The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-02-05 00:00:00

Ate. 7.ll*.prre-
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1

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what could be the result, ,'hat benefit could be de-
rived from such a Measure'? Ths%y say, they have
ruined the ceasrirg trade of France by it ; bnt Kill
that go to destroy her resources for carrying on
the War ? NVill this deprive her of resorting to
other modes of carrying on a trade with ether na-
tions ? Certainly not ; when we can completely
interdiil her commerce with other nations.that great
and desirable objC., nag be attaine,i; but when we see
that a treaty is concluded with America, while the
N omimpor ration Aa is still existing, and when we
see that treaty carried into execution, without any
measure adopted by His Majesty's Ministers to coun-
teract the enemy in this particular, was it not evident
that there was a great want of energy and vigour in
the Cabinet of this country ? It had been said, that
the eondua ot Fiance respeainK her late Decree was
not more severe than in that Decree passed in the
year 1798 ; but, he would say, that Decree did not
bear any comparison whatever to that lately issued,
which went to prevent the importation of any Brie
ti.h commodity into any friehdly or neutral port ;
and not only that, but declaringethat an English
property whatev• r, let it come from where it would,
or ler found where it would,' should be cnntiscated.
/Loud coughing ) He then said, he should not de-
tain the House, but merely revert to the arguments
used by several Gentlemen at the other side of the
House, which he could not pass unnoticed. :Mire
eevgiliag.) It had also been stated, thatthe
course now kept up with neutrals, was a consider-
able advent:4;e to the commerciol interests of this
country; but he could not possibly see how that
interest could be affefted by the mea'nre proposed
by his lion. and Learned Friend (Mr. Perceval).
L‘ed uud coughing.) From all these ca.
cumstances, it seemed impossible to him, that IN
Majesty's Ministers can possibly carry such a mea-
• sore into eifea, wanting so much in rigour and
energy. (Mane ou2iittz!.) But he was happy to
Lear that His Majesty's Ministers did nct intend to
stop here, as It was well known they o:tly meant to
use this measure as an experiment, and he was
well convinced it would be necessary to have recourse
to other measures.
The que,tion was then loudly called for ; when
Lord HOVs'IC r( lose, and replied, in substance,
as follows:—" Sir, It is not any thing which has
been said as the other side of this House, which
wakes me trespass nn your attention, at this stage
.of the debate, but seeing no other person on this side
of the Hour: entering Lon the discussion; not-
withstanding the very lull, able, and satisfactory
manner in which it has been already considered by
n.y Nohle Friend (Zed Temple), and my Hon. and
Learnef Friend (Sir John Nictioll.). I yet find it
imposible to content myself with a silent vote upon
occasion. The Hon. and Learned Baronet
4Sir T. Tinton) has stated she impropriety of ar-
guing this question upon general merits, until the
produaion of the papers, moved for by the Right
Hon. and Learned Gentleman (Mr. Perceval) and
said, that he should content himself with considering
the single question upon the psoduaion of these pa-
pers; yet he bad noefiuished oc e sentence upon that
point, when the remaistder of his speech was occupied
;a discussing the general merits of . the question.
