Star.
London, England, 1823-03-10 00:00:00

POLICY OF ENGLAND.

The determination seems to be taken with that
generally act against Government to
party who
plunge the nation,- if possible, into a war with
France• for the cause of the Spaniards. Let us
examine the reason or the wisdom of this unhappy
iolence, and that we may start clear in the argu-
ment, we-are willing to admit that the conduct of
the French Ultras is as bad and as frantic as their
most vehement adversaries assert.
The war, say, the Spanish party among us, is an
attempt to interfere with the national independence
of nations, and if we allow aggression to be com-
mitted with impunity on Spain, we may soon our-
selves expect the same treatment, and therefore, to
avert the evil, we should at once go to war.

The logic of such reasoning is not very strict.

The paramount duty of all Governments is the
protection of the existing interests of their people, in
the first instance; the next is to avert contingent evils.
Now, though it may be abundantly obvious that
the policy of France at this time is as wicked and as
wanton as can well be, still the evil that possibly
may result from it to us, is not quite so obvious, and
moreover it is contingent on the success with which
the aggression may be prosecuted—while there can-
not be the slightest.question as to the actual advan-
tage which our existing interests will derive from a
continuance of our improving circumstances, as thew n
in an increasing revenue and a reduction of taxation.
We are, with regard to other nations, a Commercial
and Manufacturing People—the greatest in those re-
spects that ever did exist. Commerce and manufac-
tures, all that relate to art, and to the efforts and in-
ventions of genius, are the offspring of peace—peace
is to us a primary good—our existing interests would
be disordered, and the frame into which they have
settled be dislocated by a revulsion from a state of
peace to a state of war. This cannot be disputed,
and therc ore, in so much'asthe conservation of exist-
ing interests is nearer and dearer than the effects of
any contingent event whatsoever. can it for a moment
be thought that it is not the paramount duty of Go-
vernment to stop the war, if it can do so by any
exhortation or representation against its principles
and policy, but at all events to keep the country out
of it at least as long as possible ?
Besides this, it seems to be forgotten in the amiable
rashness of the war friends of the Spaniards, that we
are to a certain extent pledged, in the event of the
French succeeding, to go to war—we are bound by
ancientkalliance and treaties, hallowed by unexampled
fidelity on both sides, to take part with Portugal
whenever the foot of a Frenchman again sullies her soil
" If so, and we allow it is," say those fervent politi-
cians, "has not Portugal resolved to join the Spaniards,
and are not we bound to unite with her ?"
reasoning here is about as correct as in the
former instance. Surely it does not follow, because
we arc pledged to preserve the integrity of Portugal,
that we are also pledged to embrace every engage%
meat which her interests may induce her to enter
into with other countries ; and, therefore, though we
may wi,h victory and honour to our ancient Ally,
in her endeavours in the Spanish cause, it does not
appear that either interest or league obliges us to go
with her to the field : at the same time it would, on
our part, be a base policy and a mean menace, affect-
' ing the independence of Portugal, were we to say to
her—" If you rush into this Spanish war, you can
expect no support from us." On the contrary, our
policy requires us to say nothing more than we have
already said, which is to the effect, that the soil of
Purtugal is as dear to our honour as that of England,
and we ale ready to defend it. This France knows;
and, therefore, on the supposition that she may sub-
due Spain—which she will never do—she cannot
violate the Portuguese frontier without incurring the
vengeance of Great Britain. In so far, therefore,
both with respect to treaties and to the most unfor-
tunate contingencies, neutrality, at present, is our
wisest policy.
" But," exclaim the war faction, " when France
has subdued Spain, her means will be so, augmented,
she will be so strong, that she will little regard our
alliance with Portugal, She will go on and plant
her lilies, as she perched her eagles, on the walls of
Lisbon!"—Possibly she may try to do so, but she
must first subdue Spain; and it must be shewn, when
she has done so, that she has still a force in reserve,
independent of what will be requisite to preserve the
subjugation, sufficient to cope with England and
with Portugal. But, under all the circumstances of
the case, we do not think either of these things pro.
table. Spain will be a tough job, if the Spaniards
ate the same sort of people they were ten years ago,
and We see no symptom of deterioration among them.
So that to acquire a military possession of the cows-
cost France some of her best blood and
some of her treasure ; and to keep such possession
: when acquired, will still be no light undertalcing.—
It will take all the force and means that she proposes
to eniploy in the war, and she will have ro raise

are and greater supplies of both before she can en-
cotinter the united puissance of Portugal and Eng-
land• We should therefore think, that after what
she will probably be obliged to suffer in the conflict
'jib Spain, she will neither be then so fresh nor so
btoat fora set-to with John Bull, in the case he is
likely to be iq by the ti aining and continuance of his
Present regular exerikitet and solid tare. And, there-

fore, with respect to the contingency of attacking
Portugal, still it seems manifest that it is the wisest
policy for us not to interfere till the attack is made—
and it cannot be made until France has felt the conse-
quences of attempting to reduce Spain to her vassalage.
There is another ground on viiiieh it would be
most impolitic for us to interfere at present—France
has not told the world very precisely the object she has
in view by this menaced war. Supposing her armies
at Madrid, and in full possession of the country—
what does she intend to do Thereby hangs a
tale," at which all the Continental Powers will prick
up their ears. If she proposes a Charter through the''
medium of FERDINAND, is it not likely, from the
ancient, known, and notorious ambition of her policy,
that in so doing she will revive something of the na-
ture and principle of the famous FAMILY COMPACT?
Now will Austria, Prussia, and the Netherlands,
quietly submit to see this formidable faction revived?
On the contrary, is it not probable that the first synip-
tom of arty intention to make Spain again a depend-
ancy of France will induce all those Powers to unite
against her. at the very crisis when- England, by her
treaties, may be obliged to assist Portugal, and a ge-
neral war will again ensue? So that the longer we
can keep out of the conflict the more decisiie will
our interposition in the end•be, for, in the event of
the French arms proving victorious, the greater will
be the demand on• Our efforts and resources ; and, if
they are visited with the disgrace which, in human
opinion, they seem to merit, we shall continue to reap
all the advantages that naturally arise from and belong
to neutrality.

