Star. — London, England, 1815-01-13 00:00:00

, i • sir 1:1 • • • • • 6 • • • • COMMON COUNCIL. Yesterday a numerous meeting was held at Guild hell.. The usual business of the day beifig gone through, the LORD MAYOR informed Court that they were specially aiseenbled for the purpose 44 of consi dering the propriety of presenting a loyal and dutiful Address to the l'aiNce REGENT, congratulating him oti the hippy termination of hostilities with America." Mr. WarrnsiaN began by observing, tho in offer- Liz: himself to the .attention of the Court; on a subject Of so hiLth importance, it was impossible for him not en feel !hst the present occasion furnished no oppor tunity of doina it justice ; but he was hardly aware, that in submitting to them a motion, the object of which seas to express their joy, that a conclusion had it tact arrived to that state of calamity and warfare in which Europe, and at length America, had been involved, .he had to dread any very serious, or any direct opposition at all. The o!jections to he urged, of which he could he presumed to have any know lege, were such as appeared to him, in not combating the principle, to apply only to the question of time in presenting,.or the question as to the form and nature of the Address to be presented. He had heard cer tainly that the present motion had bees considered by sortie r.. 1 premature. In this he could not agree, for he th-tight this ot. all others the fittest moment for such a measure, if in itself such a measure was fit to be adopted. The practical purpose of his proposition was to cangratulate his Royal Highness on the signa - tune of the Treaty of Peace w!th America. .If the peace was not a proper or an honourable peace, that would be a good argument against his motion. He certainly did not propose to congratulate the Ameri can . Government or people on the event. It had been said, 'that the President of the United States Might refuse to ratify she treaty. Was that any real or solid objection to his motion ? Surely, if we deem ed the peace hOnoutable to ourselves, happy for the empire, and beneficial to all classes—if we knew that in negociating such a peace our motives had been praiseworthy, we could not be at a loss in justifying ourselves in now indulging in a strain of general con gratulation.—( Hear, hear).—When, however, he looked to the distresses that characterised every de partment of our national situation, to distresses equally affecting the agricultural and commercial classes of the cor.munity, he thought the time hid come for :narking the sense of that Court at the termination of a war which he hoped had put a final end to those Contentions that had disgraced Europe for 20 years. Many persons might be disposed to doubt how far the terms of the treaty were such as the state of the war might wat rant, and how far it was probable that the same terms might have been obt:ined two years, or, according to ethers, six months ago : but in addresses such as that he was about to propose, the single ob ject was that of expressing congratulation, without a wish on the one hand to pay compliments, or on the other to cast reflections on any individuals official or otherwise. Whenever he should be convinced that, independent of these events, some substantial benefit bad aeon conferred on the country by the measures of an administration, he would he amongst the first to vote to them the tribute of their applause. There were connected with the great question before them, undoubtedly many others, into which he did not think it necessary to enter, viz. the extent of our commer cial losses, their causes, the qaestion of neutral rights, and of our own maritime predominance. What was to him clear, was that no object or advantage was to be gained by us in a further prosecution of the war. If the war had been misconducted, and as good or a better peace might have been made some time past, a period would shortly arrive for full enquiry, and when all those questions might be fully discussed. As the subject now presented itself, no responsibility whatever of administration prevented them from en tertaining it. Probably, when that enquiry • should be entered into, Ministers would be triumphantly ac r quitted. It was his duty certainly to apprise the Court, when he submitted his immediate motion, what the form and nature of the Address to be. voted would be. He did hope that the abuse so profusely poured forth against America, but which had flowed with equal prodigality against France, might, by, a judicious mixture of candour and forgetfulness, be *gradually worn away holm the public mind. After so much and such continual recrimination, much ran cour must remain behind ; and it might be a task of some difficulty, but of the greatest importance, to obliterate it as speedily. as possible. Or. looking at all the difficulties. of the country, and particularly at its financial situation, at its increasing burthens, and the obstacles in the way of raising further supplies, be was disvosed to regard the peace with America as a most fortunate occurrence for the empire.—(Hear, iar).