year! Recourse was had to a levée en masse of Pampeluna?-The countries around that city, ox-drivers: but after a while these deserted. are but moderately fertile: the artillery and On the glacis at Bayonne was formed an stores must have been brought from Bayonne. artillery for the field: with another proper for Could they have been so brought through the a siege. But to transport these into Spain mountain passes, without interruption? would have required 20,000 horses. Whereas the reinforcements sent to the army could only muster 329 horses. To which may be added that the nature of the country was in direct opposition to the employment of such trains and such preparations. CAUSES OF SPANISH DISASTERS. A great and leading cause of the reverses sustained by the Spaniards, was, the want of morals. Their stations and camps were filled with a multitude of loose women, who perpetrated the most scandalous excesses among the soldiery, and especially among the officers. These officers also, not contented with such disorders, were frequently absent in search of variety. The soldiers followed the example of their superiors; hence being void of emulation, and unattended to in their sufferings, they did not maintain in battle that energy, that discipline, and that steadiness, which accompanies a strong sense of honour. THE BASQUE HUNTERS. All villages, the inhabitants of which had fled, were usually plundered: no injunctions to the contrary were obeyed by the French. THE VALLEY OF BAZTAN. In the Pyrenees, by which one column of French troops penetrated into Spain, is a land of enchantment amidst these regions of rocks. The earth is fertile, clad in the most lively verdure, watered by limpid streams, covered with grain and fruit trees, the houses and villages almost touch each other: the whole valley appears to be the asylum of happiness. It is about six leagues in length: but of very unequal width: in some places not twenty yards in others three or four leagues. It contained fourteen very prettyvillages, with handsome houses; many of them inhabited by individuals who had ac-* quired wealth in Mexico, and who took a pleasure in adorning the land of their nativity. The whole population might be 7,000 persons. The corn it produced was about three months supply: maize about seven months! The vine is not cultivated: the riches of the dis The Basque hunters are almost without exception tall men, singularly vigorous and agile. Born among the mountains, they in-trict consist in fruits: among them apples for herit a boundless passion for independence, and their daily contests with the Spaniards about the limits of their respective territories, had rouzed in them an implacable hatred to that nation their lofty walk, indefatigable valour, complete knowledge of every track and passage in the mountains, their language, little understood, their barbarous shouts, and even their uncouth habiliments, infinitely diversified, all contributed to render them the terror of the Spaniards. It was remarked by the French that the Spaniards had too few troops to defend effcotually the extent they were bound to do, whereby their position though well chosen, and naturally strong, became weak. They also thought too much of sacrificing a little ground to the enemy: they might have abandoned the country even up to Pampeluna, without real loss, as it is little better than a desert. Their redoubts and batteries were usually placed on the tops of the highest mountains: whereby their fire when directed at distant objects was very uncertain; and when wanted to be effective near at hand, was useless. STATION ON THE EBRO. Miranda on the Ebro was esteemed a place of consequence by the French, because it has a bridge over the river: and because it gave them the choice of means for the attack of Pampeluna, which they meditated. But, would they have been able to attack cyder; pulse, and especially cattle, which graze on the succulent pastures that clothe the in fineness and beauty to that of the breeds in neighbouring hills. The wool is not equal 8,000 quintals of corn, and 15,000 of maize. the interior of Spain. Annual produce about BISCAY. Biscay, in 1787, contained 114,863 inhabitants. It is a fertile and billy country. It contains mines of iron and lead. Excellent ports line the coast. The city of Bilboa is happily placed to receive the productions of foreign parts, and to favour their distribution in the interior. It has acquired a high degree of splendour. It is embellished with magnificent edifices, and public walks extremely pleasant. The number of its inhabitants exceeds 14,000. There is no other place in the province that could resist a coup-de-main. ALAVA, Alava, in 1787, contained 70,710 inhabi- : tants. It is an open country. Agriculture, the true source of wealth, is more flourishing than in Guipuzcoa, and Biscay. It has not the same advantages for circulation; but perhaps more of general ease of condition among its population. This may account for the smaller number of its inhabitants. The city of Vittoria, the most considerable town of the country, is situated in the midst of a charming valley. It vends many works in iron and serves as a staple for the wool trade carried on with France from Castile. POLITICAL PERISCOPE. Panorama Office, October 26, 1808. I