The Statesman. — London, England, 1815-05-26 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN. in an abstract of the only diplomatic document be merly. In the war in which we were now about to bed devised, when he contemplated a powerful con- m4lse, every principle was alistioct from the nature V. eeracy of Europe in opposition to the ambition of of that revolullneary war which bad called forth France, awl the security for the future repose by the entire piPpelation of France about 23 years bringing Preach ii' advance on the Rhine. Holland ado. Not long ago, the'rench Nation hid taken • did itet indeed form part of his plan; for in his fondest back ita °legitimate Sovereign, and entered into the moments that truly great Statesman could not most solemn obligations hild contracts with him ; insietne that Holland would have attained her pre- 'under this Sovereign the nation was mildly go. seta strength and pre-eminence. It was no small so. vented, she had her liberties improved by him, and tivfaction to him to reflect that he had lived to see there was every reason to suppose that the people - - Tres: principle of F,dropean security, laid dawn by ' entertained very different sentiments respecting 130. that eminent ma:i , embodied and esectetk in eyrty 4 aseperte• from those of the army. Resides, it was - pone, teen beyertd bin Wopess Wishing to narrow ;to lie — itiiistdered that France was now stripped . the qiiestinsOet before them, the only propeeltion •of het external resources, and had her natural be sf.4it i ld call upoti the House to adopt was, whe- • resources very much • narrowed.. There was no re tier they eotild support the Executive Govern. semblance • then, between the present resources of meet in the war in which we' were . engaged.— !France,• and these she possessed %%lout she had There was no question auto going to war ;we were ' many, ether nations under her subjection. Ile at-fealty at war, owing to the contravention of thel could also assert, that there was a great moral feel- ; Treaty •of Paris on the 'Pert . of France, who had big throughout France that the happiness of the provoked the war; and •tlie . simple 'question wag, French peetrle depended on the destruction of the whether, being et war, we•should wage it conjoint. present Ruler of that country; and he could declare ly with nor •Alliee; or sep • arate ourselves from them? Altot a similar moral feeling existed among all the • He never heard it &tried that we had a sight to go tce t Allies, who never were at any former period more war with Bonaparte; nor es' en with the French nt.: determined than she present to porsiie this great • titer, if they choose to support hint in contravention coutest. Besides, the military means of the Allies of the treaties they had asseu'red to. But those erea e i were reletiaely greater at this time - than ever th e y ties had provided that the Government of that oation were before. They had kept up their thilitary este should be administered by 'other hands. What ! t blishments, while the King of France, after the late were we compelled now to accept of Bonaparte as LTreaty of Peace, greatly reduced the military force the Conservator of the Treaty of Paris, .when, by of that country. The Al ietl Sovereigns had cons°. that very Treaty, he was excluded from France ?-- lidated theiratrtnies to the higheit pitch of strength, I Any question as relating to him, therefore, could and increased all their other militatfeeseerces, for '4vitv be as to the policy of opening a ategociation the MilitiaS tailed the landstutta, hart, been lately t w i t ', him. H.. a d m it te d th e dreadf u l necessity that increased to ati unexampled' _pitch of otiength; and *tight exist for involving mittons'ln the'. punishment frier of Oat resource a new e might be speedily dire only, to 'those who inled over theM ; but some' formed. Therefore no one could retend to say, !leases were so extraordinary as not to admit of nape. that; in point of military force, burope was not rating th.• two, and he considered the present to lie more than equal•to this great contest, It is as clear, such a ease. Bonaparte had the army, in fart, unit- the ground of military expediency as well as of ed and was wholly telverse to that pac ifi c political necessity, wrought to enter 'op this war at •:Systern which Louis XVI I I would have cultivated.—'. once ; for sech was the power and unanimity which If we watched him in prosperity, we should find now existed, that if this opportunity were suffered to ..him filled with gigantic plans of ambition ; if. we pass away, such another might neves occur again.