The Statesman. — London, England, 1812-05-22 00:00:00

o I I# i Z ! ' 1 i v ; i \i _ • i ! , Lk TIIE STATESMAN. EXPLANATORY LETTERS REFERRED TO IN YESTERDAY'S PAPER, TO THE lIARQUIS WELLESLEY. MY DEAR I.oh F oe• hou.e, May 19, IBM After the receipt of the paper which you sent to n.e in the afternoon of yesterday, I should certainly nave felt it to be unnecessary and fruitless to trouble you with any farther correspondence, if I were not desirous to correct the misapprehension, into which you appear to have fallen respectinc , my opinions, and those of my Colleagues, upon the'Roman Catho lic question. In the communication which passed between us on Sunda v, as well as that which 1 previously had with Air. tanning, 1 certainly stated my opinions upon the Roman Catholic question to remain unchanged, and that l was not aware that those of my Colleagues had undergone any change. With n.spect to myself individually, I must pro test against its being inferred from any declaration of mine, that it is, or ever has been, my opinion, that under no circumstances it would be possible to male any altericion in thelaws respecting the Roman Catholics. Upon the last occasion on which the subject was il:.:•-t.ssed in Parliament, I expressly stated that cir co:r.tatices might arise, in which, in -my judgment, some alteration in those laws would be advisable.- 1 have always been desirous of haring the specific proposition which should explain, distinctly, what part of the existing securities it nas intended to re peal—what part it was intended to preset —and what were the new securities which it has been so often declared mtif,t be substituted in the place of some of those which are at present in force. I have never hoard any satisfactory explanation on this point. I will fairly own, that in the present state of the opinions and the feeliKgs of the Roman Catholics, do not believe such a project to be practicable, con- sistently with the attainment of the avowed objects of really satisfying the Roman Catholics, and of af fording an adequate security to the Established Church and Constitution. Entertaining this opinion, I have kit it to be my dety to continue to resist a Parliamentary enquiry on that subject; in my judgment, could be productive of no other circa than that of alarming the Protestants on the one hand, aod of deluding and deceiving the Roman Catholics on the other. With respect to the opinions of my Colleagues, there are some who entirely agree with me in the view whichl have taken of this question ; but I am sure it must be known to you from discussions at which you have been present, that there are others who have always entertained and avowed different opinions from those professed by toe, upon some parts of this subject. You niust recollect that considerations of a very high importance, but which might be only temporary in their nature, induced us all, up to a very late pe riod, to be decidedly of opinion that it was not pro per, that under such circumstances the measure should be entertained. You may be of opinion, that since the month of February last these considerations have ceased to be in force : bet they are still regarded by others as s►ot having lost their weight. Besides the considera tions to which I have referred, the conduct and tem per which the Roman Catholics have been induced to manifest, —the principle upon which the ques tion has been brought forward,—the circumstances of Europe at this time, give rise to objections which are felt in a greater or less degree by different persons. I have thought this explanation due to my Colleagues and to myself. In one point we are all agreed, that this is not the moment at which the question ought to be entertain ed, with a view to any immediate practical conse quence. lam aware, that in this sense of our duty, tr , r opinions may be at variance with your's ; but it is materi iI that these opinions should not be misun derstood, or subject to the interpretation to which my silence might render them liable, if I had not return ed some answer to that part of your paper. Upon t! , c subject of the manner in which the war in the Peni-.sula has been managed, I forbear enter ing into any particulars at present; but I think it material to observe, with res!.ect to my declaration, that since your resignation it had been found practi cable to make some extension of the mili!ary efforts in the Peninsula—that this has not :nisei' from any means which were in existence at the time when you were in office, and which there had been then any indisposition or objection to direct to that object, but it has growl► out of events which have subse quently occurred, and I% hich may place at the dis posal of Government means which were at that time unavoidably applied to another service. As this letter is merely explanatory, I will not give you the trouble of returning any answer to it; but I am sure you will see the justice and propriety of considering It as a part of the correspondence which has passed between us on the subject to which it relays. 