The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — London, England, 1806-12-20 00:00:00

: - i: arsh of Mcisting Prussia. 'if I indeed, she soul& 1 assisted. U Oftober. thep, Lard Morpeth was -Not over: fee that purpose. lam persuaded, that re Friend ailed with all seal, and conforms ekly .irith its instrudions ; and I only lament the capitate mode of his return. I only lament, that. Ad oftemisaio. AVM*, however, he did dieters sent out a military Officer to succeed hien. A psdiail cif Incite than three weeks intervened, sod -*Ws ast%teey Officer was um,, at a moment when lego.deabtfal whether there eras any place whim . • t Missies timid land. On the Negotiation, I . . soy mobilo tenfislent.—lt is the general • lids to give every possible assistance to the most germs prosecution of the war, and that for such liptpous.weeey, measure calculated to call forth all allip - earegins of the country. will meet the general • OA._ ,public." - - it%RigNYILLIL spoke as .follows :—" My Efi... : diem se 00. somn less capable than lamof , • hy any ambiguous words , to any t ,io their contaruplation. Having - ihiall I have answered ail that has bre aril ispiimptirhat is oontaioed in the Speech: Ilies loser motor other ehleions that have been litoode, sod the difliciairja have to encounter. sia- thee IM rf ttu w they sooty. The first is. the chapter efmmations, which the Noble Lord has to us. ie. hes the King bees well or ill advised yids re4ard to the est of his prerogative, in the lam diesoluisoa of Parliament ? /am ready to say, that. Seism am responsible for every advice which, *i give the Crown ; but, if them 'soapy one sub: 011 s which the greatest restive and delicacy should lyr seed by Parliament, it is precisely that which apyiiisa to the use of that particular prerogative. I hay, Ahem, that the Noble Lord should have come laseaSeitO Kate reasons against. instead of calling is .• spas see SO show reasons for, its exercise in this rosin& iabsiove. I am not competent to say, Thethee tam Matareinit of the duration of the several fteats, in the last centary. he corred ; but 1 . • that Parliaments have generally sat ' I am at a Mss to discover how that is goiriet against a Parliament sitting eddy four. smolt ftbsoent, which i, limited to seven years, tea eggairelapeascriptive right to sit for sea years cer tain. slim the principle is established ..-rhich the blivalsZeTit ;Nimes namely, that Parliament can 'ult.,. a Peed legal term of duration, and is not ilbsedeable et the pleasure of the Crown. The nut *Mt adverted to in this chapter of qaestions, is semethemwhichise wonders he cannot find in the fpiesch.. 4Asean saw account of the effect and re mit of theemeassure lately adopted respeding the 0,0117. • What notice et this enbjed the Noble Lord had; right- taeeped. Ism at a toes to discover. It tees aeweed.thist the old system was a bad one, and a sabstnute was proposed in the last Session ; in sup. porting which, I contended that it could not have es full weed. until the name of soldier conveyed the idea of a seven yeas service, as moth as an appren ticeship to say °Mina, y trade. If it should not be podueive in two or three years. he must be a States inatt-of a very narrow mind indeed, that should say hiked a fair triaL A space of eighteen months had bessAreoted as an experiment, and yet Ministers one called epos for the tumult of dove months, in or der to enable tie to judge of the increase or decrease of the army, We are next asked, why our mil:tary force is - ' . , . A less eau than as a former period i hut before 'el Illargrer. I hope he will establish the fad. 'Phis k not a question no be tried by the force now aaually its the iklinikent with reference also to its disposal. If the Noble Lord means the general force, he will find it is larger than at any period to which lee al ludes ; and. es to the Volneteeri.no damp has been thrown upon them by the measeres of Government. Thai the nesting Aft has not been carried thee gtodies. I admit. I confess, that not awe man be been trained under it, and for this plain meson, .because there bar not been yet time to sorry the. preparatory meatiness into efika. The A*. however, I insist, bee bees aged upon in every part and courier raf the - kingdom. as the lam re quiem ; er, ii there be anyiestanee te the contrary, it is tot smog to the eagle/so tamissaessof Ildi• Maws. The I. ranch leashes not resureediataikey, as the Noble Lord inamuates; I