The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-05-06 00:00:00

'IIIE SITATSMAN.

attend to the maxim of our divine rigi►t! You are
our property L 41Dit. Timms! every means are justi-
fiable to recover oar own I let some millions of people
perish, the rest will be pure and harmless !
" Country met's workmen, people of all sorts, scarcely
can you feel under our legitimate yoke that you are
slaves. Shut your eyes to the horrors of war. See
in the Prussians, in the Cossacks, in the Croats, only
real Frenchmen. Bless the name of a Father who
chastises you for your good! instead of grumbling
at seeing your roofs iu tames, your cities bombarded,
think only that these firemen are your friends—that
they carry the White Flag, and suffer all with grati-
tude! Yes! Jump with joy when you see you
towns destroyed, your childrons' throats cot, your
wives expiring—read on all our bloody bayonets, on
our cannon-balls, and on our bombs and rockets,—
' These come from your good King!'"

BERBICE, APRIL 10.—His Majesty's ship Cygnet,
is en shore off the mouth of the Corantine River, on
the sand bank, without any prospect of being saved.
The French cavalry, during the war on the Conti-
nent, always carried three days provision for man
and horse, so that they never were disappointed of
food into whatever quarter they came.
In the list of Insolvents who hare taken the bene-
fit of tlic present Act, printed by order of the House
of Commons, is a fashionable Surgeon for 10,3651. ;
a Cook to one of the Royal Family for 1201.; a Bar-
rister for 130,0001.; and a Baronet for 301. 4s.
Sir A. MITCHELL has recovered the large amount
of prize money of Lord DUNCAN, derived from the
Cum/pert/own and other prizes its Holland ; the Court
of King's Bench having ruled, that Sir A stoacw
MITCHELL, and not the late Admiral Lord DUNCAN,
was Commander in Chief at that period.
The declaration of the Allied Sovereigns, that the
French notion may have any Sovereign they choose,
except Bo' A r.t (tic, reminds us of an inddlgent father,
who told his daughter that she might have any hus-
band she liked—cxcept the man of her choice!
It appears to be a species of folly to send the
Life Guards on foreign service, in preference to other
corps less gaudily appointed. The duty performed
by the Life Guards in the Metropolis is of a peculiar
description, and has no reference to field discipline,
it can only be satisfactorily executed under OfficeYs
of experience, whose address, complacency, and
discretion alleviate the inconveniences which they
are obliged to impose on the public. During the late
Court days it has fallen to their lot to act a part per-
fectly ridiculous, being compelled to obstruct the
progress of carriages, where there was no semblance
of impediment, and at such a remote distance from
the Palace, that it appeared uncalled for by any ne-
cessity whatever.
Among many Other liberal contributors to the be-
nefit of Miss O'NEtr.t, the Duke of DEVONSHIRE
sent 501. for his box.
We bale read letters written from Parts on the
Ist of May, by Bankers of the brat respectability,
which state that the house of RECARIER, that stop-
ped payment on the 29th of April, re-assumed them
on the Ist of May, and that that momentary em-
barrassment of the 29th ult. was merely owing to the
complete interruption of all communication with
Spain and Portugal.
Dittav-r.Anz 'hit:Amt.—Last night, in conse-
quence of the sudden indisposition of Mr. EcusTom,
the part of the Duke, in the comedy of the Honey
Moon, was undertaken at a very short notice by Mr.
RAE, who performed the character in a manner highly
creditable to him under such circumstances. The
musical entertainment of Rosina followed, in which
Miss LverA K CLLY gave to her songs the advantage
of increased confidence.
COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.—COMIIS increases in
attraction as the rational and brute performers be-
come more mellow in their parts. Not only the
lions, but the inanimate machinery becomes more'
obedient to those who have the direction of it, and
the effect of the whole representation decidedly im-
proves by repetition.
The Directors of the British Institution, instead of .
any particular premiums for history or landscape
painting, this year mean to set apart 1000 guineas,
for the purpose of distributing rewards for finished
sketches, illustrative of the Peninsula Campaigns.—
This will not only afford ample encouragement to
our Artists, but will tend to perpetuate the proudest
annals of our military renown.
MRS. OUNTA N'S FAREWELL.—'[his Performer,
who has so long and so deservedly been one of the
chief favourites of the public, took her farewel of
the Stage last Thursday night, at the King's Theatre.
In the course of the e►ening Mrs. MOUNTAIN deli-
vered, or rather attempted to deliver, an Address of
respectful gratitude to the public, for the long and
warm patronage which she had experienced —her
feelings during the recital powerfully affecting her
utterance. This Address, as well as the whole of
the entertainments, were received with the warmest
applause, and she retired, or rather was borne off
the stage, amidst the fullest testimony that the occa-
sion admitted, of public respect and esteem.—The
pressure was se great, that much of the iron railing
in the passage to the Pit, was broken away, and
many persons were in imminent danger for some
time, but happily no serious accident occurred.
Yesterday afternoon a singular phenomenon, of
the human species, was introduced to her MAJESTY,
his Royal highness the PRINCE REGENT, their Royal
Highnesses the PRINCESSES, and all the distinguished
personages assembled at Carlton-House. 'the above
object was a male youth, born near Harleim, in Hol-
land, the son of a fisherman. On the 27th of this
month he will be '26 years of age, but is only 27
inches high, and weighs only 28 pounds. He is well
made in proportion to his size, and speaks the French
and German languages fluently.
A singular, and what might have proved a very
serious accident, happened at the late dinner of the
Royal Academicians, at Somerset-House, by the in-
advertent letting down of the large Egyptian illumi-
nator (presented by the Nitres REGENT), in order
to be lighted ; declension of it being too low
and rapid, it ;nails through the centre table, crush-
ing it to pieces. The illuminator is more than two
tons in weight.;-tnd had the chain to which it was
suspended broke, it would probably have forced its
way through the floor.

