The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-06-07 00:00:00

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?ere in it. Under these circumstance.% the army
estimates were voted to an amount that had been
held sufficient for the establishment in any war in
which the country had been ever before engaged.
So far then for the charge of a too great rcduEtion
in the army. With regard to the navy, there are
many opinions, and I own I have not been without
forming judgement upon it. These is one Orem-it-
stance,which it will be observed,is peculiartoournavy.
We are a great commercial nation, and the manning
a the naeo must greatly ifitetftre with out trade.
A sailor's life is a profession, and therefore it is not
so easy to procure sailors as marines and soldiers,
who can learn their business in a short time. So
early as the first week in August, the marines were
reduced; but still there was a large establishment
of them. The army was also considerably reduced;
yet stillon the Bth March, it was in as good a state
as in the time of any preceding war. Now let us
See what was the conduct of Ministers at this time.
Upon the 17th Odober, they sent out orders so
retain the Cape, This was done in consequence of
the conduit of France towards Switzerland; and
though, I confess, in the November following, ano-
ther order was sent out for it evacuation, yet what
does.this condua shew ? wasit not. saying to France
we are not afraid of you : pout must -continet your-
self as you ought, or dread our resistance ? For,
my Lords, we must despise the boast that England,
single-handed, is lot able to contend with I. remcc.
England, in fait, never heat France to so much
advantage as when she . fought her single-hand-
cd.—[ Cheer-40-11e man who says otherwise
must know himself in his heart to be a liar, or he
must he most grossly defiant in historical infor-
m:teen. Now coupling his Majesty's speech with
the date of the order, I think it a fair policy
to say to France, as they iaiply, we ate ready to
meet you; but at the same time,' you sec in us our
ardent and sincere disposition for peace. On these
grounds, therdore, I feel myself di'posed to nega-
tive the proposition of the Noble Earl. Ido not
think that the present Ministers, who came into
power under such difficulties, deserve censure: As far
as I have had vet an opportunity of judging of
their cenduet it has not deserved censure. Ithink
the Noble Karl is perfealy consistent in making the
motion, but it has the objeetion of being Very like
the proposition which was made a few nights since,
and was supported by the very men who brought
us into oar present simmian by their gross and
shameful miscondua. God forbid they should ever
come again into his Majesty's Councils. Under
these cirannstances . wish to negative the motion
of the Noble Earl."
Lard lIINTO said, he did not consider the react.
a holkw truce as some were pleased to call it, nor
an areliatice, bat a continuation of the war. He
thought, however, that the change that had taken
place was placed upon too narrow a ground. Ile
did not, however, mean to say that Malta, the
pound on which it was so placed, was so narrow
as not to admit the conclusion that was drawn from
it in favour of war. He only meant to say that it
was not absolutely necessary to restria it to that
round. The principle of the stipulation of the
,
Treaty of Amiens to secure the independence of
Malta, and to prevent its re-occupation by France.
'Mile stipulations, however, becathe impradicahle,
and in that situation of things, what coarse we .
should pursue became a question. A Noble Lord,
aCtuated 7 4 a liberal policy. bad recommended the
next test security that could be devised ; but the
advice was irreducible to predict., for in effect there
was no approximation of terms, there was no substi-
tute that could be adopted in lieu of the original sti.
pulationee:ccept its occupation by the troops efEng-
land. The troops of no friendly Power could answer
the purpose, for there was no friendly Power on the
Continent, sufficiently free from French influence, pe
force, or that would undertake the task, upon whole'
we could rely. But this was not the only objection.
France had acquired an immense accession of powr*
which entirely changed the relatire situation cf the
two countries since the time of the ratification of.the
Treaty of Amiens, and therefore had the terms been
even practicable, we would be justified in insisting
upon even a better security for ' the independence
or Malta than that stipulated by the Treaty, if
such could be obtained. With this accession of
power on the part of France and her hostile designs
Openly avowed and confessed, it surely would not be
contended that we were hound t', remain satisfied
with the security which might have been held suffi-
cient efore France bad obtained so great an u ces-
sion of power.—Of the importance of the Island of
Malta, he thought it unnecessary to say much. If
ever it was of importance it might be peculiarly so
now, when se many cf the hostile objects of France
are within the Mediterranean, and her influence so
great over the powers that border upon that sea. 'To
-defeat her views in the Mediterranean we must have
e superior fleet in it, but that could not be done
without the possession of Malta. Formerly we
had the ports of Leghorn or Naples open to us, but
that was as accommodation upon which we could
nut in future rely. Without therefore some such
place as Malta for safety, shelter and refitting, even
a victory must prove fatal, as it was not to be ex-
paled that our ships could triumph without suffering
some injury, ~nd consequentiy wanting repairs.
A war for Malta he therefore considered a war
of policy and justice, but he could not be con-
tent to leave it there. He should place it upon
a higher ground ; he Meant the enormous ag-
.grantlisement of France since the 'lreaty of Amiens.
In that interval she had acquired Elba, Parma. Phi.
centia, and Switzerland. The former were all great
acquisitions, but he admitted they were nothing
compared with that of Switzerland, and this not
merely on account of the population of that coun-
try, but its strength and position. By this posses-
_sion, and the Italian Republic, France had extended
herself beyond the Alps to the Adige on the one
side, and on the other to the naked frontier of Aus-
tria. the old friend of England, and the rival of
France. He disapproved, therefore, of the Treaty
of Amiens, because, in the first place, it did not
abridge her power. On the contrary it consolidated
and confirmed it, and threw into her already heavy
scale, those very possessions of which we had di-
vested ourselves.. In the second place it left her at
liberty to pursue the system of aggrandisement in
which she has never relaxed for a moment. It
enabled. her to set up that strange new-fangled
doCtritte, that because this is a country surrounded
by sea, and poseasing a powerful fleet and
4lotari's ..ig commerce, it must have no conneCtion
. with • ter,rairma ef the Continent. He considered
tiae ciatufuctor Ministers as a sanction for the poli-
-.o,44.4ossalesinpu • ed the country trove the tta-
eat.. a
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tiaras of Europe. They signed the preliminaries at
the very time he was acqiiietng, and not with very
keat dispatch, the Italian Republic. They did
this, and yet we never heard of any remonstrance
upon the subject. But it must be et:infested; they '
were not totally passive. They sent out Mr. Mciiire
to Switzerland, upon a private mission, which was
the very line a timid and feeble state would as
dopt towards a powerful neighbour. Mr. Moore was
