The Statesman. — London, England, 1823-01-23 00:00:00

Mr. Dickinson made answer—" I cannot ask favours of Government, becaase, if - 1 do, they will expect them of I me." A goodlinswer—an excellent reply ; but whillil ! it not have been nearer the truth, if Mr. Dickinson had I • stilt, " Really 1 have got so much from Government int-self, that 1 am ashamed to ask any thing for any body I else ?" I got bold of some odd documents in the course 0 . M Investigation. gentlemen, about !!cheater Gaol , if s among others, of an account of monies allowed, in 5_ !,for the maintenance of the Somersetshire yeomanry. • 1 tied 5,8951. received by Mr. Dickinson, who is colonel .vf that corps, for the service of the officers. Doubtless Mr. Dickinson will be able to show that he never pock eted one farthing of that allowance. Doubtless he will mace for papers and returns to show what became of the money, for I can't find any body else who knows what' . 'became of it. Mr. Hayward. who stands near me, was an officer in the corps in 1821 ; he never touched a Ail . Beg of the money, nor ever knew any one who did What went with it? 5,0001. a year paid to the Yeo manry! and for what? For crossing over to Bristol and drawing their sweetie, when I was asking for the same things that Mr. Henning asks for today. A most . important service! a praiseworthy muster! And when will the gentlemen draw the sword again? To drive the tax gatherer and the bailiff from their doors before long, if things goon in this way.—(Cheers and laughter.) Put this is not the only picking which Mr. Dirkirsun has got from Government. I find him a collector of customs in the Bristol Channel; having a grant from Vie Crown of the Flat Ilolin Light Honse—a holding which a irked of mine tells me he would give 3,0001. a • year for. The lien Aerator interfered. The public conduct .of gentlemen (lie said) might he touched upon ; lint not their private affairs. The light house in question was Mr. Dickinson's private property. Mr. Dicxixsox spoke to order, amid much disepproha *inn. He begged the High Sheriff would allow Mr. .llunt to go on. Now the accusation bad been brought forward, both his pnhlic character and private reputation .were concerned in its bein g fully canvassed. The thon Sumer begged to say, that the grant to .54. Dickinson was not a grant from the Crown, but -from the Trinity House. The *hole was private pro. .party. Mr. Hoag insisted that the grant was from the Crown. Ile bad the document in hie hand which proved it. " Patent, dated 1737—lessee, Wm. Dickitition." Mr. flummox deilared that the document was inac• curate. lie would 'thew that it was so. Mr. Hoax still contended that tie was right. Nor was tide the only instance in which Mr. Dickinson had ben ben, fisted at the cost of the public. He had .held place under the Whigs, and bad .tuck as close to o,e emoluments of his place then, as he did to these of his li IA house now. . Mr. DICKINSON said that he never had taken place with the Whigs. Mr. HUNT—Then it was with the Grenvilles: there was a place somehow. In fact, lie did consider Mr. Dickinson as in some degree one of the greatest paupers of whom he had spoken to the meeting. He did not m -ire these charges unfairly ; he had written to Mr. Dickinson •n Sunday last to say that he should bring them forward : let 'Mr. Dickinson refute them if he could. Ile challenged Mr. Dickinson to come forward to the meeting, and say how much money be had received out of the taxes since he hail been member for Somerset. (Loud cheers.) What was the true cause of the tuitional distrese? What was the root of the evil? (I;ties of " A corrupt House of Commons.") The meet ing vas right; and nineteen twentieths of the nation were compelled to admit the fact. This was the very marrow of the question. (Cheers.) He said the Same thing now, that he had- said '2O years batik.— " If the people were—feiriv -represented in the House of -Common*, NEI cattioltti c t-be-sa their present eitua tion."—(Cbeerino, ) He would not •at that moment tooth the subject of the church. He knew that to touch the gentienicn in black was to tonch a nest of hornets (lengl.tcr) ; not that he was afraid of the hornets, but there was a elergyman (Sir. Ciestoaell) . going to address the mstiaing. and- he would leave the pa:sons to him.— Hut what dial the meeting say to the game laws? Was there any man present who bad been convicted for kii!- ing a hereon his own grounds?