Star. — London, England, 1803-03-10 00:00:00

pont unity for the advancement of his favanti'e pro. jeas. But as there is no ruler, however delpotic, that nititt not, in fume degree, confult the fenk of the nation over which he rules ; fo this matt mutt be ant wet able to the fettle of the FT ench nat ion. To that nation then, let our pomptitude, vigi lance, and vigour, againtt the dctigns of then Ruler, afford an ufefol appeal, whether Bier will again fuftcr themfel %its to be plunged into all the horrors and calamities of war, by the head- Wong pailions of one man ? But though, my a Lords, I am as fincerely zealous to m ains in an honourable peace as any Noble Lord in this Honfe, yet fore 1 am, that a ton zealous difplay of antic ty to maintain it, would be more likely to excite than to avert hollilities on the part of the Chief Conful ; and therefore, while we are defirous of maintaining peace, we ought to mat k ou: decifion and teadinels to meet the alternative. I would fay to France, as one honeft and determined Eng lifhtnan would fay to another, ' 1 defile to live with you on toms of amity and mutual kindnefs ; but do not perfift in a fpecies of conduit that may provoke me beyond forbearance. I have drawn a line, beyond which I (hail confider any en croachment on my property, or my tit nomn as an unequivocal declaration of hotlilities, which I (tall commence without farther altercation.— The moment, therefore, you let a foot beyond that line, war will inevitably cultic.' Thus, my Lords, it is by a firm and determined tone that we Ihould addreti the Firft Conful, that we fbould de- mark the line, any tranfgre(on beyond which we 1 fhould confider as the unequivocal declaration of war ; and he would be anfwerable for the conk quences. (Hear, hearafrorn all fides of the Houfe.) Such a tone, my Lords, would be our bell fecurity for peace. But, my Lords, whatever may be the immediate caufes that have thus fuddenly aauated .his Majefty's Minifters, I truft we thall learn at no very remote day. If the circumftances are fuch As to call foe ammediate exertion, the Country . ought to be apprized, unequivocally, of its real danger, and taught to contemplate ferioufly, in or. der to meet with vigour any attempt which fuel' an enemy may contemplate. We are not, my Lords, to calculate upon what fuch an enemy may at :tempt, by the &Acuities which he would have to encounter. He has already performed things which appeared impracticable. We mull prepare ,ottr minds for an.attemyt upon the country. That A landing. is pra&icable at Tome point, to fuch an enemy, is by no means to be denied ; and that tacit a landing wouldbe a firft and favourite plan of the Chief,Conful, is equally probable. Thole who view his character , malt be convinced he is she very man that would coolly calculate upon the :total deftru(ion of any army he arn'ght land, by. lanced again& the mifchicf that any army could :fad in the country. We mull, therefore, any de, contemplate our danger in its full extent; we muff make up our minds, and be prepared to pee him on Britith ground. (Hear! hear! hear .9 ..—What.! my Lords ; can we have any doubts of ;ate intentions of that man, who tells us, and tells jhe world, that ' England alone cannot encounter 'ranee I' Where has the Chief Conful borrowed. lipiiiiformation ? Was it from the victorious cr ape* of the gallant Nobleman on my left . hand ? pried Nelfon ) —Wu it from the example chfplar pd by Iqy brave and Noble Friend upon my right ? Lord Hutchinfon)—Voredwrioa at hod deft a ll "- r e .I—. From what part of Erin& I.: Hiftory has trued that Briuth valour, when frogle hand ed. h a s not always (hewn itfelf moft competent to 7liple with France, and mole fuccefsful in the . ?—Should fuch an enemy, my Lords, be pored to try the experiment on Eoglills ground, have no doubts upon the final refult ; for I trnft he . .wonld (till find Britilb bofoms fired with the fame courage, and Britilh valour nerved with the fame energies that have at all times diftinguilhed their iincellors. Therefore, my Lords, as our fureft re. 