The Sun. — London, England, 1812-05-06 00:00:00

IMPERI 11, PARLIAMENT HOUSE OF PEERS. TUESDAY, .MAY 5. ROXBURGH PEERAGE. Tn a Committee-of Privileges, the LORD CHAN CELLOR, after stating his sentiments of the case, in an able p - 6ecti; .- rticiieel a - ReSolemn, al the dectsioa of their Lordships,' importing that the Claimant Sir James Innes Key, Bart. had _made good his right and title to the honours and dignities of Duke acid Ettl of Roxburgh; &O.' &c. The fur ther.cOn;iJeration of this tiro; ositiou, was adjoprtied by the Conimittee till Friday. The Royal.Asse.nt' was given •bj CommissiOn too 74 ptil:ae and private Bills. Among the former were, the Gold Coin Bill, the Coffee Duties Regu lation, the Irish Military and Public Accounts Audit Bilk, the Irish Distillery Prohibition, and the Ca nada Triide Bills. --- - The. Lords Comrhission \ ers were, she Lord Chan cellor, Lord WalsiOgham,and Lord Rudestiale. TRADE TO INDIA. After an adjournment during pleasure. far some time, the House resumed. Earl FITZ 'ILLIAM presented a petition trom the mat.ufadarers and others of the towns of Leeds, Wakefield, and Halifax, in the'West Riding of Yorkshire, against the exclusive, privileges of the East India Company. A Petition to the live effedirom certain woollen manu'adurers in the county of Wilts, was present ed by the Marquis of Bath, andardered, as well as the foregoing, to lie on the table. The Earl of LAUDERDALE reminded the House, the latter was frorn the ananufadurers of the staple commodity-of the'country. Marquis WELLESLEY presented a Petition from certain Merchants, ship-owners and others of die rrt of London, interested in the East India and China trade s expressive of their apprehensions, that the extension of those trades, in which they had em barked under the faith of'several Ads of Parliament, to the out-ports, would be . a measure highly injuri-; ous to their interests, dangerous-to the revenue, &c. and -that, -in -case such extension should take place, the petitioners were entitled to indemnifica tion, &c. In presenting this Petition, the Noble Mar tinis said, he by no means plegded himself to support the claitni of the Petitioners; but- he.conceived it one of- the first duties of a Peer of Parliament, to render himself a channel for submitting Petitions to his branch of the Legislature.- They had for some. ti:t , e heard of a negociation carrying on respeCting the general subject, to which the Petition referred, yt bleb, but for its publicity, they should have thought tO be with some foreign independent - state. He hoped some-communication would be made to Par. tia,t , ent on the subject, in order that the opinion of both Houses might be known before things came to en extremity iu that quarter. - • The Earl of BpCKINGHANISHI HE denied that the exl►restiion " Nrgoci.ition" .was applicable. to the transactions between his Majesty's Government and the Directors of the East India Company, in any sense of the word ; and he trusted, that whenever the matter shOuld be brought forward, it would be filly and temperately discussed : and he felt it now his cruty to state, that he did not think circum statices. were such as was likely to induce his Ma- jesty's Government to subinit any proposition on the subject in qUestton, in the course of the present Seision. -_ Petition•to'an . effea similar to those above stat ed, was presented by Lord Viscount Melville, tiorri the Royal Burgh of Ayre, in Scotland. Lord WALSJNGHAM presented a Petition from tbe, Lords Bishops of Meath and Kildare in Ireland, praying the House (as we 'could eolith) that .-their chiims to rank and precedence_ in the Irish Prelacy, next after the Archbishops, in like manner as the Lords Bishops of London and Durham hlve-pre cedency next after the Archbishops in England; should, with reference -to their seats, &c. in the Imperial PJrliament, be duly taken into considera tion. • Ordered to-lie on the table. A few Bills f;ere brought 'up from the Commons by Mr. 