1 am, &c. Marquis Wellesley, K. G. (Signed) LIVERPOOL. • No. VI. Copy of Lord Wellesley's Reply to Lord Liverpool's Explana tory Letter of the 19th of May, 142. MY DEAR LORD, A pslfy-house, May 21. Although you have had the goodness to dispense with my returning any answer to your letter of the 19th inst. some farther observations on my part may, perhaps, contribute to promote the professed object of that letter, b y explaining and correcting whatever may appear dou btful or erroneous in the course of our recent correspondence. When you informed me, that your opinion upon the claims of the Roman Catholics remained un changed, and that you were not aware of any change in the opinion of your Colleagues on that subject, I cer'ainly concluded, that the policy, which has been pursued, during the present Session of Parliament, would be continued by the new Cabinet. Subse quent reflection satisfies me, that such a conclusion vas just and reasonable; nor can I admit, that I have fallen into any misapprehension of that system of policy, when I have described it as consisting, not only in the denial of any present relief to the Roman Catholics, but evon a peremptory refusal to consider the state of the law which ailed* their civil condition. Whatever may be the different character or com plexion of the opinions of the several Members of the present Cabinet, the practical result has been to pursue the course which 1 have described, during the present Session of Parliament; and your explanation on this point closes with an aalmission, that you are all agreed to continue the same policy in the present moment. No suggestion is made of the time or circum stances, in which any alteration of this system of policy can be expected; ne prospect is afforded of any conciliatory proceeding, which might tend to open the way to an amicable settlement; and, while a desire of hearing specific propositions of.security is professed, the very consideration of the question is denied to Parliament, and is not pursued by any other authority. This statement is no misapprehension of the tenor of your explanatory letter ; and in such a state of the practical consequences of the united councils of the present Cabinet, it may be deemed superfluous to analyze individual sentiment. This task (however useless with regard to present practice) is required from me, by the strong protest which you have made against any inference to be drawn from any declaration of your's, 44 that it is, 44 or ever has been your opinion, that under no 46 circumstances, it would be . possible to make any 44 alteration iii the laws respecting the Roman Ca " tholics." To this protest, you have added an as surance, 44 That upon the last occasion, on which the sulject• was discussed in Parliament, you ex " pressly stated th:it circumstances 'night arise, in whicit, in your judgment, sonic alteration in those " laws would he advisable." I confess freely to you, that I had always under stood your recorded opinion on this subject in a very diiferent sence : I had supposed, that you considered the disabilities inipm2ll by statute upon the Ro. man Catholics, not as temporary and occasional se cui iti - es, agaii:st a temporary and occasional danger, but as an integral and pernianeA ~ a rt of the Con stitution in Cnurch and State, estabitshed at the Re. volution. In this opinion, I had always understood, that several of the priti.