—(Cries of " I have" from several places.) Ought not a farmer as Ito tilled his Lied to have the ;outline of that land ? Oug:it be not to be entitled to kill either for his amusement or Ids advan tage. the game or vermin which came to destroy his corn i lie twit the game act to be one of the most cruel and arbitrary laws which bad ever been imposed by any government since first goversimenta caine in fashion.—(Cheers.) Was it not too b tat that a farmer Wh.l walked nut with his sheep dog should hi , fined or imprisoned if that dog happened to kill a hare ?—(Cries of " question " from souse persons.) Question? Why, that was the question. Would it out be a good t hing for the rollout• to he relieved from ail tacit oppressive lAws? To have the turnpike act, anal the salt lax, and ' the malt tax, and the leather tax, dual the fornier's rid ing horse tox, and the tradesman's draught horse tax repealed ?--(Ctieers.) What if the Sleeting petitioned parliament to malts persons stay at home and mind their fiaehs instead of becoming magistrates?—(Great cheer. ing and hingliter.) HO was silent with resi.cct to Church property. lie certainly would wish to see that repent y lirou;:tit to the hammer in liquidation c f the Debt. lie waald also wish to see what were called Crown hods, brought to the hammer, hat unless the House of Commons was reformed—unless the pveple were really represented—those things could not be done —justice could nut be done to the nation at large. Of himself, he wished to say but little: lie only wished for egoist laws, enacted by the real representatives of the peop!e. Ile hoped to see those things accomplished ; if they sLoahl not be accomplished, be hesitated nut to say. what he had often said before—that a bloody revo• I Ition n mild take place in this country. If a reform were to take place, it would be a revolution — hut it would lie a blood less revolution—the revolution lie wished for.—(Applause.) It was stated hay Mr. Sand ford, that a requisition had bees presented to the Sheriff to call a Meeting for Reform ; but they should recol. I.ct that a pledge of that sort had been given at Taun tm, and had haen violated. There coul.l not be a more respectable Meting than the present, and lie would a :vise them to press the question of Refortn. The Hrct Sueatre here said, that he certainly would nut put that question from the Chair. Mr. Hoer protested elainet the conduct of the Sheriff. The Sheriff was hound to do his duty; he oas not to dictate to the Sleeting, but to put the question fur their approbation or disapprobation. It they did not petition for Reform, they might as well not petition at all. If the Sheriff would not do his duty, and pat the Petition for Reform. lie hoped that not a hand would be held imp for any Petition whatever. The Iltl7ll SHERtird again declared that he would not I put the question. Sir. HUXT.—The Meeting was called to consider the best means of gaining relief from tha present distress— . they seemed to he of opinion that the best means of all was Reform. Would the Sheriff, if lie refused to put , that question, perform his duty ? He hoped the Meeting never would vote for the milk and water trash contained in Mr. Ilanning's Petition. There was no more chance of its being entertained in Parliament, than there we. of Mr. Hanning's leaping from the top of the Cathedral without injury; but even if it were entertained, it would give no solid relief—it would confer no teal benefit on the emtatry, They would not act like Englishmen— they would be worse than slaves—they would be mere dolts lf they-would allow themselves to be so far duped STATE Tai t as ro agfee to a Petition': whirih *out elfproggialtat* useless and ridiculous . They weic c..lh:tl upon tit . loft at th. Conduct of the high Slies4M—les dieusioolt at &Is conduct tha: Jay—let them also ricollect that so early as February !mit, a Requisition, signed by eighty molt respectable inhatVitants of the County;tras presentel to him, requesting him to call a public Meeting, and from that day to the present he had . not even the courtesy to return any amitver nhatever. The Sit Baur said, that he had sent an answer shortly after the Requisition bad beep presented. Mr. BUNT then proceeded to read his Petition. It was as follows : "To THE HONOURABLE THE CONRONS OF THE UNIT►D KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND IN PARLIA IIkNT AP.ESIRLED. "The Petition of•tbe Nobility, Gentry, Clergy. Free holi!ers, and Inhabitants of the County of Somerset, assembled in Public Meeting, couveued by the Sheriff, in the City of Wells, In the said County, this 21st day of January, 1823, " Slieweth—That )our