Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-04-03 00:00:00, page 1

OF ALL] THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS
WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL PROSPERITY,
RELIGION and MORALITY ARE INDISPENSA
BLE SUPPORTS %Q„', Lego
——^CTmflßeere^rc—^—^—^reT^^
TRUTH.
There is no crime more infamous than the vi
olation of truth. It is apparent, that men can
be social beings no longer than they can believe
each other. When speech is employed only as
the vehicle of falfchood, every man mast disunite
himfelf from others, inhabit his own cave .nd'
seek prey only for himfelf.
Truth is not only a man's ornament, tent his
instrument ; it is the great man's glory, and the
poor man's flock. A man's truth is his livelihood,
his recommendation, and bis letters of credit.
There is nothing more delighful than thehfer.
i^v^n-k fyeaWn;] °' ^^!> % Tarihi, cearvn f' rc
is no conversation so agreeable a< thar of & man
of integrity, who hears without aay intention
to betray, and freaks without any intention to
deceive.
MISCELLANY
_—. —— —
Interesting Correspondence.
We have seen it frequently mentioned in the
debates in the British Parliament, that a corres
pondence had existed between the Biitifh King.
his Ministers and the Prince of Wales, on the
fubjea of the military rank held by the latter.
These letters have been considered as highly in
retelling in Europe.. They serve to develops
character, disposition and talents :— And at this
moment, when a change in the administration of
the British Empire is daily expected, from the
death of Giorgi 111. they must be read with
peculiar avidity.
' , COPY.
SIE, Carlton House, July 18.
THE fubjed on which I address you presses
so heavily on my mind, and daily acquires
such additional importance, that notwithflanding
my wish to avoid any interference with the dispo
sition made by his Majesty's Ministers. I find it
impossible to withhold or delay an explicit state
ment of my feelings,to which I would dire& your,
most serious consideration.
" When it was officially communicated to Par
liament that the avowed object of the enemy was
a descent on our kingdoms, the question became
so obvious, that the circumstances of the times
required the voluntary tender of personal services ;
when Parliament in consequence of this reprefenta
tion,argeed to extraordin,rymeafures,for thedefence
of tnete realms atone, it ^e^diliftt danger #z:
not believed dubious or remote. Animated by
the fame spirit which pervaded the nation at large,
ennfeious of the duties which I owed to his Maj
esty and the Country, I seized the earliest oppor
tunity to express my desire of undertaking the re
• fpOßtibility of a military command ; I neither did
pordo presume on supposed talents as entitling
me tofuchan appointment; lam aware! do not
possess the experience of aritial warfare ; at the
feme time I cannot regard myfelf as totally un
qualified or deficient in military fcichce, fines I
have long trade the service my particular study.
My chief pretensions were founded on a feufe of
these advantages which my example might produce
to the state, by excising the loyal energies of the
nation, and a knowledge of those etyeftations
which the public had a right to form as to the par
fonal exertions of their Prince, at a moment like
the present. The more elevated my situation, in
so much the efforts of zeal become neceflarily great
er; and I confelQ that if duty bad not been to per
amount, a reflection on the splendid atchievements
of my piedeceffors would have excited in me the
spirit of emulation ; when, however, in addition
to such recolkaions, the nature of the tonteft in
whic* we are about to engage was impressed on
my confideratioo, Ifh mid indeed,have been devoid
of every virtuous lentiment, if I felt no relu&auce
in remaining a paflive Ipedator .of armaments,
which have for their obje& the very exigence of
the British empire. < a
", Thus was I influenced to make my offer
service, and, I did imagine that bis Majesty's min
isters would have attached to it more value. But
when I find that from tome unknown cause my
appointment seems to remain fa long undetermined,
when I feel myfelf exposed to the obloquy of being
regarded by the countryas puffing toytimeiAfferent,
to the events which menace, & insensible to the call
of patriotic, much more of glory ; it then behoves
me to examine my rights, and to remind his Maj
efty/s ministers that the claim which I hive ad
vanced is fridly conflutional, and juftified by
precedent; and that in the present filiation of
Europe, to deny my exercising it, it is fatal to my
own immediate honour, and the future interests of
the Crown.
