The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1805-02-12 00:00:00

which was grounded his confidence that their Lord- k n ow i s , in Spain, of considerable consequence. ships would unanimously concur in the Address he If any one could entertain the idea, on enter should have the honuur to propose. The Noble Secre- ing into a war with Spain, of errant ioating Lary then moved an Add -ess to His Majesty, corr.- South America, he would venture to say it would sponding withtherelevath paragraph of His Majesty's be one of the maddest projeas that ever came speech,applauding the.. isdom and julticeof the mea. into the mind of man, and would entail the sures of His M.tje -sty's Government in the recenttrans- - • misery on a very large portion of the . . _ . 'cams actions with Spain, and more especially that system of moderation and forbearance which characterised the whole, which -severed it long as the lust regard and the in promising the c. Address being was not to follow long and e import he con 7 a point yr, _ every thing - adverted to by the Noble Lord, he could not avoid, consist ently with his Unit of duty, from coming for woad, and stating. shortly and distinctly, his rca. Mb ter thinking it impossible the House could cen eisteatly concur in the address, as couched by the No be Lard. The Noble Earl first protested against the Was *at ells 11% Of any of those Noble Lords with when belsad the honour to ea. were capable of op posing the propositionsof Ministers that night, on any selfish or sinister grounds. They were aduated by no motives but those of conscious duty, and such should regulate his condud on all occasions ; more espe cially on one like the present, where the interests and the honour of his country were alike implicated. The most regular and Parliamentary shape in which be could embody his objedions to the Noble Lord's proposition was, he conceived, by mewing an Amendment to the Address. He by no means thought it would be proper not to address the Throne upon the present occasion, more especially since the documents communicated by His Majesty's . materialswhere- I • greatest . . human race ; but he thought it too Micas, to merit a second thought. He then made some observations on the detention of the Spanish frigates, and said he saw no difference in detaining merchant ships in the harbour and attacking ships of war on the high seas; if there was any, he thought it was in favour of the former, as the injury there could be repaired with money ; but, in the latter, lives once taken could never be restored. Another ground has been taken, namely—whether hostilities should be commenced without a positive, or, at least, a modified declaration of war ? He admitted, that it was the common pradice of Europe, as exemplified by numerous instances, to commeace war without any declaration—but why ? Be cause, in the common praFtice of Europe, there werernutual alts of hostility on each side. Each party had committed some at of aggression, and it only remained to be ascertained who was right and who was wrong. But here there is no aggression on the part of Spain. It is not even pretended that there was any thing here on the part of Spain but a meditated aggression, and that not immediate, nor of that magnitude calculated to justify any ex traordinary alarm. It was precisely of that kind that called for no immediate force, and might have been averted by neguciation. There was a circum stance in the Papers that Tully justified this observa tion. Admiral Cochrane complained to the Com mander of Ferrol, that an armament was fitting out in that port ; and to this complaint the Com mander of Ferrol answered, not only that it should be courrermarded, but the order should be issued for disarming it. Now suppose the commander of a Spanish squadron blockading Portsmouth, and holding such language to the commander of an English squadron in that harbour—could any man :inciliatory and mild an answer? But command afforded the House ample _ on to found an Address. His wish was to lay humbly and respertfully before the Sovereign, those senti- Mans which he thoaght the House ought to be aißu ted by in the present instance, and with that view, It would be necessary to separate a great part of the Address. His Lordship proceeded to argue against the policy of the steps adopted by His Majesty's Ministers, and concluded by moving the Amend ment, which was read from the Woolsack. Viscount SIDMOUTH said, he entertained an opinion of the Papers before the House, dia metrically opposite to the Noble Earl who spoke before. He thought that one of the pried pal things which recommended them to their Lordships consideration, was the order and regu larity in which they were brought forward ; and that some omission should have been pointed out, when it had leen stated, that there was a deficiency. Lord KING, after observing, at some length, on the Papers before the House, said, the orders for the detention of the frigates had been issued siesta days before the remonstrance was sent to the Court of Madrid ; and that Ministers Utast have known, as long as the neutrality of Spain was prole Red, Portugal was seem r. He seiphed to bow was our army at that time in a state to pro bed Portugal? he was perfealy sure they would not pretend to say it was so now Earl of WESTMORELAND observed, that by the law of nations, there N AS no occasion for an open declaration of war, when it was, its in this in stance, conditionally declarei at the time of sending