The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1808-02-04 00:00:00

fare Lout mare! Z:eu the . 1 the of I ' l etnt state ritust sped 'her vi oul had of I king. Den l an , neat bete Po" keg of had the ens tens train the 'ones% cies the t ever Its one,:: Ts eras , -dst !, Si:, 'Tr W set es Witch 'Pre dais ape boo et sa.l tyea wdi the D* t i or 1.4 far mar* Fr of ter to et * of eu the tie to me, is 1 ovsli cOl ration, (IV squire Pa ug eo lentle- t'[ s *hi, h, p si red by car f th . e Fit•r ! i 011:4 ; 11 eit: Sll t.t.tl h.Do r prim- :antra- li. e case, Ruh' t nd Noatue ni spoil may be in, and isatioa, the sat- have at smaluct having ;limy to ctically Iw l ?sTe ire Doe, into sn security ACCeMeI to con- se spoil. point of ertain x kiwi of e 11111 iu all file airiest a Ma- r titre to Den- ecomiag entoi;,. red, net sence cf * of tla he cause e nercs- A rim- Il hence I s e trot WI be nish na- to talk rigs of a e on the k- to ths surd and rer been ties and 90, when C armed :autism- Pei easily sad ms- it which appeasea we find Fringe to neon- ions and r fidelity maim of honesty threats rh e , 24 ore he mit- eatleniae, and arils tt it t *van is I by tack ,eir'dispo• mainta:3 ent ouhl a hem II our het* tloei not irdst If me dieter occasions Dee iark liar displayed a jealinsey of, mud hostility to, he interests of Emiltuttl.- when the circumstances ,f E u rope were widely ilithrent from the dente stated picture she ;mutt exhibit to every feeling spectator at this period, what may we not conclude youlei naturally bt the determination of the mimed* Deunne k (were we not even furnished with aily, positive proof of the nature of her intentions) in a crisis so mach more formidable and terrific ? Could Denmark be the only pea er almost on the eat wientidued, anti iadepeudent of the moustroas power of France, *Jul nut feel that this very cir cninstaece constituted her greatest danger ? She had been for some time alarmed, and t ha t justly ; she must have Leen stupid indeed not to perecii e the views of Bonaparte especi y and particularly :ended to exclude the Be • ► merchaniliac from ti e ports of the ic. This was manifestect z learly in what b ridiculously denowittattef the blockade of th British Moe and the de struction of the E glish naval superiority.—.No Treaty has been 'tide' by him—no accornitio- s . latioa entered int with any other power in Eit-; enpe--but these are the leading featunis of the T r eaty ; the situation of Denmark was then ex• • ses l y such as rendered her a desirable auti easyl T rey to the Conqueror of Europe, nor was he: anxious to disguise his intentione, even ultimetelyt o.t her own acrinieitiousi and territories. But the Right Honourable Gentleman has said, that Denmark was possessed of a sefitient military force to counteract the ambitious int-en/ems of France. The history of the warlike achievements of that country, fur eittuecousiderable time, may be comprised in relutions of retreats and abandonments of territory. When llanover was seized by the French,/ what was lier conduct? Hauover wits close on her from tiers, did she arm in her own defeuce Hamburgh is occupied, yet not a man appears in array. This[ cordon of Holstein,, so much spoken of as an effete tire force, was never stationed there, until the de— parture of the French from the frontier. It. aelieared strange that she could trust the 'French on her frontier, yet fly to its defence when they removed to ano ther part of the Conti nent; especially when we recollect how her neetrality was respected shortly after, when the cd` Aesterlitz decided the fete of Prussia, a perty other troops were pursued by a French force itee the territories of Denmark—a ekirmisit en sue'. in V. hieh the Danish forces were engaged, and a iMitial (lettere' Officer taken prisoner, who 'zi! - .erwards complained of the insults and seventy he had experienced from the French licentioussoldtery. This was indeed an explicit iotintatioo of the re seere France intended to chew to the dignified neatiality or.Deiinuoire It . might have been ex peeled this would have been followed by au addi tional force to that already Si Holstein. No such thing ; a concession wail made, sad a retreat ste=t took place, and thes by the command of the Danish Government, at the instigation, or rather the command, of the Emperor of the French. The situation of the Danish troops in Holstein a; that period, and the displeasure ineniteeted by France towards Denmark, occasioned au imputation to be made agaisst the Government of this ceitotry, which I, for myself, as well as others, feel bound to refute, namely, that these troops were in tended to act in concert with British, in making a diversion iu the common cause. No such intention did exist. But ins; ances of disc regard to neuttality are not confined to that of Denmark. Prince Murat vigorously pursued a body of defeated Prussians into the city of Lubeck; and after attacking the place, in whichret)ooSwedes , were killed or taken prisoners, !Herat addressed the Swedish Monarch, with feigned sorrow for the I necessity imposed onhini by the chances of war, tied eatitannired to distract him from the com mon cause, by insinuating to him the impropriety avid impolicy of permittitig Llenn.ark to retain paxiession of Norway, when so conveniently and nese-a:Ay situated for the purposes of Sweden.