Star. — London, England, 1812-05-06 00:00:00

y+„r, ' PABLIAMENTART PROCEADINGS. HOUSE OE LORDS, MAY 5. . Ilse Royal Assent ontstiven by Commission to the Gold Coin, the Canada Trade, the Irish ;run Distillation Prohibition, the. • Irish Stills, the Irish Military Commissioners, the Irish Military Accounts, the Irish Spirits Warehousing, and the Medway Canal Ill Us. The Conuttissieners were, the LORD CDANCLLLOR, and Lords RZOLIDALZ and WALSINGIII AN. • The LORD CHANCELLOR, in a Committee of Privileges *tithe Roxburgh Peerage, moved a Resolution that Sit J. limes Kerr load made good his title to the Dukedom and Earldom'of Roxburgh. 'fr he It/solution will be taktn into farther considera vim on FrAlay. Earl FLI . ZWILLIA.I%I presented a Petition front the Menu. lecturers of Leeds, Wlikefield, and Halifax, against the Mono poly of the East-India Trade; as did the Earl or BATH, from the Woollen Manufacturers of Wiluhire.—Ordered to lie on the Table. 'I he Boston Harbour Bill was read 'a third time and passed. • The Earl of DERBY presented a Petition from Liverpool against the Orders in CounciL—Ordered to lie on the Table. Lass •iNDIA TRADE. The Marquis of WELLESLEY presented a Pe- . nation, stned by 700 Merchants of the City of Lon don, connected with the Trade to the East-Indies, against the opening of that trade. His Lordship said, that in pursuance of his duty as a Peer of Parliament, be had not refused to present this Petition, but he had at the same time told the Petitioners, that he could not support its prayer respecting •so very momentous a subject. He was sorry to have understood, that in another place, their minds had been made up upon It without enquiry. He deprecated such proceedings on momentous questions out of Parliament. For some time a negociation had been carried on respecting thi§ subject, which, but for its publicity, might have been I considered as a negociation with some Foreign and Independent States. This subject ought not to be so treated ; for, in his conscience, he believed the honour and interest of the country had never been . more en gaped than at present. - fl)e Earl of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE said, that no one. could attach more importance to - this subject than he did. He felt it his duty to state, that he did - • not think it probable that any part of this subject' -would be laid before the Parliament during the pre ban session. ORDERS 41g COUNCIL. ' Earl FITZWILLIAM moved that the Petitions,' from the different manufacturing towns against tile Orders in Council should be read. The Earl of LIVERPOOL said that as no oppo.' nation was to be offered to the motidn for going into a' Committee on these Petitions, the better way would be to read the Petitions short. Earl lITZ IV ILLIAM assented to this, and moved that the 1-,louse should resolve itsilfinto the Committee tolimorre , w. • Lord AUCKLAND said, he was glad to be pre. pep; on this occasion. Four years ago the attention of Ministers had been Called to the Orders in Council, . • which some among them bad considered as an outrage on neutral rights, and all of them on his side of the, House • had agreed as to -its being a violation of L, ‘ the rights of the United States. They then moved for a Committee, which whs denied to them, to spew' the - distresses which prevailed in consequence of-this spina ; but now those distresses had inereased. - But' tad thelast Ministry net been changed, he had not the llist doubt that they would hase been able to ?lave established a complete system of cominerce, and have left the country more flourishing and contented., Earl BATHURST said it would perhaps be ' found op enquiry that the -Circle's in Council, instead of decreasing, had increased the trade of the country. As to those Orders of January, 1807, of the last Mi inistry, it was as much complained of by America as Any of the others. • the Mai quis of LANSDOWN.E said that when; tuvb or three months ago, complaints were made on this. subject, the Noble Edit opposite made an effec. tual endeavour to suppress the enquiry which he then loved for. If they had gone into the enquiry, Go. vernmeat might have met all these Petitioners, by stewing them it was no fault of theirs that distress had over helosied the country ; if, on the contrary, Parliament eculd,' !Ong ere this, have adopted some measure of telief to the manufacturers. The Earl of WES'ImoRELANL and the Earl of Li- VERf'OOL deferickd the conduct of Goverament, and Earl GRLY and 'Lord GRENVILLE deprecated the _ . unnecessary delay, o c c asioned by Ministers not as ! . nada would fie the first paint of attack. From that ceding to the Lrmer motion of their Noble Friend