The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-02-04 00:00:00

I FEURCARY 4, 1808.

COPENHAGEN ExPETNTION:
Mr. PONSCON'IIt rose, at half-past ~ix, and ad-
dressed the Si:tester, • and the House; as. follows.:
."
Mr. Speaker—Sir, in rising to make the nio-
tion, of which I had the honour of giving notice to
the !louse, the objects which I have principally in
vieww-nre to ascertain how far His Majesty's
Misters were* j'attlfied in starisiirg 'His Niajost to
employ his usvarand military force on the data Es-
pedition against Copenhagen ?' That this is a loth-
ject that petnliaill "demands the 'attentive inquiry
of this House, t tini authorised in stating, iron the
Declaration issued by .His M*lty himself, be-
cause, the first clause ..ku that .-Itiration. is, that
His blajesty vwc to himself; and- to Europe, a
frank expesition of the motives which have. dictated
his late measures iu the Baltic; I have therc.
fore rothority, Ms less than from the Crown it-
self, for stating that this matter peculiarly demands
.the attention of Parliament ; and, is die brit
place, iu order to ground. dot. inquiry, .to eat/ fin'
rproduetion of all ingeatatiou that may exist,
enter to justify thot expedition. It is sesseely
Ablasary Air me to say, Wm, that when I speak of
Olll,Deciaration issued by His Moir-sty,' or when 1
-apirlik of. the Speech of the Louis Coaun i::sioners
tielireved from the Throne, upon the first day of,
the present Session of Parliament, 1 ' &peak' in the
parliamentary lang•iage, usual upon sorb beet.
mons, and mean to look upon them as the •Mese
sures of His Majesty's Miiii.ders, and not of' His
Majesty himself 1 would find it extremely dif-
, ferent indeed, if I were speaking of His Majesty
personally ; because I look to the transaction
itself to be one as opposite to the innate
rectitude and integrity of His Majesty'* owo
mind, es it has been derogatory to the .honnor of
his Crown, and the interest of 14s dotniaitins..
Sir, in order to consider .this 'entject Maturely,
it will he necessary to inquire tint, ahat the
disposition of Denmark has 6een towards this cowl:.
try ? Secondly, what has been thetoi.dnet of Rus-
sia ? and next, what the means were that Prance
pmsessed for executing the projects which the may
have entertained hostile to this country in the Iln)-
tie ? i say hostile to this country, for as.to the dia-
position of frame, it would be idle and foolish in
any limn to inquire into the fact of Frame being
so. Every man mint be aware, that tit? disposition
of the present Ruler of France is, to eNct all the
means in his power to overwhelm us with destruc-
tion.—(Hier ! Hear! Hear !) -But, in order to
ascertain, with exactness, bow flir this Expedi-
tion against Copenhagen is justifiable, it is
necessary to consider not only the disposition of
the Ruler of the French, hut the power and the
means lie possessed of carrying his tillesitt inteo-
timpi in this pint:calm iastatAptlolmestitelettn---
In drowinettifllabirmitßadiau—illtas iibittillb pro-

paae,l ea alyvelf -nada" the is&Oesify of Oit3g
pretty far buck in regard to time. There is, m
the Urelurution, a clause to this effect, " But His
111ajasty conid not but reeollect, that when, et the
close of the former war the Court of Denmark en-
gaged in a hostile eonfeilentey against Great Bri-
toil', the apology offered by that Court for so un-
justifiable an abandonment of a neutrality which
His Majesty had never ceased to respect, was
founded upon its avowed innhilitv to resist the
operation of external influence. and the threats of
a formidable naval power." • I hate, therefore,
formed a Resolution, for the purpose of receiving
the substance of the information made known tO
His Majesty's 1115uisters, in emminunitatiidis from
the Court of Denmark, towards the close of last
war, as to that Court engaging in a Confederacy
against Greet Britain, which had been alluded to
in the Dec Lifatioa published in December, 11307.
1 have already made some inquiries uimn that sub-
ject, end 1 am informed that the Court of Den-
mark never did mnke any such representation to
this country, that she never did send us an apology
• for the abandonment of her nentrality, founded
inion the threats she had experienced from a great
nei„rhbouring pott.•l I am, however, desirous to
know the truth of this feet ; and what possible
objection can there be to the production of a docu-
ment shriving the hostile conduct of Denmark to-
wards this country upon a former OCCIVIIOII ? The
event has passed no less than flee years 'ago, and
canard possibly lead to any dangerous conse-
quences from tie dioelosureoi any'ser.tet source of 1
information, or to any other tendency in which the
Declaration itself does uut involve us. 1 really look
upon it to be totally unfounded in point of fact.
I nay, however, bin', been deceived
by the infor-
mation I have procured, and therefore in order"to
prevent all tuisuudenitanding upon this particular
part of the subject, 1 have shaped a Revolution for
the purpose of proving whether Denmark did
really make such an apolo-y for her conduct or
not. I have drawn up other Resolutions fur the
purpose of ascertaining what intbnnstion was re-'
cowed in this country with respect to the conduct
of Denmark, regarding her naval foree. I have
desired that all Reports made by the King's Resi-
dent at Copenhagen to His Majesty's 111inisters,
during the course of last year, rehitive to any
steps 'taken by that Court for the purpose of
auginentitig its marine, for putting it in a
state of more formidable preparation, or for
manning that fleet, which we lave taken, should
now be laid before us. The reason why I
• do this is, because every body must conceive, that
' if Deumark was entertaining within heriselfW hos-
tile temper towards this country, or was predis-
, posed to fall into the views of Frunee, or those of
'Aussie, she would undoubtedly have batten some
steps towards putting her force into a state of art-
' tiny. This is rendered die more prohalde, she's
we consider what has been the practise of Den-
mark in regard to her marine upon former ores-
. IMons. It has been, and is still this—her sailors
arc all obliged to inscribe their loners in • certain
office, so that the Government of the country
knows at all tunes very nearly to Amount of the
number of sailors nithin iU dualittiaus. When

