Star. — London, England, 1813-12-21 00:00:00

THE FIFTH 0/ ELIZABETH. Mr. Serjeant ONSLOW prtscnest! a Petition from certain Traders resident in London and its envit on; against the Filth of Elizabeth, praying, that a se' n years apprenticeship may nut 'e made a prev:ols requisite to the exercise of a trade or profess • a on. Among the s;guatures attached to this Petition, he ob served the names of persons distinguished for their theoretic krowledie and practical science. They described the operations a the Act as vexatious, ilelusive, and oppressive. They did not with the statute of apprenticeship to be abolished ;• all they asked was, !hat a seven years apprenticeship mi z ;ht not be made a pre vious requisite to any trade. They described these persons who were commonly called iregal men to be the most skiltul work-- men, anti set forth the propriety of allowing persons of mature years, who from a change in their prospects were obliged to de pend on their industry for support, to enter into any busine-!. they had talent to conluct, though they had not served an ap prenticeship to it. The Petition was ordered to lie on the table. DECLARATION OF THE ALLIES. M. HORNER wished to ask the Noble Lord (Lord Castlereagh) a question resp:cting the docu ment which had lately appeared in the forcign papers as having been issued by the Allied Sovereigns. He only sought such infOrmation as the gbhle Lord might no. think inconsistent with the public service. He put the question now, as the answer to it might materially atfe , :t that question on 'which they were that tiglit to docide. From the expressions contained in that - document, it shi uld -seem that the Allies rt. de overctlrt:s of peace to France after they had reached the mks oi the Rhine, and it might be in ferred, that the proposal made had been rejected, this was not sated. in the declaration, and certainly it was susceptible of a very different con struction. He wished to ask first if that document was authentic, and if it was, whether his Majesty's Ministers had coilcurred in it, and whether the offers made had been tijectert ? Lord CASTLEREAGH, in - answer, stated the document which had appeared to be authentic, and he had the satisfaction to inform the Honourable Gentleman and the House, that the most perfect concert prevailed in the measures and views of the Allies, and all the steps taken in consequence of those views had been,taken with the full approbation and concurrence of this country. What answer had been returned, and what resulted from the pacific over tures which had been made, the Honourable Gentle man would n t press him to lay before the House, as he tntit feel any further disclosure might be premature. Mr. HORNER said, the first part of the reply of the Noble Lord had. convinced hint of the propriety of putting the questions he felt it his duty to ask. THE ADJOURNMENT. Lord CASTLEREAGH, in .rising to move that the licuse at its ri ing should adjourn to the Ist of Match, did not feel it necessary to enter into any lengthened explanation of the reasons which influenced his Majesty's Ministers in proposing such an adjourn ment. He should at present offer very few words on the subject, reserving himself to offer such explana tions .as might be necessary after be had beard what were the• objections made to the motion he should submit to the House. The grounds on which the motion was founded, were these--The House had had the advantage of meeting for the dispatch of ' public business at an unusually early period ; they bad Fot through more of the public business than was Usually dispersed of in so short a time : it was there fore thought no inconvenience could result from the ; adjournment, and he was not aware of any .partieu fal jealousy ca the part of Parliament that was likely . to cause the'rnotion to be opposed. On the contrary, they had conceded more than usual support to the measures _ of G. vernment ; and looking at the state of the public and private business bel•ire them, he could not see that the House would in any degree abdicate its functions by q - ;reeing, at a time like the present, to the proposed adjournment. Should cir cumstances arise to reoder an appeal to Parliament eicessary before the period fixed for their meeting, tfiere was an Act passed same years ago which would serve to obviate any inconvenience that might arise from the duration of the recess. By the Act to which be referred, the Crown, in cases where Parliament was in-orogutd or acrelirried, v.