This is all, pet haps, I shall trocilaie myself to say, in f
rlmes. to the Learned Barnae•'s speech The
at ned Gentleman (Mr. Pei cev.d) could not
suppose that any Motion he should make upon the
principles he stated, would be :lard upon by Par-
liament as a matter of coarse, nor could it be sup-
posed that it was for the purpose of concealment that
Ministers refused the produaion
those paper:, bat that it was in compliance wit!; that
duty whicas was maintained on a great conaitutional
principle. 'Thos.: papers could only he called tor,
lin the purpose of instituting some Parliamentary
proceedings ; it is the duty of the House to see that
then proceedings are consistent, and it is the duty
of His Majesty's Ministers not to communicate that
• lehich might be injurious to the irterests of the
country. I know of nu precedent which admits of
the produetion of papers, upon the principle laid
down by the R:gia Honourable and Learned Gen-
tleman ; and unless he can chew that there is a case,
similar to this, on which I have arned, he has no
grounds for his motion. But he has already admit-
ted that he knows of no precedent for the produftion
of those mesa. Can he say that there were not
Orders of Council in the course vi last year, which
were never before the House, and could not be be-
fore it. But it is neither mole nor less than an at-
tempt to supersede the f reunions of the Executive
Government; and would it then be for this House
to aft without any information upon a suhjeft where
the documents consistently could not be laid before
them ? I do net mean to contend, that any measure
of the Executive Government is not under the con-
troul of the House; but I do maintain, that in any
rneasute peculiarly existing in the Executive Go-
vernment, and pending the progress of that mea-
sure, this House will not interfere. Now, what is
the state of the case upon its general merits? A
Decree is issued from the French Government, the
nature cf which it is not necessary for me to go
into at any length, having been so ably and fully
answered by my Hon. anis Learned Friend. That
Decree was a false aft, built upon false principles,.
and such as has its existence but in that country,
aed we permit her to fall upon her own trap. In
the very first measure we have taken in answer to
that Decree of the French Government, the Hou.
and Learned Gentleman calls upon the House, con-
trary to all precedent. contrary to all principles
hitherto acted upon,: to adopt a measure of t etalia-
lion. However violent the order of the French
Government. for the confiscation of English pro-
perty, the Hon. and Learned Gentleman, I an.
sure, will agree with rue, that retaliation, in the way
proposed by him, can give us no additional right
against neutral powers, nor is it any reason that we
sh(,uld treet as enemies those nnfortunate and un-
happy countries, who have been obliged to become
parties with France, or are forced into that situa-
tion. Instead of compulsion and hostility, we,
therefore, act towards them with forbearance and
moderation. It is then said, we have taken
sure• short of retaliation, aid so the Hon. and Learn-
ed Gentleman says, we have taken wrong measures.
net I would ask. because l• ranee has proceeded
with violence and injuoice, is this country to pursue
lie sarne measures by way of retaliation ? This
eight, therefore, being so ascertained, I woald ask,
so, is the Han. Gentleman prepared to recom-
:mend to this House, that every person having pro-