their *llion' are about to go out of Denmark, they
are also obliged to state in what ship they go, and
to whet place bound, so that the Govern-
ment are (babied to know not only theriunount
but even • the partienlar distribution of them, in
the various parts of the world to which they
may have Sailed, for the purposes of mercan-
tile transactions. The great number of their sai-
fors thus employed in mercantile voyages,rendors it
impossible fox that • Power to man a very consider-
tole fleet for hostile purposes at a short notice.—
It is not with' Denmark as with England, where,
from the multitude of her sailors, -mid the mogul-
tnde of her marine, she can sweep such a number
of hands en board her ships of war within a very
few weeks, as to enable- her-to send to sea a very
great • fleet in a short period, while Denmark
minims it great time to do •ao. if, therefbre,
Denmark meant any' thing. liiajitikALlsoraelf So-
wards this coastal, had Vie intended to fit out any
mitritiiiie- carve against va, it seeing to be itopos::
table to conceive, that she should not have giveh
by her actions sane kind of iuti'mation of that
secret-lurking intention, long before the period of •
Lors)....4.3amber's arrival in -the Sound. 1 ask, •
therefore, .if our Minister at that Court tent any ,1
a'lvice to the Ministers here, that Denmark was
taking soy steps such as those I have described ?
—His !Majesty's Ministers have refused to give
this piece or information ; but I hope the llonse
will not go along with them in Such refusal. I
also ask for all the Reports made in the
coarse of last year by our Naval Oflicers with
ref•peet to the navy of Copenhagen, because,
during that period, it cannot have escaped the no-
tice -of any roan, that scarcely did a week pass,
that Officers of knowledge and experience in the
service of this • country did not nil through the
one way or another, on eecnuut of iair
intercourse with Sweden, Russia, and even with
Prussia herself, before her posier was demolished.
It is hardly possible, therefore, to imagine, that
arty Kb:pc token by the Cbtfrt of Copenfiagehlor
inoreaung its naval farce, could have escaped the
4totitte of oar vessels, thus parting and repotting.
'lf any pre.naration did arttrallv take place, it-Mast
Jure hewn in the view of them all ; and if this infor-
motion be withheld from me, to what am 1 to
presume that denial is to be ascribed ? The
only reason I can assign for it, is, that no such
preparations artually existed, and that Govern-
ment had received no advice whatever upon the
subject, because there was no information to give,
' If Madders still persist in such refusal, I am jus-
tified In draivina-this conclusion; that neither the
nor any naval

or this country. I have inquired what the
entwine cif Denmark wow with regard to her
own ships in our ports, and the valuable cargoes
an hoard of those ship_, even at the very time you
were fitting out yoar expedition against Copenha-
gen. I have learnt, that many Danlsh Cawains
hearing the common rumours that were going
alined, that this expedition- was as likely to go
against Copenhagen as any otter place, applied
with the utmost ensiety and unensi nets to thef)anish
Consul here, to know the truth of what they had
heard, mud to learn the mode in which they shoed
conduct themselves. lie made immediate appli-
cation to the Council of Commerce at Copenhagen,
a Council, I understendorlileh is reckoned a branch
of the Public Actenintitnition of the Government
of that country ; and he received fur answer, from
them, that there was not the smallest ground
for anxiety or alarm to the Danish mercantile
intereet; that no eircumstance existed likely to
disturb the neutrality of Denmark, or that could
cause the slightest hostility between the two coun-
tries. There were at that time no fewer than 350
'l)atiiiti ships, with cargoes on board to the amount
of two millions of money, lying in our pets. (Hear!
Hear • Herr !I Aud now, 1w it possible to suppose
that the Danish Government meant to act hostilely
against England, when its Consul its this eonntry
allayel the fears and anxieties of the Danish Cal -
tains here, by sienrin.; them that his Govern-
anent had interacted him id say to them, •• Hari
no fear, no anxiety ; hasten not to Denmark,
remain where you are or, in other words,
that the Danish Government did not mean
to act hostilely against England? Win it in
order to give Eiv;land a blow, that the Dines put
into our hands nearly a third part of t!te whole of
their mercantile marine ?—(llear I Hear II It is
not therefore credible that Denum-k entertained
any hostile disposition in herself against this coun-
try at that particular time. But it may be said,
that although Denmark entertained no hostile
disposition in herself at that time, yet she was likely
to (*forced intosuch a situation whenshe could not
resist the pressure, and that therefore this country
was justified un acting hostilely against her without
any pattiettlar information to operate at a *a on
for -inch conduct. If our con:luct was to be ju ti-
tled upon that ground, it was merely iu anti-
cipating the views of Frain e with regard to
the Danish marine ; for, I believe that no man
who has written upon the law of nations, or has
thought upon any laws at all, nor any man who
has in his niisid or understanding any principle of
law or justice, can suppose that any power has a
right to take from another its means of defence,
merely becatwe it conceives that another power is
determined to be beforehand with it.—(/fear!
Ilea? ! Hear !) Therefore the juitification of the
conduct of this country mast rest upon the net**.
sity of the case, and that necesaity must arise from
these circumstances—the weakness of Denmark, or
her indisposition to controut the greater strength of
the powers intending toilet aainst Ler, axed the
certainty that she most yield therm Now,
from all these cirentistances, I think there
is not the slightest shadow of proof that Den-
mark was likely to yield to that acialk.leracy,