I can never forget that I hate folem obligations
imposed on me by my birth, and that I should
ever shew myfelf foremoft in contributing to the
preservation of the country. The time is arrived
when I may prove myfelf lenGble of the duties of
filiation, and of evincing my devotion to that
Sovereign %ho by nature ; as well as public worth
commnads my meft affectionate attachment.
I repeat that I should be lorry to embarrass the
government at any time, more particularly at such
a crisis. But since no event in my future life can
campenfate me for the misfortune of not participa
ting in the honors and dangers which await the
brave men defined to oppose an invading enemy,!
cannorforego the earnest renewal of my application.
' All I folieit is a more ostensible situation than
that in which lam at present placed ; for situated
as I am ata mere Colonel of a regiment, the Ma
jor-Gcneralcommanding the Brigade of which such
^'^^^'*te#!
Vol. XIV.]
a regiment must form a part, would justly expeft
and receive the full credit of pre-arrangment and
fuccefsful enterprize.
" I remain Sir, very sincerely, yours
(Signed) G. P."
" Rt Hon Henry Addington &c.&c. &c.
" July 26.
A week has now elapsed since the Prince of
Wales transmitted to Mr. Aldington a letter on a
fubjed of the highest importance ; though hecan
not anticipate a refufal to so reasonable a demand
he muff ftifyxprefs some furprize that a commu
nication of itch a nature should have remained so
long uhanfwered. $'
" When the Prince of Wales desired to be
placed in a situation which might enable him to
shew to the people of England the example of zeal,
fidelity, and devotion to hs Sovereign, he natur
ally thought that he was only fulfilling h^ rs
nxprHe dr. As the firft fufj^ of the realml
in whhit h'u plr.fed Providen^to cause him tol
tev/tx/n born, f" he is dtlefmirted to maintxM
himfelf by all those honourable exertions which
the exigencies of these critical times peculiarly de
mand. The motives cf his conduct cannot be
mifconcieved ormifreprefented. He has, at a mo
ment <vhen every thing is at stake that is dear & fac
ted to him & tothe nation, alked to be advanced in
military rank, beaaufe he may havehis birth-right
to fight for, the throne of his Father to defend, the
glory of the people of England to uphold, which is
dearer so him than life, which has yet remained Un
sullied under the Princes of the House cf Bruns
wick and which he trusts will be transmitted pure
and uncontaminated to the latest generations. Ani
mated by such fentirhents, he has naturally desired
to be placed in a situation where be can aa accord
ing to the feelings of his heart and the dilates of
his confeience.
In making the offer, in again repeating it, the
Prince of Wales confiders that- he has only per
formed hia duty to himfelf, to the State, to the
King, to Europe, whose fate may be involved in
the issue of this contest. If this tender of his Ser
vices is rejected he fliall ever lament that all his
efforts have been fruitlefs, and that he has been de
prived of making those exertions which the cir
cumstances of the empire, his own inclinations,
and his early and long attention to military affairs,
would have rendered so particularly grateful to
himfelf, and he trusts, not entirely ufelcls to the
public.
" Downing Street, July 27."
tfTpon receiving the letter with which Mr. Ad
din k>n was last week honoured by the Prince of
>7^^ he assured his Royal Highness that it
fhoWict be immediately laid before the King ; this
was accordingly done, and the letter is still in his
Majesty's possession. A communication was after
wards made to his Royal Highness the Prince of
yw#%,i*. ^ffidae"&Wrthi:fixtfi.a chxcarl ^hicn.M^
Addington humbly hoped his Royal Highness
would approve.—Mr. A. however, now finds it to
be incumbent on him, in confequer.ee of the ex
peaation which has been expressed by his Royal
Hfghnels, to state that his Majesty, on being in
formed of the sentiments and wiflies of the Prince
of Wales, applauded in the firougeft manner the
feelings by which his Royal Highness is aduated,
but referred nevgrthelefs to the answers which his
Majesty had judged it necessary to return to Similar
representations—whicli in obedience to the com
mands of his Royal Highness, bad been laid before
his Majesty upon former oc^afions."
“ Carlton House, July 28.
"The Prince of Wales has received Mr. Adding
ton's written communication of the last night. The
Prince of Wales has only to ~obferve, that he re
quires Mr. A.to submit to his Majesty his last note,
dated the 26 of this month”
" Downing-Street, July 28, half past 1 t P. M.
