The Sun. — London, England, 1812-05-21 00:00:00

TO THE PIiI3LIC. We be 7 - le,ive to inform our Readers, that on Monday next this Paper will be printed on a New Type, cast on purpose by Mr. h . r GGIN s, which we trust will meet with their approbation MA t I.s. ARR IVED—t Guernsey, it jersey, I Anliolt. Dux-1 Ca dtz, i Lisbou,• s Watettord. •RIL.I. (It iLICKS. THIS r,:ly . “ .Tlva;.Ygp!,eLocx.. Cons. - 1 5 p=r Cent. 9I u I'4 per Cent. - 74 a E SU N. SOLEM QUIS ULCER/ FALSUNI ALIDLAT? UIVDOI, THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1812. We this day lay before our Readers.a statement which has been published of ►he conversations that took place, and letters which passed, during the late negotiation for the introduttion of the Mar quis WELLESLEY and Mr. CANNING into the Ad ministration. This statement, we have no doubt, will be perused with considerable interest; but we cannot avoid expressing the greatest regret that this disclosure has been made, because we are convinced .that such appeals lo the public are calculated to pro duce the most s:•tious consequences. It must always happen that there will be some shades of difference of opinion upon extensive and complicated systems, even among those who agree most cordially upon general principles ; but though the public curiosity may be gratified by knowing exactly what those sliadts of difference are, the public interest must be materi4y injured by the publication of the opinions, the intentions, and plans, both with regard to fo reign, and domestic policy, either of men in office, or of those who may aspire to a share in the Councils of the Country. Suppose, for instance, that a 'difference should arise in the Cabinet, or bAween the Cabinet and some persons who might be invited- to join the Administration, upon an offer from the enemy to negotiate; that in the opinion of some it would be expedient, and even necessary, to - make•certain concessions to the enemy, while, in the opinion of others, those concessions were neither necessary nor expedient,— can any thipg be conceived wore injurious to this countr), or more adt antgeous to the enemy, than to be put in possession of the exact views and intentions of those who formed, as well as of those who were likely to form the Administration of Great Britain---to t•_11 him before hand what points would be conceded and what refu , ,ed—to inform him what demands he might urge with a certainty of success, and what he trust abmdon as hoeeless ? It may be said that • we are putting an extravagant case ; but would not the same principle upon which the present disclo sure is to be defended, justify one in the case which we have imagined,? Does not the publication to which e are no c rclerring contain information of which must be highly advantageous to BUONAPARTE to be in possessioo ? Is it not most important to him to be, as it were informed of the views of the Bri tish Government with regard to the war in the Pen insuia,—to know exattly, whetliet our effo i rts in that quarter are to be continued, or whether our operiitions ate to be carried on upon a more or less ex ienjed scale ? Is it of no advantage to him, just cu the point of commencing a war in the North of ill'urope, to know with precision the degree of pressure which he will have to resist in the South It would be easy to amplify upon this subject, but the iticutive:.ieoce, as well as the danger of these disclosures, are too obvious to require ,further com ment; and we trust that we shall never again, from a similar cause, be called upon to advert to the bjetl. A new . Wr;t was moved last night, in the House of Commons, in consequence of the appointment of Mr-. VANSITT.ART to be Chancellor of We Exche quer. Lord BATHURST succeeds to the War De- pan went. Yesterday the LORD CHANCELLOR, the Earl of I..ivEtiPooL, and LUICICASTLEREAGII, bad audiences ui the I.ItoENT at Calltoll House. The A: - Cd6istiop of CANTERBURY gave an ele gant chnoer y t stelday, JO Sir tiBORGE and Lady BORNE, alit; a large party •ot his relatives, irr -houour vt N ece's marriage, at the Palace L3III Beth. • 1,01,d EARDLEY gave an elegant entertainment yesterday; to, his Highness the Duke of Gweens- TErt acid a large party of Noblemen, at his house in Lower'Grosvenor-street. By the New York Gazette, of the nth of we learn, that no less than 46 ships, 24 brigs, 47 schooners, and 23 sloops, had, on the rumoured embargo, taken in' their lading, and sailed in the gregest . hurry ; These, with theseveral inward-bound vessels, which had been inieecepted by the owners, and ordered elf, made at least 140 sail trona that /port alone. We regret to state, that letters received yester day trout Nottingham communicate, that on Satur day night