The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1806-12-20 00:00:00

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ttleall itgrabiting hevesieftetukes, -er• contivaist
'bar cooded with shose.natiosia illicit have trenfortily`
Alerted fired* t • kit when Vise.pbsery ation is Brae,
for .11se spurpthe of alienating the affedions it( the
• petiole frem the Govetnment, it becomes me to fiISOW
of alt delicacy, and declare farther, that we forget
all cause of quarrel with Prussia, and that England
was not wanting to herself, 1-.1- her Allies, in any
thing the could effett fur the liberties ut Europe. It
•11its been ,alsol asked 4 why, if it was necessary to
send Lord Morpeth in O.t.ber, he returned
nr November, and did not remain there Where
aac he to remain ? After the battle of Auerstadt
did the King of Prussia remain ? Did his Go-
vernment remain? Did his army remain ? Was
Lord Morpeth to remain on the field of battle,
and swell the triumph of the Victor ? This
much I think necessary to say, in defence of his
charadfir. With respe.t to the negotiation, it
would be improper to anticipate the debate upon
that suhjtd ; bur if the House think that peace is
not destrahle, unitss just and honourable, I am
confident that the papers respecting it, when laid
upon the 'able, will rive complete satisfaction.
Lord HAWKESBURY rose to explain, and
stated, that the Noble Lord had misunderstood him
in supposing he designed to attach any blame to his
Noble Friend (Lord Morpeth) ; he had only to
lament the-circumstances that rendered his remain-
ing there impossible, and that his mission had
not been commenced at an earlier period, when
it would probably have been attended with greater

success.
, Earl of RADNOR rose to recommend to their
Lordships a Motion, the occasion of which, though
he had reason to lament, yet he was almost con-
vinced no member could have any objection what-
ever to the immediate objeds of it. This was an
address of condolence to His Majesty. on the irre-
mediable loss his family had sustained in the death
of that venerable and heroic Prince. William Ferdi-
nand, Duke of Brunswick, who tell gloriously in the
field of battle, whilst maintaining Isis owe dignity
as a Sovereign, and the independence of Europe,
against the tyrannical usurpations of an haughty
Despot.
Lord GRENVILLE begged the Noble Lord not
to put the House to the mote on a subjed,.where.
notwithstanding the high rasped and veneration he
entertained, not only for the iiioble Personage de-
ceased, but also for all the branches of his illustrious
family. he could not help but oppose the Motion;
since the Noble Lord, he was convinced, could not
support himself on the ground of precedent ; he
could not recoiled an instance wherein the Noble
Lord could be borne out in his Motion; but he could
state, from his own recolledion, an instance, where,
on the death of the Prince of Hesse Cassel, a re-
lation of the Royal Family, the House had deter-
mined such an address ioadvir.eable. Hit Lordship
thee proceeded to more the House, " That a Com-
mittee be appointed to prepare an Address of
Thanks to His tga jest), , expressive ol their gratitude
for the kind and paternal sentiments contained
therein, to his loyal snbjeds ;" which being 'agreed
to, the address was read from the Woolsack, and
care* nays. dirt.
The Noble Lord then moved, " That Lord Wid-
singliato be appointed Chairman of Committees,
public and private, for the present Session of Parrs-
anieut, to which he hoped the Hasse could not possis
bly have the smallest objedion, when they recollected
with what universal sansfattion the Noble Lord bad.
on two former Sessions, performed the duties of that
highly nosed:able situation. This being unani-
mously agreed to, the House adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
At half-past one o'clock the Speaker took the
Chair, and the folrowing, amongst several other
Members, took the Oaths and their Seats—Lords
Stanley, A. Hamilton, and Morpeth; Sir S. Rornilly
Menlo. Alex. Hope, Sheridan, Bing, Sharp, and
Morris.
About half-past four, the Deputy Gentleman
Usher of the Black Rod appeared at the Tattle, and
informed the'Speaker elat the Leeds, authorised by
virtue of His Majesty's Commission, desired the
attendance of the House to hear the Commission
read.
1 he Speaker, attended by most of the Members
present, immediately proceeded -to the House of
Lords. Oa his return he informed the House, that
the Clerk had, according to custom, prepared a
Bill for preventing Clandestine Outlawry ; this Bill
was read a first time, aid ordered to be read a se-
cond. According to t:titterri also, several Commit-.
tees were appointed to hold their sittings regularly
on particular days of each week. Amongst these
were a Committee for Religion, for Courts of Jus-
tice, for Trade, and a Committee of Pi ivileges, to
meet on Mondays, Wednesdays. and Fridays, and
to report their proceedings from time to time. The
various standing orders of Cie House relative to the
dediau of Members, and xXprixerration of order
in their proceedings, were next real ariarlSY
Speaker.
lfls VIAJEgTi'S setEcit.
