The Statesman. — London, England, 1812-06-23 00:00:00

r, J - 1 .• • .. ~. ; 4 ',. - i I. :. ~ ~. i~ ; I I i 'l f '4 • ac 4, • I • t! 1 C .ll produce dissension. The proposition of Mr. Can ning might be termed a motion of concord; almost an universal expression by the House of Commons. that the wishes of the Protestants and Catholics should be considered, and such relief afforded as was consistent with the safety of the Church : a concilia tory arlinstment was the object which every friend to lrelein P :ind in view. By this resolution of concord,', the House voted the nation one people ; it was a de. claration by the people of Great Britain pf cordiality • and affection to their brethren of Ireland.—[Hear, Is ar!]--Such a generous proceeding could not fail of producing a corresponding, effect in the minds of the natives of that island. The natural change of opinion upoti this great topic, had been produced.by several causes : Ist, By repeated discussions in Par liament; 2d, By the death of Mr. Perceval ; 3d, By the determination expressed in a high qattrter to favour the claims; 4th, By the strong mino rities procured on recent occasions in support °fait accommodation, by which the Protestants should shake hands with the Catholics of Ireland. That events might produce such variations, was proved sa tisfactorily by reference to transactions in the Irish Parliament, ill which he bore a share, where, in one Session, he was seconded oily by 25 Members in the cause now on the verge. of success, and in the meat was supported in his motion by the unanimous vote of the House. The truth was, that the times had changed, and what appeared on the first view datigers, on future inspection proved only to be un real cuimeras. lie wished the (louse, however, to reieember, that in acceding to a motion for the con sideration of the Claims of the Catholics, it made it s. If responsible for the failure of the proceeding, theuld such failure unfortunately occur ; he there fore entreated that Miuisters on the one hand would not &mend any unnecessary securities, and that the Catholics on Nee other would not oppose any frivolous objections.—plaor, hear 1-11 is anxious wish was, that these who, from frequent communication with the C.tholic batty, were best acquainted with the subject, should be called to the aid of the Ministers for the purpose of carrying the object into effect, awl not of continuing disputes, the bitter fruits of which were every day tasted. It was his intention, during thi. next Session, to propose a Committee to prepare a Bill for the removal of the existing penal laws, but he should much prefer to see the matter conducted by the Cabinet, whose exertions in the cause he would willingly and strenuously second. Lord CAiTLEIMAGII said, that he was very happy that he had given way to the Hight Hon. Gen tleman, who, on this occasion, as well as on every former discussion of the subject, had treated it in that tone that was the most likely to reconcile all parties, and produce the most favourable result for the cause he so ably advocated. It would be the business of another Session to go more Minutely into this ques tion ; at present, however, he thought it so far ne cessary to explain the reason of his vote, as that they should come to the discussion next Session with a fuller know ledge of each other's opinions. It was now a great number of years since he had first de clared himself friendly to the measure, but an ob stacle then existed which made the attainment of it at that time impracticable. While it existed, no agita tion of the subject in Parliament could have been at tended with any public good. That obstacle, however, no loneer existed, nor was there at this moment any obstacle that he was aware of between the wisdom of Parliament and execution of any measures they should resolve on. He therefore thought, the time for bringing the subject into discussion was now arrived; seed it' no other Member had brought it forward, he should have thought it his duty to do so. Thetime for its dismission was so clearly arrived, that he did not think that any Goverment could now be formed that would resist the agitation of the question. Belted been, even ,before the Union, so fully convinced that the claims of the Catholics must ultimately be granted, if Ireland had continued a separate kingdom, that he bored that theUttioe would have itnmediately got rid of evevy difficulty; and he certainly thought it would have 'been. much better if the Catholic question had been finally settled at that time. The Union left so many anomalies in the empire, that it could not be supposed that things would stand still there. Officers holding