J.

i..~y. r.

To rsa ED121211 of.rira ,STATESMAN.

You, no doubt, Sir, recollect the trite but just
precept, so much inculcated by •the most renowned
masters of ancient wisdom, of ttoree se ipsom ; and
can bring to your memory how often we have been
told, that to a wilful neglect of this aphorism, or to
a want of properly understanding it, were to be at-
tributed all the follies and misfortunes of mankind.
However willing .I maybe to subscribe to this doctrine
in general, I must confess that I widely differ from
it in regard to the follies, errors, and abominable
principles prevailing at the present important crisis,
for I attribute them to nothing less than to a full'1
appreciation of that very precept.
It is sclf-knowledge that moved the Sovereigns at
Vienna to those acts of injustice which have lost them
their ill-begotten popularity, even amongst the blind-
est of their admirers—it is because they know. how
weak they *rein the lose of their subjects, that they
tried to make themselvei stronger by terror and ar-
bitrary measures. It is from knowing themselves, and
how poor. a chance of success their principles had in
the present ege of intellectual improvement, that
they attempted to serat the days of barbarism and
oppression, bf feudalism and priestly persecution.—
And what, pray, have been the consequences of all
this? The Norwegians curse the memory of the Co.
&titian of 1813; the Poles look with distrust upon
their soli-styling defender; the Saxons bate their
pretended liberators ; sod the Italians are in that
otoio of &meet, which requires but one word to in-
duce them to adopt those measures, that have so
quietly and fully accomplished the late revolution in
France.
Again ; it is self-knowledge that strikes dumb our
Ministerial Benches on all questions of the most vital
importance, and gives the high fever to a certain
great Diplomatist, whenever he reflects on the glo-
rious advantages which his voyages and lets-a-lcie
dejenners with Emperors and Kings, have produced
to this country and to Europe. To self-knowledge,
also, most he attributed the impotent wrath, 44 and
foaming black and green" of the Courier, together
with the filthy eloquence of the Times, although I
am sensible that the latter has stronger reasons for
his rage, than the former, reasons which, if not, to
the heart, may at least be said to come, nearer to
the pocket. And to self-knowledge at last, or to
,the knowledge of their insignificance may be ascribed
the noble effusions of the remaining bought and sold
Newsmongers, whose productions are at this parti-
colas moment the disgrace of the British press. 1
It is curious to see the childish, yet mischievous,
i manoeuvres employed by all these personages, high
and low, in order to come to that important result
Ifor which they have fought, kicked, and cried for
i these 25 years, namely, the effectual prevention of
I all intellectual improvement in the people they go-
-1 vern, and the establishment among them of even
1 Mahntnetan stupidity. So clearly prevalent has this
aim been in all their affected views of political
1
affairs, that the eventful period we have witnessed,
since the first moment of the French republican Re- ,
Ivolution, may be justly called a struggle between
1•
light and darkness—ignorance warring against phi-'
. losophy. As the latter gains ground, and progres-
. sively unfurls her banners of triumph, these disap-
pointed dictators and gazetteers become more out-
rageous ; they no longer know how to keep their
temper, and in their agony they show the cloven
foot.