have a System of Policy of my own. You ought to adopt more liberal Ideas; to be less susceptible on the Point of Honour, and not sacrifice the Frosperity pressive or more characteristic they could not be, than these words of Napoleon: "I have a system of policy of my own-J'ai ma politique à moi" &c. Til the portrait of the emperor and king se ispe delineavit appears, the public must of Spain to the Interest of the Bourbon Family-contemplate such likenesses as others may ma Politique à Moi. Vous devez adopter des idées plus libérales; être moins sensible sur le Point d'Honneur, et present. Not every Designer has had so near a view of him, has seen him in the same light and shade, attitude, and appearance, has marked his features so accurately, the cast of his visage, or the character of his countenance. Don Cevallos has served the cause of his country by this publication, equally with the gallant Castanos, or Palafox, who have led in triumph the victors of Austerlitz, Jena, and Freyburg. He has served the cause of mankind still more: those heroes could only liberate their native land, the noble secretary has contributed to liberate the human mind; they could only deliver a single country from the shackles prepared for it, he has thrust aside those attempted to be riveted on the world at large. We have formerly pointed out some of the proofs of that imbecillity which has marked the late conduct of Buonaparte towards Spain. Our sentiments are corroborated by the statements of the Spanish minister: we therefore dismiss this part of our subject, by repeating, what all the world now admits, that the em peror and king has failed egregiously in his politics. We suspect that he has failed no less in his military manœuvres. To justify this suspicion, we have presented the best authority hitherto in our power to obtain. This is derived from the French themselves. ne pas sacrifier la Prospérité de l'Espagne à l'Intérêt de la Famille Bourbon.-Buonaparte to Don Pedro Cevallos, vide Literary Panorama, Vol. V. p. 366. Never was a truth more emphatically expressed by the father of lies himself, when intent on answering a purpose, than that which is contained in these memorable words of Napoleon Buonaparte. The world is, too deeply for its happiness, convinced of the accuracy of these sentences, and every part of it within reach of the speaker's power bears a sorrowful testimony to their verity. But, it is by such incidental and unpremediated expressions, such slips of the tongue that this would-be-crafty politician manifests his true character, and enables the judicious to penetrate the secrets of his soul. We have attempted to distinguish this production of Don Cevallos as a Whole length Portrait of Napoleon; but for the finishing touches, the piece is beholden to him whom it pourtrays, Oh! would he for once depart from his usual | disguises, and delineate himself by the powerful markings of his own pencil, in his genuine colours, what an interesting portrait could he exhibit to mankind! Would he confess the bent and bias of his youth, when all the evil that he could do, he did; the delights of his rising years, blood and slaughter; the hard-We expect still more direct information; but ness of heart consequent on indulgence in those delights; the indifference for human life, might his own purpose but be served by the waste of it; the many plans he meditated for ravage and destruction, the GREAT SCALE, on which, as his power increased, he carried his mischievous contemplations into effect; the gratification he experienced in extirpating kings and shedding royal blood, the atrocious enjoyment of murder successfully executed, and the maddening disappointment when his schemes of inordinate passion, revenge, ambition, envy, and malignity had failed, what an instructive portrait, might the Confessions" of Buonaparte present, composed, arranged, and displayed by himself! But till the happy time arrives when such a posthumous publication may bless the world (for "confessions" of those who have most cause for confession, are usually posthumous) we must be content to avail ourselves of his masterly sketches, which, like those of great artists, though formed of a few outlines only, are highly prized by connoisseurs. The lines of Protogenes and Apelles might be more curious and elaborate,-more ex : till that comes to hand, we content ourselves with asking, whether the present situation of the French army in Spain, can possibly be an object of envy? To us it appears, that its position presents only a choice of difficulties. If it can maintain its station, it must experience all the severities of winter augmented by the horrors of Spanish vengeance: if it advances to the combat, it must retreat to its strong holds, though victorious; if defeated, misery presents itself in the most terrific forms. If the army be increased, its consumption is increased in proportion and unless it can force a decisive progress into the very heart of Spain, every effort it can make, will resemble she paroxysm of the madman, who rages→→ but to his own weakness, and to abide the more rigid coercion of his keeper. If the countries north of the Ebro can with difficulty maintain an army of 50,000 men, for four months, how will they be able to maintain 150,000 for six months? Have they had time to accumulate stores, during summer? No.