a cor.ain rank in !relate!, and losing when they left it. Irish Catholics being exempted from most of the penal laws, which still were in fie ce ag stost English Catholics, against whom there was not the slightest imputation. These were asoinalies that cotunnon sense required to have corrected. As to the con cessions which lie wished from the Catholics, he certainly never did wish any to he made which were contrary to their honour or the it religion. There cool,' be nothing gained by the degrada. lion of any sect. He. therefore, never looked for any other se etiritios hot in such principles as bad been recognised in all other Catholic countries, und even contended for by the Catholics themselves against the excessive influence and power of the Pope. When he considered what a stand was male by our ancestors against the unjust pretensions of the Pope in the days of Edward the First, he could not but think that at the time of the Reforma tion, they had most ellsely and unwisely placed their reliance on pen it laws. An Hon. Gentleman had represented the Pope as a very feeble inst-ument even in the hands .1 the enemy. He . could not allow, however, that he was feeble in Ireland, where lm s bad perhaps more power than in any other country. Ile would, however freely c infess , that he never knew of the See of Rome having done any thing in the exercise of its eccle siastical authority in Ireland, hut what was perfectly fair and reasonable. pleat. hear But although it had hitherto con d acted itself in a way that no fault could be found with It, it did not follow that if a future Pope should be absolutely nomi nated by Bonaparte, that the ecclesiastical influence of Use Pope might not be very much abused in Ireland. This was a danger which should be guarded against; and in that ease, without denying the Pope to be their spiritual head (which was a train tenet of their religion) the correspondence between the Bishops and the Pope ought to he carried on in so open and un di•gnised a manner as not to give reasonable alarm to the State. , It was evident that the correspondence between theta should he so conducted as thit the State might be secure, that there was ° no other correspondence with a Pope being Hea subject of our ene my. e' ept on matters of the r religion.thought the neces sary corrospondence 'night and ought to be carried on above b Ird, and through tae medium of the State. He was con vin:ted that half concessions to the Catholics would never be sunicieut, amid that t me not acceding to their claims would throw the gr. at Catholic body into the hands of every agitator. He, therefore, ebouid support the first Resolution of time Rught Hon. Gen.lenutolo th- fattest extent. As to the second Resolution, hue. e er, that .he Resolutions should be laid before his Royal Bie l Luess' " he shouli have o objection to its being so commu nicated ; but ao thought it too maca to reqvire an instrnction t the Cabinet to recommend the measure, WIWI) it was known that the «pi. ions of tof the Caiuinet were ag..inst it. This wo-ld be as far as td say, that the Government must be so mo delled as to roasi4 sof persons friendly to the Petitioners - , and baying weir confidence. He must say, however, that he kpew • nu disposition in any quartor to oppose the influence of Govern mein to those clai.us ; awl as for himself, with the fullest and most sincere desire to have the claims of the Catholics acceded Lts he should 'oe very bappy between this ead the nest Session to confer nit , ' any fleotleman on the other side, as to the best Jonas of eatit.,l-g them, and as to the nature of' those sees ri ire, whist', when the Catholics were admitted- late the Coo at:nation, would securities fur theta as well as far the Pro tnants. Mr. T/ItItNEY thought, that the Noble Lord, alter the years that he had professed himself a wits - • • THE STATESMAN. friend to the measures had not yet advanced a single step from the point at which he set out. Ile was not now prepared to name the securities which could con tent him, nor had he been able to connect himself with an Administration, on whom his sentiments en this subject were likely to have any weight. lle also should state the view in which he voted for the first Resolution of the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Canning). His view was, that it ought to be consi dered as a pledge to the people of Ireland, that Par liament intended to support those claims. [Hearn Unless the vote was considered as a distinct and spe cific pledge, there would he nothing in it which could prOduce the least effect in conciliating the people of Ireland. As to the second Resolution, if, as it was . stated, an Illustrious Personage was friendly to the measure, what situation was he in, if he could not have a Cabinet to advise him how to carry his bene volent wishes into execution ? In fact, who could he have to advise him on the subject ? His Cabinet were divided among themselves, and could not give a joint counsel; and it was not very usual for the Sovereign to take the advice of his Ministers seriatim. It was hard to say who the Satholics were to express their opinions to during the recess. The Secretary of State for the Home apartment (Lord Sidmouth) was knpwn not to he very friendly to their claims. How was it possible for them to point out what securities they would concede, unless some one would first ex plain to them what dangers were apprehended frem them or their religion ? It seemed generally allowed that they had not hitherto been disaffected • and it would be strange, indeed, if granting their demands, and admitting them into the Coustitutkon, were to make them disaffected in future. It was allowed that their ecclesiastical power had never yet been directed against the State; and it would he strange, indeed, ' if the Laity should become more discontented or dangerous from being admitted freely into all the benefits of the Constitution. While the matter was undecided, the Protestants would be frightened, and the Catholics discontented. The Bishops would be set a preaching, and the Aggregate Meetings and Ca there Boards would he at work on the otl n hand.— Ile s',ould consider that House as pledging itself to give the Catholics all they asked, consistent with se curity to the established religion of this country. He did not, however, know what that security was: the house ought to know what the meaning of Go vernment was. Sir J. C. HIPPISLEY spoke in favour of the mo tion, but allowed that we ought to guard against th e encroachments of the Catholics. Mr. PONSONBY said, that Ministers had de clared this should not he treated as a Ministerial question ; yet three Ministersin the House had given different opinions upon it. Security was said to be necessary. The greatest security you could have was the grant you made them, and th 2 confidence you placed in then). He thought the proposition now made a good one ; and he hoped the business would be left to that great and enlightened man who had so long and so ably advocated the cause of the Catholics (Mr. Grattan) ; and he had no doubt but he would be zealously supported by the pre-eminent talents of the Right Hon. Gout. who brought for ward the present motion. All parties differed as to the nature of the security as well as the extent ; but the House ought to consider, that in giving certain privileges to the Catholics, if it coerced their con ' sciences , it would excite difficulties which it would be impossible to overcome. Mr. W. FITZGERALD spoke against the Mo tion. Sir C. BLIRRF:I.I.4 did the same, and on the ground of the'resolutions come to by the late Aggre gate Meeting of the Catholics in Dublin. Mr. WHITBREAD was of opinion, that his Right Hon. Friend (Tierney) had successfully exposed not only the imbecility, but the insincerity of Ministers. He was astonished that any man could be diverted by the Declarations of an angry meeting at Dill;lin, from diving due weight to the forcible, and, he should think, irresistible arguments of the Right Hon. Gen tleman who had so ably and elorptently brought for ward the present motion, considering that it was in the poser of Parliament to accompany the measure, when it should ultimately be granted, with such pledges at they should chuse. Since the death of Mr. Perceval, he (Mr. Whitbread) could not help re marking that Ministers hart yieldedevery point. The minor points they might have yielded to the wishes of the pc:ople; but the major points they had con ceded, not in the spirit of magnanimity but of pu sillanimity ; they were beaten by the People and Parliament, but they had not been able to gain the victory over themselves. The Noble Lord (Castle reagh) said he was for the Resolution moved by the Right Honourable Gentleman (Canning), but, as a Minister, that he would not act in such a manner as to give effect to it. The Chancellor of the Exche quer was• of a similar mind. Then came a Right Honourable Gentleman (Bathurst), who it was un derstood was to be in the Cabinet, and he had said that he should vote against the Resolution. What an uneasy summer must these men have together ? For he hoped the Right Honourable Gentleman would follow up his Resolution by moving that it be presented to the Prince; and he thought It impossi ble, after a question of such importance was sub mitted to the Prince