an able aid proper person; but he hoped his next
mission would be of a more honourable description.
And what was the result of the mission? The sub-.
jugation trf Switzerland was complete before his ar-
rival. As to the disposition of the Swiss, it was of
little importance, unless Austria could be induced .
to interfere ; and surely Ministers could not have
been ignm ant of the disposition of Austria. It must
be also admitted that they sent out orders to retain
the Cape, but they were secret orders. What
good could result from such orders he did not
sec. If the war produced by the conduit of
France towards Switzerland as was avowed, sure-
ly the true course would have been to issue pub-
lic orders, and spew France the consequence of
her daring to persevere in her designs upon Swit-
zerland. Upon the whole then he could not but
consider the cenduft of Ministers as timid and
irresolute, and as having by the extent of their con-
cessions brought the country into such a state that
nothing farther could be conceded consistent with
its interest and honour. He then said, that
though France were gorged with Germany, she
most have the hearts blond of 'his country
added to her acquisitions. He recollafted a story
of two knights, which was related by Chaucer. One
of them, well fed, strong and vigorous, found his
enemy shut up in a dungeon, emaciated by confine-
ment and want ; he liberated him, fed him, nou-
rished him, till he had recevered his strength, and
then supplied him with armour, that they might
meet on equal teems. Precisely such had been the
condo& of his Majesty's alinisters : they had aated
most gloriously, most chivalrously, by fhe treaty'of
peace. He said the Treaty of Amiens had now
expired ; it lived only in memory. He should be
disappointed if all our efforts and exertions should
be only for the sake of one article in the treaty.
He hoped there would be a negotiation as soon as a
seasonable opportunity offered ; but he hoped and
trusted that it would not be upon the basis of the
Treaty of Amiens.
Lord GROSVENOR said, that in his opinion,
nn war had ever been concluded with more spirit
and ability, than the last. He was surprised the
Noble Karl should have again brought forward his
motion after Noble Lords had' so decidedly' ex-
eeessed their opinions on the same suajed on a
former night. Ile said, that some Noble Lords
might have doubts respeding the propriety of some
parts of the cendud of his Majesty's Ministers,
though they might think the whole not reprehensi-
ble; Now, if any of the particular points in the re-
solutions before their Lordships should be those on
which any of their Lordships should doubt upon the
Noble Earl's own views, be thought the motion not
likely us oaswer his intention. He consielered the
simatien of Ministers was at no time enviable, and
concluded b; giving his negative to the passing the
resolutions.
Lord BOLTON said, he was attuning those per-
.... ...
sons erho did net wholly approve of the conduct of
Administration. If a proposition Ilidabeen made
to enter intua Committee upon the state of the me.
tion, he should have deprecated discussion as likely
to prevent that unanimity and temper -which now
prerails. In his opinion his Majest;" Ministers
simuld be content with the vote obtained on a for-
mer occasion there were circumstances which pre.
chided him from giving that total approbation which
Government must desire. He said at the time the 1
Treaty of Aniiens was made, there was' a general
wish tur a return of the' blessings of peace ; so far
the Treaty was a gain; but even the failure ofthat
Treaty was a gain; for it had taught us that t.ar
own exertions were to be our guarantee; and he acqui-
esced with a Noble Lord on the other side, that hares
them we should depend. He said, it had also taught a
lesson to the other powers how they stliered France
to repose in peace ; and he bad no doubt,' that,
from the attacks and spoliation of that power, they
could ascertain the 'consequences of supporting this
country, whenever an .opening may present e self.
He, for one, was glad France did not accept the
proiositions, which it' appeared our Government
had made respeding Malta.
Lord WARWICK said he felt himself justified in
having dentemidated the late treaty a truce, and not
a peace. In the present circumstances, he much de-
airedeto see a coalition of sentiments, and unanimity
of views. He did not consider the late negotiations
as a subject of which an opinion was new to be form-
ed, nor could lie see any good design to be answer-
I ed by the resolnticris before their Lordships.
Lind SCARBOROUGH spoke against the reso-
lutions.
Lord CA R YSFOR.T rose next and said, he wish-
ed to-call back the attention of the House to what
was the real objed in discussion. To do this, his
Lordship went regularly through the several charges
which 1:e had to urge against Ministers, for not
making the necessary representations and remon-
strances t" the French Government on the various
grounds e f grievance stated in his Majesty's Decla-
ration, commenting upon each as he preeekeded.—
His Lordship tiillowed the •inaler in whicie they
stood enumerated in the three Iles>olutkins which had
been re:ideated the first of which had been mimed
by his Noble Friend, the Noble Earl near him; as
the last of these Resolutions turned upon the ces-
sion of the Cape of Good hope, in consequence of
the order of the tethoi November, after they heit-
eent our an order to retain it, dated the lath of Oc-
tober. He argued at some length on the consistency
of such conduct, and laid particular stress on the
criminality of it. He concluded with declarittg,
that he should vote for the Resolutions, the objetat of
which was, to pass a censure on his Majesty's Mie
nisters.
Lord HOBART 'rose to repel the argument!'
which the Noble Lord had urged against Ministers,
on the ground of the charge of a considerable redua,
tion of the military force. He said,'that in faft 'no '
reduetion had been made by Ministers, except of the
cavalry, respeding the propriety of keeping . up
which, even in time of war, very great doubts had
been, and were still entertained. 'The only 'force
that was obliged to be disbanded, Was the
and that must always necessarily be the cAge *hely.
peace oats made. Thu: fencible regitnentt also ilere
disbanded on the same act:vent, as ill as' those
which had been raised to serve only
1w.•34.1.4. .• • ..... • . • •
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:• '-'s •-, : • •
various Ai!ls
in commission than
ofena Poarrltit:LemNvertatr: "14. eitrh.therigarlitttokYtt slai jspiag, .a
larger . number *ere kei4
peace.nof
His
ha ei
pnpTdoodnueeeciduring
accoatntynt ofnfrnshleirps the
sloops, &c. in commission in the years 17,4, 17k.1,
and in the present year 181)3, from which it appear-
ed, that those in commission in the year 1781. ex-
ceeded the number of those in commission in the
year 1764 very considerably ; but that those in com-
mission in 1809 exceeded the number of those in
commission in 178 k, so much more considerably, so
as almost to double that number. Having thus
clearly shewn that Ministers had not disarmed the
country in the manner, and to the extent, with
which they had been charged by the Noble Lord
opposite to him, his Lordship proceeded to take no-
tice of what had been said about the inconsistency
of their condu&, in respea to the orders sent out by
them, October the I tith, to retain the Cape of Good
Hope, and that another order to make the cession
of it to the Dutch, was sent out on the 17th of No-
-1 vember. this Lotdship remarked, the circumstances
under which these orders had been sent out by his
Majesty's Ministers. They had been applied to by