“ Mr. Aldington is just honored with the com
mands of the Prince of Wales, and will not fail to
lay his Royal Highness's letter, dated 26th of this
month, before the King." 1
"Sir, Downing-street, Aug. 1.
" In obedience to the commands of your Roy
al Highness, I laid before his Majesty the letter
dated 25th July, with which your Royal High
ness has honored me ; and I have it in command
from his Majesty to acquaint your Royal High
ness, that " the King had referred Mr. Adding
ton to the order,h- bad before him, with the ad
dition—that thing's opinion being fixed,he de
sired that no further mention should be made to
him upon the fubje&.
I have the honor to be,
" With, Sir, every sentiment of refpe& and def
erence your Royal Highnefa's most obedient lium
ble fervant.#
(Signed) “HENRY ADDINGTON."
.- LETTER TO THE KING.
Sir, Brighton Aug. 6.
" A correspondence has taken place between
Mr. Addington and myfelf on a fubjed, which
deeply involves my honour and character. The
answers which I have received from that Gen- °
deman, the communication which he has made
to the%oufe of the Commons, leave me no hope
but in an appeal to the justice of your Majesty. I
make that appeal with confidence, because I feel
that you are my natural advocate ; and with the
sanguine hope that the ears of an affedionate fa
ther may still be opened to the Applications of a
dutifal fpn.
" I ask to be allowed to display the heft energies
of ray charader ; to shed the last drop of my
blood in support ofyour Majesty's Perfon,Crown
and Dignity ; for this is not a war for empire,
glory, or dominion, but for exifter.ee. In this
contest, the lowest and humbled cf your Majes
ty's fubje&s have been called on : it would there
fore little,become me who am the firft and who
stand at the very footstool of the throne to re
main a tame, an idle, and lifekfs fpe&ator of the
ORACLE POST.
^—==^==—=^n—^^==!=^^
TUESDAY, APEfL 3, 1804.
_JJ^giiM^iMTir ‘ = "^^l ifs ^jiiM" ~
miljhieis which threaten us, unconfeious of the
dangers which surround us, and indifferent to the'
contequeoces which may follow. Hanover is loft.
England is menaced with invasion. Ireland is
in rebellion. Europe is at the foot of France.
At fach a moment the Prince of Wales, yielding
to rose cf your servants in zeal and devotion ;
to ? ne °' your fubjeds in duty, to neneof your
children in tenderness and affection, presumes to
appoach you, and again to repeat those offers
wrich he has already made through your majes
ty ^minifters. A feeling ofhonert ambition ; a
feeble of what I owe to myfelf and to my family ;
an {above all, the fear of finking in the public ef
tintyion of that gallant army which may be the
support of your majesty's Crown, and my belt
hefo hereafter command me to perf vere, and to
a( re your majesty with all humility and refped
M' C °°' C '°"' ’°''hejaftice of my claim, no hu
; . 'R"t'=' '" ^"e" '°' ! ""^ m^ 4&[dinq r ifh it.
I me to "X' ™ re ' ''" ' am ^ u ^ to a
'"A of eondna by every motive dear to
me as a man, and sacred to me as a prince.
Ought I not to come forward in a moment of rhe
unexampled difficulty and danger ? Ought I not
to (hare in the glory ofvidory, when I have eve
ry thing to lose by defeat ? The highest places
in your Majesty's service are filled by the younger
branches of the royal family, to me alone no
place is/affigned. lam not thought Worthy to
be the junior major-general of your army. If I
could submit in silence to such indignities, I
should; indeed deserve such treatment, and prove
to the htisfa&ion of your enemies and my own,
that I/am entirely incapable of those exertions,
whichmy birth and the circumstances of the
times peculiarly call for. Standing so near the
throng, when I am debased, the cause of royalty
is Wotinded ; I cannot fink in public opinion,
without the participation of your Majesty in my
degradation. Therefore, every motive of pri
vate feeling, and of public duty, induce me to
implore your majesty, to review your decision,
and to plach me in that situation which my birth,
the duties of my Ration, the example of my pre
decessors, arid the expeditions of the people es
England, entitle me to claim.