— This octernd contemporarily with the violation of neetrality I have ulrradv alluded to, and though the offer was agaie made to Sweden tlaroegh the French Ambits.ador, such was the ef fect it 'prod uced on this noble and high-principled Monarch, that he directly acquainted the Crown Prince with the hostile intentions of the French Emperor, accompanying it with en offer of the assist ance of S with weden e.0,000 men, to secure the pos session of I lolstein. This, on being commuuinited 'to the Government of this country, excited consi derable interest, and occasioned the Ministers to mako a tender of the service and arms of England to support Denmark in the maintenance oft& just rights ; yet Denmark, whether duped into en idea of her ability to preserve iserself front the ambition a France, or terrified into a submission to her de crees, determined to refuse all proffers of foreign assistance, and effected to rely on the integrity of tee French Emperor's views. Such was the "hose insincerity or humiliating subserviency of that nation the Right Honourable Gentleman had attempted comparative) y to paneygeise, whew contrasting its conduct with that of this country. To throw additional light on her conduct, and substantiate the charges I have made, 'tis only necessary to go a little into detail—On the 19th of 'November the French seized on Hamburg', and two days after the French Decree of Blockade was published, unrestrveilly stating it to be the inten tion of the Government of France to shut up ell the means of commerce and communication. This was acquiesced in by Denmark, without remon strance or accusation. But when in January fol lowing, our remonstrance, in shape of a Decree, was published, then, and never before until then, std the Crown Prince tee* his disapprobation of these restrictions on trade; then age and fury bunt forth, and hostility assailed every act of the British Government, so far as it affected Denmark. If there were any thing farther necessary to chew the predisposition of Denmark in favour of France, there could be nothing so decisive as the diftereht views she entertained of the same act when proceed ing from France and this country. Such evidence is conclusive, and no parer of reason, however acute, no perversion of argument, however subtile, can ever snake the broad foundation of fart and fair in ference on winch it reets. But men the serupuln. Sty of the Gentlemen's consciences on the oppo- site side of the limes have something more to in duce them to lu-credit the alleeed hastily inten tion of Deuniark, and total acquiescence in the plans of the great mover of mischief in Europe ? They shall have it. They may remember ' after the severity of the French Maritime Decree but been felt by most trading towel on the Continent, one 'city had the honesty, cm rather let me call it the temerity, to expostulate by Deputies Is the Court of Frame. They received from the lips ofliona partohis :neediest resolve, which he pledged himself no private motive of convenieuee to ally state or city should ever shake, that should the fate of England mid commerce be inseparably united, all com merce whatever should be utterly exterminated, to effect that gnmitl- object . of the common interest of Europe and the civilised world. Nor should this lie confined alone ho him and those in immediate alliaine with Inns ; all other nations should be towelled to assist iu it ; and shortly after he took _an opportunity of more expressly alluding to Denmark in a public assembly, where he bald of the Crown Prince, " he would advise that little Prince to take awe how he acted, or he would teach him his lemon." This could not be con cealed from the whole world ; and could it then ' be said that Denmark, by any shadow of possibi lity, could be ignorant of the nature of the price at which she was to buy her exemption from slavery, or at least the terms on which she was to, hope for the continuation of the pos session of Holstein and Jutland P But, Sits now come to the serious call of, the ltight Ho nourable (;moitlemsui and his associates, for the proof of the hostile designs of Denmark against this country. This, Sir, t shall do by an appeal to an authority of the first respectability. both ae to