deputies from Switzerland, for the assistance of this
country, when the First Consul menaced Switzer-
land, and threatened that he would pour in a consi-
derable lumber of Freud' troops, in order to give it
a free constitution. In consequence of the applica-
tion, Ministers caused a remonstrance on the subject
to be presented to the French Government, and at
the same time scat Mr. Moore into Switzerland to
see in what situation affairs were there ; and to of-
fer the Swiss pecuniary assistance, provided he
should find them able and willing to fight for
their liberty, and defend their constitution. On this
arrival, Mr. Moore found that the Diet, thinking
themselves unable to resist the overwhelming power
of France, had determined to yield, and the French
troops were actually in possession. ef Switzerland.
To this remonstrance the First Consul gave no an-
swer at all. Besides this act of aggreSsion and
violence, the First Consul had, in breach of the
Treaty of Amiens, sent more French forces into the
Batavian Provinces, -.vhicti, by the Treaty, he had
engaged to evacuate those Provincea, and withdraw
the trench troops altogether:
_Alarmed at this ex-
traordinary conduit,hisMinisters. thought it their.
duty to send out orders, not merAy to the Cape of
Good Hope, but to the West Indies, 10-their oficees
entrusted with the care of the different islands ; and I
, stated which, by. the Treats, of Amiens, were to be
ceded to the French and the Dutch, to ,retain
them respeCtively.. Unfortunately those ordei s
arrived in the West Indies, and at Demerara,
Surinam, &c 5 too late tb answer the desired
purpose, those islands hating been ,already ceded.
The holding the Cat 4 0,- Geod. gope then
became a very different consideration from what it
would have been, if they, should have had the good
fortune to have been Ale to detain the whole of the
cessions which had been stipulated-for under the
express agreement that Batavia should be evacnated
and the French troops marched out of, it, ypon
consultation, therefore, it • was deemed 'Miser 0
comply v.-ith the Treaty of Amiens respiefing if,
and hence it was that Ministers thought. it their duty
to send out the order• of the 17th of November,
1802, to cede it to the Dutch, With regard to the
value set upon the Cape.of Good HoFe by a Noble
Viscount not then present, and by the Noble Lords
opposite to him, he would again repeat what he said
the other night, that he dui nothold it in equal
estimation. If ha waa; asked, whether he 'thought
it of no value i Certainly. be should go the length
of answering in the 21ft:illative, ,It had its value un-
doubtedly, but not to theextent that other Noble Lords
attached to it. In the first place it was not necessary
that' ships .coming from or sailing to India should
touch at it, and. he had been informed .frolp those
raen beSt actpsiiinted upon the subject, . that no
french erttizers could derive any advantage from it.
The usual and the best pralice of our Indiamen was.
to keep at least the distance of thirty leagues from
the Cape in their voyages to and irons India. In
the next: place it -Fas to be considered that Cape
Town could hardly be deemed a port ; during the
favourable season of six months in the year, ships
might lay in Table Bay, but during the service and
tempestuous season, ships could only lay in False
Bay, liom whence on account of the boisterous sea,
the worst of'auy part of the ocean, a French man
of war or cruizer could put to sea. But anothee
consideration was the immense charge the Cape
put us to while it was in our own hands.--
It cost this country no less than one million and a
half, whereas it would not cost us. above four hun-
dred thousand pound& to send out convoys with the
several fleets of Indiamen which sailed from our
ports at home to lndia,and from India home again.
His Lordship said, before he sat down, he must
take that opportunity of answering a charge, which
he understood had been urged against himself, in
another place. It had been said, that he refused to
see the deputies from Switzerland, at his office, and
had assigned as a reason for so doing, " least his
doing so should give umbrage to the First Consul,
and the 'French Republick." He did . assure the
House, that the report was wholly v.ithout_founda-
. tion, and the fact was, that he did receive the Swiss
deputies twice ; once at his office, mad once at his
own house ; and he hoped the house knew him
better than to believe, that for a single moment, he
' could either degraded himself, or disgraced the
honour of the country so .much as to have assigned
she dread of giving umbrage to the French Consul,
or the French Republic, as a ground of any one or
part of his conduct as a British Minister.
The Ear! of SUFFOLK said, he considered.our
East India. 'possessions the she, t anchor of the coml-
. try, andconsequeutly that Malta was a military po-
sition which it: was of the highest importance to
retain in possessien.
• Lord GRENVILLE stated, that the object of the
resolutW's Was tq inferoliat it was the duty of his
Majestrg Ministers to have remonstrated with the
Freida Government for the aggressions they had
committed ; ;mull he contended, that in not having.
&neva, their conduCt had been highly criminal-.
Kg ',sited against that system of acquiescence i,,
ins;ilt~, which charagerised• the present Government
Flip Thrdship was of, opinion the resolutions should
havebeeii t4en separately. He recapitulated the
char es they • contained, observing that it was the
.4114, .4144 ,Majesty's minister, to have followed up,
byltronkrertionstrences And representations, the acts
violtMce of ,French Republic. The second,
chargeln'the, Etso/miens was partly a proof of the
.v.ith an assertion of, that if
,iii-argrentieneof iiaoce had been followed .ur,
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with beCciming spirit, it would haVe been priiiiiittive
of'a properanswer, or at least, if that answer had been
contemptuously refused, the silence of the French
Government might have been construed into a de-
claration of war. Ii certainly would have been so
construed by any Government than such a one as
at present dire fed the affairs of this country. The
Noble Lord proceeded to enumerate the aggressions
this country had endured on the part o France ;
they consisted, he said, in prohibitions, to the pre-
judice of our commerce, between the signing of the
Preliminaries and the Definitive Treaty of Peace.
He could not discover that any remonstrances had
been made upon the subjeEt of them, no notice bad
been taken of them in the Definitive Treaty. His
Lordship also referred to the unjust seizures on the
part of Trance, insisting that they had never 'been
made the sabjefl of the slightest remonstrance.
lie next adverted to the arrest of Capt. D'Auvergne
in the streets of Paris; a more gross affront was
never offered to any Government, than that was ;*
yet this flagrant detention of an officer wearing the
King's uniform had never been resented, even by the
slightest remonstrance. He expressed his entire disap-
probation of the conduct adopted by Ministers dur-
ing the negotiations ; and intimated his intention to
enter into an enquiry respecting the representations
which he coliceivedthey had been backward in af-
fording.. He spoke of the manner in which they
had established the different articles, at the Treaty
of Amiens as unsound,.and was strongly inclined to
believe, that at the period on which the Treaty was
signed, Ministers were persuaded that the subject of
Malta would become a subject of future contention. I
It was a matter of much wonder, that, notwithstand-
ing the various points which existed at the making
