The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-06-04 00:00:00

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i---rhn I • : • - • ..1f:•;*"%. - .
jet did .nbt state in that'Speech, that 11:.. had re-
ceived any'ssuranoes from other powers. If any
pacific sentiments had been erpreseini Oit thepart.of
France, they would have been stated ire hia lideitie-
ty's Speech, so far horn his MajestesSeksechisetrig
con ,:iiered in the least degree of a pacific tandetteln
The sentiments it had contained, had etiiked en-ap-
prehension, thatwar was an event likely AV* place.
it was consequently impossible he slchtli on Cue
day that Message was delivered,. and igifit Addrbss
moved, hare 'stated that the chance of war was ifti-
probable ; • independent of this, there was at coins
ment on the sentiments of his Majesty's Minister:,
which must be considered as decisive ; he meant
that comment which was to be found in. the trees
military and naval arrangements which had take,'
place at the commencement of this session. i 1
was possible to conceive that his Majesty's C; OV t•TZ. -
ment had been lulled into security, by any idea Chet
there were sanguine expedatione of the duration t.f •
peace, could they possibly have urged the House bh
have voted a naval force three times larger than
the ordinary naval establishment, and a military force
of twice the amount? Could they possibly have done
this, expressing so absurd an opinion as that there was
no chance of the renewal of hostilities; the extent of
the naval and military preparations atfardedahandain
proof of what the sentiments of his Majesty's Miniss
ters were with regard to the ptitbability of war. A
Right Hon. Gentleman had complained, . that the
constitution had been violated by the forbearance of
his Majesty's Ministers. He said that was a point
on which he was less disposed to eater into a discus-
sion. He would wish the right of the House to de-
mand information upon this point; he was ready to
go as far as any man ; he was ready to admit that
it was unlimited ; but until the House shall thick
fit to exercise that right, Ministers have a right to
exped that the I louse has a reliance upon their wis-
dom and discretion. Previous to this Session of
Parliament nothing had occurred that seemed to hint
worthy of communication. The only circumstance
that had occurred was comprised in the paper of M.
Otto, which contains six several grounds of coni-
plaint: but they were so well answered by his No-
ble Friend (Lord Ilawkesbury) he was convinced
the answer had produced a most poweeful ef-
fe.t, for they were not repeated. The He-
nourable Gentleman had stated, that the state aed
situation of Switzerlaad ought to have excited the
attention of his Majesty's Ministers as early as June ;
the fact was, there was an anxious wish on the part
of his Majesty's Government that there should be
no resistance by Switzerland; it was feared that that
brave and magnanimous people were only invited to
make a desperate attempt, which would end in their
destruction. It had been thought fit that an effort
should be made if there was the least prospect of its
being successful. The Swiss Deputies had gone
round to all the Powers on the Continent with a
view to inducing them to make a cammon cause in
their favour ; when they found their application nn-
availing, they had then come to this country to so-
licit our assistance. A remonstrance had been made
by his Majesty's Government, but it had failed.
Mr. Moore was sent into Switzerland, but the object;
of his mission was unattainable, and he took no diplo-
matic step whatever ; in fad his fundion ceased the
moment he quitted the frontiers of Switzerland, on
the 23d of Odober. As his having subsequently had
communications with other Court son the Continent.
it was entirely new to him; and he believed Mr.
Moore was utterly unacquainted with it. The Right
Hon. Gentleman said, he was nor disposed to ester
into a discussion of the other points mentioned in hie
Majesty's Declaration, as so many distind grounds
of war. With regard to Holland, a Right Hon.
Gentleman had complained, that there had been an
inertness on the part of his Majesty's Ministers, and
that they were wanting in their duty of not having
had recourse to strong representations to re-
move the troops out of the Batavian Republic.—
The fact was, instructions were given to Lord Whit-
worth to interpose, but his endeavours were chc eked
in consequence of representations on the part of the
Batavian Republic ; that such interposition would
be likely to be attended with injurious consequeo;
ces to Holland. On the 10th of November, Mr.
Liston stated that thsre was great probability that
the French would evacuate. On the 12th, the hopes
which his former communication had raised, were
discouraged. It was said that the troops destined
for Louisiana, were intended to be continued for a
longer time in the Batavian Republic. At that time
the motives that actuated his Majesty's Ministers
to make restitution of the conquests which this
country had obtained, had ceased with respect to
Switzerland. The additional causes that appli-
ed to. the possession of Holland by the troop.
of the French Republic had become weaker in
consequence of Mr. Liston's representation ef
the ISlth. Then the question was, whether his
Majesty's Ministers ought to have occurred, not
merely the risk, but the absolute certainty of a war,
by keeping possession of the Cape, to which they
did not attach that degree of value and iisportance
which they attached to Malta ? At an early period
of the negotiation, his Majesty's Ministers, in bae
lancing the advantages of retaining certain-places,
and delivering up others, were of opinion, that al-
though the Cape was not to be considered as of n.s
value whatever; yet, that its value was compare,
tively trilling, and it was therefore they had cone .
seined to cede it. Whether that opinion was weld or '
ill-founded, was not now the question. It was an hpi-
nion that had been taken up upon the most delieera; !
enquiry, and after much communication with yet-
sons competent to form an accurate judgment vpsai
the subject, it was proper to state to the, i -loose,
that during the s'x years this ccuir:ty had keat
passession of the Cape, whatever might have teen
its general advantages, it had beep produaive a
ats expense of -not less than two inilhkms. He did
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not mean to mention this as a criterion of what
might be the expence in time -of peace. He was
far from wishing to inter, that it was not a velu-
able possession. All he meant to say was, that it es as
rot of stacient value, like Malta, to make us ien
the chance of a war for the sake of . preserving it.
He felt it his duty not •to go into particulars,
but he felt himself obliged to advert to that .I
part of the Honourable (gentleman's speech, that
related to Malta. It had been inferred that. there
was an arrangement on the subject with Russia;
now he most soleriny declared thereitat ver was :+ny ',.!i
such arrangement. The fait was, that previous to
signing the Preliminatiees and again, previous to
,1
the Definitive Treaty, a communication was made ~
to the Government of Russia, staring the heads at
which it WU proposed to snake an arrangement
4414 Malta. To that article no obiaioa 01.-ap

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that be had re-
wiers. If any
ois the:part.of
I in his lidaites-
Ps SOteth king
tcifc tendentY.
ssiesP-
iysca*plact.
on we
d Mkt Addrtts
of war was itt-
-e was a cons-
ity's Minister:,
ye ; he meant
id in. the l•!•-;?•7.
is
hich hai e
session. 11 , 7.41
josty's Covcrt- •
y any idea tk.,• I
:he duration c i •
d the House ti.) \
es larger that:
a military force •
sibly have done
s that there was •.
s; the extent of
nrdedahandaill
lajestv's Minis= • •
ity of war. A ,
tined, . that th-
forbearance of
at was a point
n• into a discus- . 1
e House to de-
fl
it was ready to
r to admit that
use shall think
have a right to
upon their wis-
this Se*sion of
t seemed to him
ly circumstance
he paper of M.
otinds of corn-
:red by his No-
WAS convinced
tt poweiful ef- •
d. The H -
,at the state and
aye excited the
s early as June ;
wish on the part
there should be
feared that that
only invited to
>uld end in t!:eir
it that an effort •
t nrosoeLq or its I :