The Statesman. — London, England, 1812-05-21 00:00:00

1!1 d~ •.: e. , _ , ~ ~ r IMPERIAL PAR LIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS, MA• 20. -•-- - - Their Lordships met at half-post two o'clock, when the Royal Anent, by Commission, was given to the Irish Tobacco Duty Regulation, the Wrought Plate Duty Drawback, the Scotch Ciistmas Officers` Superannuation, and several Private Bills, amminting in all to forty-three. The Commissioner were, the Low, Chancellor, the Earl of Buckinghamshire, and Lord Walsingham. Dr. Clarke, from the Council Office, presented Papers rela tive to the Resident and Non-resident Clergy. and their Miler.. five stiptnds, according to an Order of their Lordships.—Or dered to lie on the table. IRISH TP.NANTS AND PEASANTRY. Fail STANHOPE called the attention of their Lordships to the Committee which stood appointed for Friday next, for en tering on a subject of the deepest importance . • he meant the con sideration of the Tenantry and Peasantry of Great Britain and Ireland He had understood from some Noble Friends near him, that the day appointed was liable to some incidental ob jections, and therefore he was desirous, that the Order should - be discharged, and a future day appointed. It was then, upon his Lordship's motion, agreed, that t h e Committee be summoned for the Friday following. ORI/ERS IN COUNCIL. . . . Lard SHEFFIELD presented a Petition from the Merchants. Traders, and Ship-Owners. of the P.rt of London.in favour of the Orders in Council; and his Lordship added, that he nas persuaded, that the opinions set forth is that Petition were those which were recognised and felt by tie great body of the Mci - chants of the United Kingdom. The Petition having been read, was laid on the table. The House then resolved into a Comnittee for the examination of the attending witnesseson the subject of the Orders in Conn ed, when Mr. Finlay, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, in Glasgow. underwent a lodg examination by the Earls Grey, Rosslyn. Landerdale, and others. At about seven o'clock, it was proposed by Lord BATHURST, that the House should ad journ. The Earl of LAUDERDALE objected to the proposed ad journment, on the ground of the distressing situation of the pe titioning manufacturers; declariug, that he thought their Lord shi: s would not do their duty ta the public, if they did not ear nestly and immediately proceed in the enquiry before the Nn• P. _ . F . BATHURST denied that the distresses, whatever timy might he, of which the Manufacturers complained, could, with anv fiiirmin, propriety, or justice, he ascribed to the measures of Hovernment. That, however, might become the topic of fti ture founded on a complete review of the evidence giveti 4ure the Committee. He was at present inclined to urge the iourin..ent, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, as it was !r.n.ffi'....nt on him, that night, to attend in another place, on a business of considerith i le importance. The Earl of LAUDERDALE, on the ground suggested by the Noble Lord, waved his opposition to the proposed adjourn ment. . . _ 'f he Farl of ROSSLYN, in the absence and in behalf of his ?fuhle Friend (the Marquis of Stafford), presented a Petition from the Potteries of StatotdMire, against the Orders in Conn cil.—Ordered to lie on the table. _ . Their Lordships then adjourned to One u'Clock to-morrow (this day). HOU'4E OF COMMONS. ORDERS IN COUNCIL. General FERGUSON presented a Petition against the Orders in Council, from Dunfermline.—Ordered to be referred to the Comsnittee. Mr. BROUGHAM presented a Petition from the inhabitants of Paisley, signed by about 4,500, complaining of the distresses of their trade, imputing those distresses to the Commercial sys tem, and ,praying relief.—Ordered to he referred to the Com: Dance. Mr. CANNING presented two Petitions from South Shields; one complaining of the losses sustained by their shipping interest from the Licensing System; and the other in favour of the Orders in Council. Mr. C., referring to the sentiments of the latter Petition. declared his opinion to be, so far as he had yet been enabled to make up his mind, that something like the spirit of the Orders in Council 1% as necessary for the protection of our trade. .tie Licensing System, however, was a departure from that spirit, and he certainly could not approve it. These Petitions were ordered to be referred to the afore-men tioned Committee. NEW WRITS. A new Writ was ordered to be issued for the election of a Member to serve in Parliament for Northampton, in the room of the Right lion. Spencer Perceval, deceased. Mr. 