neither hope nor permanency in such a system, and that the Balance of Power is a mere chimera, replete with dangers, difficulties, and disseutions, the very root and basis of war and troubles?-Would Sovereigns be just, the system might be beneficial; would they be true to each other, the Balance might be preserved; but, where rancorous jealousy exists, there is the breach for watchful ambition to rush in and triumph. DENMARK.-Were there sincerity in coalitions, or any safe dependance on proffered friendships or assistance, no danger need be dreaded from any single effort of ambition; but, while no integrity of principle is preserved, and Powers strive to prey upon each other, striving on all occasions to provoke and injure, and do a violence even in the sacred hour of confidence and security; it is no wonder that the pretension to any equality of power and influence should fall into contempt, or that he who could command the most should take advantage of the general disunion, and raise his fortune by the folly of mankind.-It is not for the smaller Powers to stand forth alone, and so become the sacrifice for the rest; it is for those more competent to act in unison for the general good but while these associate only to mislead, and tempt the weaker to their own undoing, all confidence, all safety, is destroyed, and with it every hope of preserving the wished-for Balance of Power among the States. ENGLAND. At length the true designs of France stand forth confest, the plea of general liberty and the melioration of mankind, as well as the pretended opposition to British usurpation on the rights of Nations, is now no more insisted on; Universal Sovereignty is the sole purpose of ambitious France; before whose new-formed principle all former wise and provident maxims are to bend in submission.-The Balance of Power, that reciprocal blessing, the guarantee of the weak, and restraint upon the powerful, is now set down as the worst of systems, the most mischievous and detrimental, the source of every ill, the foundation of every mischief, and the entire cause of all the bloodshed that has disgraced the annals of mankind.—And what would be the change that France would bring?-Will she define the blessings of Universal Monarchy; or would she vouch for its stability?-Rome, swayed the sceptre of the world; at least so much of it as might be brought within the range of France, or any present Potentate of Europe; but where was its stability?-Its mighty bulk, like the assuming Babel, did but provoke its own destruction; no human power could grasp the great account, or hope to regulate a world! - So Cæsar might have held the rein, till the decay of nature loosed it from his hand, but who should take it after? France, her power assisting her ambition, might (would the world fall down before her) contrive to legislate; but to perpetuate is beyond her compass. And hence the insufficiency of Universal Sovereignty, which would but introduce "confusion worse confounded," and drive the unsettled world to madness and despair. (To be Continued.) PUBLIC FESTIVAL AT VAUXHALL GARDENS: The Festival given on Tuesday, the 20th inst. to celebrate the achievements of Field-Marshal the Marquis of Wellington, and the services of the Army under his command, for which such laborious preparations had been made, was, perhaps, never equalled in the history of this or any other Country. Those who have witnessed the gaudy displays of Eastern profusion, or those whose strong imaginations have outrun the fabled descriptions of Arabian story, may form some cold and imperfect idea of the dazzling, the intolerable, splendour, and of the lavish, the unbounded, magnificence of the scene; to those whose notions have been formed upon the vulgar standard of metropolitan illuminations, or of civic festivals, we despair of conveying even an inadequate picture of what was on Tuesday witnessed by the admiring visitors. When we reflect, in commencing, that within the boundary of Vauxhall-Gardens, in the course of the evening, was collected nearly all the nobility, wealth, splendour, and beauty, of the three Kingdoms; that nature was ransacked, and art exhausted, to contribute to the pomp and lustre of the entertainment; language seems to sink under the burden, and we search in vain for words that are suited to the grandeur of the subject. The advertisement stated, that dinner was to be on table at five o'clock: those provided with tickets were not admitted until four; but long previous to that hour the company had began to assemble, and to wards five the road from Westminster Bridge was choaked with coaches. The pathways were crowded by immense numbers of VOL. III. spectators; "leads were filled, and ridges horsed."-Soon after five, nearly 1200 people were assembled in the Gardens, awaiting the arrival of the Duke of York. The preparations made for accommodating the company were as follows:-The Rotunda was filled by a semi-circular table, which was raised upon a platform, appro priated to the Royal Family, the Foreign Ambassadors, the Ministers, &c. at the head of which was placed a seat for the Illustrious Chairman; and behind was ranged, on raised shelves, covered with crimson cloth, a vast quantity of the richest gold and silver plate, surmounted by a bust of the Mar quis of Wellington.