Regent, that his Ministers should not advise him to follow up such a recommendation. He should not detain the House from tke triumph of this day. On the head of .his Right Honourable Friend (Grattan) must rest and accumulate all the glory and honours of the victory. By the Right Honourable Gentleman (Canning) had the immediate stand been made ; but to his Right Hon. Friend . (Grattan) must attach the ultimate glory. Mr. CANNING bestowed a high tribute of praise on the character and exertions of the Right llon. Gentleman who had so often raised his voice in the cause (Mr. Grattan), and expressed himself happy, to resign the task of carrying the wishes of the House, into his hands ; but at the same time, with •• out derogating from any thing he had said on the conduct and talents of that Right Hon. Gentleman, he should be still more happy to see it in the heads of Government. i t The House then divided on Mr. Canning's Mo thin, the Amendment having been withdrawn. For the piotion - - 233 • Against it 1O Mujority —129 Adjourned at three o'clock this morning, A Fr.. Maui. Due. 1 Waterford 1 1 1 • Jersey „ PRICE OF STOCKS THIS Sank 3 per Cent. Cont. 3 per Cent. Red. 564 4 per Cents. 7!* 5 per Cent. Navy Long. Ann. 15 I)AT AT ONE O'CLOCK, India Bonds 7 9 die. Exchequer Hi 30. 94 d Ditto Sid. 9 pr. thallium 2 1 p Consols for Aret. 57: Lottery Tieketi THE STATESMAN. LONDON: TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1812. In the House of Commons last night, Mr. CAN- I NING prefaced the following Motion by an eloquent; and most impressive speech :—" That the House will,' early in the next Session of Parliament, take into its most serious consideration the state of the laws affecting his MAJESTY'S Roman Catholic subjects in Great Britain and Ireland, with a view to such a final and conciliatory adjustment as may be condu cive to the peace and strength of the United King dom, to the stability of • the Protestant Establish ment, and to the general satisfaction and concord of all classes of his MAJESTY'S subjects." General MATIIEW proposed, as an Amendment, " that the House should, on Thursday, resolve itself into al Committee, to take into consideration the condition of the Catholic population of Ireland." The gallant 1 General, however, was afterwards induced to with-1 draw his Amendment, when the Motion of Mr.l CANNING was carried by a majority of 129, there being 235 who voted for it, and 106 against it. In! . the course of the debate, Lord CASTLEREAGH ' stated, that he had always entertained principles 1 • favourable to the Catholic Claims ; but, that he had been prevented taking any part in the: 'measures proposed for their emancipation, in con- i . , sequence of " insuperable obstacles existing in a certain; to which it was only necutsary- to allude."--- iThese obstacles being now removed, he was of opi niou, " that it was impossible anv Government, formed for the country, founded on the principle of • resistance to the Roman Catholics," could long ex. ist. Still, his Lordship admitted, that there was a majority of individuals in the Cabinet who held a different opinion on this sulloject. Mr. GRATTAN supported Mr. CANNING'S motion, and hailed the measure proposed as a Resolution of concord—a Re solution which contained a Declaration of the Peo ple of England, of lo've and cordiality towards the People of Ireland, and, he had no doubt, when once the discussion was allowed to be fairly brought forward, that those who had hitherto been the strongest opposers of the measure, would be coin ! pelted to acknowledge the identity of the in : terests of the two countries.—Rntertaining a similar opinion with 'Mr. GRATTAN, we consider the success of Mr. CANNING's motion, as a real tri umph of the Irish People over bigotry and into. lerance ; and while we congratulate them on the sin ' gular advantage they have thus cbtained, we trust they will not depart from that conciliatory anti dig ! nified conduct, which has hitherto marked all their proceedingss and added so many real friends to their cause. If private letters, received yesterday from Turkey, by the Malta Mail, nre to be depended on, hostili ties between France and the Porte may be consider ed as not far distant. One letter, dated Constanti nople, April 2, contains the following :—" Letters from Odessa, of the 17th ult. inform us that an Em bargo has been laid in that port on French,Austrian, and Turkish vessels, which may be considered as a Declaration of War against France." The arrival of Mr. Ltrrow, at Constantinople, is also announced ; and, should the Turkish Government have really determined on war with BostApAnTE, this may be considered as the result