-11 our flag had been disgraced—if the war had been mismanaged - if there had been culpable negligence in the conduct of admihi s t r ati on , t h e d a y or that enquiry was at hand, and be would be the isisfittan. to step 'forward in exculpation of such mis conduct. If there had been lamentable defeats, we baclatt least the consolation to reflect, that these de. feats were not to be ascribed to any want of energy - ihE' British character, that they were not inapt,. table defects in the conduct of our officers and &ea rl:l6u ( Hear, hear ! )—lf defeats had taken place, they were to be accounted for by the circumstances of our relative, situation, the state of our shipping, and bur comparative force 'in the American seas. We wan now; however, about to return to the Most na tural and beneficial commerce which this country en joyed, and had a right to indulge the best founded topes of relief from our most obnoxious burthens, . and even from that very tax against which they had so lately petitioned. He sheuld conclude by moving, as That a loyal and dutiful Address be presented to the Pionce Rester, to congratulate his Royal High .ness on the conclusion of the late Treaty of Peace with America." Mr. FAVELL seconded the motion, and trusted that the unanimity so desirable on such an occasion would not be disturbed by any unnecessary opposition. There could be nothing dishonourable in congratu lating the Sovereign or the country on the restoration of general tranquillity to the world. It was for cold and sanguinary politicians to fill their pages with the embers of civil discord. It was for knight-errants, sit ing at their desks and armed with goose.quills, to put on armour where no danger was at hand, and 4,0 echo the war-whoop, and, aided by a few &adios, to reverberate the dream of contriest. But it was for rational men to rejoice at the RaapiepOUs :_ ; . o:fltiaN omen of pace. A wit Wirkit of aie t t e ty st :rits once quoted by Mr. Foe foe 'this very len be meant Cicero. and the sentiaent was to be , • pot in any of his more abstruse wolf., but is almost every school book, " antefero." This was undoubtedly a strong sentimp nt. but it was fundamentally just, and as far as their knowledge could go, they had every reason to re juice at the conclusion of war with America. If we had succeeded to the utmost of our most ambitious views, and after extraordinary exertions, and wasting the prime of our youth, and the remaining resources of our treasury, we should be able to dismantle every . American fortress, and drive the population to the woods, what would be the effect? We should lose our best customer, and have, perhaps, laid the foun dation for. the same ruinous schemes which were so signally disappointed in the result of the last war.— In his mind it would be well, if, after the termina tion of every war, Parliament would appoint a select and solemn Committee, tri enquire not only into the mode in which the war had been carried on. but the object for which it had been begun, and those which were finally accomplished. Mr. BROWN thought, that unless Cicero was right in preferring, as he had been represented to do, a disgractful peace to an honourable war, the opinions of the last speaker would hardly be adopted in that assembly. As to the questiou immediately before them, they neither knew precisely what the terms of the peace were, nor, whatever they were, whether they would be ratified by the American Government. It was something extraordinary to see persons, who so lately held up interminable war as preferable to a continuance of the slave-trade, now so forward to hail the conclusion of war as of itself satisfying every object. It was to be considered, that it they now congratulated the Prince Reg ent , the time might come when, on the refusal of America to ratify the treaty, they might he called on to accuse Admini. stration of having insisted on terms which it was in compatible with the dignity and character of the American Government to accept. Mr. DixoN made, some severe remarks on the ob. vious difference between the words of the present motion, and those in which the requisition had been framed. The requisition referred to the " termina tion of hostilities," the motion .4 to the signature of the treaty of peace." The alteration had probably proceeded from a very sufficient reason, because it was after Wards discovered that hostilities, even in the event of ratification, could not be suspended for some time, nor until a. time had elapsed proportioned to the situation of our fleets and armies abroad. He agreed with much of the speech of his worthy and eloquent friend (Mr. Waithman), but regretted that he should have checked his candour, by deeming it necessary to reserve to himself a right hereafter of visting the past sins of administration, and of (its. covering blame in that, the result of which lie con sidered matter of general congratulation. For his own part he agreed, that this was a question in which unanimity was particularly desirable, and for this rea son he was strongly of opinion that a little delay would be highly advantageous. Wait but a little, and they might go up, one and all, with a cheerful and unanimous feeling, to congratulate the throne on this fortunate event. He did not envy the of the worthy gentleman who seconded the address, and who cited Cicero in support of his doctrine, that it was better to be dishonourably at peace than just].) at war ; but as he had thought proper tomake what he might call personal reflections, he should tell him that the man who in privacy reflected on an important question, was as likely to arrive at as sound an ol.i nioa as those who indulged in the sudden effusions of oratory. Mr. Beckford had been alluded to as an oracle of city virtue—Mr. Beckforci, who, whilst he was declaiming about liberty, was keeping ten 'hoe sand of his fellow creatures in a state of slavery: Whatever might be said about the American war. he should always maintain, that it Was undertaken in defence of ourselves, and he was sorry that Ame rica had not been chastised. If ever one country had taken advantage of another in its mast perilous condi. tion, whilst fighting not only for itself, but for the freedom of the world, that country was; America.