Star. — London, England, 1811-06-07 00:00:00

.~ tiOtles4Nt4lp kW, isero.4-le said this the more particularly, es pains had been taken,not certainly by the Noble Lord, nor any of those connected with him, to represent this at an act from which Ministers wished to withdraw themselves ; he said it also -the more particularly, as the Noble Lord had taken some pains to prove the right of the House to visit upon Ministers the consequences of any impropriety which might appear in such re-appointment. He would allow that any appointment, if wrong, or if, accord-. ing to the expression of the Noble Lord, in the teeth of a Resolution of Parliament, was open to be vis::ed upon Ministers as Much as any other act in which the Government was concerned. (Hear, hear.) He would state to the House the grounds upon which this appointment was made ; Gentlemen were already aware, that the Gallant Officer who held the situa tion of . Commander in Chief since the resignation of the Duke of York, was an Officer of tried and emi nent services. They were aware that he was now of an advanced age, having served for upwards of half a century in active military employment. (Hear, hear.) In the course of the last winter, this veteran Officer had signified to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, that, consistent with his age and the state of his health, he could no longer discharge the duties of the important situation in which, he had been placed. In consequence of t!;is communi cation, it was determined to accept his resignatien, and the office becoming vacant by that meaps:the question was, who should succeed him ? The House must know, hat in the present situation of the coun try, and of the war, no delay coup be.permitted.— The question then was, upon that principle, and With what view, should the advice be given to his Royal ' Highness the Prince Regent ? He had no hesitation to say, that upon every view, both he and those who acted with him had no sort of doubt as to the propri ety of appointing the Duke of York. (Loud tries of hear, hear.) When they recollected the tried ser vices of hi: Royal Highness in that situation ; when they leeked to all the advantages that had resulted from his judgment and decision, and looked not only to him but te those who might offer themselves as Candidates, they had no hesitation to prefer his Royal Highness. Even the painful inquiry in which they had been occupied, was sufficient to convince the House that in administering the Affairs of the Army, his Royal Highness had particularly distin guished himself. Independently of the steps which he had taken for the comfort of the Officers and the soldiers, his numerous regulations and arrangements were directed to the best of ends, and many were even levelled against those particular practices which formed the object of that inquiry. (Hear, Hear.) The impression upon their minds after considering those matters was, that they could not justify them selves in withholding from the public the advantage of that Noble Person's talents. (Hear, hear.) As to the feeling which the Army had manifested (and if ever there was a time in which those feelings might be admitted to have an influence), it was the present, he would not pretend to say, that the mere wish of the army could justify any appointment ; but if it a ppeared that their opinion was founded upon a regard for eminent services, it became stronger, and more worthy of attention. But the Noble Lord conceived it was not open to his Royal Highness's advisers. to look to the Duke of York uades any circumstances. He seemed to conceive that the Reso lution of the House of Commons stood as a bar to his appointment at this time, and if at this time, for ever ; for, hi would ask, if it was a bar now, how far was it to extend, and when would it cease to be so ? But let Gentlemen see what the Resolutions were, and how those conclusions could be drawn from them.— In the first instance, his Royal Highness was acquitted of all personal corruption. Again, he was acquitted of all criminal connivance ; and, fi nding that the House had vindicated his character in this respect, he had thought proper to resign, but not, as the Noble Lord had said, from a conviction that the opinion of the House was in favour of his resignation. Whether that was the opinion of the House or not, the Noble Lord had no means of ascertaining. Some there were who did avow it, but there were others who wished to form the Resolution in such a manner as should not make it necessary for him to retire. An Honourable Friend of his had proposed a Resolution, which in his (the Chancellor of the Exchequer's) opi nion must have produced that effect; but at the same time it was to be observed, that his Honoura ble Friend did not think so himself, but on the con trary, expressed an opinion that it could not, and stated it to be his object that it should not. From this it appeared that it was not the sentiments of the Mover himself ; and he thought it fair to conclude that it might not be, and was not the sentiments of the House. It should also be remembered, that there was excited in the House, and in the country, a spirit Which led him to think it a duty to his Royal Father; notto em barrass his Government by resisting it. He, would, in imitation rather of the profession than of the prac tice of the Noble Lord, look to the remit of'thei. in quiry, instead of looking to its progress, and iliViren from attending to those circumstapces and partitellars which had ince - been brought to light ; but to ;this extent he thdught he might, without impropriety, refer to them to say, that'if the House had been acquainted with the nature of the conspiracy—(Hear, hear,) and with all the arts which were used to represent . that conspiracy, as an impartial and patriotic inquiry— (Hear, hear,) he would not say that the disposition of some would not he what it was, but he could ask whether such a feeling would have existed to the same extent ?