-as empowered to c;411 them trwrther in 1.4 days. He though the House, the Crown had this power, was safe in adjourn. lag, with an understanding, that if ciecumstances make their services necessary, they would be re-assembled before the period for Which they a& jourried should expire. These were the grounds on which be recommended it to them to adjourn as a ;natter of discretion. lie then moved that the House shoaid adjourn to Tuesday the IA of March. :1,-V ME'S MACKINTOSH.—" I coniess, Sir, Ilea when 1 came down to the Hols:•, I did ex p e ct • tint Ni•ible Lord would exhibit such solid grounds 1,4 the protracted adjournment he meant to propose . 1 • . • as would have saved me the pain of now for the first trofternttr , himfelf from all that was invidious or time interrupting that unanimity by which the pre- suspicious, as attaching to himself, in the affair to sent Session has been so remarkably distinguished., which my question related. If the suspicion that The Noble Lord, Sir, has contented himself with was entertained with respect to him had originated urging such reasons as appear to me quite insufficient with me, I should be most certainly obnoxious to a to justify the adjournment ; and I 'therefore feel my- charge of great presumption ; but I must now de self called upon to explain the grounds upon which I dare that it was entertained by persons.of high rank; deem it inexpedient.--I am certainly in a situation persons who warmly wished to support and promote little fitted to address the House, just escaping, as I the dignity and interests of the House of Orange.— am, from the effects of a long and, severe indisposi. The surprise was certainly natural enough. An in tion, and should remain silent under the apprehension , su rrection took place in Holland on the 15th of No of failing to promote the object I have in view, were vember; on the 16th, a ;lumber of respectable persons not their good humour and indulgent spirit well I formed themselves into a Provisional Government, known to me. The Noble Lord having proposed I and on their invitation the Prince of Orange went a deviation from an ordinary practice, it became him over; it was reasonable to suppose that - he would to shew that such a deviation was expedient, that no- y not leave this country without a communication witlr thing could arise which could render it unsafg ;—but Ministers, and in consequence it was reasonable to has he done so? He has contented himself with ob- suppose that his acts would be in some measure the serving, that the public business is in such a state as result of their counsel. He arrives in Holland, and to free the adjournment from any embarrassment or the day after his arrival issues a proclamation accept inconvenience to the Government. Now this might i , ing the sovereignty conferred on him, and at the be a sufficient ground for immediate adjournment, but same time staring, that he does so against his better in my apprehension it has no bearing whatever on : judgment. Under circumstances such as these, I the duration of that adjournment. It is not possible felt, as no doubt every Englisman would feel, on for the Noble Lord to say that no emergency shall beholding on the tumultuary subversion of an an arise between this and the Ist of March which may dent and venerable Republic by a set of private render the deliberations of Parliament expedient or Gentlemen, whose only support and authority was necessary, and therefore I wou'td wish him not. to the clamour of the populace, raised while the arms mistake the nature of the question before the House.. of the enemy still rung around them. What, I The state of its business does not affect the duration would ask, would the people of Holland think, if of the adjournment, unless he can show that there is we should appear in this country utterly indifferent nothing contingent, that as no subject now appears to so extraordinary a change in their polity as calling for their deliberations, so none can apiear.— this ? The Noble Lord, 1 repeat, has freed him- The Noble Lord his left•us to conjecture by what self from the imputation of being accessary to reasons he would combat the real objections that lie it ; he has declared in the face of this country and against so protracted an adjournment, and some of of Europe, that his Majesty's Government knew them, considering them as yet unimpugned, I shall nothing of the intention that it appears subsisted to now state. It is a printiple of the Constittnion* that change the form of government and the title of the one of the functions of Parliament is to act as Conn. Supreme Magistrate, and to the declaration of the j sel to the Crown. Those who imagine that the Noble Lord we are bound to give cte.lit. I admit, functions of that Body are confined to the enactment that the case, so far as it regards the Government of of laws and the imposition of taxes, if ,here should this country, is relieved front all the ochora connected occur any emergency in which their wisdom should with it. They, it appears, have not been instrumen he necessary to the Government, the Constitution tal in bringing .ihout the' evolation, andif they wished directs that their counsel should be interposed. The to prevent it, they were certainly precluded by all Noble Lord says, that inasmuch as the Crown can principles of intetnatioeal law from interference.