New York Papers to the 13th Febtuary arrived
to-day, as also Norfolk (Virginia) Papers to the 10th.
Accounts from St. Salvador, of the 9th December,
state, that at that time the place was closely be-
sieged, and there was little doubt would be obliged
to surrender in a short time.

A letter from Curacoa, dated 28th January, com-
municates the intelligence of MORALES having em-
barked at Maracaibo on the 22d, with 2,000 men,
destined for Truxillo. Boum was at Bompas, with
A considerable force. MORALES having left only
'one thousand men for the defence of Maracaibo,
it was expected that BOLIVAR would find it an easy
capture, and then go against Caraccas, the place of
his birth. BOLIVAR and MONTILLA, from the West;
BERMUDAS, from Cumana ; PAEZ, in Valencia ; CLE-
MENTI and URDANETTI, in Truxillo, are awaiting
the approach of MORALES: he cannot escape.
An American ship has been captured off Laguiraf
loaded wi►h muskets, and other arms. She was
freighted in London.
An extensive fire has destroyed part of the city of
Norfolk, and some lives were lost.

Saturday the Duke of YORK dined with the Earl
of WESTMORLAND, at his house in-Grosvenor-square,
being the first visit of his Royal Highness since his
long and severe indisposition. Yesterday, at one
o'clock, his Royal Highness rode out in his close
cairiage, and visited the Princess SOPHIA.

Divine Service was yesterday performed by the
Rev. Dr. BLOMBERG to the KING'S Household, at the
Palace in Pall-mall.

The Stuttgard Official Gazette, of the 23d February,
contains an explanatory declaration of the document
which lately appeared in the Constitationnel, with the
signature of the Wurtemburg Minister for Foreign
Affairs, in the form of a dispatch to a Wurtembnrg
Ambassador. The genuineness of the article is not
denied, but some surprise is expressed at the indis-
cretion which must have led to its publication.—
The Government of Wurtemburg declares, that
though it may differ with other Powers of Europe
,I with respect to certain forms," its principles are the
same, and that its readiness to co-operate in the en-
forcement of them may be relied on. An assumption
follows, however, which will be found to amount to
a positive condemnation of the threatened attack by
France upon Spain. " Because," it is said, "it is
evident from the wisdom, justice, and express decla.
rations of the august Allies, that no means will ever
be used to attain them but such as are in unison with
the independence of all Governments, the maintenance
of all legally existing Constitutions, and the preserva-
tion of the political state of Europe, according to
existing treaties."
Extract of a letter from Smyrna, dated Jan. 15 :
Is The Flora and Lovely Ann have returned from
Napoli di Romania, the Greeks not having permitted
them to enter. The Flora, in attempting, was fired
upon from a Greek battery, and the Mate killed. The
garrison of Napoli di Romania has since surrendered
to the Greeks by capitulation. The CAMBRIAN
was there at the time, and Captain HAMILTON was
applied to by the Greek Chief to prevent the capitu-
lation being broken by his troops, whom he was fear-
ful, from their being exasperated, would massacre all
the Turks; in number about 4000. Captain Hamm-
Tow succeeded in saving the whole, 400 of whom he
brought here in the CAMBRIAN, and the remainder
lie caused to be embarked in Greek vessels, to he
landed at Scalanova, and its neighbourhood. The
Turks were obliged to capitulate from want of pro-
visions ; about two thousand had died in the garrison
Bons famine."

The Times of this morning observes, that as the
" Government of the BOURBONS chooses, with un-
paralleled insolence, to attempt the overthrow of the
more ancient Constitution of Spain, there can be no
impropriety in the Spaniards attacking their enemies
in the same manner,and declaring some new Constitu
tion for France." No doubt Spain has this right; but
does not the Times perceive that this is one cogent rea-
son, among many others, why Britain should.not make
common cause with Spain? Will the warmest advocate
for British interference ptend that Biitain shOuld
:take part in any attempt to overthrow that Govern-
, meat in France which it spent so much blood and
treasure to ie•establish ? And would Spain
.thank
us for declaring war in her favotsr,ou condition, that
she shall abandon what some persons slink owe/ her
most important elements of defence? !, 44,

BRIGHTON, MARCH 9.

It was the ktwo's intention to be present at Divine
Service in the Royal Chapel at the Pavilion this
morning; but unfortunately on Friday, about five
o'clock, just as his MAJESTY was preparing, for his
dinner, his old enemy the gout renewed its visit, but
in another quarter. The KING has suffered most se-
vere and excruciating pain in the wrist—and the affec-
tion still continues there, bin with considerably less
violence. We had flattered ourselves that his MA-
Jewry was getting quite well, for his looks indicate
nothing but health, and he was on the point-of hid-
' ding adieu to an unpleasant companion—the crutch !