before, abjured the celebrated oath of junction at Breslau of men designated as chiefs of the disturbers, and as the principal instigators of the war of 1806; the daily communications established between your Court and the head-quarters of the enemy, had for a long time left no doubt of the resolutions of your Court; when, Maron, I received your note of the 27th of March, and it has therefore caused no surprise. Prussia wishes, it is said, to recover the inheritance of her ancestors: but we may ask her, if, when she speaks of losses which her false policy has caused her to suffer, she has likewise made some acquisitions to put into the scale: if, among those acquisitions, there be none which she owes to her faithless policy? It is, that she owes Silesia to the abandonment of a French army in the walls of Prague; and all her acquisitions in Germany, to the violation of the laws and interests of the Germanic Body.Prussia talks of her desire of obtaining a peace founded on a solid basis; but how is it possible to reckon on a solid peace with a power which believes herself justified when she breaks her engagements according to the caprices of fortune. His Majesty prefers a declared enemy to a friend always ready to abandon him.- -I will not carry these observations any farther; I In 1811, the preparations made by Russia threatening Europe with a new war, the geographical situation of Prussia did not permit her to remain an indifferent spectatress of the events which were about taking place and you, M. le Baron, were charged so early as the month of March in the same year, to solicit the alliance of France and it is useless for me to recall to your re-shall content myself with asking, what membrance what passed at that period. It is useless for me to repeat either your reiterated instances or your warm solicitudes. His Majesty, remembering what was past, at first hesitated what part he should take. But he thought that the King of Prussia, enlightened by experience, was at length become sensible of the versatile policy of your Cabinet. He felt himself obliged for the steps which it had taken at St. Petersburgh to prevent the rupture. It was, besides, contrary to his justice and his heart to declare war, merely for the considerations of political convenience. He yielded to his personal sentiments towards your Sovereign, and consented to make an alliance with him. So long as the chances of war were favourable to us, your Court shewed itself faithful; but scarcely had the premature rigours of the winter attacked our armies on the Niemen, when the defection of General D'Yorck rewakened suspicions but too well founded. The equivocal conduct of your Court in so weighty a circumstance; the departure of the King for Breslau; the treachery of General Bulow, who opened to the enemy the passage of the Nether Oder; the public Ordinances, to excite a turbulent and factious youth to take up arms; the would an enlightened Statesman, and a (Signed) THE DUKE DE BASSANO. -I NORTHERN WAR. 1 pies, have been received by Viscount Imperial Head-quarters, Kalisch, Referring to my dispatch from St. Petersburgh, by the messenger Lyell, I have now the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that having begun my journey, upon the Emperor's invitation to join him at headquarters on the 12th of February, I reached Riga in forty-eight hours, and arrived in this town before day-break on the 2d of March. The Emperor received me in his accustomed most gracious manner, and, in an audience immediately after the parade, was pleased to state the outline of his recent operations.- In the first place, the result of his Imperial Majesty's communications to the Court of Berlin, made on his first arrival at Wilna, has been the conclusion of a treaty of peace and alliance, offensive and defensive, with that power. placed a soldier within its walls; and has, in every instance, treated the Poles with the utmost clemency and indulgence.The Austrian auxiliary force, in consequence of an unlimited armistice, are gradually retiring to the Gallician frontier. -It remains for -Regnier's corps, as I conjectured, retired behind the Austrians, by Rawa, to this place; they were here overtaken by General Winzingerode, who attacked them with inferior force, and put them to flight, taking prisoner the Saxon General Rostitz, three colonels, forty-seven other officers, fifteen hundred rank and file, with two colours and seven cannon. The remainder of this corps pursued their retreat in the direction of Glogau, probably not exceeding five or six thousand men. me to offer my congratulations on the signal success which has hitherto attended the great and unremitting exertions of the Emperor, who, in the course of two months, at this season, has continued the pursuit of the enemy from Wilna to the Oder; and has united to his own zealous endeavours, the decided and hearty support of the King of Prussia, and of the whole population of his dominions, who seem most solicitous to emulate the Russians in patriotic donations, as well as in personal service.I understand the Polish government, which with drew from Warsaw under Prince Ponia Petrikaw, and a part with the Prince are The Plenipotentiaries are Marshal Prince Kutusoff Smolensko, and the Chancellor Baron Hardenberg.