— looked to him in his adversity, we should perceive If Bonaparte should hereafter become formidable to that he remniite.d the same. His greatest territorial sc.! us, we should never again be able to collect such a . quisitions were continually made in time of peace ;! confederacy of power and unanimity. A great part he was more conquering in peace than even in war, I of the expence would fall upon the Allies, and they The whole system of his policy with regard to 1101.1 were not to receive any assistance from us that could operate as a temptation, either to enter into the war, lan Switzerland, the Ligurian Repoblic, Spain, and Portugal, and the thirty-second Military Divi. j or to continue it fur a moment beyond the time at sion, was consolidated in time of peace ; and if a l which it might, by vigorous effotts, be put an end comparison of his policy was instituted in war nitd in to• He had thus endeavoured to open the general grounds on which this great question rested; he only • peaee,we should find it was always more profourelly pursued during an interval of nominal peace. Ad. i now wished to say, that, however painful it must be varsity anti prosperity left his character still unre- ; to him to be the organ of his public duty to speak in !tellingly the same, so that he seemed to be destined favour of war, yet it was a consolation to think, thut for nothing but a course of activity both against the compared to former difficulties, the country was now independence and happiness of nntions. When in a cote of great prosperity and strength. There •pli ced on the pinnacle of earthly power, and mar. was a time when the country was considered as being ried into one of the most ancient and princely houses in its last struggle, as expiring under its difficulties, in Europe, his ambition knew Ho limits ; and, as standing without allies, and with almost the whole agsin, at the moment of all his difficulties with of Europe against her. Notwithstanding all these .Si,airt. he made his enormous effort to subju. calamitous circumstances, England proceeded with l a . perseverance that would immortalize her name, pre Russia, and annihilate the only barrier to a lustre round her itt the annals of the cnittiltentel sway. -- The document on I and throw worl4. This country had struggled through her :former slight communicated to the (louse, and of f Whoct. authenticity none can doubt, showed, that dificultiss, and it was most gratifying to know that she had risen above them. The other countries of at the moment of his greatest depression, he was active in diplomatic chicanery, in order to open by Europe were also greatly improved. We now start. his reservations a fresh career for his arms.—`ed with a combination of all those Powers, and P Noble Lord thee e n tered into a variety of state.Tthere was probability that we should also have a virtuous combination within the interior of France, merits, to show that Bonaparte had not been sincere : and that a great teat of France would assist the evert at the very time when he entered into his Treaty with the Allies; and then read a letter from combination which was directed against the other the Duke of Bassett!, to the Duke of Vicenza, !vita. NVe had already laboured to establish the dated the lath of March, 1814, in which he stated ; safety of Europe, and it was thought that this great it as the Emperor's desire, that he should avoid work had been effected. IVe were now only mak exPlaining himself clearly ; that his Majesty's in- ing a farther 'effort to consolidate the system" we had nearly established. The Powers of Europe had tendon was, should the Treaty be ratified, to rest his hopes nn'the Army to the very last moment ; already taken the capital of. France—they went to slid that he wished to he guided to the last mu- Paris —they acted generously to (hat capital ; and if meet by distant circumstances: This was a ge- they should go there again, he was sure they would twine letter; but he Sad no doubt of it being not be actuated by any motive of ambition, but for denied by the present Government of France ; for the purpose of contending against a common enemy, all their principles and cenduct were founded on and for restoring the quiet of the world. It was for ease centinued system of falsehood. He trusted he all these iPasolli, that he should move time Address to hvi now clearly shown that we had a just ground the Prince Regent; and if it was intended to move any amendment to this Address, recommending to his for R' ing to war with the present Ruler of France; but it was nothing to prove that Point s finless lie Majesty's Government •to advise the Powers of could also Europe to make a peace with France, it would be show there were rational grounds to ex- Feet that it would be attended