'Llishington, Sir T. Turton; and other Gen tlemen, and read a first time►. ORDERS IN COUNCIL. The Earl of DERBY presented a Petition from certain Merchants, Traders, and others, of the Town and Port' of Liverpool, touching the above aubjea, and expressivel of the sense of the Peti tioners, that the _recent Declaration of the British -Government - would tend'rathet to aggravate than rearvve the evils complained of ai resulting from iho,e mea,ure•, as leaving their revocation, in ef •t tie option of the' enemy of the trade, com- Fierce, and independence of the countiy, &c. The Petition was,. - on the motion .of the'Nuble Earl, read .throughout, and 'a discussion of some leng , h ensued, Oil the general subjea of the Orders in Council, in which several Peers spoke and reiter ated the leading sentiments they bad before ad vanced on the subleti, with a great-deal of refer ence to what had been advanced on former occa- tiS. FITZWILLIAM referred to the great number A+ d impOrtance of the Petitions against the Orders in Council, a great part'of which was from the ma nut-H.ll3ring interests, moved, that the said Petition be referred to the consideration of a Committee of ti 0 whole House. . _ This, atter a few words between his Lordship and the Noble Secretary of State, was ordered to sit to rucirrow. . • Lord AUCKI.AND took the opportunity at some length, to re-urge his sentiments on the Orders . in Council—:he iii effects ot, which, and at these now -Ministers seemed. to be alarmed at bearing the voice of the Country against thkii on this subject, were .3.vhat be said he had long since preiided. He par dispproved of the recent declaration, and likewise that the conduct of Ministers with re - spect to Arut-rica, was ;anjustifiable and im ponttc, and, instead of conciliating tended to irritate iter. , - _ . . Earl BATHURST ably defend ,- d the condua of Go vt...r, ~ ent on those various points. Muth miscun y.'had r rv!vailt.cl with respect to thy Oilers in ...,;;„ o:nich be trusted the ensuing inquiry would E• tend to do away, and he reminded !cable' tordc, that it was the American Govdrnment that refused to ratify the treaty made by its Minister in ibis coma" ‘-a , try with the British Government. The Martinis of LANSDOWNE spoke at some length in support of what was urged by, his Noble Friend, Lord Auckland. • - The 'Earl' of the con dua of Ministers. Earl GREY, the Earl of LIVERPOOL, and Lord Garrwvawa,-respealivelvadelivered-their sentiments. After a short conversation between the Earls z william and Liverpool, and the Lord Chancellor, it was agreed, that the CoMmittee should sit at half past two o'clock. to-morrow. . • CHARGE. MADE BY THE AMERICAN GOVERN_ • WNT. • ' The Older 'of the Day upon which their Lord ships wete summoned, being read, Lord HOLLAND rose to bring forward the motion of. which he had given, notice *on this subje&. He said the'propositions he was about to submit- to their Lordships had no reference whatever to the line of policy proper to be pursued with respeet to the United States of America. It went to call ter in formation on a topic of great importance, because it affeaed the honour of the cOuntry. He felt ,at a loss to know upon what obje6ions an-opposition to such a motion could be founded : It went to the crimination of no man, or any set' of men ; but from 'what had met the public eye, he 'conceived it now 'indispensably necessary that the Go.vernment of this country should be vindicated froin , what he trusted was an unfounded charge made against it. It was in fa& .no less, than while two friendly powers were engaged in negociation upon ceitain points of national importance, a Member of. the British Government had employed a secret agent, Capt. Henry, in the territories of the United States, not for the purpose of procuring intelligence, for that he granted was a legitimate objea, 'but for the pur pose of procuring some of the provinces 2r states of the Union, to, throw off theieallegiance to their legal Government, and to separate themselves from the rest. It was • worthy of consideration that this charge originally came from 'an individual who avowedly betrayed the secrets of his own employers. A proceeding of this kipd would come with more glace from the opeosite side of the House, from those who had access to the official papers, and to such means of information. In pursuing the subjea, the Noble Lord referred to certain:points of the papers; which had been communicated by the American Exe cutive toils Legislature, and pointedly referred to that pact of the instruofrons to Captain Henry, which speaks of the probability of the Federalists no longer submitting. to the distressful situation in which the conduct of their Government had placed them, and respecting :their eventually looking up to the Eng lish for their assistance—this implied an endeavour to induce a part of the subje&s of a friendly power to do that which was against the laws_ of their coun try. .If this paper be authentic,. it implied that Captain H. was employed •in a way that it would require greater ingenuity to explain satisfaaorily, than he conceived possible, and it was incumbent on the government of this county to i vindicate its honour from so pointed an attack. It was known two great opposing parties existed in Arnerica.