Star. — London, England, 1814-05-13 00:00:00

PU 1 , HOUSE OF COM MONS—(Coatinued.) Mr. W HITBREAD ihquirea, whether it unit true. as stated in a foreign ; paragraph, that the treAty be tween this contra and Denmark, had been ratified at Copenhaven? The CHANCELLOR .c the EXCHEQUER signified that the ratifivitios-libittiitewpiact. Mr. WHITBREAD then v.ithed to be informed, 'whether any alienation Lad been made in any of its articles ? The' CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEVER. teplied that there had been no alteration which could affect the subject of that night's debate, the only ch.toge which had been introduced regarding the we tm-cession of the Doiish catocies, Mr.'WYNiiE asked if tilt .copy of the orders for instoutiag the blockade of Norway was rat laid upon' . the labia of t he Hovi se. Mr. souLBU satelit had been delayed by ac tidcot- Mr. WYNNE replied, that far want of these docu ments the House would cense to the debate rather ir- regularly ; and it 'meld perhaps be best to ascertain whether it were the **sere of the House that he mould gfk oft With Miro:epos. his motion. The CHANCELLOR. of the EXCHEQUER. thought it would be mote convenient to proceed now to the consideration- of the Message from the Prince `Regent, respecting the want to the Duke* Welling ton and his Noble °Seers. `Fite dropped orders were then read and disposed of. GuAgra TO THE DUKE OF WELLING.. TON, Ike. - The CHANCEL4OR: of the *XCHEQT . ./gR -moved, that the +Louie do resolve it,elf into a Com mittet of the whole,House, to consider of the Mes sage of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, rela tive to Grants to the Duke ot Wellington aid his, Noble companions in arms. • The SPBAKait having left the Chair, The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that in calling the attention of the House . to the, highly interesting subject of that Message, it was not 'his intention to detain them, by enteiing into a detail of those glorious achievements of the great Comman der, whiCh were far beyond all powers el descrip. tiOn, and for which he had been most deservedly ho noured with the fiighest rank. a British subject meld obtain. He should not attempt to read a military lecture on the unparalleled campaigns in which he had been engaged, and which had raised him to the „highest pinnacleaif fame. As we hadilow arrived at the close of a war which has been much facilitated by the victories vihich the great Duke of Wellington has acheved, it must be the wish of the House and the Empire at forge, as it is that of die illustrious Regent, that he should receive roper proofs that his exertions are duly appreciated. These proofs bad been commenced by ennobling his family—by raising it to the first dignity in the land—and it only remained to accord him such a remuneration as should enable him not only to auppert that dignity with becoming splendour, but to retire from publicl life to an honourable old age, coveredv:th glory midi admiration, and accompanied by the blessings of hisl country. The House were aware, that it was some thing moue than a century since a,British Coalman-. der had aurae-sea similar adesitattoo, and ohtainqd .similar honours and rewards. He should not enter into a consparisati between the actions of these two great men ; such comparisons were seldom accurate, nor could they, in a case like the pre#ent, answer arty . purpose; yet it-nsighr not be inappropriate to ote. - remarkable two root DP4 of , combined circumstances time en the pewit than the shared the whom be' of France.' memory oil that the , of mach' even of din- . ; mcompa. sufficient to say, king dono and that his victories for when the ,igh degree ined, he was them and of lone which of so great intention to anted, by way 1 , in addition -or hail al-i 'arliament..-- ~ a ble that this territorial might be sum not ex md, which the value ing the dis igtort birn. :base on more Ade by the old have the spot, with- It was also /cry sump proper to set grant,; !fiance of the ing man: ige for whom tonnurable Gentle. also to bring conduct of the alluded.-- services of Sis 'nig mita. very unusual and in Italy at an early is the.black t siegrst of iris) be thus ens; merated ; he was with Sir John Moore in Spain, mid afterwards assisted in the defence of Cadiz; he par tankfrif the battle of Banos., and the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, sharing in short, all - the honours and dan gers of the Peninsula campaign ; and when he re , tinned, eves the want of .health did not prevent him. from taking the command in Holland, when the late favourable events iii teat country afforded an appor. tnnity for new traits of British valour. And although! the last affoir.in whiill he had been engaged - kad not been attended' with Gift sdccess which it desertedryet `Ole same skill and judgment wintevident as had cha racterised the other enterprises of this Commander. Ke alluded to the affair of Bergen-op-Zoom, of which it was sufficient to say, that Bonaparte had spoken at this attempt as one of the most arduous and dar ing that could be made ; and when it was recollected that with curly. 