time till January they were debati n g i n C ongr e ss (Lams! wne). whether letters of marque and reprisal should not be • On the motion of the Earl of LIVERPOOL, it was issued against this country, and in February it was agieed that the - House• should resolve itself into a only thrown out by a very small majority. On the Committee, to take ioto consideration the Petitions lakes British boats were taken without any reprisals of the Mantifacturesbegaiast the Orders in Council, being made by this country, that being left to be set at half-past two o'clock to-morrow (this day) ; and tied at a future negotiation. There certainly did at thbethe Committee should sit till five o'clock every that time in America prevail great difference in opi. evening until the business was`got . through. nion, for the four Eastera States opposed the rest on AMERICAN PArnts. the subject of going to war. These were no secrets, Lord HOLLANIi said, he was so well satisfied either in America or this country, for they are men that this vas a motion which every Englishman must tioned in Mr. Erskine's correspondence, wherein he feel to be necessary, that he was at a loss to conceive says, that such a separation troth the general union that any resistarce or opposition could be made to was likely to take place between the federalists and it ; particularly considering it to be one of the great- the war patty. Under these circumstances Sir James est in portawee, as affecting the hononxittheacouotry, Craig did send Captain Henry in 1809 into the Uni both at home and abu.ad. He felt. it neteitsavy to I ted States, as a man acquainted with the views of state, that he slid not bring it forward for information !the American Government ; and he wa s r e a dy to . to criminate any one,t or any set of men, nor for allow that some:of this correspondence was true that - eoaforpng any new line of policy whatever. For much ; related to the information inerely, but that the copy • • as he wished to conciliate America, by repealing thejof the instructions and of the credentials was perfectly :Orders in Council, Ibis was a subject which at•present false. He believed in his conscience, and as far as 1 .- it by no means wished to mix with those feslings.: he could learn, that this individual was merely sent On the 9th of January List ) a Message was brought to collect information ; and he was warranted corn -down frc,m the President 'of •the United States to ; pletely in that assertion, that the moment thelostile Congress, epetaining a very heavy, and he trusted, almenaces of the Americans subsided, Sir - James order. post false, charge against she Isovernment of this ed Henry to return to Canada. He was then recorn country, accompanied alsn by documents, by watof ! mended to the Govetnmeet by Sir James Craig, as a proofe. TI e (barge was, that fitting the discussion map who had furnished much useful information, of an important Treaty, the Government of this I but who had received nothing unless the expences of country bad employed Captain Henry, ter the per- ; his journey. By the Government- at home' he was pose of negotiating with the subjects t.f the United ; recommended to Sir George Prevost. This recom §tatest 9f . offering them assistance in•rn th is country, ; mendation was suppo r ted by some o f t h e greatest to enable tines to throw off their aiegiance to their i mercantile men in the Canadian trade. He could - own Gs,svernment, and separating sonic of the eastern ; not deny that there was matter which did require ex . provinces franc he general union. From the candour, planation in some parts, and contradiction in others, . •bf the Noble Seeretary ; of State, he had expected he ,in this correspondence. Ministers woeld o llowevtr, would have denied all this statement, and declared it i take care to have the subject placed in a proper point • co be a forgery, and he particularly thought so, of view ; and he trusted that the Hou se wou ld h ave the sert.cogviction of the agent, deemed it more.proper of the American Government, 7 . yarn he considered who igtquestionAbly haci *betrayed his employers.