— Nevertheless he rejoiced that hostilities were over, and was sorry he could not assent to the present motion, because he considered it premature. Mr. HARVEY was surprised that the ingenuity of the Gentleman opposite to him had not been able to defeat the object of his worthy Friend by any more powerful objections, than a criticism on the words in which it was framed. The object of the motion was to express their rejoicings at the tvent of peace; and all who had been accustomed to consider that event as synonimous with the general happiness of man kind, must retort upon the last speaker the charge of disturbing that unanimity with which it was so con sistent in those to act who had long recommended a pacific policy, and now hailed the brightness of that prospect of general tranquillity and permanent re pose that appeared to dawn upon the world. He thought the worthy Gentleman had acted most re prehensibly in bringing before their view what he should rather have attempted to conceal under the veirof 6btivion—he meant the history of the Ameri can war, and that long series of irregularity, defeat, mismanagement, and disgrace, which it presented to our view. The question was—whether we should wait for certainty on an event which had every cha racter of probability ? If we should even suppose that after sending to America this ratified Treaty it might he rejected by our trans-atlantic brethren, in such case even, this country would 'ain a great ad vantage by placing America clearly in the wrong.— This would be of itself a subject of congratulation. He, however, conceived that there was every proba bility of the Treaty being ratified. It could not be supposed that the separation from this country for a few years would prevent many persons in America from feeling an anxious wish for peace with this coun try. lf, indeed, the great question of maritime rights had been submitted to the arbitration of a Continen. tal Pewee, then, indeed. he should not have been sue. prised if some Gentlemen had been backward to con. gratulate. He was surprised, however, to find that those who professed to rejoice at the conclusion of the war, and to sigh for unanimity, neglected such a fa vourable moment as the present for obtaining it. ' Mr. TARDY supported the previous question. Mr. JACKS had great doubts whether this was the precise moment which was the mast fit for an Ad dress. The simple question was, whether we sbowld I congratulate on a probability, or whether we should Y rik'i k.('+`~. ~. ~~' i . liwak fir a . tettainti ? The liewsperwtthemwlves wore not agreed on the terms of the rreaty. Some them awned that .America had abandoned 'tire ilea of curing fish on Newfoundland, and of wed* to the East Indies on the terms . which were *wetly permitted her. Others denied that the Treaty contained any such matter. While we were thus in a state of official ignorance of the contests of the Treaty, be thought that it would be premature to address. He then drew it Newspaper from his pocket, (the STAR of the 25c1 of December) aed fella from that paper several hostile passages of the pith.' lication of Mr. Monroe, the American Secretary 'ell State. The Treaty was signed at Ghent oesbeit4thij and yet the London Papers of the 23d (the very day, before) were full of the hostile language of Mr. Mon roe. He said, " that America should not concede any one point, or make any sacrifice, for that conees-. :ion of one point would lead to a surrender of every thing." After such violent and hostile language on the part of the American Government, how could any body feel confident that the American Ne;ocia. tors at Ghent had fulfilled the intentions of their Go. vernment, or that the Treaty would be ratified ? They were then to consider whether they would not be somewhat too forward in an address of congratu lation for an event which perh ips might not take place ? and whether it would not appear like catch. Mg at a shadow; when perhaps the substance would escape its ? As to what had been said about putting America in the wrong, and placing this country on All advantageous ground. he admitted it; but still thought that it would be improper to pass an address of congratulation on an event which perhaps might never. take place. Mr. GRIFFITHS thought that such an Address could do no harm, but that it might possibly do N great deal of good. He had always found that a little honey would catch more flies than a great deal of vinegar.