to Russia. Sea-coal,
km- wood, and coffee, arc tremel;, dear at Copeatiagen."

NATION/VI „RUM4,TZR.