Star. — London, England, 1806-12-20 00:00:00

• • ` WlTl4llltil 5590 P4ALIAMEIVTAIr PROCLCDL HOUSE OP LORDS, FRIDAY, DEC. 19. The Hoare met at three o'clock, and after hewing Prayers. wit ocespiod ontil four o'clock in fwesdng in Peers ; amen whose we noticed their Royal klighneffes the Prince of Watts, Dukes of Yong, CLARINCT, CUM , and CANIIIRIDDE, Ids nigh tie& the Duke of GROUCH:ITU, Duke of PORTLAND. Earl of Latinsailate, Rw dce. te. At four o'clock a Maass was fret to the Cousmoos by Mr (o,soser, Deputy Whet oldie Black Rod, refifide r ikele Now dance at the Bar to her his Malefty's Speech AIL • The S loos after appeared, attend/J*l4a Phioner, Mr. SHERIDAN Mr. Alderman Snow, sod fermi odor mew ban, when the following mad grads« Speedo, wig& sirlibidir ConsmilGosiers (the Arehbifhop of CARTIRSORY. tie Lem CNANCILLOR, Earls Wiucucs as wad Seisms') was visaed to deliver in his bliissrv'S OSZOC, was read by obb Law CHANCELLOR: " My Lard, and Celtilifttlf, " His Majefty has commanded as to slurs yori, that in the difficult and arduous cireumflancee under orbieh you are now affembled, it is a great (midst tion to Him, to recur to the &Inners and wifdom of .1 His Parliament, after fo recent an opportunity of , collecting the fenfe of His People. " His Majeli• has ordergd the Papers which have been exchanged in the ems* of the late Negotiation ! with France to be laid before you. rs His Malta,' has employed every Effort for the reftoration of General Tranquillity, on terms coll.! Olken' with the Intereas and Honour of His People, Ad with that inviolable gor.d Faith towards His Allies by which the condua of this Country has always been diftinguitled. The Ambition and Injußice of the Enemy dif appointed thefe Endeavours, and in the fame mo ment kindled a hefts War in Europe; the progrefs of which has been attended with the moll calamitous events... " After witnelling the fubverflon of the ancient Conflitution ofkGermany, and the fubjogation of a large proportion of its molt confiderable States, Prugla found herfelf Rill more nearly threatened by that danger winch the had vainly hoped to avert by to mane faerifices.—She was, therefore, at length tompelled to adopt the refolotion of openly refilting this uurciisitted Wein of Aggrandizement and Cot/quell. But neither this determination nor the fucceeding meafures were previonfly concerted with His Majeliy. Nor had any difpofition been (hewn to offer any adequate Satisfaaion for thole Aggref Rota which had plated the two Countries in a Rate of mutual Hatay. "Yet in this fituat ion His Wetly did not befitate to adopt, without delay, fuch Meafures as were belt calculated to unite their Council. and Interefts againft the Common Enemy. "The rapid c:otrfe of the Calamities which enfned oppofed infurmouotable Difficulties to the execution of this purple. " In the midft of thefe difaftrous events, and under the molt trying eircumfiances, the good Faith of his Majefty's Allies has remained unfhaken. The con duet of the King of Sweden has been diftinguithed by the moll honourable firmnefs. Between His Ma. jelly and the Emperor of Ruffle the happiett union fubfills ; it has been cemented by reciprocal proofs of good faith and confidence ; and His Majefly doubts - not that you will participate in his anxiety to cultivate and confirm an Alliance which affords the bell remaining hope cf fafety for the Continent of Europe. Gentlemen of the Ifou i ft of Commenh " His Majefty looks with confidence to your atlif tance in thofe exertions which the Honour and Inde pendence of your Country demand. The neceffity of adding to the Public Burthens will be painful to your feelings and is deeply difireffing to His Majelly.— In conf idering the Eftimates for the various branches of the Public Service, you will beft confult his Majetty's wifhes by combining all prafticable economy with thofe efforts which it is neceffary to make sepia the formidable and increafing power of the enemy. My Lords awl Gewlrmert. " The long levies of mistor tune which has afflieed the Continent of Europe, could not fail to AU& in Come degree, many important interefls of this Country. " But, under every fuccellive ditEcuky, His Ma jelly has had the foisfaaion of witneffing an in• creating energy and firmoefs on the part of His People, whole uniform and determined refinance Ito been no lefs advantageoos has honourable to ihemfelves, and has exhibited the walk griking example to the furrounding Nations. The uncon querable Valour and Diicipline of His Majefly's Fleets 2ad Armies eontinne to be difplayed with un diminilhed lune.: The teat fnurces of our Profpe• city and Strength are unimpaired. Nor has the Britifb Nation been at any time more united in fen tirnent and Aaiun, or mire determined to maintain inviclate the Independence of the Empire and the Dignity of the National Charaaer. With thefe ad vantages, and with an humble reliance on the pro tellion of the Divims Peovvoixce, His Majeny i; prepared to meet the Exigencies of this great Cr iris ; *Cured cf receiving the fulled Support from the Wifdom of your Dtliberatirms, and from