The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-02-09 00:00:00

Borst OF tolrs

nit arra! cause, Rill r. Spence, it %Mat julernent W
to be peep this day, was Deferred this day L. :turgid.
Lord LSIN Lt HAM lamer " l lint a Sts tali Order of
the ILmse, to prevent Atly perms taking rotes, except In
the body of the House, ur by Members of the House of
Commous, should be printed and put up ou the duurs of the
Ho 4e."—Agree4 to.
The Bill tit tcpcaring the Curates' Suspension Bill was
read a third tiers, Sad peased.
Lord AUCLLAND, after ohaerving that the Export
Trade of this tenantry hail amounted to upwards of forty-
three indliona sterling yearly; which be was afraid had vet/
witch decreased within this last year, moved—" That there
he laid hettre the Hume a Statement of the Exports from
wad Impoits into this tountry, fur three years, to the tat
January, taus, distiugulsisiug the amount of each year, and
particularly the 'applies sent' to the West lad= Colonies."
This, and too other motions, which the !Coble turd wade
relative to the same subject, were agreed to, and ordered at-
Lord GRENVILLE put a question to Miuitters for the
purpose of being informed whether tar not any direwired'
were to be laid efore the House, showing the reprtweats-
tions made by the President of Coupe's of the United
States of Aineriea, relative to the Treaty with this Coon-

try
Lord nAwKEsistity. answered. that some papers upon
this sitirjet t would probably be laid hetbre Ct.: House is tyre
course of to-inurri.w, or Wednesday tte►t.
Lord GItENVILLE replied, that if they were not so
presented, heshould take the Liberty of loosing for infsrina.
two as to tii.a 'natter in a few days.

COPENHAGEN EXPEDITION

The Duke of iu pursuance of
the notice ha lied formerly given, rose to make
some 'notions for Documents relative to this Expe-
dition. The first three of the 'notions he should
propose. he understood were not to be ob-
jected to, and, therefore, be should, iu the
first place, movie them without any ob-
servations. The Noble Dole the.' moved fur the
following Documents:—
.1. " Copies of all Proclamations issued by the Cout
rounders of His Majesty's Naval and Military Forces, while
befbre Copenhagen; and also Copies or Extrac is of their
weinummteations witli the Danish tioveriitnent, tiowhbag the
aerrender of We rket, or the capitulation of the City."
Conic, of the Articks of the Capitulation couriaded
between itlajest,'s said Commanders, or either of them,
sad the Officers commanding His Dan:: h ajest)'s Forces in
the Island of Zealand.'
I. "The inhumes of such information as liss herb re-
ceived from His Majesty's Naval Oilicera, or those of his
Deck-yards, respecting the state and condition of the Hanish
ships, at the time of the inurroder, or subsequent to the
arrival in British ports."—Gracted.
The Noble Duke then continued, and observed,

that when the Expedition he alluded to was first
set on foot, it was resolved that it should consist
of so great an'annament, that it could not be re-
sisted. Great, however, as it was,the contrary was
the effect, for the attack wad forcibly resisted. It
seemed, indeed, to be an expeditionfounded upon
principles which ought not to Obtain ground iu the
conduct of one civilised nation towards another. It
was earned by a degree of force and violence,
perfectly derogatory to the character of this
country, and nothing but the proof of the
most absolute dad indispensable necessity of the
measure, could ever wipe.aw ay the stain it hag oc•
casioned. Upon this point be trusted he should
get the unanimous coucurrence th House,-Granting, that there could• bWany necessity ex-
isting, it was surely a most difficult 'matter to de-
termine and fix the particular motnent when such
necessity actually (strived ; joined to the necessity
which he understood was to fern; the round-soot is
of this Expedition, the Ilouso Merealso bouod to
consider the policy and wisdom of pnttiug it into
execution. It was extremely proper to measure
what the country was to lose, as a set-off against
the addition of the Danish Sleet to our former naval
force. hr the Declaration of September last, upon
this subject, which he waitto presume contained
nothing that 'was not sanctioned by the existing
Government, it was stated, that Denmark avowed
inability to preserve her neutrality in a former war,
and her having urged this as 'in apology for her
subsequent conduct, ass one great cause of the
attack we had made upon her fleet and capital. --
No such apology, however, has ever yet been
made, and consequently there was no information
upon the subject. Although a French army were
actually proved to have been assembled in Hol-
stein, and ou the l'eninsula of Jutland, yet, he
would not admit that even then Copenhagen would
have fallen into the hands *of the French. On the
contrary, he should aver, that Denmark was now,
much exposed to danger, by her fleet being taken
from her. He Should, never allow that France
could have at any time marched an army over the
ice ; hut what had we done to deprive her of the
means she formerly possessed attacking Copen-
hagen? Had we stripped France of the possibility
of procuring small vessels to accomplish any hostile
purpose she ever had intended ? Ministers had
now endeavoured to establish a doctrine that it was
perfectly lawful for any great aiiil predominant
power to attack a power who is steak, whatever
might be her disposition to maintain her iseutra-
lity, that no sea should be allowed to be open, and
no fleet should exist, but to he seized by our supe-
rior force. The establishing of such a maxim, had
naturally made Russia our mein). The naval
stores we took at Copenhagen, and the 19 ships
we brought from Denmark, might be set-off against
the policy of involving this country in a war with
Russia. Being so circumstanced, we have actu-
ally been the cause of driving ourselves out of the
Sound. It was of the utmost importance that
the (louse should obtain every information, in
order to clear away that secrecy which enve-
loped the transaction, and to evince their anx-
iety to the world to chew the absolute necessity,
if any necessity actually existed, that led the
Ministers of the country to adopt such a vigorous
and desperate mean.... This was the only means
that could do away the imputations that were made
against them, if it should so happen that they were
justifiable. No motive actuated his conduct, but
that of rendering apparent the honour and credit
of the nation, and restoring our ancient and ac-
knowledged character for honourable deeds. He
was nut prompted be any wish to censure His Ma-
jesty's Ministers; but even although it should
have that effect, he traded the House were not to
refrain from doing their duty from any fear of that
nature, as he believed Ministers would much
rather be thought to have been led away by their real
for the good of the country, than have the scan-
dalous reports, as to their motives, cleared
up to the sidisfartion of the puidic. The
Noble Duke thus conclude.' with Inornr: sem*
Resolution,„ the purport of which silos tly was,'