last a Mr. Gaunt, of Huckuel, a gentle. tuan.wito had been particularly active in discovering the Luddites, was shot in his own 'neighbouihood. It is not ceitain whether 'Ole wound he received *ould prove fatal of ant. PAPERS RELATIVE to LORD LIVERPOOL'S PROPOSAL TO LORD WELLESLEY, MAY 1/, ISLL (COPY) —No. I. Note from Mr. C.iiiNt NG to Lord Witt L gsLEYi, enclosing the Minute taken in Lord Liv ittioot.'s .presence, May 17, li tz. Gloucester Lodge, May z 7, atz. MY DEAR WELLESLEY, I inclose the' Minute which I have taken in Lord Liverpool's presence of the proposal which he was charged to convey to me. Ever, my dear Wellesley, Sincerely and affectionately your's, . (Signed) GEORGE CANNING. P. S. I shall return a written answer to Lord Li verpool to-morrow. (INCLOSURE)—No. T; Minute of Conversation between Mr. CANNING and Lord LIVERPOOL' dated 17th May, atz. Gloucester Lodge, Sunday, May 17, atz. Lord 'Liverpool stated to me, that he was com manded by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent 'to make me the following communication : That upon the melanchloy event of Mr. Perce val's death, his Royal Highness being desirous of continuing his Administration upon its present basis, was desirous also of strengthening it as much as possible, by associating to it such persons in public life as agreed most nearly arid generally in the prin ciples upon which piiblic affairs had been con dueted ; Thar with this view his Royal Highness naturally looked to Lord Wellesley and to me ; That he (Lord Liverpool) was authorised to ex press the disposition of all his colleagues to as with Lord Wellesley ,and me, under an.arrangement which might be at once consistent with their own honout and duty, and honourable and satisfactory :0 US; That with ,respea to Lore Castlereagh, it was fair, that it should be disiinBly understood, that the situation in- which he stands both in this Go vernment, and in the House of Commons, was to be preserved to him ; That with respe& to official airangements, he (Lord L.) would not have been the bearer of any proposition to me, but one which was understood as comprising my friends. In answer to a question . put by me, Lord L. stated, that his colleagues were desirous, that be should be appointed to the office of First Lord of the Treasury; and that this desire was known to the Prince Regent, when H. R. H. commanded Lord Liverpool to undertake this com- mtmication. Lord Liverpool added, that he was ready to an swer any other inquiry that I might wish to make; or to clear up any thing that he might have im perfetily explained. I said, that I thought it better to receive his communication just he gave it to me ; and to defer making any remark, or giving any answer whatever, until I should have communicated it to my friends : Lord Liverpool himself undertak ing to see Lord Wellesley. I would only, therefore, ask—Whether I was to consider the opinion and policy of the Government as remaining altogether unchanged upon the qw.s tion relating to the lay.s aft Ling the Roman Ca- tholies ? Lord Liverpool answered, that his own opinions upon this subjea remained unchanged; and that he was not aware that those of his Colleagues had un- dergone any change. I then wrote this minute in. Lord Liverpool's presence; which he read over, and suggested such correaions as appeared to him necessary - for making it perfealy accurate. (Signed) May t 7, atz. No. 11. GEORGE CANNING MINUTE Of CONVERSATION between Lord WELLESLEY and Lord LIVERPOOL, I; , th May, 1812,. Apsley-House, 17th May, 181 z, past g, p. m. Lord Liverpool came to me immediately after his visit to 11 , -. Canning, and remained with me for about half an hour. Soon after Lord Liver pool's departure, I received the ainexed paper from Mr. Canning -* Lord Liverpool's conversation with me was sub stantially the same as that which is described to have passed with Mr. Canning. Any -difference which appeared, arose necessarily from my questions, and observations, which were made without knowledge of what passed between Lord Liverpool and Mr. Canning., After receiving Lord Liverpool's verbal communication, nearly in the terms stated' by •Mr. Canning, I inquired, list.) what was to be the policy of the Government will) relation to the Roman Catholics? To this,quesiion Lord Liverpool returned the smile, answer stated in Mr. Can ning's paper to have been returned to a similar ques tion. _ • I observed to Lord Liverpool, that he was apprised of my opinion, that our efforts in the Pe ninsula had been concluded on an 'inadequate and impelled scale, which could not be expelled to dc complish the ultimate objeds of the war in _that * Vide Mr. CanniDg's Minute, No. a. quarter : that had for a long I'mz conb:dor . t - A in et tension of our system in the Peninsula to be indis pensably necessary, and easily practicable : that I was aware of the impropriety (in my present situa tion) of urging any detailed questions to Lord Liver pool on this point ; but, that I mentioned it now, because it must form a principal consideration in my answer to the proposition which he had brought to me, • Lord Liverpool said, that he did not agree in my opinion respecting the scale of the efforts which we had hither to made in the Pcninsula,which he thought as great as it had been possible to make ; that there never had been any limit to our exertions in that quarter, but what arose out of the question of-prac ticability (that is, the means of increasing and sup plying our armies) ; and that he had never heard any specific plan by which those means might have been carried further, though the subje6t had been often most anxiously considered in my presence : that circumstances had occurred since my resigna tion, which did not then exist, and into the parti culars of which -it Would not be proper for him to enter at this time, winch might enable Govern ment to extend, to a certain degree, the military' operations in the Peninsula; and the system of him self and his colleagues would be, as he contended they always had been, to make the greatest efforts in the cause of the Peninsula which the-iesources of the country rendered possible. • idly, I inquired whether all the general consti tuent part; of the present Cabinet were to remai❑ ? He informed me that they were in general to re- Main. He believed it was known to me that some of the Members of the Cabinet had been long de sirous of retiring, and would be ready, therefore, now to afford facilities to any new arrangement. In answer to a question put. by rue respecting Lord Sidmouth and his friends, he said they were to remain. 4thly, I stated to Lord Liverpool that I made no inquiry respecting the proposed distribution and al location of offices , because that circumstance would not constitute the basis of my decision upon the proposition which he had brought to me. Lord Liverpool observed, that the distribrition of offices was a (natter open to future adjustment, to be regulated for the honour of all pa a ies. sthly, When Lord Liverpool informed me, that the leading in the House of Commons was to be preserved to Lord Castlereagh, I remarked, that in any situation which I might ever hold in any Ad ministration, I should feel great obligation to any Member of the Government who would undertake that charge, which was called. the .leading in-the Home of Parliament in which I sat ; although I was fully aware of the great importance which that charge necessarily conveyed to the person who ex ercised it, and of the great influence which it must give 'to him in the general Administration and Pa tronage of the Government. 6thly, I desired to know, whether all those per sons now designated by the name of the " Oppo sition," were to be excluded from the tproposed scheme of Administration ? Lord Liverpool answered, that no principle of ex clusion was intended ; but that be was not autho rized to make any proposal to any persons of the description which I had mentioned 7thly, Considering : the course which Lord Liver pool had observed in making this communication, I asked him, whether he applied to me by command of the Prince Regent, as a part of Mr. Canning's suite reminded Lord Liverpool of the constant and unabated exertions which I had made to open every avenue for the return of Mr. Canning to the -public service; remarking at the same time, that - I never bad' attempted to press that point beyond the honour and feelings of Mr. Perceval's Administra tion. I stated, that I could not consider any Ad ministration to be constituted on a foundation of justice towards individual talents and services, or' towards the interests of the country, in which Mr. Canning should not hold a high efficieot station. But I added, that Mr. Canning was under no en gagement to rue which could preclude his accept ance of any Office which might be offered to him ; that, on the other hand, Mr. Canning. would cer (airily make the same declaration with 'regard to my perfe6t freedom. Lord Liverpool said,. that he had pursued this course of communication, being con vinced, that under the present circumstances, f would not accept Office, unless a fair proposal was made to Mr. Conklin. I declared to Lord Liverpool, that he was corre.-t• in Allis...view of my sentiments to wards 'Mr.