The SPEAKER. said —" I have to acquaint the
House, that this House has been in the House of
Lords by desire of the Lords Commissioners for
opening this present Parliament, and that the Lord
Chancellor, in name of the said Commissioners, has
read His Majesty's Speech, of which I have ob-
tained a copy." Hoe the Speech iris read stood from
toe Chair, see Me Horne of Lords.)
Mr. W.,LA MB then rose and said—" It is by
no means either morel or extraordinary, that a
gloom should be cast over the Meeting of Parlia-
ment, by some recent disturbance of that rystem un-
der which Europe has so long enjoyed a state of
the highest happiness! and tratiOutllity• We have
beta sufficiently accustomed. by a very long muse
act eeperienct, either to the utter destrudion of many
of the :::irropearrxStitev, and allies rf this country,
or so thlit degradation and discomfiture, to such a
Jeore-, as approaches to their complete destrudioa.
But although ever, succeeding disaster of this nature
prepared the m,.nds of men for the Ares-at state of
eifeies; yet, ft is witsndt awe and inquietude,
, that we-een behold that 'nate of sdifairs, so long
mistimed, 'at length arrived ; die pcwer of the
envoy ehncast completely predominton over the
Poisons at the Cootinette. sod nearly unresisted,
eree7t by Great Britoil; solely depending upon
those malice's, ten *Nth she elleays may rely with

of-hear people/. Mute, theft cirenro-
statsce4 it is impOssible• not to pArt.cipate 110
which pears to be the referral feeling and
impression, einClioned by the words of Hishteies.
tr's gTftiool speech. that we have met in the moist
of such dit.turnus eventi, and such trying and ar-
duous carcum.tances, as meat make oar deliherap.:

*ions be looked to, not only by our countiymen ati
large, hot by our allies and the enemy himaelil
with the utm .st attention and anxiety. Pie Pre-
sent period his been distinguisheil by events more
terrible and disastroui in their consequences, than
any time within our remembrance. By our fellow-
countrymen our deliberations will be looked t.i with
an expeCtation of the mat:west consideration and
firmest resolutinn; be our allies with an anticipation
of that steadiness and perseverance, with which we

have always hitherto shown ourselves capable of sup-
porting their cause in the maintenance of genuine
liberty ; by' our enemies, who will view them with
disappointment, in not detecting in our Home the
smallest signs of elven, or of wavering in our re-
solutions. Your attention, Sir, has been principally
called by the gracious Speech which we have
heard read, to two topics, which I cannot help
thinking are most sincerely to be lamented. The
first is that which respells the fruitless negotiation
for peace, which the present Government had en-
tered into with our enemy. I am far from wishing
to enter upon any sobjett which may have a tent
dency to revive political animosities, which }lave
bean lest and forgotten in the disostrods issue of
the events which have lately taken place. I shall
not stir lior discuss the question, as to whether or
not the pacific system, which was advised during
last war, was politic er profile:able. To deter the
violence of France. and engage them to mode-
ration towards the Continental power!, for the
purpose of preserving their friendship, it was
necessary that we should be strong and formi-
dable in ourselves, and be backed by strong and for-
midable allies, in order that we might make an
effeaual appeal, and espef effeEtuai assistance.
It is necessary that a nation should be strong and
powerful, when it ui.dertakes a mediation betwixt
two contending powers. Surely, Sir, the same suc-
cess could not be rationally erpefled from the same
system, when territories were dismembered, armies
subdued and overcome, and the spirit of a people
abashed and dismayed, amidst the superiority of the
enemy. In this inauspicious state of affairs, so lit-
tle calculated to produce a pacific disposition, on
the part of the enemy, with any of the powers upon
the Continent, the Negociation was begun by Great
Britain, singly. It was, however, speedily found,
that no peace could be made, unless the terms were
such as to make it the interest of France to break
out into another rupture. His Maj •sty's Miniseers
aceordiegly, relying upon the good sense of the
people of this country. while no pernieioun conse-
quences had resulted from the attempt, thought
proper to advise His Majesty to prefer war, with all
its burdens, to a peace, which would have proted
more destructive to the real interests of the country,
than years of adverse warfare. The Negociation,
althnagh it has entirely tailed, has exhibited, on the
@nelson/. a deer and unequivocal testimony of the
pacific disposition of this country; and on' the other,
the ambition and rapacity of the enemy. As His Ma.
jetty has been graciously pleased to order the details!
of this Negociation to be laid before both I louses of
Parliament, it will be premature for me to say
much upon the subjeft. I do think, however,
that enough has appeared, even from the partial
statement of the enemy, to prove his insincerity, as
well as to show the wisdom, ability, humanity,
and good sense, which were evinced on our part.
