The Statesman. — London, England, 1810-03-23 00:00:00

he hal done. The charge of haying neglected to reply to a proposal made last year, was prefaced in a Slate Paper issuing from the t: much Government, and remained uncoutradict cd by Ministers. Would the Noble Baron de clare, that no proposal to the effect stated in that document, was tendered ? flu had dwelt much upon the necessity Of withholding information pending negoci'atioa, and studiously avoided giv: ing a plain answer to a plain question. With re spect to trammelling the 'lege:nation, he was var. suadeil nothing was farther from his Noble Fritod's thoughts, and he could not see what cm., bat rassraent could possibly arise to it from acted. tug; to_ the motion. All that his Noble Friend wished to obtain was a knowledge of the nature of the communication, sod of the wanner and time ef its reception. The Earl of LIVF,RPOOL thought that the speech of his Noble FAL:nil was perfectly satisfac tory. lit all the proposals on the subject of an eet rh a nge of prisoners, that hail been made from France since the Revolution, there had been mani fest injustice. The enemy always set out on a ba sis totally incensistent with the principles reeng tacd by all nations ; and it was only by tedious rid difficult negociation, that they could be pre vailed upon to depart from them. With respect to tyre; charge preferred by the Noble Merquis, that a plain answer had been refused to a plain question, hi, Noble Friend felt it his duty to oppose the pa. pas moved for, because they tended to take the negociation out of the regular channel. Their Lordships woold not fail to perceive the very great disadvantage, - way the absolute mischief that was likely to arise from discussing this subject while it was under consideration elsewhere. lie would admit that there %acre varicose. cummuniratious on this tery subject, during the pound alluded The Noble Baron did not appear to understand the stature of the proposals which he supposed to have been made. If he did he would know, that it was possible the proposed basis of negneiation 'might beau unjust as to render it inadmissible, at the very outset, or that it might be so objectios able in parts as to render previous ex planation tie. emery. He considered the motion to be both very ill judged, and injurious in its consequences, if granted. It would have the effect of embarras. sing, instead of facilitating the tiegociation. It would commit Government ou points of great de. limey, and would not attain the end proposed. Lost GREN VILLE could not consider the ex planation givens by the Noble Baron, or the No bit Rarl who spoke last, as any way satisfactory. It was deficient in frankness and candour. 'Om was something behind, something concealed in it. • Wc were Dow fur the second dew involved in a war, which it seemed stag to be tanied un as far as depended ou the determination of Ministers, in horrihle violation of the usual courtesies of that dronifel state. What hit beets the proud boast of this country up to this flay ? That it did on all occasions every thing to suspend the cruelty of war ; that no opportunity was neglected to try to bring it back to the semblance of what it was in former Ames. 'Phis was the state to which it 6, : eined ha Mijesty's Ministers were avers. to bring the contest betwoeit us and France. the Noble Raton said, until that night he was inno put of the document signed by the Duke of Ca dor*. Why was he so? %Vas it nut his duty to have become acquainted with the contents of a State Piper that was in every one's hands, and that umbrae's.' achargestrainst that department of which "he was the hea d The French Guvuru. mint had accused his 'Majesty's Ministers of re. jeeting a proposal fur an exchattge of prisoners of War. If this accusation be inane on just get/twilit', then the British Government fur the first time 'night say, " we are the cause that this dreadful . ' practice continues ; we are the cause that thou sands of our countrymess are starting and lan. guishing in French prisons, from which they might be ttleased, were it not for stir neglect or jot practicability." As to the argument that no ire: formation could be &Gilled ou this subject with out prejudice to the negotiation that was pending„; ho could easily skew, trona ss hat passed at a fur_ suer period, that DO inconvenience could possibly arise. In the year 1797, a