-How then will they procure efficient supplies during winter? Have they any specific against epidemic diseases, more than their countrymen had a few years ago? None. How then will they be able to prevent them, or, if attacked with them, to moderate their fury? That diminution of their army to an establishment which might guard it against a pestilence, exposes it to destruction by the enemy; that augmentation of its numbers, which might enable it to overpower the enemy, exposes it to destruction by disease. If it suffers the Ebro to remain its barrier, what a liberty it allows to all the rest of Spain! If it passes the Ebro, it must divide itself into columns; and the fate of its former columns, let Dupont and Wedel relate. This is the result of attacking an extensive country on one flank only and to attack the other flanks Buonaparte must ask leave of the Powerful, the Thunderer, the Dreadnought, the Warrior, the Victory and other floating batteries manned with British inflexibles. While Britain holds the empire of the sea, while the French, by seizing Bilboa or any other port, can enlarge their ammunition de bouche only by the mussels, the cockles, and the limpets, of which they can plunder the ocean, this must continue to be the true state of the case, in whatever terms the emperor and king may conceal it in the Moniteur. He may tell us, that a few of the lowest of the people in Spain have amused themselves by playing at insurrection-butthey are now all subdued or that, whereever the French army came in sight of the Spaniards the latter ran away in panic terror yes, in panic terror,-for, by the imitation of what animal's braying Pan spread his terror among the Gods, let that epitome of recondite literature, Napoleon, explain in his next to the badauds de Paris, if he pleases. Let him tell them, that the arriés of the junta at Bayonne are held sacred throughout the Peninsula; that the Code Napoleon, is established wherever it is an nounced, and adored wherever it is established; that both land and sea re-echo its praises, and land its great Institutor,-from the Sublime Porte of Sultan Mohammed in the east, o the super-sublime of all sublimites the ports of America in the west: from the Samojede and Kamschatkadale literati, on the coasts of the White Sea and the Frozen Ocean, in the north, to the polished Hottentots, and the doubly polished Boschiesmans of Caffraria, or the refined, the highly civilized, the eminently intelligent Great Nation of Terra del Fuego, in the south. Does Buonaparte then extend his views SoDoes he? Does he want" Ships, Colonies, and Commerce?" We believe him, on that and long he will want them: he may believe us on this. And indeed, we are mistaken, if at present he stands in need of any great conviction as to the blunders he has committed in his endeavours to acquire them. Admitting for a moment (nay, start not, our Spanish friends!--) but, admitting for a moment, that Joseph Buonaparte, tired of the illustrious confinement which enthralled him in the nothingness of the Italian peninsula, had established himself in the Spanish peninsula, did it follow, that the too evident anxieties of his brother Nap, could ensure the adherence of the Spanish colonies to the mother country? that he guaranteed them, is true; but that he might, ten thousand times over and over, have guaranteed them, without the slightest obedience resulting from his interference is equally true. The reverberations of his voice resound not from the banks of the Amazon, the Oronoco, or the Rio Bravo; the slightest vibration from the quivering of the center-shaken earth on which he stamps, reaches not to them. When his nodding plume has terrified into the resump tion of their former manacles the blacks of St. Domingo, it will be time enough for Mexico and Peru to thing of truckling to the menaces of Napoleon the Great! "But they will obey the commands of their late lawful sovereign."—It is well known, that they were ready, on the slightest appearance of support, to have risen in opposition to their late lawful sovereign. If they were with difficulty induced to acknowledge him: to what a slender probability was the hope of their being bound to acknowledge an alien successor reduced! Spain is of no value to Buonaparte without her colonies: her productions scarcely differ from those of France: and mere extent of land is useless to the Corsican empire. His anxiety to possess the colonies was too apparent to escape the notice of the most purblind politician-but, by what means he might secure their attachment, and intercourse, he never considered. He sent half a dozen whiskered Frenchmen with his compliments, and the terror of his name, to awe the governor of the Havannah into compliance: but the governor had whiskers of his own, and clapped those of his applicants, compliments, name, and all, into prison. This has been the case in every colony; and if, as the emperor and king has assured us, the whole Spanish nation received the appointment of brother Joseph to the crown, with unbounded gratitude and exstacy;-then the colonies have differed, toto cœlo, as we as ure the emperor and king, from the whole Spanish nation; and that too, with unbounded ingratitude and stubbornness. The