The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1805-02-13 00:00:00

awl halls the ether into teenrity. In this we aced like as the Satyr in the fahle used his guest, breathing hot and cold, in the same breath ; or, like the nurse, who negotiates with a child, not by sulking him at once, but by holding a rod suspended over him. It was like inviting a man to a parley, and firing at him under a flag of truce. He was, in deed, ready to admit, that the Treaty of St. fide fonso was, in itself, a sufficient ground of war ; but he could not allow the assertion, that its ob3eEt was the ruin and destruftion of this country , as the stipulations were the same, whether either of the parties was at war with this or• any other coun try. There was inserted in the declaration an as sertion, that the preparations made at Ferrol had covered the conveyance of troops to Toulon ; btu, to his surprise, he could not find even the name of Toulon mentioned in any of the papers before the House. He then proceeded to consider the different statements and the dates of the papers, remarking, that the intentions of our Ministers were rendered more suspicious by ob serving, that, in consequence of the letter received from Admit al Cochrane, instruAions were given, in the end of September, for our Minister to remonstrate and demand expianation, and the at tack was made on the Spanish frigate., in the month of December. He then quoted the opinions of Grotius and Vatted, in favour of his opinion, and represented the attack to deserve more the name of a des:ration. than of a declaration, in any point of view ; for if the objein was only their detention, hu manity required that a larger force should be sent, in order to prevent them from making any resist ance. Early after the war, Mr. Frere, in one of his letters, represented the heart of Spain as friendly to England, and only yielding to France from the effeet of fear. In the conclusion of his speech, be represented, that there never was a time when it be came us more to treat Spain with every degree of tenderness and civility, than the- present—when it was our duty to conciliate all the other Powers of Europe; and that we had no disposition to trample upon those whose means and powers are inferior to our own. Mr. BANK ES agreed with the Hon. Gentleman who spoke last, that we never stood more in need, than at present, of the assistance of other nations, or when we owed more to Spain every degree of mo deration, and Spain to us the most candid explana tion: with regard to the negociation,however, hesaid, he observed through the whole of it a sort of system on the part of Spain, as, considering the number of hands through which it passed, he never observed so link variety in any thing. That country might have had good dispositions with regard to us ; from a deficiency of . power it was unable to carry them into effrA. Without disclosing the treaty of St. 11- defonso, it could not expel us to submit to it. Mr. JOHNSTONE said, that the very same article that was complained of in the treaty of St. lldefonso, was also to be found in the Family Com paA ; but though we afterwards made it the ground of war against France, England did not think it ne cessary to include France in the hostilities. if the Minister who first set on foot this negotiation with Spain, had wished to bring it to a happy issue, he should. ham employed in it some man or high birth and conciliating manners. The cir cumstance of the subsidy, he thought to have been ,eitsisrepresented. Spain agreed to pay 3,000,0001 subsidy, in lieu of naval and military aid, and Wing allowed to dcdul one million from it. for a debt due by France, she, in fact, paid no more than two, for she never would have been enabled to enforce the payment of the debt Mr. HILEY ADDINGTON said, he should sot attempt to contend with many gentlemen who spoke on the other side of the House. either in ge neral knowledge, or the study of the laws of nations. He was glad an lion. Gentleman acknowledged that the Treaty of St. ildefonso was in itself a sufficient hround of war, and whatever respeet he may have for the opinions of those who thought. otherwise, he for one could not but mo s t approve of the condul of those who preferred the miller to the harsher method of proceeding. He was sorry that Spain was not induced to explain, and, had tt done so, this counts y would be fouad ready to coot ciliate. He concluded a short speech with &elms in 7 the great satisfaAion he must feel in contem pliting the condo& of the Banish Government. DoAor LAWRENCE said, upon the investiga-' thin of the whole business then before them, he did not see there were more than Iwo or three issuable points for consideration, and these he would make as brief observations on as the importance of the subjea would allow. With regard to the two nations before the commencement of hostilities, he thought Great Britain had as good A right to de mand openness, frankness, and candour, from Spain, as Spain front Great Britain ; but, since the period of commencing hostilities, theie was a ma terial change in his sentiments on that siihjett ; if it was Agreeable to Ministers to plunge us into a war, which was not consistent with justice. were we to submit in silence ; because they tell us, our dis content will dispirit the vigour and energy of the country? Are we to be content with any Papers, how ever deficient in point of regularity, or any thing else that they please to lay before us ? for the same rea son, certainly they were not : on the contrary. he thought such conduit called loudly on the indigna tion of the House. The Treaty was not then in dispute between them ' • but it did surprise him very much, when he heard the question of the subsidies was not to be considered. It had also been stated, on the other side, that there was a circumstance which gave the British Government a right to corn mence-bostilities ; but he could not in the striAest research find out any circumstance, which could warrant such a step, as the seizing of the Spanish frigates: if it really did exist, he wondered it had been concealed. He then made some observations with regard to the dispatches which passed between Mr. Frere and His Majesty's Ministers, the objea of which he could not see, unless it was for the purpose of at once entering into ads of open hostility. He could not help observing a phrase which had been in serted en the declaration : it was agreed, that War WAS to be declared, in case a French army entered Spain. The word " army" was struck out of the Declaration, and " troops" inserted, for the pur pose. he suppo-ed, of Ministers having some shadow of pretence for the conduit they bad been guilty of. He then alluded to Mr. Frere's want of instruetions, which, Le said, were, in fad, nothing, until the rev, period of seizing on the Span- .. ish frigates. One of the demon& made by our Am- to attach to the armament at Ferrol, still it was bassador to the Court of Spain was, that English possible that the objed was innocent, and might ships of war in Spanish ports should be treated in possibly receive a fun and satisfadory explanation ; the same manner as French ships of war. This, he but, under these siecumstances, what coarse did • said, was agreed to; and, though he did net wish Ministers .pursue ? They adopted a course that pre le stand on words ; yet, when lie saw a demand eluded the possibility of a ll explanation. hey evade and agreed to, he thought it should be bind- sent out orders to the West Indies to capture Span *. It was stated, that, in a preceding war, ships ish vessels ; orders that could not be recalled in time, bed been taken before the formal declaration ;he even in case of a subsequent satisfadriry explanation, acknowledged that to be a fad ; but it did by no and were consequently so far final and decisive. In means determine the question, as that very cricum- fss, no demand of explanation was made of Mr. stance alluded to, had since been condemned by every Anduaga until the orders were sent off, and expla man of common understanding. He was sorry to nation must have come too late to prevent their hear so many instances recounted, of hostilities be- being carried into execution. Leaving the question of ing commenced before the declaration of war, as explanation, however, aside, he contended that the he was aeries:lly well convinced in himself, in al- measures adopted by our Government ought to most every one, the proceeding was blameable. He have been commensurate with the danger, if any then took a review of the law of nations, on de- such really existed, and ought not to have exceeded daring war, and quoted several passages from.Gro- the necessity of the case. Consequently, the act of tius. He said, it had been urged, that the Minis- hostility to,which we had recourse, having gene far tees were justified in going to war on account of the beyond that necessity, is utterly indefensible. But breach of the condition on the part of Spain. As then we are told that French soldiers and sailors to that, he thought the breach must be perfectly were marched SCUMS the Spanish territory to man clear, which was not, even by the Ministers, the French vessels at Ferrol, and that this was an said to be so in this case ; they only said the unquestionable breach of neutrality, if f pin as an condition appeared to be broken; but suppose it had abstrad, general case. But what were the.parti• actually been the faat, suppose the condition had cuter circumstances under which it occurred in the been broken, every circumstance should have been present instance? The Spanish Minister declared smelly examined before any steps were taken, or at tu his letter, that Genentl Bournonville had obtain least, any other than those which were absolutely ed leave•to march 1600 men across the Spanish necessary. He said, the greatest possible argument territory. And Mr. Frere had written to Lord that could be offend against the war with Spain Hawkesbury, communicating the circumstance, was, that France would derive the greatest possible without receiving in answer any instrudions, to advantage from it ; she would have under her corn- consider it as an ad of hostility. In that mend, not only the navy and army, but half the light, however, it was afterwards thought fit revenue of Spain, all of which would contribute to to view it, for the measures adopted by our makeherstalmnreformidable than she was at present. Government, in consequence, could be consider. The armament at Ferrol, of which we complained, ed as nothing else than ads of hostility. It is consisted of three ships; the order for fitting them idle to call our condud a system of precaution ;it nut was received on the 7th, and on the t rah they was admit hostility, and is entitled to no other were countermanded This W. 15 the great and alarm. name. Mr. Frere's departure from Madrid was in ing measure, which was to excite so much fear for the same spirit. He was not justified in coming away our safety, and called lar immediate reparation and when he did, as his own dispatch admitted, that the • redress. There were, indeed, other armaments that Spanish Minister had expressed his hope, to be able might have proved a just subject of complaint, and to shew that the °Ned of the armament was per justify strong measures on the part of the British fedly innocent in relation to this country, and the Government. He meant the armaments at Car- sincerity of this declaration was the less to be sus thagena and Cadiz, and yet there was not pened, as Mr. B. Frere had expressed, in am of a word of alarm respeatirig these two ports.