with success: he con. the same as advising them to pursue a course coil. tended, then, that such grounds did exist. If we trary to their owls acts ;—atid he would ask, if it 'considered the question with a view to the prove.. were possible for us to separate from the common rity of this country, and even on' a principle of Confederacy consistently with our own safety or economy, it would evidently appear to be the wisest honour ? The Noble Lord then concluded witb eclipse to enter into the war immediately ; for there moving the Address to the Prince Regent, thank. could he no comparison beteeen the exPences at. ing his Royal Highness for his gracious Message, tentiing that state of c tiistotit preparation which we and giving him every assurance of the support of should be obliatel to maintain during a peace with the House. Bonaparte, and the expense of a short war that. Lord G. CAVENDISH declared he would never must at ortce establish permanent security and hap. support any motion that had a tendency to int olve • piriess all over Europe. ‘Vith respect to the senti- this country in a ruinous oar. which had no otee t manta of the Continental Powers on this subject, if object hat to remove one ruler, lush place another 011 he thought there had been any hesitatiott on their the throne of France in his stead.—[dour, hear !] — part as to what they conceived their real interests to No one was more ready to respect and lament the he, he would himself pause and hesitate before he fallen greatness of the Bourbon family; but he thought there was such ati: indisposition_ towards recommended to his Majesty's Government or to that them in France,' Oil they . had very little chance of House to miter into a war. But he could assure the ever ruling that country, particularly if they should House, that the policy of the whole Confederacy tested on a fixed and unalterable conviction that be felted upon the people. The natural jealousy of the war was not only founded in necessity, but France was ever alive to any interference of this in sound policy and wisdom. The Government of kind, arid experience had shown its total futility.— 'Twenty-three years of blood and treasure had been this country never goaded the Allied Powers to crime to such a determination ; they were left to in vain poured forth in the attempt, and he could their own discretion, end they acted in the manner see no prospect after what passed last year, of any lie just stated ; they were all determined to act in successful termination to such a cotitest as that now etetcert, and this determination was formed- in the its contemplation. He would therefore propose the rtp•it deliberate sense of its being necessary for following as an Amendment to the Address— !. air own safety, and for the safety of the world. The Amendment, in .tihstattee, thanked his Royal Highness h om o r v i t f l aetoas m --evr il esved lie hail the most unqualified proofs to show it to ttrePrince firm drtrrntiuntion to ism those measeres e their teisitimens opi n ion, that security could wet-wiry mto aintain IV l digiiity and the honour of w the c ero w w e s m , attained only by resistince, and not by 'leg°. 71.!0 re-estahfish jolimme connection with the itsst Powers It indeed, be presumptuous and ttn t, 4 l l lll:: iin t i t;r s the i rr ic tec y !Ire • h t;f• th g e tw r a hr ; h:s re t i k u t; ;lit; a mured his eoncur io 0.:.v to say, that the success of a war was not in such eneneementiag'were Outere.l lino fur such purposes; ,tont, loin , 'hands of Providence ; bet he would maintain, ; t -d i r time Mated, that they nut f feel, thelwer"ii"'lli t.itit' lite probability of success was greatly increased or . itTi r enfy i were t e- a ' hu n iiy u ln7atfo f r e mmi ng tha - t 'fey ' Ik e,. dente .. s' a 'enteral view af nil the meatus which were in ausious to establish the peace alit equilibrium or iierope, hot ig tn n r ot e , t , li a inl ik th e t;ttoi t i , L i tro n war a ose r t s nat in te .n r w r i i , 7t no (t u t l i t te e r ry, of out possession. lie Wilt Well aware o f the efforts whites . 