petitioners have cheerfully made the greatest sacrifices at ail times for the defence of 11118 country, and to promote the bare!) , and honour of the Throne. *• That to recile the !offerings of your petitioners would be in rnin ; they are now well known, and are at length be come past embartince. . . . . . . " That their calamities have been brought upon your Pe titioners by excessive taxation, which has arisen solely from the want of a fair and equal representation of the people in the Commons House of Parliament. •, Your petitioners therefore pray—First, for a errat re duction of the Standing Army, including Staff, Barracks, and Colleges. "2. A to!ril abolition of all sineenres and useless places, and of all pensions, grants, and emoluments, not merited by well known public, serv ices. 3. A great reduetion in the Civil List, and of all the salaries of the Royal Family, and especially of the German Pike., of Saxe Coburg, which your petitioners humbly pray nisy he reduced at least to 6,0000. a year, the sum paid to the President of the United States of America. " 4. A corresponding reduction of the salorl.^s of all the Officers of State, the Judges, and every other person paid out of the taxes. •' S. An immediate repeal of the Tex on Salt, Halt, Hops, LealLer, Soap and Candles, Farmers' Riding Horses, and Trs,l. smelt's Draught horses. " 6 A re:A.O of the odious and tyrannical Haase Laws, and for a law t.) he pissed to authorize every farmer and his friends to kill gßine on the land which he °emotes. " 7. For a law to he passed to exclude all Clergymen from holding Commissions of the. Peace. or acting as Com missioners of Tastes, Sewers, or Turnpikes. " 8. A repent of the General Turnpike Act, passed dur ing the last Session of Parliament, which Act authorises the Commissioners to levy a heavier toll on a poor s.au's cart than on a gentleman's carriage. l'our petitlonersfarthr- pray. that your Bon. House' trill be pleased forthwith to pass on .4cl to ensure such an immrdiate Reform in the Commons Must. of Parliament as will yire to terry Enytishman a Vote jrO the Represea• naives who are to sit there, so that such equitabfy and ' constitutionally chosen, Parliament may without loss of i tinge adopt such measeres, with regard to Church and State, as would ensure the freedom and hr:ppiness of the people. the security of the 'throne, and the prosperity of the country. •• And your petitioners, as In duty, will ever pray." [Tlie lines fn Italics were erased from the petition.] The Reverend 51r. CRESSWEEL seconded the peti• lion. Mr. Dtentsson then tame forward. It became his duty, he said, to reply, not to direct charges, but to insinua tions made by Mr. Hurt against him. In the first place it was insinuated that large aunts had come into his howls as Col. of the Yeonianry,and had not heen properly applied by him. It had been always the rule of his life where he acted in any way as trustee. to separate his own money from the money that miglea, have come into his hands as Trustee—lie had done so with respect to the Yeomanry money, and he was now able to declare upon his word and honour that be never did either di rectly or indirectly appropriate one farthing of that money to any other than its intended purpose. He could state that not only had the money been expended on the corps, hut that himself and his officers had always incur red private expence when out on permanent duty. With reepecb to the other insinuation it was equally ground. less. The property in question consisted of two parts— the landed property Was altogether unconnected with thiverninent, will was derived from quite a" different source. The lighthouse duties had been purchased for a valuable consideration by his grandfather, from a Iverson of the name of Crips; 4(1m: ended to him in the nature of all o'lner private property—(hear, hear.)—and as an Englishman, he would defend that property against attack and invasion of every kind.—(l lear, hear.)