personal and local advantages. Imam the British resident Envoy to the Court of Denmark (Mrst:nee licke). He, us a letter written to the novereilicnt here, states the utter impessibility of Denmark maintaining •her possessions on the continent of Europe, except in compromising her honour and independence to the tiews of Bonaparte. Ile men tions the disgraceful retreat of the Danish 'forces( from the frontier, and the panic of the Crown Prince in flying from Jut:and, .having relays of horses on the roads to expedite his Journey to Zealand. He states the unbounded insolence , of the French soldiery in Denmark and the coasts opposite the island of Zealand; the intimida tions and bravadoes of General Mortier; and the total disinclination of Denmark to assume a mealy posture of defence ; and adds, the natural consequence of sock neglect must be the abaudon inept of :their trade. and the surrender of their fleet. in compliance with the ensiles and views of the French Emperor. I shall quote, from his let ter, which I now hold at my hand, his own words : " "nevi* mach regret I perceive that many are in the Win* of the French nation, and even most offices or *use are in the hands of their party. In this view of things, it is imposeible to rouse the Danes to act with vigour against the French infli ence. 1 perceive, on one hand, indecisive despon dency, ou the other, growing expectation." This melancholy letter closed with the intelligence, " the troop, are now retiring from the frontiers of Hol etein; This is an opinion at least entitled to some respect, even in the eye of the Right Hon. Gentle man, though he professes himself so utterly inca pable of framing to himself a probability of the ex istence of an imperious neoessity on us, to act in anticipation of the meditated hostility. There, to be sure, snould be some ditleretice in the opinion formed on the *abject by an intelli gent Envoy, on the field of action al the irk tool moment, and that of n resident in this country. cavilling, after a lapse of six mouths, on the principles of national morality, and at probability, in a matter of direct testinios,773) incontrovertible stubborn facts. The Right Hulled Gentlemas cannot unfortunately see what (rennet- lion there can be between the taking of Holstein and the surrender of the Danish fleet to the raeuch, no snore than he could see a connection between the taking of Alexandria, and the surrender of the Turkish fleet. (Hear! hear! loudly reiterated ,from the 7`reasery Beach. mingled auk pale of laughter.) He thinks the invasion should not have taken place until " the steed was stolen," the fleet was surrendered, or, at least, made over by treaty, and 'till we had receiveda regular notification of the intention of Denmark from her own Prince. Is this the country be panegyrises so enthuaiasti cally ?--Ls this she, of whose covenants we have only heard, to mid in the next dispatch of those covenants being outraged and fowitten ? This is situ who could rely with such profound security on •the bosom of French profession. Had not we feted vigorously for the attainment of this grand end, and put our plan into instant execution, to use the words of a greet authority, the temporis ing nature of weak Rowers would have kept her in ' a state of wavering .vibratien, until she had fallen shits the greedy jaws el the conquering devourer.— The Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Wind ham)) had said on a former occasion—How, of all things, could von hope for success, in demanding their navy ? admit, from the Gentleman's own experience of the indignation excited, and the defeat Aacurred by attempting to enforce such a demand, be no doubt recollected what were the fee:Bags of a much less enlightened nation on that topic, a poor unsophisticated Turk would even feel when asked to give up his fleet. Yet Ido not admit that be gains as much in the argument, as we might and probably did gain from his and his colleagues' oad experience in that affair, since his own conduct shews that he was by no means averse to similar conduct, when in nearly similar situations. I hare heard much said of the outrage committed oa national feeling and digeity, in robbing Denmark of her fleet ; but I have it from very good authority, that Denmark, in consequence of the alarming situation of affairs, and dreading what has since eons, to pass, actually deliberated en the expediency of disposing of her fleet ; and that some everenrei were actually made by the Russian Ambassador to purchase it.