-.ipal Mewbers of the present Ca blunt concurred with you ; and that you felt, in com mon, an apprehension, that the removal of any im portant part of this s) stem of restraint would en danger the foundations of the Establishment of our Laws, Liberties, and Religion. Viewing in this light your sentiments, and those of the respectable persons to whom I refer, I am persuaded that I shall not be suspected of i;.tending to cast any reflection upon the honour or honesty of those principles, or of the persons who maintain them. I have ever considered those principles to be pure and honest in the minds in whit ;1 I supposed them to reside ; and, u bile I gave full credit to their sinceri ty, I lamented their erroneous foundation and dan gerous tendency. I must farther declare, that from some accident, I did not hear the statement in Parliament to which your refer, as having been made by you, on the last occasion, in the House of Lords. I now, however, understand your opinion to I,;', that circumstances ;nag arise, in which, in your judgment, some alteration would be advisable in the Laws affecting the Roman Catholics. I should be desirous of urging the same enrol re specting circumstances, which you have re specting sf , curities; and I should be anxitic3 ',I hear the specific statement of ALL, on ANY CF THOsE Cla- CUMSTANCES, under which you would advise any al teration in the laws respecting the Roman Catholics. The explanation which you require respecting se curities, is attainable only by a full congideration and discussion of the whole• ; and I :nen•G•r, view the declared intention of resislng the first step towards such a discussion, as an effectual barrier against that explanation, which you consider to he the necessary preliminary, to any alteration of the existing statutes. The details of your reasoning on this part of the question render the prospect of any settlement ut terly hopeless. You require a cliangtt in the state of the opinions, feelings, conduct, and temper of the Roman Catholics, as a preliminary, even to the con sideration of the causes of their complaints. But is it possible to expect effectual change iu the temper or the Roman Catholic Body, while you refuse even to enquire into the nature of f heir ,-;rinvances The repeated rejection of their tvi:;vett any other deli beration than drat which has arisen th: : ,cro question of tak ing the Petition into coniiilerttion, ii 1., t t clurse of proceeding calculated to mitigate th:: ~rvcri•y of disa, ; • Reason and modenttio n must appear in a tEideration of their prayer, if we hope to infuse those qualitis their pro ceedings. Yuu require, also, a change in the circumstances of .:ompe.— Ignorant of the e, nts which may have furnished at. hope of st such a change, since I had the honour of a s tare in bis Royal Highness's Co u ncils, I must consi ler the detertniention to delay this interesting question, until Europe shall have assumed a new aspect, as a virtual negative upon the substance of the claim; and I feel this point wi+N a greater degree of pain, h 'cause I ant convinced, that the continuance of Ireland in her i•resent condi tion, must protract, if not perpetuate, the present unhappy con dition of Europe. But, until these preliminaries shall have been established,.yos declare, that it will be your duty to resist Parliamentary eg quiry, wl.ich, in your judgment, could be productive of no other effect, than " to alarm the Protestants, and to delude the Roman Catholics." At the same time, you offer no hope, that the means of relief will be opened by any other authority. I cannot understand throngh what channel of reason, or pas sion, the Protestants should be alarmed, or the Catholics de hided, by a full and fair consideration of the state of the laws affecting the latter body. Indeed, I cannot conceit e *any pro ceedings° likely to remove alarm, and prevent delusion, us that which appears to you likely to create both. On the other hand, I apprehend witch more danger, both of alarm and of delusion, from any system of use:lams to be founded on the general and indistinct terms, in which you state, that " circumstances matt ar6e, in which sense alteration in the laws would be advisable." You refer to considerations of a" yen v RIGn tmeoaTassce," which, until a very late period of time, have precluded the Ex ecutive Government and Parliament from entertaining this mea sure ; and you suggest, that in the opinion of some persons, these considerations have not lost their weight. I presume, that you refer to the know n sentiments of the most exalted and venerable authority in these realms, on the claims of his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects. As your letter seems to hear some reference to the course of my conduct in Parliament, and in his Majesty's Councils on this subject, I avail myself of this opportunity to explain the motives, both of my former silence, and of the recent declaration of my sentiments. At the remote period of the year 1797, upon the eve of my de parture for India, I stated to the late Mr. Pitt my solicitude, that he should direct his attention to the settlement of Ireland ; and I expressed to him my conviction, that Ireland could neither be happily