Star. — London, England, 1803-05-07 00:00:00

footle, and he taw 1115 neeeffity that exifted, any ufe that could arifk from fitting to-morrow, contrary to the general cuftom. Lord DAINLIY could not perfuade himfelf that it would be proper in him, from the kind of Rate r:lent which the Noble Secretaryof State hadmade, to withdrawthe notice he had given of a motion for Monday; on the contrary, he thought it ltM more neceffary.—However, he felt, that under thefe cir cumflances, he was decidedly of opinion that it would be highly 'improper to adjourn over till Monday. In fuch a (late of affairs their Lordfhips Mould cont'nue at their poll, for fomething might occur, even within 24,hours, which would require the atEltance of their advice. The Noble Secre tary had indeed promifed a fatisfaclory communi cation on Monday ; but he fpoke not in the lan guage of certainty, and he therefore felt difin clined to abandon the motion he had propofed to bring forward. The fyllem of confidence in Mi. niflers had been too long followed np. This in dulgence ought now at leall to terminate. The mifchiefs of delay were but too obvious; and among its confequences, the late difgraceful tranf ation at the Stock Exchange was very fairly to be claffed. He would not, therefore, content to any farther procraaination, but would on Monday, unlefs the promifed communication fliould be made on that day, call upon Minitters for their defence, and for an explanation as to the prefent (late of the Country. Upon this be was determined to take the fenfe of the Houle. With rerped to the adjournment, he thought it ought not to go be yond to-morrow ; but he would leave it to tome Noble Lord of more weight to propofe a motion to that effe& Earl Sr DICER was furprized thatMiniflers corld attempt to propofe any adjournment beyond a tin gle day, in fuch a conjundlure as the prefent. It was, to be lure, (fated, that it would be impoflible for Minifters to give full informationto the Houfe as to the caufe of that conjunilure before Mon day; but that was not a reafon why their Lord fhips fhould not continue to fit, at a time when we might perhaps be within an hour of abfolute war, when we were unaware of the amount of the dangers which menaced the country, and of the provifions made againa them. The Houfe would defert its duty if upon fuch an occafion it contented to any longer adjournment than was really necef fary. It was rather, in his judgment, incumbent on their Lordthips to take up the fubjed of public affairs with zeal and promptitude, and interpofe between Minillers and the Crown, in order to rave the country. It might be raid that lie was prema tdrely entering into the quellion, that he was making obfervations which had a tendency to ex cite ill humour, but he would not be influenced by arguments drawn from filch fources. It would be culpable any longer to attend to fuch remarks. Too much forbearance had been mandated, and the country had reafon to regret it. The Noble Lord concluded with moving, that the word" to- morrow" thould be fubflituted for " Mondaynext." The Loan CHANCELLOR profeffed his regard for all thofe who felt a warm folicitude for the public intereit, and paid a dole attention to their public duties; but he did not fee that any advantage could arife from the attendance which the Amend- went propo(ed. As to the cenfures which a Noble Lord had thought proper to pronounce on the matures of Minifters, he thought that it would be but candid in that Noble Lord to fufpend his cenfures until he Ihould know what thole meafures were. It was undoubtedly deferable tha: their Lordfhips fhould, by the faithful execution of their duty, deferve the approbation of the country, but he was certain their attendance to-morrow would not in the leaft degree tend to raife them higher in the eftimation of any part of the thinking and ra tional public.--The Houle could not go into the rubjea of the prefent Rate of the country, until the communication fliould be made, which his No- Me Friend had raid it was impoffible to prepare before Monday, and therefore he would afk what and it could anfwer to meet to-morrow? Lord D could not pretend to the accu racy of expretfion which diftinguiffied the Noble and Learned Lord who (poke left, and he was therefore, perhaps, liable to be mifunderftood.