The Sun. — London, England, 1801-10-31 00:00:00

JVPE lIIAL P4RLI.4M ENT. HOUSE OF PEERS, Ft . IDAy, OCT. 30. " Their Lordships met this day, pursuant to ad journment, at One o'Clock ; and, after waiting antil,a quarter before Two, during which interval no.butdriess cvai trallsa(...l.ed, they proceeded (having previously adjourned to half-past Three o'clock), ik-ith their Address to His MAJESTY at St. James's. ,Shortly after the second meeting took place, we . _ v.hderstand that Lord CRAVEN was introduced as -Earl of CRAVEN, with the accustomed formalities, -sworn, and took ,his sear.—His Lordship's sup.. porters \vac -the Earls Of PEMBROK E and CHAT - iAM. • Lord PELIJAAT Secretary of State for the Home Department), presented, by Command of His ,IVIAJEs-r7r, Copies of the Preliminary Articles of Peace .between His . Britannic Majesty and the : -French ;Repuhlic, signed at London, rst of Oftober 180 I ; and also, of the Convention between His Mkjesty auci the Enveror of Russia, signed at St. Pctetsbtirg in . June rSor --which were ordered to lie on the T:d)le. After which, we understand his Lordship moved, that the Preliminaries of Peace should be taken into consideration on Itiesclay On our admission into the House-- Lo-d GRENVILLE was on his feet, • and ex pressing himself with a considerable degree of warmth, apparently with respeft to the Prelimina ries of Peace between this Country and France. His Lordship seemed to speak of them generally, in decided terms of , disapprobation, and observed, that at no one period in the History of this Coun try, at least within his knowledge, was such a sa crifice of its interest or its credit, as in the trans_ anion in question. He adverted generally, but in ;strong and glowing language, to the sacrifices made by this Country in point of blood and treasure, in the late arduous contest, for the preservation of its honour, and for the attainment of a state of secu rity. It was with the greatest reludance, he ob serred, that he aoed the part he at present adopted, but - it was imposed by an imperious sense of duty, which with him superseded every other considera tion.. He was actuated by no wish lightly to oppose His Majesty's Ministers in that House, whom he called his Noble Friends, or in the leaSt to impede the operations of His Majesty's Govern ment. Proceeding to observe upon the Preliminary Articles, he particularly adverted to that which respefted the integrity of the Dominions of Por tugal ; a Power, the relations with whom were of the utmost importance with respeet to Great Bri tain. The integrity of the Portuguese Do'rnnions, he was aware, was stipulated for ,in the Treaty, but in what manner, did not appear ; as in the case of Turleey l whose possessions, it .was clear and specific, were to be preserved entire, as they .existed before the present War. Not so in the case of Portugal ; the indefinite wording of the ar ticle required explanation, whether the integrity of the Doininions of Portugal was to be preserved as they .stood before the War,—at any particular period during the War—or at its conclusion. He was it wup of the considerations respening prema . tore discussions, and the objedions with which they were necessarily attended ; but the importance of the present point was so great, that even in this stage of the business he wished for explanation upon it. Suggesting a mode for ascertaining the real State of the.ease ,with respe4 to Portugal; with the greatest pra6i.icabie degree.of certainty, he observ ed, that copies of certain Treaties, Conventions, &c. should be laid before the House. Seemingly in anticipation of objeCtions to what he was about to propose, his Lordship observed, that in the: present State of affairs, there could be no well-fouoded ob jeEtion to the produdion of the State Papers which he had in contemplation ; added to this, these trea ties were public ads, and may freely, he communi cated. What he proposed should be produced, he had reduced to the shape of a motion, which was for an Address to His Me e / EsTy, praying for the produaion of Copies of all Treaties, Armistices, and Conven tions which might have taken place between the.Bel iigerent Powers in the course of the year r Sot, and were communicated to His MAJESTY. It was not Ids intention, we understood the Noble Lord' to say, to make, still less to press this Motion in the present instance, but, he conceived that such was the most regular and effeCtital way in which the necessary inforraation respecting the point to which be alluded could be laid before their Lordships—Continuing to observe upon the• importance of the Portuguese tonne ion with this Country, he repeated his wishes that the desired explanation should be given ?y . l - iis ,Majesty's .Ministers, - - Lord PELHAM spoke shortly in answer to what tad fallen from the Noble Lord. In consequence of the low tone in which the Noble Secretary of State expressed himself, and the t eneral direction of his - voice, we were precluded from hearing a great part of his observations. He noticed the 'circumstance .of his not being so used to