The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-05-24 00:00:00

No. XXXVII!, dated February 21, 1803, his
Lordship said, it was unnecessary for Sim, nor did
it become him to. use harsh terns respeding it, the
nature of the conversation sufficiently spoke for it-
self, and would suggest to their Ldrdships minds
the feelings whia it could not fail to excite: After
a- variety of apposite remarks and observation's on
the diserent erpers, his Lordship at length con=
eluded a very candid speech, with moving an Ad.
driss, to thank his Majesty for a conimunrcation of
the papers- and for the sincere and anlious desire
which his IVlajeety, with such uniform cLatclour and
steadiness had manifested to do all id his power to
preserve a continuance of the bleisings of peace to
his people, to assere his Mesty of the ready and
effectual Support of that House, in protecting and
maintaining the honour and dignity of his Crown
and Government, in securing the happiness of his
people, and. preserving the interests of the British
' His Royal liightieSt the DUKE of CUMBER..
LAND delivered his sentiments *ith great fbrce
and animation in support of the motion. After all
that had fallen frOrn the Noble Lord who preceded;
he hoped that their Lordships would be unanimous
in driting that there was Cflicient ground laid
llownsgfor the very moderate and temperate ad-
ders? proposed to them. He had not the vanity
to suppose that he could add much to the force
'Of the reasonings they had alteady heard.—The
subject was such as must be paramount to all
party considerations ; but he confessed that'he should
conceive his duty to be very imperially discharged,
if he gave a silent vote upon a subject that must --
rouse every feeling of spirit and indignation at the
presumption and arrogance of France, and the in-
sults and ageressions to which this free and powerful
country hatr been too long subjeCted. His Royal
Highness then went over a number of the ch ca-
ments, to shew that this 6:entry would be insensible
to its own dignity, its rank amongst the nations of
the world, and the protedion which Europe looked
'to from it; the encroaching and domineering systetn
of the French Government, and its perpetual en
croachments. He could not conceive that there was
.any other than an unanimous sentiment. of vest-tit-
. ment throughout the whole empire,
.m 1 an occasion
when France was daily extending its influence and
dominion, regardless of that moderation which in-
fluenced the councils of Great Britain. He wished,
• as much as possible,to imitate the temper in which the
address was moved, and if he did not think the cots-
' duet of the French Cons@ violent and insolent in
the extreme, he would willingly abstain from any
irritating expression's. He could not, however, re-
strain tlee warmth of his resentment, when he saw'an
attempt made to dictate what were to be the rela-
tions, conneetions, and the extent of them ton be-
tween this country and foreign nations, and reduce
it, like Holland, to the degraded state of a mari-
time province of another government—another out-
rageous attempt to prescribe to this united kingdom
the line of discussion in this and the other House of
Parliament, and destroy the liberty of the press,
which was the strangest bulwark of our happy con-
stitution. What Noble Lord could have the patience
to endure such arrogant and insolent pretensions ?
Though he could not be supposed an advocate for
the licentiousness of the press, there wens no man
who valued that palladium of liberty more, that
safeguard of a constitution ; the admiration and
envy of the world, purchased by our ancestors, by
the greatest sacrifices, sealed with the blood of many
of them, and he hoped would be transmitted by the
present generation pure and uncontaminated to our
own posterity. Never should any foreign power pre•
sume to interfere with this, while there were strength,
resources,liands,and hearts in England. This was the
moment when every loyal and patriotic subject would
rally round their King, and defend in arms the most
essential ieterests, as well as the honour of his country.
France had the presumption to assert, in the face of
, Europe, that England was not able to cope with it
single handed. Vas this never done, or had they
not sufficient experience to feel the contrary, as well
from recent instances as from the entire course of
our and their history ? If they have already forgot
it, let them now have reason to be sensible of their
error. England was never engaged in a war on
more just grounds or with better prospects. The
hostile mind of the French Consul before, as well as
since the conclusion of the treaty of Amiens. He
had taken racist's to render the stipulations respect.
ing the surrender of Malta to the Knights of St.
John absolutely impraelicable, and still required the
execution of a treaty on our part, which he himself
had-previously violated altogether in the spirit, and
'snore particularly in the letter of it. He attempted
,e 0 restrain cur commerce and intercourse with the
'countries of the Continent, and to demand resti-
tutions at the same time that he was trampling
;on the independence of Europe, and endeavouring,
by dived as well as indireft means, to extend over
'us the same sort of domination. He did not even
conceal his ulterior.views with regard to our Eastern
possessions, by the occupation of Egypt and Malta ;
for the last was so circumstanced that it must either
:belong to England or to France ; and after the,
'avowal of the Consul, what Englishman could pause(
len the conduft to be pursued ? Fortunately it was
*ill retained by the British troops, but he must con-
Weld that we had no other alternative now, though
In pursuance of the treaty we, and not France, as it
,had engaged to do, had solicited the acquiescence
of the powers who were invited to
.guarantee its In.
'dependence in such a manner that it should not be
?finder the dominion of either France or England.
Jie then represented the aggrandizing system of
IFmute, as well in Europe as in the East and West.

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