—Wit respect to the Petition of Mr. Henning. he was glad to lind that it contained nothing; it asked fur nothing to raise priers ; all classes deserved alike the consideration of Parliament ; he felt very strongly the excessive pres sure of taxation, and he would do all in his power to lighten the borthen ; but at the same time lie was free to say that he would vote for no tax, the repeal of which might injure the public credit of the country. He trust ed that the County of Somerset would not shew any wish to break faith with time public creditor; if honour and honesty were not observed in Kent, or in Norfolk, he hoped that in Somerset they would be observed. There was one other topic OR nide), be would nish to say a word ; he meant the commutation of tithes. He had deeply considered that subject, and the result of his consideration was, that no fair commutation of tithes could take ?dare —the property of the Church stood on the aeons f ening as other property ;—(Disapprobation,) —it ottzlit not to be invaded. Ile was not one of those who would vote to degrade the Clergy; Clergymen ought to he men of editeation, of respectability, with the habits and feelings of Gentlemen. He would not sacri fice the rights of such men to the hope of reaiiing an ideal advantage.—(Laud disapprobation.) Sir T. LETHBRIDGE commenced by saying, that, after all that theyhed heard, lie. would not fatigue the Meeting or himself by making a long speech. Having put his name to the Reqiiisition, he felt that he would have been wanting to his Constituents, and to himself, had he rot appeared before them. Of the conduct of the Aleetieg he highly approved—nothing could Le more orderly ; they hail met to consider the causes of time present distress. It was not to be denied that that great and industrious class (the Agriculturists) were consider ably oppressed by some means or other (a voice from the crowd .• by you"). lie, for one, was glad to face his Constitetents, to see them assembled at that most re spectable Moteing, in order to ascertain their sentiments, in order that he might with the grottier effect be able to press some measures of relief on the Parliament. lie was happy to see that the line of his duty was in unison with their sentimente and opinions on this subject. He (lid not feel it necessary to go into minute particulars after what had already been sail, particularly by a gentletrotn hunt). of the greater part of whose speech he aparoved. That Gentleman was attended to as he deserved (cheers), and he delivered himself with good Linnanr, equal to the manner in wllidt he was received (applalmee), Ile certainly would vote for the Petition of Air. Manning; but at the same time he saw nothing so sulking in the other Petition that'had been proposeli to them that he would very strongly object to, save the question of Reform ; that question was not before the meeting, and he would leave the discussion of it to another day. Oa the question which really was befote them, it was satisfactory to him to feel that the opinions which lie should declare in Parliament were *hoer which were entertained by his constitntents. The question of Reform would be open to them on aaotber day (tries of WhatAity ?—name a der). 'S.llitpt : - - • tit; ~.0 ei , .I, _AMBRIDGE—it is HO% 4r name a day : ,o el preue ; that was with the Sheriff; brut •doubs der mold be a meeting before Pliant should assemns--z(Briel of •• Now's the time !") Sir T. LIMIT/RIDGE—You are Englishmen—l bare die honesty to be one too. lam a Soniersetsiolre matt to .the bilk bone. I freely acknowledge your right to exereds yobs' opinions; I hope you wall allow the 9.111111 me—yorriet according to your opinions. allow' um to act according to mine. I always shall, I hope, have the boldness and determination to act on my ow*, opinion, and have always done so. —During the last two Sessions of Parliament 1 uniformly voted for a reduction of the taxation of taxes, a hick more particnlarl v affected the lower orders of the people. I advocated the repeal of the Salt Tax, and we succeeded in taking off an ion position of 13s. out of 15s. This, I trust, is an earnest of the object uext my heart; and Isavit.g . taken one step, I hope you will give me credit fur an intention to take another. The lion. Baronet went on to say, that lie had been for a long time of opinion as to the primary cause of the depression of landed property, sad every day the more confirmed that opinion. In seeking for relief, he did not wish to see one class of society sacrificed to are other.—With respect to tithes, he could not go all the way with his lion. Colleague. Ilct would not go so far as to say that a commutation of tithes might not with safety take place ; but he did not sufficiently see his way as to that question ; it was a delicate and difficult goes tion to consider; all that he could say was, that when he ally his way he would go straight up to it. 