"Should I ve disappointed in the hope which I
have formed,; should this last appeal to the justice
of my sovereign, and the affedjon of my father
fail ts fuccefy I fliall lament in silent submission
his determination ; but Europe, the world, and
posterity mul ljudge between us.
"I have ddne my duty, my confeience acquits
roe ; my reason tells me that I was perfectly juf
tified in the request which I have made, because
ho reasonable arguments have ever been adduc
ed in answer to my pretensions. The precedents
in orr history are in my favour : But if they
are not, the times in which we live, and especial-
Ij the Qgehetes of the present moment, require
us to become an example to our posterity.
"No other cause or refufal has or can be as
signed, except that it was the will of your Ma
jeftyr To that will and pleasure I bow with
ever;} degree of humility and resignation ; but
I can. never cease to complain of the severity
which can be exercised against me, and of the in
justice which I have fuffered, until I cease to ex
ist. I have the honor to fubferibe myfelf with
all possible devotion, your majesty's most dutiful
and affectionate Son and fubjed.
(Signed) , G. P."
FROM THE KING.
“my dear SON, Windsor, August 7.^
- “Though I applaud your zeal and your spirit,
of which I trust no one can suppose any of the
family wanting, yet, coffiidering the repeated de
clarations I have made of my determination on
your former applications to the fame purpose, I
had flattered myfelf to have heard no farther on
the fubjeft. Should the implacable enemy so far
succeed as to land you will have an opportunity
of freeing your zeal at the head of your regi
ment. It will be the duty efevery man to stand
forward on such an occasion ; and I shall certain
ly think it mine to set an example in defence cf
everything that is dear to me & to py people. I
ever remain, my dear Son, your mod affectionate
Father. (Signed) G. R.
From the Prince of Wales to the King.
"sire, Brighton; August 22,
"I have delayed thus long; an answer to the
lett& which your Majesty did me the honor.to
write, from a wish to refer to a former eorref
pendency, which took place between us in the
Far 1798. These letters were mislaid, & some
days elapsed before I cotild difeover them, they
have since been found. Allow me then, Sire, to
recall to your recollection the expressions you
were gracioully pleased to use, and which I once
before took the liberty of reminding you, of,
when I solicited foreign service, upon my firft
coming into the army. They were, Sire, that
. your Majesty did not then fee the opportunity for
• it : but that if any thing was to arise at home, I
ought to be 'firft and foremoft.' There cannot
be a Wronger expression in the English language,
or one more corfonant to the feelings which an
imate my heart. la this I agree most perfectly
with your Majefty —'I ought to be firft and fore
raoft.' It is the place which my birth assigns
me—which Europe, which the English nation
expeC t me-to fill—and which the former affiiran
ces of your Majesty might naturally have led me
tv hope I should occupy. After such a declara
tion, I could hardly expert to 6e told that my
place was at the head of a regiment of dragoons
" I understand from your majesty, that it is
your intention, Sire, in purfuanc^ of that noble
example which you have ever fhewa dining the
course of your reign,to place yourfelf at the head
of the people of England. My next brother,the
duke of York commands the army; the younger
branches of my family are either generals or lieu
tenant-generals ; and I who am the Prince of
Wales am to remain a colonel of dragoons.
There is fometbing so humiliating in the cor
trafi, that those who are at a distance would ei
ther doubt the reality, or suppose that to be my
fault, which is only my misfortune.
" Who could imagine that I, who am the oldest
colonel in the service, bad afted for the rank of a
general officer in the army of the King my father
and that it had been reftifed me !
" I am furry, much more than sorry, to be oblig
ed to break in upon your kifure and to trespass
thusa second time on the attention of yourMajeffy.
But J have, Sire, an interest in ray tlnraaer more
valuable to me than the throne and dearer, far dear
er to me than life. I amtalled upon by that inter
est to petlevere ; and I pledge myfelf never to desist
until I receive that fatisfa&ion which the justice of
try claim leads me to expeg.
“H, rtK^ vAq^py tira% the wnrld, Sire, exam
ines the conduct oipriucta witi a jealous, a fcruti.
mZing a malignant eye." 81, man is more aware
than;! am of the exifteff^gif such a disposition and
no man is thereforgHtfe determined to place him
felf above all iufpidon;
, In desiring to talced in a forward situation, I
have performed one duty to the people of England ;
I must now perform another, and humbly fwppli
cate your Majesty to assign those reasons which
have induced you to refufe a request which appears
to me and to the world so reasonable and so ra
tional.
