The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-10-17 00:00:00

To THE EDITOR or Tux STATESMAN.
—.0.--

Sttt; In a cririis like the present, when so much
depends on the deliberations of a few hours, it can.
not be indifferent to the friends of liberty which way
these deliberations incline,—nor ought any effort to
form the public mind to just and liberal sentiments,
to be deemed impertinent or useless. No man who
gives his opinion on public a Milts, with honesty and
impattislity, even though it should not be embodied
with the utmost weight of argument, nor clothed
with all the ornaments of an elegant style, should be
treated with indifference or contempt; for though ta-
lents united to villainy, or merely employed in de-
fending a bad cause, may, for a time, succeed in de.
holing mankind, yet the existence of the sun is not
more certain, than that truth and justice must ulti-
mately prevail. It is under this conviction, and no
other, that I have ever ventured to offer my senti-
ments to the public, and 30 years of experience have
confirmed it. Though possessing neither strength
nor brilliancy of parts, I have been able, by apply-
ing a feu acknowledged principles of human nature
to the affairs of the world, to foresee the effect of
many public measures, in which those who judged
only by their interest, or their pre-possessions, were
totally mistaken ; and if I should go so far as to say
what ought to be the final issue of the present con-
test between Prance and the Allied Powers of Eu-
rope, I have little doubt that those who live long
enough, will see the ultimate triumph of Civil and
Religious Liberty over Priestly and Kingly Despot-
ism. I have little doubt, that before many years
are met., the influence of Plies's in the political if.
fairs of the world will be nearly extinguished; and
that Representative Governments will he very com-
mon throughout Europe; consequently the reign of
despotism will be at an end, and Kings will be com-
pelled to acknowledge that they bold their Crowns,
not by any divine hereditary right, but by the con-
sent and for the good of their people. It was to
efface this principle, if possible, from the human
mind, that the war against the French Revolution
was undertaken ; and as the Allied Sovereigns first
took up arms, they were the aggressors, and they
are answerable for all the crimes and cruelties which
were in those times committed under the name of
liberty ; and it wilt afterwards, perhaps, be more
fully known that they omitted no means in their
power to excite the people of France to the commis.
lion of those atrocities which have served to feistier
the very name of liberty odious to such minds as
were not acute, or liberal enough to separate the prin-
ciple from the abuse of it. ILO it not been fur the
folly and misconduct of BONAPARTE, Oe triumph of
liberty would have been more speedy and
plete ; but the sparks of it which still remain in the
breasts even of the most stupid and sordid, will
sever be extinguished, and while life remains, there
will rennin in every man a natural desire to enjoy
his freedom and his property undisturbed, noteith-
ttend:q 1111 the force tied the artifice that may be em.
pinyemt to quench it, by calling into ticion other
powerful aid presalent passions ; even the most
supple Courtier and obsequious servant of a King,
som times sighs in secret for his liberty. On this

principle it is that I think the French, after all their
SACllfien and sufferings, and since their kinds are
full, awakened to the value of the object they are
contending for, will not be satisfied with a mind of
half liberty, or with that scanty portion which is all
that tl‘e A lies Mill be willing to allow them. They
will n t rnntirot to see their country dismembered,
nor their Constitution maimed by the interference of
foreign despots ; and though they may he compelled
to submit for a lime, they will not rest satisfied till
they see the establi-hment of a Constitution, which
nay exclude, for many years at least, the possibi-
lity of that corrupting influence, which is more din.
gerous to freedom than the open attacks of preroga.
tire. Is it the aim of the royalist ploy in France,
even of the most moderate, to establish such a Go-
vernment as may leave sufficient room for courtly
intrigues and courtly corruption, and retain all
those artificial distinctions between man and man,
which are only requisite to indulge the pride of tame
at the espenie of others, but are of no real utility
to those purposes for which mess become members of
civil society. It the object of the most moderate
Royalists to rest°, e all the useless pomp and splendour
of a Court, and to burthen the people with a heavy
weight of taxation, to corrupt the sources of repre-
sentation, and render the whole people dependent on
the Court ; while the old ftn) *lists have in confetti-
Plation nothing less than the restoration of the old
Government, with all its oppressions. As the sue.
cess of either of these parties must have a consider.
able effect on the nations of Europe, it cannot be
regarded by any of them with indifference.
I remain, &c.
W.BURDON.
Raiford, mar titorpeth, 041.11, MIL

We regret to Mate, that several Individuals, re-
cently discharged ftom the nary, as midshipmen,
have been compelled by bard necessity, for nothing
less, we are positite, could have reduced them to
such desperate means, to resort to robbery for a
maintenance. Several inns freqdented by them, have
lost some valuable articles; and we insert this b)
as.)• of caution, not only to landlords, but to the
Commb.sioners of lbe Adrhiralty, who will, we trust,
in a short time, provide this extensive class of the
als) with some honourable means of livenhuud.—
(Nmooth 7ilegs oph.)
Cooper, who hens Moli Items in Scotland. is match.
ed to fight A 'mortis it, Leland, in a month, for SU
guineas.