a for obtaiAL all information and data then.
of, tiensinitted to this country during any period
of last year. respecting the naval force of Innunink,
the putting. it in a state of warfare, and colloel.ns
seamen for that purpose, or announcing any ho:.
tile confederacy against this countr3-. Also Copts
of all Representations made by His_pla:iroy,s,
vernMent to the Court of Hearne' k, at say perw
dining last year, respecting the secret engigement,
or urroakremsaite. entered into by any of the cont.,.
nental nBwerr, as to the shutting of tl* Soutd
against our entrance for commercial par awl
particularly any information that est as to ti e
secret engagements entered into between Riess* tu,j
Denmark, for that purpose, or any preparat.J.
that were making fir: the invasion of Grata Br_
fain or lretand ; together with an account of the
result of the Negociations at Tilsit, received by
His Majesty's Ministers, alluded to in His Naijettv..
speech, at the opening at' the present Sftsiou',f
Parliameut."-
Upon these Motions being proposed from the
Woolsack,

The hfirquis WELLESLEY rose, end
tiated at considerable length upon the masuitt‘z.,,,
the importinee, the sumessfultiess, and the lieut.•
situ of the expedition is question. He way tomcat
that the necessity of the measure shculd be els.
Wined and eauvassed,-by all proi.:er and prudeid.
modes of consideration; and he was convinced that

