Star. — London, England, 1812-01-08 00:00:00

He 4.4 Went.- has the tatqfAction to inform you, that the imrroved teceipt of the revenue of Ireland in the last, as compared with the preceding year, confirms 'he ht lief that the depresbian which that revenue had experienczd is to be attributed to accidental and t :mporary causes. " My L4,rdi and Genflevier, " I'he Prince R egent i s sat i s fi e d t h at y ou entettain :Oust sense of the arduous nudes which his Royal Highness has been Called upon to fulfil, in consequence of his Majesty's continued indisposition. " Linder this severe calamity, his Royal Highness derives the greatest consolrion from his reliance on your experi•-need dom, loyalty, and public spirit, to which in every difficulty he Will resort, will a firm confidence, that through your assistance and support, he shall be enabled, under the blessings of Divitilt PaovrosNcE, suece%sfully to discharge the Important functions of the high trust reposed in him, and in the name and on the be tas': of his b. loved Father and revered sovereign, to maintain unimpaired the property and ho-our of the nation." The Commons then withdrew to their own House, sad immediately after, the Duke of DevoNstutte and Lord CALT4IOIIPE were sworn, and took their seats, on their respective accessions to the Pe:TAge. The Bishop of DERRY (me of the Irish Represen tative Prelates) also took his scat. TILE ADDRE,:s. About five o'clock the House resumed, when the Royal Speech was again read by the Loan CHAN-. moon, f r the turAier infirm ition is; the Peers pre sent; and subsecpientli• tilts! by the Clerk at thestable. The Earl of S HAFTESBU RY then rose to move an Address on the occasion of the speech delivered out the part of his Royal Highness the Priace Regent. He adverted to the leading topics therein, but prin cipally in the first instance to the melancholy consi deration of the continuance of hie Majesty's unhappy inckposition. -Upon this part of the subject, and on the necessity of adopting those measures contempla• ted in the Royal communication, he was convinced there could but one sentiment pervade their Lord ships.. To this conclusion he was induced by the consideration of the number of years they had been blessed with the paternal Government of that best 9f Soveteigns, and especially their escaping from those various unparalleled calamities which so.many other nations were scourged with, which were chiefly to be attributed w the system of measures adopted by the Goveroment of his Majesty. He was, there fore, convinced that with respect to this topic they •would all be actuated by those sentiments of grati tude, affection, and reverence, which the recollection of such blessings naturallyinspired. They were all impressed with the conviction that provision should lic -mot not only suitable, but ample, for the sup- Fsi of the due •dignity and splendour of his Royal ighness 's Government, and upon the necessary , , . gtuty of that of our afflicted Monarch, keeping in view a due facility for the resuraptiou of his Royal Asithority, in case cf the event (f his recovery..— The thanks and gratitude of the country were.due, most justly due, to his Royal Highness the Prince *client, fur his wise and prudent administration of the Government of the country since the period of his beinWcared to the exercise of the Royal Func tions. The lloble Lord then adverted to those parts of the speech Which referred to the, belligerent inte rests and the foreign relations of the country.. in. Portugal', he observed, every thing wore the most sa. tisfactory aspect ; let its present situation be cow. pared to that which it exhibited towards the closed las' lion. The - ander Massena, from a me, dart of the country, had been iontiers. Our triumph did not • proved to Eitrope and to the that element, which the enemy .. own, he had been frequently tiered by British armies, conduc. tders. (Hear, hear.) It was observed it announced, that the sys -sivered in, which facts and expe. the best adapted to the situ*. of that country, and through, deliverance would be effectua their eyes to the more distant' "cy would find nought but and triumph. Tn consequence itions which has been adopted, • importance had been achieved, • of the enemy was finally ea. brilliant achievement, and at icitous union of discipline and 1 the pending discui_sions with' yet brought to a conclusion, t means of conciliation would it with the honour and the in-- After slightly glancing at in the royal communication, .fidence that the Pauli anent 'ally, -would zealously support the arduous contest in which . the various measures advev. he movi.d an Address to the occasion of the same, which, re leading topics