When things seemed to wear an aspect favourable
to their cause, and barbarism, mar4ialled by the In-
quisition, the Jesuits, and bigoted Princes, was
forcing its way among enlightened nations, these ene-
rgies to the repose of Europe, who had been glad to
get rid of NAPOLEON on any terms, affected to look
upon the Treaty of Fontainbleau, by which that
event was brought about, as a contemptible and a
disgraceful document. They did not hesitate to pro-
claim what little value they set upon it—nay, some
boasted that they had not disgraced themselves by
affixing their names to it, as a title to the gratitude
of the world. Yet now, that a daring Captain,
justly offended at the want of faith in his opponents,
comes forth openly and in his character of one of the
parties to that Trettty, to demand why it was broken,
the question is retorted upon him—the Treaty is to be
held up as sacred; and in conjunction with that of
Paris, decorated with the signatures of Ministers
from the very Courts which gloried in not having
sanctioned •it, is to be brought forward, a plea for
a declaration of hostilities, such as would have dis-
' graced the times of Bute taossA, and such as de-
servedly received the appellation of infamous in the
British Senate!!
As long as there had been any hopes that Kingly
promises, and threats of foreign chastisement would
succeed in putting down the rising spirit which hailed
the man from Elba, we were lavish in our protests.
lions, that Britain wished not to dictate to France.
But no sooner have the French people chosen for
themselves, and changed their Government without
using any violence, without spilling a single drop of
blood, and without offering any insult or hostility to
foreign nations, than we assume the right of calling
in question their authority—we protest against their
domestic decisions—nay, we outlaw the chief of their
choice, and call down upon him assassination !
" The shocking perfidy of a banditti," said the
Times, some days ago, 66 which has effected the re-
bellion in France."—lf perfidious is to be called a
revolution brought about by military force, does the
epithet belong more to the rebellion of 1815, thou to
that of the preceding year ? or rather the reverse?
NAPOLEON lands on the French territory, with a
handful of followers to vindicate what he conceives
his rights,—jet not to these followers, but on the
justice of his cause, does he look for its success. Ile
soon leaves them behind, and penetrates alone, un-
attended, unarmed, into the heart of that very pro-
vince which had been described as ready to tear him
to pieces the year precediug, when travelling towards
the same coast to embark for the place of his exile.—
Does he hasten to his old companions in arms ?
Does he appeal merely to the•passions of his fellow-
;
soldiers, and excite them to ►event ? No ! we have
I it from the very hirelings who are now employed in
heaping ail sorts of infamous appellations on his
head, that be advanced alone, abandoned by his
soldiers, stunnad by the cries of rive le Rol!. yet
not a patriotic poignard, not a loyal Officer, not an
indignant citizen to fight him singly—to chastise the
daring adventurer so much hated by all classes of

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