hope, .therefore, he will excuse the omission of that iateiligenea le the King's Speech; and, as to the ineeseres adopted her toe purser or that Sect, 1 wish the Noble Lord se . ikek back. and tell us when a fleet was pursued hy.so many and strong squadrons as that alluded to; and this. I hope, will be considered a sufficient cruse. for .not finding any negled en this head, iii the Leg's Speech. As to the expedition tinder Gems' Cranford, I would further assure the Noble Lord, that be keows nothing of its object or dzsti werue, and that it has not, as he intimates, been delayed on account of the appointment of that Offi cer. As Noble Lord should be slow to introduce the names or such officers as those whom he has mentioned, for a purpose of so much delicacy.— cameral I.:remised lase arEctr of experience and abilities, and if the ohjetiion to bins be, that theta are officers of higher rank and standing; let those who make it, look to General Wolfe and Lord Nei. attest. Let them look to the Nile. and say how came the Earl of Sc. Vincent to send that junior officer in pursuit of the French fleet, in preference to his 7-. seniors' General Cranford is an officer of expo , rimer. of long and tried service; and, lam R• confident. will do no discredit to those who have chosen him, or to the public welfare. The Xthle Lord has charged Ministers with not soaking an early attempt to open a communi cation with Prussia. The fact is, before the mis sive ef Lord llorpeth, they had no opportunity. I repeat, that these was no opportunity of ens- Wishing any communicatron or concert with Prus sia t for. though its Minister was encouraged to Rrettati hii stay bete, to the last moments. the Court of Berlin recalled its Minister. to preven a': cr. 41 i - , ininieriiiat ion; and to send Minister to that Court, . with •e!.e certainty that he should be immechat-lk tient back. I &Ns sure the Noble Lord would tire advise.--The fa.% is. that for a long time Prussia 1. weal one from year to year, .from mamas to Meth. and lately from week to week, cherfehiog• .. Ohs &heaths, that liy temporizing 'she 'lllOl.l ' sot wry escort bzr power. but a&usfly agran. • diert=rifil. blraecussirai As :,nritory.—And at sea. 1 .- *Qt . abir kumild—berself completely &Tent •aird sieeeivoil. skit ash thensuiderate haste she took ....• srems,. and took Wow scrp• that have Ird whet. r 0... - - ttleall itgrabiting hevesieftetukes, -er• contivaist 'bar cooded with shose.natiosia illicit have trenfortily` Alerted fired* t • kit when Vise.pbsery ation is Brae, for .11se spurpthe of alienating the affedions it( the • petiole frem the Govetnment, it becomes me to fiISOW of alt delicacy, and declare farther, that we forget all cause of quarrel with Prussia, and that England was not wanting to herself, 1-.1- her Allies, in any thing the could effett fur the liberties ut Europe. It •11its been ,alsol asked 4 why, if it was necessary to send Lord Morpeth in O.t.ber, he returned nr November, and did not remain there Where aac he to remain ? After the battle of Auerstadt did the King of Prussia remain ? Did his Go vernment remain? Did his army remain ? Was Lord Morpeth to remain on the field of battle, and swell the triumph of the Victor ? This much I think necessary to say, in defence of his charadfir. With respe.t to the negotiation, it would be improper to anticipate the debate upon that suhjtd ; bur if the House think that peace is not destrahle, unitss just and honourable, I am confident that the papers respecting it, when laid upon the 'able, will rive complete satisfaction. Lord HAWKESBURY rose to explain, and stated, that the Noble Lord had misunderstood him in supposing he designed to attach any blame to his Noble Friend (Lord Morpeth) ; he had only to lament the-circumstances that rendered his remain ing there impossible, and that his mission had not been commenced at an earlier period, when it would probably have been attended with greater success. , Earl of RADNOR rose to recommend to their Lordships a Motion, the occasion of which, though he had reason to lament, yet he was almost con vinced no member could have any objection what ever to the immediate objeds of it. This was an address of condolence to His Majesty. on the irre mediable loss his family had sustained in the death of that venerable and heroic Prince. William Ferdi nand, Duke of Brunswick, who tell gloriously in the field of battle, whilst maintaining Isis owe dignity as a Sovereign, and