SIXPENCE.

which, it has been said, was in the contem-
plation of certain powers to cuter into; nor
is there the Iniallest'shadow of proof that she was
likely to yield to their threats. In order to deter.
mine this iratter, it is necessary to consider what
are the means that France possessed to accomplish
her purposes. I have shaped one of my Resolutions
so as to inquire what representationa were, made to
the King's Goveronieut in this coiling, with res
gerd to the means which France had of puttiag her•
self in possession of the Danish navy ; for, I pro.
-mine, that if Ministai krieti that France intended
to possess herself of that navy, they were nut so
neglr.en, tof their duty as .not to inquire into the
power she possesid to execute that intention. At
the time that Lord Gambier sailed to the Sound,
the principal part of the Llanish. forernir

einatmpecl io frioistein, - tifid also* very
'irii•iich force was stationed' neat:the
aid therefore that situation of the tw
Rued no disposition in Denmark t 0.,)
pretetisione of. France; for if she i
disposition to rid to, it was not nem
ounce a • force in oppoaitiou to the Fa
The question then comes to be this,
French force, supposing it ip action s
stein and Jutland, was sufficient to
Mark to yield to the inclinations of Fre
apprehension, it was utterly insure
such. piirpitse; for let 'us consider thi
Denmark.
,ft is a ecTer possessing
extent of country,. Avon what may I
main Continent of Europe, a very fi:
territory in- fleistein std .lutlaiA---1,
seines whetittleueli inore valuable .to
Norway,' biiii4en all the Dani,li islani
Which her cliiiiititl ;Mends. Add. 4tl
reign colonies. If then Prance, said- try
in, }one fleet, ant enter into hostil
Groat 13ritaitt"-Denmark might..l
ed—tt You a4c me to do a thing
teary to thy true interests. In the
' •viiu hare no right to "do so, bec;iu
Crary to all Lear and justice • but if
pet me to. niake a choice between'
and the friendship bt England, I:will
salty in preferring the preservation e
ship of England, because she crNi till
of security of which you .ean iteeir
hut if I quarrel with England, 'Eng]
from me alt illy my colonial posse
my trade and marine; and. even at!
I territcry, and may be the means 6!
anion with Sweden against me, so
toe of •Notwity,: 1. thefottr,4lviarit
interest to' keep' tho 4 possei.iont>i
...

which you
or other d
Mr. Pomo

! •

Denmark, if the
had not forced her into
then be said, why did not
since that was proffered as ha.
that hostility with us, awl into
I answer, that you merle no
for any independent Power to
Hear i )—lf e assimilate each a
-life, and 'oppose that you bed mad,
position tdany Gentleman in this lit.
not have been regarded in any other lib
downright insult. What was it ? Ent.
liance with Eligland, because the enetay c.
mid you will have the friendship of England,
order to poseas that friendship, you most
*ea yourself of all piwer,, arid in order to t.
that we can put very little. faith in you,
alma take aft your fleet, so that you mak
divest yourselves of all that belongs to you as
independent nation. You 'must ratify your isWir
reproach, and then we will eater into alliance with
you. I say that no power ou the face of the mirth
ever did, nor ever will, enter into a compliance
with such a proposition ; for nothing short u: ab-
solute conquest
cede to such terms.
poses of compelling
herself inclined • •
lug posscrted of ►
passed over troops
Danish fleet.
consulted honks,
the possibility r
(union; but •I
force haying
upwards of one
may state, that
it has very v
eras
Belt ripen the
cold does nbt
any piece, 'at
coimtries, aft+

building etEtites,
as to admit the -
parent changes
within the last
of the sea, in
Imolai with is
it with his al-
actually was
t., pegs an k
Gent. npposite
wrap 4.4,000 1)
Swedes, natty
65,00 men ;
wag poga'l6l • '
acirciate to
If then the .
will say. that
!toing into
if the I)sties we.-e disposed, thy *4O cptilit
leitt kept tlsetb out thetaylipt„
ltrsitlr+ the 11:,nish tnerine,. their . :tar also
the $a ecli3ll tiering Met to wait tit 11044 IL-6

