The National Register. — London, England, 1808-07-10 00:00:00

---~--- 7 - - THE NATIONAL REGISTER.' 03r. Ring, elonaitution, anti Latu#. No. 28. Pang Bd. • SUNDAY, JULY 10, 1808. POLITICAL DISQUISITION. NUMBER T W ENTY•I:I6 UT. EXAMINATION OF THE LAST SESSION OF PARLIAMENT. On Monday closed the Second Session of the Fifth Par liament of Great Britain and Ireland,with the usual Speech front the Throne. A brief recapitulation of the businsss of the Session, with such occasional remarks as may tend to convey an adequate impression of the principal subjects which have occupied the attention of Parliament. during its sitting, may not be unwelcome to the readers of The Xational Register. A question more calculated for popular declamation and systematic debate than the merits of the Expedition to Copenhagen, has seldom been discussed by the Legislative Assembliesof this land. Much investigation and eloquence have accordingly been employed on the topic :—One party has defended it as a measure of the most urgent necessity, while the other has described it as a deed which no state of circumstances could justify. Without embracing the lat-. ter opinion to the extent, we cannot help thinking the advocates of its necessity have displayed more ingenuity than proof. Upon ourselves, the strictures made in the House of Peers by Lord Hutchinson (see No. 7, of The Xational Register) made an impression with respect to the expediency of this act of vigour, which no subsequent ar gument has been able to remove.- Should a time arrive, when the greatest Power of the North may be inspired with doubts of the policy of his alliance with France, we fear the greatest obstacle to his complete conversion will be found in the conduct of Great Britain to Denmark. The next subject of importance which strongly divided the sentiments of the Legislature, was the propriety and consequence of the Orders in Council. Opinions on this measure have been as various and contradictory out of the louse as within. That it bore an aspect of promise to the West India Proprietors, cannot be doubted, but that it would prove exceedingly injurious to the British Manu facturer was equally evident. Sometime has now elapsed and we hear nothing of the ellect. We confess we cannot applaud an infringement of all the acknowledged rights of neutrality for a nugatory or doubtful otiject. That Ibis severe application of our maritime superiority was a politi c and necessary retaliation on France, for the violence of her decrees with respect to the British commerce, we can not allow. Indeed, we arc somewhat itulignant when we hear this and similar measures defended, by maintaining the necessity of fighting France with her own weapons. The original ground of warfare assumed by this country was infi nitely more lofty. What it pnay become by a professed imitation of the violence of a nation, which has neither com merce nor commercial relations to preserve or acquire, we will not attempt to decide. blow far these regulations have assisted to internipt our intercourse with America, has not yet been determined, or whether they had any share in pro ducing the precautionary plan of the embargo or not. The countries of Great Britain eAmerica, it must be con- No. XXVIII.—Vo!.I. -.- fessed, are at presenhnost curiously cirenmstauced. It is oh% iously the interest of both, to avoid war, if possible, and the ruling statesmen of each feel that it is so, yet with these convictions fully operating on their minds, and on the minds of the cooler part of the public states, a coolness and distrust prevail, from common enemy derives nearly as much advanl could accrue to him from decided iq,stilities. mon enemy, for let France succeed in her designs Spain, and we shall soon hear her assume another ' America. the question of Peace was again argued this a debate, caused by the submission of some strong tions by Mr. Whitbread, expressive of the disar of the House at the refusal of the Russian Medi a very comprehensive and able speech, the 1k Mover detailed all the circumstances internal and which should incline the country to listen to NI( As this subject was particularly treated of b' time, it is unnecessary again to enter into the meri discussion. .The Resolutions were of course rejected large majority. Whatever might be the propri( particular decision, it is deeply to be lamented is a numerous and powerful body of people in this so enamoured with or interested in War, that ti of Peace at any time or in any form tuner fails their incessant clamour, accompanied by every of horror and aversion. For the Military Defence of the Counsitry to observe, that little has been done by Parlia: the Session we are describing . We by no means , occupy ourselves with any further revision of the (as pompously stiled) of Mr. Windham and Lord reagh. Ali the alteration which the former effected mode of Recruiting (to which part of the Arm; his attention appears to have been solely confined latter has rescinded. This between the parties great object, but we steadily Maintain that these variations in the manner of raising men, which rity sanctions with such infinite sang froid, are of considerable mischief among the soldiery. Secretary's scheme of a Local Militia, puttin niciozis principle of Ballot oat or the question, is deficient when considered as a Plan of National It will raise a comparatively small namber of m' to be employed on a particular emergency, rouse tii-t honourable feeling in the effective poi this country, which the spirit of the times regini; we cannot help recommending Lord Selkirk' Pamphlet on this subject to the attention of our We are sorry that it is not in our power to co) the Public on any particular advantages whicii accrued from the labonrs of the Finance Comm file of the Bill for preventinz the Grant of Re' the Crown has rather checked the aspiring ho , good kind of people, who were sanguine in the; :ion of effectual reform through thl3 medium. For our own part, whatever little disappointment we may It airs üblic in both )m which .the advantage, as We say cow- designs upon mother tone to this Sessions in strong Resolu- disapprobation Mediation. In le Honourable al and external o Negociation. of by us at the le merits of the e rejected by a upriety of this nted that there • in tlris country lat the mention r fails to excite very symptom we are obliged. iiament during neans intend to n of the plans al Lord Castle- effected in the • Army System confined) the ✓ties may be a , • hese capricious .• hich the majo- \ t • - • are productive y. The Noble • • Ming the per- m, is miserably .ional Defence. )f men, indeed, cy, hilt will it a population of !quire Again .irk's, excellent our Readers. lo coi:gratulate hick have yet mnittee. The Reversions by hors of the their expectit. -44 1 i ) f rt . • .•