of the peace for further negbtiition,, as necessary
to their final settlement, that although they had been
generally considered as difficult, and even unlikely to
be established during the discussions, that from the
month of April, 1801, until February, 1803, no corn.
niunications should be made, with respell to Switzer-
land. In. May, 1802, deputies were sent from that
country to England; and his Majesty's servants were
in full possession of all the fads relative to those
people, yet no representation took place ; they were
acqtrainted with the affairs of Holland, and several
i months previous to his Majesty's Message, all the
information which has since been laid before the
Parliament was known. With regard to Malta it
had been foreseen by Ministers that that Island not
be under the keeping of either power without be-
coming a subject o 1 the most anintated inquiries,
• and in the discussions to that end Ministers had
been trifling. Nev: propositions were continually
made, and instruaions transmitted to Lord Whit-
worth to require satisfadion. The French Minister
would demand, what satisfadion do you want, and
Lord Whitworth was unable to tell. It was then
stated, that to take possession of Lampadosa, and
to surer the Republic to occupy Malta for any
time, would be to give it to them for ever.—As
to the. gaurantee appointed for that island, the No-
ble Lord did not conceive Russia to be a fit power.
and be had to state that the paper which had been
laid before the House to that purpose was unaccom-
panied by a note, which the Republic of France had
pbblished; it had been suppressed by Ministers, and
related to a declaration made by the Russian Am-
bassador, that many measures which had been taken
respecting' the island cf Malta, were in opposition
'to his instrudions. The Noble Lord called the con-
sideration of the House, to the object for which the
war was undertaken. Was this great and illustrious
nation, he' observed, to involve itself in a war. ~on
the dispute respeding the paltry island of Lampa-
dosa. If war had been undertaken to vindicate the
I honour and dignity of our gracious and. es-
teemed Sovereign, that would have been a cause
of sufficiant magnitude, if war had taken place,
to espouse the part oi.• ,Holland, or the People of
Switzerland, we should then have been justified ;
but their Lordships would see that something more
than Malta, Lampadosa, avid the different causos
at present urged by Ministers, was necessary to
prove the grounds of the contest which was
likely to ensue.-11 the Cape was spoken of.
it would be obvious that Ministers had violated
the Treaty of Amiens by not having given it up at
the appointed time. On the 17th of .August the
troops were to have left that place: On the pith of
November we find the Dutch 'there, and the
English in possession, and iftrcaTattle had taken
place in consequence, many lives would have been
lost, and Ministers would have added one mere .
charge to the many brought against them. The
Noble Lord could not avoid conceiving that Mi-
nisters were in full possession, of most of the do-
cuments which had been advanced before Colonel
Sebastiani's Report was made, and that their con-
dela was highly reprehensible in having failed to
make communication at an earlier period than they
had done. He concluded with remarking, that the
importance of the contest we were now engaged in
had been kept back from public observation by Mi-
nisters, whose measures since the Treaty of Amiens, '
had led to hostilities in. consequence of making an •
insecure peace.
• The LORD CHANCELLOR claimed the atten-
tion of the House, while he expresses his astonish-
ment at the expressions made use of by a Noble
Lord who had advanced opinions respecting the
conduct of Ministers, which he certainly could not
wish to see realized. The Treaty of Amiens and
the Peace made by Ministers, had fallen under hip
'censure. It was, however, well known, that at the
end of the last war, a war which the Noble Lord
considered as a just and necessary war, which the
people in general were averse to, from not knowing
the' principles upon which 'it was maintained, and the
necessity there was for supporting it. When such was
the wish for peace among all ranks of society. His
Majesty's Ministers made peace, and during the dig.'
ficulties they had to struggle with, they afforded V. 1.•
tisfadion to the people and relief to the country.
The question at such a time as the present was not
to investig ate the condud of Ministers, or to say
they did right or wrong upon former occasions,'but
to unanimously join in defence of the common good.
The Noble Lord disclaimed the principle of im-
peaching Ministers upon charges that had no foun-
dation, and ebserved, that the British Legislaturs.
would not suffer the rod constantly to he hanging
over the heads of porsons whose adions appeared to
be produced by the purest motives. .
After going through ,the three propositions oo
counts of the impeachment (as his Lordship termed
them) and answering the charges imputed to hi.-
Majesty's Ministers very greatly at length, especialiy
the various allegations stated in the first count, his
Lordship went into a course of general•reasoning on
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the whole view of thecretdal of his Majesty's Mi-
,niters, in first making the PeaCe, and in since
using their most anxious endeavours to preserve
the continuance of it to their country ; and he
contended, that the verdict their Lordships
of G& 'fry, or Not Gushy, must be pronounced upon the
whole of it, and not upon parts picked out, as
is subject perhaps to the charge of being erroneous
or not the very best mode. of proceeding that might
have been adopted under less difficult or less ardu-
ous circumstances. He said he perfedly agreed
with the Noble Lord who had lately spoken, as to
the latter part of his speech, that this was not a
war for Malta or a war for the Island of Elba,
but a war for the Peace of Europe, a war to
check and restrain the ambitious spirit of ag-
grandizement, aggression, insult, and violence
of the French Government, which had by a system
of offensive and injurious condo& chewed that no
country could repose in safety till that system was
put an cud to. It was a war at once just and neces-
sary, a war for the preservation of our dearest rights
and interests, to secure to iis our glorious Constitution,
and all blessings which it held out to us,whi ch rendered
the British people the envy and the admiration of
all Europe. His Lordship, in a most animated and
emphatic strain, worked up a warm and glowing
eulogy on British laws, British freedom, and
British happiness, to a perfect climax; and con-
cluded with saying, for the reasons he had stated,
he would oppose every one of the resolutions.
In the course of his Lordship's speech, he ad-
verted to the case of Captain l)'Auvergne, who he
said was a subjed of his kingdom, and that con-
sequently his case stood on very different grounds
tilt= the case of a subjed of this country would do.
lie also denied that his Majesty's Ministers had any
information of Colonel Setrastian?s conduet in
Egypt, till his report was published, and they re.
ceived a dispatch from General Stuart, informing
them of Srbatiani's conduit in Egypt, with respell
to his application to him (General S.) as to the
non-evacuation of Egypt.
Earl SPENCER said, he had no intention to
have spoken that eight, but having listened with
the greatest attention to the arguments of the Noble
and Learned Lord on the Woolsack, and bei7.3
perfedly conscious, that no man was more capable
of defending the conduct of his Majesty's Ministers,
if it could be defended, he must still find himself