— if, instead of sending it down to Congress, they had di' ban bis came down,to the House .to ask the ques-- demanded an explanation from this Government the §yctetary Of '4tate prevailed on him to put (Hear, heasl • i t o ilh rII f ours; * for though he said he, could in- ! Earl GREY believed, that in a question which se s tant.y give air answer against It for himself,' yet, as intimately affected the character *of the British na psber's; were ;pensioned in the papers, be wished to lion. the Ministers would have eagerly seized an op . . .. refresh his memory respecting the whelesciretim.. portonity, snch as was now given, to justify them- two been dispatched fora legitimate ft stance. To this helLord Holland) agreed, and,on selves to the world, by publishing those papers in ! reprobated the troasien, as•it was termed, a closer inspection of the papers, he found more ape their own defence, so as to wipe away the polluting • that itetended to lower the character of pearance of plausibility than he had at first disco-' stains from the Government. That Sir James Craig,l in the estirhation of surrounding nations. vered. In fact, from those papers it was impossible .. under the terror of ;ire / Sending hostilities, should : duct was a violation of the recognised la' not to believe that Captain Henry was not employed employ legitimate measures to ward the danger of, 'lt was conduct that might be expected in some way as he himself states he was. He had and employ a person on a secret mission to procure . hitionary, or from an ambition.ly uni therefore hoped that the Noble Secretary would not intelligence respecting the disposition and circum- vernment—but it was not the conduct only have given the subject a flat denial, but that he stances of the people, was all extremely justifiable be pursued by England. Possessing such himself would have made the motion so as to clear and meritorious ; but to employ a man tie the pur- he could not but approve the motion. up the character of Government to this country and pose of 'fomenting divisions, and with his credent als • 'the Earlof -WESTMORELAND. to the world. It appeared from these documents, in his hand, to endeavour to persuade subjects to re. , them eerie no proofs whatever of his. that in 1809 Captain Henry went on a secret mission yoke their oath of allegiance, was a measure of ' vcriunent being implicated in any disgrei from Canada to the United States, and that his in- policy reprobated by all legislators and historians, as action. The stibject i loweVer; was certain structions were signed by a gallant Officer now no l idestructive of national principle and honour. He regard to which it was incumbent on more. The first was to procure intelligence in the i admitted the hostile aspect of the American Govern- , : cane to an immediate explanation wi United States respecting the views of the Govern- I meat at' hat period required the like warlike prepa- and while coemunicatious of this sort i ment, which was certainly very justifiable. But there I rations on the part of the British Canadians, and he should oppose the production of de was a part in them, advising him to sound the Fede- I had he declared `war he would have acted equally as called for. ralists, how far they might be willing to receive t prudently As he did In sending an emissary upon The Eyed of DARNLEY felt strongly that the assistance from this country, and to bring about a such a Mission. Instead of unsheathing his sword, ' present question involved the honour and reputation separation of the general Union, and furnishing him he endeavoered, to accomplish his purposes by in- :of the country. The Noble Lord then adverted ki, with credentials to satisfy the dubious, that he really trigue, at the very moment that a British Ambassa- . a letter from Henry tie Sir James Craig, dated in was what he stated himself to be. These were the dor was at New Washington negotiating peace be- June, 1809, in which be talks of . the approbetiore charges ; and he trusted, that some part would be tween the nations. To seduce subjects from their which his conduct had received from his Majeity's contradicted, so as the country's honour might be allegiance during a time of peace was contrary to Ministers. 'This formed at least a strong presumpt ion rescued from so foul a stain. The consequence of its the general feelings which pervaded all nations.— , that the honoor of the country had been con.prtanised, not being contradicted, would be such as their Lord- Perhaps it might be proper to accomplish- peace by and required the fullest explanation on 'th e pan of 4111.1rstad the Country would have great c a use to i ntr igue ; but t o st i r u p war , by s o win g dissentious, Ministtrx.. All he wanted was to clear up the con. deplore. In America there had long subsisted two and by seducing the people from their allegianCet ' cluit of Government in the eyes of the world ; and parties, one of whom wished for friendship and hare was highly repr e hensible. How'would the British :' diet they should be able to spew, that dutie; mony with this country ; and what must be their Government admire the American Congress should peace no atteenpts had been made by thefts to excite, feelings towards this