The National Register.
London, England, 1815-07-23 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION,

EFFECTS OF THE SURRENDER OF BUONAPARTE.

The most sanguine wish of every British heart is 11 ow
accomplished. The old, the terrible, the inveterate enemy
of England's prosperity has not only fallen, but is now a
captive in her hands. The contest has been terminated,
not by the mere overthrow of his power, but by a total
revolution in his sentiments, and the couq.uest of his
esteem. lie has not only owned us invincible—his last act
bas proclaimed us the most forgiving and magnanimous
nat:o❑ in the world. When he might have claimed the
protection of a Father-in-Law, who though he opposed
his restoration to the throne, would feeil interested to save
him from an ignominious fate: when lie might have found
safe and perhaps a distinguished retreat under the shel-
ter of the greatest of his personal admirers,, the Emperor
Alexander, and when in fine, by secreting himself a little

Niger, he might hope to be replaced at the head of the
ermies and free corps that still reject the authority of the
King, and wage an obstinate war with the Allies, he pre-
ferred, in his own words, " to trust himself to the loyalty
of the English," and conscious that by Oa act, he resigned
fur ever the hope and possibility of regaining future em-
pire, he bade adieu to the shores of France and threw hiin-
self on our magnanimity. If the voice of flattery sounds
sweet to the ear, what effect must the testimony of an
open enemy produce, when not only his words, but his
Actions prove the sincerjty of his admiration ? However,
the gratification of our national pride ig pot the only or the
most important result likely to flow from the voluntary
surrendef of Bnonaparte. For what advantages will not
the world derive from the certainty of his having lost the
power of disturbing its peace ? Wherever he might have
planted his banner, whether amidst the ruins of
Washin2,-ton, amongst the insurgents of Peru, or the
mighty chieftains of the East, the hopes of a party
and the fears of Europe would have followed him. As
long as he remained a free wanderer through the regions
of the earth, a signal would have re-called him from the
extremities of the globe, and the seas would hare once
more wafted him to empire and to despotism,. Ills politi
cal career is now indeed terminated. He has placed,'
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Our Zing, Constitition, ant Laths.

Fusjasijap AT NO. 11, NEWCASTIOE-STIREET, 5T4411 R?

SUNDAY, .JULY 23, 180.

self in hands that will prove faithful to their trust. Cape
tivily is the tomb of hope. Those who, were he at liber:
ty, however distant, would still labour to restore his in:
terests, and re-establish his power, well know that eves
should they succeed in overthrowing the present Sove-
reign of France, Buonnparte's guardians are incorruptible
and would never allow him to pass the boundaries of
these islands. They will not therefore undertake dan-
gerous enterprises, which even if successful would never
completely answer their ends.

Much discussion has already taken place on the treat.
meat which should be adopted towards Buonaparte.
'; What is to be done with him ?" is the general question,
which is answered in a variety of ways, according, to
every pers.en's feelings. They do pot see that the matter
has been settled at once by the manner of his surrender,
On this subject we shall quote the observations made last
night by the Courier, who speaks the se itiments of Go.
vernment and of an immense majority of the country."
" the question is simply thus : Buonaparte voluntarily
surrenders himself a prisoner of war into the hands of the
Prince Regent of Great Britain, and the law of nations
prescribes that c as soon as your enemy has flown his
arms and surrendered his person, you have no longer any
right over his life.' If it be said that he paid no regard to
the Jaw of Nations, and has no right to their protection,
it may be enswered, that his former violation of them
would afford vs no justification in violating them our?
selves, especially *hen he is no longer in any condition
to repeat that violation.—But then comes the answer of
a respectable cotemperary, D giver him up to the jus,
tice of his injured sovereign. 'Wily he could have done
that himself without our interference. But as he did not
do it, as he surrendered himself to us, and we received
him, he must have surrend#red himself under the fon-
viction that he should receive an asylum, which conviction
we confirmed by the act of reccivingliim—or Capt. Mak-
latui would have refused receixing•iiitn. It seems, tl..erefore,
that we cannot give himitlP—that shell afford him an asy-
lum—that his life will be spared, insii that we shall brae
him in such safe custody, that he shall not Lc a!ile to
tnrlPAngain the repose or the security 9f the world."
To this we may add, thit boais Dl/4evg, was
,vcreign." When 4onapatte was sent to Elb I, it