charge appeared in a . French Piper, respecting the improper treatment of the I..isoners in this coulitry. %Vid was the conduct of that great Mall (Mr. Putt) whose namewas so often quoted on the other side, on that nocasionl He propte.ed that the charge should b e e n teeiled to a Committee of the other ! House; Out that he or any person in this country 1 could possibly entertain a doubt of the falsehood of the accusation, but for the purpose of sad fy.' ing all Europe- by a Report and Resolution of Parliament, the it was wholly unfounded. That R.)3011160;1 was adopted by the Howie, and an Address was voted to his Majesty, praying him to take the Arece,sary steps to cominuni cafe a positive denial of the accusation to all the Princes and Potentates with whom lie watr in friendship and affiance. How dial the Gurerntneret now stand ? :Here was a solemn charge, made in a Paper crming from one of the highest official au. Charities in France, which charge was soared to spread throughout Europe, unrefuted anti anicon. tratlicted. instead of disavowing an imputation sn utivrorthy of the tuitional character, and so intrary to its practice in other periods, the per. lon most interested rose with a levity ill.suited to ;me ,tac-asion, and cinched the charge, instead of meeting it fair!y. The explanation of the Noble Marl was not leis equivocal and evasive. 'They 'acne to their Lordships with the stale end hack cued prst•Arce that any information on the subject would be pi oitictire of disadvantage. The No ,le Baron and his colleagues might elude the not ion for the present, but the information sought ;or must be disclosed, and if it was of the nature asserted, and that he had reason to expect, he ')oped the vengeance of Parliament would follow. A charge highly injurious to the humanity of the British Govertunout had been made, and not re pelled, as it ought to byre beer, lie h o p e d the' would agree to the motion. The el.! of WESTMORLAND spoke to the sseto effect as Lord Liverpool. Earl GREY could not conceive why the Noble Lords on the other side should bell:Etc to give a • • • ' • tr . ::: f;' Dl' 11., ca Ni Nt lii til to ; as • Iv A 11 • • II i 1 -. r.. .... TH 1 1 .- ST . direct answer to question so (then proposed.. Did it proceed from a consciousness thatibey could not answer it in a way that would acquit them of the imputation in the Moniteur? Instead of tbectioic it fairly; they sheltered themselves under the stile, -Old generalities of a pending negocia tiqw. And. yet .even on this point • they could not • . speak out: He did not underitand - the Noble Baron or the-Noble Earl to have distinctly stated that a negotiation on this subject was pending. — The French positively state, that a proposal for an exchange of prisiners was made and rejected. 'bitl.hisldaiesty's Ministers deny that it .was 2 •Should they not have explained themselves frankly and clearly on the subject ? It was the bounden duty of their Lordships to clear np this scads. tion, were it only in compassion to the brave - Mee who were pitting in the enemy's prisons • and even from consideration fur. the enemy. What pre vented the Noble Lord from stating whether equi table propositions had been made by the French Goverotnatont, and whether they had been enter tained? This sorely might be done without pre judice to the negotiation. [The Noble Earl here.' read the.ltesetution of the Committee of the Coon. Intuits in 1797, to justify the interference of Par o Hameln]. Hitherto he kneyr it was always the wish of Government to obtain a reasonable prin. ciple df adjustment respecting the exchange of pri. sinters, which was always resisted by the enemy. .But it was possible that this unjust pretension of the enemy might either be abandoned from impe rious reasons, or removed from motives of policy. —Lilo had, however, a proposal to make, which would post the sincerity of Ministers.to the test. — Let Mioniterseither agree to tkeappointmcnt of a Secret Committee, as in 1797, or Consent to lay bef-ore their Lordships the dates when these pro. positions were received, and .the answers returned. If they would consent to either of these propo sals, lie would recommend to his Noble Friend to ,withdraw his motion. _ _ Lord MULdRkVE would not accept the al. 1 tentative offered by the Noble Earl. He would never consent to take the negotiation out of the constitutional channel, and put it in the 'moils of a Committee of that House. In answer, however, to the question so often put by the Noble Baron and his friends, he would state, that no proposi tions for the nomination of Conutiissionf.ra to re pair to Morlaix, to negotiate an exchange of pri soners of war, had been made by the - French Go vernment, or refused by his Majesty's 'Ministers. Lord HOLLAND was not yet satisfied with the Noble Baron's.answer' Would ha consent to lay the dates of the negociatiou before Parliament ? These, surely, could not d close any thing that , might, by possibility, prejudice the negociation.