fact is, that however Buonaparte may want the precious metals produced by the Spanish mines, he has nothing to give for them: he cannot buy them with military services, and if he could, they would be just as far from reaching Europe, where his wants of them press him, as they have hitherto been, when drawn for by hím vid Spain. Neither is the opening of an account by the new house, or under the name of the new firm, of any avail to him: The colonies have refused to honour brother Joseph's acceptances, and have returned his bills protested;" no effects." Here we close our portrait of this haughty OF SPIRITS OR HOW SHOULD SUCH ATRO- The seizure of the kings of Spain has pro. : been startled at it. Buonaparte has projected, and effected, a meeting between himself and Alexander, at Erfurth, in which, if we prophecy rightly, much more will be talked about than concluded on. The refusal of the Emperor of Austria to complete the triumvirate, may prove the safety of Alexander: since the glorious opportunity of escorting two Emperors to the interior of France, is thereby unluckily frustrated. Unluckily we repeat; for, J'ai ma politique amoi ! We do not augur ALL those results from the Erfurth pantomime that amuse some deep politicians. Turkey was apportioned at Tilsit: Turkey will be again appor tioned at Erfurth but a third meeting will be necessary, if Francis holds out stoutly, before Turkey will be apportioned to the satisfaction of the parties. We give it, as our decided opinion, that this journey of Buona parte to Erfurth is a gross political blunder. The man has too many irons in the fire:" some of them burn to waste most woefully. The man, to use a French proverb, " runs after two hares "he will catch neither. He has seen his greatest height. The wheel of Fortune is constantly rolling; what was uppermost declines. Public opinion will not be chained to his hat and feather: that too will obey the impulse of the gale, which seldom blows long from the same quarter; and woe to the idol that after having been incensed and adored by the most fickle as well as the most barbarous of nations, is degraded and dragged through what, for good manners, Shall here be nameless! We may infer this with the greatest certainty from the conversion of sentiment experienced by Mr. Fox's friend Sheridan, who formerly had an opinion of Buonaparte -that we even blush to repeat.-We quote from the debates of the House of Cominons of June 27th, 1800, the following speech, We have some suspicion, and not without -wherein he described the tyrant whose anthentic facts in support of it, that Alexansole name blisters our tongue," as a great der feels and resents his vassal state. It is not "General vilely libelled!- acting with long since application was made by a very "SINGULAR MODERATION, HUMANITY and respectable British merchant, whose vessel had MAGNANIMITY; whose object is to main- been unjustly seized, to the Russian minister : "tain the power he has attained by the o- who after proper examination expressed his "DERATION of his government-and I must conviction-but could not serve him. To "hope," continued this pellucid orator," that the emperor this gentleman then applied en "when he has atchieved the LIBERTY of dernier resort, delivered memorials, sup"France, he will impart to it all the bless- ported them by proofs, obtained a personal "ings and happiness of a civilized peace. conference: the result we give in the Empe"The character of Buonaparte is at lengthor's own words: I ACKNOWLEDGE THE "to be rescued from the MUD and MIRE of "ministerial abuse !!!"--It is something singular that a very intelligent Frenchman, (now near the person of Buonaparte) on reading the above splendid character of Napoleon exclaimed in our presence, Enverité, Monsieur Sheridan, vous n'êtes pas à la hauteur des événemens! Comme je vous plains! Parbleu, vous ne connoissez pus nos GRANDS HOMMES! Lui surtout ! car il est porfaite ment constaté que c'est une áme basse; nous avons eu nos tigres, et notre hyène; mais tui, c'est le véritable CRAPAUD DE LA REVOLUTION! JUSTICE OF YOUR CLAIMS: BUT, I CAN NOT RELIEVE YOU: YOU MUST APPLY TO Russia did not exert her whole power against Sweden: she has lately reinforced her armies, obtained advantages, and concluded an armistice. She wished to obtain a point at which to stand without disgrace, and that effected, she has rested on her arms. We are glad of it for the sake of humanity every interval of evil, is a comparative good. Russia has also produced an offer of conciliation with Britain. One of her messengers, in compa、 ny with a French messenger, has arrived in In reviewing these measures, therefore, we should advert to the difficulties out of which a choice was of necessity to be made. To have sub tributary exactions from others, would have been to surrender our independence. To resist them by arms was war, without consulting the state native preferred by the legislature, of suspending of things, or the choice of the nation. The altera commerce placed under such unexampled difficulties, besides saving to our citizens their property, and our mariners to their country, has the peculiar advantage of giving them to the Belligerent nations to revise a conduct as contrary to their interests, as it is to our rights. London, and been-sent back again. Nevertheless, we believe that the sentiments of the Russian Senate, and of many of the old Russian counsellors are most reluctantly Gal-mitted our rightful commerce to prohibitions and licised and this will in time have an effect. The plans to which Russia has been induced to accede are costly can Buonaparte supply the needful?