The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-05-21 00:00:00

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tive to treat tLetn with disrtspal/4 The Malta',
had appealed to the English Covet%Meat, aketieg.
that their rights had been gives ate end Ministers
had refused to bear them. They Aid 'ricks ‘tt was
true,. say they would net heat thefts, 'Set At least
the4deelined hearing them et the °flee.
The
CHANt:ELLOR of the EXCHBQUER
said, that when his Hon. Friend stated these had
been no parliamentary greends laid before the
noose, he, rivsent no ground by which the motion
timid be made ippliciible to the business-of Monday
next The Hon. Gentleman had admitted it, by
stating that eiere were ,Ironntis for ingeiry, and it
was inipossible such inquiry could take place before
Monday, Something had been said of indignities
°tiered to the Maltese Deputies. On what authority
the Hon. Gentleman had said this, cod knew.—
Never had be beard such/ a sentiment iinputedto the
British Government, till he had heard it from the
month of the Hun. Gentleman. He had heard that
they bad been reps vented as having been treated
with indignity wit% tense& to their conveyance
boo& The rAn w.u, that by his Majesty's com-
mand a frigate was pmvisled to convey them to
their owe country. The prodtrAion of the account
moved for, had not been thought necessary at the
time 01 the Definitive Tieiity. It he thought it im-
proper at dint time, he felt it. infinitely more so now.
He therefore should concur in the motion of the
Noble Lord for the previous question.
Dr. LAURENCP. said, the motion was direelly
onneeeted with the motion on Nlonelay n:xt. Itwas
Impressible to understand the poiuts of die negtstia-
tine without having :lithe papers. It ,was necessary
fur this House to know what were the instrntbons
given to the Maltese Deputies, and also whether all
communication with Government had been denied
them at the curlew but hail been granted in secret
and by stealth. It was not, in his opinion, necessary
to caused the pre sent motion with the motion to
come on on Monday.
Mr. GREGORY was of opinion the papers
should be produced.
Colonel GRAHAM rose to say a word or two—
the Hon. Chasers) who moved for the papers, men-
tioned a manifesto that was tnade while he was in
the island • that manifesto had been tiskeered by the
authority of General Knox. •
The SECRETARY at WAR said, tic question
now before the House was, that the question should
he put. It was not a denial on the part of his Noble
Friend to produce the papers, but that it was uncon-
neeted with the motion for the discussions on Mon.
day nest. He does not mean that the papers should
be held back with regard to any future enquiry. He
should therefore agree with the motion lot the pre.
vious question.
Mr. WARD did not mean to say the production
of the papers were in any material degree applicable
to the question for Moeda), next, but a more explicit
answer on the part of his Majesty's Ministers was
certainly necessary. The simple question he would
wish to ask, is an explanation of a paper which
contained an acecamt, that Lord Hobert had desired
the Maltese :hputies to come to his house privately II
for heir of offending the French Government. He
laew Lord Hobart's spirit too well to attach any
degree of credit to such-a statement • but as long as
view charges remained unanswered, and
infamous as he believed them to be, they were
spread all over !avow, to the dishonour of his
Majesty's • Government; and it was from a feeling
of this kind, that he rose to require an explanation, 1
and he thought an answer should be given.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
observed, that the Hon. Gentleman who spoke
Last, seemed to think that be was obliged to answer
him. He, however, had no objesaion to sayhthat be
tie,•er heard of the imputation alluded to, until bi
entered the Houss.
General GASCOIGNE and Colonel GRAHAM
explained.
Mr. CANNING perfectly agreed with the Hon.
Gentleman opposite laim in the deductions he had
drawn. He attached more importance to the point
which rose incidentally in the course of debate, re-
:paling hose far the honour of the country was
concerned, than any thin arising from the import-
ance of the papers, res ~ ing Malta, particularly as
the Hon. Secretary at ar has declared there could
be Ito objection to the pmduction of them nn a
future enquire ; but he thoughea categorical an-
s—er should be given to the-very judicious question
proposed by his Hon. and Learned Friend. For if
it writ stated, that a Secretary of State of Great
Brim:. had refused to enter into a conference with
the Deputies of a people who were our Allies, for
fear of giving umbrage to the Government of
France, he thought the most satisfaelory answer
should be given. He trusted, as he believed, such a
statement is totally unfounded.
The SECREf .i RY at WA R said, that the future
production of the papers may beragreed to, but did
not state it as a positive fad. As to the charge
against the Noble Lord, some previous notice should
be given of its introdu&on.
Lard CASTLEREAGH said, the question was
t.vo-fold, whether'the papers shotild be produced at
**dor at some future period. The Hoge and Learned
Gentleman has alluded to several projesfts, but there
was no difference with regard to Malta since the
Treaty of Amiens, excepting as being under Great
.isritairt, which the Mahese anxiously wished fur.
' }1 submitted to the candour of the House, if any
good tould proceed from a criminal accusation
brought forward whitest any previous motion.—
The ;trimmest had been, &lied from the question
to his ruble Friend the Secretary of State in another
i louse, of whose words we could have no know.
ledge in this. Bet be widsed to know if such a fait
ever existed. If the Maltese had been treated so ill,
they would not have written a letter as they had
done, on leaving this country, expressive of- their
regret.
Doitor LAURENCE said, the question was
proposed not to criminate Minister, but to require
explanation.
Lord TEMPLE said, the produnion of the pa-
pers were necessary for the purpose of knowing the
rmunds of the attack which had been made on the
Noble Lord. Perhaps the papert were not applica-
ble to the question to be discussed on Monday next ;
but he ,could ask, if it was not necessary to procure
them for the purpose of explanation with resped to
such a charge against one of his Majesty's Minis-
ters ? For has part, he protested against the charge
respeeting Lord Hobart, who was in every point of
view descrying of admiration and esteem. If the
charge pro nd true, he was confident the Noble
Lord did not aft from his own feeling, but from
%burner-4 system of blipistesl. He. thought it
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