the tried Affaion, Loyalty, and Public Spirit of His brave People." - - - The Commons having withdrawn, and the Speech having been 3:gain read at the Table, The Earl of JERSEY rote for the purpofe of moving an Addrefs to the Throat, lot the Spccch which their Lordfhips had OR heard. He milled that the reliance which his Majelty had expreffed in that Speech would not be deceived, and that the slattern and fpirit of Parliament wneld be evinced in the meafurca which they Lhould purfue. There -mono one who bad heard the Speech who mull not be convinced that it mull at all times be the arutioos with of his Majelly to obtain peace, particularly when it was recolleded how long, owing to toe am bition and envy of the enemy, the war had been car• glad uu without interruption. In a few days the doco mints relating to the late Negotiation with France would be laid upon the Table ; and then it woehl be ... ' ' A mituu re 1 , ~. • Wit; l ' . • • , • . ! t, t r- • , 4W-- '% , ‘• ......... 0" - ~.. ' ~ .4.... 17!' • ' tk...i . •,- . Nd " \ -.• , %It - - il .. • '4O I -.;%- lid - 9 U... . • m .4. • A- .....---.--.............--,---------..„ _ . .., SATURDAY, MCEMBER so, 1806 . . [MCI MX -MA: et , - ' , cool. could not approve ; he meant the Declaration which ' • '---..n ifitul pending the fufpention of Parliament. —"r in a condition to judge cf th tc -. , nanied by the do• onre I , . in the power of char Lordfhipe Mjodge of the efforts his hfajeity'had Made to reftrire that bleffing to the country. He Should refrain from Paying any thing on the Cubic& at prefent ; bat he trolled that, when all the eireomflanees of the Negotiation fhould be fully before Parliament, it would be found that no thing was wanting on their part te bring it to a hap py emaciation. The great man, whole death as fubjed of univerfa' regret, within whole demise:sent the talk of endeavouring to offal a reconciliation fell, was particularly fitted, by his npennefs and mollifies. to condua it to a happy conclulion, provided there had been a correfpondent dilpolition on the part of the enemy. (An univerfal cry of Hear 1 Hear !) But DE• fortunately it was loon difeovered, that a peace of independence and equality was not fuch a peace as France was difpofed to grant. Nothing abject or degrading would be expelled from the Goverment of Frame, nor was it required; but then, m the other hand, this country was in too proud a &ass- I Lion so fttbesit to loch terms as that Government war inclined to int& epos. He would fa, nothing more at prefent upon the fobjeft of the Negotiation, as that was a fubjed which would come under the con- Sderation of Parliament at no very diflant day. He would now, with the indulgence of their Lordlhips, briefly call their attention to lonic of the principal to pics in his Majefty's Speech. That a nation poffsff ing loch refasten as Praia, with a numerous and unbroken army—whole finer:wee were in the belt or der, and equal to the expenditure of feveral cam paigns--whole population was animated by the high eft and molt enthufiaffic loyalty , lhoula have been erufbed, nay, almott annihilated in a moment, was one of thofe intlances in the fall and revolution of empires, to which pofterity would find Come difficulty in giving credit. Nothing like it was to be found in the records of hiOary. This calamity, particularly when inflided by France, mint at all times be a fob jed of feriJus regret to their Lordlhips ; but it would be an aggravation of furrow, it fuch a ca r lamity had been the relult of any precipitation of the Councils of that kingdom by the Government of this c. entry. He was happy in the opportunity of laying, that loch was not the cafe. The war on the part of Proffia was of her clew Ceding: the was neither incited nor encouraged to it by his Majefty's Government. Prnffia temporized with France ; by facrifices, the hoped to obtain (ecurity ; but the was too late convinced that fe• curity was not to be obtained from fuch an ene my. Her narrow and felfifh policy had operated her ruin. With refped to his Swedilh Majelty, he . was perfuaded the whole Houk would cordially agree in the tribute which was paid in the fpeech to the firmnefs and Ipirit of that brave and magnanimous Prince. At a time when the whole frame of the Con tinent was in danger of being Ibaken to pieces by the enormous power of France, that Monarch, notwith 1 (landing the dangers with which he was threatened, continued to maintain his faith inviolate to this coun try. Of the condo& of the Emperor of Rullia it was impollible for him to fpeak in appropriate terms. Notwithftanding the raft, hefty, and unauthorized proceeding of one of his Minifters, his Majefty's Go vernment never entertained the teal! diftruft of the difpnlition of that Monarch to co-operate, with all his means, towards refilling the power of the enemy. It was impoffible the great events which lately took place on the Continent, could have occurred without materially affeding the interefts of this country. We had, however, this great confolation left us—a eonfo. lation of which we fortunately could not be deprived