'v !IA RTON moved that a new Writ be issued for the election of a Bargee % for Old Sarum, in the mom of the Right Hon. Nicholas Venetian, who, since his election, has vacated his seat by acespting the offices of Commissioner of the Trea sury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer.--Ordered. ADDRESS FOR A STRONG ADMINISTRATION. ' Mr. STEW ART WORTLEY gave notice, that to-morrow he should move that an Address be presented to his Royal highness the Prince Regent, praying his Royal Highness to adopt such measures fortwith as may enable him to form a strong Admi nistration, to undertake the Government of the Country, in the present perilous and important situation of affairs.—[ Hear, Aver 1] TOLERATION. Mr. WHITBREAD rose, for the purpose of putting of his Motion on the subject of Toleration, which stood for this day, to this day fornight. Sine , . his entrance into the House, he had understood that his Royal highness the Prince Regent had been iiac.trial) pleased to appo,ot a Right lion. Gentl em an (M r . , ransittart) tam the office of Chancellor of the Escheq tier, whose presence, at the discussion of his motion, possibly might be wish- I eti, 011 the part of Government. He also put olf his motion re specting Henry and Sir .1. Craig. BELLINGILAM'S CASE. Lord ',GOWER moved, that there be laid befhre the house a Copy of a Letter from his Lordship, late Anthassador at the Court of Ru.,ia, to Lord Castlereagh, dated May 17 Ihl2, on the subject of Ilelliugham's elaitas on Government , and conduct in Russia. His Lordship dwelt on the necessity of having that Document, hoping that such necessity would be a sufficient ex cite- for not has ing given previous notice of his motion. [near!] 'The Letter be deemed necessary, after the imputation that had been thrown on Goyeroment, and in vindication of himself, of his country, and of the Right Honourable Gentleman, now no more. Lord CASTLEREAGH acknowledged the receipt of such a Letter, and approved of the motion.—Agreed to. MONUMENT OF' MIL PERCEVA L. Lord JOCELYN appeared at the Bar a int the Answer of the Prince Regent to the Address of that House, praying his Royal Highness to give directions for the erection of a Monument to the memory of Mr. Perceval. The Answer of bis Royal High pees communicated his gracious intentions of complying with the request of the /louse. The Publicans' and the Manure Carriage Bills were ordered to be committed on Tuesday next. AIR. PF.RCEV.IL'S FAMILY. Mr. LUSHINUTON brought op the Report of the Committee, upon the question thnt it should be read a second time, Mr. WHITBREAD rose—lle said, he was ex tremely unwilling to oppose a propositiou like that then before the House ; but, as it did appear to him that the House had gone to the full extent of remu neration for Mr. Perceval's family, and as every thitig beyond remuneration would appear like a re ward of his public services --[No ! no! front vari ous parts of the llorese]—which services he utterly denied, he could not permit himself to vote in fa vour of the question. The Honourable Gentleman who moved the Resolution, had put it to him, whe ther 2001. a-year was sufficient provision for the eldest son of Mr. Perceval ?—But he wished to re mind that Honourable Gentleman of what the fact really was. The income of Mrs. Perceval, arising from her own private fortune, and the sums voted by Parliament for herself and children, would amount to 65001. a-year : and would any person say, that a Gentleman's widow, with twelve children to bring up, oould be considered as inadequately provided tor, with such an income ?—Now, too, that the House had cooled from the influence of those feel. lugs, the existence of which was truly honourable to every mad in it, he would beg leave to advert to one or two other particulars. He understood that there were family expectations, derivable from per sons far advanced In life, and whom, therefore, It -was highly probable, Mrs, • Peroeval would survive, 'That was an additional reason foe limiting the hew. el , of Parliament to what bad been already done.-” THE STATESMAN. He would view the case in another light. NV64* they do for the widows of those who died in the military or naval service of their country ?