The National Register.
London, England, 1808-08-07 00:00:00

NATIONAL REGISTER.

have no cause to blush for the infamous surrender of a
gallant army, in consequence of the cowardice or ignorance
of such a General as MACK.

. According to the last accounts from Sweden, a part of
the army of the gallant Geri.*yes has suffered a consider-
able loss in Finland, and was obliged to retreat in conse-
quence of the great superiority of numbers on the part 'of
the Ruisians. This account is taken from au official
.report to his Swedish Majesty by 11.,:ld Marshal Count
KLINGSPOR, and in regreting this check to the arms of
oar magnanimous ally, we cannot but admire the candour
with which it is communicated. We hope, however, sin-
cerely duo we wish, that this disastrous war will soon cease,
and that the Emperor of Itessts, instead of employing the
resources of his vast empire, in order to overwhelm his
august brother-in-law, and late ally, that he will use them
in a manner more suitable to his dignity, and the great
expectations that were once entertained of him. It is even
said he has made overtures of a peaceable nature to Ci us-
/Ayes, but that his Swedish Majesty declined entering. into
any negociation, without the concurrence of England.
This account coincides perfectly with the opinion we ought
to entertain of that high spirited Monarch ; and as long as
the Councils of this country .are actuated by the same
principles, which so honourably distinguish them at pre-
sent, they will never forget the great engagements this
country owes to this magnanimous Sovereign. We seize
with pleasure this opportunity of recteling to the atten-
tion of our cotemporaries the unequal struggle he is en-
;aged in ; and it would be something worse than levity,
it would be ingratitude of the most shameful kind, if we
could forget for a moment, that his present difficulties
originate in his attachment. to this country, and his honour-
able adherence to his engagements. Unfortunately our
time cannot vaunt many such examples ; and shall we
turn away with indifference from the only Sovereign and
Nation on the Continent, who generously spurned the
slightest concession to the common tyrant.

We think our brother journalists have been too severe in
their animadversions on the unfortunate toast of Sir Flaw-
cis BAKING. They all seem to insinuate that the worthy
Baronet, though not in a state of beastly drunkenness, was
so overpowered by the number of toasts he had previously
given, that some allowance must be made for the patriot-
ism of the chairman, who had no objection to get drunk
for the honour of his country. This remieds us of a cele-
brzted letter of ?MADAME PE MAINTEMON, containing in-
strictions to a French ambassador to the Swiss Cantons,
in Me reign of Lewis the X (VIII. Size expresses on that oc-
casion, a desire that he will have no objection to get occa-
sionally drunk for the service of his MA3ESTY. She sur-
mised that this would ingratiate him more with the cele-
brated topers of that country, who were proverbially so at
that time than all the arts of diplomacy. As we have ob-
tained the honour at present of being considered the first
in that respect, there is every reason to imagine that Sir
Fesscrs was willing to support this reputation. This is at
least the most satisfactory, and most charitable explanation
of the mistake he committed.

We know at the same time, that the generous grape pro-
duces different effects on different persons. In some it ex-
pands the heart, and opens it to every honourable feeling—
it makes others reserved, selfish, and artful. If it should
happen to have the latter effect on the worthy Chairman,
it would he as uncharitable to blame him for this Constitu-
tional failing, as it would be for his falling asleep, after
copiously enjoying all the luxuries of a turtle dinner. The
:write,' in vino only proves, that he is more au American
than an Englishman, and taking this circumstance into
consideration, we see no reason for surprise, that he should
neglect the prudence he would not lose sight of in a more
sober moment, and toast the President of a country of
'which he is in his heart, and from interest, a citizen. How.
ever, the English feelings of the rest of the company soon

effaced this trilling interruption to the hilarity•of the Meet-
ing. The feast was every way worthy of the guests and of
the Merchanti of London ; and we have the satisfaction to
observe, that on every occasion where the interests and
dignity of the country, or the honour of the Metropolis, are
in question, they act iu a manner worthy of the first Mer-
chants and first City in the Universe.

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE,

RECEIVED LATE LAST NIGHT.

We have the greatest satisfaction in being able to rem_
municate to our readers a letter from the Lower Rhine,
which has been transmitted us by our Corresponiim is
Hamburg!). It is of a very recent date, and throws a
great deal alight over the present state of the Continent.
We wish the writer had been, on 80111 C subjects, more ex-
plicit ; but he appears to have been writing to a person,
to whom some prior events were known, with which we
are not -satisfactorily acquainted. However as it is, it is
unquestionably the most important account, which we hai c
received for several months from that part of the Conti
neat.

" COLOGNE, JULY 29, ISW.

" The most contradictory reports have been in circulation
for the last two weeks, and alternately believed and rcjvctetl.

However this quick succession of rumours must cons lice the
most indilkrent, that very extraordinary occurrences are looked
to, as well in France as in the neighbouring States. Lvery
private account from Paris, Holland or the Soutl► of France,
tends to confirm this opinion. The expectations of the people
here are already extravagant. Were you willing to gibe credit
to these, the French will be expelled, before the beginning of
winter, from every part of Germany, pursued across the Rhine,
and, as mar• be expected, driven like a flock of sheep out of the
former Ecclesiastical States. Suck are the speculations of our
Cologne politicians. It is true they are not much biassed in
favour of the French, and though bitterly disappointed, during
the course of fifteen years, in their hopes of being relieved front
their trouble;o►ne guests, or, more properly speaking, ►ua-ters,
they are still as sanguine and indefatigable in their wishes, as if

they had never been frustrated. In this confused mass of ru-
mours and conjectures, to discover the real state of allairs is not
easy. The restraints the Newspapers lie under, in which every
article is revised by an Agent of the Police before it is printed,
tend to increase the difficulty. However as this is universally
known, their silence with regard to Spanish and Austrian atil&s
is considered as a convincing proof of the desperate state of
French influence in these two countries. No account, ter:di:g
to invalidate the resistance of the Spaniards to the nomination
of Joseph Bonaparte receives any credit ; and those, whiefi
speak of French success and triumphs are laughed a:, and uni-
formly rejected. They have tine times here at present, as the
greater part of the Urns d'd rmes and Domineers have been called
away ; and as their destination and the object of so unparalleled
an order cannot be discovered or accounted for, it has been
sometimes asserted that the French were all cut to pieces in
Spain, that the English had lauded with 40,000 men at the
Helder, and that the Archduke Charles had entered Bavaria
at the head of 180,000 men, whilst the Archduke John was pe•
netrating through Franconia with an army of an 100,000.
Whilst these reports were credited, it was a real jubilee here
in Cologne, and among our neighbours in the Duchy of Berg;
and one of my friends, who had been up the Rhine as far as
Mayence, and had afterwards gone to Aix la Chapelle, Iseve
and Liege, has told me, that the same extravagant joy was felt,
and the same hopes were entertained in all those towns. lou
may conclude, that. when such sentiments are manifested here,
how animated the feelings of the Brabanters and Dutch must be

speaking, masters,
their wishes, as if
nfused mass of ru- •
Late of attairs is not
in which every
before it is printed,
.s this is universally
Ind Austrian
desperate state
o account, terAli:g
to the nomination
and those, whi&a
nighed a:, and nu.--
at present, as the
::)-8 have been called
t of so unparalleled
1 for, it has been
.11 cut to pieces in
40,000 men at the
1 entered Bavaria
.uke John was pc •
ny of an 100,000.
a real jubilee here
e Duchy of Berg;
e Rhine as
far as
la Chapelle, Iseve
agant joy was felt,
hose towns. lou
e manifested here,
tad Dutch must be