— assemble the Parliament in fourteen days, a pro- E (Hear, fret th! Treasury E.:10;m) They cot.ld not tracted adjournment may tale place without clan- with any degree et preptiety attempt to controul a ger or inconvenience ; but I see, that Parliainent spontaneous nu/trion ot the people— (1/..ar, hear !) is to be considered as counsel assigned to the Crown ? —of a neighbouring and frioidly state. (Hear, h:ar.) and that the aid of their wisdom should not be I Acce.s. ding to Ole teceived principles of international declined precisely at a period when the arduous and law, if a nation arise tree tram a yoke beneath which `difficult nature of the business which they have to they have for a time bent, their .ticatt.:: and relations transact renders such assistance of peculiar value.—, with another nation revive with the icvival of their in. It is not at such a juncture, that Parliament should dependence. If the people choose to change their abdicate their functions, should abandon their station, form of Covernmeet, those tremors and relations It is impossible to say what may occur to call for the ate t affected thereby, they are binding as against exercise of those functions. A great crisis is now a fiction, Lut not as age: lust the pi ople, when their taking place in the aff tirs of Europe. - Intelligence i will is impl chly unfolded. Igo e Ministers full of events of the last importance is every day reaching credit for their scruples in interfering with the na ils, and will, in all probability, continue in retch us tional economy of-another State, fur the delicacy every day between this and the Ist March ; between they have exhibited in what regards national hide this time and that, the affairs of Europe may be ar- pendence, and I am willing to ceesi.fer the proceed e rang( d upon new principles, her states may have been i ings which called for the question I put to the formed into a new system. In all negotiations, in all INoble Lord, as the acts of the Dutch themselves, deliberations which may erecede such a state of af- I as acts done in a foreign country by a foreign corn lairs, Great Brietilt necessarily teke that leading munity, and which could not with propriety have station, that commanding attitude to which her been interfered with. (Hear, hear) 'l'lle sound power and her exeri ions so justly entitle her : and ness of the principles upon which his Maj. sty's Mini udder such circernstences I would ask, is it right that sters have acted, 1 am willing to admit, and I am the Ministers of the C l own should b e deprived of the : pleased to find them adopted ; but I cannot there- Aid of Parliament—of the contrail of Parliament, if , line suppress the eitreme regret and sorrow feel at its controld be necessary ? if that eid, if that controul I seeing the constitution of an ancient and venerable he refused at sucit a time, I do ;ay that the refusal commonwealth subverted by a popular clamour, and amount: to a direct attack upon the Constitution. It in the face of the enemy's troops. I ant not less a is tacitly spurned as an inconvenient form of Govern- friend to the constitution of England because I am. a stunt, or if the necessity for the exercise of the consti- friend to the ancient constitution of Holland. I can tutional functions of Parliament be admitted, at least I not see without infinite pain that constitution fall by they are rejected in all those great questions of war the energies of which those who enjoyed its blessings and peace with which they have heretofore been opposed a successful resistance to Phillip 11. a suc thought to have much to do. The Noble Lord woule' cessful resistance to Louis XIV. and beat back Louis never have Parliament meet hut to trans:tct ordi- XV. from the gates of Amsterdam. I cannot sup nary business, their advice on all such important pose that the abuses of such a constitution could not business as is now before the Government, he would be easily removed, and the venerable structure which reject, as calculated to impede and embarrass their had so long afforded shelter and protection spared. In exertions and frustrate their views. lamof a diffe- the year 1675, according to the authority of Sir W. rent opinion, The Ni,b!e Lord thinks that the state Temple, it was proposed to King William by Louis of Europe is such as to justify a protracted