the independence of Europe, against the tyrannical usurpations of an haughty Despot. Lord GRENVILLE begged the Noble Lord not to put the House to the mote on a subjed,.where. notwithstanding the high rasped and veneration he entertained, not only for the iiioble Personage de ceased, but also for all the branches of his illustrious family. he could not help but oppose the Motion; since the Noble Lord, he was convinced, could not support himself on the ground of precedent ; he could not recoiled an instance wherein the Noble Lord could be borne out in his Motion; but he could state, from his own recolledion, an instance, where, on the death of the Prince of Hesse Cassel, a re lation of the Royal Family, the House had deter mined such an address ioadvir.eable. Hit Lordship thee proceeded to more the House, " That a Com mittee be appointed to prepare an Address of Thanks to His tga jest) , , expressive ol their gratitude for the kind and paternal sentiments contained therein, to his loyal snbjeds ;" which being 'agreed to, the address was read from the Woolsack, and care* nays. dirt. The Noble Lord then moved, " That Lord Wid singliato be appointed Chairman of Committees, public and private, for the present Session of Parrs anieut, to which he hoped the Hasse could not possis bly have the smallest objedion, when they recollected with what universal sansfattion the Noble Lord bad. on two former Sessions, performed the duties of that highly nosed:able situation. This being unani mously agreed to, the House adjourned till Monday. HOUSE OF COMMONS. At half-past one o'clock the Speaker took the Chair, and the folrowing, amongst several other Members, took the Oaths and their Seats—Lords Stanley, A. Hamilton, and Morpeth; Sir S. Rornilly Menlo. Alex. Hope, Sheridan, Bing, Sharp, and Morris. About half-past four, the Deputy Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod appeared at the Tattle, and informed the'Speaker elat the Leeds, authorised by virtue of His Majesty's Commission, desired the attendance of the House to hear the Commission read. 1 he Speaker, attended by most of the Members present, immediately proceeded -to the House of Lords. Oa his return he informed the House, that the Clerk had, according to custom, prepared a Bill for preventing Clandestine Outlawry ; this Bill was read a first time, aid ordered to be read a se cond. According to t:titterri also, several Commit-. tees were appointed to hold their sittings regularly on particular days of each week. Amongst these were a Committee for Religion, for Courts of Jus tice, for Trade, and a Committee of Pi ivileges, to meet on Mondays, Wednesdays. and Fridays, and to report their proceedings from time to time. The various standing orders of Cie House relative to the dediau of Members, and xXprixerration of order in their proceedings, were next real ariarlSY Speaker. lfls VIAJEgTi'S setEcit. The SPEAKER. said —" I have to acquaint the House, that this House has been in the House of Lords by desire of the Lords Commissioners for opening this present Parliament, and that the Lord Chancellor, in name of the said Commissioners, has read His Majesty's Speech, of which I have ob tained a copy." Hoe the Speech iris read stood from toe Chair, see Me Horne of Lords.) Mr. W.,LA MB then rose and said—" It is by no means either morel or extraordinary, that a gloom should be cast over the Meeting of Parlia ment, by some recent disturbance of that rystem un der which Europe has so long enjoyed a state of the highest happiness! and tratiOutllity • We have beta sufficiently accustomed. by a very long muse act eeperienct, either to the utter destrudion of many of the :::irropearrxStitev, and allies rf this country, or so thlit degradation and discomfiture, to such a Jeore-, as approaches to their complete destrudioa. But although ever, succeeding disaster of this nature prepared the m,.nds of men for the Ares -at state of eifeies; yet, ft is witsndt awe and inquietude, , that we-een behold that 'nate of sdifairs, so long mistimed, 'at length arrived ; die pcwer of the envoy ehncast completely predominton over the Poisons at the Cootinette. sod nearly unresisted, eree7t by Great Britoil; solely depending upon those malice's, ten *Nth she elleays may rely with of - hear people/. Mute, theft cirenro statsce4 it is impOssible• not to pArt.cipate 110 which pears to be the referral feeling and impression, einClioned by the words of Hishteies. tr's gTftiool