— (A larti.) Mr. WHITS was in favour of the original motion, and thought that the previous question ought to be withdrawu. Mr..WAITIMAN said, that after the very able manner in which his motion had been supported, it would be unnecessary for hires to take up much of their time in his reply. He was astonished to see into what awkward ptedicaments some of those Gentle. men got into who were almost the foremost in ques tions respecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade, or the interests of religion. It was radii r extraordinary to see those advocates of humanity generally support ing war and corruption—(Crier of No, no.) —He was happy to hear that they disclaimed being the advo cates of war. ' It was certain that we had finished one of the most calamitous wars which had ever been known in the history of the world; and }et, when we were called upon for a congratulatory address on that happy occasion, those Gentlemen professed to agree in every thing that had been said, hat still de-, nied that this was use proper time for congratulation. Would any body believe that this was their real rea son for withholding their assent ? This was a ques. , don of feeling in a great Measure, and those feelings should be :hewn with their proper glow anJ order, and not kept back until the official ratification was received. As to the contents of the Newspaper that one Gentleman took out of his pocket, it must be re. colleved also that our Newspapers had been for a long time filled with trash and ahuse of America.— Why might not the Americans, on the same ground, as well imagine, that we were indisposed to peace with them, as we suppose that, en that account, the treaty would not be railed ? If he American Go vernment wished to call upon their people to aninsate tl:ein to defensive exertions, they might perhaps have perceived the necessity that there was in preparing any thing for tire people, that it shonid he strong, and even exceed the truth. --(Hear, hear, from the outer side.) —Why were Mr. Yorke's speeches read to that Court, or those Newspapers which stated " that the American Republic was fieinded on rebellion, ,and that it ought to be destroyed ?" When an ad dress of congratulation was voted for the peace . with France, the terms of it were not then known.—(Yes, yes, from Mr. Jacks and other Members.) —Certainly . a gteat part of the terms of the peace was left subject' to future arrangements. He thought that some' Gentlemen bad dwelt with much too great solemnity 'and importance upon the omission of a wordin the original requisition. Those papers were known to be almost always drawn up in considerable haste.— He certainly did not pretend to be impressed 'with the same degree of religious feeling that was profess. ed by some other Members of that Court, but he could have wished that they had- set him a better example. Those great professors bf religious feelings he, in general, found to be advocates for war and supporters of all manner of abuses. He thought that it would have a good effect to drew the Americans, 'that the war was not a war of resentment or aggran disement on the part of this country, and that as soon as it was closed, we were ready to step out hall way and shake hands with them. Mr. JACKS said that be could never submit to sit in the Court and hear unworthy motives imputed to him. He denied that be had ever been the supporter of war ar•oef corraption, sad he declared that he wet. is happy as any other man at the probability of an end being put to the , American war. As to the ad. dress at the conclusion of the French war, the treaty had been inserted in theMeniteur, and communicated to both Houses of Parliament, before he moved the Address. • Mr. Dixon said, that when the Gentleman (Mr. Waithman) talked of advocates of war and corrup tion, he must have alluded to some who took a lead ing part in the discussions in that Ci wt. For his part, 'he should m.st flatly deny that be had ever been the advocate of war or supporter ut corruption. Mr. WAITUNIAN disclaimed any 41..4 id personal reflections. Hii observations were general. but " Whop caps amid tiro crowd are thrown, . " Wbat each man tales, be makes hi,4 own Mr. l3aown also denied that he had ever been the advocate of was or COMlpulub The question was then loudly called for, and the previous question being first put was test' by a majo rity of 67 to 51. The original question was then carried. A Committee was appointed to prepare an Ad drem, which was agreed to, and ordered to be pre sented by the whole Court. The Sheriffs, attended by the Remembrancef, were directed to wait upon his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to know-his pleasure when lie will he pleased ,to trCSiVC the same. • ~ •?' ; ~:v i • blarnons. PROCLAMATION, lily his Excerency Major-01mA 13/01tOS WILLIAM RAULIT. ' Governor and Commander in Chlef in and over his Britannic Majesty's Island of St. Croix. and its Dependencies is America, Mc*Adsisind of the name, Ste- dr.C. Whom by IDefinitive Treaty at haft betnent rain and Denmark, " his Britannic htsjetty consents to means to hie Danish Maker,' an the Poritsduas aM Colonies whist. have been conquerid by the Brithli Mal is the present war ;" instrustions have been received Inns his Majesty's Ministers, that a warrant under the al en Snood is issued fur tho restoratio,n. of dais/staid ; and u prviretkohor• accordingly made by Danish Government for rosining over the 411111, the arrival of the troops may benignly espeened t But whereas his. Britannic hilejeeephas idahns and do. *molds fur loans, taxes, arrears thereof, and monies of various dr. scriptions, due to this Government: I do deem It necessary to hem this