adjourn- XIV. that he should be invested with the sovereignty ment : in my opinion, it calls for a more contracted of the United Provinces, and bear the title of Duke of period of adjournment ; it calls upon us to watch Gueldres. The younggiddypartof that Prince'sCoun with peculiar vigilance over every circumstance con- cillors were decidedly of opinion that he should ern-. nected with the Continent. The argument of the brace the proposal, but there was one person who was Noble Lord I cannot consider of any weight ; and I neither young nor giddy, who gave him the same really did expect, that when a violation of constitu- advice, I mean the pensionary De Witt ; never:he tional practices was to be proposed, that more plausi- less William resisted the advice ; by many his re bility, if not sound reason, w o uld have been employed fusel of the dignity and power placed within his to recommend ii. Never was there a Session of Par- grasp was attributed to affectation or to fear. But liament, in the course of which Ministers had received Sir William Temple, who knew his motives well, more unanimous and zealous support than in the pre- allegh that his wish was to grow great by the ter sent ; never was there a Session in which a more cont. vice of the States he governed, bet not by their plete confidence has been reposed in his Majesty's Mi- servitude. He did not wish to be thee. Sovereign of nisters.—(Hear, hear, from the Treasury Benches.) a mean and petty State, but chose rather to be the twill not hesitate to admit, that in reposing such Stadtholder of a reunwned and powerful Common- i confidence they acted according to the will of the wealth—in that capacity he had long ranked among country—(Hear, hear,)—according tothewill of every the first Princes of Europe, in the other he lelt his man in the country.—(Hear, Hear, hear.) The Mi- dignity and consequence would be greatly abridged. litia Act was passed without opposition, many other Consistent with these sentiments was the doctrine Acts of great importance were passed without oppo- ; which this Prince held with respect to the power of sition; and cordially as the support of Parliament England. It was contended that her Constitution was administered, it would have been still more ex- I was of too popular a nature to admit of her making tensive had circumstances called for its extension.— a successful struggle against the other Powers of Eu- The people wished that their country should come rope, whose resources, placed in the hands of absolute forward with ardour to aid the nations which were in- Princes, were more easily wielded. This he asserted dependent, or those who wished fo be so—they wished ' to be erroneous doctrine, the energies of a free State that as soon as a struggle commenced on the Conti.. were always the most powerful where private feeling nent that England should be at her post—that ohe I was blended with public enthusiasm. In a Bulletin of should be foremost in the ran k s . I r e s pect the man the Crown Prince of Sweden's, which bears date eie who first introduced into the political system of 11th November, he declares that nothing ca old more this country the term g; b a l anc e of power." England tend to curb the power of France than the vicinage of • must always strive to establish, or maintain such the Stadtholderiau dignity. On the 30th November a balance. Her affairs are necessarily blended with another declaration is made by this Mitsui:Ac indi those of the Continent, and it is most absurd to valual, who is now serving the country over which object to her interference wall the political system he is appointed to rule, with all the zeal and ability of the Continent. Feeling how much a crisis like which lie formerly exercised to the service of the the present demanded that Ministers should .not country to which he owes his birth ; he assumes, that be impeded by opposition, I base on almost all oc- the act by which the Prince of Orange is invested casions given them my support. I have abstained with the supreme sovereignty, does not affect all horn every discussion an d ever y i nqu i r y which I the Provinces. His Royal .Highness the Prince of thought might embarrass them,—[Here the Hon. Orange has declared, that in accepting the tiered to him, he has no other vizw or wish, sove- Member paused, appearing to labour under the pies- reignty o sure of ill health, and then added]—l feel how unable i but t o promote and conf i rm the lib ert i es f his I arn'to do justice to the notions which Icame to the, people. This declaration cannot be' too much ap plauded, HOuse wishing to develope. (Cheering.) I am nut • li i i tt in . en B t co it is worthy the descendant of Wil!iain tee prepared to den"-, that the