. .
lent ever could compel a power to ac-
terms. What mems then did France
Impelling Denmark, if she was not a
,ed- to yield to he: ? It is said, that he-
of-Holstein and Jutlaad, she might
over trays to take poliv!ion of the
t. Now I have made taquiry, and
inks, in order to get information Si
its of patting inch a plan into eae-
I can (Ind no instance of a unlit:ay
passed tile Gri4sit Belt upon t e ice for
rte hundred and fifty ycari. In fact, 1
hat nn finch thing his§ happ-Led ; and
rarely occurred of late: yearn, that-
'brats have been atilt to • pats the
hr ice; for we al! know Well, that the
it depend entirely Upon' the degree cif
na to latitude. The itnptcrregieuts of
nett as draining them, erect ng fence:.
ilk-es, and opening entamnotatlons sn
the sun and air, all tend to er et op-
'gm in the climate. I may as ,
sot century there has I arm to i stem e
in that quarter of the tvorld, kngao
ice as to e nable a general toils seir
irm But let us siippom that 4.e
s afrost an intense stn ktilfe 'IA'
army army over the DetlVl.hh 94.
Rite (Mr. Canning) Md mid Le
) Miles inteabind, andlikestri.;-
ally ut, act, isialt...ns la all a for::e
n ; and does any man irnaitnie that
• to get an attni ennve ram I'r.iuce
0 combat Wll3ol;ich nn inn ?
e rround'irjg, net Ikortki OTP
,hat the Mock had tl e p.).•er of
) 2e land by
.any other ni an., for

- • . .
. .
Upon all enese remade, it : ' ore malarial
to know what were acinially s that evauce
possessed to bring au ara -d, and I
have therefohe fraiued t I for this pure 1
tia
pore ;
ii' for I argue, that from . that hall yet*
b..-•en ahew the ?reach were • ea tithe
power of doint so. 'lke nex rration is,
how far France was sr., , - ipS:istauco from
Russia? Viltatti this a ked of in public,
it wee argued, that immediately on the Peace of
'/Nlsit, Russia bad thrown herself into the arms of
France, had agreed to do whatever Frauce pleased
'to dictate, and that France bad thereby the pre-
ponderating power in the Ninth of Europe. It
wus a strange, thing to see the Danish marine taken
11101160.1i0n of by the power of this country, NW the
Ititssion marine, at the very same tune, suffered •
VA,* about at its plealure. But if any thing is w-
'begin] the internal evidence of there
nberosehos, they are furnished iniots
Ipers already lai 1 before the Rowe.
rmitcli from the Right Honourable Loon.
Crower. 'of the ild September. at St. Petersburs,_
it is•steted that he lost no time in requesting it
with General Iludberg. the Russian
who began -:ply, hy. acknowledging
Aclea.Wouging •- the
.eire.,.l.

7daf the
Le the

silo any ___ of Russia with.
panes' her Alf of the'Danish navy, the
Right _am Gentleman is perfectly silent. Ilnw
then is it passible to suppose, that the Mjai,,ter at
Rossi.: dui believe, that Russia was confederating
with France to put her in possession of the Danish
mar ise ? These is another dispatch from that
Right Hnnourable (lenticular', dated September
ISO 7, in which Ise says His 'llgjevty en-
tirely approves of the mower returned by your
Xseellein y to General Budherg's note on the sub-
Itect of the operation* at Copenhagen." And yet,
13 all the conversations detailed in these notes,
flare is not one allusion with regard to the con-
duct of Russia as to Denmark. although the
11.ini is at lied with his Minister fur wl.at he awl
re.sitive t.. a subject which was considered most
ilingemiss to h:s dominions. The dispatch then
goes mi. for the first time, and states Russia es
ing the nolo& in which that Right Hem. Gentle-
man 4 api re'en.'on constituted a great part of onr
danger. He soya, "These circumstances, coupled
eith the aausi ',reparations for the reception of a