public speaking, as to rise officially, particularly in that House, as the Noble Lord. With respea to the main point of the Noble Lord's a rgu men t, he seemed to deprecate, n ::k.ec.ded language, all premature discussion, and to advert to ar'. obviota iinpropriety in the publics. tion of many of those Papers which were included in the Noble Lord's projected Motion. He ob.. • . - iervcd, that it was unnecessary, as the Noble Lord himself seemed to f;.1.1, that. he should enter into. ,any argument upon what he-bad advanced, ,fts a re- . tular . oppoitunity for the distinct discussion of the busipcis had been proposed, and. far which he wished to reserve himself. in the course of the No ble Secretary's observations, we understood him to ripress himself as considering the Noble Lord to stand in the situqkm of an "opposer of lis Majes ty's Ministers.---. This called up Loid GRENVILLE in explanation, who, with • degree of warmth,. repelled the idea of his being ' in oppoo,tiOn to {is Majesty l s Government i No; thing ~ vas farther tom his Wish or.his intention than to : impcde_ the measures of Goverrmient, or to oppose flrther than, as he Wou)d sri imperious skin'se - Of duty dictated to him, as. in, the present iptance. Tt was his strong feelings :ndeonsielermion with respe.A to the transattion question, that placed him in such a situaticio. He must repeat, that the affair of: . the Portuguese Do. minions required explanation : How were their Lordships to know, that by the Treaties which al leaed Porton), access was not opened to the Bra zils to the French, to that most valuable Colony in the Portuguese Dominions—and perhaps the only one of her possessions which rendered a Commer cial Conned:ion with that Nation valuable to Bri tain. The wishes of his heart were averse from an opposition to the present Ministers ; what they had already done in the transaaion alluded to, ex cited his deep and heartfelt regret—for what they should do, he looked forward with the greatest anxiety ; and happy should he be, if, by their firm ness and vigour in what remained to be done, they should vindicate the Honour of the Nation, and Secure her Interests. In such case, he would feel himself called upon to give them the best support which. his feeble assistance could afford, and for this he should take no merit, as it would not only correspond with his wishes, but be considered by him as a sacred duty. Lord PalfAil/ spoke fully in explanation— After .which, the Question was put for the consi deration of the Preliminaries of Peace on Tuesday next, which was ordered accordingly, and also, that their Lordships be summoned for that day., Lord HOBA RT acquainted the House, that he should have to postpone the Motion of which he last night gave notice, respeting the Thanks of their Lordships to Sir JOHN HELY HUTCHINSON, and the . Army in Egypt. • The reason for this pro ceeding was, that it was uniformly the custom, when the cOnduet. of Officers, both of the Sea and Land Service, employed in a conjoint Expedition, was such as merited the approbation of the Public, and the Thanks of Parliament, to vote those Thanks to them at the same time ; this could not regularly be done in the present instance, as the Official Dis. patches from Lord KErm, the Commander of the Sea Force on the Expedition to Egypt, were not yet arrived. He was, therefore, under the neces. sity of postponing his Motion for their Lordships' Thanks ; but- when the Dispatches should arrive, he would take the earliest opportunity of coming forward. The DIKE cf CLARENCE expressed his wish that when the Dispatches should arrive, the Noble Lord would lose no time in moving the Thanks of the House to these gallant and meritorious Officers. Lord HOBART replied, that such was his earnest intention, which his conduf of last night, in giving what may be deemed a premature notice, would , un equivocally evince. The Royal Duke may rely upon it, that no time should be lost on his part in coming forward. The Earl of ST. VINCENT rose, to move the Thanks of - the House to Sir JAMES SALIM/111E Z and to the Officers and Men under his command, for' their gallant and meritorious condua in their late ACtions with the Enemies Fleets of the Coast of Spain. The_ Noble Earl, in a short but appropriate Speech, delivered with much feeling, highly praised the condu4ft of the gallant Commander, and entered into some details of the ACtion in question, in order to evince that his praises were well merited.