— How then coned it be supposed to excite such pe culiar indignation in Denmark, that she should have lost what she was anxious to get rid of as a dangerous incumbranee ? To talk of national feeling in such a case is idle and ludicrous. In the treaty made with the Duke of Nlecienbure. the re lative, by marriage, of the great mid powerful me diator of the north of Europe, Denmark again received a warning of the now almost undisguised intentions of France ; one the stipidation. of that treaty is, that the sea-mats of "Wi.stir sal effect the geood o, elusion of EngOW merest— i the continent. This warning was repeated in the treaty with Oldenburg, yet served not to rouse her from lethargy, she assents to the justness of the .ir ranch Decree, end pronounces ours tyranni eid.—Had then our conduct beew that which the Right Honourable Gentlemen' advise, the eloquence of this evositai._estifild be' mute, the thunders harmless, comadltal with thole we should have' card from the same coosistent °gentlemen.— That caution is no part of Danish intellect might be gathered from the apathy with which they re ceived the Declaration of General Bernadotte, when in Hungary, that he was about to execute a mister stroke of policy which should be effected promptly. This it was believed was an expedition intended against Denmark, and it was generally expected tbat this intimation had its weight on the Prinee of Demnork, at least so far as to cause him to eider into a secret agreement with Bernadotte, at Kiel, where they were suppooed• to have had a private interview, on the 27th July. What other connte then could we have takeu ? • I know not could even the ingenuity of the Learned Bench opposite aflord a single plausible mode of con duct to puree in contradistinction to that adopt ed. France has since justified her attack on Portugal ; on its refusal to acquiesce in her De crees, would she have treated Denmark with more kuity ? What has been done, was done merely for .nip own safety, nor have we followed the ow cunt *deice of the consistent Right Hcm..Gent. but Lave becocsatialled with proportioning the means to theevils to bevedreased ;. our condset to Russia has been northat of fear but prudent delay, wetted hopes of coviciliating him whom it was vain to exasperate. Would it have been right or politic to sail past the harbour of Copenhagen, full of shipping, and gone to reap the laurels of difficulties, and the bootless glory of consistency, in the harbour of Cronstadt, where there were but a few rotten hulks? That Rua sia was indisposed to promote the interests of this c--tuntry has been proved by the testimony of one of the first characters ofthe age, then resident at the united Courts of Russia, Prussia, and the head quarters of the French Emperor ; be was an eye and ear witness of the Secret machinations of those Courts, to the disadvantage of this country. 04r conduct, if we should be obliged to seek for ire justification in that of the late Ministry, would be amply supported by the piece - lents of Madeira and Lisbon, in their administration. If the Right. Honourable Gentlemen and his friends felt so atrongly on the injustice • and impolley of this measure, why' not at once adopt a manly line of conduct by opposing it on its merits? Why motion, not bring forward a specific disap proving of the conduct of Ministers, and act shelter their opposition under the pretence of ask ing for documents which they know cannot but granted, and of which they are not earnest in their demand for the production ?" Mr. PONSONBV, across the tattle. stated, that it wioshis intention', ° on a future day, to submit t motion on the merits of that measure. Mr. WINDHAM then rose, and spokeli the following effect :-. 44 Sir, the - manner in which the Right Hun. Secretary has alluded to transactions in which the character of the late Administration is involved, the mode in which he. has introduced those occurrences, together with the ingenuity "WitfileMetitit. harmisrepreseuted these, his made it absolutely necessary for me not to stiffer the im treeimi such conduct is calculated to make, ' I - pass without direct animadversion and complete t posure. When first those allusions were made, I was not ..veil prepared for an exact recollection of them ; bat the misrepresentation has been so grer*, and the inferences attempted to be made, so totally dried by the facts, that I cannot well describe my astonishment at the attempt of the Rigla Honourable Gentleman in venturing to bring them forward. I have heard much in the course of my lift •of the benefits of stage effect. I know the influence of a sonorous voice, graceful action, iced suited gesticulation, upon vulgar minds' I know how admirably calculated such acquirements ° are to please the fancy and to warp the judgment of the tholiahttess and the trifling ; but I did little expect either to witness the attempt of the Right Hon. Secretary, or the success of that attune 'upon the cultivated and enlightened minds of ' grace auditory. If Demosthenes meant, by ' action which he considered the