—( Near, hear.) If, then, it was from the feeling he retired, and thateircumstances had since oc curred to alter the nature 'and character of that feeling, was it not rational to conclude, that the obstrnction was removed f One Resolution was for acquittal ; etother stated, that in cobsequence of his resignation .t was not necessary to proceed any further. He even recollected that an objection was made to the word new, as originally introduced, upon the ground that itwould pledge the House to take up the business hereafter. It was the opinion of every one that something farther would have been necessary besides acquittal, if the resignation had not taken place. He recollected that he himself had expressly stated his opinion upon the subject ; but all those objects were at an end after the resignation of his Royal Highness. The Noble Lord now told them, that notwithstanding the lapse of two years, the Resolution stood in their way ; but if that were-the case, there never was an opinion more unfairly stated, nor a question more uncandidly dis eased. If such were the intention of the House, would not thetlottse have etpressed it, instead of adopting an flood Myst, had reinstated him. If he had been obscure Resolution, unjust to the individual and unjust , a mere subject, could he have hoped to find the road tnwaids the persons who were to act vp to its prose- open to re-appointment, Would the Minister have sloes ? It was understood, and he thought distinctly advised his re-appointment ?--(Heart hear, frOm the stated at the time, that whatever propriety there might Chancellor of the Exchequer.) The Hon. Gentle be in his Royal Highness withdrawing for a time, yet man declared that be was performing a painful duty, many, in his opinion a large majority of the House, in resisting the motion ; but he was obliged to dis wished and contemplated his return. It surely charge it. Notwithstanding the many brilliant vic could not be the intention of the House of Commons tories and battles gained, he should think them dearly to set a trap, as it were, by means of that vote.— bought, if it were judged expedient to reward my He confessed it had never occurred to hlm when he Lord Wellington, because he might have not only thought of recommending the re-appointment of the conquered the enemy, but also conquered the House Duke of York, that there was any bar to such a pro- of Commons, and thereby conquered the Constitution. ceecling in any Resolution. Such was the view by He could not see any thing which had passed since which he was actuated in the advice he had given; and the Inquiry to change the opinion of any Gentleman he expected least of all, that he and his colleagues on the subject. He had read the evidence, aod could would be charged with acting, upon such an occasion, not find that any thing which had subsequently trans in a maneer unbecoming the dignity of that House. pired, ought to cast imputation upon the credit to be It was a question quite clear of any previous decision, attached to that evidence ; and should vote for the and called for by the tried and eminent services of his motion of his Noble Friend. Royal Highness, whose appointment he had advised, Mr. RYDER referred to the evidence of Lord upon the conviction that he was the best person to Wellington and other General Officers, taken on the fill the office. (Hear, hear.) Unlessrhe House should Inquiry, to shew that one universal sentiment perva ded the Army, with respect to the merit and services put a different interpretation on its own Resolution, of the illustrious Duke. He contended that the from that in which he understood it, he was sure they re could not agree in the motion of the Noble Lord. ! appointment would prove highly beneficial. Sir 0. MOSLEY thought his Royal Highness had Mr. LAMBE thought the Duke ought to be re been sufficiently punished for any indiscretion which stored—it was in justice due to him. He looked he might have committed. Would any man of high back with disgust to those heated and violent pro. and honourable feelings say, after reading the evi- ceedings which led to his resignation. On the pre. dence upon which his Royal Highness had conceived sent occasion he must, from a sense of justice, vote it necessary to resign, that a relinquishment of Office against the motion of the Noble Lord. for two years was not punishment more than adequate ; Mr. C. WYNNE considered that the evidence was to any immoral conduct which he might have put. not impeached—that it was unfit to re appoint the sued ; for it must be recollected that the degree of illustrious Duke to the situation of Commander-in. blame imputable to him rested principally upon that Chief; and thought it singular in the Right Hon. circumstance, rather than upon any dereliction of Secretary to bring forward an opinion of Lord Wel duty as Commander in Chief ? Considering the cri- lington's—because, if that opinion was good for any tical situation of the country, the necessity of choosing thing, why was the illustrious Duke removed from a Commander in Chief fully competent to direct the office ?