under the necessity of voting for the Resolutions
moved by his Noble Friend. The arguments of the
Noble and Learnesi Lord appeared to him to be very
poor ones, where arguments so much stronger were
necessary to be urged. At that late hour of the
night, the Earl said, he would not go into detail or
attempt to follow the Noble and Learned Lord in '
his extensive course of reasoning upon the Resolu-
tions, which he had gone through in a retrograde
way ; he would content himself with making two
vs three observations on points which had fallen
from the Noble and Learned Lord In the first
place the Noble and Learned Lord had said, that
the case of CaptainD' Auvergne was not before Par:
Lament. He would ask, whose fault was it that it
was not before Parliament? He had himself asked
for papers respelling it, and a Noble Secretary
of State had promised to lay irioiMation respix.g-
kg it before the House. but he never had made
good his promise. With regard to there having
been a difference as to the ground of complaint
between the treatment of a person who was a
subjeit of two countries, he could not speak to such
distinetions, because he did not understand them.
But to admit that the distiation was a solid one, as,
Asplied to Capt. D'Auvergne, what could be said as"
to the case of Captain Durnaresque, who was' not a
subjed of France, but a native of Jersey or Guern-i.
seas l With regard to Ministers not knowing Colonel
Seba.stianrs mission, till r.' s report was: published,
he begged leave to rett.- them 40 Ane sf Lord
Hawkesbury's letters, written. antecedent to the pub-
lication of that report, in which letter they would
find Colonel Sebastiani and his mission mentitr d.
His Lordship added one observation or two relative
to the conduct of Ministers, resi.,:fting the ce-..non of
the Cape of Good Hope, and c6..i‘iuded with re.
, that he should vote for the Resolutions.
Lord PELH:s.M rose to reply to the observations
of the Noble Earl, and first as to Captain' D'A u-
vergne. He admitted that he was mistaken, when on
a former day, he had said that Capt. "D'Auvergne
was liberated immediately on the :17-21ication of the
British Minister, but he had since t -.und, that he had
been confined three or four dia.!, afterwards. His
silence on that subjal had been in consequence of an
application from the friends of Captain D'Auvergne,
who feared that the agitation of that matter in the
British Fags:anent might injure his interests at Pa-
ris. His Lordship explained Lord Hawkeshery's
mention of Colonel Sebastiani, as Ministers knew
by the dispatch of General Stuart, that Colonel
Sebastian; was in Egypt, but did not know how
offensively he had acted there and in Syria, till they
saw his report.
Lord DE DUNSTANVILLE, in a short speech,
stated, that as. Piedmont was in a state of military
orrundissemext, before the First Consul annexed
l'iedmont to the French territory, it made no great
difference ' • as to the French troops invading Swit-
zerland, Ministers had remonstrated with the
French Government upon it, and done their duty to
prevent the occnrrence, by an offer of pecuniary as-
sistance. Upon the French troops not evacuating
Batavia, they had sent the order to retain the Cape,
With regard to the declaration of the Noble Earl
who moved the Resolutions, that the people were in
high spirits, and better reconciled to the war than at
the former period of it ; the reason was, an invasion
was threatened, and the people joined heart and
hand to repel it, and he doubted nut they would do
so again, and crush the man who dared to attempt
an invasion. His Lordship said, he should vote
against tlw propositions.
Lord CLIFTON ( Earl Darnley) said, he did not
rise to take up.the time of the House, after having
so lately occupied so much of it. Ha rose briefly to
szatc, that he wished the Resolutions had not been
pursued after the sense of the House had been taken
upon the first, and the whole tendency of them so
fully debated last Thursday. with regard to the
first, he did not object to if, but he could nut vqt
for the other two; no; did he at all approve any
thing that bore the appearance of a faaious oppose,
non to Ministers ; up CO the making of the peace, he
thought they ;gird perfesllv right,' and had Ins cor-
-441 support. . Some part of their conduCl he did not
quite approve, but he would always discriminate,
and not oppose all their Tfleaftlie6 because he dis-
liked one of them.
Lord Grenville attd Lord Clifton severally Mit
explained.