'lance for our fecurity is centered in ourfelves, my wall is,.that Engliftunen (could be taught to ca pea the danger, and I am confident they will be prepared to meet it as they ought. The landing is, no doubt, pratlicable, and, as fuch, llsould be lonked to as highly probable on the firft commence ment of hoftilities ; and there can be little doubt that if thofe who are entrta fled with the manage ment of public defence, condo& it with common prudence, defeat would rapidly follow the attack. The-enemy, in fuch a cafe, would, no doubt, look to the confufton he would create by his flu It land. ing, as the furelt road to feccefs in his main pro jed to punt forward and attack the capital; but, my Lords, it is of the Intl confequenee in this cafe, that the capital ihould he inteilui vocally allured of its parka defence and teem ity ; and I do not la:- State to fay, that the Commander, whoever he may be, that fhonld firtl meet the enemy after his landing, and that Mould fail inflantly to attack Ind engage him. would decree to hole his head. In fuch a cafe, the exideocc of one army mutt be rifkcd, to enfure the &Citation rat the other ; and nothing be left to chance or delays. If, my Lords, there be (till tlititiefied petfons in this country, I hope the number is rcw and defpicable, and that they would thriok into contcrop: and &inlay, the moment they v.icocL,l the tin olimity and deler minatinn of the bract, tile loyal, and the patriotic, tier defending their Katz, Country, a:IJ Con tlitu tion, againtt all enemies, foreign, or dometlii..— And, my Lords. fliould ever IL: dav at rive for Inca a mania nu ilait::l , ga. 1:11,i, I tstift too confidently in the native valour, c-ittraze, and p ttriotifen of Englifhmen, to Ittprole di it the enemy who dared to land on our coati, would ever retreat with cattle to hoaft his vitftor'es (1..,: ! liar! hear.' retbundcal from every part of the Houle). bly Lords, I afk pardon for ttcfpafting fo much longer on the at tention of the Houle than I intended at my fire, ?tang. My recommendation is, that his Majef. ty', Mina, ers fhould candidly and fairly (peak out, and apprife die people of their real danger, and there could be no doubt of tlreir meeting their fituation with becoming, vigour, and loy alty to their Sovereign and Bleu-country. We h ave,. my Lords, but one common caufe with the people, in the defence and fecuritv or our common country, agaodl the common enemy ; the belt tied ~: for EL:" is the manifell at ion of ollr fpirit and Tel'. 11" N." "I.lc Eatl of Waal ::41011.AND esprciled high fa tisfaftion at the unanimous fentiment of eonenr rence manifetted on both fides of the Houle in the Addiefs moved by his Noble Fiiend ; and exprcf , led, in particular, his thanks iirr the very liberal fupport avowed by the Noble Lords who fpoke fecynd and third in the debate ( Lords Spencer And Grenville). AnxiAns as his Majefty's Mini tiers were to maintain the Peace they bad made, yet if any procedure on the part of that power, with wliom his Majcily's Nleffage told the Houle An important negociation was now pending, lhould make it neceffary for the honour and welfare of the country, to prefer the oppofite alternative, he would be one of thofe whom no defire of acquir ing a temporary popularity with the multitude f should ditruade from the molt decided fupport of a vigorous War ; at the fame time, the country ! might reit convinced, that..his Maj , efly's Minifters I would not niftily, wantonly, or inconfiderately, throw away the Peace they had obtained for the country, fu long as it was; found tenable on prin- civics compatible with Briti(h honour and Britith I licurity. He trufted, however, that on the prefent rccafion, and in the prefent (late of the Winds, that his Majelly's Mini tiers would not be preifed to a premature explanation, but that the liberal ex- : ample of the Noble Lnrd who fpoke fecomf in the • debate (Earl Spencer) would be adopted, until • tie refult Humid be finally known. Lord AUCKLAND expreffed, in the was-null terms, his cordial approbation to the manly, fpi- I riled, yet moderate fentiments uttered this night 1 by the Noble Lords on the oppofite fide of the , Houle, and faid, that however fincerely be re ! joiced in the acquifition of peace—however anxi onfly he deprecated the calamities infeparable from ' war, yet he acknowledged, from his own view of the conduit of France, both pending the negocia- lion of the Treaty at Amiens, and fince the con elution of that treaty, he had entertained no very fanguine hopes that the peace could be very long maintained. Indeed, however fincerely his Ma , jelly's Minifters entertained the with of permanent pacification, it met be clearly obvious to