of the speech, iral terms, the approbation, and of the House.. W surported the Address. He ly situation to which our gra.. educed—he expressed his opi. imbent on the Legislature to tment for his Majesty's perms. iment, and to provide fur the ter, if, at a future period, it ,LNCE to restore him to health. vever, was to be derived from yisil Highness the Prince Re. and arduous an occasion. He what had fallen from his ihe aspect of affairs in the Pe . it as an auspicious omen, that idependence appeared to burn undiminished lustre ! and he the example of the Peninsula, , Europe would be ultimately ;lesion, he expressed his confi lishiris would cordially unite in tegentof their determination to )cr on a plan of operations which 0 exalted pitch the Britishbonour 'the world ! read, and the question put, _—Esaid, it; wouldhave been most feelings if the matter of the Speech 'awl att.° have Froward all , difference of opinion of,the subject : but he was not all those whlch, as be (Lord L.') contended, surprised that this was not the case. From some ex- ence had !proved to be utterly unfounded. He shoals pressions in the Address, none could dissent. That be happy to meet his Lordship on that subject another part which retested to the afflicting intelligence rela- I time: but he must at present observe, that the safety tive to the state of his Majesty's health—that which of this country, and the hopes of Europe, depended announced their fixed deterroination to support his . ' in a great measure on the system which the Govern ' Royal Highness the Prince Regent in administerios Silent had adopted. He knew not what system others tse great trust reposed in him, in a manner condu- ;alight advise ; but he was pre=pared to-maintain, that doe to his own honour and the prosperity of these the continuance of the system pursued by Ministers Realms—had his most hearty concurrence. With I was essential to the safety of the country, and on that regard to the conduct and valour of our troops and ground he and his colleagues were willing to stand olfi(ers, he was ready to join his thanks to the a-p- ior fall. The Noble Baron had adverted to another plause and admiration of Europe. (Hear, hear.)— :topic (the connection of the Government with the But as to what were the advantages of such valour I Bank), upon which he would be ready to meet him and conduct, depended upon a consideration of the when the matter came separately before them. He policy of the Government, unconnected with their would only at present observe, that all the reflection exertions. Their merits were not founded upon the ,he had been able to give that point, and all the expeo policy of the Government, o uor were their laurels i Pence he had acquired, Lad only served to convince to be blighted by the system which their employers him the more of thewisdom and justice of the meaaures might think proper to pursue. So far he concurred ! which had been adopted. The Noble: Baron, at the with the Address; hut here, he believed, his concur- close of his speech, had adverted to the subject of rence ended. To different parts of the rest, his ob- Ireland, and had given notice, that either by himself jections might be more or less strong ; but to these or some other, the matter would at an early day be expressions alone, he could give his entire and coin- I brought before their Lordships. plete approbation. The first day of the meeting of Lord GRENVILLE.-1 did not say it was to be Parliament, was one, on which it had been usual to i brought forward by me. give a general outline of the prominent objects which I The Earl of LIVERPOOL observed, he had dis were Silo ly to engage the attention of Parliament i tinctly stated, that it was to be either by the Noble Ba during the Session ; a practice not only parliamen- run or some other person. As that subject was not tary, but in the highest degree useful. How far this particularly mentioned in the speech, he (Lord Li had been done, their Lordships would judge. But ' verpool) would reserve what he ead to say upon it, he freely confessed, that if on this day the task bad till it came bef we them as a separate topic tor discus bocit iniposed on him, his heart would sink under the sloe. But this much he would now say, on his own maisnitude of the difficulties to be surmounted.