The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-01-03 00:00:00

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firmly adhere to good faith with our Allies. lam
not, LLiwever, my Lords, without entertaining some
drsubtr, how far IT was advisable to enter into the
Negaiation at all. OT, having begun it, to continue
it io long ai we did. Peace, it must be confev ed,
is at all times most desirable; but there are certain
eases in which it may not be advisable to attempt
it, as when it may be foreseen from the charader of
the enemy with whom we have to contend, that
eligible terms are not likely to be obtained. I
give credit, however. to. His Majesty's Govern-
ment, for forming their own judgment upon
this point, contenting myself with the mere state-
ment of my doubts. But these doubts acquire
additional strength, with regard to the pro-
priety of continuing this Negociation so long
as we did ; for it is evident, that serious inconve-
niences may have arisen during this prolonged dis-
cussion. Its tendency was to relax, in the mean
time, the vigour of your operations; if ever we
should enter into a similar Negociation with the
present Chief of France, I trust, that the olsj,ds and
the basis will be, in the first instance, distinOly
stated, and that the Negociation will be soon con-
cluded. It now appeals, that the Chief of the
French Government has thrown away the scabbard,
with a determination not to sheathe the sword till he
his subdued this Country, and the Continent of
Europe. Such is his unconquerable ambition ! It
only remains for us to continue to countered his
efforts:

in into Caienie mini.
--When we look to the bravery of our troops is
various quarters of the Globe—in Egypt—in India
—on the Plains of Maid—in South America, and
wherever they have had an opportunity of manifest-
, ing their superior courage; and whilst we fight in
instintenence of our rights. and the rights of yu .tice
throughout the world, we have, my Lords, nothing
ref) fear. Our finances are flourishing beyond all pre-
cedent ; the state of our commnce will, I trust,
defy the malice and impotent efforts of our enemy.
Ile may attempt, indeed, to shut us nut from Vie
ports of Eur •pr ; but. I trust, this attempt will prove
truitlese. But even if so, would not our manu-
factures continue to flourish ? lo hinder this, our
enemy must shut up from us all the ports of Asia,
Africa. and America. Amidst our present gloom,
I cannot, my Lords, but derive some sources of con-
solation. Otte amongst others is that produced by
the measure, which, in the early part of this evening,
Was brought forward by a Noble Lord in His I.la-
sasty's Administration (Lord Grenville). I meal
the Bill introduced for the retortion of the slave
I Trade. I rejoice that the inhuman traffic in sieves
is seriously proposed to be put an end to. This to
me is a source of consolation; another is the preser-
vation of the established Church. But here I cannot
help lamenting that so little has been dole of late
rears. In the reign of Queen Ann, no less than
.co churches were et once ordered to be built ; but
Lave we been sufficiently attentive to this objefl,
notwithstanding the vast increase of inhabitants in
our populous towns and cities ? Is it nut for want
of N., us a great measure, that the Se taxies have of
Late yeors spread and abounded, so as to even
thicoteit the safety and security of our religious
e taillishment? I lament, likewise. the violetion at
• tl.c Lord's Day, and thai trades are sufered to ue
remised on that day, eu the disgeasse of the eons.
try, and that the penalties are so trivial as al-
most to amount to an immunity. The increased
puirlicotion of Newspapers on that day. I consieer
as coming within this charge of the suoletien of that
holy day; eild, even at the present time, a new
Paper is advertised to be published, professedly de-
nominated The Sitidati Paper. 'Prose. I consider,
ss so many dark specks over our political hemis-
phere ; nor are they wiling in their ccutsequences ;
ter, assuredly, if we tregleft moral and religious
reirsideretions of this nature, we may look forward
woh feeriul anxiety. But, I trust, we shall still
ad.lere to the principles, civil and sacred, by which
this country has SO long fLinTiShed.
.4 0 foltunatni ntneivin,
.. Sue .tr bore motor'."
Lord ELDON—,' I rise, my Lords, with feelings
peculiarly alive to the strong necessity of car ying
fully into effeft that part of the Addicts proposed
by the Noble Baron, of suppoitlog with the moat
unceasing vigour and undaunted resolution the great
contest in which we are engaged. Whoever silicas
on what may pt ore the final issue of that contest. of
whot may prove the fate of this Empire, whoever
feels for the honour and happiness of Great Britain,
, • must perceive, that the only chance of safety, and
the reat hope of ultimate and decisive triumph, i
now depends up an a WIT-Wills prooectoi.in of the war.