speech. that we have met in the moist of such dit.turnus eventi, and such trying and ar duous carcum.tances, as meat make oar deliherap.: *ions be looked to, not only by our countiymen ati large, hot by our allies and the enemy himaeli l with the utm .st attention and anxiety. Pie Pre sent period his been distinguisheil by events more terrible and disastroui in their consequences, than any time within our remembrance. By our fellow countrymen our deliberations will be looked t.i with an expeCtation of the mat:west consideration and firmest resolutinn; b e our allies with an anticipation of that steadiness an d perseverance, with which we have always hitherto shown our s elves capable of sup porting their cause in the maintenance of genuine liberty ; by' our enemies, who will view them with disappointment, in not detecting in our Home the smallest signs of elven, or of wavering in our re solutions. Your attention, Sir, has been principally called by the gracious Speech which we have heard read, to two topics, which I cannot help thinking are most sincerely to be lamented. The first is that which respells the fruitless negotiation for peace, which the present Government had en tered into with our enemy. I am far from wishing to enter upon any sobjett which may have a tent dency to revive political animosities, which }lave bean lest and forgotten in the disostrods issue of the events which have lately taken place. I shall not stir lior discuss the question, as to whether or not the pacific system, which was advised during last war, was politic er profile:able. To deter the violence of France. and engage them to mode ration towards the Continental power!, for the purpose of preserving their friendship, it was necessary that we should be strong and formi dable in ourselves, and be backed by strong and for midable allies, in order that we might make an effeaual appeal, and espef effeEtuai assistance. It is necessary that a nation should be strong and powerful, when it ui.dertakes a mediation betwixt two contending powers. Surely, Sir, the same suc cess could not be rationally erpefled from the same system, when territories were dismembered, armies subdued and overcome, and the spirit of a people abashed and dismayed, amidst the superiority of the enemy. In this inauspicious state of affairs, so lit tle calculated to produce a pacific disposition, on the part of the enemy, with any of the powers upon the Continent, the Negociation was begun by Great Britain, singly. It was, however, speedily found, that no peace could be made, unless the terms were such as to make it the interest of France to break out into another rupture. His Maj •sty's Miniseers aceordiegly, relying upon the good sense of the people of this country. while no pernieioun conse quences had resulted from the attempt, thought proper to advise His Majesty to prefer war, with all its burdens, to a peace, which would have proted more destructive to the real interests of the country, than years of adverse warfare. The Negociation, althnagh it has entirely tailed, has exhibited, on the @nelson/. a deer and unequivocal testimony of the pacific disposition of this country; and on' the other, the ambition and rapacity of the enemy. As His Ma. jetty has been graciously pleased to order the details! of this Negociation to be laid before both I louses of Parliament, it will be premature for me to say much upon the subjeft. I do think, however, that enough has appeared, even from the partial statement of the enemy, to prove his insincerity, as well as to show the wisdom, ability, humanity, and good sense, which were evinced on our part. Enough has transpired to shear. that the hest means were adopted for consolidating the balance of power; that the best security against the aggran disement • of the enemy, was aimed at ; that no Ally, was abandoned ; and that none of the real in terests of this counts y .were hazarded, nor its honours likely to be compromised in the slightest degree. Such are the grounds. therefore, on which the Ministers of His M ijesty have a claim upon this House for its approbation, and that of their country, ! the bizhest et all rewards. The failure of the Ne. gociation has been accompanied too with events of the most astonishing magnitude, which have sue- needed each other, upon the Continent, with an un exampled rapidity. The almost total destruflion of a power, who had suffered the least in the cala mities of war, Ilia been