44 A. 0% v.i.rri lb yeas, wiene irr 'Mt

I perty belonging to Frenat'subjetas, io his bride, et
thit .property belonging to Freheh silbjefle, io
the Funds, tholl be confisckted ? I should like to
know hole this Houeo :could aft upon soch a re-
commendtaiei. Having then this indttliitable
right of retaliation, I do conceive it ought to be
used with political expediency.-olito if the Execra-
tive Government cannot he relied upon, let not the
Hon. and Learned Gent'.?nian move fot these
papers, but let him at once move au Address to
His Majesty, to remove frr-ri his Councils those
persons in whrim no senfidence can be placed
One of the incnnveniencies attend.ng this discus-
sion, is the impossibility of going into it urn
the whole of the merits, without risking something
that might be important in its conqrqtirrces, pend-
ing commercial negociations with Foreign Powers.
The discussion cannot fairly he entered on, without
exposing some of our most vulnerable parts, and
enabling the enemy to attempt that which he vainly
honed to execute. The Noble Lord (Castlei
oh,,fts to this measure, because the Decr: of the
French is similar to that of I ;00l ; alihnug tlwir
powers were not so great than as at pre.eat ; het
France and Spain were teen, as now, iii close alli-
ance. France commanded the whole extent of coast
round the Continent, to the Bay of Naples, with the
exception only of the Elbe and the Weser, and that
small trael, the kingdom of Poittioal. tVith respea
to the shippino, we have the same advantages as
we had in 179 f. As a marititte power, Fritoee
was greater than she is now, the battle of Tor-
(algae not having then taken place. The for-
bearance, therefore, of the English Government,
is entitled to approbation, and I do not see,
that, upon broad and general principles, it could
have been otherwise. Nothing could be more san-
guinary and atrocious, than the Decree of the
French Government, in 1795, declaring, that no
quarter was to be given to the British soldiers ; hut
I never heard any person blame this House, for not
issuing a similar I)'cree. The designs of our one.
min have bi eo frustrated, and will ceintinue to lie
so, unless some violent measure, such as the
Learned G .ntleman wishes to recommend to the
House, shall be adopted. But what is the objea
of the proposed system of retaliation ? It reminds
me of a story I have read somewhere, of a poor
man, who was in great want of some cocoa netts,
which grew on the top of a tree. and he had no
means of reaching them. At last, however, he
spied a little monkey In the tree, and imme-
diately thought of an expedient to get at what
he wanted ; he threw a quantity of stones and
dirt at the monkey, which worked the hole
irritable animal into a paoion, and, by way of re-
taliation, the monkey flew back and threw at the
man the !fruit which it was his ohjea to oh-
lain. Now I cannot see any other object in tbe
Learned Gentlentais's proposal, than by way of
retaliation for the blockading s)stem of the
French Government, which Bonaparte throws at
us, and in revenge for which we are told,
that we should throw our commerce at him.—
In :Isom I take this to be a motion entireiy un-
precedented; a motion, interfering with some ut
the most important duties of the Executive Go-
vernment; pending a measure which has not as
yet had its full effect I and such a motion, as, 1 am
sure, the House will net conntenstrice ; and what-
ever confidence the Honourable and Learned
tleman may place in sach a proceeding, I, with
much more confidence, rely upon that system of
moderation and forbearance which has Peen adopted.
I am the list pereon who would ask the House to
y eld to any ass ',lions of mine ; but if the Ho-
nou-ahle and Learned Gentleman's assertions
are true, it his miyien is well founded, and the
interests of the country are at stake, he should
not have moved for this paper, but fur the
dismissal of HI: Majesty's present Ministers.—l
must again repeat, that we have taken a measure
which we hope will be effeElual; it not, it still li s
in our power to resort to other measures, but not as
the Hon. and Learned Baronet stated, with a view
to experiment only. I do, therefore, contend, that
it is a complete interruption of the enemy'; com-
merce. Spain and Italy can send nothing to Franc-,
nor can France send any thing to those places.
Upon all these grounds, therefore, I trust the House
will be satisfied that His Majesty's Ministers have
not been negligent of the tree interests and honour
of the country."
Sir THOMAS TURTON and Lord HOWICK
severally explained.
Mr. PIeRCEVA 1., in reply, expressed his disin-
clination further to trespass on the time of the Haase,
were it not that he felt himself imperiously called
on to aidrnadvert upon the extraordinary statements
of the Noble Lord who had just sat down. He was
willing, however, to give the Noble Lord credit for
the facetious manner in which he bad endeavoured
to refute his argument respeaing retaliation, but
could not help thinking the style of the arguthent
was adopted merely for the purpose of ihtrodoeing
the ehe'ant and classic simile of Sinbad the Sailor.
The Noble Lotd had then proceeded to demand,
whether he would insist that the same violence which
France had resorted to in her condtra towards I
England, should have been retorted. in the same 1
measure, in our treatment of France ? The '
Noble Lord knew, as well as he did, it was far
from his intention to retaliate on France to the 1
full extent of her malignity, as he had already ex-
pressed his apprehension, lest a perseverance in
such a mode of retaliation, might, in the end, be
highly prejudicial to the interests of this country, ,
without obtaining that revenge we sought on our
enemies. The Noble Lord Gad, to his great stir-
prise,
said, that his request was unconstitutional,
and even urged, that it was improper Members
should interfere, or animadvert en the conduct of
Ministers, in the present stare of the business,
except they were of opinion the country was so
far in danger, through the inability or impru-
dence of Ministers, as to make it necessary for
its well-wishers to address the Throne, and in-
treat that those evil advisers should be removed
from His Majesty's Councils; and the Noble
Lord had thereupon stated, thar had he conceived
it was his (Mr. Perceval's) intention, to foun.4, on
this application for the Papers is question, a Peti-
tion to the Throne, he would willingly have given it
up. Now this he conceieved to be a principle not
only the most absurd in argument. but si,o the
most dangerous in its consequence to . he communit y.
What owl not the ilou.e of Commons, in the

I )111".1111 •up 1:

