The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-08-18 00:00:00

been received this morning. All the intelligence
that has arrived respecting the bombardment is
through private channels. 'This appears absolutely
unaccountable. Do Ministers disregard that in.
tense anxiety which is daily manifested by the pub.
lic on this occasion ? —lt must be so ; for it is
impossible to conceive that, with the extensive, we
might say unlimited, means which they possess, it
is impracticable to anticipate t he communications re-
ceived by private individuals.—From Spain, from

Portugalland from Germany, the same tardiness has
been esbibited—in fact, almost time immemorial.

How often were Mr. Pitt and his Coadjutors in the
last War informed, for the first time, of important
e►eats on the Continent of Europe, by the public
prints of this metropolis? And how often was
intelligence received by the late Marquis of LANS-
DOWNE, and other individuals, of which Govern-
insot were In utter ignorance ? Intelligence, in
fact, is the very foundation of every movement of
a state in a period of warfare—and although it may
be said to be of little consequence, whether the
surrender of Flushing be known a day sooner, or
a day later—it is certainly disgraceful, with the
means we possess,, to remain so lung in ignorance
as we frequently do of what is passing out of
England. Therei are upwards of 1 vessels,
including every description, with the Nisedition
—and although the ocean cannot be tra+trsed with
the same certainty as the road over which a mail
coach rolls, we have many species of craft which
wiH make the passage in almost any weather.—
What, for instance, would deter boats constructed
like those at Deal, from rutting to sea, and parti-
Warty if they were fitted up with cork as the
lifc-boats are?—The smuggling cutters and tug-
gers never deem the weather favourable for a trip
till it a blows a gale, when the men of war and
Termite cotters run for a roadstead, strike
topmasts, and ride at anchor with all snug.
—The same wind that wafts the private vessel
to out shores, would bring over the diur-
nal account of the proceedings of our brave
countrymen, in whose fate individually, per.
hap; a majority of the nation (to say nothing of
the deep interest which the nation, at large, must
feel in what is passing at the different points ut
the great Theatre of War) Ft intereated. It
has long been the practice to be silent, except
wheu some important eveut is to be announced,
and in the intervals that may elapse,,the public
abaiety to know .what is doing, is wholly disre-
garded. The 'Attic may surely be viewed for
the anxiety they feel, and which siirelfr ought
to be as much, , and u frequently, relieved as
is possible. How many weeks did we remain in
ignorance of Sir A turnun ‘VeLLEst.Ey's mere.
meats after Souvr's retreat ? We had private
letters in abundance, and many contradictory rt.
ports is impossible to assign any adequate
reason why the public, instead of being almost

daily agitated and harassed by vague and contra.
dictory rumours respecting the movements of the
Britisharmy, should nut have been correctly inform.
ed by authentic official statements...we do not mean
laboured, highly-polished "Authentic Official
Statements," like that of the battle of Aspern, nor
official statements,without dale, like that of the bat-
tle of Wagram, which appeared in a Government
Paper of yesterday evening. With respect to this
last official statement, we know not precisely what

operation it is th..iigned to have upon the public

mind. That such a document should have beets
published by the Government of Austria, or re-
ceived in this country rcithout date—tie appre.
heed will not be believed, even by those who so
Wig disbelieved the " Armistice." Nur is it
%within probability, that this official account of
the battle of Wagram, which was fought on the
6th of July, should have been unaccompanied by
the official account of the battle of %maim,
which happened on the I Ith of the same mouth.
If it be intended to gull the readers of this ac-
coont, by leading them to suppose that the Aus-
trians were.finully victorious—the attempt, inge.
nious as it is, will nut be successful. Nothing
more certainly indicites weakness and apprehen-
sion, than the attempt to mislead by the slisin-
&custom suppression of the tenth. It is impossible
that any individual in England can view the Ltal
termination of the contest on the Danube, without
ben thwu of deep sorrow and regret--but deceiv-
ing, hoodwinking the rowels: of fboatand tfitl not
that calamity.

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LONDON:
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1..

Tut surrender of Flushing may be considered

as certain, although no ad►ice of that event had