— He could afire that Noble Lord that he had quite inifunderftood his fentiments, (or he meant not to make any ftriltures on Minifters at prefent. He only exprefred tha anxiety which he, in common with every £nglithman, mull feel for a complete and explicit ftatement as to the prefent fituation and profpeas of the country. Lord Cat nista remarked onthe objeaionsmade to the amendment by the Noble and Learned Lord on the Woolfack. His Noble Friend, when he alluded to the protrated negotiation, did not, he was fore, mean to confine the allufion merely to the (even weeks which had elapfed fence the Meffage of his Majefty was delivered to the Houle, but to the nineteen months negotiation in which Minifters had been engaged fince the figning of the Preliminaries which fucceeded the Treaty of Amiens, and which had fo long kept the country in fulpence. This was the firiL objet of his noble Friend's animadverfion. It was not to be fuppof ad that their Lordfhips would not rife higher in public eftimation by paying loch attention to the 'tate of affairs at this moment as their nature ur hlenity called for. The Noble Secretary of State ad informed the Houfc that the French Ambaf fador had applied for a parport, and was about to leave England, and that Lord Whitworth was in. [bated to leave Paris. and in that Noble Lord's opinion he had aCtually left it. If fo, was not that, he would afk, a Rate of war, and could the Honk then agree to one hour's unneceffary adjournment ? The public mini was in a Rate of inexpreflible anxiety, and their Lordfhips fhould ure their ut. molt endeavours to allay it. According to the report without doors, he would not fay that it came (torn Minifters, but he uoderflood it to pre vail among intelligent perfons, that a meffenger was hourly expeaed from France, with intelligence from our An.baffador, If fo, why poßpone the 1 - A6a:onion of the public mind to Monday next ? Cutiofity ought to be gratified as loon as potlible. Knitters ought to have felt it, and the proputi• Lion for a (hurt adjournment ought to have come from thumfilvcs. However, be united t h e Haute would fully !milder their duty, and adopt the motion of his Noble Frietd. _ _ The motion for an adjournment till Monday was agreed to after a divifion. Contents 29.—Non contents R.—Majority at. The Houfe adjourned accordingly. HOUSE OF COMMONS. The Lunatics Bill,the tendon Port Duty Bitl,and the Com mittee of Supply and Ways and Means, deferred till Monday. The Loan A DVOCAT t of SCOTLAND moved for an mount of the balances remaining in the Royal Bank of Scotland, of the funds appropriated for di(charging arrears on the Lovat eitates and forfeited lands.—Ordered. _ The Houk went into a Committee on the further confide- ration of the Militia Family Bill, made progrefs, and deferred the further confideration until Thurfday next. The Loan ADVOCATE of SCOT LA ND prefonted 3 Bill for the Encouragement of Schoolinaitcrs, and the better Regulation of Parochial Schools in Scotland; read the firft time, and ordered for the fecond reading on Wednefday next, and to be printed. Mr. WETHERAL, from the Mat Cuftotne, prefonted an IC. count of the quantity of Cotton Twift and Yarn exported from that country within a certain period.—Ordered to be printed. BULLION. Mr. VANSITTART moved the Order of the Day for going into a Committee to confider of fo much of the Aft of the 6th and 7th of William the Third, as related to the exportation of Bullion.--Refolved accordingly Into a Committee. Mr. VAN lITTAIT, after explaining the nature of thole as intended to prevent the current coin of the country from be ing melted down and exported for commercial porpofes, then extremely frequent and injurious to the country, Rated alfo, that an oath was required from the proprietor of fuck Bullion about to be exported, and from two other perfons, that fuch Bullion never formed any part of the current coin of the realm. He much feared, that the frequent occadoes fee exporting diver Bullion for commercial purpofes, rendered thr•fe perfons re quired to make oatia for the purpole not fo ftrid as they should be as to the truth. In order, thesefore, to the relief of tender conlciencea, It was thought necetifary to repeal fo much of thufe Ads, al related to the exportation of Giver Bullion only. With refpedt to gold Bullion, there was no need for precaution : oar could apprehend= arife, that the meafure would any way pro mote a fcarcity In our prektit laver coinage, which was in fuch a Rate as that it could not be melted down for the parpofe of exportation without enormous tofu. He conclude/ by moving, that