— his letters, his belief that the armament was des- No orders were dispatched to prevent the arma- tined against the Biscayans. With these reasons ments from sailing out of the ports of Cadiz and against an hostile construction upon the proceeding, Carthagena. To Cadiz, indeed, two frigates were and to induce a favourable interpretation, Mr. sent to make prizes of vessels that might wish to go Frere bad no right to take a strong ground, and say into it ; but not a word was said of any armament to Spain, you shall not move even a single ship out coming out ; and, as to Carthagena, no measure of one of your own ports, even to chastise.your re-- whatever was deemed necessary. It was curious to bellious subjeds, as if it were impossible that such see, out of three cases, two of them thus entirely could be the real (+Jed. His own dispatch evidently omitted, and all the fear and apprehension confined implied a possibility that attainment cause might be to one...s(e loud roughing new began to prevail in awry made out; and if so, the had en right to take a de port of Me House.) If Spain had a naval war in finite anddecided step, in opposition to anj such pos. contemplation, - was it probable that •she should be Bible case. ( Here the coughing increased, and the Howe totally unprovided with the means of carrying it on? evinced mark impatience). But what followed ? Lord that she should have no timber at Cadiz, until the Harrowhy. in his conversation with M. Anduaga, very last moment ? yet such appears to have been df dared that the capture of the Spanish treasure her real situation in that particular. So far from was only a measure of precaution. Was it then having her arsenals filled with naval stores to right, he would ask, that we should proceed an extent which the consumption of war might in every part of the world, taking Spanish treasure, require, sae had no timber at Cadiz, but such although it appears that the armament was inno as Witt bitely sufficient for immediate purposes to. cent'? As expectation, it is said, wax entertained tally unconnected with the warfare. She had no that the treasure would come home from America contrafts for naval stores, no provision made that in single ships, and this hat been relied upon as an could indicate an hostile intention. Even Mr. Frere answer to the objection to the force of the squadron himself had borne testimony to these pacific sp. that engaged the Spanish frigates off Cape St. Mary, pearances on the part of Spain. as in one of his but the reverse he would venture to state was the dispatches he stated, that from all the information fan. Several , months prior to that event, informa he had received from the coast, it did not appear tion was received, that the Spanish treasure ships that there were any armaments going forward. would sail in company. An accurate list, contain. He admitted, at the same time, that .another dis- ing their names, &c. was published, from whence patch shortly after announced preparations in the it appeared, that five were to sail together from port of Ferrol. He would ask, how were these dis- Lima; and yet, with the advantage of all this cordant resorts to be reconciled ? The pacific dis- knowledge, a squadron of only four frigates was position of Spain, if left to herself, was univet- employed to intercept them. So much for the sally acknowledged, and her hostileconduat imputed exisedation, that the treat use would be brought entirely to the domineering influence of France. But home in single ships. Let no man suppose that was it possible that the overhearing influence of France this disparity of force .upon the present occasion should be so unsteady in its operation, as not to be able was a matter of little importance. The honour of to exist ten days together without interruption ? It the Aug is dear to every maritime nation, and, per was strange, if warlike preparations were making at haps, there is nothing so likely to involve two colitis any time natter the influenceof France, always so rani- tries in hostilities as any insult offered to it, and an form and steady in her enmity to England, that they offence that touches the honour of the nation— should proceed only by starts, and be liable to Mere /he coughing entreated in erre!, part of the House) such interruptions. The all:ged destinatian of The Hon. and Learned Member thus concluded those ships at Ferrol has 4 1 S0 been adduced as a very able and argumentative speech ; Sir, I cet a proof of insincerity on the part of the Spanish tainly do not mean, at this late hour (it was our Government ; and the answer of the Spanish Corn- Trodre o'Clm k) to obtrude upon the patience nr mender, stating that they were destined to con- feelings of the House ; but upon a subject of such vey troops to quell the insurgents in Biscay, has