The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-02-20 00:00:00

LONDON:
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1812.

It confidently said, that the Prince Royal of Swe-
den, BtlIN 4DOTTE, has made a proposal to Ministers,
and also to BONAPARTE, for a truce, that he may offer
his mediation for a general peace. This communica-
tion. it is believed, was received by Government on
Tuesday, through the were conveyance which brought
the Anholt Mail. The declaration of the PRINCE
Ilterellithat perseverance in the war is the only
means of resitting a foreign yoke, it will be recollect-
ed, was communicated to Lord GRIT as far back
as Thursday last. Had the overture of BER. .
NA [MITE been previously received, we are in,
eined to think his Royal Highness would
hale expressed sentiments of a less hostile nature
than what that letter contained. We true., how-
ever, if the proposal alluded to, has really been made
to our Government, that the PRINCE REGENT will
not consider himself pledged, at all hazards, to pro-
secute the war, but that he will evince a sincere de-
sire for peace, by agreeing to the truce. If the
terms proposed by BONAPARTE are unreasonable, and
such as it would be inconsistent with the honour of
the country to accede to, then will the nation
applaud the conduct of their Prince, in reject-
ing them, and then he may with confidence
" flatter himself that he shall meet with the
support of Parliament, and of a candid and
enlightened nation." But when we consider the
character of these men who are to be entrusted with
the guidance of the helm of the State, we confess
that there appears little hope for expecting a favour-
able result from any application that has peace for
n: object. PERCETAL, the champion of eternal war,
I. to be a%sociated with the CASTLEREAGHS, the CAN-
SINGS, the YA RAIOUTIIS, and the SIDMOUTICS, all
of whom vie with each other as .to which shall excel
in oppression, in intolerance, and in ruling the
country with a rod of iron. That the Duke of
NORFOLK and Lord MoIRA have rejected the offer
of the Petece REGENT to decorate them with two
of the )).-.cant ribbons, is now ascertained beyond all
doubt. The spirited conduct of these noblemen is
beyond all praise. 'With them were the " early
I.hits of the PRINCE REGENT'S public life formed."
They were willing to 'accept of situations under his
Royal Highness, provided he acted bp to the princi-
l!r, which he has so publicly recognised and 'ap-
r;ored of. But, when they discovered a decided
dtrelittion from the*, and heard from his own
mouth, that he not only approved of those measures
Which he formerly condemned, but was determined to
Prue a similar system in future, and confide the
execution of it to his Father's 'Ministers; they coeld
d) nothing less than refuse those baubles which, in-
btead of badges of honour, would have been looked
upon as marks of digrace, or as peace offerings to
their injured feeling)). When we recollect the manly
AA dignified conduct of the reeveratoes Fox, who,
'then all his eloquence and alt the truths which he
uttered could not arouse the Rouse of Commons
to a sense of the country's danger, abandoned the,
Senate to the controul of a profligate Ministry, we
Ire persuaded that a similar conduct, at this iwful
crisis, on the part of those independent Members
Who remain attached to the interests of their coun-
try, would have the effect of inducing the Parece
REcext to call to his Councils the friends and com-
Panions of his youth ; for they only are inclined to
Peace, and the proofs which they have so often given
et their integrity in refusing to barter their con-
"flees for places, peusions, hewers, or power;