beating down every thing that savours | wealth and stake in the country, that indemocracy, choose to draw their pic- fluence which it always will and ought to re of the people of Britain in the 19th have. Let the elective franchise be exentury, from Shakespeare's description tended to every man, who, to use Blackthe Roman populace in Coriolanus, or stone's phrase, may have a will of his own; Jack Cade and his associates in Henry suppose that the number of electors so h. For, that the house of Commons qualified, amounts to two millions, and ould not be composed entirely of the that the number of members to be return、 presentatives of the yeomanry and ed to Parliament is 400; if the qualified adesmen, is sufficiently manifest to any population be divided into 200 equal parts, e, that will for a moment consider of it will give 10,000 electors to every memhat sort of men the Commons of Bri-ber, and thus half the representatives will in arc composed; that they consist of be returned, who will, of course, be the e younger branches of noble families; representatives of the population. The knights; of country gentlemen of great wealth of the country may be equally ealed property; of wealthy merchants sily represented by the Income Tax being ad manufacturers; and of the indivi- made permanent, and divided into 200 als in the three learned professions; as equal parts, and every district where one ell as of the yeomanry of the counties, of these parts is levied, returning a mem d the tradesmen of the burghs; now ber, the person paying 51. of tax, having though the representation were to go one vote, and, if 50l. ten votes, and so in numbers only, yet, from the very na- proportion; the American mode of colre of things, and the situation of so- lecting the taxes being adopted, and the ety, the sentiments of the two latter longest term of one parliament being asses, would be much modelled by those three years. What is next said about the former; indeed, the apprehensions the House of Commons, sending up a hich some affect to entertain of the ver- number of popular bills, is just what tility and turbulence of the people, Hume says about their divesting the niting the phrase even to the two last Crown of its powers, and it is therefore to asses of commoners, appear to me rather be answered in the same manner. Next, mptomatic of hypochondria, as in all of the Nobility of England being no longer untries, attachment to old customs, and distinguishable as to their interests from version from novelty, are generally her opulent Commoners, and of there beund to be the characteristics of the ing no intelligible grounds for excluding eat body of the people; who, says the influence of the one, more than that cke, (on Government, 2. § 223), “are of the other; I perfectly agree to, suppos not so easily got out of their old forms, ing, that their judicial business were peras some are apt to suggest. They are formed openly, as it is said to be virtually, hardly to be prevailed with to amend by the Lord Chancellor; and that they the acknowledged faults in the frame were to cease to exist as a separate body. they have been accustomed to. And They would then certainly have a right. if there be any original defects, or to vote for the representatives both of the adventitious ones introduced by time, or wealth and population; but so long as corruption; it is not an easy thing they choose to have a house of their own, to be changed, even when all the world possessed of a veto upon the proceedings sees there is an opportunity for it. of the House of Commons, it is manifestly This slowness and aversion in the people unfair that they should have any thing to to quit their old constitutions, has, in the say in this House. The support which is many revolutions that have been seen in next endeavoured to be drawn from history this kingdom, in this and former ages, in favour of the principle, appears to me still kept us to, or after some interval of equally misplaced; for, in the first place, fruitless attempt, still brought us back a despotical government never can be a again to our old legislature of King, secure one, and the abolition of monarchy Lords, and Commons: and whatever in England, had nearly the same origin, as provocations have made the Crown be the revolt of Holland and Zealand, under taken from some of our Princes' heads, the infamous government of the Duke of they never carried the people so far as Alva. to place it in another line." But a most eneficial Reform could be introduced into "arliament, and at the same time leave to In the second place, Charles, by consenting to the Parliament having the power of continuing itself, vested in it an unconstitutional and improper power, and such as now-a-days would never be grant- | upon Antwerp, and that Antwerp was im ed. Perfectly agreeing with the writer in pregnable, for its communications with his last paragraph, I am, Sir, very reFrance could not be cut off, except by imspectfully, your obedient servant,—A. Z. meuse armies, against which the whole population of France would have time to imarch. The result of all which is, that the English have been for so many years shut out of the Continent, that they are no longer acquainted with it. Every thing has changed, except their hatred against France. OFFICIAL PAPERS. WAR BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND FRANCE, AND THE EXPEDITION TO HOLLAND.-Notes from the French Official Paper, the Moniteur, on the Articles published in the London Papers upon the above subjects. (Continued from page 576.) On the 1st of September there were between Flanders and the Scheldt and Maestricht, 20,000 men under arms. They were not all regulars, but they were all commanded by men who had served; they were all volunteers, and consisted, for the most part, of former under officers, and former soldiers who had obtained their discharges, and who had run to arms on the first signal.