magnitude, I did think myselfjustitiable in entering been argued upon as pregnant with internal cvi. into matter of detail, and opening a view of the dente or falsehood, and totally inconsistent with subjeat upon the general ground. In the present truth. The subsequent march of the troops for tlisordered state of Europe, when so many of the that pnrpn;e, by land, was relied upon, as a pool of ancient landmarks that distinguished the rights of the fallaciousness of that explanation ; but he did nations have been removed, or thrown down ; not think it deserved to much weight as was at- when we are called upon to support the little that cached to it. Although troops were afterwards remains of civilised Europe, I feel, whatever may sent to Biscay, by land, it did not follow but be the society of men to whom I address myself, I that it might have been thought advisable to say, I conscientiously feel it my duty, upon an occa. have sent troops also by sea, and it was very sion like this, to discuss the question with anxiety possible that it might have been in the concern- and care. In a common or an ordinary case, I plation of the Spanish Government, originally to shall never go against the feelings of the House ; but send those very troops by sea, which they after- upon an occasion like the present, I ask them wile wards marched by land into Biscay. He did titer they think too Much labour, and too much in not rtofess an accurate knowledge of the coast quiry can be bestowed upon it ?" of Spain in that quarter disturbed by insur- The MASTER of the ROLLS said, he should redion ; but he could conceive it very po,sihle enter into the discussion of the question only so far that it might have %seen deemed adviseable to as it was essential. Irk had viewed under that dis attack the insurgents at the same time by land and tindion, several of the observations made in the sea ; and although there might not be a very deep and course of the night, upon various circumstances commodious harbour on that part of the coast, yet of the case. There was much which mei might troops might have been very well landed by boats affirm and.deny, yet leave the matter madly where from the shipping at a convenient distance. Asa fur- it was, wßhe nothing was irrelevant that did aired cher proof of the innocent intention of the armament the debate ' itself. 'l'he remote cause of the war in Ferrol, Admiral Cochrane asserted, that the was the irrenounced treaty of St. Ildephouso. The three ships composing it were only half manned.— proximate cause was the construction that Govern- This is at once evidence of the fair intention of the ment put upon the armaments going on in the ports Spanish government, and of the weakness of the of Spain, and the explanation which they thought fears which the armament excited. That three they had a right to demand. His Honourable ships, half manned, should be a force competent Friend had precisely stated the true points, and to produce such serious apprehension as would not he should confine himself aridly to them.—All th tt allow His Majesty's Ministers 24 hours time was necessary to consider in the present case was, I st, for deliberation, he could not conceive. If they our situation at the commencement of the present were fitted out for an hostile purpose, and if they war with France so far as the same related to did threaten mischief, where was our vigorous and Spain ; 2dly, how far our original situation has efficient administration, of whom we have heard so been changed by any subsequent agreement; much ? Were they so limited in their means, that and, idly, whether the conditions of that agrees they could not afford to send out three ships to meet have been violated, and if so, the conse prevent any urgent danger to be feared from quences that result to us in right and justice from these three half-manned Spanish vessels ? Admit- such violation; and further, the operation of the Ling, however, every possible appearance of hostility same, as laying a foundation for explanation which ~., has been demanded, hit was refused. Now, as to the first point, he imagined, there could be • little difference of opinion. He was only surprised it should be said, that there was something ambiguous upon the face of the treaty — n f An intimation of the rontrory was mode from the Sfiiihderial Bench). The Main Member then said, in continuation, he must pre. sume that all parties were agreed upon that point, and that the treaty of St. Ildefonso WAS to be con sidered a measure of hostility against this country, on the part of Spain. It was a more Offensiv e treaty than the Family Compait. Even in the Fa mily Compaft, the party was not precluded front enquiring into the justice of the war, and called upon to furnish its stipulated succours blindly._ But that right was expressly guarded against in the treaty of St. Ildefonso; fur it expressly provides I•tleat the party must furnish the stipulated amount 91 succours, without any emits'', v, whether the w n fie offensive or defensive, just or unjust, or who o the enemy. It is fair then to say, that a treaty a, that description, if not renounced, is a just cause . and that the party refusing to renounce it, ,pla en himself in a state of hostility ; and Wile Ise r, state of hostility, then the party injured has an -on , doubted right of resistance. Thar being our aflual state at the commencement of the war, th e net question is, the substitution of the pecuniary SUS- ' tours for the terms of the original treaty. He Ai not hear it asserted, that they did not stand Nam • :die same footing as the succours stipulated by the .treaty of St. Ildefonso. Whatever may have ben t . the stipulations of the convention, substituted in its stead, they were between the same parties n and in the same spirit, and of the same tendency. Out right of war, therefore, temained unimpaired br the new convention ; but it might be said, that on,. posing the Eta to ha so, no nation is Ir.und to e; ercise its rights. It is very true, motives :,/ pt ,:. duence and policy may, and oftentimes do, !