— What would be the feelings of the - country, or: the condua of our Government, if while General An dreossy was here, a secret agent of the French was endeavouring to detach Ireland from the Union ? Anti-unionist as he was, and friend as be was .to the Peace of Ainiens, he would not hesitate to ad- vise war, if proper 'explanation was not offered, were it only through resentment against those who bad insulted the honour, and practised against the peace of the country. Ott these grounds he thought he could look for a general concurrence in his preposition. He thought the inquiry had Setter be made by Parliament, as attaching mare weight than the ad of any set of men in the country, how ever respeaable, He thought it .was not likely that such an Officer as Sir James Craig would have so . proceeded with Captaio H. withoutinstruaions from his Government ; nor that lie would have received Rich communica , ions without. having transmitted them to the Governmeift here. It also appeared, that when Captain El/claimed Jais reward, he pre sented a memorial to the office where the Noble Secretary . of State presided,'and referredioSitlamea Craig for his conclua. He. (Captain FL) had re ceived a, letter to general Prevost,, the successor of Sir. James Craig, recommending him to a Valuable office in the country which that officer governed.— Tliat lie was authoritatively employed was evident, from what _had notoriously passed; and there was strong presumptive evidence that his Majesty's Mi nisters were not only apprised of, but had in no small degrad authorised such an employment of Captain H. if a contradiction was not produced as to the authenticity of these papers, or such explana tion given as would vindicate the British Govern ment from so gross an imputation. The Noble Lord concluded by moving and -Address to' the Prince Regent for the productionsof all Copies of Commu nications made by Sir James Craig to his Majesty's Secretary of State relative to the employment of Captain Henry in a secret roission_ a to the United States of Arrierica, also of the Correspondence that took place between his Majesty's Secretary of State and Str George Prevost on the subje& of .compensa -aions claimed by Captain Henry for his set vices; and also Copies of all instruaions sent to the late Sir James Craig, from his Majesty's Secretary of State, ,relative to the employment of' Capt. 'Henry in the United States of America. •On the question being put, The Earl of LIVERPOOL itr r tnediately rose,, and _ said, he agreed with the-Noble Baron that the pre sent was a question _which had no reference with the line of policy proper to be pursued with respect to America. It stood upon general principles, which, 'according 'to the circomstancas, were applicable to the caseof any independent state whatever. It was, theta:fore, from a strong sense.of public duty that he dissented from the present motion. He Would state the circumstances of. the transaction, as far as they , had come under his view. In the first place, he had to state, that the employment of the person in ques 'lion (Captain Henry) as an agent, by the respectabie officer who then governed in Canada, was never authorised at' the time, nor was it even known to his Majesty's Government, that such .a person had been employed until many months after the trans attion. It was true then,. in , 1808, at the time an important negociation was pending, a person named Lavater, had, of his own accord, opened a corm- epotiBtieg wlth d pertiiti tittecl t itti t verntnent of Canada, the purport of which waS the procuration of a species of information, which it was he.duty of every officer so circumstanced to acuire. He returned to Canada about the aid of that year ; and before he proceeded