the remonstrance. He thought it was perfally im possible to avoid the war, and therefore opposed the Amendment. Earl of DAItNLEY spoke at some length in fa vour of the Amendment. The question was then put, and the House di vided on the Amendment. Non-contents, 114- Contents, 36—Majority, 78. Earl f 11 - LW I LLI AM then moved that the House should adjourn, and that the further consideration of this address should be postponed until the next day. Lord HAWKE:AWRY said, he was ender the nativity of opposing that motion on account of the importance of the business before the I louse, and though it was then so late an hour, he was very will ing to hear the arguments that any of their Lord ships might have to urge on the original question. Lord GRENVILLE said, that on the face of the Parer , there appeared to him to be the owst cri minal neglect of duty on the part of Ministers: from the 21st of January to the Srrth of September, a period of more than eight months, there did not appear to be any orders sent to Mr. Erere ; certainly there was chasm in the Papers then before the House, which, if the Ministers were feckless as to the neglect, they certainly thought it penelent not to produce the Papers. We then look over the Pa;sers to see the answer to the request of Spain to furnish her with the causes for commencing the war; we look page after page, day after day, week after week, month after month, without seeing even the slightest account of it. He said he had almost for g.ot to mention another strong ground for censuring His Majesty's Ministers, and that was, their neglea in not coming to a settlement with Spain in the month of June last, before the Fiench had entered into the treaty with them, which did not take place until the month of Augu.,t, and not then without every inti mation being previously given to the British Ambassador. It seemed to him His Majesty's Ministers were not capable of discriminating whether or not they ought to have entered into the treaty with Spain on the Ist of October ; while they were deliberating what course to take, they received ad vice from Mr. Erne, that the treaty had been settled between France and Spain. This, he said, was the meritorious condo& of His Majesty's Ministers, they were not ashamed to come down to Parliament, and to require credit for it. He believed, in the present state in which this country WAS, no man in his senses would wish to bring on it another enemy, if that ene my could be brought over by any IMAM short of dis honour. Onequestion remained to brooked, and that was, if Mr. Frere was not fit to treat with the(7oert of Madrid, on account of his quarrel with the Prince of Peace, why was besot immediately replaced? Surely his brother, Mr. B. Frere, was not a proper person to succeed him, and that, as much on account of his rank, as any thing else, which, though in Eng land, not thought usuch about, every one must from his Noble Friend near him (Viscount Sid mouth), khe supposed him to have stated that any part of the business ought to have been concealed : what he conceived his Noble Friend to mean was, whether the details of the affair between this coun try and Spain had been well or ill managed: how ever it might apply to the condua of Ministers on the. occasion, had nothing to do with the general question as to the issue between both countries, nor, consequently, with the cause of Britain against Spain. He then proceeded to take a copious view of the subjea regularly under ,consideration, in most of its bearings and details, and successfully vindicated the conduft of the British Government throughout. He censured the idea which had been advanced, that the question of war with Spain should have been brought to an issue in the first instance. This would be impolitic in the last degree, nay, an act of in sanity, to add Spain wantonly to, the number of our adversaries. No—let terms be kept with her as long as our interest dictated, or could be done consistent ly with honour; but by no means break with her until the 'Weft of remonstrance and negotiation was tried. Ide contended for the sound sense and policy of the instructions from time to time given to Mr. Frere. Great stress had been laid on, the condua of Ministers, with respect to the treaty of subsidy. No time was lost, or nothing omitted that was practi cable, on that occasion. After considering, in de tail, the comparative effects of furnishing the con tingent in ships and men, or substituting a pecuni- • ary aid, he stated his opinion, that, under all the circumstances, the compliance of Spain with the original contigent would be less in• jurious to the interests of this country than furnish ing pecuniary aid to the enemy ; and, with nape& to that transaftion, nothing could be dune easier , than what had been done, and from the pectin tr na ture of the case, because no decisive step could be taken, -until the amount of the stipulated sum was ascertained. Adverting to the question of the armament, the conduit of the British Govern ment was loudly called for by the circumstan ' ccs of the case, and on grounds of security.