—:- They might, indeed, disclose the culpable neglect of one of his Majesty's Ministers. The manner in which the proposition was received, convinced; him that there was serious ground fur the charge in the French papers. He had another propossl to make. He would agree to withdraw his mu. tion, if Ministers would consent to an A i ddre.s to his Majesty, praying him to order to be laid be ' fore the House the copies of any communications from the French Government relating to the ex change of prisoisei4 of war, since Septewbev, 1809, together with the dates of the answers thereto. Lord M UGG RLtV E laving declined this pro posal, Lord GRIN VILLE moved, that the Resolu tion of the Cutunttis, in 1797; shout.' bc read, • Lord LIVERPOOL observed, thar.that Roe- Ittliou w passed when no negociation was pend ing. Lord SPENCER stated that, as well as he could recollect, there was a riegociatiou at that time. Thi House then divided. For the Motion - 27 Aaaiast it 39 • Majority . - is • On the re-a k lnsission of Strangers, Earl SPENCER was speaking in favour of Lord Holland's motion for au Address to his Al., 'jetty, praying fur the dates of those pope's. lie contended that comtnatsicatitsg the dates could not ho attended with any inconvenience, but that it might convey most isuportaut issfurusation to that House. The Earl of ESSEX also supported the Motion for obtaining the dates of the communications. Ile could not see any inconvenience in produe , don ; and be thought if there was a ,delicacy uu the other side upon the subject, it was rather a . dplicacy to themselves than a delicacy to the country. Lord NIL' LG RAV E resisted the communication of the dates, which he ttaought would lead to no !useful purpose. Ile did not see how any Motion pould be grounded upon the dates, even if they Were before the noose ; and under the present circumstances, he did not think it would be right to grant them. . Lord HOLLAND said, that the dates might bo AR themselves of great importance. For. example, sif on the production of thedates, it slsoulklappeat. that an overture from the French Goverousent was for a long time unattended to, this circumstance :might be sufficient to ground a motion on, even although the papers were 'sot previously *anted. • Lord LIVERPOOL spoke againit the model's. . and Lord Grey in favour of it. . . Lord KING said, he would wish to put it fairly to the sincerity of Ministers, whether they intend ed, when the negociatiuu was at an end, to pro. duce the papers as well as the dates. , No answer was given from the Ministerial side. Tho Earl o( said, that the country could never be satisfied if the question was evaded. He believed that it would appear to the Gent!earn btlow the liar (d toad cry of order, order!) On the Noble Lord repeating the expression, Lord MORETON moved that the house should be cleared. Strangers consequently were ordered to with. draw. We understand that afterwards thi motion for data was negatived by a majority of 37 to 29. , simere=seeng HOUSE Or GOADIONS, Manua EL The /*Wrists litlitay Toll DUI was read a third time, after a few words from Mr. EIEJLBEAT, and passed. -.1. --•••••• lAN• • ~. r----. ,, .-~---~. • • A Petition wai presented against the South London, nr Rotherbithe Duck Bill.—Orikied to lie ou the table till the second rending of the Bill. • Mr. SUMN ER then moved the second reading of the Bill. Mr. H. MARTIN opposed. site Mill, on the -round that, by the adoption of the measure, the itilmoitants the pasittit of Rotherhithe wnohl be subject to the greatest ineoovetil ence by imolation, as the Dock would be coasitierably be low water-mark. Mr. Dodd, the projeitor, was to gain . 