4.* •

event. ran ind'wcretion, cr implopury'ef ei'mfuce,
hive the liberty to interposu, then counsel or te.
pions:ra-ce, with reinter and modaration, aed watn
them r t the it danger, be:fore they were ince( verahlv
' o'vervahelmed in the fatal consequences of their
error? Are we never to check the destrudtive pro.
gress ciT error, but calmly wait till its consumma.
tiny ? Or is It by removal alone, we are to corteet
the perhaps venial errors of the Ministry ? It had
been observed by the Noble Lord, that while a si-
milar oppressive Decree had passed in France, in
1.7913, England, though her power at sea was
not then equal to what it is at present, thought it
improper to retali rte in the spirit of that order.
'Now this very circumstance of our comparative in-
feriority then at sea, alluded to by the Noble Lord,
explained the reason of England's not retaliating on
France. The neutral nations being then more on a
footing of equality at sea within, would have remon-
strated, and perhaps carried the matter to an open
rupture. It was observed by the Noble Lord, that
France had made anexception in favour of America
He wished to know, was dud any reason in the
mind of the Noble Lord. that we should not im-
pede her is her erjoynteatof this exception t In
him, was it proper that we should consent to the
Ana-it:cues carrying into France the colonial pro-
duce of the French, provided France permitted them
to carry to us the colonial produce of I.:nueland ?
The , principle of ailing, in this cane, was un-
doubtedly false, and the concession dangerous in
the extreme. He concluded with stating, that,
had the Noble Lwsf, on a former occasion, stated,
that such an explanation of the consiuti of Mi-
nisters would necessarily disclose circumstaeces of
such a stature, as might be prejudicial to the
We fare of the nation, he would not have trespassed
on the primes .of the House by requiring the
paper in question.
Lord IIO\VICK row, and observed, the Hon.
Gentleman had rather unfairly laid on hint the
blame of bringing the present discitssion unneces-
sarily beftire the !louse • he was much mistaken in li
leis necolletnion, if he had net before, in a general
way, stated his ohjetnionle the motion of the Hon.
Gentleman, to be the apprehension that, in our pre-
sent situation, with regard to neutralnations,snch an
explanation might be attended with dangerous coo-
seqeences to the welfare of Great Britain.
The iariginal notion of Mr. Pei ceval was then
reed froM the Chair and negativA wi•hout a divis;on.
Mr. Habhouse then brought up the Report of the
Commi,tee on the Cauada Yarn Bill; the amend-
ments were read a second time arid agreed to.
the the motion of ylr. 11'YN NE, the Bill for the
prevention of the seductioa of the military ; and
also that for the prohibition of the importation of
gu i-powder into Ireland, were several y read a
third time, and passtd.
The other Orders of the Day *ere then post-
poned to Friday next, and the House adjourned at
twelve o'clock.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LON DON,
THURSDAY, F111111)•tY 3.

Mr. Pisteviti's Motion, for the ProdaCtion of
the Order of Council of the 7th of -Lino try, respea•
ing Neutral Commerce, was, after a Debate, last
night, in the House of Commons, negatived oith-
out a division.

An interesting Debate is expefted this day in the
lions* of Lor.is, upon the second reading of the
Bill for the Aboikien of the Flsve Trade.

'FesterJay a Court of Directors was held at the
East India House, when Captain WILLI•I4 P.
D'Esr tit RC, Of tae ship Unadd litoggione, took his
final leave of the Court, previ,us to departing for
S!. Helena and t•faJtas. The Court adjourned at
six o'clock, till Tueilay next.
A vessel is arrived at Greenock, from Charleston,
after a rapid passage• of 21 days. She has i,rought
Papers from that city, to the Bth last, but they do
nut contain any news of interest or importance.
The Jamaica accounts, to the 13th December,
mention a report received from America, or East
and West Florida having been ceded to the Unit's!
Slates, and Cuba to France, in consegmence of the
promlsBsl re-establishment of His Sir:lurks' M 4.1 E 1
vr on the flrone of Naples. In co:never:ice of
ttie cession of Cuba, a proposition is said to have
►een made from the Governor of the llavannah to
the Goternar of Jamaica, to cede Cuba to the En-
glish. We do not attach the least credit to this
Isfatenient.