-Canning; repeating, however, that Mr. Canning and I were ptrfealy free to. as as each might think fit, and that our agreement in many great public principl i s could not'affea questions of mere official arrangement. Oily, I expressed my wish to receive this com munication in writing; to answer it in writing; and , also to submit my sentiments upon the whole trans action in an audienceiof the Prince Regent. ' • Lord Liverpool informed me, that Mr. Canning would transmit to me a copy of the Minute of Lord Liver*l i t conversation 'taken in iris pri3iseke, etid Lord Literpsol desired the to consider that Paper *as the written cotiacrinnicaticn Which I wished tfteceive. I agreed to Lod pool's propOsal on this point. I then infdrnted Lord LiVetpoot that I would return my answer in writing to that Paper. Whatever might be. the tenour of my answer, with regard to the great public considerations on which it niust bsit, founded, I expressed my hope, that Lord Liverpool would be assured of my Sincere perEonal respe& and esteem. I now transmit this Minute to Lord Liverpool, requesting him to idsert any correLtioh which he may thick requisite., May 18, 1812. (Signed) WELLESLEY. COrieC;led by Lord Liverpool, ,and retained to me. • (Signed) WELLESLF_T. No. 111. Note from Mr. CAN t , ING to Lord WELLEs LEY, enclosing* Letter to Mr. CANNING from Lord LIVEIirOOL, relat.ibc to Lord CASTLEREAGH, (Copy.) Gloucester-Lodge, Sunday night, May 17, au,. My DEAR WELLESLEY, I have just received from Lord Liverpool a letter, of which the inclosed is a copy. I transmit it to you to be added, according to his desire, to the copy of the minute of his verbal communication of this morning. Ever atleaion2tely your's, G. C. Copy in No. 111. Lard LiiinKroot. to Mr. CANHINC (Private.) MT DEAR CANNING, Fife-house, May 17, art. I think, upon reflection, it is due to Lord Castle" reagh to state, in writing, what I mentioned to you, verbally, that from motives of delicacy, be absented h4nself from the Cabinet, on the occv. sions on which . the subjea in your Memoranduis s was determined. tO I did not, however, make the communication you, without having reason .to know that he woula be no obstacle in the way of an arrangement,fotuk ed on the principles stated in the Memorandum- I will beg of you w communicate this !owl 141 any persons to whom you way communicate tb. Memoraodutu. (S;gned) To the Right Ron. George Canaing. LiviorooL; No. IV. Copy of a Letter from the Marquis Wzr-ttstry to the " I , of Livsaroor., transmitting Lord W.'s R e ply to Logi LIVERPOOL'S Proposal. A psley.House, May iS, 18t2, half-past three p. ra" MY DEAR LORD, the enclose a paper, containing my reply t o communication which you were so kind 119 make to me yesterday. Although I find ( W e il compelled to decline s the proposal which 1 ° conveyed,, I request you to accept my gr ateld, 0 thanks for the amicable and satisfatlory m anner which you communicated with me; and to b e °41 ,. sured, that I shall always entertain the meat and' coidial, sentimeres of personal respe= l esteem for you. Believe me, my der Lord, Most sincerely your's. (Signed) WEi.LssISI Earl of Liverpool, In. (No. IV.), ns i Lord VE;,LasLEY's reply t(.. , Lord LIVERPOOL'S TOP — g t , , Apsley-House, MaY r j From the communication received t hrong' )4) . 0 Liverpool; I understand, that his Royal.N i g ho d e t a the Prince Regent has been gmcioualy-Pl e3E f — r go signify his desire of strengthening his Adini ll ' s-3 . 1 1, tion upon' its present basis, by associating o e it as one of those persons who agree Most and generally in the principles upon whiel) at - Lirs have been cor.duaed. ~e th e From the same connnunication 1 also de l ' gratifying intelligence, tl:at all Lord Liverpo4s leagues have authorised him to express a die- 3 1 1 ' 9 ' 1 „ tco* to a& with me, under an .arrangetnetit 0" -i5 'with their ,own honour and duty, and 11"6ur3 and satiNfaaory' to . me. Re peat I receive this notification of the Prince A 3 0 4 ' commands with t vet)/ sentiment of duty so— ;0 tion, while it affords me Matter of . just s lti ' fa6l. „ that, to the distinguished ,honour of s' l' ' fl o o ti scending notice from his Royal Highnes s, 16 2 teem so high a testimony of the confidence alla esteeot of all the respeaable persons Composing his Pt`'' Xdminitration.' t.cf` t Y With all humility towards the exalte ,l [ 1 ,6 frOna which this proposition proceeds,. arid i; most Sincere.regard for those . through "°(.- it ,conveyed, I _must, however, declaro; that, have declined it at the first instant Of its aPPrO'ob cot if , motives of deference and stibrnisi.he . atta had not imposed upon me the obligati on ef cb re ing it with respeaful coasideration• ap osl i The proposition necessarily rests up on tion, that I entertain no such , di:Terence °' o ulj sentiment with the present Adtninis;rotion, 85 5 preclude me from acing with them, tic* der an i See Mr. Canning's Minute, r°•