On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
her rich garments , and her ornaments . The plate of her churches , her silver and golden images , and jewels , are fallen a prey to a great conqueror , who spares not , and has no compa-sion . The immense revenues , devoted to superstitious purposes , are siezed . An entire change is made in Italy- as in England at the reformation . ' Industry may perhaps return to R . ome , and its streets be filled with useful manufacturers , and artists , instead of idle priests and bi hops . A natural anxiety prevails , to know whether religious truth is making its way ; whether the minds of men are opened by these events ; but we have no information that ca ' i be depended upon on the progress of improvement in the PopeV territories , or indeed in any part of Italy .
In the southern part , the King of Naples is employed in warlike preparations , and whatever evil war may produce in other respects in this country , it will have the tendency to bring the lazy idle rabble of Naples , the Lazarons , patronised by the old court , into habits of industry . The French will not
permit them , to be the nuisance tftey formerly were : but their attack upon'Sicily is rendered difficult by our fleets . They have collected boats in abundance for the transport of their troops , which has given some signal occasion for the
display of British bravery . But the strait between Sicily and Italy is so narrow , that the attempt to prevent invasion cannot be depended upon , and the contest will be ultimately on dry ground . Here the French will have to contend
• with British troops , and what force cttn be collected in Sicily , whether from the regular troops , or the courage and integrity of the natives . On the latter head it will be difficult to sajr any thing , till the experiment is tried ; ^ but we are much inclined to believe , that if the
island had been taken possession of by the English , and the contest had been carried on under British colours , the French chance of success would be very much diiriimshed . The state of the court and country parties does not seem to be very favourable to energy , and between them .
both the English bravery cannot have the full support , -which such an Lland well united , and with the courage of its ancient inhabitant * , might have given it . It is to be observed too , that many Sicilians , and many of the court , have possessions ixi ttye main , land of Italy ,
Untitled Article
and that the French understand the art of applying to the feelings on such occasions , as well as in this country we are acquainted with the nature of a seat in Parliament . Spain is au object of greater attention . Its fate cannot remain much longer in
suspense . The British army is in full retreat from the borders of Spain , and it is followed by the Frencfi , under the command of Massena . After the taking of Cifidad Rodrigo , its longer stay in its fortified entrenchments was not adviseable ; but the French found on their attack of our posts , that the retreat of the English
would , if molested , be attended with severe loss . A corps of four thousand English repelled one of ten thousand French : but the former -were under the necessity of continuing the retreat , and the superiority of the French in horse may be fatal to us . We r | tire , however , upon a friendly country : the French as
they advance , will find the difficulty of provisioning their troops ; and if so great a body shouM be embarrassed in Portugal , there is an opportunity for the Spaniards to rise , arid to cut off their retreat . It is a moment of great anxiety ; and before our next report , or probably
before this is printe 4 , the campaign vtill be at an end . If compelled to quit Portugal , the south of ^ pain is open to an fenglish army , and the siege of Cadiz may be rabed . That is carried on with a great degree of apathy , and probably the . 'whole waits for the results of
Massena s army . Thus the destiny of Spain will probably this summer be completed The Cortez , summoned to meet at Cadiz , will hardly there enter upon any deliberations . Far either the French will interrupt their meeting , or the Spani * ards will have full employment in
driving the enemy out of the country . The last is an event , on which sanguine expectations cannot be raised . The proclamation of the Junta at Cadiz , for the call of the Cortez , is full of animation . They use , high language , but the country is little able to feel it . They lost the opportunity , at the beginning of the
contest , of keeping up the energy of the country . They were afraid of the people , when they stood in need ol tne assistance of the people : they went * upon old politic * when they were no longer in fashion . Their dominion is therefore reduced to very narrow limits ,. I They talk loudly in theiale of Leon , by *
Untitled Article
418 State of Public 4 fairs .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1810, page 418, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2407/page/42/
-