The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1808-01-22 00:00:00

not even told was a party to any hostile bar-
meat ? Oaly twO grounds for such **attack gin
alleged is the law of nations.—One is, that Den-
mark had actually entered into eligagemesta has-.
file to this country, mid that you have prooLiif it;
but I do Dot find this in the Declanitiou. nor in the
Speech, and yet to support it two things are said this
day; let, That the navy of Denmark was in a for-
ward state of preparation ; and, idly, that she had
entertained a hostile feeling against this country for
some time. Now, is dims any man who has nerve
to say, that bemuse in a state of almost general
warfare, the navy of Denmark was in a state of pre-
paration, .that was a good cause for battering down
Copei Wage ? As to the id, will you say that because
in laonDentnark entertained an hostile feeling, you
will revive that feeling,and insist she must entertain
it in i ou7 ?—lt has been urged that Deimos:4c then
pleaded that she was forced into the quarrel by
Russia ; but I cull state, with perfect. confidence,
for I was then eispiaiuted with Ilia Majesty's
Councils, that Dentnerk never alleged any such
pretence, and that if the assertion in the Declara-
tion conveys that idea, it is atonally false; Den-
work, on the contrary, was the fueueuter of the
league against England, instead of being the in-
strument of Russia. This hostile feeling having
oeen long since appeased, you cannot now revive
it with decency or propriety, and I here oilseed),
shewii, that in the present critical sud disturbed
state of the world, you bare no right, from the
prepared state of hernavy, to infer hostility. But
will the Noble Lord iuiy, that the navy of Den-
mark was in a state of ftirwerd preparation ? 1 do
declare my belief, that at the arrival of Admiral
Gambier, the Daniels fleet ass not in a state of
more forward preparation than it had been for a
long time before. That is my belief. If Minis-
ters know the contrary, they ought to inform us.
According to the law of nations, you may seize the
property of neutrals, in extreme cases, where it is
upon the point of being used for purposes actually
subversive of your existence. This doctrine,
however, mast be productive of horrible come-
climates, unless construed with great strictness; and
therefore you must be assured of the magnitude and
certainty of the danger, and that there is no other
way to avoid it; but here you act not only without
certainty, but without praof, and apparently against
the actual state of things. You are told that
France meant to seize the Danish fleet, and use it
against England ; but there is so proof of this.—
Next, it must appear that France could carry her
intention into efit.. Now the whole army of
I)enmark was drawn into Holstein to resist France;
1 admit it world not be equal to the undertaking;
but this surely will be allowed as evidence of the
disposition of Denmark. Supposing then the
Danish army withilrateu, and Holstein in possession
of the French, I want to know upon what principle
Zealand must follow ? Did not you offer to defend
Zealand ? and yet was it not strouger with its navy
and its army from Holstein, than it would be with
any force of go or :30,000 troops, that you could
send for its protection ? When people talk of the
danger of Zealand, one would think they forget it
is au island, repeated from the Continent by two
Belts, one of them six, and the other sixteen miles
broad; and as to the elituive that they might be
froseo over, so *at° permit an invading army to puss
ore" with necessary stores and provisions, it no barely
possible. 'chat is the utmost extent to which hu-
man imaginetion can go. ,But.tu inake that possi-
bility a certainty is too sosich--eso that there was
nut even a ground of probable preouniption. The
next requisite is, that the "dituger could wily be
averted by these means. N'pw, admitting the dan-
ger, I oontend there were abundant other mutts
of avoiding it, besides that, .of which no man can.
speak without deep regret, and which outlet%
but imperious necessity could justify. I am iiot
ignorant that Demuark *hewed an equivocal dis-
position, but that was wide of a sufficient cause to
justify even a part of what has been dome Iler
situation was one of great e,uburrassment. 'lt
might be necessary for her to do things that occa-
sionally excited the jealousy of both parties: sad
we find, in fact, that, on one occasion, she drew
down upon her the complaints of France. But all
this was far from affording a necessary cause tourtify the mcasureof the English Governinent. 1 had
nearly forgot that there is another ground upon a Inch
it has been attempted to justify the attack upon
Copenhagen. I mean a case of alleged bad faith
in our attack of Coostautinople. Now these two
cases have nothing similar. In the case of Turkey.
we acted as the Ally of Russia, then at war with
that Power, and that merely to obtain for hiet the
exceution of treaties, and nothing more. Not one
step farther did we mean to go—and if the Turkish
capital was attacked during a negotiation. it was
contrary to the instructions given to our officers.