settled, nor firmly united to Great Britain, without a concurrent settlement of the claims of his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects. The Opinions which I declared to Mr. Pitt, at that time, respecting the substance of those claims, were pre cisely similar to those which I have stated in thellouse of Lords during the present Session of Parliament. It is not necessary to enter upon any review of' the transac tions which passed during my absence in Lodi*, with relation to Ireland, or to the claims of the Item' Catholics. I arrived from India in the month of January, ; and after one short interview with Mr. Pitt, 1 assisted in performing the last sad office of following his remains to the grave. You arc aware, that long before that period of time, the " 114;6 ronti , bratiwis" to which you refer, had been fixed in full force; that no attempt to change those sentiments cold have been made with any prospect of success; and that the result, even if a sacciastil proceeding in Parliament, would have tended only to produce the most dreadful extremity of coufusion. You Lllllll. remember, that I have always lamented (as serious national calamities, menacing the Constitution of the alonarrhy) the reference, which has necessarily been made to the existence of those personal sentiments, and the causes which have occe gamed that necessi.y. With the warmest sentiments of personal veneration, attach ment, and tratitade, my opinion has always been, that the duty of loyalty and affection towards a British Sovereign does not consist in submissive obedience even t. the honest prejudices or errors of the Itoyal mind, hut, rather, in respectful endeavours to remove those prejudices and errors, by free advice is Coun cil, and by temaerate remonstrance is Parliament. But the time for such endeavours had passed : and I submitted reluctantly, not to my sense of the genuine duty . of a fiitlit'al Counsellor towards his Sovereign, bat to the painful, and, by me, irreversible necessity of the case. This is a subject of the utmost, of the most perilous delicacy : —your letter has opened it: —I will pursue it no farther than to assure you, that when, on the 31st of January, I declared, in the House of Lords, my sentiments respecting the Roman Ca tholic claims, the necessity which bad occasioned my silence ap peared to me to hay.. entirely ceased. MT second point of your explanatory letter refers to the ma nagement of the war in the Peninsula. Your sitagea ions ;we necessarily indistinct, with retard to the additional means t whica have occurred since my resignation) of extending our military efforts in that quarter: I think 1 can collect even Irmo you. hiut , , that although those means arc ex trarieaus, the probability of their existence might ba, e been foreseen, as the natural result of instructions which were in pro gre,s of execution previously to my resignation. But my objection to the system pursued in the Peninsula, at the time of my resignation, was applied to the whole frame and fabric of onr pernion. , nt arrangements, Loth in Portugal and Spain, which, to my judgment , must be corrected and extended, not only with a vitas to Me advantageous use of such means as we :taw p amass in the Peninsula, but even of such adventitious :tad extraneous means as events in othiw uartery may place at our disposal. Believe me, my dear Lord, always }}ours, must sincerely, (Signed) Nat L LLS LILY. The J.;arl of Liverpool, &c. A tr. Mails. Due. 1 0 • 3 O O 0 O THE STATESMAN. LONDON: ?RID tY, DltY 22, 1814. The termiration cf the debate in the House of . Commons last pi;ltt, on the motion of Mr. IVotur- Lcv, is such as it ought to have been, and reflects the high. , st honour on the independent Members of the House of Commons, who votml against Ministers.— We should have wishml the Address, which was car.. ried, to the Pat Nee ItElvsr, had been more compre.. vosive in its nature; hut as i• is we are satisfied. It is the first of :natty triumphs which we anticipate over the enemies of Liberty, lud may be regarded as the fu neral knell of the oppressors of the people. It now remains for tha PRINCE REGENT to show that he has no "predilections ;" that he holds his high office only for the welfare of his subjects. The voice of the nation, through its Representatives, has declared the pre sent Administration totally incapable of managing the atiairs of the State. Thus relieved from all ties or obligations which his Royal Highness may have felt himself under, in reference to the PcaccvAt. Party, it is now in his power