— Added to this, Spain, had no pretext whatever for augmenting her marine ; the pecuniary equiva lent obviated all pretext of its being under the treaty with France, and as to the objens of the armament at Ferrol, being for the quelling an insurredion at Biscay, the belief of Mr. Frere, however he may re ape& the charader of that Gentleman, that it was ma, was, in his mind, no sufficient ground for the Bri tish Government to act upon. Added to this, was the consideration (which,if he were rightly informed, rendered it almost physically impossible it should be so), viz. that there were no ports on the coast of Biscay capable of containing men of war. The eiitumstance of greater attention having been paid to what was transacting at the port of Ferrai, than at the ports either of Cadiz cr Cardiagena, was also harped upon by the Noble Lord; buttlwy seemed to have forgotten the most important circumstance, that there were five French sail of the line lying in that port, which would render a lesser number of Spanish ships in that port of greater importance to this country, than a more numerous equ;pmen. in either of the other ports, or a proportionably stronger blockading squadron off the port of Ferrol. On the whole, he forcibly contend ed that the conduti of the British Govern ment in the late transaaions with Spain was one tissue of forbearance and moderation, the policy of which was partly dictated by a sense of !inmate feeling for the calamitions situation into which Spain, through the pressure of scarcity and the ray ages of pestilential disease, was plunge I ; and, in the course of an animated and impressive peroration, his Lordship contrasted the present ' debased, powerless, and deplorable situation to Which that kingdom was new redeced, wish the elevated and commanding rank it once held among 'the nations of Europe. But as in mm al and political, as well as in physical systems, effects will naturally i follow causes ; much of the present calamitous state of Spain was to be attributed to the degeneracy of her inhabitants into a state of apathy, indolence, pusilla nimity, and the absence of all manly and patriotic feeling and sentiment, which have teluced her to a state of disgraceful dependence And vassalage to a domineering, ambitious, and unprincipled neigh bour, and to a state of thraldom and slavery ; that, strialy speaking, she is, with respel to this country, neither friend, neutral, or an enemy; as friend, she dare not be ; neutral she cannot; and enemy she is not in heart. lle had to h o pe that, in a more pro pitious state of things, Spain, en a future day, would be able to assert her independence, and once more defend that rank she held on the European Conti nent. Deeming that important subjea under con sideration, and feeling as he did with respect to it, lie had previously to adjure their Lordships unani mously to support the After a few words from Lord Mucoaiive, in explanation, the main question, on the Addiesss was ;nit and carried without a division. The Lords with white staves were ordered to learn His Majesty's pleasure with reaped to receiv ing the same ; and, at FOUR o'clack this morn ing, their Lordships adjourned till Wednesday. ex ea so c_ _so it had been said, that. having a justifiable cause of war. we were perfealy at liberty, to choose our own mode of commencing it. If there be any one mode more ungracious, or more unfortunate to the charader of the nation, it is the very one that has been adopted. If it were possible to devise any mode more ha sh and severe towards Spain, and more inju rious and disgraceful with regard to ourselves, it was the very course that has been pursued. It has been the pradice of France to calumniate and misrepre sent the charafter of England, to throw odium upon her, and to excite the envy, the jealousy, and hatred of the nations of the continent against Eng. land. She has represented us as a purse-proud na tion ; a nation devoted to making money, and, hs the pursuit and gratification of that sordid passion, ready to sacrifice honour, principle, magnanimity ; in fine, every liberal sentiment that adorns human nature. He would ask then. if we wished to as sist France in the propagation of her calumnies against the national charader, whether we could have furnished her with better materials, or a more plausible pretext than the mode in which we commenced hostilities against Spain? After the action off Cape St. Mary, France would not fail to say to the nations on the Continent, " We regard nothing, provided we can mul tiply dollars in the Bank of England." The the then which our enemies would make of our conduCt, in that particular proceeding, was so obvious to him, that lie would say, great as the subsidy was which Spain had paid to France, not only that, but all the money which we had ac quired by the mode of commencing war against Spain. would be well applied, if its restoration could wipe away the shame and disgrace of the mea sure. It was painful to him to say so much upon so ungrateful a subject. He was aware of the popularity which might attach to the measure, but he had stood against greater clamour than could possibly be raised against him, for his cohduCt in the present case. He had not only forfeited the esteem,. but the friendship of many, by the line of condat which he had adopted on a formet occasion, of great national importance; but cap aienee had proved, that he was tight, and, with this feeling abut him, he should nor hesitate now to protest against a measure, which, in his opinion, has brought indelible di •grace upon the country. Upon cases like the present, he must lose sight of all views of pt ivatc friendship, and feel only the influence of a higher duty. There was no duty, he conceived, more im perative, in a case like the present, than to speak the truth, and shun a system of delution. He deprecated an attempt to mislead the good sense of