20,000 men he assaulted this fortress, hitherto deetne.d impregnable, and made himself master of it in three hints, his merit could not fail to•be properly appreciated. The Right Hon. Gen tleman then observed, that he should pass to Lord Hill, who had equally distinguished himself in the command of i large and separate armies in the Penin sula. He was' at the battle of Vittoria, and after wards particolarly distinguished himself by the defeat of large parties of Souk's army which at tacked him in the tines before Bayonne. Respecting Marshal, now Lord Beres/4rd, his conduct was be , Toad all eulogintst; he had brought the undisci plined army of Portugal to a state of such perfec tion, that that nation which was at first considered as totally unfit far military exertion, had become equal to any other troops engaged in the war. At the bat. ties of Buisco, Albutra," and Salamanca, he stood foremost in the field. He could not in justice pass over the three other Noble- Lords, without an unqua lified tribute of praise to their bravery and talents. They had not chosen to accept of any other'than ho- norary rewards ; though he could not think that so fortune could be more honourably attained than by a' vote of that House, or less Incited by them who had ' proceeded , in the same career. He should only say, that such instances of self-denial were ettremely rare. He should not detain the House any longer on a. subject on which there was an universal feeling ; but should move that an humble Address be presented , to his Royal Highness, thanking him for his gtacious Message, and assuring him that the House would readily concur in rneasures for enabling his Royal 1 .• Highness to fulfil the intent of the same. The Right Honourable Gentleman then said, .it might be neces sa4 before he sat doWn to state to the Committee what would be the whole am.unt of the grants settled upon the Duke of Wellingien ; these would, inclu ding the two grants ot £4OOO per annum, and the 61 00,000 already granted for the purchase ot land, produce him an annual income of £lB,OOO or 619,000. He concluded with moving a resolution, to enable his Majesty to take from the consolidated Fund, the net sum 4430,000, to enable the Duke; of Wellington to support the dignity conferred on him. The Right Honourable Gentle Man added,, that if the sum were thought not suf6eient, the sub , sect might come under the reconsideration of Podia, merit. Mr. WHITBREAD was sure that there could be but one universal opinion respecting the great achieve s...a. nf the Dukes of Wellington—they had spokea. trumpet-tongued for themselves. This great Li.., racter bad had the good fortune to tall into his glo rious career at a tittle when his abilities round a scope for exertion that scarcely happens in ages ; and he was sure there could not exist any man so malignant, so envious, or so foolish, as to attempt to depreciate his brilliant fame. He sliities bright during his lite, and will leave behind him a, lustre that will transmit his name to the remotest posterity. There was one Point only front whichte could not refrain from dis-, seating. , He could not but think that the grant was not commensurate with the deserts of the character for whom it was intended. In his opinion, the House ' , should proceed upon the principle that it might be possible for this Dukedom tofall into a situation which might cause its heritors to look up to the Crown for more aid to support its dignity. There was, to be sure, no idea of such a recurretrce ; but * the Right Him. Gent. had intimated that the reconsideration of the subject might be open to Parliament, ' y not consi-. der it fully at once? The House, in a first place, must have it in contemplation, that the Duke of Wel lington and his ,family are to be establi , bed in a splendid mansion, which - is to be purchased or buiit for them ; but when the Right Hon. Gentleman t ilk; of a, suns of fifty thousand pounds fur building such a mansion, every body knows that it cannot be built for any thing like that money ; but on the contrary, must cost very near 8100,000. You then sink at once (said Mr. Whitbread) a