effeSed. I mean Prussia ; whose conduft it would appear highly eious and improper to touch upon, now that 'she is in a state of subjugation. That consideration, in a political point of view, can afford us no consola. tics in her disasters; but it is utisfailory to Minis ters and the country to know, that however natu rally desiront and eager the British Government was, to afford every assistance to qte King of Prus sia, after the sword was drawn; yet we were net, in the slightest degree, responsible for the prudence of the war entered into, nor the man• r ateroins which it was concluded, by her. . By-the occupation of her territory by the enemy, and the unsuccessful events of that war, Prussia is now compelled io make those exertions for her own safety, which she formerly might have made for the defence of her neighbours. I turn now to that which has been always a pleasing and grateful refh•flion, and which at this moment I feel pecu liarly so ; I mean the internal situation of the courory. The blessinos we enjiy. it is unnecessary to exp'atiate upon, be . cause I believe them to be well Known, and appreciated, not only by this House, but by all the inhabitants of the country Wherever oar loidiers have been engaged, they have evinced a superiority over the enemy. I tat ter myself, that, secure in our capital and our credit, we shalt e'er defy the naval exertions of our enemy. With respect to the hoidens necessarily to be ins. posed, howeier distressing they may be, I ant sure they will be borne under such circumstances firmness. I can hartily-suspeft, therefore, that the House will hesitate to pledge itwlt in at.sweriog His Majesty's most gracious Speech from the Throne, nstd to agtee to use oar best endeavours to meet the exigencies of this front evendel crisis ; to oppose everyfdanger with fortitude ; and to brave the enemy with energy; relying with firm confi dence upon these solid grounds---our real force em ployed on the whew disposition, sud above all, the al ?earners; of the people to the Constiottioa. I am convinced, Sit, that there it a disposttlon in every Quit afrdellind if to the Fast extremity, *La we re .. . A iCt upon the happiness and honour which Cron Britain has to preserve, and the misery and di._ grace which she has to avert."—The Hon. Member then concluded a speech, which seemed to make considerable impression upon the House. by n,a s . in a long address to His Majesty, which was, a , tfkl, an echio of the Speech born the I !none. ' • '.oa the Speaker inquiring who was to second tie *Zebu ? lite.'JOHN SMITH rose and said, tkat at a p.. rind sn big wit!' neer and extraordinary events, the satistaCtion which Ministers must fee; in openi rg P .rliam-int , he bad no doubt,'rnutt be felt equally hy every Member of the House. There never was mo ment when the general arise cf Parliament was more impetiousty called upon to discuss the public affairs, and he trusted that the House of Common s aid this day, and on every occasion, cendua its d4i be. rations so that His Majesty should see th at they re ally merited the confidence be reposed in th em . Th e House would recoenise in His Majesty's conun, that benevolent disposition which he had evinced on a former occasion, under circumstances as discou raging as the prcser.t, to put an end to the calamities of war. An early opportunity would be afforded to the House to enter into the consideration ot that im portant Negnciation. He united io opioion with the Hon. Mover, that enough had already been pubtsh ed by the enemy, garbled and erroneously stated as it was, to satioy every one of the doable -dealing, hypocrisy, and chicanery, of the French; and to render the honourable and candid caldron of the Noble Lord to whom it had been entrusted, emi nently conspicuous. In the latter party was to be seen the real English charafter, ind Estish reai. tusk ; and in the former, that daihse and debasing policy, which had ever marked the charefler of French Negotiators; even in more happy days. On the present occasion, indeed, a more favourable result could not be well expelled ; for, at the very time when the French Government Were making the most pacific proposals, they were taking those mea tuses which were calculated to compel the Sint of Prussia to enter into• that war, the consequencei of which, we must all deplore. It was, Indeed, the result of imperious circumstances; France 'de mended of Prussia a sacrifice of her commetce, a dissolution