At a trartet alter two the Wavle divided all the
first proposition.—Cantents 17. Non-Contents 86. •
The second and third propositions were negatived.'
Adjourned at half past two in the morning.
•
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
MONDAIi, JUNE 6.
Mr. Alderman Coombe presented a petition
against the Bill for crating a free Coal Market in '
the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Bo-
rough of Southwark, which was ordered to lie on
the table.

A good deal of private business was afterwards
transaeted.

ARMY ESTIMATES.
The SF.CRETARY at WAR, previous to his
moving the Resolutions which he meant to propose,
was desirous to call the attention of the House to
the situation of the Country in a military point of
view. The estimates of this year, as they must ob-
serve, much exceeded those of the two former years,
hut Isere rendered necessary by the menaces of the
enemy, and the precautions which this great country
should take, not merely for its own defence, hut
for all the purposes of th►e war, which it was reluc-
tantly forced into. It being, however, an objet of
peculiar necessity to provide for the home defence
of the United Kingdom, it was deemed prudent to
aug►nent the Militia to an unusual extent, which of
course must be productive of a proportionate expen-
diture. He then descanted on the necessary provi-
sions to be made both for the regulars and the mi-
litia, and concluded wish moving the following re-
solutions :

_

Resolved, 'flat a sum not exceeding 20,1371. and 4d. be
granted to his Majesty, fin defraying the charge of full pay to
supernumerary officers of h;s Maicat)'s forces, from the 2Stli
day of December, IMOZ, to the 24th day of December, 1803,
both incluave, being a spare of 365 days.
Resolved, That a sum of $,llOl. 2s. and 11d. be granted to his
Maj sty, for defraying the expoices of the Royal Military Col-
lege, for the year 1803.
Jl,ooot. for expenses expeelcd to be incurred in the year
1803, on account of the Royal Military Asylum at CheLsea.
28.11,0001. to defray thecharges of the In and Uut-Pensioners
of Chelsea and ilmainharn hospitals.
218,2721. to defray the chniges thr one•ntgiment of light dra-
.

goons, and one West India regiment retained upon the esti*.
, blishment of the army, and an augmentation to die Dragood
Guards, and Dragoons in the United Kingdom, and to the 3d
Regiment of Foot Guards.

;$l,OOOl. to defray the expenses for additional General and
General Staff Officers in the United Kingdom.
'Zi41,3331. to defray the expenses of the Barrack department.
:35,7611. fur the charge of appointing effective Captains to
the troops and companies held by the Colonels, Lieutenant-
Colonels, and Majors of the respeclive regiments of cavalry
and.infantry.
38,3431. for contingencies for the embodied Militia of the
United Kingdom.
145,0001. Cir encreased rates of subsistence to liikeepers, for
the expense of Militia in their quarters.
416,0001, for defraying the charge of the Supplementary
Militia in that part of the United Kingdom called Great Bri-
tain.

1,747,3701. for defrkring the charge of the embodied Militia
of the Untied Kital/um, and of the Royal Corps of Miters
in Devon and Cornwall.
900,0001. for defraying the charges of the Volunteer Corps
of Cavalry and Infamry.
143,6911. to defray the cha rem of the clothing of the embo-
died Militia,
.and of the Royal Cobh of Miners.
31,0001. to &fray the charges of the Military Avylutn.at
Che'srm:
282,0001. to defray the charges of the Office of Ordnance for
that !art of the Viiitel-Khigilora called Great Britain.
20,0001. to defray, the charui of She °thee of Ordna.nce for
that ache. Unita:di:Meow -Zed Iceland,.
98,901 to answer outstatirlani claims ott the We Board of
Ordnance in that part of United Kingd..oth
Mr. WINDHAM said he did mean to oppose
the resolutions, but reprobated the idea of sneaking
out of a peace into a war not accompanied with a
sufficient degree of exertion. The country should
hr 'jive to its danger, and exert all its native energy.
We ought not to proceed upon a system of fallacy
and confidence. The nation was in itself and its re-
sources sufficiently strong against all its enemies,
even werejthey much more powerful ; hut to meet
its difficulties and dangers, so as to punish the pre-
sumption of its adversary, none of its means should
be withholden, hut its utmost efforts most strenu-
ously exerted. lithe Government was resolved on
a real and effeCtual defence, it should aft upon the
principle of 4, diamond cut diamond," and do that
which their foe had the insolence to threaten. The
force which France world employ against us was
what, professionally speaking, must be considered
as a regular force, and rkilars must undoubtedly'
be met and opposed to regulars. He by no means
wished to disparage the merit and discipline of the
militia, but he feared that system was carried to so
great an extent as very much to injure the recruit-
me for the line. For all the purposes of war he
wished to have more army though there should be
kas militia, because the latter could only be effeaive
for purposes of defence ; whereas a war, such as we
were now engaged in, could not be brought to a
successful termination, with any certainty, without
...vat and offensive operations. The Ministers here-'
otiose spoke of experimental war and experimental
peace. Their experiment was tried, and they'
might now judge whether or not they could boast
of the success of it. The experiment the enemy
intended was that of invasion. An invading army
had great advantage even from its desperation, but
we should take care to be fully prepared with troops
as disciplined as theirs; and though this country
had sufficient resources both of defence and offence,
they should with re.nd, as well as mean' fully prepare
for the conflict.

Mr. PITT.—" I know not whether the resolutions
now proposed arc meant to include the whole of the
force to be employed, whether regular or irregular ;
but if this force is no more than has been now pro-
posed, if th.tt be all, I will not, for obvious reasons,
now state, I cannot conceive it to be by any means
sufficient. If it be inadequate to all the purposes
required—if the country has not confidence in its
strength, that is the reason why the force of the
country should remain as it is. My Right Hon.
Friend, the Secretary at War, says, that the force is
greater now than ever it was before at the com-
mencement of any war ; but I hope he will inform
us whether that be all which is meant to be pro-

vided,"
The SECRETARY at WAR renewed his as-
sertion, that our force, both naval and mi:itary,
was much more now than at the commencement
of any former war, and very ample at this moment
for a substantial defence. He was very far from
saying, that the war should bt locked up, and con-
fined merely to a system of defence; or that we
were in • danfer from those phantoms of invasion,
which Mr. Vbindham had conjured up. Since the
peaces there was little diminution of our naval or
military force ; that inert system bad never been
ii4opted ;Awl thoush he felt spa.dent in the ,

..,, -.