-At the back of the Chair was stationed two trumpeters, and a grenadier holding the standard of the 100th regiment of French Horse, taken at the Battle of Vittoria; the Baton of Marshal Jourdan was disposed among the plate, so as to be obvious to all. Besides this semicircular table, on the platform was a smaller square table, appropri ated to the Lord Mayor, the Aldermen of the City, and their immediate friends. In the Rotunda were also placed three other square tables, filling up the remaining space, occupied principally by such of the Stewards as were not engaged in making arrangements. In the Saloon were three long tables, and beyond that, in a temporary building erected among the trees, the trunks of which served to support the roof, appropriately composed of the Ensigns of Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal, were accommodations in a most convenient form for nearly 900 persons. These different apartments were lighted by wax can dles on the tables, by magnificent glass lustres, by alabaster globes of patent lamps, and by other lights variously disposed in festoons, crowns, wreaths, pyramids, &c.-Such was the general disĮ osition made for dining the Company; and, at about half past tive, the Duke of York, attended by his Royal Brothers, the Dukes of Clarence, Kent, Sussex, Cambridge, and the Duke of Gloucester. The Company then took their seats at the tables, covered with a cold dinner, excepting turtle-soup. The wines provided were Port, Madeira, and Claret. As soon as the Cloth was removed, one of the trumpeters stationed at the back of the Chair of the Duke of York sounded a parley, which was answered by another trumpeter at a distant part of the Garden, producing a very novel and strik ing effect. The Public Singers (about thirty in number) were then requested to sing Non nobis Domine, which they complied with, in high style, although they were placed rather too distant from the upper end of the rotunda.The first toast drunken was " The King," with three times three, and the loyal anthem of God save the King' followed it. The Company next drank the "Prince Regent," with three times three, and Mr. Taylor gave the Song of "The Prince and Old England for ever." To this toast succeeded "The Queen and Royal Family," with three. "The Duke of York and the Army" was the next toast, which was received with great enthusiasm, the applause continuing for some minutes. His Royal Highness rose in his seat, drank the health of the Company, and resumed it." The Duke of Claience and the Navy" was immediately afterwads drunken with as much applause, and His Royal Highnes bowed his acknowledge was of ments and pledged the Company. 'Rule Britannia' was sung by the whole vocal baud, and the visitors joined in the chorus with their usual animation. The next toast "Field-Marshal the Marquis Wellington," but so eager were the Company to testify their approbation, that they could not restrain their fervour until the toast was regularly given out. The applause was maintained for many minutes with unabated spirit. This was succeeded by "Sir Thomas Graham, and the Officers engaged in the Glorious Battle of Vittoria," with three times three, the Duke of York's band playing Britons Strike Home.'. The Health of the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates was likewise drunken with becoming gratitude, for their eminent services." The Spanish Armies and the Brave Guerillas" was next in order, and the Spanish Ambassador, seated on the right hand of the Duke of Sussex, in silence drank the health of the Company, bowing most respectfully." The Emperor Alexan der" was received with rapturous cheers, and the Russian Ambassador signified his gratitude for the honour done to his Royal Master. "The King of Prussia" was drunken with much applause, as well as 661 "The King of Sweden." The Russian and Prussian Armies" obtained very distinguished marks of respect and admiration.The toasts of "The Prince Regent of Portugal" and of "The Grand Signor" followed; the Portuguese and Turkish Ambassadors silently signified their thanks: the former drank the Health of the Company, but the latter was prohibited from shewing this mark of respect by the rigid tenets of his religion The last toast was that of “The Ladies," who soon afterwards ar rived to partake of the unrivaled festivities. By this time the day was closing, and the lamps throughout the Gardens were lighted; "the numbers without number" of dazzling sparks are not to be described. The whole space between the colonades, along the arcardes, through the saloons and round the orchestra, was one blaze of variegated splendour. The night was cloudless, but none of the Heavenly bodies were visible; -it seemed as if the congregate Stars had descended to do honour to the Name of Wellingto, and to add their fires to the general glory. The Orchestra appeared a building of solid light, and in the front of it, above the boxes, was raised a boarding, at the top of which was a blazing Sun, in whose centre was fixed the letters G. P. R. below, on one side, F. 7. and on the other side S. P.Between these two medal ions, and supporting them, was the name of "Wellington," under which was "Vittoria." Round the colonades, in vivid light, were to be read the names of all the principal Cities and Towns in the Peninsula, the scenes of British Glory, and on the same line the names of the Generals who had achieved the victories. These were surmounted by wreaths of laurel and by emble matical shields. In an interior colonade was inscribed, in the same burning characters of variegated light, the Titles of the Spanish Generals who have fought nobly or fallen in the cause of their Country.