—He should vote for the motion. concerns of the army, with reference to the great Mr. BARHAM rejoiced at the restoration of his force employed on the Continent, he was satisfied the Royal Highness, which gave to the House an oppor. House would be of opinion with him, that to no other I tunity of retracting those errors into which they had could the country look so well as to the Illustrious fallen. The Duke of York was, in public estimation, Duke, beloved as he was by the army, and posses. an injured man. sing all those energies of character so necessary for Mr. PONSONBY had no difficulty in reconciling' the situation.—(Hear, hear!)—Under these circum- the vote which he should now give with the vote he stances he must oppose the Noble Lord's motion. had given two years since. As the evidence stood, Mr. GOOCH disagreed with the motion of the he was far from thinking that the Duke of York should Noble Lord, and was of opinion that his Majesty's not have been removed from office, and even now he Ministers were entitled to a vote of approbation for was not prepared to say the contrary. His resigna advising the Prince Regent to restore his Royal tion was a removal in contemplation of the motion at Highness. that time brought forward. The effect of that mo- General TARLETON was desirous to state his tion should be totally to exclude his Royal Highness reasons for the vote he should give, standing as he from office for a supposed criminality, for no Admi did in a particular situation, and having partaken of nistration would dare to replace him. He could not, the general feeling at the time of the Inquiry. He therefore , consent to pass a sentence of perpetual pti had then laboured under an impression,ssince remov- nishment. Feeling that his Royal Highness had been ed, that some degree of blame attached to his Royal most severely punished, he should vote against the Highness. He then thought that he had discovered motion ;at the same time, he applauded the motives a blot in the character of his Royal Highness, and of his Noble Friend in (stinging it forward. . notwithstanding the friendship with which had Sir FRANCIS BURDETT, if he conceived that been honoured, he could not abstain from doing his 'he Duke of Y , ,ik had sustained any injury by the duty, in voting against him. That impression was proceedings of that House, would have great satis now removed, and he could assure the House, that faciinn in contributing to the reparation. But in the there was nothing more pleasant to the feelings of the first instance, the decision on his Royal Highness's army than the restoration of his Royal Highness.— conduct proceeded not alone on the credibility of (Hear, hear.) the witness, respecting whom so math had been said, Admiral HERVEY could not agree with the sen- who certainly never was wholly credible, and whose timents expressed by the Noble Mover, that a removal credibility had recently been much weakened. That from office was no punishment. He thought it a decision was grounded on documents subsequently most severe one, and was convinced that there was produced. He was persuaded, that had the Honour. not a man of honourable feelings but what would able Member in whom the accusation of the Mice of find himself depressed by such removal, especially York originated, been unsupported in his charge by when effected by the most wicked and dangerous con. any other evidence than that which he possessed at spiracy (as had been since proved in the lower Courts) the commencement of the proceedings, he would that ever disgraced public inquiry. have retired disgraced and stultified. But it so Mr. CHARLES ADAMS was also of opinion happened that a great deal of evidence, written that sufficient punishment had been inflicted upon his and oral, was produced in a manner almost acci. Royal Highness, and that it never could have been dental. That evidence remained untouched. It the wish of the country to exclude his Royal High- astonished him, therefore, to hear Gentlemen state ness from office for ever. He believed they viewed generally, that their opinion on the case was the matter in the same light as he did, and he thought changed without advancing any particular circum sufficient punishment had been passed. stance to warrant that change, except the decreased Mr. WHITBREAD contended that the evidence credibility of a witness, on whose credibility, as he had remained unshaken, uncontroverted, and proved before observed, no reliance had ever been placed.