—A pen sion of 5001. a-year was reckoned an ample provi sion. In the present year even under Mr. Perceval's Administration, the widow Of I gallant Officer, who fell in the breach before Ciudad Rodrigo—(he meant General Craufbrd)—nas recommended by the Right Honourable Gentleman himself, he believed, to the Crown, as a fit object of its bounty, and she re ceived 3001. a-year, with 1001. to each of the chil dren. Upon all,these grounds, he should feel it his unpleasant and painful duty not only of opposing the question, Nit' of dividing the House upon it. Sir 3. NICIIOL thought the provision was hardly doing an act of justice ; for it should be remembered, that Mr. Perceval not only abandoned a lucrative pro= fession, but the most lucrative post in that profes sion. His disinterestedness also, formed a claim upon tare generosity of the House in behalf of his fa mily. He declined the office of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for life, though there were in stances of its having been so granted, and among others to Lord Ashburton. When lucrative situ ations became vacant, he did not vest them• in his own person ; and when he was appointed First Lord •f the Treasury, he declined the emoluments of the situation of Chancellor of the Exchequer, not osten ! tatiously, but clandestinely as it were, by a simple Treasury minute. Such disinterestedness, he thought, deserved to be recorded; and with regard to the question itself, he did not consider the remuneration already granted, at all adequate to the pecuniary loss his family had sustained by his death. Sir J. NEWPORT could not but think that they who hereafter should read of the grant they were then called upon to vote, would consider it as a re- Cognition of the public services of Mr. Perceval, and upon that view of it, he should vote against it. In deed, he thought the first gthnt had gone every length the House could go, short of acknowledging the public service of the late Right Honourable Gentle man. Mr. BARHAM voted in favour of the question, and so accordant was it to the wishes of the people, that he believed if every man in England could be poll ed, man by man, each would sacrifice whatever he could afford towards accomplishing the object. With re gard to the case of Officers' Widows, he did not think it at all analogous, for an Officer accepted the situation, knowing it to be one of danger; but a Minister had no reason to suppose he should lose his life in the execution of his duty. Sir F. BURDETT would not have said any thing respecting the character of Mr. Percent, deeming it highly improper at this particular time ) did he not owe it to himself, after what had passed, to say, that all the Right Hon. Gentleman's measures, deserved not public approbation, but public reprobation.— He did not think he should discharge his public duty, were he to approve of this additional grant required from the exhausted pockets of the people. He could not but lament, estimating Mr. Percent's virtues as he did, and the pecuniary loss that must have result ed to the family, and above all the present situation of the country, that some other way had not been thought of to alleviate the situation of the widow and children. Had a private subscription been open ed, he should have gladly made a large demand upon his private purse; but in the performance of public duty he could not approve this additional demand upon the public purse. Lord JOCELYN spoke in support of the propo sition, as did Mr. HUSKISSON, they maintaining that justice to the son required such a grant. Mr. HOME SUMNER obierved, that iu the Bill introduced by an tion. Gentleman opposite, it was provided, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should, after three year's service, be entitled to a pension of 30001. per annum. Mr. Perceval's ser vice had exceeded that period, and if he had died in possession of such provision, it could have been as suredly considered no more than fair to transfer it to his widow. The House then divided, when there appeared for The Resnlut ion - - 171 Against it - - - 16 Majority - • —155 . When we were admitted again into the Gallery, we found the House in a Committee of Supply. But Mr. WHITBREAD objected to its going on in the absenco of the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; and, after a few observations from Mr. WHARTON, it was postponed till Monday. The Scotch Taxes Bill was read a second time,and ordered to be committed on Monday. The Committee on the Riots' Bill was postponed till Monday. The House then went into Committee on the Or ders in Council, on the motion of Mr. BROUGHAM, who proceeded in the examination of witnesses, after which the House adjourned. That he (Lord Liverpool) was authorised to ex press the disposition of aU his colleagues to