•. strain a nation frirm the er,:tci.e of its ji t rights. The condua of this country, upon present occasion, is an examplz of that sort art forbearance. We did not wish to go to war with Spain ; it we could have secured her real neutralits, it would have been our policy to avoid a rupture. It has been also a question with statesmen, w'ne ther, in contemplation of a war, as an event entail; at some time with Spain, it was not a laudable •po licy to defer the moment of striking the hloweentil could be done to thebest advantage.? Thiscoomeana pursued in the war against France, connelked withtin• war between. England and her American colonies. ' ever we were engagedin a war with France less than another to involva us in hostilities with Spoilt, it was that war, and yet such was the result aftera ' few months of neutrality. The Opposition did nor fail, in consequence, to censure the Miriister of the day as wanting foresight, and to !dame him :mom laving declared war against Spin at once.—finch was the opinion then entertained of our political re lations with Spain, and of the peculiarity or her situation, as always certain to be involved in any war bats een this country and France ; and that time, France did not exorcise that overhearing influence upon Spain, that she MSS at the pressed moment. It was further objeeted against Govern: ment, that they have not taakea.a etroug, and ,d'sa Linn line of enridinfl in their measures with Spina. He maintained that they had taken a strong, read definite course. They called upon Spain nt early period, is precise and distinJ terms, to declam whether she meant to aft upon the Treaty of fit. Ildefonso ? and, being answered in the negative, they, afterwards, desired to know, in terms (final ly explicit, whether she should confine herself to the pecuniary succours stipulated tor, in the place of the original agreement? This was to take a clear, distinet, and definite line of conclude but then it was obj-ded, that our Ambassa dor, upon receiving the answer of the Spani4l2 government, declared noresolu tionthetenn, and there by lett matters vague and indefinite. Hebelievedit WA , the common praftice of Courts to instruCteheir. Ambassadors to ask questions. antitocommtmirave thorn to the i rGovernment.without declaring, u pon the receipt oisuch answer, any new determinants!) or lien': course intended to be taken. A case of thielcinti happened in the year 1761, upon the question the Family Compaft. Our Government wished to see that instrument, but that being refused, lLord Egremont. the Minister of the day, iniarturted our Ambassador at Madrid to, say, that if the Spaniel: Government would declare that there was .nothing in it offensive to our interests, he would report the answer to his Court. this Was al he was allow“ ed to say. He was not authorised to folltiv. up the compliance or ref - rind of the SpaniSh Go vernment, with any declaration of the list e n views of his Court, or of the definite and tinft line of coaduft which it meant rf • sue, and yet he never heard that Lora mont was tonsidered a weak or incapable N::.°; If the succours had beta small, they might Nate been connived at. and, provided Spain Lad slime: . proper dispositioin every t' tinganightlave taken a very different turn to what it did. For a consider able time, every effort was made, which could lead to a favourable and prosperous issue. In a note, dated the 'lath January, Mr. Frere holds out certain conditions, on which a neutrality might be granted, because, at that period nothing had then _passed, which might not admit Great Brit:l;n to per mit the payments of subsidies, in lieu of furnishing the contingent which was stipulated to be p rid by the offensive 'Ereaty of St. Ildefonso. To that note. however, no answer was returned by M Cevallos. Mt. Frere, notwithstanding, renewed this pro position, and it was acceded to on two ears en conditions, viz. the cessation of all Armaments in the part of Spain, and the prohibition of the salc.of prizes taken by France from England, and carried into Spanish ports. This was the positive And express stipulation agreed upon the 2d of March, and it was positively understood that it was are able to the inclinations of M. Cevallos, and pertefk understood as an agreement founded on the two les- . ters of the Bth Feb. and the 27th March, in which it a mentioned under the term forbearance, which the Han. and Learned Gent. said was the same as neutrality. for the proposition of neutrality might be substituted. and if the Ministers of Spain pleased to take for bearance instead of neutrality, we had certainly no reason to object to it. It was the same, during that period, as admitting them to a state of neutrality. but it was with a particular view, and depended en' tirely on the particular circumstances of the case. It was perfdly clear that we did mean to give them ...-. L 'r 1 ..,