— Speaking of the Aaion generally, he described it as one of the most gallant .atchievements he. ever knew ; he also spoke in terms of high com mendation on the condua of Sir JAMES SAU. MARE I and of his Officers, in various instances subsequent and previous to the Aaion, par ticularly for their industry and exertions in re fitting their vessels, and rendering them fit for. service, and at it time when it was supposed they had not sufficient means for so doing in the quarter in which they wore stationed—He concluded with moving; in effeEt, that " the Thanks of the House " be given to Rear-Admiral Sir JAMES SAUMARE " Bart. and K. B. for his zeal and alacrity in pur " suing, and for his boldness and vigour in attack " ing the combined force of the Enemy off the " Coasts of Spain, on the .12th and z 3th of July, " with the Squadron under his orders." , The qnestion being put, the Thanks were im mediately voted netn. dins. A Motion to the same effeft for thanking the captains, and other Officers under the Command of Sir JAMES SAUMAREZ, was made by the Earl of ST. VINCENT, and on the question being put, Lord iligolo2 . NELSON rose to offer a few ob.. servations upon the occasion, to their Lordships. He observed that he well knew the merits of Sir JAMES SAUMAREZ, that he was in habits of intima cy, and Considered himself as under obligations - to him. He had the honoUr to be his Superior Officer at the At off the Nile, and had there a good. opportunity of witnessing his gallant . and merito rious condirB. Indeed, it was almost impossible, observed His Lordship, it could be ' otherwise, when it was knOwn under whose tuition he had - acquired his' Nava! Taaics.r , -- He was brought up under that able and experienced Officer, Lord.Hoon ; and had served under many of our most approved Commanders, and, if he may be al_ . lowed the expression, had finished his education under that truly illustrious Commander who sat near him.--[The Earl of St. VINCENT, feeling the full force of the compliment, made the Nobleand gallant Lord a very low bow. ]—His Lordship proceeded, as the Noble Mover of the Thanks had done, to refer to some particulars in the Aftion, which manifested the zeal, talents, and intrepidity of Sir JAMES SAU_ MAk z, and the Officers under. his Crtnand;—and he observed, he had no difficulty in pledging himself, that had the wind proved favourable, they would have brought every one of the French Squadron into Gib raltar ; and he likewise compliniented the exertions "of these Commanders in refitting their Ships at Gi braltar, as an instance of industry and perseverance in that line never exceeded. In the course of his observations, the Noble and gallant Lord remark ed, that on five different occasions,. he had himself the honour of their Lordships' Thanks; and that in several instances, he had been Indebted for the ser vices he had atchieved,, to the skill arid intrepidity of Sir JAMES SAIIMAREZ ; it was, therefore, with the greatest Satisfaetion, he'. had just voted for the Thanks to that truly meritorious Officer, The Noble Lord, in the course.of his address, spoke in general with great sensibility, and with an ingenuous bold ness. In one or two 44nces he made a short peso, apparently for recolleaion. Iris delil!Pery, upon the whole was interesting, and strikingly ex pressive of the Naval Chieftain' ;.and - throughout the whole of his. Address, he was listened to with the most respeatirl attention, The DUKE of CLAR - ENCE spoke - at some length, and, with a degree of warmth, and decided ly in approbation of the condu6 of Sir JAMES SAU MAR EZ, and the Officers under his command. He was happy, that after what had_been so ably stated by the Noble Earl at the head of the Board of Ad niiralty, and by his Noble Friend, the illustrious Hero of the Nile, it was unnecessary for him to trouble their Lordships with any details of the Ac tion, in particular illustration of the' Merits Of'. the gallant Officers in question. The Thanks to the Officers were then duly voted, and also to the Seamen and Marines serving in the Squadron under their command. The LORD CHANCELLOR was then desired in the usual way to communicate the above Votes to Sir JAmits SAUMAREZ, &c. Which business being disposed of, the House, on the motion of Lord HOBART, adjourned till Tuesday newt. HOUSE OF COMMONS. FRIDAY, OCT. 30. The SPEAKER said that in consequence of a Resolution of the House, of last Session, for the appointment of an additional Clerk, JOHN HENRY LEIGH, Esq. had been appointed to fill that Office ; that Gentleman was now waiting, and with the per mission of the House, he would order him to be" called in. Mr. LEIGH was then called in and took his Seat at the Table. Sir W. GE AA RY brought up a Petition from cer tain persons confined in the Gaol of Maidstone, setting forth the hardships of their situation, and praying for relief. The Petition was ordered to lie on the Table. Mr. MORGAN presented a Petition from the Gentlemen, Clergy, Freeholders, &c. of the County of Monmouth, setting forth the inconveniencies arising from the selling of Wheat and Corn by measure, particularly in fixing the Assize of Bread, and praying the House to adopt such means to re medy these inconveniencies as they might think proper.