act with .Lord Wellesley and me, under an arrangement which might be at once consistent with their own louour , and duty, and honourable and satisfactory to us; That with respect to Lord Castlereagh, it was fair that it should be distinctly understood, that the situ ation in which he stands both in this Government, and in the house of Commons, was to be preserved to him ; ' That with respect to official arrangements, he (Lord L.) would not have been the bearer of any proposition to me, but one which was understood as comprising my friends. In answer to a question put by me, Lord L. stated, that his colleagues were de sirous, that he should be appointed to the office of First Lord of the Treasury; and that this desire was known to the Prince Regent, when his Royal High " ness commanded Lord Liverpool to undertake this communication. Lord Liverpool added, that he was ready to answer any other enquiry that I might wish to make ; or to clear up any thing that he might have imperfectly ex plained. I said, that I thought it better to receive his communication just as he gave it to me ; and to defer making any remark, or giving any answer whatever, until I should have communicated it to my Mends : Lord Liverpool himself, undertaking to see Lord Wellesley. I would only, therefore, ask—Whether I was to consider the opinion and policy of the Govern ment as remaining altogether unchanged upon the question relating to the Laws affecting the Roman Ca tholics? Lord Liverpool answered, that his own opinions upon this subject remained unchanged ; and that he was not aware that those of his colleagues had un dergone any change. I then wrote this Minute in Lord Liverpool's pre sence ; which he read over, and suggested such cor rections as appeared to him necessary for making it perfectly accurate. (Signed) May 17, Mt GEORGE CANNING. No. 11. Minute of Conversation between Lord Wellesley and Lord Li verpool, 17th May, 1812. Apsley House, 17th May, 1812, / past 5, p. m. Lord Liverpool came to me immediately after his visit to Mr. Canning, and remained with me for about half an hour. Soon after Lord Liverpool's departure, I received the annexed paper from Mr. Canning*. Lord Liverpool's conversation with me was sub stantially the same as that - which is described to have passed with Mr. Canting. Any difference which appeared, arose necessarily from my questions and observations, which were made without know ledge of what passed between Lord Liverpool and Mr. Canning. After receiving Lord Liverpool's verbal communication, nearly in the terms stated by Mr. Canning, I enquired, Ist, what was to be the policy of the Government with relation to the Roman Catholics ? To this question Lord Liverpoolreturned the same answer stated in Mr. Canning's paper, to have been returned to a similar question. 2dly, I observed to Lord Liverpool, that he was apprised of my opinion. that our efforts in the Peninsula had been toridncted on an inadequate and imperfect scale, which could not be expected to accomplish the ultimate objects of the war in that quarter. That I had for a long time considered an extension of our system in the Penin sula to be indispensibly necessary, and easily practi cable: that I was aware of the impropriety (in My present situation) of urging any detailed questions to Lord Liverpool on this point ; but that I mentioned it now, because it must form a principal considera tion in my answer to the propsition which he had brought to me. Lord Liverpool said, that he did not agree in my opinion respecting the scale of the efforts which n e had hitherto made in the Peninsula, which he thought as great as it had been possible to make ; that there never had been any limit to our exertions in that quarter, but what arose out of the question of prac ticability (that is, the means of increasing and sup plying our armies), and that he had never heard any specific plan, by which those means might have been carried further, though the subject had been often most anxiously considered in my presence : that cir cumstances had occurred since my resignation, which , did not then exist, and into the particulars of which it would not be proper for him to enter at this time, which might enable Government to extend, to a cer tain decree, the military operations in the Peninsula, and the system of himself and his colleagues would be, as he contended they always had been, to make the greatest efforts in the cause of the Peninsula, which the resources of the country rendered posl Bible. A idly, I enquired whether all the general constitu ent parts of the present Cabinet were to remain ? He informed me that they were in general to remain.