'floe trad ing interest of the country, it was said, ought to be pro tected. Undoubtedly it ought; but be hoped that the landed interest would be protected also. That interest was suffering most severely - and now that the difficulties of affairs abroad were nearly removed, that peace had returned, this was the proper time to ameliorate the:con dition of the country. He hoped the Government would exert itself to do so. If Government did not so exert itself, he should oppose the Government as in many instances be had already done. He had received obloquy and blame from persons alto did not understand his motives, but he would always act on his own opinion, and on his sense of what was just and ho nest. It was, he thought, extremely unjust that one class should be left to almost excluaire suffering—that one party should be weighed down, and all others suffered to eo scot free. Whether Parliament should be reformed or nut, he, as long as lie should have a seat. should art according to his judgment, without bring influenced by tlyeats or by the promise of rewards. No one could say that he did not go into Parliament with clean hands. He hoped that the Meeting would not act aithout considera tion—that they would be guided by those sound princi ples which always led men to pursue their own interests, taking care at the rime time not to injure the interests or invade the rights of others. The Honourable Gentle man concluded by expressing his approbation of the proceedings of the day. Mr. iiANNINO, in explanation, said, his object was to keep the question of Reform distinct from the business more immediatele before the Meeting; he hoped, as a Meeting for Reform would soon take place, that Mr. Hunt would not press his Petition. Mr. liuNr saisi, that if the Sheriff would now name the day of Meeting he would have no objection to withdraw that part of the Proposition o hich related to ft-forin. The SHERIFF said, that he would call the Meeting in 1 a few days, certainly in the course of the next week. Mr. 11usT-1 wish you to name the Jay. The SHERIFF—The Meeting shall be held in the course of next week, at this place. General BATHERST said, that though little known to the Meeting, he could assure them, that he was not one who would stoma up to defend public abuses of any sort; he objected to Mr. Hunt's Petition, because it would have the object of causing distention in the Meeting [cries of no, no r 7; he was anxious fur unanimity; be did not mean to cast ary blame whatever on Mr. Hula; his propositions were moderate. They did not appear to have come from :s disciple of Tom Paine's, whatever might be the opinions of others, they certainly were de- serving of fair discnssion. He certain, y, howevet, would, under all the circumstances, prefer the original Petition, and wonl.l vote for it accordingly. Mr. Saxnvaitu suggested, that the Sheriff might name that Jay week for the Reform Meeting. Mr. SHE/LIFT accordingly named next Tuesday. Mr. HUNT.—To ahew that I am not so very obstinate, I note withdraw my proposition with respect to Re form. After some further observations, Mr. Hunt's Petition,, as altered, was them put by the Sheriff. The SI/CRIFF put the question thus:—As many as are in favor of the Amendment will hold up their hands and go to the right side. Mr. Hear.-1 reo!est against this as one of the foulest things that has been ever a:tempted in a County Sleeting. The SHERIFF said it was neither foul nor unusual, it was done at a recent County Meeting. 31r. Hes:v.—lt has been never done unless where the numbers appeared nearly equal, so that the Sheriff could not decide. _ The Shrriff at length put the question in the usual way, when Mr. Bunt's Petition was carried by a vast ma jority, amid fond cheers. Mr. HUNT next moved that the Sheriffxhould sign the Petition on behalf of the county. The SHERIFF said he would not do it ; it hail been de cided that an officer signing a Petition made it his own ; now the present was not his Petition ; he did not agree those who framed it as to the points it contained, and be would not sign it. Mr. HUNT now stood forward, and moved a Vote of Censure on the High Sheriff for refusing to authenticate the Petition of the county. Much confusion actl dissatisfaction ensued. After some time bail elapsed— Captain Hr.motio moved a Vote of Thanks to Mr. Hunt. - - . . After which the Sheriff dissolved the Meeting. Thus the Petition, though agreed to almost unani mously at one of the largest Aleetiegs ever held in Snm.rset'hire, remains without the signature of any public officer. We gave an account of the execution and confession of Hartley in our last week's paper. It is stated on Hartley's own authority, that his father formerly kept the Sir John Falstaff. public house, iu Wincolailre, ad joining this town. It is only justice to a respectable man to say that the Mr. Hartley in question had only two sons, both of whom died in the Navy some years ago; the proofs of we have se en.