,
strength of thi! cotmt”., at this funmettt, iruneu '
it to be supposed, that he was oi opittios the troops
already provided for, were sufficient for every pur-
pose, or that the country ought not to hlve a dis-
posable force, whenever it was thoughtnthat it could
operate with died. He expressed his dislike of the
despondent tone in which Mr. Windham usually
spoke both of peace and war. The preparations go-
ing forward in the ports of France, and its allies,
would of coarse induce us to have recourse to offen-
sive operations ; but it would be imprudent to let
them know or be apprized of what our military sys-
tem was,and as he made little doubt but they would
make the experiment of a descent, he would tell no
tales. It was said that regulars should be met and
encountered by regulars. He admitted that posi-
tion to bo generally true ; but every one who knew
the discipline of the Militia of the United Kingdom
at present, would not fcar to oppose them to any
regular force whatever. Besides, had we not within
our own time sufficient proof that the armed and
disciplined force of any country was, in its defence,
capable of contending against regulars of any de-
scription ? Did not the Americans fight in the cause
of liberty and independence, though always beaten
when they come to a pitched battle with the English
troops, and though infinitely inferior in soldierly dis-
cipline to our militia, prove ultimately successful ?
In a later instance we beheld the King of Prussia
nusrching at the head of a triumphant army into
the heart of France, and repulsed and obliged to
retreat before the national guards, new levied and
undisciplined as they were, and while that country
was attacked on all sides, and in a state of the tit-

riiost disorder and confusion. Such was the triumph
of patriotic men, and what he would ask, was not,
:if their country was attacked, to he expelled from
the energy, the recollection of ancient renown, and
.the native valor and independent spirit of English-
, men ? They were more than able to repel all the
attempts of the haughty and insolent foe that should
have the presumption to attack them..
Mr. PITT —" I am happy to find that the pre-
sent establishment is not meant to be the limit of
our force, and that it is intended to take means more
effedual than have yet been adopted. The militia
force can only .be considered as supplemental to
that of the army ; and though, perhaps, well esta-
blished in the opinion of the country, only fitted her
defensive operations. They can at least only ad in
conjundion withregulars. I hope that on as early
a day as possible, we shall have the system of the
Ministers developed. Te me it appears at present
much too languid. The country 'should be
.taught
to make up its mind to all the sacrifices it may he
called upon to make either of blood or treasure, for
objects which Englishmen never can nor will re-
linquish. A system of merely defensive war is not
honourable to England ; nor will it ever give a suc-
cessful termination to this contest. We are told
that we -have 70,000 men baliotted in the Militia,
and regularly disciplined. But what are we afraid
of ? When we want men to he employed abroad,
what is thepolicy of havieg 70,000 met locked up
at home. He wished to have it avowed by Minis-
ters, that we were to have a strong offensive force,
though he could not expo% nor would it be proper
for them to say when or where it should be applied.
We have, it seems, 110,000 men actually in arms,
independently of the force we maintain in the i ast
Indies. In the last war we had 100,000 by ballot,
but if 70,000 men arc to be locked up here, where
such a number can scarcely be wanted, our dispose-
aide force will be • vory.small indeed, without much
greater exertions. In my judgment, the principle
we should proceed upon is this—that whatever is .
necessary for the public defence, and the honour
and interests of the country, whether of men or
money, or both, must be obtained."
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, he perfectly agreed with his Right Hon.
Friend, that what was necessary for the public de-
fence must be obtained. Those Gentlemen who
could not rely on the strength of 70,000 discipline
militia, should recollea, that wherever occasion re-
quire it, we had Asa; a great subsidiary force, both
in Ireland and Eng►land, of yeomanry and volun-
teers, who, he made no doubt, would be ready to
put themselves foremost in the defence of their
country. He was far from moving, that this war
should be merely defensive. The population of the
country was equal to any augmentation which
exigencies might require ; but till some exi-
gency of moment, it was necessary to regard
the convenience of commerce, agriculture, and
industry of every kind. Ile wished not to
hold out
.any fallacious expedations. The time
may &rive, when it would be necessary to call
out all the strength of this great nation, and he made
no doubt but that call would be attended to with
alacrity. But, though he would always attend to
the feelings and convenience of the peAple, he must
observe, that the. danger of invasion had hitherto
been greatly uxder-rated. He had never •under-
rated it, though he knew the population, and the
visit of Engl4hmen, were more than 54414:1ent to
repel, when called upon, any danger with which a
, foreign foe would ,resume to menace this country.
There was one subjea, however, on which he could
not fprbear making an observation, however delicate
it may. be.. His Majesty's Ministers were not want-
ing in means of information ; and he could assure
the House, that' the public were not by any mean*
apprised of the extent" the military preparations mai-
,ing in of r the ports ranee and its allies, nor was it
prudent of the means 'alien by this country to meet or
to prevent them. As to every thing else, he need
only say, that the fleet sent in Ito to the Bal-
tic, was most exposed to the enemy, from the dif-
ferent advantageous, positions which he occupied ;
that we had the same fleets, and the same Officers
still, that then returned triumphant ; that there was
every disposition, in every quarter of the country, to
meet every exertion which circumstances may re-
quire, whether fimoicial or military, and that the
l'alliament, not pledged to any specific measures, ,
had already, in the Address, assured his Majesty,
that they would use the utmost exertions to support
the dignity of the crown, and the honour and inte-
rests of the kingdom.
Mr. WINDHAM explained, and Gen. Tarleton,
and Sir J. M. thilteney spoke in support of the re-
solutions, after which they were agreed to without
a division.
Mr. POLE then moved, that a sum not exceeding
282,06 N. I fs. 3d. be granted to his Majesty for the
service of the Ordpance of Great Britain and Ireland,
for the year 1803, which was d win. co.
The flutist'. consideration Ortehee Customs Conso-
lidation sin was deferred to Thursday next, and the
House adjourned till to-nvartow,