19,00d 1 . by the_pa‘sing of the bill, yet it was on his testi-4 mousy that the House were called upon to sanction the tura sure. Cuasideriug this as a mere speculatioit, only t tarot:lied ' to enrich the suggestor. he begged leave to mote, as: au amendment, that the Bill should be read a second tithe on that day six months. Mr. HEN lt Y TIMItNTON objected to the systennow so much patronized, of granting caarters for the establish ment of large companies, to the detriment of private duals, by which industry was paralyzed, and the exertions of the Poor rendered nugatory; he theietime opposed toe Bill. • t Mr. It. WARD supported the Bill. The que stion was then put, and a division took p lace In favour of the Amendment - J. 3 Against it 37 • Majority in favour Of the Bill 4 The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed. A Message from the Lords requested the permission of the House, for T. W. COKE, Esq. a Member of that [loose, to attend a Select Cionittittee of the Lords on Tue•tia) inr.t, ap pointed to consider the expediency of the Curti Distillery Prohibition Bill. THANKS TO SIR ROBERT WILSON. Mr. HUTCHINSON observed, that after the angry and hostile discussions which had occupied a great portion of the present Session, it was with much satisfaction that he rose to address the House on a subject, upon the main point of which there was not likely to occur any difference of opi nion ; fur he felt confident there would exist but one, within or without these walls, as to the merit of the gallant Officer, gm, the small corps %%hose services it had fallen to his lot to submit to the consideration of the Howe. There were two questions, of which he begged Gentlemen, on the present occasion, if ossible, to divest their minds; the one, the perilous situation of Spain and Per. bigot at this moment; _the other, the wisdom or impolicy,.of hob* at all (or in the manner in wbiclu 'Ave tad) interfered in the war in those countries. We were not to undervalre the importance of military services achieved in the Peninsula, from their haring failed in rescu. iug it (rein tae grasp of the enemy'; from their not having succeeded in acconti•l;shing that ;which no rational, certainly no military mind, could have 'expecttal (vim such means. Neither were we t;; consider ourselves as pledged to ap. prove th,e prinCiPle of the war, because the dis. tingaished honour of the aPprobition of that Anise Ltd been conferred upon the troops'eui. ployerl in that service. There was nothing • antr.:r from his intention than 'to .depreciste, •by invidious Compariiions, the merits of , any . 01ficer, however humble or elevated his, rank. He had long been greatlianxions to find . this try disposed at last to make what might be con. sidered as a . fair *military exertiod, such ai * *l was sorry he cou!tl not agree had been at; tempted, ever since the commencement of the: • war in 179:3. He wis ready to make du:9 a110w.6 vice for the embarrassnieuts tinder which Govern. mtlits planned and directed expeditions ; with that disposition of mind he came to tin: consllete.•l lion of such questions, 'but with the inost f luxion' wish to applaud anti recant: - As' to the. present _ •••• . ••••••• • - - r - - on e, ho hoped it would bc ' decided solely by its own merits. Sir Robert Wilson having arrived at Oporto in September, 1808, Was enabled, by the December following, to raise, arm, and discipline a corps, called the Rap! Lusitanian Legion, with which he took the field as itiriu theshortspece of three months, having previously obtained for his zeal, ala crity, and talent, In organizing this corps, and for his 'earnestness in the public cause, the confidence tent approbation of the Goverment of Oporto. In December, being apprized of the defeat which the different Spanish armies had sustained, and of the alarm which very generally pervaded Spain and Portuge), he decided upon adeancing towards the frontier, and having crossed the Dauro, took up a position in the previoce of Salamanca, where the enemy shortly arrived with .a corps which at lot amounted to about twelve thousand men. With out entering into a detail of operations in this zeiarter, ouecirold not avoid admiring the bold ness and judgment with* which this forward move. mesa was conceived and executed. The ever-tu be-lamented Sir Jelin Aloorebad recently sealed by his death his victory at Corunne. Ills brave troops had already reached tic shores of Bd. lain. The few scattered English regiments in Por. tugs! were coneentreted at Lisbon, nearly