The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-02-17 00:00:00

be-
hie
a,•
of

sit dawn - -
that cUmnuacmicastioas are generally made between
two countries, not by the Monarchs of those etern-
ities, but by their Ministers. la this ins:au:cc we
are a degree nearer to real and authentic in;orina-
tion, glace the'Emperorhad_become netuaily a party
to these cniumunications ; bat as they have not by
van been committed to writing, we are not to con-
rider them as tit subjects oftliscussion, or authentic
means of information. We want not the letters that
'have passed, we are not inclined to stickle on terms
or forms; let us have but the euostance of the
iaformation, and we are not anxious as to the
letters, or the mode in which these eoin muhications
were made. We want, and so my Honourable
Friend has all along stated, only to come to a de-
eisien on as important end vital question to the
',Autry, now at tissue. I am snrprieed, nay, I inn
mishented to hear the Right Honourable Gentleman
so.tenapt to distrait the attention of the House
f tot the grand object of their inquiry, by la-
eienting •tnat a Tight Honourable Gentleman
(air. T. Grenville) was not present to teach the
House how to cotivert a private letter into a public
a,apatch. Certainly this was, if not beneath the
tbaht Hon. Gentlenimin,at trust beneath the dignity
of that House, and the important nature of the
inimiry they were about to enter upon. The pre-
tend crisis called not for sneers, jokes, and sarcastic:
replies, bat for sound argument, sound advice, and
upright policy. Are we thee to consider the coin-
inumeattoas received from nay Lord Hinehiesoo,
as merely the 'itmiser time day ; a sort of faiihiontible
detail of the gala-day procectiings of the Court,
containing an amount, that on a certain day there
was a grand fete given at St. Petersinirgie many
Wars of fashion present, a splendid ball, and such
iiiiimportant nusasitite ! It was well kuown that
the letters, either confidential or diidonsatie, of that
liglile-venerahle mind distinguished character, must .
coataiu far different matter ; they certainly must
ise of the last importance to this country and the
Howse; andjkem whatemer Intimations that Noble
Lord hail folioed his opinion, that opinion, and
commuuication of at to the Government of
this country, must be of the most essential
service to the country in coming to a decision on
the probable dispoeition of that Prince to this
emoutry. Should not then this House demand,
and then proceed to act oa this infortnation,
whether it were received by the Noble Lord from
a Prince whom his virtnes and talents had rendered
his intimate and confidential aconaintauce, either
in the hours of unreseteed confidence, walkiug iu
his gardeu, or in the retirement of the closet ? If
the Right lion. Gentleman were to be impeached
for bis late conduct respecting Russia, would not
this House act on every tittle of the information
- which he now affects to despise ? It has been urged
"also, that my Lord Hutchinson was not an accre-
dited agent at St. Petersburg), though be had
been at Berlin. Hence we must, Pays the Right
Hon. Secretary, consider him no longer acting for
the puhfic, although he had been considered a fit
aliplainatic character. What, in the name of eons-
mon sense, did it signify, whether we derive this in-
formation from Lord Hutchinson to our Resident
Amlmassuilor, at St. Petershurgh, and thence to as,
ator iinniediately through Lord Hutchinson himself?
Does the Right Honourable Gentleman iutend to
attkh 1e..3 credit to the statement of my Noble
Fraeod? I belleVe he will not avow any such
iicai-
nation. Hence the mighty argument, so dilated on
by the Right lion. Secretary in his speech, amounts
to this, this information has been received through
'he medium of aesrivate letter, which, though the
sartmes concernedare satisfied to be exhibited, I
have toe much delicacy ever to permit the public
to investigate; stating, at the same time, he will
give the House such information from other Retirees
as may indirectly tend to explain the disposition of
the Russian Emperor to this country. But nothing
like direct or conclusive information ou the subject
shall be afibrded."
hie CANNING rose to state his regret that the
Right-Hon. Gentleman, who had last addressed
the House, should have shewn himself totally ig-
norant of the question before 'he House. lie had
discussed the propriety of giving all the informa-
tion requirel, while the question now before the
House was, the promiety of granting iutorination
co the proposed mediation of Austria alone. •
Mr. ADAM called the flight HU. Seceitare of
State to order ; but, at the reuieustrance of the
Speaker, sat down.
Mr. Poe sots v said, he had only taken the Gen-
tleman at his word. The Right Hon. Secretary
had slid, nothing could be given of information to
the blouse on the subject of Auttria; he was, there-
fore, disinclined to attempt to fix the attention of
the House on nothing ;. a sabject on-which. how-
ever the flight lion. Gentleman could display his
'abilities, he, uufortunatedy, never found himself so
much at home.