far French force at Han‘laargh. formed. toc-ether
sub la a body of evideuoe, not only of the delegus of
Boaaparte, but of the roanivance, if not of the par-
ticiparaen, of kinisia, that His Majesty would
have been wanting alike in what he owed to
his own dignity sod to the secunty of hls domi-
nions, if belied not taken the most effectual steps
for breaking through the comoination that was
collecting round hen ; and it would have butt idle,
under such circuuistauces, to have waited the con-
east of Russia to measures calculated to repel a
ditog.er, of which Russia herself fonded so large a
pert. This, I say, is the first iustunce of appreeen-
non of danger from the Court of Russia, mad there
is no disposition to represent the consequences
of her own conduct. This dispatch farther says—
" After the perusal of the papers which 1 inclose,
your Excellency will be fully informed of the
whole situation of affairs with respect to Denmark.
His Majesty is perfectly willing that the pacifica-
tion with the Court of Denmark should be wholly
the work of the Emperor of Russia," which power
was described before as the principal instigator of
this transaction. And yet the King is perfectly
satisfied to leave the pacification to the great
- , repose. (Hear! hear! hear!)
change took place in the Rus-
. Count Soltikoff was appointed
General Butlberg. Our Minister
• with him, in which he complain-
it articles of Tilsit were not com-
as Court In the mean time Count
displaced, and succeeded in the office
ire by Count Romaneow. After
writes the dispatch, dated St. Pe-
a. in which he says, " I have
Count Roinanzesi• a Copy of
i Copenhagen, accompanied by
shich I expressed my hope that
might be followed by the re-esta-
•ace between Great Britain and
.. days after I received the inclosed
Russian Minister. The preteusious
paper, and the tout in which
, appeared to me to be of a na.-
. for an immediate answer. In my
which 1 inclose a copy), 1 endeavoured
•-• Russian Minister that His Ma-
had, is the colarnunica-
, been authorised to snake,
reasonable mark of respect and consi-
Imperial Majesty, notwithstanding
t and priuciples • bat I thought
to let the Raisin Witter
that His Majesty was not to be
pursuit of such measures 111 '
expedient for the security of his
indirect menace or intimation of
'the Emperor of alli101." Now
that during all this time, there
Denmark ; and the complaint
. _ not show the secret articles of
Right/lea. Gentleman then
' animadvert upon various otrrcepead;
papers already laid before the House.
stated by Ministers, that Rwia
time, the secret iastigatent
and
.yet upon the nth aloe
(Copenhalken having capitulated is
d=mot
- , Kings Minister at St. P
ing some surprise at the • of
a audience of the !Kiloliter fit Abet
" I have been informed that eatmemison-
C•uncil, who have been consulted in
critical state of alters, had advised
to reject the present opportunity
the tranquillity of the north of
the Emperor who ofiers to be a
.. only driven from his purpose by
representation of the French Miiustcr, and
said t- ' • disposed to yield to the counsels
same dispatch goes on to state,
an has been adopted; and that a
written to General Savary, with a
• the French Government to con-
restoration of the neutrality of Denmark.
•• General has remonstrated violently
measure ; and the Russian Cabinet,
violence of his language„ is wade-
ver to return to the overture re-
England. But the tear of Bona-
sure will, without doubt, prevail."
that General Savary must have
...g from July to November, before
carry the points that were essential to
't Bonaparte, and the conduct of the
was entirely in opposition to the
ow, Sir, suppose that I were to
moment, for she sake of argu-
dialakchai would contradict
had been active in forming this
it follow that Denmark would
) Russia ? Was there any dispo-
evinced ? and how was the power of
brought against Denmark ? The
on the side of Denmark. Had
arias in the Baltic to attack
' Had she any efreetPted attack the
and English fleets? Nor had
A of succeeding ; for the whole
be assembled, either entrenched
on board their fleets, would be,
i to the force that could have beep
ai,lant as a drop of water to the ocean.
e been the foolisbet and the weakest
Power in the world, to be so incapable of knot/rift •
our own value, and not to see that it was impossible
that Denmark ever could, under such circum-
stances, entertain favourable views towards France.
I defy the Right Hon. Gentleman to chew any
evidence of it in the Papers before the House.—
Besides these, I have shaped other Resolutions, to
procure further information as to the conduct of
the King's Ministers in regard to Denmark her-
self. it may be questioned whether, when they
were determined to pursue a hostile course towenla
that Power, they pursued one that was agreeable
to, or consonant with, the real interest of England ?
1 have asked for the instractions given to Mr.
Jackson, and the communications between that
Minister and the Government of Denmark, for
the purpose of preventing hostilities, or of mak-
ine after hostilities had commenced.—An
unwriTgersess, however, to grant these, has been
already eipreseed. I have received idol tubtion
that, instead of malting any proposal consistent with
the honour and dignity of the Danish Crown, none
whatevn was triele, in which the detenti:n of Os