—Ordered to lie on the Table. Mr. BRAGGE moved the appointment of the four Grand Committees, viz. of Religion, Courts of Justice, Trade, and Grievances. The Committees were appointed to 54t as usual. Mr. BR AG GE then movedallthe Standing Orders, which were agreed to, with the exception of the Orders respeaing the Peers of Ireland interfering in Elections, which were postponed till Monday. The SPEAKER said, he had received a Letter from Admiral Lord KEITH, dated on. board the Foudroygnt, off Alexandria, the 14. th of July, i 8o r, in answer to one which he (the SPEAKER) had transmitted to his Lordship, containing the Thanks of the House, &c. _His Lordship's Letter was then read : it acknow ledged the receipt of the SPEAKER'S Letter; ex pressed his deep sense of the Honour conferred upon him by the House, and returned his acknowledge ments to the SPEAKER, for the very polite manner in which he conveyed the Thanks of the House to him, &c. &c. _ _ Lord HAWKESBURY brought up Copies of the Convention signed between Great Britain and Rus sia, i7th June xBot, and, of the Preliminary Ar ticles of Peace signed betweep Great Britain and France. Lord Rovicesatts- moved, that the House should take the Preliminaries into consideration on Tuesday next, - Mr, GREY said, he did not rise to object to the motion which the Noble Lord had made, but perhaps no, inconvenience could arise from his ask ing an explanation upon One or two paints ; and if he was fortunate enough to obtain an answer, it might assist the House very much when they en tered into the consideration of the Preliminaries.' It was true that the Preliminaries had only just been laid upon the Table, and, therefore, in point of form, he could not be soppoied to be acquainted with their contents ; but it was also notorious, that they had been published in the public Papers, and were known to every man in the • Country. In looking over these Preliminaries, there were two points which appeared. to him to require explana non ; however, if the Noble Lord was of opinion that it would be improper, or inconvenient, toan swer his questions, lie should not press them. The first point was this there was an article in the Preliminary Articles, by which we stipulated for the integrity of the Dominions of Portugal ; he wished to know, whether by that article was •to be understood the Territories of Portugal as they stand now, afterthe cessions which had been made to Spain, or whether it meant those Territories as they stood before the commencement of hostilities ? It appeared to him, that no inconvenience could arise from giving an explanation upon this point, and, therefore, he hoped the Noble. Lord would answer his question." The next subjea was one which he confessed 'did - not arise, out of the Pre liminaries, but yet it appeared to him to be of the greatest importance, and to require explana. tion. It could not have escaped the attention of those who took an interest in the great event which had so recently happened (and upon which he congratulated the Country), it could not, he. said, have escaped their attention, that about the time, or a little previous to the signing the Preliminaries between this Country and France, there was a Treaty of Peace signed between Portugal and France. In. the body of that Treaty, he observed a stlpula_ tiop ,which he wished tu know whether Ministers had information of, or whether they had received any satisfaaion from France about, he meant an, Article by which it 'was . stipulased, that the Menu fietures of France were to be admitted into Portugal upon the footing of those of the most favoured Nations. This stipulation appeared to him to be 'inconsistent with the Treaties of Commerce"subsisting between , this Country and France,. -and must give rise, on our part, to a new , system of Politics and Corn- coerce, and must- make an alteration in the nature .of our connexion with Poitugal. He wished to know, whether Ministers were aware of this cir ‘ eumstance when thay - ..signed the Preliminaries of -reac t . fte admitted tht the situttion of Pottegat and indeed the situation of Europe in general, wal so changed, as to render it necessary, in some in' stances, to deviate from our old system with Pot' tugal, and undoubtedly the stipulation to which had alluded, would make a complete change, in (4 commercial and political relations with that Coo. try, and, therefore, explanation which he re quired, appeared to him very important, to enable them to discuss the Preliminaries fully. If, hoe , ever,. the Nable.Lord should think it proper to de' dine giving that explanation, het should lament irf .but should not press it further. The answer of the Noble Lord, if he should think it right to give if , would have a material efFea upon the satiblaakol (which as at present informed), he felt at the Peace. He could not shut his eyes to the dangers to which this Country would be exposed by this Treaty, yet was now prepared to say, that if better terms cowl' not be obtained, that, dangerous as the situation of this Country would. now be, still that the dangPr of continuing the War would be greater, and, there fore, he was of opinion, that Ministers were en , titled to the gratitude of the Country for having' concluded this Peace. He would not trouble the House any further at present, but res erv e hinisell , , for the discussion of the'Preliminaries,' if he shot& then think it necessary to enter into the Debate, Lard HAWKESBURY said, it was not fron. ani . unwillingness to answerjhe Hon. Gentleman, that hf now declined giving