The Aleph4nt and Vrieran, line of battle ;hips,
Ore off the Havannah, blockading the French line
tvf battle ship, and the *mil 74, in that harbour.
Curacoa is the most populous in pruportsun to its
!Milt of all the West India Island,, and to this ir-
cumstance we are chiefly indebted for the pruposa: of
the inhabitants, to place themselves ender the care of
the British Government. Its commerce being de-
stroyed by the pretence of the British cruisers in the
Caribbean sed, and its native produce being inade-
4u.tte to the support of Its population, the Island,
we understand, was reduced to poverty and the ut-
most eistress.

A ship, which was captured by a French priva-
seer, and retaken by the "Visheite, and arrived at
Padstow, fell in with the list outward-bound
convoy, three days after sailing tram Cork.
They bad then got two hundred miles to 11. e
Southward.

No farther atcounts have been received f rom the
Theatre of War upon the Continent, since General
Remetimosart's letter. With all the inclination
which the mini naturally feels.to discover in tha
letter some evidence to corroborate the tiumerous
repotts of viaories gained by the Russians over
the trench, on the 27th, 'lath. and 29th of
December, we candidly acknnwledge. that this
inclination remain ungratised. We hope, how-
ever, that the public hopes and fears upon
this important subjed will soon be set at rest, by
the arrival of full and positive intelligence. Go-
vernment are in hourly expeaation of dispatches
front Lord Hurcutesoir, containing accounts, not
only of the aftion of the Stith as Pultissk, but of
subsequent ioperations.

,

. 1 A

. /AIL

THE CO(IRT.

Ycs,erelay. at twelve o'clock, flit MAJESTY C;l7
to town from Wildsor, and held a privat
at the Qurr.ti's Palace.
follotving had the hon Our of being iirelerize
to I lis M %./ESTY

FIT! Nchnis, by Lord Crenell! upon his receiving
gr.iiit of a PCIISIOII 3101 Fs•ate, ant 11;s Majesty'.
u accept the title of Duke of Monde, in Sicily
Vi.c.runt Tiafalear, spi of thd LA, by Lam t„.,„41,
upon his retell/Jae H s M .jesty's permission to Kama, t,
t,tle of v,,,ount Tr:a lear, and to a cept CIO lhskr
Joolliim The Noble Voreo.i• t so, the ri' band and s.I •,
I.olanio of the Order, se worn by his lam 11.1ele,
Lord Ne'ann.
Mr. Merry, by Viscount Hovii,k, u;.on his fettsr.,
his V.mba‘sy in A merles.
The Earl of ent.erio to took lezvl of Pis • 1
previous to his departure f r thy Cape of God
to take upon huts the goveri,rtent of Chat place.
The Rev. Dr. I InthlOßt, the Drah.of
laid before His MA tnTY his SeTnti.:is, are
fore the Clergy of Lis dicce,c.
His bl rosary held a Privy Coin cil, when ),
according 'to annual ccstorn, ptic.c.l ti r the iLt:t;+
for the year ensuing, and they mere finally settleil.
EIS MAJriTY gave private audiences to L0T61.4
GRIIIVILLt, H. Perry. mid Howie:a ; and r.Zei
Da Nita ousts and MOIRA ; the last-mentioned
blernan laid before His MAJLiI it his 'mewled LA
regulations for the Ordnance.
At half pat four o'cloct !lit MAJ CST Y tit Of
his return to Windsor, escorted by .s 011 ty 'of
Luse.

.ANCILAT CONCERT.

Last night these grand and dwelt edibire4 err
certs commenced, with ail their Usual
There was every thing to admire, end tothing r
regret, hut the absence of Their /4 1[37.1 ki an 4 Ire
Patecisses, who, when in town, honour these tor:-
certs with their augnst presence. •