country, when this message was they, during a negotiation for peace, send an emir= 'I insurrection against a friendly Government. He brought down I Would it not have the effect of serf into Ireland to endeavour to disunite the Catho- i wanted to ascertain the fact whether Henrywas really completely estranging their minds from this country? lic subjects from their allegiance to Government, for so employed, and he expected authentic com e di c . He should have no objections to these Papers being that was exactly the comparison which most se- tin, instead of loose assertion. - referred to a select Committee ; but he did not think sembled the manner of our negociattons in America? ' Lord HOLLAND replied, he should n o t k a y o that if it were even publicly enquired into, it could It was a wonderful circumstance that America pre• the House with satistaction to his own mind, sere e 4 beinjurious to any, individuals. He could not con- served her pacific demeanour towards us when she , not to express his grief at, and his abhorren ce o f d ie ceive that Sir J.Craig could have given such ipstruc- had discovered our secret dealings. Thus by our side-winded way in which Ministers had attemp te d to tions as those, without being himself instructed by proceedings had we nearly excited hostility in a Go- evade the abominable charge made against thi s come the Government at home. Besides, the application vernment which, of all (,overnments, we ought to try-by America. It was true, they &I not step for. of Captain Henry to Sir J. Craig for remuneration, have kept in a state of trahquillity, and cherished ward boldly, and by throwing off the sunk admi t t e e and being by him recommended to the Secretary of her as our nearest relative. 'But, instead*of all that, charge ; hut they did wtat eas much wor s e-..* State, who again refers him to Sir G. Prevost for our Government had expressed no compunction 'nor removed all blame from their own shoulders IP thou preferment, were strong presumptive proofs that this abhorrence at the 'employment of an emissary, con- of Sir James Craig. They panegyrized and eulogized • Government gave instructions for the employment trary to the faith and upright thiracter of free na- that gallant male whose remains have recently b eta of Captain Henry. His Lordship concluded by dons, a circumstance which; of itself alone, inclieed removed 'to the silent tomb ; and immedietily pm. moving That the correspondence between SirJ.Craig him to favour the motion. •' ' . ceeded to load his name oe h having been concerned and the British Government, respecting the employ- Lord SIDMOUTH said, that had the assertions in so diabel cal a transaction as that described 4 ment of Captain Henry, as an agent in the United of the Noble Lord, who had just sat down, been fully Henry. Such vas the friendship of the Ministers!-. States, should be laid before the House. warranted by the circumstances of the matter in qua- Such was the value of their Oulnigiumsl Evety void The Earl of LIVERPOOL assured the House that tioo; still he should have resisted the motion upon ori e that had been uttered by the Noble Lords opposta he should oppose this motion from a sense of public ginal grounds • but from a contemplation of the -went to palliate the whole business, th ough they ha 4 duty only ; but he would speak candidly the ciroum- whole, he couldperceive no violation of the customary taken special care not t- jeotity it in daitct tcrms..... stances as they had come to his knowledge. The fact of faith of nations, nor departure from the struptilous lAt to their excuses tor ic, the situation of the pro. the employment of Capt. Henry by Sirj.Craig on the regard maintained by a free nation for the princ;plee v;nces, that MiriLters had had nothing to do with if, score of a secret mission to America was not known to i f the Constitution in the employment of Mr. Henry. the improi ricty of such a discusslote they went is the Government at home till many months after it it had not appeared that Government had ever vend directly to justify the whole cf the business.