-Behind the Orchestra was a large brilliant transparency, representing the Serjeant of the 87th Regiment presenting to the Marquis of Wellington, who is seated on horseback, the Baton of Marshal Jourdan, found upon the field of action. In addition to the e magnificent illuminations, the roofs of the colonades of the Saloon and of the Rotunda were all decorated with variegated lamps, disposed in various fantastic shapes, forming at once a splendid and a tasteful ornament. The various walks in different parts of the Gardens were terminated by dazzling display of lights through a transparency, or by the congre gation of small lamps. One of the avenues was concluded by a repre sentation of the King seated on horseback, surrounded by appropriate emblems and branches of laurel; the vista of another was closed by a pyramid of fire, upon which several medallions were hung with the letters G. R., G. P. R. and other devices. The walks themselves were also lighted by festoons of lamps, hung from the trees, and by candelabras in the Chinese fashion at various distances, hanging from the crown of each arch forined by the smaller lights. These ornaments produced an effect entirely new and very 'beautiful, since the light they shed was of a quiet, placid kind, forming a grateful contrast to the over bearing splendour of the rest of the Gardens. The walk at the bottom of which the Fireworks were discharged was of course completely dark. These fireworks, we understand, were under the direction of Colonel Congreve, and were singularly magnificent and striking. They were discharged at three intervals, viz. at eleven, twelve, and one o'clock.~ It would be idle to attempt to describe their wonderful ingenuity or inconceivable splendour; they surpassed every thing that we be lieve has ever been before exhibited in this Country, and the precision with which they were discharged seemed miraculous. - Upon the whole, as we said in the commerce meut, such a scene of splendour and magnificence was, we think, never before witnessed: the tout ensemble was completely magical; the spectator seemed to be carried we may at least be allowed the privilege of passing a few observations upon the order of its appointment, as well as on certain particulars which occurred in its progress. And first we have to lament the peculiar fate of our illustrious Commander-in-Chief, who, without any pretensions to military triumph on his own account, was thus rendered a passive instrument in the triumph of others; while the toast, which coupled the name of His Royal Highness with the prosperity of the Army, could scarcely fail of communicating a pang sufficient to dim at once the lustre of the scene around him, and bring to his recollection one of a far different complectiou, when he was driven from his high station, self-abashed, by the unanimous voice of his Country. The cry is scarcely hushed that hooted him from his exalted seat, and now he sits in state to be hailed as the pure Guardian of our M litary character and re putation. It is no wonder that our censures fail of effect, while pubhic favour is held so cheap that good or bad may claim it. out of this lower world into the land of Fairy, for it seemed impossible that human labour and ingenuity could accomplish such wonders. The Ladies began to arrive at nine o'clock in great numbers, but as late as two in the morning many were yet entering the Gardens. Silent wonder occupied them on the first view, and it was long before they could find words to express their feelings. The dresses of the males and females were peculiarly splendid, and added greatly to the general Justre. Uniforms were extremely prevalent, and all the Royal Family wore regimentals. The Duke of Sus-ex wore a Highland dress, as well as several of the Officers of his Regiment. The Dancing did not commence until a very late hour. The crowd within the boundaries of the Gardens was excessive, and it was impossible to form the slightest idea of its extent; but, if possible, it was out-numbered by those collected on the outside of the walls, who literally prevented the ingress and egress of the visito s even as late as two and three o'clock in the Next, the presence of the French morning. Some Ladies of the first Princes, on such an occasion, we fashion and conséquence actually cannot but conceive to have been walked several miles to gain admit-highly inde orous. W bat! did tance, because they found it im- they come to share the triumph possible to proceed in their carri- over their bleeding Country? ages. At about two o'clock, the Did they come to revel in joy, that road from Vauxhall as far as so many brave though misguided Marsh-Gate was one solid immo- meu, whose destiny, it may be, vable mass of coaches, horses, and more than their choice, had brought servants; and many parties, in all them into battle,-did they come probability, were prevented from to scoff at their discomfiture, to witnessing at all this splendid and trample, as it were, upon Their unrivalled exhibit on. mangled bodies, and riot in the slaughter of their fellow-countrymen? Let who will have led OBSERVATIONS, thethout any desire to depreciate them to the field, were they not the principle that gave birth to the project for a public commemoration of this brilliant display of British valou, a principle, which we would not wish to see discouraged, Frenchmen who had fought and bled?-Were they not the children of one common family with themselves, children of those who may have fought and died under |