the Chairman be defired to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the purpore he defcribed. The Chairman left the Chair, and made the motion to the Houfe, which was agreed to, and leave given. ST•TE OF THE NATION. The CHANCELLOR of the EICHICLUEIt role, and addreffed the Chair to the following effelt:—" Sir, before I move that this Hon& do, at its riling, ad journ to Monday, I think it proper to fay, that I expelt to be authorifed to make a communication to the Houfe en that day, on matters that are moil materially interelling to every Member of this Houle, as well as to the public at large. Not. withflanding I have fuch a well-founded expeEta tion, I think it proper to acquaint the Houk, that General Andreoffi, the French Ambaffador at our Court, has applied at the Foreign Office,in order to obtain the neceffary palrports, for the purpofe of availing himfelf of them as loon as he hears that Lord Whitworth, our Ambaffador in France, is arrived in England. Lord Whitworth had it in command from his Majelly to leave Paris on a certain day, if matters were not adjußed according to the terms of the lull difpatches that were fent out to him. No account has as yet been received that his departure has aftually taken place ; but I do think, that by this time it is probable his Lordfhip has quitted Paris. I am of opinion that the Houfe will, no doubt, think it proper that I (bould embrace this early opportunity to acquaint them with this circumaance, previous to its ad journment to Monday next. I am lure the Houk will fee the propriety of toy abffaining from any further remark at the prefent moment; and I (ball not, therefore, trefpafs farther on the time of the Houfe, but move, " That this Houfe do, on its riling, adjourn to Monday." Kr. Fox.—" I think, Sir, that on the prefent awful occafion, and in the critical lituation in which the country is at this moment placed, it would be more proper that this Houfe fhould, if poffible, have the communications to which the Right Hon. Gentleman has alluded, on an earlier day; and, on that account, I beg leave to propofe that the Houle (hall fit to-morrow. When we confider that this is a moll awful and important moment, and, in fome degree, decilive of the fate of this country, it is one in which the early diauffions of fuch momentous fubjeds as are likely to occur will be ,f the higheft and molt ferious confequence. There can be no poffible apology for the fmallefi delay ; for, in my opinion, the circumliance of the event to which the Right Hon. Gentleman has alluded, as probable loon to take place, is amply (ufficient to authorize our early and molt anxious confideration. It may happen that his Lordfleip may arrive to-morrow ; and, if that (bould be the cafe, I can hardly con ceive that the Houfe will patiently fit Rill under the idea of two whole days delay, when every mo ment is precions t and in which time meafures may be propofed and entered into, the value and im portance of which are not to be calculated. From the certainty his Majelly's Miniaers have had, that the various papers on this fuhjea mutt be laid be fore the Houle, they mull be in a (late of forward nefs. I hope, therefore, the Houle will fee the abfolute neceffity of being at its poll, and will not agree to fo long an adjournment in the hour of fo much deli jer to the country." Lord kIAWRISBURY." I think it noceffary to fay a very few words on what has jug fallen horn the Hon. Gentleman who (poke laft. Io my opi nion, the Ibort adjournment which he teemed to propofe would be highly improper in many points of view. I do not conceive it poffible that any of ficial information can be laid before this Houk till after Lord Whitworth's arrival in this country, a circumflance which, I think, cannot be known in the courfe of tomorrow; and, therefore, as to any inconvenience that may arife from the delay in queßion, I am at a lots to guefs what the Hon. Gentleman can allude to. In all probability his Lordlhip may arrive on Sunday, and as boon as that (hall take place, his Majelly may, perhaps, think it proper to fend a Meffage to this Houle, and to order the different communications and papers betwixt the two countries to be laid before the Houle, in order to enable them to decide on the psopriety or impropriety of the conduit of his Majefty's Minifiers, relative to what has paled on the different points which have been the lubjeft of difcuflion and negotiation between the two Go