my public Proclamation , for the general infonnadon ; thereby sheering that the above named claims and demands are in no ways ceded or given up b. the restoration of the colony ; and the Authorities and Ofiket-, under Government are hereby ordered to bring all tran,.,..:iv • appettaining the present Government to a dose; and an, ..re every penis's indebted to Government for loans, taxes, arrests there , ,f, or monies of soy descripuon, are called upon to conic ((award without delay, and finally arrange the same; as I sham not feel au:harts:l to cede the Wain!, or adept measures for the evachation thereof by the British troops, entil such time as hi Britannic Majesty's rights and interests are fully staved. The parties macerned are coosequeudg expected Its take hitt proper consideration. the very aukward and unpleasant si uatioe in which the Danish Governer and troops will be placed, should they arrive previous to the adjustment . kited ; end it is us In 'hoped will prevent, by as f lo the ordneter (;overnmetit, the effects that a contrary . eof conduct 'met use avoidably produeit Given nodes aty band and seal at arms, Onrerintenet-house, lii Croisi Nomenbes Is, 10140.-By his limeatessfs cessunamd. Wised) d. ti Jt.a.“..QingsysiscSmararr. .THE EVENING VAX lON DON. NEXT WEDNESDAY THE LOTTERY DEOINL—THI: FIRST *I'ICKET DRAWN A PRIZE ABOVE AU, WILI RECEIVE Aio,too I 1 ADDITION, AND MAY PRIM A PRIZE OF 440.000. FRIDAY, JANUARY IS, 1815. We have, with becoming freedom, expressed on - opinion respecting the foul, crafty, diabolical letter; of the ci.devant Roberspierist, LAVArat. the French agent sent to the Island of Hayti ; and we observe, l*ith much satisfaction, that the Morning Papers if , this day have viewed these productions with mil .7 sentiments of indignation. We cannot allow est - selves to believe that Louts XVIII. can hive saw cloned such an abuse of his name and principles as i, exhibited in the infamous compositions which have been submitted to our Readers ; but, however ti• may be, the foul attempt to blend the name of B tain in the infamous threatenrngs of the vile wretchrt. who have dared to aim at the subversion of 1-Jaytie, liberty, must not be endured for a moment, %yid out the most direct and unequivocal contradictior —Were even the Government of Great Britain tc agree to Assist the French. colonists and slave monger in this foul attempt, it would nut be suffered by the people of this free and happy country. Bit whet) er the libel of this jacobin diplomatist be levelled at Our Government only or at our nation, it is *gully fah: and reprehensible. The Government of Britain is a different character. • Knowing unequivocally the sentiments of the people on this itthject, it Will neve lend even its seeret influence to abet so foul a project. We have all to lament that for too long a period the efforts of interested and prejudiced individuals re tarded the exercise of British humanity and justice, and compelled the nation to participate in the ign( . rainy and guilt of the wicked commerce in humar suffering and slavery; but the various prosecution-. now carrying on by the Government itself against in dividuals who hue dared to infringe the will of the nation by a violation of the laws against the Africa.. Slave Trade, give a direct contradiction to the foul calumny of LAI/AYH/4 that Britain had engaged to assist .the French.in subjugating the emancipated in. habitants of St. Domingo. The folly of Ibis lie is quite equal to its baseness , and accordingly it is treated with merited derision b) the persons to whom it is addressed. *" Could yon; believe for a moment," say they; 4 4 that we should be the dupes of your falsehood, when in your own daily papers we perceive the efforts which the English Government, and the virtuous philanthropists of that nation are making in our favour ?' In tact, the Cu lonists and their Creditors, teem the moment of the place, have not ceased to load the columns of th French Journals with invectives against us for the in terest we have :hewn in behalf of the injured native. pf Africa. Incapable of being moved by any thing but their own selfish interest, they treat all humanity, all feel ing for others, all disinterested wishes for the general prevalence of justice and Christian charity, as a pet • fictions cloak for some dark political machination.. or some speculation of commercial avariee ; and, to. happily, France has been so long in the hands of met Rzoittes and intriguers, that it is difficult to persuaL -even the most enlightened persons in that countr of the existence of sincerity and fair dealing antor . nations ;_or to convince them that the public condo , of individuals can be actuated by a sense of their do; to Goa and-mankind. It is, however, most mlnife. that the contradictory imputations of M. LAVAYSS' and of the French Journalists, on the British chara( ter, cannot both be true ; but they may be, and the. are both false, as the slightest consi,h ration will cot. since any one, who does not shut his eyes to the trud Besides the public documents which have been hi:: before our Readers, there has also appeared at Hayti :-. Pamphlet, in which the writer, evidently under the au thority of Government, comments on the letter of the French Agent LAVAYSSIt to Pi113T014114. Antoci other observations, he thus.remarks on the passage is the kit/ itAkammiitz ■