Wnilst then the genuine British feeling continues to
animate the people of this empire, I am convinced
there isnot a man in this House, or in this country,
who would not lather perish in the calamitous con-
fliO. than willingly compromise the dignified charac-
ter of Britain, or tamely submit to any base Acknow-
ledgment of ioferiority to any enemy, however exten-
sive hia territorial irdisence, or splendid his military
snecess. Bat, my Lords, in entering into the discus-
arm of the merits of the late Negociation,anxions as I
feel to rxpress nay approbation of the conduti of His
Majesty's Government ; in fully supportig the ec-
ktiowledged chnritaer at this conntry for sincerity
and good faith ; setistied, as 1 am. with the man-
ner ice which the hart ests aml safety of our allies
• have been preserved. as well of those powers to
whom we were humid by the solemn compaft
of the most sacred obligations, as of others, whose
clone claim upon our assistance, arose equally
formate benefit of the principle, and the congeni-
ality of the intetests ; yet, my Lords, I may be per-
%listed to say, without the least imputation upon the
corselet: or reputation of Ministers, that I lament
the prorraftion of the Negotiation. The prolongs-
Celt cf . the correspondence I regret. because the
chicanery. aged deception of the Frcnsb Government
tars sv peculiarly marked, and sq apparently ohms v-
able thiotighont every stage of the Negotiation.—
. And, my Lords, give me leave to say, that when,
under the clitc6t authority and express avowal of
His Majesty, such a Negoeiation is thought acces-
s-4:y is be criginated, no one aft should be over-
looked, i'.l• any circumstance omitted; calculated
Lto lessen, ri•ber in the eyes tif the slmy, car of
Esilope, the g'ory and honour of the Crown,
conuearsl, a-. they are, with thi greatness and
security it the empite. Therefore. I should have
roodered loileer and longer. previnns to my ac-
quiestente in Any procedure is which the mani-

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fest intention of the enemy of those realms Was to tpirit of peace; arfiitst the contrasted &Qua,.
delude by delay, to defeat by deception. Po; if, lof the enemy, shifting. and evasive, at one tnomen'
by any unfortunate and destructive iofatu.a.:on, giving up noe concession, in the next reclalarieg Cel
we should ever be brouget to imitate the ciiitouct of propesitione which it before conceded. clearly es
those countries, which, from narrow views of pro- hihits that, from the heoinning emit the rip ore iv*
hey, and a confined, selfish, but fatal contemplation the Negociat:rm.
.the wine perfidy and bed ta:th
of events, have ultimately been made the maims were the setuating principle of the French Cahine
of their own delusion, and annihilated by that very But there is one raft, to whicli I must beg th - atten
poorer to which they had so repeatedly sureuertee; lion of youoLordships, as it is one upon which the
if, I say, the people of Great Ihitain should ever Declenation of Ills Majesty, the charneer of lie
be induced to forget the proud distinction of their G overrment. and the credit of the country, are a•
own immediate situation, or neglect the sacred itene with the statemeat of that man oho is at the
principle, by the exercise of which that prolie dis- had of the Freitch Empire. and has, in the face o
tinction WAS obtained,• thee should we have to the world, positively denied that the ad pimidetiq war
regret the - complete forgetfulness of all that was the basis of the late Neyncietinn. This is a cir
hitherto held sacred; to witness the lamentable cumstance which it behoves his Mejesty's Minister
submission of British honour and good faith, to the lolly to explain; and to convince this Wine, and all
most scandalous violation of every principle of Euroee, that what has gene ahead /,, simeliessed by
equity, and every precept of cninmon justice. To thtt name of their Sovereign, is the true and justifier'
guard ageinst such an humiliation, aid to preserve inference. But the Noble -Baron opposite, has
unsullied the unrivalled honour of the British proved, with considerable perspicuity, that the prin.
name, there is not, lam convieced, an individual ciple of aeuel prosession, is the only re in -iple which
iii this country, through whose veine one drop of could apply to the comparative sire ei on of Great.