" I muff again repeat my concern that I am o
bliged to continue a correspondence which I fear is
not so grateful to your Majesty as I could wish. I
have examined my own heart—l am convinced
of the justness of my caufe—of the purity of my
motives. Reason aod honour forbid n.e to yield
where no reason is alledged, I am juftified in the
conclusion that none can be given.
" In this candid exposition of the feelings which
h:ve agitated and depressed my wounded mind, I
hope no expression has escaped me which can be
construed to mean the flighted difrefpea to your
Majesty, ,1 most solemnly disavow any such inten
tion, but the circumstances of the times—the dan
ger of invasion—the appeal which has been made
to all yourfubjea% oblige me to recoiled what I
owe to mine own honor and to my own chararier
and to state to your Majesty with plaincft truth and
candour, but with all the submission of a fubjc&,&
theduty of an aftaionate son, the injuries under
which I labour, and which it is in the power ct
your Majesty alone at one moment to radrefs.
" It is with sentiments of the profoundeft venera
tion and refpeft that I have the honor to fubteribe
myfelf your Majesty's most dutiful, most obedient
son and fubjelt.
(Signed) ' “ G. P."
My dear Brother, Brighton Oft. 3.
1 By laE right's Gazette, which 1 have this mo
ment received! perceive that an extensive promo
tion has taken place in the army, wherein my pre
tentions are not noticed, a circumftince which,
whatever may have happened upon other oc
pafions, it is impossible for me to pass by at this
momentous ctilis, without observation.
My [landing in the army according to the most
ordinary routine of promotion, had it been followed
up, would have placed me either at the bottom of
the lift of Generals, or at the head of the lift of L r .
Generals. When the younger branches of my family
are promoted to the highest military fituntions, my
birth, according to the diftinriions usually coffered
Upon it, fliould have placed me firft cn that hit.
1 hopeyou know me too well, to imagine that i
die ina&iverank are in my view ; much left is the
diredion and patronage of the military department
an object which suits my place in the Rate, or my
inclinations; but, in a moment when the danger of
the country is thought by Government so urgent as
to call forth the energy of every arm in its defence
I cannot but feel myfelf degraded, both as a Ptlnct
and a soldier, il I am not allowed to take a "forward
and distinguished part in the defence of that empire
and crown, of the glory, prosperity & even exifteoc
of that people,in ali which mine is the greatest flake.
To be told I may display this zeal solely and
simply at the head of my regiment, is a degrading
mockery.'
If that be the only situation allotted me, 'I fitall
certainly do my duty as others will, but the consid
erations to which 1 have already alluded, entitle me
to expeft, and bind me in every way to require, a
situation more correspondent to the dignity bf my
own character and to the public expectation.
It is for the 6ke of tendering my services in a
way more formal and official than I have before
pursued, that Caddrefs this to yob, my dear broth
er as the commander in chief, b, whose councils
the Confthution presumes that the military depar,
meat is administered.
If those who have the honor to advise his Majes
ty on this occasion, Shall deem my pretensions, a
mong those of all the royal family, to be the only
one fit to be rejected and disdained I may at least
hope, as a debt o, justice and honour to have it ex
plained, that I am laid by in virtue of that judge
ment, and not in consequence of any omission or
want of energy on my part, &c. &e. &c. .
(Signed) G. P. W.
His Roval Highness the Duke of York, &c.
Dearelt Brother, Horfe-Guardi, Oct. 6.
Nothing buran extraordinary press of business
would have prevented me from Acknowledging
sooner your letter of the 2d inst. which I received
while at Gatlandron Monday evening;
Ltruft that you are too well acquainted with my
affedion for you which has emitted since our most
tender years, not to b: assured of the fatisfa&ion I
baveever fell, and ever must feel, in forwarding, -
when in my power, every desire or object of yours,
and therefore will believe how much I regret the
impossibility there is, upon the present occasion, of
my executing your wishes of laying the reprefertfr
tion contrived in your letter before hi# Majesty.
[No. 25.