If, therefore, there was had faith observed at Co-
penhagen, there is no ground to.tay, that it was
justified by bad • faith at Constantiooplt." The
Noble Lord then proceeded to the other points in
the Speech; but we regret, that we have not time
or room to give more Map a sketch of his able
erguinent. Adverting to the rejection of the me-
diation of Russia, the House had no information,
and it was almond, he said, for Ministers to
call upon the House to approve their conduct
now, • and to deliberate aftentards. He was
sorryto hear it mid, that we could not have Made
peace- The Speech, on the contrary, expressed
a hope that we may, amid that a nerciation may
be yet eurninenced on terms of perfect equality.
Peace was never more desirable than at the
prevent moment, and surely this is not a day
when any man is to be reproached for expressing
that sentiment. It is not only desirable. but the
greatest of blessings, provided it could be obtain-
ed upon terms consistent with the honour of the
Crown, and the interests *id glory of the nation.
lc hoped Government hail given no encouragement
to the tieteiae, that it was impossible to obtain
peace, and therefore unfit to enter into uegociation.
There never was a more unfounded position than
that it wan improper to eater into a negociation un-
til a bads was first ascettained, as stated in the
Speech. and that no mediation should be ac-
cepted, unless we were assured of perfect
impartiality. The party is not necessarily bound
to give implicit obedience to the dictates of the
mediating power. There is no such thing imper-
fect impartiality, and if the mediation of Russia had
been accepterhand, in consequence of her partiality
for France, this country had Luken off the argot:l:,

lion, rill that Russia could do, would he to guar.
Tel with it, and she had dotty that without havim,
aay such cause ; and as to a basis being a mess.
vary preliminary, the late negoctation *hewed that
it was of little We. With respect to Portugal,
should he hail that event with joy and exultation,
that placed that country under*rence, that gave
her two of the best putt, of Europe, and took from
England one of the best sources of her commerce ?
This loss could not be compensated by the removal
of the Portuguese Lioverninent to the Brazils, for
every shop in Rio Janeiro was full of English user-
chaudixe. We had the full beuefit of the trade of
that country before, and any extension of it would
only injure our West Italia colonies. As a demon..
stration of the friendship of the Prince Regent, for
England, as, a proof °This magma/Unity, his Lordship
thought him worthy of every compliaient, but al
to the event itself he feared the loss would no It
covered by the advantages, and that, as our
enemies 'trove, it will be eventually beneficial to
France. With respect to America, hi admitted,
that a war with her would be a great evil, but /se
hoped. if such should be the result, that we would
have the consolation to reflect every thing had bees
done to avoid it. He wm,surry, therefore to hear
it said, that there hail been too much cocu.o-:•-

that country. When such language was torsi
Noble Lords should particularize. (hirer! hear!)
If by this concession was meant the treaty agreed
to by the late Ministers, which the Ameriettu l'res
midget refused to ratify, the assertion was uulburid-
etl, for that treaty contained restrictions which the
present does not propose. It am our wrest policy
to do every thing In our power to conciliate Antes
tic*, and if the system of the late Ministers bad
been pursued, he was canna:ell that object would
have been obtained. That, however, was not the
case.. .0f the late Orders in Couucil it a. 4ht '
said, that they apply to all neutrals, but the num-
ber is so small, America must feel them,
particularly levelled at her." After dwelling upon
this point for some time, and deprecating the
idea of abandoning our old, just, and honourable
system, to run. a race of itijureice against ilr
justice with France, he proceeded to the slow
of Ireland. in the course of ulna he said..
64 If there ere persons who wave formerly favour"
able to the idea of conciliating the greet mass
of the people of Ireland--they must be awn.
strongly impressed with it now. VI hen all Flaw,*
is arrayed against as, and America likely to
them, it is impossible to suppose we eau stand math
a siege, with our own servatits plottiag civil was
within onr walls. Ido conjure yon to bury
aremory of past differences, and not 'to lOW ii niga.
Wirt to attend to that, without which there is
,piety. I feel it indispensable to bring forward
'oeheet this day, and 1. will Dever cease to urge
Let me 'wane you that there issto time to be k
Much has 'beta conceded, a little only wuntins,
and I do verily believe that every man who beers
se is of opiinou, tiust the measure of tioinpftte coo.
ciliation will. come in a very few years. Ali 1 fon
pis, that it will come too late. If it were done now,
Ilkiuk how much. good has been lost, that utiOit
have been done, had it Wen grouted simmer ; bet'
the past cannot be repaired. The future nery
isaiged against. Do not chink I urge Otis with
say party view. No I We are in a state or ono:.
alupted Clanger, and I know no-means of astfrty hr
Ir, uniting the beanie and affections-of treety chats
of lii, 111ajedy's.sultjeets in Gee band. Ferry aims
sure short .oftliu to ot 110 anti,. It is Wu. driving mats
into a ship.' the timbers of which are unsound."