every man, that the ways of France were not the ways of peace ; for, if we look at her proceedings fince the peace, in Germany, in Italy, and in Switzer-! land ; her attempts at what was called the orga- ; nization of Europe, for the more effeltual aggran- I diiement of her own power and intereft, coupled with the official publications and public manifel toes promulgated under the authority of her Go vernment, for the abufe. and vilification of this country and its Government, and for the unequi vocal affertion of that principle, to which he, for one, never could agree, namely, " that England halloo right whatever to wry is erferewee in the traire of the Continent ;" (a right which he could never confent to relinquith fo long as Britith intereft and &hill fecurity were liable to be Jelled by the independence or the fubjugation of Continental Powers). It was itnpotfible to miftake the real in tentions of France. Has her conduit been lefs equivocal ? It was not impotfible that his Yajef ty's Milliners, confcious of their own fincefity in the with of maintaining Peace. Might have been lulled into feeurity. Fortunately, however, their vigdancte to what was going forward, taught them the neceffity of being guarded again& any event; and hence the formidable firength they thought it neceffary to fupport. It was true the armaments now preparing on the ports of Holland and France were avowed to be merely for colonial purpofes ; but it was neither impof fible nor improbable they might have real objeds in view, very different from thofe which were pro felled ; and whatever the real intentions of France were, yet, when it was confidered the now poffeffed every port on the coafts of Europe, from the Elbe to Venice, with the tingle exception of Gibraltar; and poffeffed, at the fame time, of fo very power ful an army, rather recruited than reduced, it was impotlible to contemplate her fituation and her formidable movements without apprehenfion, or without feeling the neceffity of being prepared for any event, as the tura means of formidable the continuance of peace. But however formidable the attitude and pofition of France, he felt, with the Noble Lord who fpoke lad but one ( Moira ), that this country, fo far from having any caufe to dread the final iflue of a new confliCt, (however deprecable, however contrary to the true difpofitions of the country and its government fuch a conflict might be), poffeffed in her own vigour and refources the ample means of rifingfuperiortoanyattempt to fub jirgate her power, or injure her commerce. What ever might be laid of the extended dominions and colonial aequifitions of France, when he looked to our extenfive and rapidly thriving colonies in the 1 Weft Indies, and to our important dominions in the Eaft Indies, extenfive, at this moment, beyond all former example in the history of European na. tions : when lie looked to our revenues, and found I not only a permanent, but an increafing furplus of ! I leventeen millions per annum above the charge on : our public debt ; and that debt, under the opera. , ! lion of the linking fund, now rapidly decreafing, i in the prnportion - of 20,0001. per day aeually pay.. in ,, ° off, which brings the country every hour nearer I to a clear revenue of thirty-four millions per ann. I which would enable her to carry on a war of any I , extent, without laying or. an additional tax ; (for theft were the incontrovertible proofs arifing from the papers on their Lordlhips' table, which he had the honour to move for, lime time fi nce, to con_ i vince all England, and all Europe, of the lourifb ing !late of our refources) ; and when to there 'circurnitances was fuperadded the confideration, that we had at this moment within reach, the fame Commanders, by tea and land, the fame Sailors, the fame Soldiers, who fa recently carried the tri umphs of Britith valour to the remoteft corners of the world, and added new and luxuriant laurels to the Britilb Standard ; he trolled, that while we held the moll earned willies for the continuance of the peace, yet all Europe would be taught to re rrzmber, that Britith power was not torpid in the midit of dangers, nor Britith vigour and refourees diminithzd in their means of vindicating 13ritifh ri,, ,, :its, and protediag Britith interefts. His Lord 1 (hip concluded by giving his cordial agent to the 1 tiddrel,. 