to save our sinking country. Nothing Moods in the way of his calling to his Councils the early friends of his youth, to whom he gave so many unreserved pledges of attachmeut to the cause of the • people. If he pursues this course, his Itoval Highness may yet avert the danger that threatens us. But if, influenced by in terested Counsellors, subjected to the controul of female influence, and falcinated by the allure ments of the Courier's 44 Guardian Angel," he shut his ears against the warning voice, which cries aloud for a change of system, he will then have himself alone to blame for the consequences of his infatuation. What a glorious day would it be to Britain, if she saw the helm of the State put into the hands of those men who are conrinbed that the restoration of peace is essential to her salvation. What a sad reverse, if it is to be again entrusted to those who have proclaimed' inter minable war, and whose interest it is to continue the present system. The fact, which we have so repeatedly stated, that the Berlin and Milan Decrees had been repealed by BONAPARTE, in so far as they respected American commerce, has been officially announced to our Go vernment, as will be seen by the subjoined article, which we copy from the Chronicle of this morning :- 66 We pledge curselves to the truth of the follow ing important fact :—• " On Tuesday last the American Mission here communicated to Ministers a dispatch which they had received from the American Minister at Paris; [ containing the formal renunciation, by the French I Government, of the Milan and Berlin Decrees, as • far as regards America; and which document of re nunciation is dated as far back as April, 1811. This Official Notification was made by the French Go vernment to the American Minister, in consequence of our Declaration, that whenever these Decrees should be repealed, our Orders in Council should also cease. This Paper, which probably did not exist, and was perhaps antedated, now comes, however, substan tiated to our Government, and, therefore, the Or- I.ders in Council must stand repealed as far as 6ncerus America." Mr. ItYhEtt announced last plain terms, his resignation of tlio office of Secretary of State for the Heine department. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. flank India Bonds 1 p 3 per Cent. Cuns. 804 i Exchequer Bills 1 d 3 per cent. Red. 60} I)ittu 4 rr Cents. lii{ °minion 5 per Cent. Navy SIU Consols for Acct. (103 i Long. Ann. 14 7-16 Lottery Tickets iV2I 'lB Some discoveries, says a Nlorninr, Pa , per, have N. cently been made, which have rend•n-ed the d-pa, cure of LUCIEN BON& PAR It from this country - a measure of indispeiriible necessity. It was expected that the present Session of Parlia. ' rent would terminate the third week in June, but from recent occurrences it is likely to sit until Lie end of July. A Chapter of the Order of the Thistle will be held this day, after the Levee, when his Grace th e D uke of Ikea-teen and the Earl of EGLINGTON will be invested with the two vacant ribbands of that Order. From the time of the memorable law of the ?anti. mum in France, under ROBESPIERRE, the ation:i, 4l of that principle has been held utterly inconlirri;:,!,, with even national existence. BONAPARTE has, I!or.. ever, had the courage to doubt the justice of that conclusion—having by his Decree of the .3tli i: 1 , ! . absolutely limited the price of corn to thirty-three francs the hectolitre! The result will shew how far this experiment is founded on true principles. t; questionably, if, after a period when corn has bee ! , sold at an extravagant price, there shall prove to he a surplus stock remainiug in the country, the people suffer unnecessarily. Lo YELL v. GOLDSMITH.—This cause was tried yes terday, before Lord ELLENIIOROUGH and a spt.:•ial Jury, when a verdict was given for the D.fentiant.-- We shall take the first opportunity to give a correct report of the proceedings. Amongst the latest arrivals at Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, are, Lard and Lacty PoNiosur, L i d y TEN PEE, Sir SYDNEY SMIT2I, Captain REATUCOTI:, It. N. Captain and Mrs. liEsnEnsom, Mr. TyNu.tt.t. and family, Mrs. and Miss RUSSELLS, &c. &c. OLD BAll.EY.