41 great nation like France was capable of live am he left hot the downfil ibe power of lionaparte: len king.; he• knew.the vast and formidable Power o r i i f lum ile s on e abandonment or our professed objects—and incicohch a population were capable of producing ; rtsla„t,:.re,`",l,el", e th n t% c r i i i n a n f il f tei r on e rt e =r e y i e w r er m i e n4 n t e l n tt c , r be ' every thing connected with the situation of had down until their avowed übkct was attained. • ;ittillt4Puhtty Altana tookow that its mililarjr efforts* Ml. J.tiMITII attended the Amendment. Ile •ee.y.)alit lew to the sante they Petri been fur- said lie was averse from war is e frieed- to humanita- :. in the fi rst piece; and to this objection' wts aloe- economy, it wee imp. added the very destructive efoeseqinenties which it longer;"—he believed would be in all likelihood the miens of •bringing on then fixed the period this countrys He was aware, that it was urged on it seemed to him prob the vide of the eroinoters of the present treaties that tered upon, would hi Bonaparte was merely upheld by the army, that the if it was not, but ' army was a banditti, a sot of robbers end plunderers, more than two or the and therefore there could .be.no security for peace : I Gentleman's caiculnt but this argument operated against those who urged country must be by I it, for if Bonaparte's army were such plunderers as I situation, for want 01 thus described, if they had this insatiable desire foe lug on a war, vulgar war, peace was the only, or at least the most sure our present situation method by which it was to be allayed. Those had free to confess he kne , principles of the French army would be nurtured taxes were to be dr and matured by war; they would every day grow putting down Bonapai stronger, and it was by peace only that they could I as a most fortunate cis he counteracted, ned by degrees worn away. In if after some years' fact, peace was the most certain mode of allaying . chance to worst the . that destructive spirit of which so much dread was pleesing subject to col entertained. It being, then, so very apparent to . blishment must then him that pence was the most desirable object this tinily seconded the t country had to look to, it behoved us to consider ; Mr.:GRATTAN how the case stood. Bonaparte had unequivocally •to Lord Castlereagh, de,clared his anima wish for peace. In respect to ;he carried himself throe/I the army of France, it was his opinion that the ef- : which he had been ear forts of the Legislature, aided by the countenance' ciliatory mannerein of the great landed proprietors, would be sufficient fore the House. He to repress, and, in a few years, subdue the pre. to give an explanatidt sent effervescent spirit of the soldiery ; and in give.. He coneeived t additiou to their endeavours, Bonaparte was more pledge itself to waste able than any man to repress and restrain those men for the purpose of re• who looked up to him with so much enthusiasm bon. "• But." said ' its consequence of those brilliant achievements : the contest at this Ji to which he had so frequently led them. • But he evil in a peace * 1 ' 1 % 0 91 could tell the Noble Lord, there was one argument ' Allies. The question then is, whether we shall fie, in favour of peace, which ought to weigh in an ex-' the Ruler of France, when our Allies are . 0 pre. traordinary manner on all his Majesty's Ministers ; t pared and at baud, or whether we shalil,tea.tateiet to o n b ti e l end that was, that give this country but three years 1 our Allies are gone, and then he left to sustai rta l osi O of pence, nail we should he able to contend against ; any contest we may be found hereafter toenter i n t o ? the whole world. The Noble Lord seemed to think I I conceive the present Government of that the power of Boneparte mig:it, at the present . ' nothing more than a stutocrucy, composed of armies moment, be easily subdued ; but he was not a man : who fight for conquest and plunder.:. their busin ess of a common stamp. Recollect what he had been is war, and the object of that war is the conquest of able to effect immediately after his return from ! Europe. The -present Hiller of those-aratiesseited Russia. Though he arrived in France after that die. , upon every country within his reach, anti raised an estrous campaign with but a small number of his i army to drivelha Kingyof England from his Throne. veteran army, he had exerted his talents and activity I But the trident of - England shook his empire to the with such extraordinary effect, that in the month or centre. Bonaparte often spoke against the navy or . March, 1811 (if his memory did not greatly deceive j England, but when he did so n he only meant that the ' him), he was enabled to lead a new army across the L power of the British marine was depriving him of the Rhine, which, for three months, had actually kept] means of conquering Europe. Ile tried to destroy, the Allies not only at bay, but had brought the con., and, no doubt, did greatly affect the commerce of test to a very doubtful point, had not Austria thrown lEngland ; but all his efforts were unavailing : he did, her weight into the scale of the Allied Sovereigns of •' however, disturb the whole system efour commerce. Russia and Prussia. After that event he had indeed IHe placed it between two fires, one ef w4icle e ivas on his hands full. He was harasted on all sides, till at ; the Continent, while the Continent was possesaed by length he made a false move, and lost the game.