first, second, third consideration in oratory, mere acting. I assuredly the Right Honourable Gentleman . exhibited this night every ingredient of the latter qualification. But he has not contented hitaser with the exhibition of his versatility in this 1 hirable qualification. He has ventured to instil himself upon cases not only not analogous. bat' direct and pointed contradiction to the question . issue. He has ventured to defend the measure against Copenhagen, by assimilating it to a form , transaction, differing altogether in its ncipl and perfectly distinct in the effect. Ind deed, ever there was a case which directly went to I condemnation of another, it is the comparison . the fact towbich theßight Hon. Secretary alluded, with the roeritsofthe measure which hehas attem p • to justify urn that precedent. "We sent," said " an expedition againet the Danish fieetom they principle upon which a former Administration directed the Earl of St. ViMent to take possession of the fleet of Fortiori" Never was there comparison in the circumstances of any two The only similarity was, that both fleets were out, in the prior case to the Tagus, and in the ter to the Baltic. So far they proceeded passe. But what then was the disfereuct ? did not do what the 11..iniCs Ministers have done. We would net do it under such cite stances. But, says the Right Bon. Secretary. " . the late Ministers, condemn our measure ag— Copenhaten, although you did the same against Portugal. ' To this we answer, that tbuugb in same condition, we did not Perform the same The navy of Portugal was threatened with at by Bonaparte. Independent of loose info, teen, such as seems alone to have operated I minds of the gentlemen oppmite, we had it the expressed word of that enemy. An i bad actually been assembled at Bayonne, the purpose of violating the neutrality of ' tugal, and ultimately procuring her fleet. such a disposition of cumumo.--- - eerie French garriPpoas s is order to dearideniteas of aunaparke, the QX -41 ateradedise and initaeste front 1 the meta er preventing die eamerineatioe . ,of the plan, without any compromise of the ehankter of our Ally, or any breach of public 1 faith cm the part of this errantry. We sent a si4rti- • droll under the command of au attire officer to be t I eat:rally on the spot—not to he guided by email - , • and univapported surioists--snot to proceed to i extremity until the intention of France • was . 1 i not only manifested, but likely to he earned ) ir.to execution. There was this essontial champs- . . I teristic between the two eleastines, that we went . , - determined not to marry ' the ohjoet •into effect, • I t mail it wait evident totiii: world and to the Pore • tuguese theueselves,( klort,there'era, no alternative , between our temporaty:poareasion cif rho Ships or their seizure by France.' . 41 'ether words, that ' , . I . I though compelled to the exeeutitur the means of a justification were as nowifest *ab. the manure. I 1 ' • , r observe, oo the part of the /lon. deolleliten opposite , a disposition to treatwith rithmile any observations • i repugnatit to the monstrous principle on which they , have acted, a contradictory to the gross misre- I presentations in which their leidee has indulged. t Those who sspport them meet every remark on •4 • ✓ this subject with derision. They , resemble those s rustic auditors at our County Assizes, who gene- - rally laugh at the very subject to which they wish - well. They are not satisfied with their violatien of 1 i admitted right, but feel gratified at the recollection - of the atrocity. To such men I eigrasy with the - • e Pet k Y " ca. sadist bot Mar owe rameedi „., Serve as a mom so thole ease r A To return to the,main subject: I have never COD. 11 . 1 o tended that it might not happen that a Belligerent is has a right tuedopt ineaserea_against a neutral, o where the weakness of that neutral is attended with dangers to the former; but I have arid will e iusist, that the measure adopted against the nen. ie tral should carry, prima/air, its foil and uncles ~,,! i. a viable justification. Bat these converts to the 1 4 ' t, new morality are not satisfied with their new s- schemes of policy against foreign states; they die • ' I is trodue.e their new creed within the malls of this li le Hoose, totally careless: either of the authentiritjr . of I: g their facts, or of the mode of commumeaturg I- them to Parliament. They conceive themselves re neither bound to state the transactions to *Melt •• i se they refer; nor hesitate to contradict the infer- ar epee of this . moment, in five minutes to etimeoli- . k I I ,te ' " Shall I ibe told," says the Right Honourable he Secretary, oof tied iejostice,lbe outrage, and the i ! i i ra irepolicy .of the attack on the Danish natittn, by c ! he - the heroes of Alexandria, and the:torooderom of • . ds Constantinople ?" Whit,. I touw.tot'„'4ilt the Hones cy think of a disctierion, wherpthic§-Aetlis of the irs. 1 7'1 Sly guments employeduee of 0 nettle "similible Ain/ f ! to? D is cs the Right Wee. Secretary dike! net tb itnal*. 