The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-05-25 00:00:00

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di-ft of our t!isiisters destroyed all hopes of
peace, and involved es in a war in which we had no
chance of success, and even Fortune could do no-
thing for us. There was, however, still some hopes
of peace in the hitelligence received this day, that
the Emperor of Russia had offered his powerful
mediation in these differences.* It would be much
better for ns to have a Russian garrison and a Rus-
sian General for Malta, than to retain possession of
the place. He knew that the charader of great
Princes was not always to he taken from the represen-
tations made of them without consideral.Je abate-
ment ; but from any thing he had heard of that
wise humane Sovereign, his alliance with us
against France, even with a view to Egypt, would be
worth more than ten thousand Maltas, with all their
firtilications. He of all things deprecated a deadly
and most destructive war merely from the prospect
of any present advantage we may have in se:zing
on the commerce now eeoorted home; or capturing
the colonies of our adversary.
Levant of room compels us, for the preso.nt, reluctantly to
omit the remainder of a tirech certainly one of the
wails
eloquent and argumentative ever delivered within the tirai6
of St. Stephen's Chapti.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
said, he had never observed, since he had occupied
a seat in the House, so much reason to admire and
acknowledge with astonishment the transcendant
talents of the Honourable Gentleman who spoke
last. He had described the rude covering of war
in all its forms, but it was a proper question to ask,
whether, at such a moment as the present, such
language was proper to be spoken ; he however,
upon this occasion, placed a reliance on the people,
who would entertain a just idea of the honourable
situation in which Ministers stood ; he begged
to have it understood, that he had been one
of those that advised the seeding of his Majesty's
Message. He was not actuated by malice, and was
aware that the conduct of Ministers might be inves-
tigated, and would not shrink from a minute in-
quiry. whenever such might be demanded. He
'expeded to hear the Parliament say unanimously,
that the country was right in the recent proceedings
of the Ministry ; the person to prevent that unani-
mity, was the Hon. Gentleman who has said, his
Majesty's Ministers have not been sincere. He was
apprized, that Ministers had many enemies; but
from the uniformity of their efforts in the late com-
munications, he could not have entertained belief,
that any persons could think their conduft reprehen-
sible. '!he lion. Gentleman had referred to the
transactions of France, since the peace of Amiens.
He had commented upon the German Indemnities,
and had followed upon all the various topics that
had interested the present Government of France ;
but upon none had he laid so much stress as on
Switzerland ; and true it was, that justice had not
been dune by the lion. Gentleman, to the proceed.
ings in that part. lie was not prepared to go over
the ground, v. ith moped tothe particular transactions;
but the outrage offered to a noble body of persons, oc-
casioned an interference on the part of Ministers, aris-
ing from a wish to proted the injured, not only of
Switzerland, but of any country. It would have
been unworthy the principle of sound policy, if the
Government had not prevented him, who is at the
head of the Republic of France, from overwhelming
Austria and all Europe, which would have probably
been the case, had he not been resisted, in his ambi-
tious rtes. He contended, that Ministers had
engaged in the determination to step forward in de-
fence of Switzerland, from those interests which
were inseparable front the policy of a governing
power. It had been argued, that the First Consul
of France wished to have restrained the freedom of
our press, by suppressing the public prints. The
language of that person afforded very little prospetl
for Ministers to place a belief in any desire he
might express towards pacification. He would
not enter into the nature of the Government
of France ; but, if the differences at present ex-
isting, could rot now be adjusted, war must
be the inevitable consequence, arid no oppor-
t would be lost in supporting the honour of
England. The indignity which was offered to his
Majesty by the publication of Colonel Sebastiani,
dernan.ied satisf.ation, and in consequence of which
Lord NVhitworth could not make any arrangement
unless satisfadion was made ; none however had
taken place. lie then called the attention of the
I louse to several articles contained in the documents
laid before them relative to Malta, which went to
justify Ministers in their endeavours to preserve tran-
quillity. Ile entered into a statement respeding
the expenses incurred by the French military fur the
last three years. In Inol, the pay of the French
se mks amounted to 235,000,000 of lieres; in 1809.,
an army was supported at the expellee 012 10,000,000 ;
and in 180.1, at 125,0::0,000. With respell to the
mission of Colonel Sebastiani, he had no diffieuhy
in reporting that that circumstance was considered
by his Majesty's Government as the avowed hum
tiun of the French to violate the Treaty of Amiens,
by endeavouring to overthrow the Turkish empire.
We were to evacuate Malta in .Itily, but when did
we receive a requisition from France to do so ?
Why rot until November, when her designs upon
}.gypt were matured, and the evacuation then in-
sisted upon contrary to the spirit of the Treaty of
Amiens. We stated in answer that we would not
evacuate it until we shall have a substantial security
a7ainst the designs of France but we never stated
%tat Malta was the only security, but on the con-
trary that we were willing to accept any other ade-
quate security that France. could suggest; but what
that security would be was. for France, who had
created the necessity, and not for us, to propose. It
Wets sufficient for us that we were in possession of
an advantage that must restrain the perfidious de-
signsof France,and to rest there until some equivalent
was offered. It was only by the possession of a naval
station in the Mediterranean that we could secure our-
selves against the views of France. Upon that ground
we rested our justification in retaining Malta. We
were now at war; but, if there was any body who
could bring forward a pradicable proposition by
v hich peace could be preserved, the Minister would
be an enemy to his country, who should not accept
it —(lood cep of bar! &sr !). He meant a prop°.
s;tion that could give peace, and .t fair prospen of the
enjoyment of its blessings. Under the present cir-
cumstances, however, he would be only deceiving
the country, were he to say, that he either saw or
knew any thing in the Fieoch Government that
warranted any such expedtation. We must cape&
. .

• For ow'? risme advanced in this important Debate ie.
a Seine at Official Papers of tM reeseb Giverinaest Li the
hawk of John Ilehrett, Picendsly y a Treadsliwis whisk
be Jae aiesaiinsild qr yehhenties ea Satetday a•xt.


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