by any efforts of the enemy—lf we had a powerful enemy to contend with, we had powerful tefources to maintain the conteft. The valour, fkill, and adivity of our fleets and armies, were unimpaired. The cha railer of the latter was even improved, if the reputa tion of a Britifh army could be heightened. The achievement of our little army in Calabria was not inferior to the prondeft of the many initances of Bri tifts bravery and energy. It was one of the inevitable confewiences of war, that it could not be carried on without expence and inconvenience: but who was there among their Lordthips, or in the country, who a °old hefitate to make any facrifice, when he confi dered for what he was called upon to make it ; when he confidered that he was parting with a Idler objed to fecure a greater—that he was contending for the maintenance of that Conftitution, of thole laws, lied of that inexhaaftible trealure of mdalic virtue, immix, liberty, happinefs, and glary, which made this greet country the envy and admiration of the world ? Mat. ever the peril and magnitude of the dills might be, he ' felt. con tinned that there was a fpirit meta detail:riot tion in the country fully equal to both. It was wee that in the courfe of left year, we had loft Come of the greeted talents that bad ever graced this or any , other country ; but ha trolled there were Itill taleot, fpitit, and unanimity enough among OF, to Wag i the arduous cotton ID which we were eagagtelvect i termination worthy of the honour, interettr, and dig niiy cf the nation. He would not trouble their Lord , I (hips any longer, but proceed to read the Addrefs which be intended to coopole, and to which lie flat ' tared hirnfelf he thould obtain their Lordfhips' una ' nimous concurrence. . . Upon this he did not think that any difference of oh. Mon could prevail among their Lordfhips. It was not to be expelled that this country would make any compromik of its honour or its interefl. for the fake of conciliating Fratice, much as peace was clearable. With raped to Prullia, it was impollible to feel un concerned at the mikrable Iltoation to which the was reduced by her cold and felfifh policy. She exhibited, at this moment, a picture in Tome degree fimilar to that which Austria prefented at .the dole of the - left unfortunate campaign ; but with this difference, that the fall of Pt uffia was abfolute, and that there was hope that Auftria Would rife foperior to the ca Woks by which the had bees nearly overwhelmed. We had, flowerer, this crinfolatioa, that, whatever rafbnefs Prttlkaffed with, was in. no way to be attriheted tit councils or encouragement of this country. We' neither participated in any of her meaktes, sfir precipitated her refolves. Though Pre ice son predntninant on th:e Continent, thanes mod of die armies of Europe had been forced to yield before her, we had the fatisfaftion of knowing that the had not yet triumphed over Britifh (kill and gal lantry. She had conquered the Continent—the threatened us : and yet, whenever her armies met ours upon any thiffg like equal tertels, they had the wadi of the contest. It was certainly to be lament ed, that the fyitem of the brtance of Europe, which our aneellors had fo long and fo litenuonfly labour. ed to uphold, fltonld be dearoyed; but we had the confolation of knowing, that, whatever the power of France may be able to effect on the Continent, it was net equal to the talk of fubduing thiscountry. France, it was true, was aggrandized. best when had this country loch fertile refoorces at command, or forth powerful fleets and armies in motion ? Next to the• fafety of our colonies, the attention of Government had hem direded to provide for our home defence.— The meafures which they bad purfued for that per. pore were as efficient as they were economical. The regulations for the volunteer force had been produc tive of a confsderable Caving, and yet he was happy in the opportunity of Rating, that the diminution of that force was very (mall indeed. How few were there of that glorious body, who had deferted their Raudards, in confeqnence of the retrenchments which Government found themfelves under the neceffity of introducing ? His Lordthip concluded with expreC ling hi. molt cordial affene to the addrefs. Lord HAWKESBURY Paid, he ()mold not think he had dikharged his duty, if he allowed the Ad- drtfs to pals without offering Come obfervations on the Speech which occa fi oned it. He would firft em brace the opportunity of expreffing his fatisfaCtion at the manner in which the Addrefs was moved by the Noble Earl, of whofe friendfhip he was happy to boalt. He agreed with his Noble Friend in every general fenurnent which fell from him. They, as wall as the manner in which they were delivered, called for the approbation of both fides of the Houk. No party-fpitit fhould ever induce him to withhold his concurrence and applaufe from fentiments befitting the great crifis in which we were placed, and parti cularly when they were expreffed by a Nobleman, for whom he had the greateß perfonal regard. Them were, however, eircumßanees conneeted