Mr. WHITBREAD said, he had been induced from
what had falletilrolii the Right lion. Secretary, to
after the words of that part of the motion excep-
tionable, by adopting the phrase, it the substam,ee
of :any communieations between an agent of this
country, anal the BMperor of Russia"
Mr. CANNING Me to state, once fair all, that he
a onsidered it highly injurious to admit as authentic
diicuments, in the affairs of state,atay representation
of a private travelling Gentleman in those countries
ahem we had established Ministers. No men cnld
he so well informed of the concerns of the Govern-
ment of this Court, and that where they resided.
'Fins might lead to at length admitting the mis-
representation, or careless and whimsical observa-
tions of any new young fellow, on Ina trauels, in
direct opposition to the prudent counsels of a
respectable and enlightened diplomatic character.
He thought it fraught with pernicioims conse-
quences, And he e mild, from a principle • of con-
science, oppose it in liwine.
Mr. Possess,/ said, he had no intention erhat-
ever to lead the house to discredit the conduct or
advice of their late Ambassador at the Cottrt.nf
St. Petersburgh ; but. he was anxious that wlane
w.• had no advice or intelligence from him, ,w
should have rev ourie to that of any other reseectialalat
teal well-anfnerned person united inim serest withihis
country. In making such remarks oa time sitsiatiou
Nadi:harm tar *figs Noble Friend,thers was an inex-
pre,bilmle degree of puerility, as there could not be a
mare marked difference beiween any two men, than
there wee between the relstioa in which Lord

Right Hon. Secretary of tliose'gay, young, acci-
dental travellers. .b hat opiisiou did thellitig's'
accredit: ft' Minister at lit. PetersbUrgis entertain of
the value of the iafornsttino receii.est from that se-
spectnlite authority ? l)iJ nut receivo it as a
communicatiou of truth, and fact made for the di-
rect purposes ef wise' it for the advantage and in-
terest of this country ? Tim iliformation commu-
nicated to the King's Ambles:elor was from en
high antharity, lately an accredited agent to the
Court of Prussia. The subject to which it referred
was matter of serious Perliatnesstary inquiry. Mi-
nisters had received the report of that totnniuni-
cation in au official manner; and it was the duty
of the. Howie of Colutuour to call upon them for
its production, unless !!try could advance smut
more stone; and thimble groomis for their refusal,
thou were introduced in the pert Lett puerile ob-
servations of the Right lion. Secretary. •
Doctor Lewititascii—" The Right Honourable
Secretary bait insinuated that the present motion
of my Huneorable.Frieod has been makuitted to
the consideration of Parliament merely as an invi-
dious question. 1 am conviticed the country will
not be quickly brought to believe that there exists
on this lode of the House an iticlistutioa of creating
dist:onions merely for the pur;iose of exciting au
invidious opposition. When such a charge has been
made in such a quarter, it is for the House
to contrast the conduct of the Noble Seem-
hay with the nature of the insinuation which
he has made ngainst toy Iluaourable Friend (Mr.
Whittoread). Does it not, I ask, partake more of
an invidious intention, to introduce into the present
discussion a transaction which is supposed to have
tekeii place years ago, tel referable to an indivi-
dual whom the King's Ministers' since their ac-
cessiooto office, here felt it their duty to continue
in his diplomatic timmeter, ut the Court of Austria?
(alluding to Mr. Adair, late Minister at Vienna).
Still the Noble Secretary, conscious that he cast
profit little by rues an iliertration, substitutes in
its place another character equally 'as inapplicable
to the subject before the House. He ventures to
compare the information comm • attest by that
highly respectable character, Lord Hutchinsou, to
the Ambassador at St. Pctersbargh, with the unim-
portant trivial repOrta a some gay young gentleman
who might perchance have beu travelling through
that ;tart ui coo co•btioent .of Europe. Will the
House submit to such explanations, or rather
evasion*, of what was due by Ministers to the
authority of Pio lianas:tit ? If it and if the
Right Hon. Secretary be allowed to persevere
upon this principle, then I assert that he is quib-
bling away the Constitution itself. Indeed, it ems
farther, iusuittsuch as upon the varoe grounde of re-
fusal, he might esitiagnish the whole spirit of di-
plomacy, by giving it a totallydiSerent coarse than
was intended either by the principle or practice of
the Stabs. Was every information received from
a foreign Court to be suppressed ? Was eve:7
official document, communicated by the King's
Ambassadors to Nlinisters, to be refused to Parlia-
ment, merely because,from motives not understood
by the House, thteet Ambassadors should think
proper to address their communications to the
Secretary for Foreign Atkin; i:: a style not purely
official, such as Dear Sir, Dear Canning, or Dear
any body else ? (Hear ! hear !) Such a kydein of
proceeding will not do; it is not suited either to the
feeling or understanding of this eon:atty. The
House of Comm° is has a right to obtain the in-
formation sought by the minims of his Honourable
Friend; because it' this principle be not checked,
there is an end to the necessity of Parliamentary
sepe:intendance, or to its powet of keeping Mt-
nisters stedlast to the performance of their duties.