-The mines of Potosi might as well not exist, as to any service he can derive from them; the gold of Mexico flows not into his coffers: he has failed and on the question of expence Russia will fail with him. When Rassia balances the accounts of her partnership with the Corsican, she will find herself minus almost beyond her belief: And when she has balanced those accounts they will not be closed, by many, many years. The same is our opinion as to the state of America: her present inconveniencies are nullities compared to the effect of that snap which the line of her commerce must experience it will be felt throughout her union; and for a long time; great efforts and some humilitywill be required, ere it be rejoined. We are told that nearly fifty petiLions, remonstrances &c. &c. have been presented from the trading towns of America to Mr. Jefferson, the President. Till he resigns, ten times the number will be unavailing They have been expressed with firmness: in his answer to that from the town of Boston, the President has stated his reasons for continuing the embargo, August 26 1808. Your representation and request were received on the 22d instant, and have been considered with the attention due to every expression of the sentiments and feelings of so respectable a body of my fellow-citizens. No person has seen with more concern than myself the inconveniences brought on our country in general by the circumstances of the times in which we happen to live; times to which the history of nations presents no parallel. For years we have been looking as spectators on our brethren of Europe, afflicted with all those evils which necessarily follow an abandonment of the moral rules which bind men and nations together. Connected with them in friendship and commerce, we have happily so far kept aloof from their calamitous conflicts, by a steady observance of justice towards all, by much forbearance, and multiplied sacrifices. At length, however, all regard to the rights of others having been thrown aside, the Belligerent powers have beset the high way of commercial intercourse with Edicts, which, taken together, expose our commerce and marines, under almost every destination, a prey to their fleets and armies. Each party indeed would admit our commerce with themselves, with the view of associating us in their war against the other. But we have wished war with neither. Under these circumstances, were passed the laws of which you complain, by those delegated to exercise the power of legislation for you, with every sympathy of a common interest in exercising them faithfully. In the event of such peace or suspension of hostilities between the Belligerent powers of Europe, or of such change in their measures affecting neutral commerce, as may render that of the United States sufficiently safe, in the judgement of the president, he is authorized to suspend the embargo. But no peace or suspension of hostilities, no change affecting neutral commerce is known to have taken place. The orders of England, and the decrees of France and Spain, existing at the dates of these laws, are still unrepealed, as far as we know. In Spain, indeed, a contest for the government appears to have arisen; but of its course, or prospects, we have no information on which prudence would undertake a hasty change cutive competent to such a decision. in our policy, even were the authority of the exe You desire, that in this defect of power, congress may be speedily convened. Itis uunecessary to examine the evidence, or the character of the facts which are supported to dictate such a call; because you will be sensible, on an attention to dates, that the legal period of their meeting is as early as in this extensive country, they could be fully convened by a special call. I should with great willingness have executed the wishes of the inhabitants of the town of Boston, had peace, or a repeal of the obnoxious edicts, or other changes, produced the case in which alone the laws have given me that authority and so many motives of justice and interest lead to such changes that we ought continually to expect them. But while these edicts remain, the legislature alone can prescribe the course to be pursued. THOMES JEFFERSON. One million of cheeses from Holland have passed through Britain to feed the Spanish army.- Close the Dutch ports, Louis, tight! tight !—Parbleu!" The loss of Junot's army in Portugal by battle, is stated at killed-2,250. Wounded, 1,700. Prisoners, 2,600. Delivered by capitulation, 25,600. To which must be added the French force at Almeida, Elvas, &c. Britain will we hope and trust, be guided by Providence through all her difficulties. Already she occupies higher ground than she and enjoy the honest fruits of her present pri did. That she may improve her advantages, vations, through many future years of prospe rity and peace, is by none more ardently desired than by the Collaborateurs in the LITERARY PANORAMA. |