— lie believed it was known to me, that same of the Members of the Cabinet had been long desirous of retiring, and would be ready, therefore, now to af ford facilities to any new arrangement. In answer to a question put by me respecting Lord Sidmouth and his friends, he said they were to remain. 4thly, I stated to Lord Liverpool, that I made no enquiry respecting the proposed distribution and nl location of offices ; because that circumstance would not constitute the basis of my decision upon the p rod. ' position which he had brought to me. Lord Liverpool observed, that the distributioa.of offices was a matter open to future adjustment; to be regulated for the honour of all parties. sthly, When Lord Liverpool informed me, that the kading in the House of Commons was to be pre served to Lord Castlereagh, I remarked, that in any situation which I might ever hold in any Administra tion, I should feel great obligatioti to any Member of the Government who would undertake that charge, which war called the leading in the House of Parlia ment in which I sat, although I was fully aware, of the great importance which that charge necessarily conveyed to the person who exercised it, and of the great influence which it must give to him in the ge neral administration and patronage of the Govern ment. • 6thly, I desired to kaitw, whether all those pet sons now designated by the name of the " Qeposi • Vide Kr. Cooing's Maine, No. 1. • :- '`. l 77' :~ L.VIL-v;11' tion," were to be excluded from the proposed schem e of Administration. Lord Liverpool answered, that eo pri I of V i t z cLuslo o n il w ak u e intruded p d r e o d p ; os b a u l, t t t h o at ai h v e p w e a r s so i l i t t s it d o u f imp e th th% description, which I had mentioned. 7thly, Considering the course which laord Liver. pool had observed, in making this communication, I asked him, whether he applied to me by command of the Prince Regent, as a part of Mr. Canning's suite? —I reminded Lord Liverpool of the coostant and unabated exertions which I had made to open eve n " avenue for the return of Mr. Canning to the pulilfe service, remarking at the same time, that I never had attempted to press that point, beyond the Ito. nour and feelings of Mr. Perceval's Administration. I stated, that I could not consider any Administra. tion to be constituted on. a foundation of justice ie. wards individual talents and services, or toward s the iuterests of the country, in which Mr. Cann:n, should not hold a high efficient situation. But 1 added, that Mr. Canning was under no engagement to me, which could preclude his acceptance of any Office which might be offered to him ; that, on the other hand, Mr. Canning would certainly make the same declaration with regard to my perfect freedom. Lord Liverpool said, that he had pursued this course of communication, being convinced, that under the present circumstances, I would not accept Office, unless a fair proposal was made to Mr. Cauning: I I declared to Lord Liverpool, that he was correct in gnhntillAi and fit, an d this view of my senti m ents t ow a r d s M r. Canning; I re we perfectlyrepeating , f however, ree to actt haast each M might . Ca , , that our agreement in many great public principles, could not affect questious of mere official arrange, ment. Bthly, I expressed my wish to receive this commu nication in writing ; to answer it in writing; and also to submit my sentiments upon the whole tram. action in an audience of the Prince Regent. Lord Liverpool informed me, that Mr. Caning would transmit to me a copy of the Minute of Lord Liverpool's conversation taken in his presence, and Lord Lis erpool desired - me to consider that i'aer 4 as the written communication which I wished to receive. I agreed to Lord Liverpool's proposal on this point. I then informed Lord Liverpool, that I would return my answer in writing to that Paper. Whatever might be the tenor of my answer, with regard to the great public considerations on which it must be founded, I expressed my hope, that Lord Liverpool would be assured of my sincere personal respect and esteem. I now transmit this Minute to Lord Liverpool, request ing him to insert any correction which he may think requisite. May 18, 1819. (Signed) WELLESLEY. Corrected by Lord Liverpool, and returned to me. (Signed) WELLESLEY. No. 111". Nurse from Mr. Canning to Lord Wellesley, iodating a Letter to Mr. Canning from Lord Liverpool, relative tu Lad G. tleroagb. (COPY.) Gloucester-Lodge, Sunday night, hirty 17. ISli MY [Milt WELLESLEY. _ _ _ I have just received from Lord Liverpool a letter, of which the enclosed is a copy. I transmit it to you, to be added, according to his desire, to the copy of the Minute of his vernal communication of this morning. Ever attnticiiiately your's, G. C. (COPY.