-- had ceased. In 1808, the person referred to was in the cured to express either approbation or disapprobatiott —Tee Nvble Lord then commented on the noir- United States on his own business, and entered' into of the employment of Mr. Henry, and thereby rood mess of Ministere, in quoting a letter which had mot a correspondence there with the Government of Ca- free from the culpability attached to them b ) t;,e been produces!. As to the question itself, be called nada, respecting the views of the'American Govern- Noble Lord. • Sir James being aware that mighty Or a denial ot the charge by that Haute in the face ment. In the same year he returned to Canada. At preparations were making by •the Americans upon- of Europe. He wished for its refutation-en din that time Congress was met, and there being a gene- the frontiers, determined to 'adopt some immures of. ground he • made his stand ; he dentandeJ to Ct ACC rel . disgust at , the embargo, some were for war with security, and though he might leave been fully justi. all suspicion, to remov e . all charge that tended to I one, and otherswith both (tithe belligerents. The most fled by his country in commencing hostilities, h e ab- -sally the honour and charetter of the country. E.; active warlike preparations were at that time adopted stained from the fiercer measure and onlo employed nothing had fallen from the Noble Lord; Opposite by the Gos;ernment of the United States • and on the a person to examine into inclinations and feelings of which directly 'refuted the charge ; if the erginneuts 25th ot September, the Commander at Boston order- the people, so that he might be able to take auvan. that hod fallen 'Tutu them ,meant any thing, 04 ed 10,000 men to be in readiness to march at a mo- tage of any favourable concurrence of circumstances. went to a justiticatit,n if the charge. tetras's* ment's notice. This circumstance took place on the This person was withdrawn from his mission as soon sary that a public charge should receive k public N. borders of *our North American possessions ; and it as pacific measures were adopted. Sr James Craig tutatent ; but it would now go out to the world that the question rested on this alone, it was morally suf- was a most judicious officer, whose lite was, for his America sad brought a charge of infamy against ficient to warrant Sir James Craig in attatking them country's sake, most unfc.rtunately shortened, from England, and that the Ministers of Logllod, Auer instantly, if. he had thought fit. Such wet the im- excess of anxiety in the performance of his duties. It a mature deliberation; had Uri refuted it. ifrq pression that this intelligence made •on him, that he was the business of Government to justify his memory would give no decisive explanation, they left is - directed Sir George Prevost, at that time Governor to the nation, not suffer it to'be blotted by unjust ace l country bewildered in the Wet statements of the Ml. of Halifax, not to proceed with his troops to Marti - cusations. ' ' nisters on the 1 charge of America. ' • ' nique, which he was at that time ordered to attack. Th e M arqu i s of LANSDOWNE said, that it was * Strangers were oleo ordered to withdrfw. But this was not all, for in November Congre s s voted , a wonderful circumstance that Government, in the The /louse then divided—Fur the Monet t 27-e an additional force of 50,000 men ; the reason for Noble Lord's speech, should have had no communi- Against sr, 75—Majosity..46.-a-Adjourved. - which proceeding Mr. Erskine very properly deman- cations whatever concerning the Canadian mission, ' - ded, and was answered by Mr. Madison that he con- and yet it had directly appeared that Government was HOUSE Or COMMONS. sidered the conduct of both the belligerents was such afraid of much mischief resulting from the production T u b ' House bvin g sultanmed to attend in tote tit' as to justify th e attacking them without any farther of the papers in question. It appeared to him, that ' "o oyo `o tel oe ur e n i l i e ts b e P n EA vv "it en , by arq L• uu .a, "4 14 , es seveidfdlls notice whatever. Mr. Erskine was so impressed with the simple facts of the case entirely demolished all the • men Private IStils. • • this intelligence, that he teat an express to Sir James opposition which had been raised against the motion. ' Mr. Ihilit.; presented an Account of the eatfalwalexi II" Craig, stating it' s his•opiniod that..Helifax or Ca- The Government refrained from demonstrating to the in 7 .. elof the Arm y fur the last par, pursuant to Oitlersdlis • ..i.r.41 to lie on the Table. _ . - -- Moral Highness the Prince litsgeot.--uruet....- .._ people of America the folly and iniquity of the state. talon,' L0..C.41EL11 pre opted a Peyton groin renal' bilts ments, but permitted the whole to circulate around chars dud Traders of tote City of 4.04, against dit haaloo the. world, and sink into the minds of the people, to Monopoly. ; the manifest injury of the British name. If any country fir J. al-IAW presented a Petition from the untried Compact a Patters, and penoos eng aged 11. the M ootien Trade, carboy' , in the world was ever 'favourably disposed towards In tha East' India Company ,, in tat our of the reuswal (. 