—Tuesday the Sessions ended, when sentence of death was passed on J. Metcalfe, J.Goll, Eleanor Chambers, and G. Harrison, fur stealingi i i dwelling-houses; J. Richardson, for highway rob. bery ; Cath. Foster, for taking a false oath to obtain letters of administration ; T. Collicot, for vendin; and uttering certain forged stamps; and Mary Best, for uttering a forged Bank-note. J. Scott atal J. Bunn, were ordered to be trans. ported for life; Isaac Nowla.tul, for 1.1 years: and 17 for seven years; hwo to be imprisoned in the House of Correction at Clerkenwell, for two years each ; seven for one year each ; and 17 for six mortha each; seven in Newgate for various periods; dire) to be privately whipped ; IS judgments respited ; two paid ls. each and discharged ; and 24 discharged by proclamation. The Sessions were then adjourned to to Ist of July neat. Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in the Isle of Wight, to his friend in London :—" Yr u say you arehesitating re,,l say, where yo u make shall t i pitch h 4ci ain ur tent your this stim me re sidence, as you will now find it every thing you can wish; a good library and fashionable lounge, so long wanted at this delightful place, is now accomplished, as the shop kept last season by Old Banks, is now in possession of young people, who seem to be sparing neither pains nor expence to make th. place attrac tive. The Reading Room, instead of the vile yellow walls, which used to annoy yon so much, is now handsomely papered and ornamented, and well sup plied with Newspapers, Magazines, Maps, Artily awl Navy Lists, and report says, is to have two ele ' gent chandeliers but what will please you most is a very dashing veranda, which has been built in front of the Reading Room, where ► ou may now enjoy the sea breezes ; and to you who know the place, it is unnecessary to rornind you of the delightf..l views it has of Spitlicad, Pertsmouth, the Mother Bank, &c. I shall now. feel some pleasure in playing billiards ' with you, as the filthy greasy clotti we used so much to abuse has vanished, and an excellent new one subs:Anted ; there are also gond cues and :naves, and the room has ben neat! v fitted up ; in fact, I never saw so great a metamorphose, in so short a I time, as the whole place tias undergone. The ohl musty nooks have all disappeared, and in lieu there- of an entire new collection, and they a:e well j chosen, as there are some to please every taste. As to the stock I shall say nothing, except that you will nut now have to complain you cannot lay your money out, for I never saw so many useful and tasty things collected together. Your old friend Rayner has built a new Hot Bath ; the Bugle has been re built, Yelf's and Denham's beautified, and the roads much improved—in fact, except in some of the parts which are seldom explored, they are as good as in any part of England, which is not to be wondered at, as you know we have not a turnpike in the whole island. I suppose you have heart' an Act of Parliament has passed for us to have a stone Pier, to go out 80 feet below low water-mark. PrilV I, I NTE LL IG PCCg. PORTSMOUTH, Nla• fis His Majesty's cutler sylvia was this day typointed, and sailed fur the Downs, with a convoy. Arrived the Regulus, from Leith. DEAL, Mav el. Sailed his Majesty's ship Calliope, for off Flushing. Arrived his Majesty's ship 0 y.it is, frnli oft' Boulogne. Passed by several Jamaicameu, for the River. • - - The Fgeria sloop of war sailed from Leith Road on Monday morning, with a convoy of three oil, to tieligolmid ; hut thii wis - d blowing so strong from the eastward, die was forced tv come to anchor in Aberlady Hay. THE MARKETS. CORN EXCHANGE, MAY 22. We have few fresh arrivals of Wheat to-day, but again Mfrs rable remaining sur pli es, some foreign expected, sales extreme/ heavy, and hardly support last prices. Braley in good suppl 4, also again a falling :uncle, and almost without buyers. Malt at less. White Peas, and Beans of both sorts, at little Amin ation. Scarce any Grey Peas, price nominal. There are Eke. wise tolerable supplies of Oats on hand, this trade is, at leug:h, quoted full Is. per quarter lower. Flour continues at late qua tatiosp4. Wh eat Fine ditt0........ 112 1;8 ' 1)0. (Fine Old) .. 7; 14 Rye 75 82 , Oats 47 53 5i ' Harley 55 65 Poland do. M a l t B4 93, Potatoe do. White Peas (boilers) 82 88 Rape Seed Grey do. ........ 74 78 Fine Flour 1 Beaus -44.-- SMITHFIELD MARKET.-51•Y 21. To sink the (11110, per t )))) te of KIN Peef ....5c 01. to 64. 01. Head of Cattle tble di) Mutton ..5,. 4.1. to 64. 4:1. Beasts Veal ....it. Oct. to 8 4 . 0 1 . Sheep Pork ....6 4 . 0 . 1 . to 7s. 01 . Calvet, ..... . 14.1 Lamb ....7g. Od. to Bs. 44. "lei HAY-MARKET. Ilny Straw CIIIVOf - M. to 71. 0.. 04. ____L......—........man+00. Printed itn:l SrtroimAx Otrzcs, 67, Fleet-areas. • . • A` _ :,,.., I k ~, i~ ~. i `~ ~z ~ ~~ 1j ~ 1; , I, 1 • 1' I: rt y . , ` t~ ~~