of our Minister's negocia tions. We doubt much, however, the accuracy of this intelligence, as the rode, instead of being able to levy a new army to combat the immense forces of France, finds it difficult to arrest the progress of the Russians, who, it is well known, have of late been' the successful party. Letters were yesterday received by a vessel which has arrived from Ihrre, after a voyage of GO hours. I—No news had been recently published in Paris from the Peninsula, and no intelligence of- general interest was in circulation. ! - A King's Messenger arrived at Plymouth-Dock al .. ten o'clock on Thursday itight,in twenty-three hours from London. An express was immediately sent• from the Per-Office to New Passage, but it blew such a tremendous gale at the time that no boat could• cross the Tamer. A Messenger was then sent round by Tavistock. The Gleaner ketch, of 1.4 guns, sail ed for America a few hours after the arrival tk i the Messenger, although it blew a strong gale. Omnium fell yesterday from 21 (Saturday's price) to 1 a Premium. To-morrow being Mittsummer-day, according ta annual custom, the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs will go in state from the Mansion-house ro Guildhall, where a Common Hall of the Livery of the several Companies of the City of London will be convened for the purpose of choosing Sheriffs and other City Officers for the year ensuing, when the Aldermen who have not served the office of Sheriff, and the several Gentlemen drank to, will be put in nomination for the choice of the Livery, by the show of hands, for two fit and able persons to serve those offices. After the business of the Common Hall, the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Alder Men, &c. will proceed to the Mansiou-honee ;ad partake of an elegant en tertainment. • SECOND EDITION- sniTESMAN OFFICE, Two oy:Lecg, CAPTURE OP FOUR SAIL OF TIIE LINE, A letter, received by express from 111 istol this forenoon, has just been put up at Lloyd':,, which states, that four sail of the hue I el,nOng to the Toulon Fleet, that had come out of the harbour had been cap? tired by ou r S qua d ron. to manceuvre, AWFUL CONVULSIONS IN NATURE. the The reports prevail of es4searthquakesttii.rdi:it)yhvaaevnteydbgv7onln,c..rlitiliiire;mes treatditpchatiyoint7stmii s t o .s ti t t l r nd es i u e l s t , s. w h i i t ch w a is r y e Pe had md! City, that the Islands of 51artinique and Guadalou d ey e e n n ly t, a a s s id ex U t o r t a a o ll r y d din i a si r t y p p as ear i e ateu d. l‘ a 'e me ls , ol h ie as t h a il ) rumour i o n f n na is truth. It appears, however, from the following letter from Nevip, that a convulsion of Nature has been e.speriencit in the Isiah& of St.. Vincent, a great part of whirls is said to be c h.. strityed. By the accounts received at Nevis, Martinique was at that time uniiijured. NEviq , N AT 9.—On the night of the Ist instant, we were al! alarmed by tremendous reports, as if large cannon were fired oft There was also a very high surf on the shore, but no wind. Boats immediately weEt out, thinking it came from ships in distress, but returned without discovering any thing. I* wo or three days after, a report was brought here, that half the Island of St. Vincent was destroyed by a volcano. Two days after which, a (ientleasau arrived from Martinique, bringing an account that two vessels had put in there., covered with the ashes which fell on theta in passing St. Vincent, at the distance of fifteen miles. The sulphurous smell from the island was so strong as to preveat them putting iu, and they were obliged to wake Martinique._ The above Gentleman, on passing the island, two days previous to the eruption, clearly saw the smoke inning from the spot where the former crater was, and learnt that the inhabitants bad removed. The yellow fetter prevails in all the islands, particu larly at St. Kites and Antigua. The people have suffered consi derably.. Thre shocks of earthquakes have been felt here. A letter received yesterday fie nJericr, corroborate the above ACCOltlit. The Friendship had arrived there from Tobsgn. The Captain reported, that the explosion was heard it that island, in the night beta ecu the 31)th of April and Ist of May, and de. scribes the particulars such as have already been notic - .1. The Friendship was at St. Bartholomew's, on the Pith or May ; and before sailing, a sloop arrived iiiretl from St. Vincents, tile master of which reported, that a volcano ha, es plorled there on the night above stated. Many lives, according to his statement, were lost on the occasion ; and immense damage was sustained in crops and cattle. The armed ship Emma, arrived at