the people of England; and, indeed, he believed it impossible that such a.: attempt should hems& with success. Indeed the attempt, it praaicahle, would be unjust to the liberality and spirit of the country ; nor could sup port, obtain:d by the suppressions of until, prove effectual. Against this principle also he protested, and so much did he feel himself called upon to say, in answer to the wish that was expressed by a Noble Lord, that he had not given his opinion upon this subjeft. He wished, however, the Iltsuse to under stand, that, in blaming the conduCt of Ministers, he did not mean to insinuate that we had not originally a good cause of war against Spain : and he was also c suvinced, and wished it to be understood, that, not-- withstanding what Ministers had done, he did not conceive that that cause has been renounced. He only contended that, by pursuing a ditl'.rent course, the country might have been in a better situation. Lord HAWKESBURY, in the course of an able and argumentative speech of considerable length (which the lateness of the hour mtrifts us to a very faint sketch),supported the Motion for the Address. He regretted the unavoidable absence of his Noisle Friend, who, during the short time he occupied the office, so ably managed the business of the Foreign Department, yet still, strongly impressed as he was with the importance and details of the subjeS, he felt it his duty to solicit the indulgence of their Lordships, while he offered some remarks on the prominent circumstances of the c he, and which he felt it incumbent on him to do, in consequence prin cipally of what had fallen from a Noble Lord opposite to him. He agreed with that Noble Lord (Grenville), in deeming it proper that the whole case should be known, and nothing concealed on such an occasion from the public. At the same times he must remark that the Noble Lord seemed entirely to have misapprehended what had fallen IV OUSE OF COMMONS. Mr. ()WEIN, from the Fret India Company, presented a copy of the Correspondemo of the Presidencies and the Court of DttiVi+.ol, relative to the Mahratta war, which was ordered to lie on the Table, and to be printed. Sir W. YOUNG moved for an account of the exports and imports to and from the Weat India colonies, and the United kingdom of Grim' Britain and Ireland, together with its , : duties paid tit -1.'014 distinguishing the ilii..rent ports, tl:lring the years 180 V J, and from the sth of January 1804, to th. .ith of January lao3, winch was agreed to. Mr. HUSKISSON moved, that the copy of the commission of the CulTIrlilbe601110(1 of Naval inquiry be rioted, which was agreed to. Sir W. scorr gave notic e , _ that on an early day he should move fur leave to bring in a Bill for the better encouragement of seamen in His Majesty's navy. sir J. FITZGER k 1.13 carried, that there be laid beforc the House a copy of the returns made by Sheriffs, Gaolers, and Muter. of prison ship in troland, of 311 persons under their care, charged with high trea.ru 10 Impend, together with their warrants of cemniitment, and specifying the maim of the offences alleged agiirod them, and whether or nut they were artieted upon ititurrnation given on oath, since the 2,1 d ot July, 180, which was agreed to. Sir EVAN NEPLAN brought in the Bill for the Suspen ' (ion of the Habeas Corpus Af in Ireland, which being read a lieu time, Ire moved that it be read a second time to.morrow. Mr. GREY hoped, that from the 'Memo of the hour to which the Debate of this night was likely to extend, the lion. fluorite' would propae to put mat the discussion of so im portant a Bill to the nest day. On which S r RYAN agreed to bate it mad a second time on We.theiday TIFF SPANISH WAR. The CHANC: hiLLOR of the EXCHEQUER, after having moved the Order of the Day for taking into consideration the paper; presented on the 2d, 3d, and Fah of February, respetling the late differ ences with Spain, said, he felt the utmost satisy 4e :ion in rising this day, fur the purpose of entering into a full and mature discussion of those dot:. ments ; though he should be inclined to think, that the bare perusal, and 54N:de inspeBion of them, would be sufficient to convince every unprapidieed mind, of the just ice and necessity of the ine9c7it war—yet, a mme ample investigation, he conside:o.l to be important to the credit of His Majesty's Co. veroment. This impression was strongly confirmed by the ill-founded and unauthorised statements m o l e of the whole of the stibjeiS, as well by the Court' Spain itselt, and by its Ambassador in this couatty, which induced him to go to the greater length into the various dates, statements, and discussions, .rek• tive to this interesting subjea. than he mightothee. wise have deemed necessary. In the performance of this task, it was no small advantage to him. tau: he had very sufficient means to expose the 'fail-v 7 of such misrepresentations, by opposing Saas. disputable documents, and even treaties thelisslre., to the sophistical distin,9ions, and false assertionsaif the parties he alluded !o. In the first place, Aye, he was ready to contend, that, by the treaty of -St. Ildefunso, concluded between France and Spain, in . the year 1796, the latter power was unmindful both of policy and justice, and poorly surrendered all the rights of independeut nations. Ity the stipulations of -that treaty, Lngland, from the moment that she was again compelled to have recourse to arms, in cvase. quenee.of the nurneiou; and violent aggressions df the present