1 the be g Britain it was the United States of America ; but It le: d. a Cutopany's halter. was impossible for the ties which originally bound the . Upon the booboo ut nations together, to exist under the unfavourable (particularly , endwise to. circhmstances which had been revealed in the papers Tht Hu ,„' b„ i „ g „„,,, ed, u. , j o t was entered to be re" I re ke c rs ta tt l ec h l : published by the American Government. 1. he affec- in -i na a pr—te-, a— rea- A third time on friday next. Lions of America by such measures was, in*the eye i The House wept into a Committee upon the II" Distilleries; of all reasonable calculation, likely to be provoked 1 W. u" :ruoti..ioneshign,trwt.bßis, O u S t : 7 , w the erc Pth Register tx cin E r in4: P a U s L i. L r prugsul ini:i tha fro t m the w p g reseu ar in t tr igl and oi e Si• 1 1 into hatred. From a consciousness that.the produc- 46 hYpeal :d", u po n in p its it p s lac a Duty of :, , s. kid.' per Gaffeell IWO, then of these papers would display the whole guilt or innocence of the transaction to the House, he would *alphas be enacted. by which it would be- brought upon a Par "II dig (Jailed from Grain. • rote for the motion. . 1' 1 hew ResAutions were agreed to, and the Relied cede r. ' 69 bet... Laved to-mosrow. Lord MULGRAVE regarded the question , to he- , tipun ~,...,.r. W. wymgg, t h e Rapt es die long entirely to Sir Japes Craig alone ; and in which P 'Reyeinte LAWS' Ilia was le-considtred, sad die Bin uftierc a to be his Majesty's Ministers had no participation. That 'no a atilt' tulle on krisby able Officer had stood the buckler of the Canadian ! A I'd Scotch "cal M"'cia Bin, and the Plate Drawback Sig* provinces,' against the threatenings of America; and . wem"rbevvilittreiadoNia thirdv tiln ed fu ts ;: in an d u P brought up, WI ActoWit while be was casting round his eyes in quest of Intel- the citatrillmion of the Vote of Cr,dai, to- the Ls. yea rd ' irden4 ligence which might be behefi c i a l to t h e country , h e • ta ue ou the sable, and be rioted. perceived • that be could 'procure information of a ItIOIS AND 141.31.D1fts IN Tilt COUNTRY. very important nature, by dispatching an agent ' Mr. Secretary RYDER. ruse to move for . kale T . amongst the murmuring inhabitants of some of the bring in a Bill toeinore effectually preventieg the o°_,_ • Ametican provinces. N ow, did it become an Offictr ministration of unlawiul oaths. He &Ueda to I °'' 1 who had to provid e f or t h e secur i ty ' o f t h e prov i nce , i a sent disturbed state of the country, w hic h bad . .. 1 , Ito siand looking pe ac ethily on at the preparations l at ely arrtved to a very alarming pitch, Partg .., '72, making against him, and with the romantic spirit-of so on account of the secrecy oich %hien the ww"" a chieftain in romance, permit them to o aste'his do- atrocious practices were carried on: the peri lg at : mains before he couched his spear ? He was con- binding themselves by a solemn oath to obel i scions the House pe rce i v ed not hi ng i n t h e transact i on crecy. Therewas touad in the Pocket (1° " capable of'malcing them distrust the capatity of the ;nen who had been killed at Mr. Burton's .__ • Executive Government, and lie would therefore vote tory, the copy of an oath, which be would read Ss° . against the m ot i on . H ouse- here the Right Honourable Ge. .... Lord LAUDERDALE drew f ro m - the confess road the O at h, whi c h WAS in substance as follow. :ions already made by those entrusted with the se- “1,A.8. do declare, of my own voluntary * 4 O .„ crets of Government, pfoofs ten thousand degrees to reveal any of t h e n a m es o f t h o se who beketZ stronger against them than he had ever entertained the . Secret Committee, qr of my associates, ariy idea of. Money had been sent for a twofold' put- penalty of being put to death by any 00° Id a" pose, to tamper with the people, and when he had gaged in the same cause-with myself. And _,„, shook their faith, to endeavour to seduce them from dare, that I will puirsh in like manner. ihd 7; their allegiance, and confirm them in their apostacy, to d eat h an y ot h er p er ,,,,n-who shall be guilty 10 by producing his credentials from the Gowetnor of tame offence, ace. kc." Such teat 111 ° 1 ' 111 " i = Canada. '1 he manner in which Sir James Craig had • 4 csd hixn that he had these conspirators - against the propeetY withdrawn. his emissary, roprin the peaceable subjects of du country, cadge • 4 7 • - purpose. H e « so tontenclifig, of this country ns. Such con. laves of nations. • if from a revu. aprinciritd Co .I t that ought te such sentiment; 11 I.contendeJ that ll* Majtsty's Co s sgratetul'fratod minty one wil l Government to with America ; t were is the papers now-