Enough has transpired to shear. that the hest means
were adopted for consolidating the balance of
power; that the best security against the aggran-
disement • of the enemy, was aimed at ; that no
Ally, was abandoned ; and that none of the real in-
terests of this counts y .were hazarded, nor its honours
likely to be compromised in the slightest degree.
Such are the grounds. therefore, on which the
Ministers of His M ijesty have a claim upon this
House for its approbation, and that of their country, !
the bizhest et all rewards. The failure of the Ne.
gociation has been accompanied too with events of
the most astonishing magnitude, which have sue-
needed each other, upon the Continent, with an un-
exampled rapidity. The almost total destruflion of
a power, who had suffered the least in the cala-
mities of war, Ilia been effeSed. I mean Prussia ;
whose conduft it would appear highly
eious and improper to touch upon, now that 'she
is in a state of subjugation. That consideration, in
a political point of view, can afford us no consola.
tics in her disasters; but it is utisfailory to Minis-
ters and the country to know, that however natu-
rally desiront and eager the British Government
was, to afford every assistance to qte King of Prus-
sia, after the sword was drawn; yet we were
net, in the slightest degree, responsible for the
prudence of the war entered into, nor the man•
r ateroins which it was concluded, by her. . By-the
occupation of her territory by the enemy, and
the unsuccessful events of that war, Prussia is
now compelled io make those exertions for her own
safety, which she formerly might have made for
the defence of her neighbours. I turn now to
that which has been always a pleasing and grateful
refh•flion, and which at this moment I feel pecu-
liarly so ; I mean the internal situation of the
courory. The blessinos we enjiy. it is unnecessary
to exp'atiate upon, be.cause I believe them to be
well Known, and appreciated, not only by this
House, but by all the inhabitants of the country
Wherever oar loidiers have been engaged, they
have evinced a superiority over the enemy. I tat-
ter myself, that, secure in our capital and our credit,
we shalt e'er defy the naval exertions of our enemy.
With respect to the hoidens necessarily to be ins.
posed, howeier distressing they may be, I ant sure
they will be borne under such circumstances
firmness. I can hartily-suspeft, therefore, that the
House will hesitate to pledge itwlt in at.sweriog
His Majesty's most gracious Speech from the
Throne, nstd to agtee to use oar best endeavours to
meet the exigencies of this front evendel crisis ; to
oppose everyfdanger with fortitude ; and to brave
the enemy with energy; relying with firm confi-
dence upon these solid grounds---our real force em-
ployed on the whew disposition, sud above all, the
al ?earners; of the people to the Constiottioa. I am
convinced, Sit, that there it a disposttlon in every
Quit afrdellind if to the Fast extremity, *La we re-

.. .
A iCt upon the happiness and honour which Cron
Britain has to preserve, and the misery and di._
grace which she has to avert."—The Hon. Member
then concluded a speech, which seemed to make
considerable impression upon the House. by n,as.
in a long address to His Majesty, which was, a,
tfkl, an echio of the Speech born the I !none.
' • '.oa the Speaker inquiring who was to second tie
*Zebu ?
lite.'JOHN SMITH rose and said, tkat at a p..
rind sn big wit!' neer and extraordinary events, the
satistaCtion which Ministers must fee; in openirg
P .rliam-int, he bad no doubt,'rnutt be felt equally hy
every Member of the House. There never was mo-
ment when the general arise cf Parliament was more
impetiousty called upon to discuss the public affairs,
and he trusted that the House of Commons aid
this day, and on every occasion, cendua its d4ibe.
rations so that His Majesty should see that they really
merited the confidence be reposed in them. The
House would recoenise in His Majesty's conun,
that benevolent disposition which he had evinced on
a former occasion, under circumstances as discou-
raging as the prcser.t, to put an end to the calamities
of war. An early opportunity would be afforded to
the House to enter into the consideration ot that im-
portant Negnciation. He united io opioion with the
Hon. Mover, that enough had already been pubtsh-
ed by the enemy, garbled and erroneously stated as
it was, to satioy every one of the doable-dealing,
hypocrisy, and chicanery, of the French; and to
render the honourable and candid caldron of the
Noble Lord to whom it had been entrusted, emi-
nently conspicuous. In the latter party was to be
seen the real English charafter, ind Estish reai.
tusk ; and in the former, that daihse and debasing
policy, which had ever marked the charefler of
French Negotiators; even in more happy days. On
the present occasion, indeed, a more favourable
result could not be well expelled ; for, at the very
time when the French Government Were making the
most pacific proposals, they were taking those mea-
tuses which were calculated to compel the Sint of
Prussia to enter into• that war, the consequencei of
which, we must all deplore. It was, Indeed, the
result of imperious circumstances; France 'de-
mended of Prussia a sacrifice of her commetce,
a dissolution of her wisest and oldest &Mendes;
a cession of territories was also insisted upon, the
obvious tendency of which was to weaken the Pitts-
sian barrier, and to lay open that dnfoitunate corim.