I de not say, that every paper relative to our
relations with foreign Powers ought to he pro-
duced by Government; but I ever shall contend
against this principle, that papers are to be refused
to the House merely because they um etimmuni-
cited in this shape to Hit iidaiesty's Ministers.—
This correspondence was not in the nature of s
double diplomacy. On that head there email be
no objection, as the document was actually a corra-
-1 municutitia wade by the Noble Lori! (Leveson
Gower) under the gallery, of the information re-
ceived by him from Lord Ilutehinson, relative to
his interview with the Emperor of Russia. But
we are now told the !louse could make no applica-
tion for this report Lom an unaccredited agent ;
yet it could nut be out of the recolleetioa of the
Noose, that on a former occasion. that Right Ho-
nourable Secretary, in order to answer certain
whispers out of doors, produced out of his own
pocket a ciocutneut from this same unaccredited
agent, and from which he, in the course of his
brilliant speech, made partial and garbled extracts.
(!leer! Hear!) What then was the real motive
for refusing the papers now required ? it was this,
that it did not suit the purposes of Ministersti pro-
duce them. No, No, says the Right lion. Secretary,
I cannot accede to W. ..eqo,4, it ass a private let-
ter, a secret for my self and colleagues, with which
neither this Bosse or thWeeuntry shall be action/int.-
ta. Such conduct was not only a violation of the
spirit of the Conittitution, hilt diiectly tended to
snhvert every principle and object of diploniery.
Sir Tomas TURToII spoke against the produc-
tion of such confidential communisations. lie
had no objelstiou to souse of the motions of the
Hononrable Gentlerrtan, but was convinced that
it was highly improper to disclose to the world
what passed between Lord Hutchinson and the
Emperor of Russia. Highly as he respected that
distinguished Nobleman, and with all the personal
esteem he felt for his character, he still could not
approve of his disclosure of such confidential com-
munications.
Mr. Werreaceo--0. Sir, I did emu. t that the
Right tionotiruhle Secretary, when he had taken
iuto consideration the nature and importance of the
papers for which I previously moved, would at
least have not confined himself' to his half explana-
tioes. But though disappointed is this hope, I did
not expect that when I felt it my duty to put
*other motion to the House, he would have desert-
ed as he did. every previous argument, and fallen in-
to a train of misrepresentation so gro,s, that I must
have supposed myself to have mistaken him, had
be jiot clinched it by the illustratioss he male on
rooting, th..: case of M r. Adair. late Minister at the
Ci.urt of Viemes. The Right !loss. Gentleman,
fixing himself in true pantomimic:al gesture. arse{
with his tin4ers cruised* sealedhiustelf the protet-

,
the Msi inisterial .k)-1-..inture ntu that lV
neither
envy him the gratification of hia jestaigt, nor his
matismis the satisfaction of their ineraittnt.:ra 3
says he, in WO inajestie tone, • tak,! pty.
m. charge the Amhaissadors of the world. ~,°1
nat buffer their private commteneattinittheir. Or.
cret dispatches, to be submitted to the inetri4ve,io
eye of Parliament,- or to the ,yoloar litrusal erne
country.
,Neither will I take netts 10- roetenti.4ll-
- the character, the mai:, tae eirdit, or thee
station of the individual 'from whoa' our Alamo-
don at Foreign Courts might lave received most
4,141034 mi information. No; I eppreeiate it as.
lightly *if it proceeded from some gay young acei-
deatultraveilerti and apse:that feeling I will not
consent to the production of those p.p..... it
would have been only ceadid iu him to have added,
because it does pet suit us; purpose.' Do I ask of
bun to communicate information (a/dinned f:om
any such source? Do I ask of him to state tar
resorts of any Ladies of the palace, of the
buffoon or rhymers that perchance infest the
Huainan Court ? No ; lis see called for the vont-
mu eication made by • Lord Granville Iseveatm
Gower to Government re'ativr to the information
lie hail of Lord liutchiloon's eonvertaitions with
the Emperor of Russia--conversai into held. if not
by the precious at least with the expressed
cognizance M the Right Honourable Gentleman
and his colleagues---eonventations which were com-
municated by my Noble Friend (Hutchinsou) to
the British Andiainador at the Court of Peters-
burgh, and in whicfi that Ambassador kthreed the
utmost confidence. It is a communication of the
importance which Ministers will not suffer to be
produced. It is a document of this netlike, that
for sech rearous as we have this night !nand, this
House um* pot see ; whilst those who have called
far it are exposed to the crimivations of the Right
lionouralale Secretary, who, with the rage of a Mar-
quis of Carrels% threatens to cut all his opponents
tots mince-theat. Will Parliament—will the coun-
try othotion such a detentiination—will they cousi-
doc this docuincitt not necessary to be produced,
or will they Attach as lime. value to it as if it
had been tite report of information overheard by
some hely or buffoon of the Court? Can he be con-
sidered an ordinary pertain, who from himself had
advanced the sum of 30,0001. to pot the Russian
strati in motion. and which sew ass afterwards
paid. by His Majesty's present 'Aliaisters, by those
very persons who Hare now delineated my Noble
Friend in the character of an accideteal traveller ?