Danish fleet did not sontinually enter ; arm, ...-
fore, it was merely idle and expeptive to seud not
missions, when Ministers were apprised that
they were making an odious
_proposal that
made all negotiation fruitless. How did they
,-act after hoetilities had actually cennueuced ?
—I have been told, perhaps erroneously, that
it was proposed that the Danish &et should
be restored at the end of three years after the con-
clusion of a JDefinitive Treaty of Peace with
France, a proposal which could be for no other pur-
pose than for degrading and insulting that Power.
Ministers are evidently under the necessity of
founding. their
.justification upon the alleged ne-
cessity of anticipating the views of France. They
ray, " they were obliged to act thus hostilely
against Denmark, because she entertained three
projects hostile to this country ; tirst, the shutting
of the Sound against the commerce of Great
Britain ; secondly, excluding her, as is stated iu
the Declaration, from all her known channels of
communicating our manufactures to the conti-
nent ; and thirdly, that we should not possess our-
selves of the Danish fleet." Now, Sir, the mo-
ment we entered Denmark in a state of hos-
tility, that moment we might be sure she would
shut the Sound against us. Did Ministers
totally believe that if Denmark was disposed to join
France, they disabled her by the mere capture of
her fleet ? They only' did enough to provoke her
hostility, but not to destroy her power. V. hem they
entered Zealand. why did they not retain posses-
sion of it ? We have thanked the army so
employed, and yet they did not retain
possession of the island, although they were
Able to have done it. Sweden was in 'your
favour, she being your ally. W hat chance, then,
had France and Ramis, combined, to get pos-
session of Zealand ? 1 say, it was in our poser
to keep it ; and, being so, it was the height of
folly pot to do it. But, since we did not do it,
could we not have dismantled' the arsenals and
magazines, and blown up the Crown Battery of Cro-
atuburgh ? Why have the present Ministers been
so shabby in their inkputy ?—(Hear ! Hear !
Hear .V—When they imitated the criminalty of
France, why did they not imitate the magnauimity
of her Ruler? Do you think that Bonaparte would
here given ap Zealand, or left it in its present state
to the Dante? This shows us, Sir; how weak it is to
do ill by halves. If it was once in the power of
France to render Denmark an enemy, it was now
still more so. The same thing that justified you
in taking her fleet, justified you in taking Zealand.
Your not having done so, was not owing to the
want of power, but the want of knowledge. I
suppose that the Right Hon. Gentlemen will not
talk of morality upon this occasion. No. The rules
-of morality are, in their aniitious, fit only for fouls
and philosophers, but not for statesmen. I sup-
pose they will not say that it is no disadvantage to
England to have the Sound shut against our com-
merce ? I aver that they hove neglected their
duty to their country and to their Sovereign, in
not having reduced Denmark to the lowest state
possible, after basing once gone the length they
have done. The Right Honourable Secretary in
his answer to any thing I have stated, must not
suppose that I am giving him any encouragement,
or any counsel, for pursuing such il line of conduct.
They looked to this Danish flctt coming out to in-
vade us ii the spring, and they now suppose that
next spring we are not to have au invasion of Great
Britain and Ireland. Upon what do they ground
these conclusions ? What are they to do against
next spring ? Were they disposed to put Ireland
in a greater state of safety ? 'Hear ! hew! beer !)
If they are not disposed to do this, why do they
leave Zealand the deposit of arms for Denmark
and France ? (Hear ! hear I) Having forced
Denmark into a state of hostility against this
country, that Power will naturally now apply all
her resources, and, in unison with France, will con-
struct fleets much cheaper, better, and faster, then
France could formerly have done in any other of the
ports of Europe. In the present state of the
world it appears that there is now no middle
course to be steered. If you make a nation your
enemy. you must endeavour to deprive that enemy
of all her power, for, if not, you dor foolish thing,
by only provoking her. We are told that Ministers
are solicitous for the welfare of Sweden, and a Right
Honourable Gentleman said the other day, that he
should have the honour to propose a Subsidiary
Treaty to that country. Now, how does your con-
duct to Denmark operate as to Sweden ? Den-
mark and France may attack . Sweden frum Nor.
way, and Russia from Finland, and all this will be
owing to your giving up Zealand, or by neglecting
to dismantle Denmark of her arms and means 4
hostility. All these reasons, Sir, press very attorney
upon my mind, why an inquiry should be entered
into upon this subject ; for, as yet, there is not the
slightest justification of Ministers, as to their eon-
ductrez
in regard sto Denmaik. It is of
justification, whether we view i iable
it in to the
manner of carrying- on the war, or in measures
adojited to restore peace. In short, Ministers seem
to have acted upon the ground, that nations were
absolved from the laws of morality ; but I should
wish to know upon what principle such an assertion
can be founded? Do they suppose, Sir, that
the same Providence that watches over indi-
viduals, ones net watch ever the conduct of
nations ? We live in times in which it is sup-
posed that this is the case, but does not this
country itself Allied, at this moment, a striking ex-
ample of it? What was our situation with regard
to America ? When we departed from those rules
of justice, liberality, and freedom, by which we
were formerly accustomed to govern our colonies,
and when we attempted to reduce them not to be co-
lonists but to be the slaves of the mother country,
_ _

such a conduct was followed by the entire loss of
those colonial possessions, and what aided that Ism
was the interference of the power of France. What-
ever was the merit of our dispute with America,
France had no right to interfere in it. It was en
unmoral act in Frame, in order to aggrandize
herself. But did out that undue interference of
Frazee u!tiinately produce those opinions on that
country, that overthrew the then existiniF govern-
ment, ant forced the Royal Family cif t r met to
seek for refuge is this country, as exiles from
their owe ? 1 beg these sidio!ers of the new
school to study in the hook which I shall
open to them. Let them look to the loartition of
Pylaad.—Let them look to the state of l'russia.—

Ifs. any body ever read the liistr.ry of it, withoot
-shuddering at the iminomtit; and wickedness
which prompted that country to he guilty of the
most abominable aggressions against an • isnooent
nun unoliending people ? Was there net a roust
unjustifiable combination to rob Poland of -her
name as a nacion, although its inbabitooto had
never attempted to injure any living creature ?
Hew war Prussia rewarded for the share she tee
this iniquity ? Has lint the Monarch of that king.
dom been since dethroned by France, and are
not Austria and Russia crouching to Bonaparte?
Was not this to be looked upon as a just punlals.
meat upon these nations for the share they etcher
them took in the partition of that nnfortuazte
country, Poland ? I now, Sir, shall conclude, with
desiring the information that is necessary to enl.
bile the House to form en opinion upon: th:s irm.t
important of subjects, iu order that every 11./lI.A
WWI mey discharge himself from having partici.
paten in an action the most unjustifiable that ever
disgraced the annals of any nation; and in ord.:;
that the lninourable character of Phighuld ms,
if possible, be yet retrieved. With this view, S":;,
I shall uow move, as my first Resolution—

" That an humble Address bs ressetrd to Ris Majesty,
• pray* that be will be graciously summed to glee Mrseritta
that there be laid before the Beast the substance aid data
of all information trsounitted by 111 a Majesty, Mhtlatera at
the Coast of Cepeuhsgert. at thy phial &eft Hie but )Cat,
regretting themes! fusee & Dermot, sat peerldbe—y aca
respect to any imeasut es adoptal le Impair Hoe seat ur ei
patting it into a state of formica praptinetiam, era preemies
temeian te than the same in any part tbereeE*