vernments. The neccffity them commuttica- I dons, previous to the dicuthuna that mutt owl rattily take place on this queßion, obviate the dan gerous confequences to which the Hon. Gentleman has alluded, as arifing' from delay ; for until that information be laid before the Houle, they could not be fully in poffeffion of the queftion, or of the various circumflances attending it, fo as to render it poilible for them to come to any fixed determi nation. I think it proper, therefore, to fay, that under all thefe circumftanees, the delay to which the Hon. Gentleman has objeged, will not be at tended with any bad confequences whatever ; and, in my opinion, it is fully fufficicnt that his Majefty's Minillers can affure every Member of this Houfe, they are anxious and ready to lay the whole of the bufinefs before them, by producing every docu- ment that can ferve to throw the fmallea light on the fubjed. For thefe reafons, I hope the Hoare will not hefitate to agree to the adjournment pro poled by my Right Hon. Friend." Mr. Gary—" I rife, Sir, to take this opportu nity of obferving, that this is an occafion on which it would not be altogether proper to troll entirely to his Majefly's Minillers. The Members of this Houfe muftludge for themfelves.. It is neceffary that thefe important points fhould be taken into confideration, if poffible, on the very moment of Lord Whitworth's arrival in this country. I think therefore, with my Hon. Friend, that it would be highly proper this Houk Ihould meet to-morrow; for it is at moft but then adjourning till Monday, if nothing material or important fhould occur.— The Noble Lord has laid, that he thinks it proba ble Lord Whitworth will arrive in time for his Majefty's Miniflers to be prepared with a meffitge on this foible& by Monday. The Right Hon. Gen tleman has given us realms to believe, that it will be loon. Soon I am afraid it will be : unfortu nately, too loon, indeed, for this country. We have been told, that Lord Whitworth had orders to quit Paris. I do not know on what day he re ceived thofe orders ; but if any of thofe rumours now in circulation are to be depended on, there is Come reafon to believe Lord Whitworth may even arrive in England this very day. If fo, that event will furely enable his Majefty's Minifters to com ply with the requeft of this Houfe—a requeft which every Member owes to his country, and which is confillent with the duty he has here to perffirm, that Minifters fhould not delay a fingle day or hour, in laying before the Houfe every matter fo materially conflated with the dcareft and moft efrential interefts of this country: matters too, for the difclofure of which, under the pecu liar circumflances of the prefent day, the Houfe has often feemed to exprefs much anxiety and im patience. The Noble Lord lays, no difadvantage can poffibly ante from this delay ; but I infia on the contrary, that every moment is of fuch conic quence, that no time whatever fhould be loft; and I further fay, that under all the circumftances of the prefent moment, the Houfe are detained from giving that advice to his Majefty, which may per- 1 haps be the means of refcuing this country from ruin. When the communication comes, lays the Noble Lord, a day muff be appointed for the con fideration of his Majefty's Mdfage. A day mull undoubtedly be appointed for that confideration, but let his Lordlhip confider, that if Lord Whit worth mould arrive this very day, certainly fome means may be fallen on, in order to inform the Houfe, and the country at large, of all the cir cumftances attending the negotiation, Comer than what the noble Lord feemed by bit fpeech to in. tend. I am of opinion, that if his Majefty's Mi nifters have not been remits in their duty, they cannot poffibly have any oblation to this Hook meeting to-morrow, in cafe Lord Whitworth fhould, previous to the hour of meeting, have an rived in this country. When that communication. is laid on the table of this Houk, tome time met no doubt, elapfe, before we can maturely delibe rate on it. As is ufual in every fimilar cafe, the papers mull be printed, and read by every Mem ber of the Houk, before he can with propriety judge, or give his opinion with accuracy on fuch important matter. I hope, therefore, the Houfe will not agree to fo long a delay, and move, as an amendment to the motion, that initead of " Monday" the word" To-morrow" be inferted." . The Sr WEI then read the original motion. Mr. CAN N li 