large pottion of this grant, and the remainder is insufficient for its pur pose. Certainly, it was not becoming in him to pro. pose a larger grant, but he must say, that it would, have given him much pleasure if it had been larger, and on this ground, instead of the purpose of Parlia ment being accomplished this day, he would rather hear a motion for the postponement of the vote, in order that the House might come to a resolution more worthy of Lord Wellington and of themselves. But whatever might be done for one branch of the service, another act of justice was necessary to wind up the war. He hoped the time would come when ia message would be sent relative to another branch. It could never be forgotten that the Admirals and Officers of the Navy had most gloriously distin guished themselves. He by no means Wished to infer fhat the country had been insensible to their worth ; but at the close of so great a war, a debt of gratitude was due to those dtstingeished characters, who lmve not, of late years, had a single opportunity of bring -1.13)g themselves into. notice. He therefore hoped Oust a message would one down, announcing that hl - had been beslowed upon those officers, and la; tisn4tiag.the propriety. 0( accompanying then; with suitableremuueration e It WAS the cordial co-opera- 1 , Lion of both services whiell had led to their joint but. cesses ; and not only that House, but the army would feel, tint all had not, yet been dosse, which was nal •cessary and jest. With these exceptions no one could. .thore. cordiallsf aArpc than hiwelf , with the proposi« titans be one the Coasmiuse., ~ . Mr. PQNSONVI entirely : pool is all that had been said and. done ,or} , chit iiucrestmg subject ; andl 'although, it et,a4 ceytassity, an Hone thing fpr per sons sitiiacon bigwig Of the How t4,gpalplaia of the insuffscasncy.of the pasta proposed 4.i/insisters, yet he did not think that she rain se Lott WAIN, ton wok too small. The Prince Regent had' been pleased to raise the Duke of Wellington - to the highest rank of a subject, end yet the income to accompany this title is only 418,000 or £19,000. Was there any Gentleman in that House who • would say, that this is an income sOlicientfot such arank, or for such services ? He knew it had been said, that grants had been made to Lord Wellington. bt the Spanish Go. vernment. The House, however, would act wisely by not taking these into consideration. In the course of time this coon ry might find itself not irc-ansify with Spain. Under suds circumstances,' is Lord Wellington or his family to look to Spain for t part of his income ? There was another point of which he' did not fully approve. He did not wish to see a Nobleman so highly distinguished, derive his revenue horn the mere interest of moneys on the contrary, he wi,licd to see him in possession.of a great landed stake in the country. If, therefore, the Right Hon. Gentleman would not amend his mation by proposing .I.iiger 60TR, he would himself make a proposition on tUe subject. He would vote for the grant being £500,000 without the least reluctance; but he cer , tAinly should move that it be extended to £400,000 at the least. Mr. CANNING would not go into an argument as to whether the grant s'.ould be extended to the largest limits that had been proposed; but he was antioot that the House should keep in view the mag nitude and importance of the services for whiclethis grant would be made. He was also anxiaus that whatever may be vored this day, should come from that quarter4rom which grants originally .emanate, lest a difference of opinion, or an idea of competition might be ioferred on a anti!eet respecting which there should be the most perfect unanimity. If the Hon. Gentlemen en the Ministerial side were not prepared to give an immediate and decided negative to the pro position of an enlargement of the grant, he would propose that they should take some time to consider , of it, and then come forward with a vote which should be final. At all events, whatever was intended to'bE done should be done now ; in order that the Duke of Wellingtoo should not have to shape his conduct ac ca4g to the popular feeling. Whatever we intend for him, should be done before he appears assiangst us, to excite our enthusiasm, which might make us mistrust our own jadoment. He trusted also that we should never see him in a situation to hesitate whether he would prefer funds or lands. The grant. should be worelty of the country, and of that House, as it was of greet consequence that the Duke should see that he had not run before the feelings of the country and never had any Ministers of Flown.