—The part and the part of- his colleagues, that they were oleeets which he would hare to consider, if he meant / fully prepared to shew the propriety and necessity of to provide, not for the happiness alone, but even the , the system on which they had acted, and to justify. safoty of the country, were se numerous, so great, so ! the measures and conduct pursued by the Lord Lieu important, that he felt it almost impossible to do jos- , tenant and Government of Ireland as essential to the Lice to the subject; and if he were to make the at-' safety of the country. He would refrain, however, tempt, little advantage could at any rate result from I from entering more at length into this and other to it, when no distinct steps were to be proposed in con- pics, till they came distinctly and separately before *spience. It would be in vain, therefore, to trouble their Lordships. their Lordships at present with a vague, indistinct Earl GREY salvi a that he fully concurred in the statement. He did not even mean to suggest an propriety of ay olditig any lengthened discussion upon amendment to this Address : but would content him- the various important topics which were suggested self with protesting in the strongest terms against be- 1 by hearing the Speech which had been read from ing included in any expressions implying app-oba- I the Woolsack. He entirely approved of the policy tion of the past, er a pledge of perseverance in the ; pursued by his Noble Frieud. in confining hiniselt, same system which had of late been acted upon; con- I on the present occasion, to the delivering of his pia vinced as be was, that it was only by a total, radical , test against any expression of his opinions bring un abandonment of that system, that there existed any ! derstood upon points in which it was impossible I;.r hope ofsafety for the country. (Hear,hear.) There %vie him to concur—thanking, also, that most of the to many topics of the highest importance lightly passed I pics were of such importance as to require a separate over in the Specchand Address, but which would force and particular discussion. Concurring genersliy in themselves upon their attention at no distant period. the address which was proposed, he could not retrain They :nigh': endeavour to shut their eyes, but in spite ,'from joining his Noble Trend—he should feel un of their efforts these things would be seen : they ihappy if he departed from that House without de might strive to shut th e ir ears, but them things would :`claring, that he ret 'iced all the (Onions heshad be: be heard. He wished it to be fully understood, that ' fore held, on subjects of great magnitude—spin:on' he retained all his objections to the system upon confirmed by experience and the evidence of facts— which the Ministers had acted. He still objsctea to opinions which he should be ready to maintain and the lavish profusion with which our resources had defend, on future opportunities of discussing them. been squandered, when they should have been hus- Whether the Noble Secretary of State chose to atiude banded for a protracted war, of which no one could to the state of affairs with America, en which he had see the end. He still retained all his objections, and' !shewn much cau:ion, and even silence, and ventured in their utmost force, to that policy which had inflict- to call our transactions in that quarter, a veriticati ed a blow on the enemy that had recoiled with Brea- of the assertions that the system of the Government ter execution on our own commerce and mailutic- had contributed to thesecurity, prosperity, and honour tares. (Hear, hear.) He still retained his decided aof the country ; or whether he intended to reler to objections to that system, which united the Bank and the system of our measures in the Peninsula, be the Government, —( Hear, heard—and enabled the pledged himself that be should be ready to meet him former to issue base coin and depreciated poper.- and to contend, that whatever might b: said to have (Near, hear.)—A system, of which the Bank alone been done, had not been done to the promotion of reaped the profit ; while the guilt and dishonour fell the safety and honour of the country ; and that the on the Government, and the loss on the public.— general system adopted had been, in fact, the source (Hear, hear.)—But above all, (his Lordship continu- of almost all our present and impending calamities. ed) I still retain with ten-fold force all my opinions On the important concerns of the state of Ireland, he respecting the system which the Ministers haise been must deeply regret that, from the manner of men pursuing with regard to Ireland,— ( Hears hear, hear,) tioning it by the Noble Lord, he could derive no —upon which I cannot trust myself at present to ut- hope, that Ministers had seen the impolicy of their ter a single sentence. Your Lordships will observe conduct ; or that they would adopt—he would not the manner in which this momentous subject has been say, merely wise and liberal measares—but, some passed over in the Speech and Address. No ample measures more consistent