two hundred miles from Sir Robert Wilson, • e hose fate they awaited with the utmost anxiety, and whose daring cond'iet they c u e ld not. view but with admiration. It was at a 'moment thus criti. cal and appalling, that hr came to the decision of affording a signal example of undaunted liminess to the Portuguese and Spanish nations, and, at Iho most iniednent risque, interposed his small corps to the further irragress of the enemy in this, quarter ; where, by a' most jAieitots dis positiou of his troops, he was enabled effectually to deceive the enemy as to his great juferiority of numbers, and as well by frequent, well.timed sallies, as ity the most gallant defence of posts, he kept them touch on the alert—foihd them in all their projects—withheld a part of a province abundant in resources, and kept open the commu nication between the tirOeti ead Southern pro vinces.• At latter end of April, General Laphsse, who commanded the French Corps ii Salamanca, having moved up in the A euida, in order to combine a movement w ith Marshal at that time advancing in another direction upon Oporto, was driven by Sir Robert Wihoo from the bridge of St. Julius, - on that ricer, %sheet, be had occupied as 'opening his march to Portugal. It hap pened, however, that thisQeneral skurtly after aim., doned his orii,inal plan Moving on Oporto, and proceeded to the southward, tq join Marshal Vic tur. During his progress, be was pursued and harimed by the legiou, with some loss ; but the junction with Victor was effected. Sir Robert Wilson new reteived orders to join Lord' Wel lington, which he did, having first placed his corps in a strung position at Alcantara; and it WAS but justice to the corps tar niention here, in pass. lug, that, commanded by Colonel Maine in the - absence of Sir it Wilson, it-gallantly and success_ fully defended itself when attiscked at Alrantara, MIN •!, • by a very superioroe thanks s u a nd;r l4 M: i : Ba t er v esitr , :. F u r this spirited conduct, 1:olonei Maine mat I .: • c-r w 7 i ll l l : 7 l, Y e ric i, u e.'S e h l e i tt t ii ° l n tid B of tithce'!;aretti of li ereeford's army; and although th, t coming spat the clumsy, he reCeiv e d t h e thuie , 'Part of she, allied at my had nut aii.uppurtuility of l c o oon f f ticiih:iceoftteel:ai legion, dd f a i t s i t hwe n e l e t fr i o e p l ciu t uol it .ii e etto: l 4t i stu .; ft Seidl, Sir It. Wilson again resumed the •• , with the rank lirigad i er ,G coma, Fuslptfasti the etkance of L en s wolington's army, un his march to Telavere. Hero Mr. Hutchinson said he should merely stat e , that at one moment of th atati twee, Sir R. Wteui was within 3 feaineo of 1/aitritl, hay ing had freq ueat skirmishes 'with theeuetriy, who, by their oini dispatches, appear to bare been euesiik— re y alarmed by the movements of his cusp;. F ruit • this point he was nedle:l, its ' , consequence of th e expected battle of Talaver.i, and by forieg inarciies he wae,ctiabled early in the ae:ion of th e 0 811, to take tip a lessitien the teer of theme. .• my ; a positioa of cousi.forald.:: risk to Isimelf, t h e whole of the French force Interven e , between his small corps mid the allied Attl e e but one from which he could have coasitlr. ably annoyed them, had they retreated i e that direction. 'Afterwards, by a movement a l o ng the enemy's right flank Burin, tee night, lie succeeded in joining lend Wellieeton early •in Ow morning of the Genie: eel were aware, that by his Lesetsliip's dispatch, it a le peered that the tilt:al did :tot retire from tike pu. shims which he hail occupied after the batik of Talavera, till towards the end of the second day after the action ;' and his retroeride nievecteat then !eight be attributed to a tuenceivrestigg es t4 and undertaken by Sir 'Hobert Wilson at the head of his corps,'.: by whieh, in a misted / manner, he threatened the. enemy'e batik, 44 appeared from the Freasele acco u nts . The portante to the allot' army, of th:s retrogr a b I m o veasent on the part of the ceaeny, need Ino comment. Of tiiii movement, cuettme4 no the 2,1, the enemy was not apprized tell le, 6th, in ceneequenee ut his retreat, to nhich it an I b ut j. ls t t o conclude, he had been reduced by the I advance of Sir Robert Willem. Immediately afie t Lord Wel lingtun having reefed from 'reilavera,ie the hope of destroying South's corps, in which rt. peetatitin.ho was