** finer opportunity than the present, for applying the public money to a purpose which would give unmet sal satisfaction. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER thoughtahe way in which the question ought to be contemplated was, not what the Duke of Wellington merited, but what the - House ought to give out of the money of its constituents. Satisfied, however, that in the estimate of the amount he had fallen short of the public expectation, he was very ready to stabinit to the Committee to make the grant 6400,000 instead of A3OOOOO, which would make the whole amount of Finney granted for estates half a million. 'I he Right 'Hon. Gentleman added in explanation, that he bad not said a mansion could be built for 650,000, as misunderstoou vy H. cvnitoreact, out L 1145 it Wilt extremely probable that one could be purchased wiffi an estate, in the enlargement of which that sum could be disbursed. Mr. WHITBREAD was glad to see that this grant was not considered as a matter of dty calcula tion. It appeared to him that the additional Xloo,obo made the thing quite complete. It was now wrathy of those whp give, as it is of him who will receive it. The ResolOtion, so amended, was then put and carried near. cog. o That a sum, not exceeding 8.13,000 per annum should be payable out of the Consolidated Fund to Lord Weltington and his heirs for ever," &c. o That it should be lawful for the Corninissiooen of the Treasury to advance any sum not exceeding Jetito,ooo, for the purchase of lands, tenements, &c. as a commutation of the above annuity." This Itesolution was agreed to—report tremnerew. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER then proposed ‘ that sums of mr2ooo is-year should be severally granted. to Lords LyniJoe . k, Hill, and Beresford, and then; two next surviving A long, stover sawn !wry. took place, in which Mr. WYNNE :and Sir C. ASIUNCIC COilteil t ied, that the an. nu vi y S:lotlid e x t.-ncl to the heirs acne' Ally of tnePeities. Tile Cu tYt E.E.Loyi co. the EXCHEQUgIt and hfr. B A , 'IIIIIttST piie.i ; after which the Resolutions were agreed to, and the Report ordered for toAnoirow. i/LOCKADE OF NORWAY. Mr.W.WYNNE, in rising pursuant to the notise he had given, mach re. netted that the progress of events had tyn release d him from the necessity , of pursuing that course which he now kit it to be his duty to take. He read that part of the Treaty concluding with Sweden, which relates to Norway, and con tended, after the cession of that country by Denmark England was. bound to do db more in the business. By the Treaty she was not required to make war on the independent kingdom of Norway. In its strict consideration, it only demanded the renunciation of all claims on Norway, but that renunciation, when obtained, yielded no satisfaction. In a treaty ambi guous am the present, we ought to construe its mean ing conformable to the laws of flattens, for, by these, the treaty was professedly drawn. He would not waste the tins-4 the Hon se by quoting at length the opinions of wise and enlightened Legislators on simi lar subjects ; he would simply mention, that bcf Grotius and Puffendorff concurred in representing. thee a Monarch might be persuaded to distirentsier ha, dominions for the purpose of securing the reaaainditr, but he could not compel the people of his d4mens bered.dominionsto acquiesce intheirchangeofmacters. These opinions were, for ages, the landmarks of.pub lic lase, and It'llad always been presumed, when the language of .a treaty was found.obeenre and ambi guous, that its meaning was not. hostile to national knd it Was' construed accordingly. He briefly slated the causes of the late war with Denmark, and 'Abscess% which had placed -Norway in her present :situation. All wars were profeetedly carried on for self4efence, and an enemy when he had laid down aims wasentitled, not through,farour. bpi thrc ugh ; right s to quarter. It had been, however, stated in reWM publications, that it was the ditty Of 3 ceded province to comply with the orders of its former pelf assort, but let those authors examine the history of Scotland during the reign of Edward the First. BA• liol meanly transrened his Crown to his Conqorvir, , but the Scots, as an ancient, brave, and independent refusedcompliance, and under their patriotic r leadeos were finally triumphant. The same was the ease with the Welsh, during the reign of Edward, 4tonducted by • Llewellyn, their native Priam; they 'filleilthe mountains of Snowdon with warriors, and res.ilutely declared that the submission of their kadet would not induce them to acknowledge the *mho. #ity of-one whom they brooded