1 he quehon was thin pat by the LORD CRAa ct6LORI ant c a rricd mashy groditais. —Adjourned. HOUSE OF COM MUM. The-Rep* of the Committee ida certain expiringlaw, was agreoho: Sind Bile ordered. Lord AN DON' ru, one oFtlie Cenimitte; art. anted to try the merits of the Bridgewater Election, bad leaveofalifence fur a month. The frith Tax rills were rev-rally reported, agreed to, and ordered to be read a third rime to-ititrow. . - 'Fite Houk went through a Committee on the Marine Mud ny 8,11, which was ordered to be reported tn-morrow. Lord CAST LER EAG/1 fixed WI friday next fur brit:ging for• ward the India Budget. THE PRINCE OF WALES. Mr. ERSKINE rofe and laid, that though there was no queflion before the Houle, he begged tribe indulged with Paying a few words, which were conneßed with his Moiety's menage, about to be taken into confideration. He Paid, that his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales having learned that notice had been given by a Noble Lord who fat I near him, the nature of which might he inferred from what had lately paired in the Honk, hod, the moment he was acquainted with the filhjeß of his Majefty's Menge yeflerday, commanded him to exprefs his molt cornea with (if loch a with might' be allowed to have any influence with the Noble Lord and the generous difpofition of the Houfe), that no motion whatever, relative to any perfonal intereft of his Royal Highnefs, might be brought forward at this important moment of public dif ficulty and fill - pence. This noble principle and feel ; ing, fo truly worthy of a Briti(h Prince, was nothing new in the charaCter and conclua of the Prince of . Wales. He defired to bring it to the recolleCtion of the Houfe, that under the fevereft predate of the AR of 1795, and notwithflanding the irrefifti ble claims the Prince bad upon the public, he had never even entertained an idea, during the conti nuance of the war, of prefenting them to the pa rental attention of the King, or the jolt confide- ration of this Houle : and even when he did pre• fent his claims for judicial invelligation, he (Mr. Erthine) could fay from a higher (mime, if pufli ble, than from the Prince's authority, he could fay it from his own certain and perfonal know ledge, colleted from many communications, and from every part of the Prince's conduct, that he did not urge them at hit, to create a fund for his comfort, but to thew to the whole world that Lel had never prated upon the comfort of the people, nor had been that public burthen which had been fo frequently and fo invidioufly reprefented. In that point of view,the claim was molt momentous, and had only been furrendered from motives which reflected the higheft honour upon his charader —1 Mr< Et-Woe laid, that the Honk would eafily fee how unfit it would have been for his Royal High. Ines to have interpoled any fimilar expreffion of his willies upon the former motion. Such an in terference would have amounted to a declaration, that, if his comfort were provided for, he was earelefs of that (late and dignity, which was the Rate and dignity of the people, reprefented by the monarchy, and which it was his duty, when con fiftent with private lattice, to.affume. This, he was perfoaded, was the motive of the noble author of the motion, zealous for the honour of the Royal Family, and of the nation • and it was impoffible for any man to put any other conflruCtion on loch a fpontaneous with of the Hoak, than as a tribute of affeetion for his Moiety, and of regard for the dignity of his government. All thefe confiders. tions, however, had given way, in the Prince's feelings, to the preffure of the ?relent moment ; and fo entirely did he (Mr. Erfkine) enter into the fpirit of them, that if, after the utmoll forbear ance a moderation which a great and powerful country could decently oblerve for the preferva tion of peace, we thould Se forced into a war by the ambition or injuttice of France, he would cheerfully devote to the fervice of his country the Taft fhilling which had been derived from a long life of unremitting labour, and would willingly find the laft drop of his blood in its defence. Lord PORTCHESTRR laid, that without having had the honour of being in the confidence of the Prince of Wales, or without having bad a com munication with any of his friends, he had felt it his duty to call on the Houk to confider of the belt means by which his Royal Highnefs could be re