13.04 I with, Sir, to diftinguifh very (hortly, why, if the prefent queftion be put, I (hall vote for the earlier period. I do not entirely agree with Come of the arguments ufed by the Hon. Gentleman who has jua fat down. I do net taped that his Majefty's Minifters can be prepared againft to morrow, to lay before the Houle the in formation neceffary to inveffigate fo momentous and intricate a fubjeet. I cannot entertain any fuch expedations, but I have no objection to this Houfe meeting to-morrow on this plain ground, that in this moment of anxiety it does not become this Hoofe to delay a tingle inaant the taking into their mature deliberation, matters Co intimately connected with the duty they owe to their country, and therefore the Houfe ought to be at its poll, as they may, by that time, receive fome more infor- thation than they now polfefs. It does not appear 1 certain, from the Raiment of his Majefty's Mi nillers, that they may not have fome communica tion to make in addition to what they have men tioned this day. The Right Hon. Gentleman has informed us, that Lord Whitworth has not yet actually quitted Paris; but what does this prove ? It certainly proves, that fomething very material may occur, which may make the prefent intelli gence more certain and conclufive. Will any man fay, that witneffing what he has witneffed there laa two days, the earlieft munication flionld not be given, and that th 4 (pace of 48 hours is not to be reckoned gain in fuch a critical juncture as this country keens at prefent to be placed in ? It may be Paid, that there are other and various ways of giving information to the Public, but if there be any Member prefent, who thinks the Houle of Commons not the moft coned and proper medium by which intelligence of fuch high moment can be given to the Public, he will certainly vote for the longer period. I cannot ooderftand how any Gentleman can, confiftently with his confcience, take away from the Houk ofCorornons the chance they may hare on this occafion, of conveying that intelligence to the country. This does not proceed I from any dean, oa my part, to so wore Wily into the tare, or to precipitate the information r, anxinufly looked for by every one ; but it is from a feeling of that fenfe of duty which I enlertrin as a Member of this Houle, that the Houfe of Commons ought to fympathife with the cou ntry, and that it ought to feel on this,and every firnilar occafion, the fame anxiety which is felt by the People, and on no account. to take their ufual advantage of enjoying a holiday, when the molt important interefls of our fellow fubjefts are fo materially concerned. I !hall for thefe reaf,, n , give my vote, Sir, in favour of the Amendment."' The SITI/TART at Walt,.-.-" Sir, I would wit) ; to fay a very few words on what has fallen fr:.r n the Hon. Gentleman who fpoke NIL He has Rat ed, that the reafon for his wilbing that no d e l ay fhould take place in the difc - uffion of the prefectqueltion, is from the chance that his Majeßy' s Mi. ni Ras may receive tome informationon th e r e p o i nts, fomewhat fooner than the day fixed by my Right Hon. Friend, for the longell period of adjourn.. ment ; but, Sir, I would beg leave to bring 'alder the notice of the Houfe, that this Houfe ought to confider their own dignity, and not to do what is not gifual, and what, I believe,has never been done in Parliament, to fit on a day which they have hither. to confidered as a vacant day in their delibera tions, merely becaufe the French Ambatiador has thought proper to demand paports. lam very ready to admit, that if any apparent good could be fuppofed to arife from the Amendment, I 'would willingly agree to it. Suppofing that L ,rd Whitworth quitted Paris on Tuefday, or I may fay, Wednefday lag, it is well known that he has to travel with a large tulle, and it is, therefore, very probable, that he cannot arrive boner than to morrow afternoon, or evening. Does any Gentle man fuppofe, that it is polEble for this Houfe to enter into any difcuffion, with propriety, till we are furnithed with the Papers and informatiop which are neceffary for a deliberation fo highly im. portant and interelling to the feelings and deareft interefts of the whole Country, as thole which are now fo near approaching mull be allowed to be t That information, I have no hefitation in faying, ' will be furnifhed as loon as pollible. Then will be the time for fuch an important quellion to be de. bated, with all that coolnefs, folemnity, and calm confederation which is undoubtedly fo highly due to it. The inveßigation of fuch a queftion in any other manner may, I will venture to fay, even be attended with dangerous confequenees, and do confiderable inifehief in this Country, both in a po. Neal view, with regard to its own interells, as 4 alto in the elation in which it now Rands with re. flied to France. On thefe grounds, therefore, I am decidedly of opinion, that the propofed amend. ment ought not to be lifiened to." Mr. CawaiNo, in explanation.