as a fss'esgser. Pas saps the advaistages derived from the co-operation of Sweden had justified the amount of our subfidics; but we were making-other prodigious oserifices fee Stipulations that had not been fulfilled. Sweden was, the natural ally of France they were called French men of the North, and they exulted in the appella tion and their reverence would not be diminished ' under th Government of a Frenchman. Ho weitlid - . advise Britain not to rekindle war, fife the posrprea of enforcing a Government against the feelings °Eche : people, and he was concerned to see us with our ar mour of conscience buckled on our bosoms, and aids our arms from the armoury of Go* engaged is such a cause. The Honourable Gentleman *poise arse length, and la the course of a very able speech ans.- cipated the principal arguments which lie expected would be urged by the Gentlemen opposite. These: he answered, from their being the same as those pee forth and replied to in the other House on Tuesday. we think it unnecessary to detail them here. He costs eluded by moving, that an humble Address sixes l& be presented to the Prince Regent, praying that bis • Royal Highness would be graciously pleased to osater measures to be taken to rescue the people of Mornay from the dreadful alternative of• famine, and in the mean time to issue orders for the British ships of war to discontinue the blockade. Mr. LAMBTON rose to second the motion. The House were called upon that night, by his Majesty's Ministers, to sanction an act which had no parallel is the history of the civilised world. It filled him with honor to see a brave people about to be sacrificed at the altar of diplomatic engagements. The hatred of the Norwegians to the Swedes was well known. if not born with them, that hate was reared with their youth, flourished with their manhood, and descended , with them to their graves. Perhaps they asisla be told that Denmark deserved to be treated with the utmost severity. He thought differently ; foe Det . mark had already suffered more from the frame& embrace of Prance under Napoleon, than alas malt have suffered from hostility with any Pbwer is Be rope. To him it appeared surprising,-that at a time like the present- it should be expected of the Norwe gians that they should suhmit to their allegiance being transferred to a foreign Sovereign without dsair approbation or assent. ' Could the Spaniards leonine that the example they had set would not be PBaßerl in Norway i He trusted it would, and with suesees equal to that which had crowned the struggle-in tie Peninsula.. At - a time when tranquillity and hopoto ness seemed about .to be restored to every. otter part of Ettropeo-at a time when France was.alloveml ;o choose a Government for herself, it was. melancholy . to reflect that a war was to be commenced against the Norwegians, whose only crime was Pat they hat thought. themselves entitled to choose aTrieice mid^ Conoitet;on 444 r I hemselves. This aver too. lailkiblin were now about to direct against theth, be parties larly objected to. Our armies were not to be fairly marched against them, but we were to reduce thOill to submission by a system of starvation. It was twit singular, and it would hnig be remembered in has. tory, that ( England, who in the year 1818 returned thanks to the ALMIGHTY for an abundant harvest, At the year 1814 agreed to put forth all her means to' withhold food from the mouths of the hungry. He cono: ided reiterating the wish that the Movdegians mile be as successtul as the Spaniards; and express. ing a hope that :hey would find in him whom they had chosen for thew Mender, another Wellington. Mr. I.'EPI-lEN was decidedly of opinion, oat that which wis ine,nmstent with duty could never be conducive to interest. We could newer pursue mate . true interot by viinaltlg the lash et GOD or of Nn tuts. atteinpted tb do this threw thee gauntlet to At.taitillTY joatice, and he should fear is such a case, even it be cenild not immediately see the con section between cause an t.eff-ct, that the Su. Mtn* g9VILIIMOIC of the UNlVettzt would o 4 hail to take ii up. Wp • %op hnond to Oerfor:4l iseaty we had coucitt fed, by doing all in our power a d „Linea • Norwey to S eden, unfeso we were released 'rem the etbligotion by Swedentierself. Nothing was 1/1 4e Ifi; Purina to common sense and to common prineiple, that .to , because istiairay had been ceded to Sweden:74kb the cession Was successfully resisted 'by the Norwegians, that we had done 41 the treaty required, and were bound to 'do nothoig more in the boo Suess. By the terms of the treaty we insgaged nib on't notte oppose the annexation