On this motion being read from the chair,
Mr. Secretary CANNING rose, in answer to
the Right Honourable Mr. Ponsunby, and sold, es-
sed the House nearly. to the following purport :
Sir, the moment is at length arrived when the
Honourable Gentlemen, who sit opposite to me,
peculiarly qualified and entitled by their owl,
splendid achievements during their administration,
come forward with particular anxiety to inquire
into the conduct of their successors in carrying no
the present war. The Right Honourable Gratin
luau whom they have selected to put His 1160
jestv's Ministers upon their trial for that whirl,
until questioned by this Ilouse, was considered by
almost all men as the salvation of . the
country—(4 very loud fry of Hear! Hear!
Hear ! from the Ministerial ado vf the Iflossci;
that Right Hon. Gentleman, I say, has coneleded
him speech with expressing an hope, that there rs no
intention in this House to subscribe to new prie-
ciples of morality, or act upon principles contra-
dictory•to all the received notions of the civilind
portion of mankind. It is undoubtedly the case,
that if there were any individual in this count:,
prepared to act upon the footing that Rigit
Hon. Gent. has described, he has now, indevi.
an example afforded to him, not only beyond t!..:
ordinary practice, but even beyond thrit Rion.
practice of morality, which has its admirers upon
the opposite side of the House. Whatever may be
the issue of the present night's discussion, and
whatever may be the result of that accusation.
stow brought against us, I alma ever retain the
ss-
tistiiction of having beagles accused. We have at
' least the satisfaction to think, that their conduct
does not roceed from any conviction of having
themselves left the country in a state of glory to
our charge. We are not
,now debating practically
how to ward off some instant danger—to prepare
against some impending calamity, bat we are now,
in a comparative state of security, to enter into sa
examination of the means by which our security
has been effected. He argues, that our successes
are the fruits of spoliation, but while he con-
demns the spoiler seems willing to retain-the sped.
The order of the Right Hon. Geartleinan's sags-
meats I shall strictly follow. The first point of
his admission is that on which none can entertain a
doubt, the hostile and implacable disposition
France and its Ruler to this country. He has in
this instance depicted the character is all die
awful and tremendous features of malignant
magnitude, as if to awe and terrify us into a Na-
nicissean submission to the power of the evil-stiiiii.
It has never been said that we imputed to
mark a wilful and avowed intention of becorui.c
our enemy, and the slave of Bramperte's intentions.
Far from it. But we must he blind, indeed, welt
to see what must be the inevitable consequence t.f
the schemes intimidations, and manifestoes of tie
enemy on Denmark,: had her affection to the awe
of England been ever so unquestionable. It Ns
then been admitted, on all hands, that if the neces-
sity of our conduct be proved, it rowels-Is a com-
plete justification of that conduct. I will Bence
take this as the point at imbue and this first
argument I shall advance to prove it, shall be
one from the known character of the Danish na-
tion. I could wish it were in my power to talk
splendidly of the warm and generous feelings of a
Danish heart, and congratulate the House on the
strict fidelity and attachment of Denmark to t!''
country. But such language would be absurd and
idle. Jealonsy of our prosperity bas ever bean
the strongest chareetenstie of the politics and
views of that nation; for, from the year trfo, when
Denmark entered heart and hand into the arm Al
neutrality, we have felt the extreme cautioi...
nen and disaffection of that nation towards us.—
Her history, since that period, might be easily
given in a series of plots, confederacies, and ins-
chinations against our welfare. That spirit which
diplaved itself in the armed neutrality was appeao
by the interference of Russia. In !POO, we had
her again lapsing into the hostile views of Frame
against England, and in vain endeavoured to racer-
cite and unite her to us again, by stipulations and
compacts. In the following year, her fidelity
is justly doubted ; and on a topiresentation if
our apprehensions, she has at least the honesty
to admit, that she has been compelled try threats
to join the confederacy against us. nen ire
speaking facts, and bear strongly on the area-
tneuts of the Right Honourable Gentleinac,
when he endeavours to prove the friendly and 5.,,-
cere ,eritiments of the Danish Court towards that
of London. If the Right Honourable Crentleinai,
says they are our sincere friends, of whet avai. is
it to us, if that affection be not supported by oleo
national independent power mai force, their disp.v.
sit ions however excellent are 1111CiVI.P. If be nntint...3
the existence of that power and independent spirit.
I can at once destroy the inference he would is
to draw, by assuring him, and prosino 1.111
indisputable evidence, that affection -is our svl•