• Lord HAWK F.SDI'RY ass sorry the Noble Baron object.
al to the Address to His Majesty, us setvuot or Ministers
nit having Iliad before the Howse the hifisantation they I
received of the several articles of the treaty of Tilsit, sod
tae isfurniatiosinf the Munn. ttt of DfbillOrk to gee up I.
Peet to Preece. • The Noble Baron must kart/ kmw daugees
the it was to publish secret intuitionism. lins were liana
lat be lint by it. He would assure their Lanallipt, that His
Government toil positive iiifeenaithila of the
Mirka of Tilsit, and every circumstance dna that peel 2
estroliorated that hformatios. They hid airs posit.ve
faunstiso that the Dimes were going to join the Confederacy,
sad deliver their duet to Preece. This ieformatios they 1-
from every part of the Continent. It was well Cwww t.
every Noble Lard who had been in care these seven swam
post, that the diaatietted persona in Ireland 'Mays had the
earliest iaftwasatiou of every thing that concerwed
aril from that source they had more them on isforma-
Con of the determination of Denmark to join the Coo-
feiterocy. The Prime Regent of Portugal bad declared
to His Majesty, that he was called era by Wraith and Rosins
kilns the Conialeracy, in curijouctisio with Denmark:
after such niformaticia,* would it be lOW that Ministers‘
wrong in renting oat that fleet, whirl. was to he givea. up
the enemy ? He *mild sot say he Could rejoice fur the tun
of Portugal, hut he must rejoice to find that this Royal.
Ir=ind the Brosils were waved. As to our sitantiou with
Its would be silent; fur be did not conceive,
aeraintith woe gating (onward, that it was- a subject.
diaconal% A 6 to eiemansioua to the people of Ireland,
was sorry to bare hoard the Noble !Won brie:: theists**
DOW droved. He would beg es a favour, that it might
be retested. There ismer was oath ...improper time for
but he would aav, sad did think, if that class of people a-
rtery coneestioniaade to them even to the fullest 'extent
their advocates could v ash, they ',mild still want more:
it would Out quiet them one moatli.
The Earl. of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE was sorry Minis.
tens sow ems reward to defend depredations committed
nevitnil passers. ft was contrary to any thing he had can
heani in tbilt Howse. It was what we had always depre-
cated in the conduct of Pi:wee. Mr. Pitt always coateiskd
that England wuuld never make an canny by as art
'satire.
The Earl of LAUDERDALE supposed that Mlaiatere
would take credit to themselves for the migration of I
Royal Fatuity of Portugal to the Brazils. From what
coold learn,
of
bad nothing to du a itb it ; sod bow
commerce of !hie masiatry could gain by losing the trade
Portugal be could not conceive ; Ministers said it ass
came we should have a direct trade with the Breath. ?
well kapoins there could tomer be emonterre with any
that had out articles, to gins is 111•4 hanky.. That ems
mould give tis, indeed, Brasil wear, but oar owe cams
wets in w state of rein, and not able to get vent for tb
sugar. He concluded by saying, he would vote for
Amendment.
Lord MULCH AVE rose for the purpose of giving
informal...l be thooglit he ass motin4es' La te Port,
He assured their Lordships, there had been a T,
signed between Ma Majesty and the Prince Repot of
tagal, declaring that he *mold sot tore sn the 1.4., ftri,
awry to Fraare, awl amine tbun it should fall into
bands, br outstil set sail with it to the ; and
Treaty had teem duly ratified, and the reason that
not laid before the Hinter, w:m as Article that speet,
abookl be kept a *rivet, aid out divulged without the
sent of both ere.
The Aim ..t oar then negatived. without a die!
Lord tiFt EN% D.I.L mimed another Amendment,
tb.' io.ptmpricl . of giving any opinion us the refusal
proffered taaliatiou of Biome, sutil the nereseary
meat. *err laol before the House, *Melt we. alms
Lied without a &vision.
The original A.l.lrtas ear then attend to .v,r•
ordered to be pr.a, no 61 in Ow usual tura this they
AAjoarned at THRLE U CI: XX