Noble Lend answered the co entryman o f De \' dirt. which I had the honour of putting to him scure lvlentber o f P ar on a former evening, in a manner to completely ton e t i t if eitexppetrlnss his ed permitted • no such exoressizn be heard in this House, justly May our ancient friends and Alles assume, that under an effected regard for their inde pendence we are eyeless of their best interests—wsll may they suspect .eur friendship if no remarks be uttered, no protest entered against the abolition ofe that popular Government beneath the influei.ce ef which they were a great, a happy, and a flaurisi ing people ! Gen forbid that I should utter any tithe , ' that might have the effect of repressing the dal el the people of Holland against the enemy, or abating the friendly feelings cherished in this cotintry te. wards their ancient Allies ! Nothing in my mind can justify lukewarmness in the defence of our c aio try against the aggression of a foreign foe. He wl. is lukewarm in its defence is a bad - citizen. Jt w with pleasure I heard an Honourable Friend, who!, promotion to a high office under Government, I %VAS gratified to !earn, assert nn a former occasion, that. there was an instinctive feeling pervaded society whici. armed the kan6 of every man against the invader cr his-country, nVltilol:t a reference to what Governmert he defends?, along with it, aaci that such a feeling wa the rash% of a beauttfel and most beneficial dispensa tion of Pitovioexce—si mighty alleviation of the evil.: to sallich human nature was subject—the firmest bond ,ht human society. If there be any philosophy which would daunt this feeling, let it be abandoned to the I contempt it merits. But let us recollect, that there is ' besides this instinctive patriotism, a moral patriotism —a pate iottsm grounded on the just titles which our country possesses to our esteem, on her worthiness. of being loved. on the security and happiness wr derive from her liberty and her laws. If there b: any one who disavows this patriotism. be is as woi - thy of contempt as he who disavows thte other ; as: surely the most natural place in which such a disc vowel con be made. is within the walls o f this House- ' What 1 have said relates to the Government; I have ' now to observe with respect to the people, that 1 could wish any changes they might adeat were th be elrected by their legal representatives, or by the representatives of the whole people, or by the whole people acting under their natural leaders. I should be pleased to see more gravity and seriousness than characterised the late change. I hope that his Royal Highness the Prince of Orange will adhere to hi, declaration, and secure the liberties of his people ; I hope that he will disregard the sophistical distinc tion which it is the Lillian to make between civil and political liberty, and admit the best security for the freedom he has promised, a repreaeptative Le gislature. There is another subject on which I wish to say a few words, though it is not properly be fore the House. lam compelled to reason °a what is as yet but public rumour, but we have a right to canvas the measures of a confederacy of whial we form a part. It is said that the Allies mean to con sider the territory of the Helvetic Confe r acy as hostile, and enforce a passage through it. cannot ask ask such a question, as, being answered, mi t make more of this than hypothesis, but I feel that I am at liberty to deny the case as one of much proltability, It we act as it is supposed we mean to do, we• shall be guilty of a violation of the law °Mations. The Hel vetic Body have had no other relation with France than a Convention, by which they permitted her to lery a certain number of troops within their territer7- Now this is a convention which has stibsiieei tietwoku them and France for more than two centuries. 2 , the year 1809 they took measures to protect . thus UM. trality, arid Aultrian Ministers have to this hour been resident iu the country. I would ask if the Chan vention be in itself considered. as an act of hos•ility t [The Honourable Member then ref erred to the cause of Spain in 1805, and instanced the Swiss having themselves at a former period refused troops to Austria when they permitted France to levy them without their refusal being held to be a departure from their neutrality.] The question of public law was perhaps, without a reference to other authorities, sufficiently decided by the examples , which he had mentioned. The importance of Helvetic it depen dence was another question, but one that was inti mately connected with the general independence and equilibrium of power in Europe. It was withal the recollection of the House, that in the year 1796, a noble spirit of resistance