~~

~~

rHEANIE-ROrA., NATAIARKET.
TIIIS EVENINQ will be presented
THE DEAD ALIVE.
Air Walter Weathercock, Mr. Kureon;•Faiward, Mr. Tree-
man ; Morlev, (with an additional Song) Mr. Mithews ;
Wig Ilebe Wiectertop, Mrs. Keys; Caroline Sandford, Mrs.
Atkins; Comb!, Mrs. Gibbs.
• Alter 11114.11,. a Comedy in Three Act;, Cigitgd
WAYS AND MEANS. .
Xis David Du:;der, Mr. Mathew; Random, Mr. /I. Kelly,
Sesuple, Mr. Trucrnaii Old Random, Mr. Chapman ; Nut
Peery, Mr. Dearman. Lady .Dundar' Mrs. Ward; Kitty,
Mrs. Gibbs; Mrs, Peery, Mrs. Kendall.
TO which will lit added,
' 081 ; Or, THREE-FINGER'D JACK.
To-morrow, the Iron Chest.

THE a RrrisH PRESS•

LONDON,
TUESDAY, JLNE 7.

We yesterday stated, that every day would widen
the breach between the present Administration and
Mr. PITT. Our speculation has been fulfilled to
the letter. In a conversation which took place last
night in the House of Commons upon the Army Es-
timates, Mr. Pi rt stated, in direa opposition to
Mr. ADDINGTON, that instead of a Militia, locked
up for defence, we should have an effeCtive dis-
poseable force, to the same amount, for offensive
operations. Mr. ADDINGTON and the SECRE.TART
at WAR contended that the population of the coun-
try was equal to any emergency, but deprecated
any call upon it until the arrival of such an event.
They made, at the same time, the alarming admis.
sion, that the public were not aware of the extent of
the warlike preparations made in the ports of
France and her Allies. Mr. An oiNovoe's policy
may be the more economical, but Mr. Pi xx's is the
more safo. In Switzerland or in Prussia it would
be fair enough, perhaps, to cry up the population
of the country as the measure of its military strength ;
but without meaning the slightest disrespe4l to our
Volunteer Corps, we fear the principle cannot cor-
retly apply to the commercial country of England.
In the eventful period of the last war, battles were
fought in France, in I Tolland, in Italy, and in Ger-
many. In none of them, however, do we find that
the fate of the country has been decided by its po-
pulation, but, on the contrary, by the number and
discipline of the army which it had brought into the
field.

.

I

Intelligence reached town on Sunday last,
that La Pensee French frigate, of 44 suns, has been
taken on her rbturn from St. Donnngn. She was
chaced by the Minotaur and Thunderer, detached on
that service from the fleet under the command of
Aimiral Coat:a *Lim. L'lmpatinte corvette, of -
18 gun's, from Senegal, was also captured off Brest
on the 29th ult. by the Naiad frigate, who al-o
took several French merchantmen. A small pri-
vateer, with g 2 men, has been taken by Lieutenant
La House, in a revenue cutter, off Portland.
On Saturday last; as his Royal Highness the
Duke of GLGUCESTca was proceeding to St.Jamwl's,
with his retinue, his Royal Highness's came in con.
tact, at the corner of Grafron-street, with one in
which a Lady was alone, and struck it with such
violence against a post that she became greatly
alarmed. Her screams brought Mr. Kra sv, jun.to her assistance, who, at the risk of his life, re,
lieved her from danger.
The unsettled state of the weather prevented Mrs.
Tki EL LUSSON from giving her masquerade which.
was announced for last night. burn the elegance
that charatlerized this Lady's former fires, tickets
are sought for with the greatest avidity. She *pa-
tronized Mr. Jo NNSTON'S benefit (who painted and
managed the scenery for her last masquerade) at -
Drury-lane 'I heatre last night.
Amongst the number of beautiful dresses which
graced the Drawing-room on Saturday, was that of
Lady TARA, who wore a white crape petticoat, with
a superb silver fringe, richly ornamented with shell-
work, embroidered in silver; spangled drapery of
British lace ; rich silver spangles in shell work, and
trimmed with Mecklin lace fancifully displayed
over the- petticoat, forming a part of the train, which
also was of British lace; the body and sleeves of
Mecklin lace, trimmed with Vandyke fringe and
lace ; head-dress, diamond bandeau, plume and
crescent of diamonds, lace turban and lappet, four
ostrich feathers, and bird of Paradise plume.
Yesterday afternoon,June 6th, during the thunder
storm, a bali of tire entered the house of Mr. Luffman, -
the King's Arms, College-street, Westniinster, by
the chimney, and fell in a room on the first floor,
where it burst, attraaed by the bell wire on either
side, tilling the room apparently with fire. The wains-
cot was very much scorched, but providentially no '
other damage was sustained. The family were neces:
sarily much alarmed ; fire engines have been on the
spot ever since; and the number of people attracted
to the house from curiosity is almost incredible. At
the same instant the above circumstance occurred,
a tray in a butcher's shop close by was lifted up
nearly 2 feet, and two men and a boy who were in
the shop struck speechless, in which state they re-
mained a short time.
NOTTINGHAM ELECTION.—The elisaion com-
menced here on Monday the 30th of May, when the
numbers were as follows; dole. Birch.
Ist Day - - 109 - 100
2d Day - 42 - 200
3d Day . . 180 - 90 'sastasa.a. • •
"
4th Day - - 218 - 202
sth Day - 152 268
701 4 'B6O
On Friday last the Risco RDER made a report to
His MAJESTY of 13 prisoners under sentence of
death in Newgate; when Abraham, Nicholas, for se,
creting a letter containing four bank notes, the pro-
perty of J. Goldsmith, which came to his hands by
virtue of his employment in the General Post Office.
Robert Smith, alias Gordon, for assaulting Francis
Treadwell on the Highway, and robbing him of
11.95. ticl. and Pow Gregory, for publishing, as true,
a forged promissorynote for 11. with intent to defraud
Michael Goodhall, were • severally ordered for ex**
eution to•morrow 1110:1144.

t

T'7-1

0