the explanation which he re quir , ed, but he thought jibe gave it cow, it might lead to a premature, and in some degree, irregular discussica or the subject ; be, therefore wished to decline giving any further answer until the day tvidc k 'should be . appointed for taking the Preliminaries into consideration, on which occasion he should be 1120 to give every possible information that was not consistent _with his public duty. Lord TEMPLE said, that at the conclusion 0 1 the last Peace, the Prelirninvies were printed 1)7 order of the House. Lcrd HAWKESI3URY said, that was a depar' ture from the established order of the House. Lord FlAvric EV3 Y'S Motion was then agreedte'l Lord HAWKESaUB Y moved, that the C onv entioo between Great Britain and Russia should be take° into consideration on- Friday, which was agreed to' ADDRESS, Colonel IFOEIEHOUSE brought up the R e poli of the Address, which was read twice, and agreed to ncm. con. It was ordered to be presented to I-11* MAJESTY by the whole House. Such Members were of His Majesty's Privy Council were desire° to wait upon Fits MAJESTY, to know when would be pleased to receive the same, His Majesty's Speech was ordered to be taken it' to consideration to-morrow. THANKS OF THE HOUSE. The . .CHANCELLQR of the EXCHEVEt said, he yesterday gave notice, that h e s h ou ld t hif day move the Thanks of the House to Lord KErrOr to Sir JOHN HELL' HUTCHINSON, an to the Officer! serving . under flier% and . also .to importantSAUMAREZ SW vices. He was now under. the necessity of with?, drawing a part of that notice, because the officf information which had been received from Sir larreiliNsort was incomplete, inasmuch as it °"" not fully describe the Staff Of the Indian Are who, no doubt had their full share in the gloriO i success which had attended our Arms in that quif . : ter, and he was sure the House would lament if OF name of any person concerned in that Expeditie should be omitted. Ministers were in daily expal tion of receiving the necessary information, a% therefore he wished, for the present, to defer }t} Motion, it being perfectly understood that the dela/ could not in any degree arise from any doulA, in Of quarter, of the distinguished merit of the aal/ar ) f Officers employed in both Services. He should ne h t therefore, only proceed to make a.Motion, i n whi 4 " I he was sure he was anticipated by the expeaati?: of the House and of the Public—it was for 01 ' Thanks of the House to Rear-Admiral Sir JAM SAYMAR ES:. On the merits of that gallant 6.drair and those who served under him, there could, was sure, be no difference of opinion, He 0 equally sure that there was no.difference of opini o n 4 respecting the merit of Sir . 1. SAumAktz 111 Attack which he made upon the French Sq l J,,'" dron in Algesiras Bay, a few days previous to signal advantage which he obtained'over the Cc' bined Squadrons of France and Spain, and f% which he would now, he trusted, receive the Thanks of the House. It was impassible for hill" in making this Motion, not to advert to that af tack in which the zeal and ability of the Cori' mander, an.' the spirit and intrepidity of the Or' ficers,who served under him, were so emi nen tly di"' played. That attack failed ; but the failure owing, as Sir J. SAUMARIZ stated, on ly to the failure of the wind, and a sudden calm which C3 . ra i on. It was the misfortune of the gallant Aaf tn ,„' on that day to lose one of the Ships under his e°,` - e ; maid ; but the Officers and Crew of that Ship u, fended her until they had lost half their numbers' Sir J. SAUMAREZ was not disheartened, as 01 ' 1 0 ,) r.lways be the case with men .of true courage ! Lc vigour. He waited for an opportunity to amends for his failure : that opportunity offer e d and he availed himself of it in a manner worthy him who had been the companion of, and sharer oo the glory of Lords ST. VINCENT and NELSON , the t4th of February and in the Bay of Aboohi Those events were still so fresh in the memory e every man, that it would he unnecessary for hio,di enlarge upon them, he should therefore conclude 0 ; 0 moving, " That the Thanks of the House be to Rear-Admiral Sir JAMES SAUMAREZ, for f i ll alacrity and zeal in pursuing, and for his succes s 6 . attack upon the Combined Squadrons of France 0 Spain on the z 2th and t 3th of July last." The Motion was agreed to n em - . con. - mi d? The CHANCELLOR 'of the EXCHEQUER ill — t ho " that the Thanks of the House be given r° his Captains and Officers of the Squadron under ~, command, for their gallant. con upon that f` to casion, and that the Rear-Admiral be desire' 0 , communicate the same to then .''_Agreed t° ?le Coll. (.) The CILANCELLok of :he ExctitcauEF. rg :: 0 " that-the House do highly a pprove of, analT;;; J,edge the co.nduo of the Seamen and o°'-- servin slgnif Thi " tha solutic Agree Mr We dii relativ The statinl Were i for an at leu Oust I 1,1 ar Wlemb cause receive writ o as ii reer. Cher sc S p EAS T 11( Llair ~Adi LC i~ livid and *hid tk)tdi I l lace H 4 fish laqtla( itd 1101.1; 4.rd f Brc ton T. „Tar • /en t'o!„, , its., L AN :7 csea