with justice, and with the view is attempted to be given there of the state of common rights of mankind. No hope could he de that country ; nothing is said about the discontents of rive of any useful measure on that subject, so essen the people ; but the situation of the revenue—compa- tial to the safety of the coutry ; but, on the contrary, ratively, a pitiful consideration—is alone introduced. Ministers seemed determined to persevere in what To that single object, and to none else, is our atten- they considered to be the wisdom and expediency of tion directed. But these Ministers might have known, adhering to their system for the-future. lie thought that the way even to make the revenue of a country the House bound immediately to take into their con flourish, since that is the only subject of their consi- sideration the treatment of the people of Irel mil, not &ration, is by increasing its industry—by communi- only with A view to what had already passed, but eating equal iiglrts,—and giving satisfaction to pub. with a prospective view, for the adoption of such lic opinion.—( Hear, hear. — I have said more on the timely and just measures as might avert the ruin of subject than I inte n d e d ; but I must further observe, the country. Government, however, he must repast s that in the present Session, it must be decided, what appeared for any thing he had heard to the contrary, is to be the relation between Great Britain and Ire- to be resolved on pursuing a system which uou d tisk land. (Hear, hear.)—The matter will bear no more the destruction of the public safety. He was happy procrastination,—delusion will no longer avail,—the to learn that a proposition on this subject would spee affair is come to a point,—(bear,)—and the majority day be brought before their Lordships, which would of the people of Ireland must be admitted to an equal bring all its important relations under review. With share of your privileges, or no longer be considered as these observations he could be content toreserve him men enjoying the advantages of British subjects. I self fur future opportunities, but for one singular as should not have thought myself justified in toucoing sertion of the Noble Lord, that lie trusted that the so slightly on this momentous topic this day, were it House and the public, would concur in supporting not that the subject will be brought separately before the Government of the Prince Rei s cut, in pursu ince your Lordships at an early period,—probably next of the sentiments contained in the del a__ress. \Vas it week. lam glad to give this notice to your Lordships to be conceived, that in opposing measures of admi• both for your sakes and my own : on your own ac- nistration which he thought were fraught with dan count, my Lords, that you may come to the conside- ger and min, he was withholding that support which ration of this question with all that preparation which was-necessafy to the Prince Regent in has conduct its magnitude deserves ; and on my own account, of the Government of this kingdom ? No, be the because it is my apology for not having entered more Ministers whom they might, lie would give them his fully into the merits of a subject the most important support in what was Just and necessary for the con di it. can at present occupy the attention of the United duct of .the Govertunent—but, it impolitic, unjust, Parliament. and ruinous measures were proposed or acted upon, The Earl of LIVERPOOL was always anxious his duty to that House, to the public, and to the that the Address should be carried with unanimous Prince Regent himself, would certainly induce him concurrence, and more particularly anxious that this to raise his voice as loudly as he could against them. should be the case on the present occasion : but he He said this more especially, because it \yes not pes os-Gold not purchase unanimity in support of the Ad- 'sible for him, though he did not oppose the present dress, by a sacrifice of principle or policy. The Noble address, to recede from the opinions which lie had Lord had truly said, that it had been the custom to previously delivered on many subjects of the greatest give a general view of the state of public affairs, at and most essential interest to the nation. the opening of a Session, though, for particular rest- I The Earl of DAkNLE Y adverted to tlfb state Of, sons, some things might at times be omitted. But a Ireland, aad the question relative to the Catholics.' general view of our foreign relations had certainly There was now an opportunity to do what would be been given, and no expectations of unanimity could beneficial, with a good grace. He thought that the have induced him to retrain from bringing