The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-03-22 00:00:00

the nation by whom they have been unsuspectingly
and cordiutly received, acid demand their fleet as a
surety for their fidelity ; awl ou reeeiviug a refusal,
they proceed to act the part of an open foe, and
issnipel them to surrender that by force which they
had refused to cede by treaty. \Var and devas-
tatiou rage--the outworks are assailed—the city
surrounded—the inhabitauts threatened with star-
vation—the town bombarded—the churches and
public buildings levelled to the ground ; a general
and tremendous conflagration taken place, and the
citizens having on one side the terror of the flames,
on the other, the terrific pealing of the destructive
engines of war, are at length compelled to surrender
their only defence against the common enemy,
to those whom they had before fondly hoped
would have been their friends and protectors in
the hour of danger : such were the steps taken to
procure the fleet of the Danes; and however this
conatry is attached to their naval superiority, it is
nut to be expected, that at the mere sound of
these words they will be completely blinded to
the deficiency of proof exhibited by. the Mtuistry,
to prove the existence of an imperious necessity
for their treatment of Denmark. On the first
day of this Session, 1 confess 1 could not par-
take in the general triumph which Ministers
have said was felt, nor could I give usy voice
to the Address voted to His Majesty. If it
be true, the nation was overjoyed, it must have
experienced somethinghlte that foolish joy all in-
fant experiences- on seeing itself involved in the
flames of its .own garrneuts. Bat what has been
the conduct of the Nlinistry ? 1 have of late heard
of many societies 'formed, •but they certainly have
formed a society for the suppression of information
and evidence. It is not our fault that Ministers
come to the bar of the House unprepared iu evi-
dence. We are now arrived at the stage whew tire
merits of the :sue are to go to the decision of ttie
blouse. 'Tis, I wiy, their own fault, if the House
arc not in possession of safficieur facts for their jus-
tification. We, as Jurors, are bourn' to decide no
the evidence ; and, I trust, we shell discharge our.
duty, free from elk party feeliug.--(Hear ! How!
front the Mittittry ..friesda.)-1 feel little the
sneer which appears conveyed iu that cheer from
the Gentlemen opposite, since lam colonic-eel that
this house, acting as with the eyes of Europe fixed
intensely and attentively on its decision thisinight,
will do its duty fairly and impartially.—(Hier !
Heil? )-1 have this night as additioual feeling of
regret, in bringing forward this chums. Since I
may be 91114, in bringing forward a (-burgle eostrong-
ly fortified against the Ministers of the country, to
make also estrong case against the character of my
country itself. Rut those who would make this tut
objection to the investigation of truth, must also
avow the opinion, that the greater the criminality
of the Governors of the country. the greater
should be our apprehensions in exposing them.
Perhaps, the Right Honourable Gentlemen
may not be anxious for an acquittal. They may
recollect as well as ourselves instances wherein
rewards, honours, and emoluments, have followed
the condemnation end sentence of a Court of
Justice. I feel alto how little is to be expected
from the Howie, when brought` to a decision of the
merits of Ministers, since, on a fortner occasion,
they have conceived it their disty.to vide for the
suppression of farther evidence on an Aline of such
vital importance is the countey. Yet as the House
has shewn a disposition so often to change, at one,
moment grunting inforasation necessary, for the ex-
ettlnation' of Ministers, which at another they re-
fused for the service of the public ; one es-wisti fix-
ing the military system on a penuanetit formulation,
and in the next session overturning all its con-
stitutional principles; it may not be too great pre-
sumption to hope we may experience a change, for
once, on the side of justiceand honour. Iron' the
admission of Ministers I shall take my ground
of
impeachment. They admit, in the *weer to the
Russian Declaration " we owe to ourselves and to
Europe a frank exposition of the motives which
gnvenied our conduct."—Again—" Me forbore
as long as any doubt could lie entertained of the
designs of France on Denmark, or as long us any
hope remained of being able al:ethane to cottii-
teruct those designs." The gutsiness tlieu at issue
is, luwe the 'Ministry proved there did exist no doubt.
ni' the designs of France, no hope ofrountenictiug
them? The . sbuntry and this! louse to judge. They
!ruse asserted France attempted to coerce lien-
mark, that Denmark was inclined to yield to
France, that Russia was !weltered to assist Frame
in her hostile intentions ; hence it is inferred we
should seize the Danish fleet. It was asserted we
had positive data for all this train of propositions
and inferences. The first information was said to
be derived from an Irish Gentleman lately arrived
from Lisbon ; if sn, there was a more thus usual
ball in the communication; a bull which, by the
bye, Irishmen are not frequently found to make,
viz, a bull in the thetight, for the aetion is wolf a-
inured to be justified by a cause which did tint
exist until after the action was ervinpleted. The
.144tecryollog.coioto their justification oil the
secret artiCTes or Tilsit ; on fhe Atli Judy the-treaty
Was cutirludelhou the igth the expedition sailerhand
this expedition had, it should be observerl,beenthree
monthipreporing. Were the Ministry gifted with
proldrecy ? No. They answer we were apprised,
but are compelled to conceal our means of infor-
mation, Iva it shuttld fall beneath the enemy."
This is men: assertion, and tin man will require
nee to prove a negative. Let us review the facts,
and observe are the assertions of Ministers at all
reliable in reference to tlwse facts t Was it fair
to suppose Russia inimical to us, when sn late as
in November the French Minister assured his
Master he had only been able then to secure the
ear of the Russian Monarch ? The hostility of
Russia, it seems very odd, is not mentioned in
either of the Manifestos of Lords Cathcart and Gain-
bier, nor yet is our reply to the Russian Deelani-
tion. This was 'a strong ground of justification or
our conduct. If it existed then, why tint publish
it ? 'Tie nest mid, by an unstatesmanlike artifice
and feeble dexterity in shifting grouuds.-Denmark
herself was in collusion with France. Tins is the
dirty old principle, give the Man von wish to in-
e a bad name, and you may 110 it with im-
punity. This charge is attempted to he sup-
ported on the hostile temper displayed by Mu-
mark in 17e0 awl lani, when she wished with
most other powers in Europe to curb our naval
pride alai superiority. now different the feel-