disappoisteed ..the advanc e of Ithe French army • under Joseph 'Boaaparte, Sir fhe' bert Wilson' brim again • separated froM the allied' army, and COM wiled. to make; a circuitous etrrat 'thruegh a difficult country, tell with l in the pawl of Bailos, one of the Eeetich divisluits, !,here, the 'ultimately defeeted, lie very geleuttly disputed the passege of the enemy fot: several hones. The hot 1 .1 colninentlatioe of she 'cis whet of his corps, and of his own tiers enal (exertions, in that' wine, w mild- be found - in the .eieten - fs- report of that al. • I fAir. `i'bi's aClititi, It was • .enaterial .eo Observe, ISir 'Robert Wilson., Ogle/ have' quideil,•l.4 h.id'aireadY. ptiSgell -1110, 14144 'll .witich the. French jhid to advance ; •bw/e e lie. reeriteed- his slept, sal iritarpuseil himself..;) the march of this corps. In thin conduct the noose would discover the saw mind which aclisated Sir Hobert Wilson aerate the. - Whole` of his operettuits : jo - the •proviiire of &dalliance. lle" . l4new had not the eeptis at giving eifeetttal. resistance', = but. lie felt that he could embarrass end retard him. That seam idea I might be formed of the importance .of the grata st of this ()Meer, he begged keys: testae, that the government of °pure° mode him. a very liher.ll otter of a pension of 1009 f. a year, whioli • w.th great propriety he declined ; and of this cit. conistanee, the late Secretary .of State was billy lemit ized: By his advance upon' Almeida and Re. design, lie 'secured storeteatidproperty 'to a cosi. (Wei le amount, Mid by his advanced position cm. tra:e..ed to prevent the speedy evacuation of Per. togal. The •Honourable • Member said,. he had thus, with - as imich brevity' us the nature of the subject would admit, put the (louse iu postessitat of the services at' this gallant Officer and his carps. They had already received the unqualified appro. bation both of the Spanish and Portuguese Gems meets, as also of our Ministers both in the Pe n ia. sub and at home; and lie begged leave teet.ld. es most flattering amid decisive proof of their merits, that it had fallen to their lot to snake prisonerset French ()dicers, upon' whom had been conferred. brevets of '; a Legion of Ilutionr for their our. • duet against Sir It. Wilsoe .lie hoped he shed soot he told that. Otero was no precedent Wth* he asks.! : theliines required that we should Mike one. Why had the Hance given Thanks -for the. icloriei of Vinticra, Corunna, and 'bailers! • Not because they beat don n the power of rolltlei or had reseed our allies from tier grasp. Neitholl of these small corps (most inadequate to the form with•whicli they had to contend) had been fog* forth with the hope Sr expectation that they 'Wettld restore the balance of power, or drive Franco w Ilia her pruiier.limits. It was folks example that the chosen row •hol Wen sent Earth. Sir itebere Weems felt this, and adinirahlywdl acted up to the prineipks. tie (Mr. H.) bad ' a called the attewitni the House to the ser lifts of an oil r >ming in cans paignittg, or in :experienced in the t,ils and petvils of war ; '{hough yet young, Sir Robert Wilson ha4ll l9 ° l _ seventeen years its almost -constant, certainly risf active service, which he hail ever ardently ought/ eve" ill the most di-iant and oufrietidly cliinew Tee Ifenetirable Member . elite/la med nn err' jeiliee ; lie j.,siied in some of the vulgar ohm tiles against the •great Ruler of the French natione• who he considered as the greatest Situ' man and the ablest Grneral of ancient or rill/den r times; and he highly esteemed the nation at whose head he had had the good fortune to lig placed., lle made this declaration iu the 1 '1; C iat tho hich he was about to give s i t not be ascribed to that besotted illiberality. en: . fiertiiiiarely tun 'weeks:Ht. had little dou b t then, that slweld it p . leave PrOridellee 14 continue Bonaparte a tow years longer iu the poises'in° , t lint pouer which he heed hitherto tt icided hiit Ku destruction of his mimics' s. aced which power ,d eree every' hoer umietafSrlUitiu A . - (L "s allutild have to-eoutend with him lot our yeti it, ';l,ssio v och ; lads I he 03* poll Gui `% p mill od d) de oxiian ieir ►~ 4rl rbi Ct) fen di iality 1 ,1 he ire C3l'l r,r~ol ,s.lO 6; Pit 0; i ~~Gt r a m •vice he 111 on. Mr. !Wive I brill icitsiht the di spat ta id Gei ica'i M;toM rtsc and that Po asst Veil Mal the info the