The Concert crimmjnccd with the Coronitidh
♦nthem. The beautiful &let of

Qua! aoetante cervo ehe roue,"
rentfi Marcell°, w. 4% given by Mrs. A+Hs and
VAUSH•Ns with great sweetness and evcution.,
and was rapturcuily applauded.:—Ms. HAaei G>;
in his layout ite song,
" C ins, if you flare, our trumpets scunA ;"
was g'and and impressive, and highly applauded,
as was fit s. Astia in—
" liarcyreil ye limpid spins and fonds.".
The second aft commenced with t::e charmin;
Made igal—
" Since first I saw your face, I re,oli'd
• " 'so honour and renown you 3"
which was given in very fine style by Mrs. Asia,
Messrs. 111•Rill50N, KIOVVETT an 4 f.A 1. t.
! my Dandcar ! hark were ca:!'d below;
by Mrs. VAUGHAN, M . H itaistsort, W;17)
KN YVETT and BARTI.tai AH, from •'
Lee.," was uncommonly tine, and tke applaule
it received could only be eqiiall-d by tha4
bestowed on is BART LLAI AN in his suldiuse Sung
from Lianust z

ta Thee, emelt night an 4 don
St:o6g is fe.pe, assig arid pray.

lit, Concert concluded with the Grand Chend‘
from 7hr Aie,sioh.
Near four hundred rwrrrns of rant and fas%iod
were present; amongst whom Wert their itoy4
Ilig;inesses the Prince old Witt FS and Duke
amoral asp; and the Earls of D•arisOotii, t 14,.
anions, and I OltreaCUL, Direaors, who presided
for the night.

- sir Joss Joss and Lady NEWPORT g.uve I grand din.-
ner, yesterday, at their house in York-street, SAO
Ja ems's, it; Lord and Lady Possums?, Lorcti•
Eliseo FLIT Y, ACTH( sPa, FOLKVI ONE, Mr:
Ga ATTAR, and Mr. CAREW.
The Earl Freese:Luau, we are very sorry 411,
state, continues indisposed, at his house in Groivt=.
nor-square. lite Losdship's complaint is of a bsr
bous mature.
Yesterchty morning or?s married, at St. Cesrgile.
Church, Hallos cf-SplAre, Sir Daniel Healing, riatr.
ci the county of Cumberland, to Muss klennin
daughter and sole h,iress of the late Sir Michal
Le Fleming, Bart. of Ryclall Hail, in IVestmorlah
for wt ich Ci unity he was the worthy Reptesentetiee•
in Parliament to the end of his hie ; and grand,:
daughter of Thomas Howard, late Earl of Guff elf
and Berkshire. Ihe bride was 'given away by the
Earl of Suffolk ; her bri. e maids were, LAI •
Catherine Howard, daughter of his Lcodship, ri
Miss Hungerford. The bridegroom'! mac, Richer •
North, Esq. There were also Fresear, the Crmntesi
of Surfo;k and Lady Diana IlemSng. So natters
the ceremony, the itaw-married couple left teiM
for a short time.
Twat's( luOCSANO POCROS Pales.
First-drawn Picket, yesterday, No. 12,283, entitle
to Thirty Thousand Pr.unds, was said at s.
HAZARD, BURRE. and Co.'s Office, Royal hi
change, in one. Half and e;ght Sixteenths. Tic
following (being nearly the whole of the Capital
Prunes drawn this Lottery) were sold at the alioie
Offirt.
No.. 11.9'3
24.03 to 02,,
3,415 . . . 10,000 lis
Ma

546. . .
3,276
And 24,4E6

b,ra,o ,t,
1,000
1,000, a whaSie TIAN.

PRICE QV S !VCRS If LSTERDAY.
Rink Stork SIB
3 per Cent. Reduced
: per Cent. Coasoll• .611
5 per Crut. Navy l.e.
Own4uno
11-1..1 Bonds . 3. 111 pew*
Esehecu, r Baia par Is. piens. Is dlc,
E.,t.01 Lottery Ileitis
Cunsnls (...

LON.DON :—hinted by G. DAVIDSON, No. 17, DOW.
Chart. Roir-street, Covont•Gautou, and published at at
Oi%te, So IS. SaeLot St. anew nt'a Cbuiso, Strand, ht
W snrcx, of No. ^ Nrlrt ll,ltonatreet. 1,0n4
1.11 pig Paper, rtn; t,, ffh. Office irweis•
totlt tr duhr usondtd tn.