Barhadoes, states. that when thirty miles to the eastward of Point Saline, Martinique, early the schooner . . ; a l a s rd a d s l r :c o a om d ex f p u p i l r e e r t l e:l .l y l l :e ed ' n iu v n e h l w y ni as sed he i a n r e d fo a u n d a s (t o .i r i m on sulphurousvh vessel ss e ei morning iv n s sdhouof:shortly the i; y t: l ht s fit t se u r 1 : t Peggy, from Dominica, which sta ' ed t:rat total darkness pre. sailed from tau o'clot k in the morning until three o'clock is the afternoon of the above day. Extract of a letter from an Officer of the St. Du. ming°, dated otf the Scheldt, June 16 : " The enemy are increased to 18 sal of the line, besides smut. lee vessels; hut we understand they cannot man even three of them properly. When a row of them get under-weigh to excr. vise, they arc obligtsd to have sonic men from each of the squa dron to work them; they then cat but a poor tignre with their yahls. There are 24 sail of the line in the Scheldt altogether.-- The enemy in the Ti a .1 remain in the same state as when lad r .commitred. Admiral FERRT Int gay off that port every spring tide, ai.d remains three until tle tide takes off; hat it is very doubtful if they can get ant even at the height cf the springs.— This fleet is composed of 21 sail of the line:—off the Scheldt — Impregnable (Admiral YOUNG), Royal Oak (Lord AMFLIVS Watict.zeit), Marlborough, St. Domingo, Norge, Barham, Gloucester, Prince of Wales, Sceptre, Valiant, Warrior, Pia. tiers, Tremendous, Christian VU., Cumberland, Egmant, Tire. SCIIB. Defiance, Inconstant, Nyu.phe,and tf! . . pet - oil the Tear& —Bellerophon (Admiral FERRILIt), Duncan, Bedford, Eli-. pliant, and 13ellona. The Tremendous xala to-morrow fa Spithead. " ' " A Commission of Lunacy having been issued to try whether Mr. Bowler was a lunatic or not, a number of witnesses were examined, and the Jury returned a verdict that he was a lunatic since the 30th of last March. A Court Martial was held on Wednesday last, on board the Wadifttor. on Richal 11 Daly, caulker's mate of his Wiesty'i ship Eliza6elh, fo.. runnirg from his leave, awl entering en board the Cora trait. sport, where ha was found concealed in the hold.— lie was sentenced to receive 100 lashes rott..' the fleet. A Court Martial was also holden the taw , day, on Michael Taylor, private marine of his Majesty's ship Elizabeth, for wi Ping a threatening letter to the • officers or that ship, and dropping it in the great !cabin. The Court were of opinion that the charge of writing the letter was :e.oved, but that the Pri. sow was in a state of insanity ; and recommended to tat. ! Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to dispose of him as they might think proper. Ott Wednesday last, a number of women seized a cart loaded with potatoes, at liorbury, near Wakes field, because the owner asked too high a price for them, and emptied its contents into the street, where they amused themselves in kicking about the pots. toes ; on the appeatance of a few Hussars, this tri fling disturbance was appeased. Several of the most active of these disorderly persons were taken late custody. Our lludtiersfield Correspondent, under the date of June 18, says,--‘' About twelve o'clock on Monday night last, three musket balls were fired through the windows into the house of Mr. William Milues, who is a Constable at Lockwood, near Bud. dettsfield ; the windows were then broke to pieces 'with large sticks, and the persons who committed the atrocious act, immediately made olf. It a ppear, Mi!nes had incurred the displeasure of the Lad , dites by the vigilant discharge of his daty as a Con stable. Similar depredations bave ahn commi'- , tett at the house of an Excise (Meer at Ell ; " 4 several pistols in his hous,.. which he was co=rn. ='+l to deliver up.—These atrocities ha% e become so c Mon in this neighbourhood, that they e x .ite little attention. Baean.----No Court of Aldermen to-day. The Loan l'sla - von, after inspecting the returns, ordered it to rise 3d. per peck.—QUARTERN LOAF, NI NET E EN-P ENCE TUBE E FA IITIIINGS A duel, betwixt two persons unknown, was fought HOn Ealing Common, ou Saturday morning; (..11c of w hom was woontled'itt the groin, but not dangrously. Hitt name is understood to be Evrox. On Tuesday last, about three o'clock, the Leeds Mail, on its way to town, was o v e rturned on a - neat) i)snigdhe,an(it,he is paocsiger; ii,,tl by which Als• lt of of ‘ r V u 'o b o b i i l s - h st ' re n e e t a , r U Ctte l)P ia . an arm broken, and was otherwis e so dreadfully bruised as to be unable to proceed on h e r journey. on,irr I.UNUUNc Printed and P.11)11.48ed hs ai Sr 471LIMAN Ottcc. di. Fleet4tredt.