-try to the enemy, without offordieg her the opsior-
tunity of ever afterward, striking 1. bluer in ter
own defence. The eventful fabrof PrtiSsia ought
to be a warning to Europe, while at the sarde time
it ought to serve as an e!!:cutagement to Grlcat
Benson. Almost from the cOretnencerbent of the
French Revolution, Presoa has been seen crotichitig
under those despots, at times, when., by an 'zealots
of her arms in the comnein cause, she might per-
him, have tuned the scale; end iirieled the de-
liverance of Europe.. In the enterer of the Freilch
Government to the Mangrove of that unfortuntte
Monarch, whiiehe a situation that should have ex-
cited pity in geflffo,:e and feeling breatts, he is revea
upbraided with abject suninissioe and tiesillsnireity.
In the midst. of them celsmities, it seas ell's,";! 'tory
to reek% that the conduct of the King M Satedeo
and the Emperor of Russia, haver been :each
' as to assure mast their further vigosens exertions in
the common cause. With reword to the aunt ea.;
crifices and additional burßeiis which we are talks;
upon, under the exigencies of the timer, to endure;
he was sere they *iisild be borne by every one with
pleasure; the mine especially, when His Majesty
had been graciously pleated to point out the ne-
cessity of economy in our resources. The attack
distended by our en •iity wax against the very vines
of our country. Every sacrifice must, therefore, be
made, with a view to the vigorous prosecution of the
war ; for as to a rpeedy termination of it, no man
can at present entertain hopes. Is was, therefore,
necessary to impress upon tie public mind, 'iliac it
was of the highest importance, in the present event-
ful crisis, to submit to toes- burdens. The circum-
stances of the con .try were highly strisfaStery in
the present state of aff.airs—(.l cry of beer has! heap
him !) He might eta eit as his opiniod. that much
was owing, in that pirticular, to t!.e wi e and judi-
cious sydem of fi..ance of that great sled enoneirt
Statesman, whose loss was sn much' deplored—
( Mear him ! beer hinlY)•wheee virtpes ere engrave'
on the he.rts of his count. yrnen. He was glad to
find that those who had succeeded him (Mr. Pitt)
seemed inclined to follow his steps. [lva 1: mum as
important, there mu-t be `sufferings of particular
kinds. Notwithstanding the efforts of the enemy
against our c mimetic., he mill believed that it
would continue to flettriin. His Majesty himself
had been pleased to assure us, that dolt great basis
of our security and prosperity still remained unim-
paired. He believed, that notwithnandnig the
boasted blockade of the British isles, Prance would
not venture to send out a single ship from beyond
the reach of her batten's, against the Navy of Bri-
tain.; which compiendral ta• seas. and could emit
gross the commerce of the Whole liorld. The
King of Rolland, in an address to his unfortu-
nate vassal subjeCts, tells them, that the prohibi-
tion of the neutral trade, would be the deeds-
blow to the already-expiring cornflower of Holton&
With regard to the subjeas nt this Country, there
cm be no doubt tnat the people hive spirit and
vigour eriouser for any situation they mill be
pieced id. lie hod long beheld, with admizativo•
the firmness and foititum with which they had en-
'Awed all the expences and calamities of the time,.
in support or' their country and Constitution With
these sentiments, and upon them gronodr, he b -gged
leave to second the motion which hit Hou. Friend
had mad: upon this occasion.
On she proposed address being read from the
Chair,
Mr. CANNING rose, and addressed the Home
to the following purport: „I can trill. .1 Mr. Speakers
say, that I never rose in this House frith more un-
feigned anxiety and feeling. then at this moment.
from the complete cooviattoe I enteitein of tbe unpa-
ralisie f impertence of the crisis in which we live, and
the many difficulties we have at prier! .t to encounter.
—I feei it to be a conscientious duty in me to
stare, upon this occasion. what is spy opinion of the
present sifiaistiois of public *fairs, end ot the mea-
sures pursued by the present Government of the
country ; of the means which we have enjoyed, and
those which yet remain, in ceder to extrimite us
•from cur •Cti :ice! rositicio. I fish it to'be the duty