with the Speech from the Throne, to which he could nest avoid calling the attention of their Lordthips. The first point upon which he fhould obferve, was one not openly mentioned in the Speech, but indirettlyallude ed to ;he meant the Dilklution of Parliament. It was not his intention to queßion the King's etched to diffolve Parliament • that part of the prerogative he - allowed in its foiled extent and plentitnde. He admitted that it was a prerogative which was inherent in him in its flrongett fenfe. If it were poßible that Parliament could acquire legal permanence, for ever fo (hurt a time, independent of the Crown,there would be no fecurity for the Monarchy. But this, like eve, y part of the prerogative, mould be esercifed I with a vsholefome and found difcretion. If it Mould be found to have been exercifed with levity, or with out a due neceffity, it was a meafure for which Mi oilier' would incur a very weighty refponfibilit7.—o What was there in the Rare of the country to Uwe jußified the late unexpefted and premature cliffi* I lion of Parliament—of a Parliament which bad mil fat four Seffions, and which had nearly three years to run ? Flom the puffing of the Septennial Ad, almost ninety years ago, except in the precedent of 1784. upon which he fhould fay a few words be fore he fat down, there was on inllance of a Parkr ment being diffolved under fix Sellions. There was no inßance, he would repeat his affertion, except a Emile of the Crown, and the one be had mentioned. The diffolution of 1784 was one to which there could be no objection : it was unavoidable. At that time a mifunderdanding fubfifted between the Crown and the Commons, wi.b refpeft to the Government.— Whenever filch an unhappy difference may arik, there is but one way of computing it ; either the Crown mull yield, or diffolve the Parliament. Bet had any circomftance recurred to jollity the late dal - - fulutiou ? Far from it ; and yet Minitlere, without a caufe atligned, or indeed affignable, took upon them to advice a ditflution, for no other ()Nett that he could dikuver, than that, to them, no doubt, a molt ingest one, of a little convenience. lie could fled no c.tufe, except that which he had jolt Rated, to war rant loch a meafure. The molt probable was, thee ' of the rupture of the negotiation with France ; but I let their Lordthips fee how that queltion Rood. What- ever difference of opinion might have exilled with re- IpeEt to many of the meatuses pnrfued by Minifter•, on no fubjeft wl,,ch ever engaged the attention of the country, had here been loch a onplete unanimity . as in rept d of fupporting his Malay in the profecnoon of the war. Upon other queflions there might have been a difference of opinicn, but upon this vital fubjeft there was none. Whatever 'glade of difference there was, was on the part of who difapprove of the other meafui es of Miniffers. "their opponents were foppofed to be more garnet for the profeetttion of' the war, than his Majelly'tOlvertiment war. There was alio anvil% Mentrate of Prfiulacts, ^f itich could not approve ; he meant the Declaration which had been iffued pending the fafpenfion of Parli a m e nt. The Country was not in a condition to judge cf that declaration, except It were accompanied by the do. curnents upon which it was founded. If the rupture of the negociation overwhelmed Miniders with any apprehenfinn or difficulty, the fair m de would have been, not to have difrolved Parliament, but to have tailed the eliding Parliament together, and fobmit tad the whole grounds of the negociation to it. He would nor accufe hdinifters of any intention to de. ' ceive the country, but the difrolution certainly had • the effed of forprifing it. In corroboration of what he had advanced, he would only call-to their Lord. 7 , (hips' recolleetion, an addrefs which had been pub. lifhed in the Cndnty of Norfolk. Io that addicts Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Windham) who waft the la* perfon in the world he Ikould rapport capabte d of deceit, had told the county that, as far at he ' knew, there was no intention to diffolve the terrine ° went. The confeqnenoe was, that the whole t Fngg dom was led to believe, that all reports to that el- Rd were unfounded and premature. Sobrequent • to this a Proclamation appeared, in which a day was fixed for calling Parliament together for dirpatch of billings : and yet notwithftanding there repeated elfin -nice', a difrolution was announced, to the fur• prize and alloniffiment of the whole kingdom. The perfons who advifed this meafure had much to anrwet fur. Notwithflanding the ['knee of the fpeech, he could not avoid laying a few words upon the mili tary meafures to which the Noble Baron who pre ceded him, alluded with fo much fatisfietion. When the perfons compofing the prelim Adminiltration IMuented the inadequacy of the meafures of their predeceffors, it was naturally to be expected that they had a Tyfiern of more energy and efficiency to pro. pofe. But what did they do? They began with overturning the whole of the ancient fyllem, for keeping up the army ; they propofed