--" I did not,Sir, expo", that the papers and information fo often alluded to were at all to be precipitated, in cafe of Lord Whitworth's arrival to-morrow. I dißinely Paid, that as an Hon. Gentleman had only Rated probability with refpett to Lord Whitworth's ar rival as the caufe of delay, I thought that fines fad alone might ferve as an inducement for our only adjo urning till to-morrow. Mr. WHITIIIMID, and Mr. H. Lateens', rap at the fame time ; the former caught the Speaker's eye, and was called on by him • feveral Members vociferated " Mr. Lakelles, M r. Lai - cents I" and confiderible oppofition appeared likely to take place • the majority of the Houk, however,calling Chair-LC/pair I order was rellored; and the Speaker called on Mr. WIIITIlltalf; who (poke to the following effea: Sir, with regard to what has fallen from the Secretary at War, I beg leave to differ from him moll materially in refped to the particular mode of proceeding which this Houfe ought to adopt in this moll critical jundure of affairs. In my apprehenfion, we, as Members of the Hoes of Commons, could not ad a more dignified part than to be found waiting here at our flations for any communication we at prefent have reafon to cape& He has chofen to hate that it would be a flight reafon indeed, for this Houle altering its ufual mode of procedure, in meeting on a day on which they have not been in the praCtice of doing fo, becaufe Andreoffi the French Ansbaffador, has Tome ideas of leaving this country lam far from being of that opinion, and think that even that circumllance cannot be reckoned a flight caufe foe fuch a meeting. Sir, it was with extreme furrow that I heard the Right Honourable Gentleman atk, if it fuited the dignity of this Houfe, to have it Paid in Paris, that th e Englifh Here the Hon. Member was interrupted by Mr. P. Cataw.-" I rife, Sir, to (peak to order I cannot think that this difctafion thould be Coffer ed to proceed, as I think it may lead to the molt mifchievous confequences.—(4 :aural cry 1f Garr, Order ! Char. Char !) The Sesame's. I mull inform the Honour, able Member, that when any Hon. Gentleman rites to (peak to order, it is neeeffary to point out the exam point of order to which he means to (peak. The Hon. Member will therefore be pleated to mention what point of order it is he intends to (peak to on the prelent occation." Mr. P. Csaaw.—. , Sir, I mean to move, that the Speaker do enforce the Standing Order of the Houle, that no Strangers may be prefent during the Debate."—On which the Gallery was cleared. The 'imagers remained to be excluded, and the Houfe continued in arduous debate until a quarter pall eight. when the Houfe divided upon the yid lion of Mr. Grey's Amendment. The numbers were—Ayes 95.—Noes i ss.—Majority for the ad. Ointment to Monday—no. When (*rankers were re-admitted to the Gallery. we found the Houle in difeutlion on the petition of John Trotter, a prifoner in Newgate, by order of the Houle. for a Breach of Privilege in difobey ing the Summons for attending the Committee on the Dunfermline Eledion Petition. Mr. HIMT, whom we his legs, was fpeaking againil calling the prifoner to the ear io order for has difcharge, conceiving. as he did, thAt a month's insprifonment was by no means adequate to the enormity of his crime. nor an example fut. ticiently Striking to doter others from like o&Oces• Pittr. j C. But ssroeo, as a Member of that Cont aims, (poke favoast of bib difcbargc.mmeoftlag bis p of es •indii deter tute Mr, into a fating SUCT, Law Mr. and e. Office intent tends Mr. be brc in a ft Mr. life to tent. . their § legal t one op *Pim tloi i feeme g!thee ne voted thole 1 he wa vocal. LOT to eon The report, Sarit Si 3 pa 0 list il ;_iper CI Pkw 41 S Per a Uol coal b may b From =eat, MIMI US ap Am eves t • Nrs • ritao 0, a Prom • Wi • tram 1 • Maw • Jahn • call • i s 0 *Man • amid " the a • 71 • MI es • eerie We Para