(Mr. Citatviug across the table, " he was at that pe-
riod an accredited agent: ) It is not so ;he nee er
Inman accredited agent to the Court of St. Peters-
%area; his tr.issiqn was solely to the Court of
Prussia, from whence he was recalled on the 47th
'of May. But I would ask the Noble Lord
under the gallery (Lord Granville Levesoo
Gower) I would ask him, would he place a
similar coetidence in the report of any buffoorl
of Court, us he would and did in the communiesut:'
lions of nay Noble Friend ? . I call upon the Right
Hon. Gentleman to state, whether he would not
act upon such einnumnications ? If he would not,
he is not a tit Nlinittel rot' this or uuy other coun-
try. There still remained another party to this
question. Was not the Emperor of Russia ag-
grieved ? Have not the King's blitisters stated, on
public record, that that Sovereign war iudured, in
a moment of despondency, to execute the 'neat),
of Tilsit ? What was the laugtiage of the Emperor
himself on that subject ? You know; said
he to Lord Hutchinson, that I was compelled
to it.' • I know your Majesty was,' replied Lord
Hutchinson. if, then, this conversation be true, and
who can doubt it ? Majesty's Ministers bath
grossly insulted the misfortimets, tied miarepree
rented the conduct of that , Monarch. (Hear 1,
heir !I In their school of 'new morality, in which
they wished to ilitiate• hint, they Mot cell upon him
to break through the Treaty he bad but Jost so-
lemnly executed, and'u a gnarautee of their own
good 'faith they convince 'him that they will not
keep a treaty with only of mankind:. (Hear !
hear !) Ministers must know that the object
of this motion was not for the defence Of the lute
Administration, it was solely to ascertain whether
they have availed themselves of the .offers of medi-
ation to obtaiaireace. An
.11on. Baronet (Sir T.
Tinton) had called these party motions. but save
one, he was williug to secede the Other. So far
Ministers were iodine-3, and thence it was easy
to see the reasons few the Houottrahle Baronet's ac-
quiescence. If the Right lieu. Secretary indeed
dreaded ant impeachment, or as in the cue of the
Treaty of Utrecht, when similar letters were made
the grounds of defence then there might be some
reason fur the refuSal:. but tht•y undoubtedly are
now the property of the public, and as such I de-
mand them. I would only with to put a qgestion
to the Noble Lord (Granville Leeson Dower),
merely to know from hint, whether there is not
wine mistake in the dates of his dispatches, as ap-
pears from comparing the days of the week with
the dates'?

Lord G. L. POWER
.anbwered, that by a mistake
in the transcribing of his Secretary, the dispatch
irritteti no the lit of September was dated the id,
and that there was a literal error, in only fixing the
figure 9, when it ought to be the lntli. He had
only to say, that with respect to the verbal assur-
ances he received from the Eniperor of Ittiss. and
which were referred to by him in his note of the
stit of June, that Sovereign had expreieed to him
his deteniaination never to swerre from his relations
with His Britannic Majesty.
The different motions of Mr. WiIiTBREAD were
severally pat, and with the exception of the docu-
ment referring to the proffered mediation of Aus-
tria, were, without a division, rejected.

__, IRISH IdeLITIA.
• Sir Jolla figivruar gave notice of his inten-
tion, on FelSky next; to submit a motion to the
House, on the discretionary power rented in the
Lord Lieutenant and Courent of Ireland, relative
to the voluuteerinx of blotted men Irvin' the Irish
Militia, and the bounties paid them tbr that pur-
Tp. '
he CIIANCeLLoa of the Excneunita gave no-
tice of his intention, on Friday nett, to move for
the imposition of certain duties on Cie export-
ation of cotton and nit.
The second re..•tiol of the Bill founded on the
04,1zr, of canncii, was postponed nuhl l'harsaay
111‘t : to which day the Hanst adjourned.