meafures, the inflantaneous effeft of which was to diffolve the Vo lunteers—they propofed meafuree which were pro dative of an enormous expenee, and which, he would venture ro alert, had entirely eltrappointed even the expectation of thofe from whom they were fuppofed to originate. One of their overarm the Training Ad, was never carriedinto execution...not lan attempt was made to put it in force. He was glad there had not ; for of that meafure. which had been brought forward with fo much parade, and upon which fuch reliance appeared to be placed. he bad but one opinion—namely, that it was either impracticable, or that it would only be carried iota elect with a degree of vexation and iocoaveniened totally repugnant to the natural feelings of the peo ple. With refped to the regular recruiting, he withed to know how far the new fyllem had been more produSive than that which was fo improvident. ly fuperfeded by it? What theft, he would alb. lsai thole new military meafures produced ? It was po. furious that the military defence of the conaier was not now near foconfiderable as it was twelve memallth ago. But all there, notwithaanding tftr aboodeof the Speech, mug be the fubjedt of future defeedlimill is Parliament. There was alto fame oche_ r. not alluded to in the Speech, to which the attention of their Lordhips. thing at prefent of the expeditions die enemy's portr, two of which . devaltation in the Weft Indies ; tantilitiSelestion fitent on the fabjed of the expeditious:. which had been fitted oat from this country.—One of Sea re. soloed three months in the Downs--a delay per. Italy inexplicable to him, but for which, however, it was poffible, Minifters, when the fnbjeitcame to be lircufred. might be able to adduce fnfficient rations. He Ihould prefs the queflion no Gather at prefent ; but there was ene point comic/led with it, upon which he molt trouble their Lordthips with a few words—he meant the command of that expedition. He did not mean to difparage the talents of the officer whom Government had related for that purpoie.—. He might amply deferve the confidence which was placed in him ; but they mud have a Ilrong cafe to loftily the palling over (orb men as General Spencer and Sir Arthur Wellefley, and wounding not only their feelings, but the feelings of the whole army through them. He would next come to the molt material point alluded to in the Speech from the Thr ma. With rerpea to the ditellera which hod fallen uppn ProlLa, he agreed with his Noble Friend, that these could be but one feeling in the Hlufe. With rcfpcd to the tank of .thefe alters, it was impoffibre that any two men could differ. It arore from the narrow policy in which Pruffia had encircled herfelf. Had his "'ruffian Majeily, or thole who advired him, confulted biltcry, they would have clircovered that they who lent their aid to have others devoured, would be at Led devoured themfelves He approved as much as any of his Majelty's Mini- Acts id the proceedings which hod been adopted to wards Pruffi t on account of her unjult agireffioa of !Hanover, and the meafures which -the submitted to again ft the commerce of this country. lie approved alto of the manner in which we Itifpended our par ticular quarrel, when Ibe was on the point of being involved with France, though he could not account for the delfty which took place in contnsunicaong with her. No direCt communication with Proffitt appears to have taken place until hoditides were on the eve of commencing. This was to him a rubjeil of great regret. He lamented that a communication with her had not been opened looser, that no difpcfition bad beet manifeded to affil or encourage her with oar cot:meth. when it was evident that a war between her and France vas not to be avoided. It was not until October, that Minified; had thought proper to en. deavour to open a communication with Pruffie, aod she patron to whom they confided this important Milton, than whom they could not have feledled one mete proper, was, from the unhappy events which occurred, unable to fulfil it. They afterwards thought proper to fend out a military miffioo, at the b ea d of which was a Noble Lord, a Member of that }loafs. This, however, was not suit three weeks afar the The addrefs having been read by his Loufillip, and afterwards at the table, Lord SOMERS prefented himfelf to their Lnrd (hips. He role, he Paid, to fecond the addreti which had been propofed by the Noble Earl, who moved it in a manner that gained him great credit. With refpal to the obfervations made by the Noble Earl, he was perfuaded there would not be a difference of tenliment in that hoofs, for every one who heard them mil agree in their propriety. He was aware that he laboured under confiderable difadvantage in following his Lordfhip, for there was not a point in his Majelty's fpeech which 644 not been mod ably and eloquently touched upon by him. He would however trefpafs upon their Lordfhips' patience but for a very fhort time, while he called their attention to forme of the principal topics. The fire in point of ordu related to the negociation with r' r like ~S