inflated in his proper rank and dignity. With that view he had given notice, that he (hould bring forward a motion to that area on Friday next. But events had fence taken place which would make it necelfary for him not to profs the motion 'he intended to make : and indeed it was !lift more incumbent on him not to do In, after the comtnu nication he had juft heard from fuel; high autho rity. But, while he was ready to abandon the mo tion, he mull declare, that he would never relio quill% the principle on which it was intended to be founded : and although the afped of affairs was menacing and doubtful at this time, to as to make it necelfary that the fubjeCt thould for the prefcnt be laid afide, he hoped and trolled that the Houle would hereafter find leifurc to confider this quer tion more fully ; a quellion of no trivial nature, i but of great importance to the country: and when , ever that period fhould occur, the people would retied, with gratitude, on that noble and manly forbearance, and that public fpirit, which was now difplayed by his Royal Highnefs. For thefe rea -1 lons he would, for the pretent, abandon the mo• tion he intended to bring forward. NIS M•JESTY'S MESSAGE. On the Motion of the CHANCCI.LOt Of the Et oisiztyra, the Houfe proceeded to the Orr cl the Day, for taking his Maicily's moll :7rAcirus- MeMtge into contideration : and the fame bring read from the Chair, The Cita'macula of the EXCHLejna fpoke to the following effell : " I rife, Sir, to move an Ad• drefs of thanks to his Majetly, tor his moll graci• ous communication : and in doing fo, T feel the fulleti and moll perfed confidence that the appeal which his Majelly has made to the honour, the jullice, the fortitude, and liberality of Parliament, has not been made in vain: and that this Houfc will moil heartily concur in promoting thole great objeas alluded to by his hiajeßy. There are two points in this Meirage to which I (hall refer, and upon which I mean to ground the motion I (hall have the honour to make to the Houle. The fiat of thefe relates to the military preparations now carrying on in the ports of Francs and Hol land: the other to the difcAons fabfillin !law= his Alajefty atttl the Fretich gorernrr t! ' t . fittl of there would, under any , „. quire the utmoll vigilance, citcttrofi....it.::, :1: ptepatation, on the part of his tNl.:,cit‘'s ment. The Med - age flares, that the.: r•., preparations are avowedly dirceed to vice. That is the avowed pit:pole for wlitk ia French government is carrying them on. V,. pollibly, and, I hope probably, that inch is all:, the real purpofe. But when we confider Ef t timation contained in his Majefty's Nleffage, it mif f : occur to the Houfe, that chore artnaments, v. 1... are now even really intended for the purpt.f... 1 ; avowed, may be applied to objetts of a very dif ferent kind. With refped to the difettflions arc now gning forward, the Houk cat.n.,t that I thould in any manner rekr to them. even allude to the nature of them. It is, r. ever, with tome degree of fatisfaCtion, I can prefer my hopes, that the refult will be perfi..2,!:::,. amicable. It; however, that fltould tinfottuti4o ' ly not he the cafe ; if the ifftte of the pr. bet ations Ihould turn out tinfavourable, I ..t c conhlation to know, that the,country will ate in. gaged in a good cattle . ; and that we can place the istmoft reliance on the ftrength and refvuteets of the country, rn the wiftlom and energy of P, r _ lia latent, and on the =flaunted !pit it, and an:Roam loyalty of the people. If, unfortunately, :Lc ennu i try fhould he again involved in a war, the Hottfe may be allured, that it (hall he potrelfe.l of evert document which can ferve to thins light upon the condat of his Majeity's government, liont the moment of the fining of the Tieaty of .?mien., to the prefent ; and.l trite, that every part of that condrift will bear the Ilriftea lertithiy. As to the meafures that may be proper to be adopted, ir. the pretent Rage of this butinels, it is unnecelfary, at this moment, to enter into any fpecific flatements rat the limiter but it mull occur generally, to every Gentleman who hears me, that come augmeritta thin mull be made to our naval firer, and that finite additional Reps muff be taken for the in tin nal recur itrof the Country. I am, therefore, to inform the Houfe, that towards promoting the lat.. ter objed, his Majelly has reforted