. _
the proof which already My before their Lordsties.
as to the slestes of FtilliCt towards Demise/A, tine
the means she possessed of carrying her designs
into execution, was fully 1111M:scut for that punea.•;.
There were Mime polish too, upon which the !free-
could form their judguitiot, without the r.ermentylif
further documents; such as the danger to sine,
this country was exposed in consequence of tho
designs; and the application of the Lnw of fee-
tMns to the part which Government had been com-
pelled, from the necessity of the case, to purse..
Thesituation of France, with relation to Feels/et,
and to the Continent of Eumee, wax well Ulmer,
to every out'. France was forcing the whole (:o;:.
tinent of Eurtqie to be in warlike array against
our maritime power. Previous to the traieuctiva
now complained of, the whole state of the eeoete
nent was changed. In proportion as the CMOs-
lociatid Powers were swept away, and dispell rd by
the power of France, it was ueceesary for us to at:
with additional force, spirit, and vigour, in order
to oppme the subversion of our Maritime Power.
The overnice of our commerce, our gesserel sari.
gation, 'ahrl, in short, ell those sources winch we
well knew were intimately • connected with the
glory of Britain, and the foundation of her power,
rrachkko,neetanidl
ourinfi influence,
nasmao tnral mankind,
eooid ertitiTMl
while they aimed at the destruction of this vast em-
pire. Such being the cnee, our situation as a as-
troti
was not the same as at a former period. Is
prosecution of this favourite object, France, having
subdued Russia, afterwards stated, that she had
conquered a Cominental Peace by the subjugation
of every power of the Continent, able, in :my tree
grime to- oppose her over-ruling influence; and
was about to impose upon them the further disgrace
of compelling them to enlist in her cause against
Great Britain. Whether these powers were mesterei
or not, they equally fell under the subjugation of
France, who seized every thing withal her
reach, and adopted means whisih, in former
times, be the Law of Nations, would haoe
beea deemed ainfut, and punished by a 'com-
bination to repel such violent and unjustifiable ae-
revisions. The first object of Fraloce, in cedes-
touring 'to realise her vast plan of subduing the
maritime superiority Of this souutry, must have
been to possess herself of the nasal force of Den-
mark. It muost be etideut to every one of their
Lordships, diet the most miasmal and the most ob-
vious means that France possessed, were to accom-
plish this previous object. Was it possible for any
one to couceive, that that able Statesman, now at
the head of the affairs of Feiner, could overlook an
object so plain and distinct ? We know, in pone
of fact, that it Jul not escape his notice, and that Or
was in3ruth the fixed design, and the long COll-
- poiect, of that person. He announced it
almost in distinct terms, after The conquest of
Russia. We had full proof ilk fore us that it ass
the interest of France, and as far as we eten possibly
collect, that it was the avowed design of France to
put her favousite plan into exeieition. It bermine
therefore 11 most important and a most incumbent
duty upon Ministers, by virtue of their loyalty
and attachment to lie* Majesty, and their fidelity
to his subjects, to ward off from the country this
impending danger. The movenseut of the French
arme in every direction along the coasts, and the
destination of particular °dicers, all tended to
slier., either directly or indirectly, the intention or
France to peewee, the influence. of Demormrk. I;
could hardly be expected that any declaration e f
that kind should have been made in distinct
and direct terms, but he could state who...
had been done in regard to Portugal
--
That country was. directed by the Emperor et
France previously to the lit e'epterriber, to declare
war against England, to trier an English pro-
perty, and imprisou all English subjects, then tee
der the protection of l'ertuguese neutrality, au I
to unite with MI the other Maritime Powers t •
punish the oppressors of the sea, and the ennui:
of free navigation. This was the distinct stateme;
made to Portugal ; and of this there had bete
ample proof. Was it cot then to be primmer?,
that orders were issued, or about to be moved,
Denmark, to a similar effect ? He could not rest-
ceive how it was possible to obtain proof ice
clear or more distinct, that the French Em;:.
would by his violence get all the Powers to r. -
gage in his wild and chimerical projects, nod t:: it
he Ilan rationally, reasonably, and fury co -
sidercd the whole matter, lint dispatched lo:t
orders, and appreciated their success. He a:''s
not aware why it should be doubted, that tie
Ruler of the F reach would nave attempted the o. -
vision siff Zeeland, as the cosiest mode of acco • -
plishing his object. For his own part, be coot
neither doubt that Fralees entertained the desie •
nor that she possessed the Mell/14 of carrying it lo • •
execution. Much had beee said about t: e or -
possibility of passing orer :neon ice ; but situ -
ing that that could net he aecomplished, w •
there ne possibility of tl.cor procuring For`
and cruisers for that emotive ? Nay, even t.
hosting pieces of ice, winch in those sees ird OCC.,