- -
.I:animism* with General Budberg, the Russian satisfied to leave tnt
trbuister ; who began his reiity, hy acknowledging disturber of his repos
lae existence of secret articled longing to the About this time a chi
`f testy of 'rlsit. "There were some; he said, "that shut Ministry, and Coo
in no way conceived the interests of England."— in the place of Genen
'Now, Sir, it has been Insisted in public instru- had an interview with
karate, I mean in His Majesty's Declamtion as to ed that the secret art
-Demnack, an& also his Declaration as to Russia, inuniceted to his Cour
that it was the knowledge of the secret acticles in Soltikoff was displaced
that treaty that had induced llis 3lsjelity to put for foreign affairs by
.Himself in possession of the Danish fleet, and there- this our Minister write
fore. *Sir, it is material to know wren His Majesty's tershurg, let of Oct.
Ministers became acquainted with those secret communicated to Cr
articles, and how far any stipulations in them the Capitulation of Co
related to Denmark, by virtue of which France a short Note, in whiel
was to come nearer to the purpose, in regard to this capitulation might
that kingdom ? In another dispatch from the En- blishment of peace t
glish AILI.NISta (or, of the genie date, he says, " that Denmark. Six days
is a oeuversation he had the night before with . the Note from the Russia'
Radian laliaintal, be (General Budberg), care- set forth in this paps
.14117 'waded say allusioe to the late transaction at they are urged, appa
Csmentiages. Cr to the capitulation, but that he ture to call for an
Nvelaapmewhat intrprised the next morning to learn reply, (bf which Ihe
lent tiro :Xesperer of Russia felt himself in to satisfy the Risser
gime pain and anxiety in comegliegice 0f44. jesty's Government 1
cremation side had received trim his wan DL '' bons which I had
in rolnlillienoe of that transaction.** • The Emil* &hewn every reasonab
tdio.
• weissultor suites on account of his conduct &his , deration for His hope
ti is ionbructeri to state *Attie Rinsingg . pie change of system a
i
..P."l that la Great &dein to riot to its po less necessary t
L 'llge etyma “ that the Bridal Ministry het clearly understand. th
%se long in possqmion. of poetise Ilitte, which frightened ontof the
loft no doubt as to silo tritootiona of the French be 'might judge tapes
Se
g. rows*" the maritime means of empire, by any in in
I,BBe. $ say. that they might have *displeasure of the
ilepeilavigs of thoes means of information it appears evident, du
dam die sir sky out. (Haw i Leer /) He al not Of* word as to I
yes on Mal nye " that the Danish Beet, des. is still,' why do
.you 1
*Web am* sdlasesut on the British coasts, bc. Tait?" The Itightli
headset mi object eseential for the accom- ed to read and aimed
nattlie views of Prune, the King found sages from the papers
Ida miceseity of securing himself from "it had been stated
Ihest p*sw-r. by those precautions which was, during all this t
.. 11 regret, however indispensable for about to become so,
• - a hie.aufi." This then is the ex- veinber (C•PenkaAeu
given bg Om British Minister to the tember), the Kings I
e items. who is sand' pew to be after expressing sonic
....L.... landleArs of that ragtime. lam obtaining an audien
diet 'wman could amiss with a reply Court, asps, "il have I
ti4".7."—• "fusion Miner. whoa he esit to Wm.. bets of the Council,
,thee wtmitses been the cense error attach the present very critic
t.7egisaliagenr
tetulleazieisprsrateot tirre
ofthe
indieror
blislTintrtline
of the tah,ritime views of France egoist Europe." This is th
it ? I look upon it that there was so is Mediator, and is ont
whatever upon this subject, or any pea- the angry represent:di
litse fat to justify such a conduct. I know the yet he is said to be d
that* Lord too well, not to suppose that be would of France. The sal
•issva retitled, a Why do you ask this information, " that their opinion I
llisen you yourselves have created those motives, note has been mitts
tkid -awed that necessity ?"—(licar ! hear!)— view of engaging the
• t pas the nth =ember, 1507, the Right scat to the restoration
/lon. Fecretalyerf. writes thus—" The points The French Genera
Upon which the question of this ecceptiniee turns, against this measure
are the frank communieation of the articles of the alarmed by the viole
Treaty of Tilsit." Now I really thought he knew tided what answer
them at the very time he was asking for them ; and ceived from Englaw
yet here is a Minister at the Court of Russia who parte's dipleavire i
is directed to tell that Court that their mediation It is singular, that
sight be accepted, provided they communicated been labouring film]
'to ids a knowladi;e of those secret articles. The he could carry the i
;tae dispatch then ties on, and state.—" Is it the views of /I °saps
possible that His Mujeity should not think it Court of Rusin we
.essential to be laforinod whether the public ILO. Declaration. Now,
tick of the Treaty of Tilsit, which recognises the concede for a neon
'Preach Kiag of NeJles oak/ as King of Naples, meet, what the 43
i ',, in effect, contradicteil by a secret article, me in, that Russia I
which adds to this title that of the Two Sicilics ? confederacy, does it
The movements in the Mediterranean, and the sur- have given way to R
tender of Corfu, naturally give rise to a variety of anion to do it evince
aporehensistas, which it would be for the interest of Russia to he brou
both countries to quiet, or sit least to reduce'within means were all on
the bounds of truth. Has not His Majesty the Russia any aroyin
right to require some explanation of the inter lima' Copenhagen ? Had
of Ituais with respect to Toirkey ; a posy?? with Dauith, Swedish, s
wlio.n His Majesty Ands himself at war, and France any chance
I:ft alone in the war, for no other than Ras- farm that could be
Isiah interests, and from • quarrel espoused upon the ice' or on
be His Majesty foe the sake of his Ally ?" when compared to I
Them are the considerations which Ministers nip opposed to thein,blit
as reasons why the Secret Articles should he dis- We must have been
• c'osed, but as to any confederacy of Russia with • Power in the world,
France, to posses. herself of the Danish navy. the our own value, and o
Right Hon. Geotlanan is perfectly silent. 119 w that Denmark eve
_ _.