—Iii No. III.) Lord Liverpool to Mr. Quiniag. (Private.) MY DEAR CattNtvd, Fffe-houte, May 17, 1812. I think, upon reflection, it is due to Lord Castle. reagh to state, in writing, what I mentioned to you vernally, that from motives of delicacy, he absented himself from the Cabinet, on the occasions on which the subject in your Memorandum was determined. I did not, however, make the communication to you, without having reason to know that he would be no obstacle in the way of an arrangement, found ed on the principles stated in the Memorandum. will beg of you to communicate this letter to any persons to whom you may communicate the Memo randum. PAPERS RELATIVE TO LORD LIVERPOOLS PROPOSAL TO LORD WELLF:SLEY, MAY 17, 1812. (COPY)—No. I. Note from Mr. Canning to Lord Wellesley, inclining the Mi nute taken in Lord Liverpool's presence. May 17. 1811 Gloucester Lodge, May 17, 1811 MY Doan WELLEnEY, I inclose the Minute which I have taken in Lord Liverpool's presence of the proposal which he was charged to convey to me. Ever, my dear Wellesley, , Sincerely and affectionately-, your's (Signed) GEOROL CANNING• P. S. I shall return a written answer to Lord Li verpool to-morrow. (INCLOSURE—No. I.) Minute of Gaaversatian between Mr. Canning and Lard Liver pool, dated 17th Mnv, 1812. Glouceste► Lodge, Sundoy, May 17, 1814. Lord Liverpool stated to me that he was com manded by his Royal highness the Prince Regent to make me the following communication : That upon the melancholy event of Mr. Perceval's death his Royal I lighness being desirous of continuing his Administration upon its present basis, was desi. roue also of strengthening it as much as possible, by auoriating to it such persons in public life as agreed moat nosily and generally In the principles upon which public @flairs had been conducted; That with lisle view his Royal HighneaS looked to Lord Wellesley and to me; . , •-• • . - , 44 4 t ism . . A 4-9 LIVERPOOL. (Signed) To the Right Hon. George Canning. No. IV. Copy of n Letter from the Marquis of WelleQley to the Earl of Liverpool, transmitting Lord W.% Reply to Lord Liverpool's Proposal. Apsley Hutt , e, May 18, 1812, half-pa•t three. p. tn. MY DEAR LORD,---I inclose a paper, containing my reply to the communication which you were so kind as to make to me yesterday. Alchough I find myself compelled to decline the proposal which you conveyed, I request you to alcept my grateful thanks for the, amicable and satisfactory manner iii which o rolf . communicated with me; Mind to be assured, that always entertalli thensost sincere and cordial sentiments of personal respect'and esteem for you. Believe me, my dear Lord, most sincerely your's, Earl of Liverpool. • (signed) WEL L ESL k; Y. Is N.D. IV.) Lord Wellesley's Reply to Lord Liverpool's Proposition. Aps ey House, MaN IQ. From the communication received through Lord Liverpool, I understand, that his Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been graciously pleased to sig nify his desire of strengthening his Administration upon its present basis, by associating me with it, as one of those persons who agree most nearly aid ge nerally in the principles upon which public &Aire have been conducted. From the same communication I also derive the gratifying-intelligence,. that all Lord Liverpool's col leagues have authorized Mtn to express a disposition to act with me, under an arrangement, consistent with their own honour and duty, and honourable and satisfactory to me. I receive this notification of the Prince Regent's commands with every sentiment of duty and affec tion, while it affords me matter of just satisfaction, that, to the distinguished honour of such condescend ing notice from his Royal Highness, is added so high :a testimony of the confidence and esteem of all the respectable persons composing his present Adminis ' (ration. With all humility towards the exalted authority from which this proposition proceeds, and with the most sincere regard for those through whom it is con veyed, I•must however, declare, that I should have declined it at the fi rst instant of Its approach, if mo o See Mr. Canning's Mote (No. I.) S 44, • . . ;~ .... 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