Ruler of France, was justified to consi• • der Spain as a principal in tl.e war, if she should not immediately renounce the agreement she then entered into, and which was direaly, and almost avowedly aimed at the power of this country. lie was confident in stating, upon the a othei ity of the best writers on the Law of Nations, and, if he vt.vi ......._ _ _ _ . mistaken, he should be conzaed by persons every way competent to do so—that, at the instant host. lities were resumed between France and this conatrs, the treaty of St. Ildefonso placed Spain in the siits atien of an enemy. But the Briti , h Governius tt, by abstaining from it, was guided by agenerous honourable allowance for the state of .vassalrigs in which Spain had placed ifailf, and a consideration, that, under her immediste tliritldom trance. she must be considered as a irelnllint adversary. Our forbearance and moieraraun k. 4 qa to 0.7 n generous resolution of contesting ern .elves demanding from that country, an irerroe renunciation of the treaty concluded tin ler mmons councils, which imposed upon t truly Itaneuralle, proud, and dignified i. •. a condition of the most degrading str''..iel oa In this state, and under those generous irapresshers, did Fmgiend find itself; when the injustice as I ie. solence of an overheating and insolent cnenms forced her iota a state of war. She had reason t, harp., that the hostility of Spain was not •n tire heart. and soaringly gave that country time tr consider of the means which she might has , to disengage herself. She wished even to span the feelings of Spain ; but emery one mast .ire sensible, that His Alarsty's ministers would be per lefty unjastifinb!e in net taking .. piOper pa precau tionary steps arraiest the etectitton of die wavy If St. Ildefouso, and prevent the junction of French and Spanish forces, provided that, in the inteera: uh ch her tenderness interposed for the -pus pose of nertiation, Spain sheuld not be allows." accunntlete .fleets in the same harbour. ts• equip them, and at the $3171e time to get hirer t lose treasures which would enable her .14 assist France nn•we effedually in a war, whoa. avowed objeft was ruin to the independener of this century. In acco:nplithing this, Trams flattered herself, anis perhaps, not without semi reason, that she .horrid be enabled to c lee her gruel purpose of universal empire, and place the lest if Europe.in the same state of abjea Initiation whirl she Lad imposed on the ancient Kingdom of Spain. Ile CAM newt to refire .ent •to the House, by a refers ence to the different documents, to what eatent and degree this principle had been applied. At early as the year 4 SUS, instrutioo had keen sent t o the British Minister at the Court rf Madrid, tir •uti his utmost endeavours in endeniouting Sc mote the obje6l of separating Spain from FrII during the present contest. He was direfled vigi lantly to watch any attempts Spain might snake es put herself a warlike attitude, with respea &the* to her fleets or armies, and also the passage of ain! French troops through that country. He was far thee to examine, whether Spain was disposed tomb serve a suift ncatrality and by the instniffkr.. transmitted to him on the 3d of Ju,.e, he uni , sited to ascertain how far Spain thought bound by the 'Fre:Ay of Ildefonsn, to assit.frarcr in its design of invasion, and assist with ships, troops, or subsidies for their Support. He =see declare, at the same time, that should the Treaty in Ildefonso not be receded from, er s!1: - ri!,1 opair be determined to assist our enemy, by the vont, nuance of even long limited succours, he had • r dee. to quit Mad• id without loss, as any of these C • cum stances would be considered by England as eq..' valent to a declaration of war. H: was nodes:s ever to leave Madrid withctit first communie mite all the circumstances to the commaadets ca hl. Majesty's fleets ar.l squadrons stationed in die quarter, in particular off the ports of Spain. In dt mean time, the British Governmeat was not ells entitled by the known law of nations, but by principle and sentiment of duty, to take pr'` cautionary measures, and send instructiens is our Commanders to prevent, with all c. err ;roasts any auxiliary Spanish f wee from fertmeg a pm. tion with any of those of the enemyrhe 14 * of nations authorised us to demand from Spain an im mediate renunciation of the Treaty of St Ilrletemou and if she abstained from doing so in th • first in stance, it was only to be attributed to stir a bsiiiienrs. moderation, and lenity. From the do, urncnrs be' tore them it would appear, that Mr. Frere sided the prosecution of his insttaitintis, and that pow interval elapsed bsfore he coal) obt tin as' answer, until curly in June, when he had s conversation with the Prince of Peace, whom esters one knew to have the Lwesoest influence of any lan and to take the lead in the councils of Spain, autl a ,l indeed to the controul and superior influerice France. Though the Prince of Pe ace seemed PS, the whole, which was persevered in as long same could be,done con ;istently with a just to the hcrnour of Ills Majasty's Crown, anc terest and welfare of his subjects, and promi cordial support of theiy Lordships, &c. On the 6 para . graph of the Addres read ' • Earl •eose, and observed, it his in ayes not in his power, tc thg ..-tart' through the very lc • ' he had lust taken of the nt iubjea under consideration ; hut as templated. in so materially different a of view. almost every thing . that had been;