-Lord Chatham, therefore, charged himself with a senseless operation, and those, therefore, who projected it, shewed themselves to be as ignorant of the climate as of the localities. Lord Chatham saved the English army by determining to re-embark it; but every day that he delays to execute this determination, heightens the misfortunes of his expedition, and if he is culpable, it is not in having ordered the retreat, it is in having so long delayed to re-embark; for during this delay, the English troops contract fresh diseases, and become infected with fresh seeds of destruction.-Let it suffice to say that the Emperor, when he learned that an English army had been landed upon that point, recommended that it should not be attacked, and that we should leave the destruction of it to the diseases, which, in that dangerous climate, must do the enemy more injury than the cannon, without its costing any thing to France. it is said that they mean to keep it. We With regard to the Island of Walcheren, should have only cause to applaud this resolution for many reasons; 1st. The English, although they had 20,000 men in the Island of Walcheren, could not prevent it from being attacked and retaken; 2d. 20,000 English, exposed to the influence of the climate, would experience so much loss, that it would be necessary to be con tinually reinforcing them: that, in the course of the year, 80,000 men would as ne cessarily become victims to the climate, and it would cost them more to guard this marsh than to preserve the East Indies; but it is probable that time would not be left for them to suffer such losses. The channel between the two Islands is so narrow, that bombs can reach from the one to the other. The twenty ships of the line, and the flotilla which we have in the Scheldt, would soon make us masters of that river. It would not be forgotten, that four years ago, and with our flotilla alone, we were masters of all the coast; can it be doubted that we should be soon masters of a closed sea? and can it, at the same time, be supposed that the English would attempt to keep Flushing without being masters of the Scheldt? Besides, a flotilla. is too dangerous a war for them. Such a war is not carried on with boats alone; it is conducted with excelient troops, that is to say, with means which do not allow the English any advantage over us. The English, in landing in Flanders, did, We well know that men exist who, therefore, a thing contrary to all the rules although completely ignorant of the art of of war: Ist. Because they took for the war, have, notwithstanding, the silly habit theatre of their operations a country so of taking and endeavouring to give counsel unwholesome, that they had to presume to those who are masters in it; those peo that a month's stay in it would destroy ple, yet more skilful thin that public this army; that the country is covered speaker who introduced the subject of war with strong places, such as Flushing, Ber-before Hannibal; tell you, that the English, gen-op-Zoom, Bathz, and Lillo; and on by preserving the Island of Walcheren, the side of the island of Cadsand, the new will make it a second Gibraltar, or another Fort Napoleon, &c. &c. 23. Because their Malta; in fine, a commanding point which principal object appeared to he to cap-will render them masters of Flanders, of ture the squadron; they ought to have imagined that the squadron depended Holland, &c. Poor malmen! they cannot perceive that if the English persist in keep The Moniteur of the 30th of September, contains an article extracted from an evening paper on the failure of our Expedition against Antwerp, in which it is said, that the Armistice concluded on the Danube, ing the Island of Walcheren, that circum- I kept up; misfortunes may be brought on stance would be as advantageous for us as peaceable inhabitants; rivers of blood if they were embarrassed in the heart of may flow; the people, the protectors of Spain. In general, whenever an English whom they call themselves, may be ruinarmy lands on the Continent, every real ed; but any other results are impossible. Frenchman ought to rejoice.-Such a contest is completely in our favour: a nation of three millions of men cannot meet man for man a nation of forty millions. A new army, all the elements of which are in the navy, cannot keep the field against the veteran forces which have conquered two-could not but have a powerful influence thirds of Europe; in fine, an army which can only arrive by sea, has neither artillery, cavalry, nor equipages, at least it has a very great inferiority in all these means, and lord Chatham really could not mount more than 2,000 cavalry? well! before 15 days were elapsed, the French effective cavalry, which were assembled on the Banks of the Scheldt, amounted to 4,000! Reflecting also that our troops are not led on by a Marlborough, a Wolfe, or even a Wellesley.' We here see what the spirit of party is capable of. It is a pity that Sir Arthur Wellesley had not the command instead of Lord Chatham. The latter saved the English army; the other would probably have lost it, as he has lost that which he commanded in Spain-where he had the imprudence to entangle himself with 30,000 men, without reflecting that he thus exposed his left wing to the different corps of the Dukes of Dalmatia, of Elchingen, and of Treviso, who had 70,000 men under arms. He has, it is true, drawn himself out of this critical situation, by a precipitate flight, and by abandoning his hospitals, his wounded, his