arose in Switzerland, which for some time bid defiance to the aggressions and tyranny of France. The plains of Montgar ten formed the scene of a conflict, in which the most atrocious usurpation was successfully oppoaed by the energy of patriotic valour, and the cause of freedom triumphantly asserted by the heroism it had ' inspired. There was no spectacle which his irrtaei nation could conceive that would be more gratit;eng to the friends of liberty than to see the Allied ;Sove reigns employing the illustrious patriot who command ed on that occasion restore to his country the inde pendence and the ancient Constitution which he had vainly struggled to preserve. He trusted that the ' obvrvations which he had noersubmitted would pros useless.—(Hear, hear.) —Those who joined in this cry were mistaken if they supposed they could indece him to retract this expression by that species of voci. fershion. Nothing could more fully satisfy his can mind of the truth and propriety of those observa tions than by their proving ultimately usele-s, tad by the voluntary adopt on of those neteims of pultcii which he had deemed it his duty to explain and te enforce. He not only hoped, but believed that the/ Allied Powers were disposed to adhere to ilose pain ci pies and to forego the advantage cf invading Franc through the side of Switzerland, rather than coma: can invasion of public justice by violating the trona ! lity of the Helvetic Government. He could not ilecf himself in the situation of that Government ; he co,ad ii..t invest himself with all those feelings that mita sea ing from the actual circumstances in wt..' a the, Government might find itself, but if there was end measure to which it ought to Manifest a strong rept* nance, it was in his estimation the aseertior. Cut p.•is claim on the part of the Allier, as a right.—(//,lh The declaration cf such a right amoueted to notesa less than an avowal that the Allied Sovereigns wh pretended to fight for the independence of EeirePei were resolved to sacrifice the independence of Swiic zerland. He had very little further to submit to tilt House, but lie bad heard with unqii ilitied se j tistac: tion the Noble Lord ado:4 and recognise that enro t int document %stitch had lately been published as tl . ' • •sed Manifesto of the allies. To eveey in that wise, disinterested and magnanimous c,ecl!,,ilratt s yliii Me: co i.t4 l • . tion lie cordially assented, he adopted horn h ;s .-- ,1 11 every prinhiple which it laid down, and was sthet.or,t, no good Englishman would reftsse his zealous ejir il to a war prosecuted on the conditions stated. ia " 1 / gaged in the present contest, he should consider as dis graceful. No peace should have his support that did ant secure the independence, and tend to consolidate or extend all those powers that had contributed to wards its accomplishment; and expressed a hope tha; when the Parliament met again, Ministers would have it in their power to greet them with such an occur rence, or else to satisfy them that the want of it was • not attributable to them. The Amendment of Lord Darnley being put by the LORD CHANCELLOR, was negatived, and the original motion carried, without a division. • Adjourned to the Ist of March. HOUSE OF COMMONS. ,The House was summoned to the House of Peers, to hear the Royal Assent given to the Exchequer Bills Bill, and other Bills, for which see the Lords. Mr. HORNER presented a Petition from the Debtors con fined in the King's Bench, complaining of an omission in the late Bill, and praying that measures might be taken by Parliament to secure their manumission before the recess.—Ordered to lie on the table. The Report of the Committeee of Supply was brought up and agreed to. New writs were ordered for the Boroughs of Monmouth and Inverness, in the room of Lord A. Somerset and Mr. C. Grant, jun. the former Living since his election accepted the situation of Governor and Commander in Chief of the Cape of Good 'Hope, and the latter, having been appointed one of the Lords of the Treasury. A Person from the Army Pay Office presented accounts of the General'Orders issued for the payment of the troops in the Pen insula.—Ordered to lie on the Wale. Mr JOHNSON presented an account of .be quantity of Salt imported into Ireland.— ( Y:defea to Ile dn'the table. ' ' On the motion of Mr. W. Ft MC:ERA LD, the Report of the Committee on the Ce.rn Law., of the nth May last, was ordered to be print_tL. He then moved for the production of accounts of the quantity of Grain imported into Ireland betweest the sth es! January and the 3th of October; of the quantity of Flour im ported, and of the quantities of Corn and Grain, &c. exported from Ireland during the same period. 'llse Papers were ordered. ,