4•: ip- that the attack on Alexandria intl .. ' II the Ourdweeeile set were not attempted without 44 previom deelaratitie • .11 ak- of war ? That the ofileers w ho commanded gn . - those occasions bad miner orders to wait for mallet • ' • sir from the Minister resident at the 'Ottoman Cal* :' Is it thee another part of this new wisdom to, hat accumulate statements and hazard aseertiom, • t a which they must know, iii• a few miii*Ser, , ,it will .• :. . . be the duty of others to repeL After this .. . . the species of digression, I will proceed to - tite r -;, .• the real merits of tins question ; wad Was I beg * ~. ono attention Of the Home to • , ion brilliant speech of the Right , - , !' ..: -. • , .. cud a speech which, notwithstanding - Ibn 4qpit, . e .. My liaised, and epigrammatic prim* teriebiti CM ado pawn of miumeng it inetailail, ban hos S., ins- mpted from the three been It liallitlifiddits - . , to livery, to the small space of a slobber at ths.lll.ll. ex- and might be reduced from the lofty velvets tribe was contracted deciimoseirto ; for, thee all die ... !I em ; he had taken, alterall his working asitirant " . and a headoma, at this point and at ea Was tally arrive, that the attack on Copeobimen were Ebro • Tribe sure of neceisity, but of the grows& of that zero ight sity it was improper to make say comarmiceiliiitte sing Parliament. He hie asserted that Bonaparte Tad • r i rime determined on the seizure of the Dalai& navy, bid 1 that Denmark was unable to defied itselL Yet, t: :eful from the information before that House, the fai- t rids; sumptioos went all the contrary rttay. The Crown 3euts Primo proved himself determined to preseree hls meat strict neutrality, or to die in the loot dyke, little sooner than reiikuish his resolution. But was it light even certain that . Denmark 'was unable to provide . iript, against such intentions, I fay it wmsld have beets t this better to have peemitted Prance to have had those that • sixteen ships, rather than hive rerpeepata:d this act , and of injustice, coupled, as it must be, with the most execration and hostility of the whole population of a has' • Denmark—(a loagifeari the Miritterial Besiel.es). A latter The Gentlemen understand me not. It is itepos- mself Bible for them to appreciate the strength of my rea- .. . s de- eons for that preference. I repeat, it is impossibte testify for them to estimate the vales of my motives, be- lie in cause they themselves semis deed to any &cling for , ion at. national character and edictal honour. If we con- sasure eider it in its two points, either on the right or the . i 'twiner policy, it. is indispensable for Mimosas' defence iciple, to establish the necessity. The moral character of 1 I ied, if the transaction dopes& upon that proof. lb en- • , , to the minality rested mot on any of the aggravated son of operations by which it was selected. It was net ; ills luded, bombardment of the capital, or the butitisery, mpted that constituted the detieruss of this inesiiistit— aist he, It was as an ofesce against civilised society, libitum as a violation of that public law of Mitions,. in had which, thoueh adverse on occasion% to the taro • session ticular views of communities, was still . eitsdli- lees of cive to the general interest: of mankind, that its I C594...A.. ruinous efferti were to be considered. Wia it nos e sent thing to inflame the resentment of a wise& peo . he las- . to eafine into their breasts ao iaeec6e6liLis d 'sari hostility, for no benefit, but the *wider eta teir ? We ships, purchased at the expense of national banosis e since acid by the disregard of every honourable Fin& imues. plc ? And fordhet object were we to make Maui- " trot,fi cPs ? "To prevent, ' says the Bight Honourable against Gentleman, .e the immense of !relied id the newt . against spring." Wirt' betide the country that can iin the yield to such influeour, sod risk. for tempo- lie att. nary safety, the tootidationinf its exi-tense, and attack the permanency of its ,clitgovrok lam not one iforma- of those who are i foal of clamoring too ou the gloomily tivon the dangers of deli countri, hut t aide: I feel that ewe aporeiseosions for 'lrelaud are the a army result of the ore:ions antiCinsam• system of policy ne, for by which that part of thus imitair has taeti ' ,gr e ened. if i l'or- 'ln that policy we wounds tee coocateration of evil it. In to which one oi igireally hod measure gists bieh. e took As one falsehood for ib ova support depends on ~ . -- • -