thefte be. late exemplary conduct of the Catholics of Ireland, fore their Lordships. He would not now enter into under ciicums:ances of great irritstion, ought to any derail ; the Noble Ba ron o pp os i te (G renv ille), make its due impression on their Lordships' minds. having confined himself to a general protest against He recommended them to beware, lsst they might the system upon which Ministers had acted. On that lose the only opportunity that might be afforded subject, the ]Noble Baron said, that he stilt maintain- them. ! ed every-opinion that he had before held ; not . only The Duke of NORFOLK adverted to tebet-had such as experience might have proved to be title s but been said respecting the neuicinamtettoisig amigo. W tinned in the Speech. He had been in Parilium nt SO years, and he knew that it was a parliduicilt ity practice to submit amendments, not iterely on point s of the Speech, but on such as veer., ornitt , d in it. It might be very proper and parliamentary to move an Amendment to the Address, stating that the Houw ' would take immediately into its consideration die ; state of Ireland, in order to bring forward such mee t . ' sum as m gin be necessary and useful fur that tem. Itry, and the kingdom at large. He did not mean, that certain recent transactions in Ireland should b e the subject of such an inquiry, conside:iog them not as of the immediate essence of the question, but re Cher as measures of police and regulation, which it was not necessary for Government to bring forward, nor for Parliament at present to take up, particularlf as such matters were in the course of coming into the , Courts of law, to be decided there by Judges a m p in; ies. His Grace did not mean to animadvert ups. what was a pending question of law. But the Se; leretary of State had gone a little farther. He had, iif he understood him rightly, intimated, ti t . i t h e . !would raise his voice from one end of the land t to the other, in support of the sentiments in the Ad. dress to the Prince Regent, pledging them ro supp ort this Government. As he had defended the whole syste:n of the Ministry, his Grace wished to knnw what this sort of call . Was it a call simil ar to melr ir that ',L o ich was excited the cunt r y s o nic t i me a4o, when the present Min y came into per i , They might call fiery spirits, but lie hoped they would not come op ; if they did come, the call woad tally I in dectruction. The Earl of LIVERPOOL sail, that lie had not objected to therier• of m.iving Amend. ment on points ovnitßin. lhe Noble ha.' n.is. understood him. When lie h.e.i f the i:(!..p:s throughout the country, he bad leterence to 11W ge. neral support by the le, of the Govertinv..l the Prince Regent, anon: sa!ety and honour of the country. Lord GRENVILLE said, that die whin t ion.( the Noble Lord called upon Han in say a few words more, and to ask whether the N. hue Lunt elo'ngiit it WAS necessary for him to tall nth • people this ugh. snit the country to support the G•merninelit o the Prince Regent. He (Lord Grenville.) wool.l d , 40 , that it was not. For himself, he had re; reused bis concurrence in the desire of Patli.etneut to ettpp I t the Prince Regent in the &schist's, of the awful du. ties of the high station which hid b.-en cast tapes him; but an insinuation seemed to have b•cn cos i .eyed , which the circumstances neither streaked net :excused. The Earl of LIVERPOOL intended no inimta. tion. Had he suppcsed that there were persons who were not disposed to support the Governoneet of ills Prince Regent, in what he believed to be fin Cie oily and honour of the country, he should not have spokes in the way of insinuation. In what he said, which was alluded to by the Noble Baron, he was refetrittg to the foreign policy of this country. It was in that view of the subject he stated, that he believed Mons. ters had the opport of the great majority of the. country from one end to the other. The Address was then agreed to rim dim. !UPLAND. • Earl rrrzWILLIAM then rose, and gave unties Of a motion respccung the affairs of Ireland fur Fri. day pennighr. On the motion of the same Noble Ear), the Lords were ordered to be summoned for that ti.l). pared to that Which it exl. last Session. The army racing position in the heal driven beyond the (sonde and there, the result pr world, that even Upon tha seemed totonsider as his and effectually conquered ted by British Commande with pleasure, he observe( tem was to be persevere , rience had shewn to be th Lion and circumstances of which, he trusted, its deli ted. If they tuined the parrs of the world, the gr. unds for satisfaction an of the system of operatic tongues's of the utmost im and the culonial