- -In pursuance of this renovation of amicable relations, the most active combined military operations are already in progress. -This day a report has been received of the actual occupa- towski, went, in the first instance, to tion of Berlin by the forces of his Imperial Majesty, under the Aid-de-Camp-General Chernicheff.The head-quarters of the Russian army are established in this central position, to give the necessary time for receiving recruits and convalescents, who are daily arriving, and for supplying necessaries to troops who have been engaged in a campaign of an unexampled and uninterrupted series of military operations and marches for eleven months.- -This pause will, however, be of short duration. Nothing can be more striking than the contrast between the march of the Russian army, and the conciliatory proceedings of the Emperor, with that of Buonaparté, and the troops under the French Generals.- -The most rigid and correct discipline has been observed in the Duchy, as well as in Prussia. His Imperial Majesty, though in possession of the keys of Warsaw, has not observe their motions. Imperial Head-Quarters, Kalish, March 26, 1813. My Lord,-In my dispatches of the 6th instant, I had the honour of reporting my arrival at this place, and of detailing to your Lordship the progress which the Emperor had made in his arrangements, and in preparations for the campaign, together with the gigantic steps which had already been taken in carrying on the military operations already begun. These reports in(To be continued.) Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden. VOL. XXIII. No. 17.] LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 1813. 609] 66 66 [Price 1s. -[610 real grounds exist for preferring the charge in a more formal manner, and for bringing the accused, or suspected, person to trial. -Very true; and, if the Four Lords had acted in their capacity of Privy Councillors, there would now have been no room to regret what is regretted by all the nation, namely, that Lady Douglas cannot have her petition granted, and be put on her trial for perjury. If she had sworn before the Four Lords as Privy Councillors, they being, in that capacity, Magistrates, she might have been prosecuted for perjury; but, it seems, that, by virtue of the King's warrant, or commission, these four Lords were depriv made it perjury for any one to swear falsely before them. It would, perhaps, be thought impertinent in us to inquire, why this commission was formed; why the same four Lords did not act in their capacity of Privy Councillors; why they were, upon this particular occasion, made Commissioners? This might be thought impertinent; but, of one thing we are certain; namely, that their being made Commissioners has, as it has happened, prevented Lady Douglas from being liable to be tried for perjury. SUMMARY OF POLITICS. WESTMINSTER ADDRESS. PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.- -On Thursday, the 15th instant, a very numerous meeting was held in the City of Westminster, at which an Address to Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales, was voted, to be presented by Sir Francis Burdett and Lord Cochrane, the two Members for that city. --At this meeting the following resolutions were passed; and, I insert them, because I think it of great consequence that it should be known, that the people of England have not passed over these things without perceiving them." Resolved, 1st.ed of that quality, for the time being, which "That it is the undoubted right of every "British subject to retain the reputation, " rights, and immunities of innocence, un"til convicted of guilt before a tribunal recognized by the law, known to the peo"ple, and possessing that glorious and in"dispensable attribute of freedom and justice, a trial by Peers; and that this Meet"ing view with deep regret any attempts "to introduce tribunals unknown to the "Constitution, unauthorized by the law of "the land, and therefore possessing no con"stitutional power to enforce the attend-How hard, reader, was this ance of witnesses, no power to punish upon the Princess! The witnesses against persons giving false evidence, or no her might swear just what they pleased, "requisite of a Court of Justice.-- and without any danger, for they could not "2d. That this Meeting feel the greatest be prosecuted for perjury. What they de"horror at the late nefarious conspi- posed was taken as coming from persons on 66 racy against the Honour and the Life their oaths; but, in this case, they were "of Her Royal Highness the Princess oaths without responsibility, as it now ap"of Wales; and fully convinced, from pears; yet, if the evidence had been of suf66 every document before the Public, of Her ficient weight, it would, in all human pro"Royal Highness's innocence, do resolve bability, have sent the Princess to trial for "that à loyal and humble Address be pre- her life. -She was acquitted by the Four "sented to Her Royal Highness, expressive Lords of the charge of High Treason; but, "of their happiness at her complete triumph they left her touched with minor offences. "over her enemies."