of Norway in per. petus 'y to Sweslen, but to co-opertte with Stocaps and .tussia to securatoto the former Power, it Den. mark did not juinthe Allies. It was now said, altar a sanguinary campaign, becauseat last Denmark been compelled to change hey system, that we were not bound by the stipulation of that treaty. Hs should be surprised to hear this from persons unac o arainted with those great writers on the Law of Na. Dons. Grotius, Puffendorff, and panel ; but' e was astonished to hear it from those who were familiar with their writings. wauldh co athoymiethbvieeeterneoallsteu treaty on to rO He proceed:d to sloe . Iron; Vauel, that the course taken by Ministers, with J O' erect to Norway. was in every respect Mailable. 'la c a cluded mockery int 441 our part co hams be dura ro tween c p Sw v e i l a : co lua Ah it atil accededßussia, if the people of Norway resisted, it should not be ay . . these into effect. On such terms our ascent would wee lars been accepted bi Sweden. But it was said Swore den had not fulfilled het engagements, sad them:fees tve,svere not bound to perform ours. It would acute 'with a very bad grace from us to say this now, &sae had made no remonstrances to this effect before.---. The services of the Crown Prince at Leipsic., his de fence of Berlin, Su. had greatly forwarded the plains of the Allies. He did not think Ministers deserved more praise, in any one thing, than for having die. covered confidence could be placed in the (brown Prince of Sweden, at aoime when the prevailing opi nion in this country was much,againsoit. After the services required of Sweden had been performed, it wos not just, because now the danger was past, doubts could be raised on the conduct of thin -Conrsa t nor could they, in a case age use pretests, &sew purpose; yet it-might. not be inapprvriate serve, that in some respects there was a rem coincidence between-the abilities of these tor Commanders. - Lord Wellington, like the 1 Marlbordugb, had become the leader of a cc army ; but he had become so under ciocun infinitely room difficult and arduous than it f countered by his prototype k isasmitch as the ; he had to conduit were far-less disciplined 6 Dutch, Flemish, and German troops whnshr glories of Marlborough ; while the energy VO i opposed combined all the military talenti, of Without any Uisparagement then to the met the Duke of Marlborough, he might say, i task of the Duke of Wellington was 'one a greater difficulty and responsibility, and even ger. But what had been the results of his is .rable skill and judgment? It was sufficissat that by these he had wrested two entire ki, from the grasp of an inveterate enemy, and whole career formed a splendid series of vice . ' which hisrpry afforded no parallel. Thus, o attention of the House.was fixed on the higt of military reputation which he had attained, sure it would be the unanimous wish of then Is the country, that every thing should be don could add to the convenience and comfort of • a personage. With this view, it was his inti propose that a sum of 810,000 be granted, of annuity, from the Consolidated Fund, in 1 to those grants which the Noble Conqueror ready received from the liberality of Parlia 1 But it might be deemed far more desirable 1 annuity should be commuted in part for a ti one, to be attached to the dukedom, which a attained by an authority for granting a WIT ceeding ifiSOU,,COd for the purchase of land would reduce the annuity ice proportion to i of the purchase He 'hoped, that by leaving posai of the grant to the Duke of Wellingt self, he would be able to effect the purchrase advantageons terms , than it k were made State, as this last-mentioned mode would 'effect of fizing the fanidy to a particular, sp out affording any additional comfort. It buended to include in • the purchase a` vet tuous mansion, for which it might, be prop . aside the sum of £50,000 opt of dil origins but-this would only happen under dr chain estate that might be obtained not cootainins . sion suitable to the dignity of the personage I it was intruded. The Right Honourable . man then added, that it was his wish also under the notice of the Committee the condi other Noble persons to whom the Message a', lie should first speak of the eminent genic Thomas Graham, now Lord Lyndock. i i Lay career of this brave Officer was a veil • . one. He had largely shared at Toulon asx is all the operations of the British army - at period of the war, and when eseloted is t %deo fortress of Mairtua, he displayed t i skill and bra ver y w hi c h VAS productive of advantag e . Hi s ot h er operat i ons m i g ht b e I • nimilMl== - I I MI