—lf his arms ; and the other was the Ct3ptinentlge..lerne . with such small means and in so short a time he then I rico, which was possessed, by his ietrigais...* had did so much, 'What might he not be expected to do 'done every thing which his indignation e: aledsbn be now, when he had such astonishing advantages in his • his insatiable ambitiotte could dictite to ferciture, the - favour ? ft was generally believed, that at the pre- destruction of this country, s buteat Sength e his• intro. sent moment be was at the head of an army of at tions being developed, his • projects reetilede qpou least 300,000 men. Nor was it much to be won- himself. Yet after-all this, and the;violitt9i. of _the !dered at, when it was recollected what immense most solemn Treaties, ho now came forward in the '•numbers of his veteran soldiers bad been shut face of Lereee, and deListled that • I'mtv_Tieaty .. . 'up• in the various strong fortresses in Europe should be made with him, as a.securit)s W e lke fel .of which he' was it. possession. -- Added to fitment of which he could ohleegive thee folds hibe these we were to loek to the eetraordinary num- fore had broken. He said in Itiejutifefic,Cgoookst : bars of Olsonera In IWO& end this country, he had abdicated as a matter of convisisiesSes e aenere amounting together to Wady %00,000, and from re. ' matter of conrenience.—[yeesr, - kw,' /lentil — cent accounts which had pretty generally gone But the fact was, his abdication was voluntary, end ' abroad, all those men were actually enthusiastic in made on his part in the most solemn mailer. Could • his -favour ; and notwithstanding the length of their this country then with any confidencefaccht anestew imprisonment, those who were in this country, at pledge from him ? Could she place any that in his least amounting to nearly 100,000, openly testified promises ? certainly not ; and' or that Issue, - even their strong attachment to him on every occasion if she were alone-in the contest, sheshylilll &Ain ' that offered, and betrayed a resentment against this her power to oppose him. Our aticestortealwayvbe. country thiit was truly extraordinary. This could linseed that England was equal to the Mk of oponsing not he' from ill usage, for they had always been France single handed,' and always proied it.--s-- treated with every degree of kindness and liberality [Mgr !)—She should then not *brink from, the cone which their situation would allow, and therefore test when she watt leagued with Austria, 'Hassle; NA could only arise from a rooted attachment to him, Prussia. Austria could now bring •intn the lid and a . resentment against any Power that should at. :500,000 men. Murat :wil.defented, and was built . temp to set hint aside. The Noble Lord had as- feeble ally~ froM whom nothiwg• could now be ei sunied, and, indeed, asserted, that a great part of pected. Napoteon had not, as formerly, ,by his ' the French people would join the Allies. To 'this, great extension of terrieory, an hundred millions of however, he could not give credence. The whole subjects, upon whom he could (-Olin his defence; population seemed to have been so overjoyed at his and on those which lie still bad he could not plane return, and he had made his way to Paris with such great reliance. The most eriemphant results,- there. rapidity and with so little interruption, that be • fore, should be anticiptted fronts the contest in whirh thought it was in vein to hope for such results as we were now about to be engaged. With powerful the Noble Lord appeared to anticipate. The illus. • Allies and great resources we had to contend ag,vinst trious Commatider who is at the head of our'Army ' a man who was in want of money', credit, and title. on the northern frontier of France, would doubtless It was most absurd to suppose that the people would 'do every thing which his superior talents and the rise in his favour ; it was most absurd to imagiue known bravery of the army under him could possi. - that they wind(' wish to defend a Government which bly effeot ; but he could not be supposed to have sought ta • enslave them, 'or fight in defence Of a power enough to withstand the whole population of stranger who had wasted their treastirearid spilt their France ; and he, therefore, thought the Noble Lord . best blood in pursuit of his_ambitious•projects, and, was iii finitely too sanguine, end by no means war. by breaking their solemn oaths of allegiance, re ranted in supposing that our efforts were likely to he far the iron sway of an Usurper to the mild (!orni attended with that success which be seemed to build Ilion of their lawful Sovereign.