to the eft:- blifhcolconftitutional force of the country, and has; accordingly, given direaions for employing the militia. I am lorry to think, that, after the many burthens which have already been impofed on the country, fame further facrißces are to be made. But I beg to have it clearly underhand, that All taut augmentation which may be necelltry in our Ili. 1 vat and military force, has only a reference to a fed em of defence; and are to he confidered a; ' nothing more than thole neceffary meafures of precaution, which, under the prefent circumftan ccs, I hope and trull that it will he the unanimous t ; determination of this Hattie to enable his Majefty to adopt. In the Adds els which I am ;about to move, I do not with to convey fentiments which may pledge any Gentleman to concur in fuch mea fures as (hall hereafter be Fopored. I troll, that whatever the fentiments of Gentlemen' may have been on the Cubic& of the war, or the peace Way concluded; that Whatever diverfity of opinion may have prevailed among the Members of this Houfe, they will all, on this occafion, be . mous in fupporting the motion I am about to fubmit to them. In this confidence, therefore ; L move, Sir— .. That an humble March be prafented to lib Mali Tres thanking him foe his molt gracious communication, and 'Out ing him thot his faithful Commons are fully knable of ahis teeth proof which he has afforded of his attention to the welfale of his people. That under the pretest Cif CUMOIIII6OI of Mil:- tory Preparations being carried en in the Pols of twice at I Holland, the Houfe of Conimons remit hefuote tt/ 7 concur with his Majefty in the expediency of odupting ad,lititnal Inca fuzes of Precaution for the ge:rrity of his Dominions. Aid although the Preparations to which his Majefty refers are avowedly dire:Red to Colonial Service; yet as cLresatlitt of great Importance arc now fubfifting b.-tween his Majeiby: sod the French Government, the refult of which muft at Wafer: be %memoirs. his Majcfty's -fisthriti amnions, whilk thcr partake with him is hit tame* and unvarying folleitude fie the welfare of his people, arum his 1404, that they vat with the stetson sheartninefe, enable hi. Majeily to otharefuels mesfures as eirmunftances may requite, for &paining tie Ho nour of isis s Crom, and she diamond linerefts ul els Par*.' Mr. Foe---':sir, it is not my intention its. give any oppofition to the Addrefs that has heel pa moved. But I mull remark. that-no vote was ever given by this Route in filch coMplets and Inter siarknefs as that which we are now cancans to give. That we Osould liapport his Majelly is every meafure need:try for the fceurity ef his do minions, it is impotlible for any perfon for one moment to doubt : and therefore opals that point there will be no difference of opinion. His Majef ty's Meffage has Rated ,two grounds which pe culiarly call for the confideration of the Route. With 3-epeil to the fir; of theft. tbe armaments now preparing in the ports of France. that is a firbjetl to which I have very little to fay. Bet with regard to the difctillions that arc now going for ward, although the Addrefs that has been jnA moved, cannot pledge any Gentleman as to 11-.• - opinion he may give hereafter. yet I am total!! . ignorant of the nature of there dilcuilions • I knew not what. the fubjefts of them are, whether - relate to things carried on in Europe, Afia, Africa • or America ; not 'the fmallett hint has been Car n as to what they are. I cannot, therefore, v..v• any opinion on the fubjett ; and, therefore. 1 ira leave to all, if the Houle is not placed in a of total darknefs as to the nature of the hiefii.^P and the Addrefs If the Addrefs means n othil... more than to eeprefs our obligations to his Mate : ty for his communication, and to declare our dinefs to fupport him, in adopting meafures 1 1 • precaution and defence, in cafe the peace, mt fiblitling, cannot be honourably preferved. I v I then give my agent to it. But 1 hope, and tot'', that his Mail4:s advifers will feel the real t., tinn in whic h the country &lands; and that th-; • will endeavour, as much as pee - able, to pre • the blelTusgs of peace ; hut if they involve the country, unnecelfarily, in a freth war, I will 1.• helltate to declare, that they will be more crimi.. and guilty than any hfinillers who ever advi.: , ! any Prince." Lord HaWaisll/11f (poke toile followingcr. Ell