horses, and a part of his equipages. It was thus that Gen. Moore, in his ridiculous expedition in the month of Nov. last, fled from Benevento to Corunna, abandoning his allies, his horses, his ammunition, and his equipages. Neither the one nor the other of these Generals bas displayed that foresight, which is a characteristic so essential in war, and which prompts to do only what can be supported, and to undertake only what presents the greatest num-ed that the fourth battalions of the regiber of chances of success. Sir Arthur Wellesley has not evinced more talent than the men who direct the cabinet of St. James's. To wish to support Spain against France, and to contend upon the Continent with France, is forming an enterprize which will cost dear to those who have undertaken it, and who will meet in it only disasters, Conflagrations, it is true, may be on the issue of that expedition, makes the following remarks on this assertion: "What a miserable excuse; what have the affairs of the Danube to do with the expedition of the Scheldt. Can it for a moment be supposed that France stood in need of the army which is in Vienna to defend herself against the English. The English expedi tion failed because it was extravagant; it would also have failed had the French been defeated at Wagram; nay, it would in that case have more certainly failed of success, because an unfortunate event would have doubled the energy of the French in the interior; it would have, because, in fact, fools only could attempt a similar expedition in a month, and a climate where epidemic fevers carry off one moiety of the army. Had it been undertaken in the month of May, the chances against its success would have been far less considerable; because at that time of the year no dread of maladies was to be entertained. The Cabinet of St. James's, acting in a different manner, displayed the utmost ignorance of circumstances, in a case to which it attached so much importance. The expedition was absurd; because Flushing could not be supposed to be taken but after a long siege, carried on in the midst of inundations; because after the reduction of Flushing it was necessary to direct further operations against Batz, Bergenop-Zoom and Lillo; and because no attack on the strong place of Antwerp could be made but after previous sieges, to the number of three, which must take at least three months; and because it was not recollect ments of all the army. which remain in France, form an army of more than a hundred thousand men, exclusively of the national guards and gens d'dries of the neighbouring departments. In less than eight days a corps of 4,000 horse was assembled at Antwerp, while all the cavalry of Lord Chatham's army did not exceed 1,000.-Let not the English boast of their holding the key of the Scheldt, they can- | Gallicia, ought always to remain in that not hold it; any force which may be kingdom. destined to defend that place must in the end be lost to England, either by capitulation or sickness, and in the former case we shall be more than indemnified for the loss of 4,000 men, who capitulated in Flushing, not 1,000 of whom were French. In consequence of this Royal Order, the Marquis de Romana has signified, that he has confided the command of the army to the major-gen. Don Gabriel de Mendezabal, and that of the kingdom, to the Conde de Noronha, second Commandant-General, and President of its Royal Audience. Proclamation to the Army by the Marquis de Romana. SPANISH REVOLUTION.-Royal Order, directed to his Excellency the Marquis de Romana, and transmitted to him by Don Soldiers! The august voice of our Martin Garay, dated Badajoz, Aug. 31. sovereign, Ferdinand, reached our ears In the midst of the great cares and at- in Denmark, and we obeyed the call. tentions which the Supreme Governing Our country invoked our aid, and a geneJunta of the kingdom has taken, to follow rous nation, traversing stormy seas, with activity and firmness the defence of the conducted us to join our valiant coun country, it has never lost sight of the salu- trymen, from whom we had been separatary reforms which the nation earnestly ex- ted by the atrocious perfidy and vile pects, which its actual situation requires, prostitution of an individual. You have and which must be the foundation of its fu- resisted the mortal blows aimed at you by ture prosperity. One of the greatest objects the tyrant Napoleon, to destroy you. which now claim its attention, and which You have suffered with me the disasters ought to occupy it with the greatest ac- which his unequalled force has spread tivity, is the convocation of the Cortes, through the whole nation, and though all the most important object which can, or Europe; but you, without other assistance ought, to employ the Supreme Junta. The than your own valour-without other more important this object is, the more arms than those furnished by naturenecessary are the knowledge, the observa- without other ammunition than your own tions, and the experience of those who inimitable constancy without other compose that assembly; and as, in a dis- stimuli than your own heroic patriotism cussion of such magnitude, it will be ex-without other ambition than that inpected by the nation, that all should concur, his majesty has been pleased to grant, that all the deputies shall give their assistance. It will therefore be necessary, in consequence of this sovereign and general determination, that the Marquis de Romana separate himself from his troops, and come to this city to exercise the functions of representative of the national body, though it is certainly most difficult to place at their head a Chief of equal experience and achievements; considering, however, the state of the kingdom of Gallicia, and the principality of Asturias, the Junta, after mature deliberation, has determined that the Marquis shall transfer his command to that General of his army whom he shall judge most capable. I communicate to your excellency the order of his majesty, for its fulfilment, advising at the same time that the command of the army cannot with propriety be transferred to the major general the Conde de Noronha, because he being second Commandant-General in spired by your honour and fi telity; have disputed the first fruits of his triumph; and have raised your names to a level with those of the men who have been born to inspire admiration.