—From the inona , :;t upon with so much . confidence. It gave him great of Napoleon's arrival in France to that which he took satisfaction to hear we were only to advance five possession 'of the capital, all his movements were millions; but, at the same time it would give him still the appearance of . a. Chief brought •ite by the army, greater pleasure, if the Noble Lord would condescend and not those of a linig choseieby the people-- to tell the linose on what ground he bent his con. It might be asked, .why did nest the . people rim Usual on the fidelity of the Allies. They had all :tgainst his entrance into Fiance and prevent it : games to play, and stakes at issue, which in case of They did not, s becauseebey were deceived and intimi. any reverse of fortune on their sides, might render dated by the army which, by its support, now sought their attachment to the common cause rather (lute. to establish a military dis Pot on the throne. After ous. Prussia would in such-a case be looking with he had arrived in France, he .comntenced Ivy pro? a careful eye towards Saxony; Aust r ia towards rinsing liberty to the people; bet it Weald be seen Italy ; and Russia would be anxious to secure the how lie was likely to adhere to that promise. lie footing she. had got its Poland. The Noble Lord, not had taken possession of Holbind and he gave theta much more than a twelvemonth ago, had left this no liberty ; he got possession, of Spain and he gave country to assume the high character allotted to him, them no liberty ; he took . possession of Italy and in which he had so honourably performed his part, he treated it in n similir ivranner ; in • fact,' there Ira that ou his return he had been warmly greeted by the no country of which, he got eiossession•-wilieh be applause; of that house and of the country, and it did lint endeavour to. enslare..--Ellear,hear !1 — must be truly mortifying to the feelings of the Noble Ho had now got possession of Frams, and to it, as Lord to see that . ail o hie efforts had bee n re n d e red it was said, be gave a free Constitutiou ; and the futile and of no avail. Another argument which better to impose on the people, he associated him• weighed strongly on his mind 'gaunt plunging into a self with a set of men who were denominated war at the present moment was, the state of our Jacobins. He who could bear no liberty joined finances, which was certainly net the most flourish. with men who could hear no Government.—[A ing or desirable. His Majesty's Ministers had among latigh.i—By the adoption o f his n e w Constitutions them Gentlemen of the.first Wm, on that important Frenchmen were oblfged to swear the eternal ex ited intricate subject. The Right Hon. Gentleman • elusion of the Bliurboti Family from the Throne of at the head of that department had lately been joined , prance; that was, he' wished them to guarantee the by another Right Hon. Gentleman whose financial Throne to him, and then to trust to his promise?* abilities were generally looked up to with confidence. ! for their free Cniisiitution.—[lleue, hcarrj—ln. That Right Hon. Gentleman had not long since de..' the state ins which France now was, one.er Mb dared, "that in his opinion (amnion had arrived at usurped dominion, of Napoleon, this country nifty it utmost limits, and unless we adopted some plan of be considered as at war with her; for the very cm- • - poscihle we could go nii ha ell 14e Right llon.Geotleinao h id at two or three years. N o oblernatical that this star, if e be terminated in one year; a should unfortunately condo 'ree ye.trs, either the Right Ho aim§ must be incorrect, or l • that time in a most lamentaii of that. necessary food for carr idy called money. Linking 1 in the line of finance, 1 1 - 3 " i new not from allot source ne Irawn. He would consider parte, if he could be put dow ; circumstance for all Europe; b struggle with him he shout e AlJiea, it was by ne me ans ;ontemplate what Otkr peace esta n he. He, therefore, most cor amendment of-his 'Noble Edell; began by paying a complimrn 1, for the perseverance in whit '►rough the arduous_ business i engaged, and for the modest con • which he laid his statement be le himself wished on this occasio tin respecting the Tote he shout I that this country ought not t a the resources of the country e-establishing the House of Boar I he, " if we should refrain ho lime, there maybe a still greite out security, and a war witho u on then u, whether we shall figh OP 1. IMP for 1 v : .. i" • • 1 . . • 1 , 4 c *) • 1.. 1 • Vt ' ^ i:t . t titl3 • , 1 I 1 • i t I ' L 6 , li IC if .1 i