—(llnll4./itinertiser) The alleged confession of !fartley app►ar ul too unwor thy of credit to be inserted in the ST.I txuma x The paper, indeed, in which it origiiially appeared, has lately confessed that the story was extravagant. This narrative as well as that relative to the other culprit, who was executed, a short time before, for the murder of a woman at Greenwich bad the common characteristics of fabri cation. WA TILR CORD NIA FILETS, Jan. 13.—The price of bntter increased yesterday to 735. the first qualities of the neighbouring districts (equal to about 76, with the for mer beatnage of 4lbs per firkin) 734. and 6d was said to have been paid in a few inmvie ea. Weighed at the Crane on Wednesday, 129—Thursday, 136—yesterday, 67 fir. Singed Pigs bare advanced a little, and may now be quoted at lbs. to lbs 6d per ern fur goid lots.— scaltbd pigs were yesterday a ♦ery dull . sa e. at 14s to 17s. 6d per cwt generally. > , . % PO ItTUOA L. The following important intelligence has arrived, anti is thus prefaced by a Ministerial paper : " The account which we yesterday gave, (eon ? French Journal, of the statement made by tbe guese Minister for Foreign ilTtirs, was so confuse, T that' we t ' scarcely knew whit intelligible inference t., draw from it. The subjoined detail, however, clears all. that was obscure, and developer the basis upon wkic.i the fatale relations between this country and Por!upti are to rest. Many important considera•ions Are 'write, eil by this conmanication to the Portuguese Corte'; which we cannot touch upon to day. EnJanl, it seems, is pledged to support Portugal, in case of attack:. vet, Portugal is about to form an alliance, offensive an& defensive, with Spain against leaner. In that case, tbc close of Sp.:;n will become the clunmon cause of II:- Peninsula ; and if so, will an attack upon die one try be cons:rued by our Government into such .v danger, as affecting Portugal, as will call up in it to redeem its pledge of assistance and protec:ion " JAN. 3. " In the Sitting of the Cortes, on the ;fist of Deer's. her, the Minister of State for Foreign A.irs, preseni...t a ff Report on the state of the relations Of Portuguese Jl.._ patchy with foreign nations. In this very Ling It eone‘ the Minister first gives a view of the commercial p -qtr of Portugal. He recapitulates the discussion o ills tireat Britain relative to the imposition of an additional defy. on British woollen manufactures. The slide was sub mitted to the Extraordinary Cortes, which could cot .1.. cide it, on A , count of the accumulation of business wita wbich they were engaged ; and it is therefore very ne. cessary that the present Uortes should take it into their consideration, since ;en their resolution depend not the maintenance of the friendship and good.understand ing happily subsisting between the two countries, bur also the beginningol negotiations for a new treaty infer, favourable to the interest , of Portugal than that of !trio which it is intended to amend. " When His Alajestv's Government proposal eaurua e . dal arrangements with Great Britain, it not only has in view to promote the national industry, but, considering well understood interests to he the most solid basis o f every liance, the Government hoped that the more in timately the interests of Portugal were united with those of Great Britain, the more ready that Power would he to declare against any project of aggression ward fist d by other Powers, on account of our present politic. revolutions; a project which it was impossible not to see, was meditated against the Peninsula by France, at the head of the Holy Alliance. " So long, (says the report,) • as these demonstrations had not become so evident that it was impossible to detiv them, the British Cabinet refused to allow that any !mine project of invasion existed; and then e lit it needless to give us any assurances, to allay our fears, which it con ceived to be chimerical, beyond what were contained in the declarations by which His Britannic rl.cjesty and soleuiiilv protested against ibe resolutions of tLe Congresses of' Troppau and Laybseh.' •• The Portuguese Government, however, seeing the armies on thn Pyre. eat increase (e%ilimtiv de-tined against the political institutions of the Peninsula, urged the necessity of a more explicit declaration, considering how unequivocal ti ose of the Holy :illiance Were. • The British 31inistry, whether it perceived tbnt the time was arrived to show its opposition to projects whirli could nut now be denied; or whether the changes in that Alinistay had caused a change in its views of the ptejects of the Holy Alliance, declared t o our charge des Affaire:, that if ever, contrary to:exp,,c tation, the independence of Portugal should br menace.... his Britannic Majesty would never he an intlifferrnt spectator of so important an event, but would afrord to this kingdem all the assistance which it had a ti;;ltt to exprct from °real Britain, by virtue of its ancient connections. • These clear and positive expressions soon resountlaal on the banks of the Seine, and the Government of Eis Slost Christian Majesty protested, that it bad never conceived any hostile intentions towards Portugal : that RS a Constitutional Government, it no; only considered it unjust, het would be ashamed to maintain so slowed a doctrine as the interference of one Power in the internal political orzauization of any other; and that notsvith-- standing the fears which the army of the Preen. et might naturally excite. it would never pass the frontier line, unless it were first violated by the Spanish troops. The horrors of a civil war in the provinces a.ljoinina to France, obliged the latter to talc', every precaution against the evils of all kinds, which such a neighhour hood gave reason to apprehend. " The Minister proceeds to state the further negocia tions with France, whosedeclaretions oetir-1 contradicted he the increasing armaments, and by the aid lent by the French authotities on the frontier-,to :he fact in as; in (*Ur:se quence of which, his Majesty thought tit fr.:A:ly Is, declare to France, that its preparations seemed mani festly to he intended for an aggress;on on Spai ana therefore Portugal :oust unite with the latter, their caes.• being one. Franee seemed offe n ded that its siiicelity was doubted, and repeated its assortions ; het his M..- 1 jesty seeing that the movetnents of the army on the Pyrenees continued, thought it necessary to negeciato an alliance with Spain, which is vow tirade concluded, when it will be laid before the Cortes. Me4filiffi:. special convention has been concluded to prevent the factions from disturbing oar frontier provinces.-- His Majesty hopes also that it lien the alliances are concluded, a Treaty of Commerce may he agreed upon between the two nations, by which the prohibito: system may be relaeril. His Majesty has also reason ti hope, that n:ore liberal cormarci.l art a,reineots r i ce be made vitt' other Powers, especially with Sweden; and even France has sliewn a disposition to make a site vial Treaty with Portugal. " The Report proceeds to st ate the eniumuniratines made to the King of Great Britain. in consequenae the principles declared a. Troppau anti la” barb, and the necessity for a union with Spain in case it should be at• tacked. But this invasion, !stiffly flit erred arainst tic' most faithful and ancient Ally of Great Britain, woaai never take place, if Great Britain would declare il?.i . nro hand, that it never would surfer it to be effected, Porte gal having it. no manner prove ked such an ageression• " It was, therefore, a insist (leanly of the ancient aa.l so often protested friendship 1.1 Groat Britain, to teahe this previous declaration in the most explicit suotnri. that the Powers, tini;ed against the internal ins7itutia:.s of the Peninsula, bring aware of the real intentions tireat Britain, might understand that the in:leper:dr:+ . .. of the Portuguese nation, inseparable from the i:ee choice of the constitutional system which it ntiO,t choose to adopt, was supported by the alliance of Great Britain. " His Most Faithful Majesty asking front the frien:'• ship of Great Britain such a declaration, did not tate to assure it, that it would dispense Portugal fruits the necessity of entering into othar alliances; het ths: if his Britannic Majesty should not find it confor:nable to the principles of his actual polity, to metre Saiii 4 declaration, or if by his at eangentents whet: Powers, he found it impossible to give to Portugal ti:!, new testimony of friendship, aria to the world an in- , stance of his respect for the nataral independence 0 : nations ; his Majesty would not therefore coin.hler the ancient relations of counnerce and harmony betw ee n tee two nations to be impaired; only Ire woeld ' obliged not without regret, to seek in need alli oire4 ire support which tile Peninsula re.tuirce, when it sets • ", i . t