further, - it was proper their Lordships should con*ider the 5i11130911 in which Ca- nada was then placed;•with.respea to the Govern ment of the United States. -Avery great heat and olamour prevailed in America at the time, and the country aEsuined.a very._ warlike- and menacing- al ti- Ride. Not only defensive measures were thin set on loot . , but on the 25th of November, the Gover- nor of Boston had receiedOrderi to hold ieti't heti- Sandnurn, then under his coinmand, in reitclinesi to march at a moment's notice. This circumstance was publicly no . orious, and stattd in the public panels. This was the province nearest to British! Not th Ame rica, and, if that force could be Applied, at all, it teas . . :tibe iovaiion / of our dominions. This was Gene 'al Craig's convidion at the, time, as he.even pre- vented the expedition then teady• for sailing from Halifax against Martinique; but retained them, be cause it put all our North American possessions in great hazard. But that was nat.all ; on the 13th of November,,Congresi voted fifty thousand volun teers, on the requisition Of the Executive ; Mr. Erskine, our then Minister, very properly de manded 'an - explanation. , What possible eventual oikjeet could such a force•be for, but to _attack the British American possessions? The answer of iVIr. Madison to Mr. Erskine was, that the conduct of the belligerents was such towards them (the Ame rican) as to authorise the Commencement of hosti lities without any turtlier notice. Mr. Erskine then very properly-sent wean express to Sir Janies Craig, informing„him of the circumstance ; - and it was known that Canada or Halifax were the points first to be attacked. These ci►cutnstances served at least throw a colour upon the relations in which the two Gov'ernments stood at - the time. (Hear, kear!) But other circumstances might be men - Unmet, hostilitieS were actually committed at the time; some British boats were seized on the Lakes, though no reprisals were attempted. Th 6 fcur East: ern States of America took the most active mea sures at the time, with reference to the commence ment of hostilities ) and their Lordships must feel how desirable and necessary it was at the time tor the Governor of Cattada to know the sentiments pf the different States, and 'an opinion generally pre vailed, that in the event of a war, some degree of separation would take place. He believed that no man would say the' condula of General Craig,_ on such an emergency, w. , s,iMproper. Whatever may be said as to the question of poky,' there could be little AS to, the point of morality, when the state of preparation, and the menacing attitude of tha,"-kine rican Government was considered ; when they de clared hostilities may be commenced without fur ther' notice. But having received communications from Mr. Henry, and thinking that he was well acquainted with the general sentiments of the East ern states, he sent him thither in ?ebriaary LBO9. A great deal which appeared in the papers, how ever, was false and unfounded ; but as 'far as au- thentic instrudion - went, he must contend the di rections were not for the purpose of exciting dis content, but wholly tot the purpose of obtaining in formation which in the event of hostilities might enable Sir J. Craig to avail himself of the prevalent temper and disposition in the States. There was 'no presumption warrantee in any thing or measure adopted by Sir J. Craig, that such untar or impro per objects were in kis view. - So far from it, that ‘' - v hen he-heard the points in discussion Were ad juited betweed Mr. Madison and 'Mr. Erskine, he sent orders to Mr. Henry . to lxillidraw from the United States, and that proved that all his instruc tions were given 'in the contemplation of hostili'. ties.. With respect to what was said of the appli cations which were made by Mr. Henry fur a re muneration, he bad to observe, • that when such ap plications were made, it was naturally_ an ohjea with him to inquire into the cir;n:aaer and conduct of the individual so applying and on the security of the recommendation trom,Sir James Craig, and it appearing he. had been employed in procuring certain information, and that sorrie s remuneration had been promised him for his services, he had. Aro hesitation 'in saying, 'that as he thought lie had I b'een so employed, and nothing_appearing