— having voted against the continuance of his Royal Could the House forget the letters which had been Highness in office, under the full conviction that the unexpectedly produced, the letters brought out in House would not allow the re-appointment at any consequence of the evidence of General Clavering, future period, he was now compelled to say that he the note of Tonin i &c. ? And with respect to this thought the re-appointment as improper and indeco- last, if any thing like conspiracy existed in the whole rous, notwithstanding the bold and manly avowal of affair, it was certainly manifested in the attempt of the Right Hon. Gentleman of his having given to the the Right Honourable Gentleman opposite to sup. Prince Regent the advice, and his desire to take his press Tonin's note. He now came to consider how full share of the responsibility, for having so advised far the Duke of York stood criminated by the pro the Prince. The declaration was a most magnani- I ceedings of the House. The House was certainly moos one, and the Right Hon. Gentleman having satisfied with agreeing to a vote in the case of his made it, was, he conceived, as was the practice, in I Royal Highness, which they would not,perhaps, have ancient times,bound to retire, until the House had de- i considered as sufficient had the individual in question tided whether Ministers had-done well or ill. The I been of less exalted rank. With that vote on their Right Hon. Gentleman had talked about the age of Journals, however, it seemed to him impossible that, Sir D. Dundas, but was it imagined that when he I with any regard to consistency, the House could was appointed to the office, he could continue ? Was refrain, when the subject was brought under their it.not supposed that he held it ratheefor the Duke of consideration, from expressing a consonant opinion. Yorlithan permanently for himself. Was he in much Much had been said about the charges which had greeter vigour of intellect and of body two years ago ; taken place since the investigition. It was true that now 1' Ministers knew that he was not ;—and tempera mutaniur, bat nothing else was altered. He therefore the excuse now held out would not stand ! felt that there was nothing of which the House had them in mach stead. But how did the case stand? His ,to repent. He thought they had treated the Duke Royal Highness seeing a cloud gathering around him, ' of York as leniently as possible, and with the strictest thought it most prudent to retire, and by that act, in ; regard to his elevated rank. The House had been some measure, baffled the proceedings of the House of I advised not to li,ten to popular delusion. He would Commons. The indiscretion of his Royal Highness the i tell them that popular opinion was not to be despised. Duke of York had nothing to do with the question —To attend to popular opinion afforded no further than as they were connected with his public i mean assistance to the management of the State transactions as Commander in Chief. If the same affairs of any country. Nor could he agree that charges had been brought against any other man ' the case of the Duke of York had been one of pe than the Royal Duke, he must have walked out of , culiar hardship. He could not abstain from re office, and would not have been restored. Was it marking that the Right Honourable Gentleman right that an exception then should be made in favour opposite, for the purpose of throwing odium on of the Royal Duke, because he happened to be the the charge against the Duke of York, spoke lightly son of the King, and brother to the Prince of Wales? of the evidence of Mrs. Clarke, when it operated It was neither just nor decorous to the other subjects against his Royal Highness, but attributed to it con of the land. Some Gentlemen had dwelt upon the siderable weight when that witness was afterwards affection of the army towards his Royal Highness, employed in swearing a debt off her own shoulders. and his great attention to the discipline and organi- It had been clearly established by other evidence, that zation of it, as reasons for voting for the re-appoint- Mrs. Clarke did interfere in the military arrange ment—but were not those facts known to them du- ments of the Commander in Chief, and that his Royal ring the Inquiry, and yet they voted for the Resolu- Highness had listened to her suggestions. It had tions ? He deprecated the re-appointment, as giving also been established, that by these means a very va an opportunity to any man under accusation to evade luable Officer had sustained a serious injury in his the justice of the House, which in the instance of his profession. Under all these circumstances, and with Royal Highness had been effected. His Royal High- a recollection of the decision to which the House ness had withdrawn from office, waiting for quieter and came in the last Session, on evidence contradicted more prosperous times to return. Those times had re- neith r then nor since, he thought it impossible to sit turned, and Ministers, because he was a Prince of the quietly under the recent re-appointment, without a distinct declaration of the sentiments of Polk Spat on the subject, Mr. MANNERS SUTTON sttenuously opposed the motion, Mr. R. THORNTON defended the public con duct of the Duke of York, and 'stated he wits glad the moment had arrived when the t.outttry and the House could give a cool and impartial decision, which he maintained that public clamour had formerly prevented. Mr. W. SMITH thought that the re-appointment was inconsistent with the Resolutions on the Jour nal:,. and therefore would vote for the motion. Mr. CANNING opposed the motion of the Nate Lord on these three distinct grounds—First, That the Duke of York was is eligible as any of his Majesty's subjects to the high situation which he was appointed to fill : Secondly, That his, Royal Highness was pe culiarly qualified to discharge the duties of that situa tion softh advantage to the country : and, Lastly, that the House of Commons had in no way whatever re corded their opinion that his Royal Highness ought to remain excluded from office. _ _ Mr. WARDLE felt himself called , on to make some answer to the allusions that had been made to him, though he had otherwise no intention of offering himself to the House. In the trial alluded to he sta ted that the Noble and Learned Judge (Lord Ellen borough) had admitted of allusion to the proceedings of that House, as in his charge to the Jury he him self had referred to them; but when Mr. Ceibbett on his trial made similar allusions, he was checked by the Learned Judge (some murmur:, antics call for the question) and was told that such a practice would not be to lerated. He only meant to say a few words, and re lied on the candour of the House.