of her wisest and oldest &Mendes; a cession of territories was also insisted upon, the obvious tendency of which was to weaken the Pitts sian barrier, and to lay open that dnfoitunate corim. - try to the enemy, without offordieg her the opsior tunity of ever afterward, striking 1. bluer in ter own defence. The eventful fabrof PrtiSsia ought to be a warning to Europe, while at the sarde time it ought to serve as an e!!:cutagement to Grlcat Benson. Almost from the cOretnencerbent of the French Revolution, Presoa has been seen crotichitig under those despots, at times, when., by an 'zealots of her arms in the comnein cause, she might per him, have tuned the scale; end iirieled the de liverance of Europe.. In the enterer of the Freilch Government to the Mangrove of that unfortuntte Monarch, whiiehe a situation that should have ex cited pity in geflffo,:e and feeling breatts, he is revea upbraided with abject suninissioe and tiesillsnireity. In the midst. of them celsmities, it seas ell's,";! 'tory to reek% that the conduct of the King M Satedeo and the Emperor of Russia, haver been :each ' as to assure mast their further vigosens exertions in the common cause. With reword to the aunt ea.; crifices and additional burßeiis which we are talks; upon, under the exigencies of the timer, to endure; he was sere they *iisild be borne by every one with pleasure; the mine especially, when His Majesty had been graciously pleated to point out the ne cessity of economy in our resources. The attack distended by our en •iity wax against the very vines of our country. Every sacrifice must, therefore, be made, with a view to the vigorous prosecution of the war ; for as to a rpeedy termination of it, no man can at present entertain hopes. Is was, therefore, necessary to impress upon tie public mind, 'iliac it was of the highest importance, in the present event ful crisis, to submit to toes- burdens. The circum stances of the con .try were highly strisfaStery in the present state of aff.airs—(.l cry of beer has! heap him !) He might eta eit as his opiniod. that much was owing, in that pirticular, to t!.e wi e and judi cious sydem of fi..ance of that great sled enoneirt State s m a n, whose loss was sn much' deplored— ( Mear him ! beer hinlY)•wheee virtpes ere engrave' on the he.rts of his count. yrnen. He was glad to find that those who had succeeded him (Mr. Pitt) seemed inclined to follow his steps. [lva 1: mum as important, there mu-t be `sufferings of particular kinds. Notwithstanding the efforts of the enemy against our c mimetic., he mill believed that it would continue to flettriin. His Majesty himself had been pleased to assure us, that dolt great basis of our security and prosperity still remained unim paired. He believed, that notwithnandnig the boasted blockade of the British isles, Prance would not venture to send out a single ship from beyond the reach of her batten's, against the Navy of Bri tain.; which compiendral ta• seas. and could emit gross the commerce of the Whole liorld. The King of Rolland, in an address to his unfortu nate vassal subjeCts, tells them, that the prohibi tion of the neutral trade, would be the deeds blow to the already-expiring cornflower of Holton& With regard to the subjeas nt this Country, there cm be no doubt tnat the people hive spirit and vigour eriouser for any situation they mill be pieced id. lie hod long beheld, with admizativo• the firmness and foititum with which they had en 'Awed all the expences and calamities of the time , . in support or' their country and Constitution With these sentiments, and upon them gronodr, he b -gged leave to second the motion which hit Hou. Friend had mad: upon this occasion. On she proposed address being read from the Chair, Mr. CANNING rose, and addressed the Home to the following purport: „I can trill. .1 Mr. Speakers say, that I never rose i n t hi s House frith more un feigned anxiety and feeling. then at this moment. from the complete cooviattoe I enteitein of tbe unpa ralisie f impertence of the crisis in which we live, and the many difficulties we have at prier! .t to encounter. —I feei it to be a conscientious duty in me to stare, upon this occasion. what is spy opinion of the present sifiaistiois of public *fairs, end ot the mea sures pursued by the present Government of the country ; of the means which we have enjoyed, and those which yet remain, in ceder to extrimite us •from cur •Cti :ice! rositicio. I fish it to'be the duty •