against . the character of the individual at the time, he held it his duty,, as he should in all cases of the kind, to have aged as was mentioned in the correspondence with General Prevost. Such a line.of conduct was adopted as the impressions of what the individual might have done in the way of renderiog a desirable service fairly warranted. - Neither was it afterwards deemed consistent with delicacy to say any thing which might have reflected in , the "least Upon the character of Sir James Craig,who had returned home twin his government under a mortal distemper, to survive but a few months. But he:could not think the course adopted by the Noble Brron the most proper to be taken ; it sbduld rattier be left to our Government to take such measures as they . deemed proper; to explain and set lorth the subject in its true light. Neither did he approve of the . course adopted by the American Executive ; they should liave demanded an explanation in the first instance of the British Government. He toasted these were principles and conviaions on this delicate question which their Lordships would feel and en tertain ; and if they saw that no blame could fairly attach "to his Majesty's Governinent On the occa sion, they would do them the justice to believe they would not be wanting to tnernselves,or neglea their dirty on ttie occasion ; a part of which he (the Noble Earl) felt it to be to resist the motion. Earl GREY argued at'some length in support of the motion, and maintained that on a .qut'srion of such important , Government ought to be anxious to justify itself to the world. He contended' that the pers,4l alluded to, instead of being sent as ale "gitimate agent, was authorised to sow dissension among the 'United States. If America: had shewn a hostile &position, it 'ought to be met by a de .elaration 'of. war .' How would we have felt if' France had sent emissaries to stir up the Catholics of Ireland ? He thought the Noble Lord's con :duct rather incautious in „ appointing captain 'Henry without any other documents, and the transaction. being known to Government, without any expres sion of disapprobation, was a cixcurnstauce highly objectionable in their conduct. Lord LAUDERDALE said, that Sir James Craig, by recalling Mr. Henry as soou'as the apprehension of war was over, &hewed that he was aware . of Wale. ladr of nalAtis. Lord, L4 , 40001' 5 latter retortlynt,oding extreme caution, was ano• Chet proof of the nattife ono clAractei of the trasc:- action: It was not,'. as had been stated, the afriir of Sir James Craig, but the attair of Governaleio, and America ‘ could have no security that we Would not send spies.to a country now, if we did not takl steps to disclaim this di4g , ace. Lord WESTMORLAND oppsseci the motion, stated, that Sir James Craig's instructions were Only' to be:acted on in, cases of hostility: - - Lord D,ARNLEY said, that though he could hope to add anything to the unanswered and r.l)li swerable arguments of his Noble . Friends, yet ing"much for the honpur 'at the country, tie -could not avoid ded,iting his protest . against Jhe proceed' ing. In the abser.ce of Urge - authentic - dOciattienti! he would refer 'them to a letter of Mr. Henry's; which he, woke of the approbation given by 11 1.4 Majesty's,MiuistetsJo his conduct. Let •the Nob! Earl come forward and deny the whole transwz' tioo,.anll. he was: sure the HouSe would be sati,fiedi but if not, he considered it :as already established , that Mr'. Efetiry wattewployed for the purpose fo' melt! Mg di Visiop. He-called Upon their Lordships, pers Most - peculiarly called upon to vindiCat s the- hon Our of the country, to remove the di 'grate under which it at present lay. ,Lord HOLLAND, in reply, obserVcd that he covIA not leave the House with satisfaction to hiMsets without calling for a division to mark r his disgt; s ' and abhorrence of the sort of side wmd justifieltiv a •of profligacy he hadheard. The Noble Lords or' tainlydid.not go the length of saying that all law / and obligations were a mockery, but they had 2 " teMpted, aftef warm euhagituns on- Sir Jameg Craig , to throw the blame on him. Such was their friOod' ship, and such the valite of their eulogiunis., Noble ViscOpnt had said, that he had never such exaggeration as in case; I but, did not . L llr ` same Noble Viscount publi It to all Europe the