tionally removed by the wind upon a sudden
change of weather, afforded more opportunities
for passing that sea, than any other in the world,
aid therefore hi was entitled to contend, that
nothing was more easy than. to pee an arm/
iisto Zealand, whenever trainee thonght lit to do
so. The Danish army m Holstein never could
have maintained itself against the French army.
Could it be supposed that the Danish army, con-
sisting, as 11111 reported, of 15.000 men., (bit, as
he really believed, of not more than 18,004 j could
have beenoppOsed with any degree of effect against
the immense French army that might have been
beim eht against them ? He should therefore assume
that the invasion of Zealand from France was not
' only a rational, but a probable project. Then, it
!night be said, why did we offer our guarantee in a
Treaty with Denmark. when France could have
opposed to that Power such an irresisti tee
force ? To this he should answer, that Den-
mark, when aided not only by her whole popu-
lation. but by British troops and by a British
might well have withstood any attack from
quarter. Under other circumstauees, Low-
e, er, the case was quite altered, and a French ill-
' veion might have been accomplished even in the
oetinary seasons of the year, without much dish-
eoltr. Add to this, Zealand does not furnish suf-
deent provision for her own muintenance, but re-
qiiiree -the aid of Jutland and Holstein. What
then would have been the situation of the Danes,
with a French army in these quarters? They might
have been supplied, it was true, by Great iiritain;
but the season might have been such as wseild have
prevented the supply • caching them, even in times
of the greatest dauger. The French would first
have moved their army agaia-t the Coututental
ter:stories of Denmark, which at any time they
might have obtained by force, and even without
proceeding farther, have demanded aid from Zea-
land. They might thee have propmed to Denmark.
diet if she *mild join with them against England,
all her territories would be saved to her ; but if
not, they would seise both he:. territories and her
fleet. As to the disposition of Denmark, either for
a faithful or a fraudulent neutralityeit was needless
to eel arge ; he had thought it sufficieat to ghee
that she po aessie not the rm.:: of resistance to the
will of France. It might. hewever, be proper to
Podia, that it was seride.e. whatever might be her
sincere e or insieeerity, in maintainine neutral
princieice she never had, daring our connection,
evint7ql a dispositioa to make those preparatiees
which a viitomiss determination to resist an enemy
vroald nat.:me; have indiseed a wise power to have
effected. She sever was induced by the repre-.
sentations of any of our Ministers to make provi-
sion for hostile attacks from the common enemy, or
even to use exertions to pat her fleet in a state of
forinidalde repair, for her own ieciarity. Upon the
whole. it was pe.fectly evident that Denmark must
be entirely depenrtent upon her good disposition
towards France, and entirely at her will and dis-
posal: He coateuded, that the commercial interests
of Denmark had for several years been hostile to
this country, and that she had all along been acting
in favour of the Armed Neutrality. His Majesty's
Ministers would 'surely then have been most blame-
able, if they hed not been convinced that it was the
kite: Lion of Franca to seise the vanish fleet ; that
it was in her po-ver to tin to; and further, that
no disposition ilia been evieced to resist it.
The nrat point was, what would have been
the danger likely to arise to Great Britain,
had France been successful in her wild projects ?
Was there ne danger at all to be apprehended
from feel? attempts, and the whole fleet of Den-
merle and the maritime resources of that power,
• falter into the hands of ,France ? Would they not
have had not only the Danish one:, but alvo that
'of Russia, to effect the immediate subjugation of
Sweden? What then %meld have been die result
of an alien of the Russian, Daniels and Swedish na-
vies? Would any man think of the possessor of
this force neeneciug not only the most vulnerable
points ie Ire!aed, but also tile mast vulnerable
paints of Great Britain. ant not suspect that dan-
ger was to be apprehended J It would have been
extremely diffiettlt for the Admiralty of this coun-
try to • have defeetel and maintained all the dif-
frierit stetsons fer the desert:wee of the fleets of
Fraaee and Spain, to have kept a sufficient force in
the Mediterranean, or for the defence of ont Lebo-
sees, o: for thep:otection of our East India pose
lesion.:. Under these circumstances, it was tin-
po,44ibie to coateade that the danger was not .great
guff tne.tazing, is order to effect the destrue-
• 3.1 of this etapkg. We were limited to a space
of ti:ne, *linnet iiiceedililv contracted, and the
Inger was thereby rendered most material and
writ bpi:lent. bad wisely provided
aping e, by making the demand of a deposit of
the Danish flee! -into our hands, un to the pe-
riod of time wh 11 peace should be restored.—
It remained uoiv only for him to advert to the
Law or Tfeiiens. He ceat.ndel that that law,
ahiett forinely honed mcietv, was burst asunder
by the French II ale:lt:en. The short substaece of
tie lee of natu?? public law was that which
every sill nine f ref /11,11 t predominaat--the right
of amine for war nen semi ray. This, whatever it
tnigitt be, when applied to individuals. was inirt.Y•
.c. ith a natioe, the rim,: sacred and him ee.ious of all
duties. The rights of neatttlity cotifil never be
eseged in competitiim with, the of security in
•my of the belligerent parties. lie should wish to
he told, in what period of a war, betweea two con-
,?ading parties, some injury had not been done to
aa innocent and apparently uncelending neutral?
Seel). in fact, was the necessary result of war, thet
if a neatr .1 power displtrj s its own weakens, and at
the same time possesses the sinews of war, it insist
be protected by nue or other of the belligerent
powers, while both ealeavour to prevent its aggres-
isioe. In such n ease, whatever may be the injury
offered, if not exceeding the strict observance of
oar security, it is to be attributed steely to that
party wiso tint attempted the violence. and not to
that party who did it merely for his awn safety. This
doctrine was in exact eoaformity with every law boak
he had consaulted. He had heard it said that this
country had, by this conduct, incurred the displea-
care and resentment of all Europe--(Hear!
firer !front the Orpositime si le.)—But he would
ask deer Lotelships this question, was the voice of
Europe free and 1311C0itrouled at present,
either as to the constraction and interpretation
61 Public lief, Or es to the propriety of the

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