- -To be sure, it is And, was it not hard, that she should have necessary, that the nation should express its been thus left upon the evidence of persons, opinion upon that tribunal, which was who, from the nature of the tribunal, had formed in 1806. SIR SAMUEL ROMILLY not the restraint of the fear of prosecution stated, in the House of Commons, that it for perjury hanging over their heads?: was legal and customary for the King to re- It is greatly to be lamented, that this was fer matters relating to a charge of High not perceived by either of the two " Great Treason to certain of his Privy Councillors," Law Lords" before the Commissioners in order for them to ascertain, whether any proceeded to act; for, if either of them had U lorn condition in which, notwithstanding "her now universally acknowledged me"rits, she is left, having lost her father not "long since, and her mother still more re"cently; the King, to whom alone she "looked for justice in this country, de perceived it, we may be quite sure, that" power to the meritorious, persecuted, and they would have taken good care to prevent "illustrious object of it. The long and the cause of our present regret.--To the "cruel suffering she has undergone, the Westminster Meeting, STR FRANCIS BUR-"many estimable qualities she has displayDETT, who, it appears, was unable to at- "ed throughout, and the destitute and fortend from ill-health, sent a Leller, to apologize for his absence, and also to express his sentiments upon the subject before the Meeting.This Letter I must also place upon record amongst the proofs of the nation's opinion with regard to this memorablé affair.—Let those, who are unhappy" prived of his mental faculties, and that at seeing all this stir, blame for it, not the "the cup of affliction might be full, the persons who make the stir, not the person "mind of His Royal Highness the Prince, who is the subject of it; but let them blame her husband, poisoned against her; and those who were the CAUSE: let them "can it be possible that there are men, and blame the base and detestable conspirators," even good men, who think, this a cause be their rank in life what it may.--Sir" unbecoming the people of England to Francis most excellently well points out the" espouse? one in which they ought not to inconsistency and folly of those who pre- "interfere, and in which they have nothing tend, that this is a matter with which the "to do? Is it not curious to observe, that people have nothing to do. But his Letter," those persons whose sensibility was when we have read it, will call for some- "alive to the misfortunes of the Queen of thing further in the way of comment. It" France, who thought all England and all was in the following words: "the world should draw the sword to 66 avenge her injuries, have no sensibility "PICCADILLY, APRIL 15, 1813. "alive, no commiseration awake, to the** 1 GENTLEMEN,-I am exceedingly, mor- "injuries of the innocent and calumniated ** "tified at my inability, through illness, to "Princess of Wales? What, in fact, has "attend the Meeting of the inhabitants of "been proved with respect to Her Royal "the City and Liberties of Westminster," Highness? that Her Royal Highness is "convened on this important occasion," full of condescension and kindness, and both because it is my duty, and because," of a most benevolent mind! that her "that which rarely accompanies my duty" charity is not of the vulgar, casual, and "in other places, pleasure and satisfaction," eleemosynary stamp, but a well regulated would have accompanied me on this. "principle, uniform and alive! that Her "Gentlemen, there never was an occasion" Royal Highness takes the trouble to think "which appeared to me more calculated to how her charity can be applied most be "call forth those manly feelings, and that "neficially for its object and for society! "love of justice, for which the people of "nor could benevolence, united with wis "this country have been ever remarkable. "dom, direct a course more admirably "To protect the oppressed, and to prove to "adapted to these enlarged views, than the 66 our future Sovereign the interest we take "one which Her Royal Highness is proved "in what so nearly concerns her, is a mea- "to have adopted. The well-considered "sure creditable in itself, and founded no "objects of Her Royal Highness's charity "less in policy than in humanity and jus-" are the children of poor but honest pa"tice. With respect to the importance of" rents; these Her Royal Highness not only "maintaining that great bond of society," maintains, but educates; not only edujustice, no difference of opinion can be cates, but places in useful and creditable "entertained, and as little, I should think,"callings; nor even then does the superin"of the violation of all its fundamental "tending, ever active and enlightened beprinciples and maxims in the person of "nevolence of Her Royal Highness cease; "Her Royal Highness the Princess of "but the little influence Her Royal High"Wales-al -a Lady eminent in rank, eminent "in virtue, but super-eminent in misfor"tune; and, I trust, our opinions will be 66 as unanimous of the propriety and im66 portance of this Meeting, as our