Con' clod Qt a French Ginsul in Dublin ? Yet this W.:: only _information. Ire diselaiMed having an vi e , to what the temper of the American Guverninet'' — Might be, but he did not think they could bes3ti g ; fted . with theexplanation . ).vhietthey hall Beard I ° l ll day. No man could wish more for peace o ' 4 o . America than he did, but ' he would not purcl i '_f even peace with that country by the'surreode r u ej the honour of this; and, therefore, he had so t f , his - sentiments - sentiments freely. His object in bringing f , 1a ward this motion, was to refute the charge I " j iii „, against our Government, -or if not \to refute, to o ft ciaiM it, by punishing those 'who were guiltY* 0 0 was_ possible to deny things in conversations r a the table - , but a case like the present Jegoired GI .general and substantial vindication in the fac': Europe. The House then divided, For the Motioa Against it - 7; ti Majority Adjourned till to-morrow. HOUSE OF COMMONS. TUESDAY, MAY 5. The SPEAKER was summoned to the 11 ° ° ' 4 11 6 1‘ Lords, and on his return informed the House the to uabu ß l oy e a r l o At public and private ssentharibeengi bl vor i b ls y , C . o fo ri r u w ni k s: s ;,fi i°l a O 4 , • our report of the Lords. Aeon • Mr. C. ...t.oNG presented an account of the e° a— Extraordinaries for the last ye.. 01 der-d to ii the table. ael Sir. J. Suave presented a petition from the - 1 0 L1 , .. and'husbanth of ships employed in the East Comp rty's trade,..praying thaiiheir inteiesis to ~to .be secured in the cuntemplated changes which to‘ take - Place in that trade. • 'll O Owing however to an itiformalit the P et was withdrawn. to th. Sir J. SHAW pregerited a similar petition f r° t packers,employed in the saMe trade. Oldered On the table. 0 0 3 The reporfiof the PariSh Register into further considerari o tr, the Bill V 1135 re -ce , 4r 1 , 1 ,-eti t4 ted in the Commiitee, and several amleo";For4 were introdn&ed the Ilouse resumed, ttl° a ticr' was received and agreed to, and the 311 1 ed 'to be lead a second titne on ;friday. Th' amendeEid wa's ordered to be Pd f . ouse having resolved rinte itself . into a ` - ' °93ll3it° tee on the Irish Distillery Act; chi Mr. WELLE;LEY POLE proposesi-a resoluti° ll ,', 3 o( object of which was to permit div frool r ' es ,7os in Ireland. ...He alio proposed to repeal the Jot) 9, 1 existing duty, aid to impose in lieu of it ' l to f ue l 3s. Bd. which would enable the sugar spiri tg h „itess, those distilled (rout 'grain in the market. lotions were , agreed to, and the report Was ` 1 " to be received to-morro v. .orc iee . 1:11 p House having resumed, the repo rt w a s -- ed:to be received to-morrow. co The ou,e having taken further t' cej st 0 lion the Report of the Revenue LaCvs- Bill, 6 g r o the Said Report, acid the Bill 'Was orderedt° h a third time on Friday. . 1 49. 4 ' The Scotch Local Militia Bill, and 1-ile Drawback 1.3.11 were read a third cline and PJ.5011,4 .tbe motion et Mr. lAr trA n T oN, eti 1 “; 4 ;11 7 was ordered to be laid before' the E-lonSe Distribution of the Votes of Credit, last year' te lld 'rite above Account Was itnmediatelY p rese t the proper ()dicer, and was ordered to be Pr"- UNLAWFUL 0-ATlts. 5 a e d e Mr. Secretary 11iDea * ' rose 'for the purr-a,oi n!?ving for leave to bring in 3 Bill to ren,Vl 'l,lll f ftectuol the 37th of his present Maje , ty c l ,' i of i v l or preventing i'lle administertng -ond .takillg" ' se rve, aWILII wills. The Right lion.Cl4..n'tletvan onsl/51 that notwiihstandinci all the provisions of (11° 41 e. stature respecting unlawful oaths,, these eat recently been adtutnisteled, and taken to a gre3clo, alarming extent. In a late attack upon a I ldils l ' belonging to . a 'Mr.' Barton , several • je di r lio ° had been killed : in the pocket of one ° f 4 : o t: rtas .. found a written oath, to the following '''' - eei l li ' l If .A. -B.' of my Own voluntary - l li ' ci " t o t ~,, .0 ,i- r and swear .never ' to 'disclose :the persons who compose • the Secret Conn't.tr ve r ; by desctibing eirber by word or sign Lb eJ gc: ° o l sons, leatnres , clothes, connections, ,,,,p1a cause them to be discoceted, under the pe", 0 ,41 , being put out of the world by the first rer,s°,boto may meet me, and of having tuy name ona ' 0 0 0 Ur ever held-in-:abhorrence. - i swam also ° l' names ee, iv