— (Hear, hear.) Much had been said of having witnesses in pay, but it was well known that Mrs. Clarke had a pepsion of 8400 a year, and it was foi those who brought her forward to say on what ground this pension was given her. He referred to some expressions made use of by Mr. Alley in a public company in the City, re specting his attorney, Mr. Stokes (some murmurs) and contended, that Wright had admitted the charge of perjury against him, by relinquishing the prosecution against a Newspaper, and paying the costs, though that paper over and over again repeated the charge. Lord MILTON replied in a few words to the ge neral arguments that had been offered against his mo tion.—The question being now loudly called for, the Gallery was cleared and the House divided—For the motion 47—Against it 296—Majority against the motion 249. Lord FOLKSTONE gave notice, that on Wedresday nest he would submit a motion to the House on the subject of two late rrosecotlon% for Libel—that of Mr. Dastard, and that of Mr. Codyer.—Ai;ourned at Goo o'Clock. THE EVENING sTAK. LONDON. FRIDAY, JUNE 7 PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Cons. money abut—for org. 644 65 9 per Cent. Reduced our}-4 per Cent. 7$ SD Etcher!. Is. die. to tie. rem—Bosnia Ifs. pre. Omniunt pre. * The report yesterday of the inquirers at Windsor Castle was, that the KING was nut worse, and much in•the s=ure stets as he was the day before ; but every thing is kept a secret, and the Doctors continue in constant attendance. A Heligoland mail arrived yesterday. The had. ligence from Gottenburgh is to the 22d tilt. and fiom the island to the Ist instant. From Hamburgh all the troops have been withdrawn, and frern the mouths of the Elbe and Weser, nearly all of them, to proceed in the direction of Prussia and Poland, where a very large French force is collecting. It is conjectured that NAPOLEON will force ALEXANDER into a war ; and that the intention of the former is to penetrate by Grodno and Wilna to Riga. The Russians are not unprepared in that quarter, having upwards of 150,000 men accumulated in the neighbourhood. The following is one of the letters by the above mail OOTTENBUMGH, MAY 21. ei You will doubtless have heard of the affair At Ca rlsham, respecting the discharge of the vessels which were prevented last autumn from entering the Prus sian ports, and obliged therefore to winter in that hat. bour. About 25 have been unloaded, and there re main about 28 more to deliver their cargoes, if an order of suspension should not. arrive. The eaplana• tion given to Sir J. SAUMAREZ on this most extraor dinary proceeding, has been sufficient to satisfy his mind, that nothing hostile is intended on the part of the Swedes." _ _ A ship has reached Liverpool from Butnos Ayres, which left that settlement on the 25th of March.— Nothing of political importance has transpired from that quarter. A small fleet of merchantmen, well armed, among which was the Saragossa, was to sail in a short time for Europe from the Rio de la Plata, and they were to keep together for mutual protection. ;.A4 a W.:611g, yesterday at Lloyd's, the former motion of censure upon the Committee was rescinded, by a majority of 127 against 96. The new Commit. tee wm k poti appointed. Mr. Rowcaorr read a letter which Te had written to the CHANCELLOR of the Ex. CHEQUER, grounded on the information he received from a gentleman who had just arrived from Russia. Jn this letter it was stated, that the Russian Govern ment, looking forward to an accommodation with England, have set apart all the proceeds of the con fiscated British vessels and cargoes in the ports of Itnssia, beginning with those denominated the Tene t-de ships, and including those seized in the month of November last, with a view to giving them up, in the case of any amicable agreement with this couniry. Plans, Maps, Drawings, Paintings, and Designs, may convey, to the intelligent mind, a tolerable idea of Buildings, Battles, and Countries in every part of the world ; how to form, however, a proper estimate of an actual field of Battle, and all the consequences attached, our Readers have only to behold the Mili. tary Spectacle of the :tyrant Saracen, at the Amp theatre, Westminster Bridge. MARK-LAN E.—This day the market has few fresh arrivals of Wheat, but tolerable quantities on hand ; sales are again extremely heavy, and at somewhat lower prices—Barley, with Malt, at little fluctuation —But few White Peas, and not much demand-p-Beans of the two kinds nearly at last currency—Oats in short supply ; few sales are made, ant to those in foirthwith demand, and last prices are fully =Un tamed—Flour without variation.