deter"mination will be, to shew every mark of" respect, and afford every support in our 66 ness possesses is ever ready to exert itself "for their fair advancement according to "their merits; and the nation has only to regret, that this influence is not as exten"sive as the benevolence which directs it. These Her Royal Highness's virtues have "not been displayed by ostentatious hypoi "And that should teach us "There is a Divinity that shapes our ends, "Rough hew them how we will.” "crisy, or the modern pharisaical cant of | fidelity that the world had ever beheld. "those who ever stand praying in public Indeed, her warmest friends did not scruple "places; no, nor by any friend or well- to confess, that her conduct was not unex"wisher to Her Royal Highness; but by ceptionable; and, her extravagance, her "her enemies--by those who, like Balaam, waste of the public money, and other acts "when sent for by Balak to curse, was offensive to the public, were loudly talked "compelled to bless, and was thus re- of on all sides. Yet, did all the aristocracy proached: "Lo, I sent for thee to curse and the clergy in this country rise, as it "mine enemies, and behold thou hast were, in an insurrection of indignation at "blessed them altogether." Thus have the ill-treatment she received. It puzzled "Her Royal Highness's enemies dispelled John Bull, who, though a great thinker, is "the foul vapours engendered by their own not very deep-sighted: it puzzled John's "malice, and thrown a sunshine upon pate to find out, why they should trouble "those virtues which would, but for them, their heads so much about a Queen of "have continued to flourish in the shade. France. Be that as it may, we cannot now fail to observe, that neither the aristocracy nor the clergy move an inch in the way of resenting the treatment of the Princess of "Their blind and indiscreet malice seem Wales. I think this conduct of the clergy "literally to have considered "her virtues worthy of particular notice. Upon the ""as sanctified and holy traitors to her," death of Perceval, they did not fail (espe"and preposterously imagined that Divine cially in the diocese of Salisbury, I remem"charity, which in others covers a multi-ber) to come forward with Addresses in a "tude of sins, could be by falsehood per- most heroic strain. They could feel and "verted into the means of covering Her express indignation and abhorrence un"Royal Highness's innocence, magnani- bounded at the killing of that minister "mity, and virtue, with the appearance but, how quiet they are now! How still! "and confusion of guilt. Gentlemen, How placid and smooth they are! They the treatment Her Royal Highness has do not wish to agitate the public mind. "received, owing, no doubt, to the ear of Agitate the public mind, reverend Sirs, "His Royal Highness the Prince, her hus- what do you mean by that? Would it "band, having been abused, the severity of agitate the public mind more for you to cry "Her Royal Highness's lot-a woman, a out against perjury and subornation, thian it "Princess, and a stranger in a foreign did when you cried out against murder? "land, is of itself more than sufficient to Would you agitate the public mind any "inlist every generous feeling, every Eng- more by addressing the Prince upon the "lishman's feeling, in anxiety for Her subject of infamous attempts against the life Royal Highness's welfare, and gives Her and honour of his own wife, than you did Royal Highness a natural and irresistible in addressing him upon the subject of the "claim to the protection of every honour-shot that killed his minister? Why, reve"able mind. Gentlemen, unable as I am "to have the honour of attending this Meeting, I think it due to the respect I bear you, thus shortly to lay before you "my plain, undisguised sentiments on this "singular and important occasion. 66 66 66 "I have the honour to subscribe myself, "your most devoted very humble servant, "FRANCIS BURDETT." rend Sirs, should an Address from you in support of injured innocence, agitate the public mind? One would think, that this, above all others, was a subject upon which the Clergy would come forward.And, what can be the cause of their not doing it? They are said to have very fine noses; but, surely, they cannot have smelt out any thing offensive in such a proceeding on their part! They cannot but be well assured, that His Certainly, it is curious indeed, to per-Royal Highness, the Regent, must fel ceive those completely dumb; nay, at best dumb, and generally openly hostile to all steps in defence of the Princess of Wales; those very persons, who were so loud, so clamorous for war, because the republicans of France were ill-treating the Queen of that country.————It was not pretended that Marie Antoinette was, though living with her husband, the best model of conjugal greatly gratified by every testimonial of the innocence of the Princess, his spouse. And, as to the ministry, it is the very same set who declared her honourable acquittal in April, 1807. They may, indeed, be called her ministry; for she was manifestly the principal cause of their first getting possession of power; and, for which the Whig faction love her as the Devil is said to love |