power d tinguished, by a most br one blow, through a felic valour. With respect to t America, they were not 3 but heist - as confident all r be resorted to, consistent txrests of the country. the remaining topics in and expressing his confi itn its wisdom and loyalp his Royal Highness in th be was engaged, and in t: ted to in the speech, he Prince Regent on the oc as usual, adverted to the and sign if) ing, in g, , neral pxoniiiing the support of Lord BROWN LOW' lamented the melancholy lions Sovereign was reds awn, that it was incuml snake.a suitable arrarigen ti tl cofnlirt at the mono resntnption of his powe rucid k fease PUOVIDLNI h' consolation, howe' itie co nduct of his Roy, • gent on so delicate and wr fealy concurred in Mk Friend, as to the and he hailed it ifOrtcli spiri t of rode tkrdtiVeut Spain with t Mit 'That through ti the cause of bleeding I triumphant. In conclui Bence that their Lordthi assuring the Prince Reg attpport him in carrying hdd raised to such an ex amongst the nations of t Tate Address being re Lord GRENVILLE satisfactory to his feelin asid Address had-bear' SPANtsli AFFAIRS., Lord HOLLAND rose, and said that he did not wish to detain the House, but he was deslrons to ask a question of a Noble Marquis (Welle.li). It had been observed, that in a debate on an Address. at the c.pening of a Session, Foreign Affairs wore most ge nerally introduced as akading topic. Vi hat he than wished to know from the Noble Marquis was, lel*. Cher any, and what progress had been made its our mediation between the mother country of epain, and the colonies of Spain now in a state of disiinsi.n with the mother country ? He was also desirous of know ing Whether it was the intention of the Noble Mar quis to give the House any particular documents of information on this subect soon, or during the c'euse of the present Sessio n ? As far as he could et Pea, the views . of the Noble Marquis on this imporotax subject, from what he had seen and read, be con curred with him in most respects; but he had , no knowledge of the matter as a Member of Parlia ment ; but oily in the same way as the pubic at Lirge might have, by what was matter of notoliety. He might supprs: his views to be such as !:e had gathered, and that, of consequence, be had takers certain steps ; but it •:liould be recollected, that tit disturbance& in the Caraccas had existed and I I a half. He naturally, therei what progress had been made tion. Toe prejudiced policy vernrnent, combined with the have Liken place, and prod perhaps, it was not too mach not less than two hundred thousan the view of the subject t.ikrn w.is correct, it fullow•cJ that m!asure of mediation should reedy ; for its justice greatly tion. in ineventing the evils dissention ; and he must it and the tinnarrantable pretensions, them, of the tnother country. thought it expedient to Wing sion last Se:eina, as it mit premature ; but the length elapsed rendered the circumct:anct►s different, and when the cons may have been the cause of rica into confusion. Marais WELLESLEY cue, which involved narrow &ions, and conflicting interest, sary to watch every step with the greatest attenticu. Too patch in the outset, might ha , hopes of success. Ht could whose sentiments on there sub' that his own opinion—he bei transactions, and those of ail —had been such as would stand country, Spain, and the world. that it was of much greater entinaalLthe interests and ito yield to the narrow, selfish, . commercial advantages, particularl7 I seen and read, Le cos- t respects; but he had era:. a Member of Parlia- ne way as the public at it was matter of nt.tutiety. as to br such as he had msequence, he had takes 'ld be recollected, that the .eas had existed a year and erefore, wanted to know lade is the work of media- 'Bey of the Spanish Go- he delay that appeared to reduced very bid effects; tell to say, that it had cow thousand human lives ! if ken by the Noble Marquis at it w ts necessary that tIo Lid h tve been executed di• dy depended on its expedi- la th.►t have recurred MA sty, ftem the piejuarirWit. recensions, as he motif* -y. His Lordship had net ng the subject into diteus- ipt have been coasiclawl th of time that bad soW innvosees of the caw qsiw :onsequences of the dell throwing ail Sc uth ciao EY stid, that this Writ ow prejudices, jealous par its, in which it was betty rith the utmost cAucon and 30 great endeavours at dis► have destroyed .all altilaake Id assure the Noble Lards I übj:cts he highly atlmirede being the Agent is these all his Majesty's Miniskirt I stand the test b• Coe this I rld. They had conceived* er importance to presefre connections of Spaying!" isb, Noisy sensidalitieet! , parucularly ',Lea bra