-Gallicia is covered with French carcasses: neither ancient Carthage, nor modern France, can compare their marches with those incessant ones, which, during six months of want and privation, you have made among the impenetrable Alps of Castile, Gailicia, and the Asturias, in the most exposed and rigorous situations. Inimortal warriors! without great and signal battles, you have annihilated the proud army of the tyrant, by aiding the national patriotism, supporting the noble fermentation, harassing the troops of the enemy, defeating them in small skirmishes, and reducing their possession to the ground on which they stand; you have fulfilled the most elevated obligations of the soldier, and the fatigues and cares which I, as your general, have undergone for your sakes, are the reward I owe you. (To be continued.) LONDON:-Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough - Court, Fleet Street; Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden :-Sold also by J. BUDD, Pall-Mall. VOL. XVI. No. 17.] LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1809. [Price Is. 609] "The snake, tradition's tale avers, "Shifts, once a year, his speckled skin; SUMMARY OF POLITICS. -[610 "Canning to the Duke of Portland, in the "month of July, in which Mr. Canning PISTOLLING PRIVY-COUNSELLORS.- -In" requests, in justice to himself, that it my last Number, at page 516, I inserted the " may be remembered, whenever hereLetter of Lord Castlereagh, containing his" after this concealment shall be alledged Charges against Mr. Canning; and, there-" (as he doubts not that it will) against fore, justice demands, that I here insert," him, as an act of injustice towards Lord in like manner, Mr. Canning's Defence;" Castlereagh, that it did not originate in when I have done which, I shall offer such" his suggestion; that so far from desiring further observations as occur to me upon "it, he conceived, however erroneously, this at once ludicrous and scandalous trans- "Lord Camden to be the sure channel of action. "communication to Lord Castlereagh; and "It is perfectly true, that so long ago that up to a very late period he be"as Easter, Mr. Canning had represented "lieved such communication to have been "to the Duke of Portland the insufficiency "actually made.'-The copy of this letter, (in his opinion) of the Government, "and of the Duke of Portland's answer as then constituted, to carry on the "to it, acknowledging Mr. Canning's "affairs of the country, under all the diffi- " repeated remonstrances against the con"culties of the times, and had requested" cealment,' are still in the possession of that, unless some change should be" Lord Castlereagh's friend. The com"effected in it, he might be permitted to "munication to Lord Camden, to which resign his office. It is equally true that" this letter refers, was made on the 28th "in the course of the discussion which" of April, with Mr. Canning's knowarose out of this representation, it was "ledge, and at his particular desire. Lord "proposed to Mr. Canning, and accepted" Camden being the near connection and by him, as the condition of his consent- "most confidential friend of Lord Castleing to retain the seals of the Foreign" reagh, it never occurred to Mr. Canning, "office, that a change should be made in" nor was it credible to him, till he re"the War Department.-But it is not true" ceived the most positive asseverations of "that the time at which that change was "the fact, that Lord Camden had kept "ultimately proposed to be made, was of "back such a communication from Lord "Mr. Canning's choice; and it is not" Castlereagh -With respect to the period "true that he was party or consenting to "at which the change in the War Depart"the concealment of that intended change "ment was to take place, Mr. Canning "from Lord Castlereagh. With respect was induced, in the first instance, to to the concealment, Mr. Canning, some "consent to its postponement till the "short time previous to the date of Lord" rising of parliament, partly by the reCastlereagh's letter, without the smallest" presentations made to himself of the "suspicion of the existence of any inten-" inconveniencies of any change in the ❝tion on the part of Lord Castlereagh to" middle of a Session, but principally "make such an appeal to Mr. Canning as" from a consideration of the particular "that letter contains, but upon informa-" circumstances under which Lord Castle"tion that some misapprehension did exist" reagh stood in the House of Commons "as to Mr. Canning's supposed concur- after Easter; circumstances which would ❝rence in the reserve which had been "have given to his removal at that period "practised towards Lord Castlereagh," of the Session, a character which it was "transmitted to one of Lord Castlereagh's certainly no part of Mr. Canning's wish "most intimate friends, to be communi-" that it should bear.-Mr. Canning, how"cated whenever he might think proper, "ever, received the most positive promise, "the copy of a letter addressed by Mr. that a change in the War Department K " U |