British blood circulates, but would voluntarily shed Britain and France, that, from the der reified nature
it in that noblest of all causes, anal who dues not of the various conquests of the respeetive empires,
look forward, with the most ardent feelings, to that and from the mantle:re supirierev of the one
great and important trial, npon the result of which compared with the territotial ii.fluence of the
his own and country's happiness and security will other, the cooly probable heals upon which a
depend. But, my Lot di, though I fully appreciate teary honourable to both the contra ing parties
the dangers of the crisis, end the energies whith could be effected, was the basis of the at: pactiddis
such a danger demands to oave brought into Orme- Having thus proved that the pi iio:ple of aelual pose
diate aeiun ; and though I strongly feel the neces- session was the only basis upon which a..beileficial
sity of supporting His Majesty with firmness and Treatty could have been concluded, the Noble Baron
eignur, yet. from my knowledge of the MAR who has certainly added to the number of the reasons.
commands the resources of France, from my know. and enforced the coirency of those argnments,
ledge of his mote for no law, and my convietion of which render it absnlutely necessary for Ministers to
the unceashog ambition by which he is attuned, I prove to A aem onstiation. that the principle of the
tan by no means bring myself to join in that part uti pore/ens wa, the deter' bads, agreed and aCted
of the Address, where the ineffeSual endeavours of tom:* in the late Negociaton. Really, I knew not
His Majesty to terminate a pacific treaty with the in what pert of the Ofliciel Papers resented to
Chola t: e French Goeernment, are coneid- red as talk House, His Majesty's Minneers will fin I this
a e iwe of regret. God forbid, that for one mo- principle of actual possession, once recognised by
ment I should be considete I the advocate of an in. the French Government. Surely not in the Letter
termt able war, or an unfeeling speeetor of the i dated the sth of Marsh, where an extra& from
numerous eflietions and disttesses which war occa- the Chief of that Empire states the readiness sit
lions; yet however hurnene considerations may the enemy to make peace upon the basis of the
tend to reptios the assertion, I cannot refrain from Treaty of Amiens—a basis directly contrary to
expressing my dissent to this part of the Address; the principle of the esti postdetis; and a Treaty,
and upon this point I appeal to the testimony of the to which, from the former feelings of the Noble
Noble Viscount (Sidnarouth) opposite I appeal to Baron opposite to nie, lam surprised he could
the (minor., which, previous to the ratification of have, for one moment, listened. But. my Lords,
the Treaty of Amiens, 1 thought it my duty, as an not only in this letter of M. 'Falleyrand, of
honest servant of the Crown, to communicate to my the sth of March, is there no mention pot this basis,
Sovereign. At that period I never did assert, that but in the whole of the respective communications
the conditions of that treaty were glorious and ho- from the 20th of March to the 13th of June, notu
nourahle ; I did not contend that its stipulations syllable. word, er sentence. of such an import or
were such as to provide for the permanence of meaning, is to be folios!. Is it not rather remark-
peace, or the lasting security of Great Britain ; but able, that in the progress of a Cm eespolideuce,
I was induced to hope, that afterethe conquests avowed, by the Declaration of His Majesty, to have
which the Chief of the French Empire had obtained, originated and continued upon the beets of the ati
that after the aeual enjeyments and the comforts poem:lair, now that the Negociatien has failed, His
derive.; itom his own repose, he would be unwilling Majesty's Ministers are suable to being forward,
to forfeit the tier 'at blessing he was possessed of, or to for the setisfeetion of this House and the country at
disturb the recierocal tranquillity of the respective large, no better evidence of the recognition of that
countries. But, my Lot ds. considerably changed are principle, by the Government of France, then tee
my opinions, and widely different are my views of the few scanty undefined words of the French Mirosteo ?
advantages of a peace with France, when I recd! to And indeed, my Lords, it has produced in my
my recollection, that scarce was the Treaty of Amiens mind, no small degree of astonishment, to find in
ex.outed, when the meet instolieus and open viola- the answer of Mr. Fox, to the cemmunicetion of
lion nt'every principle of good faith was ex iibited ; M. Talleyrand, where this disinclination of France
when, in defuusee of -eery provision of that treaty, to demand any of the. possessions of England is
the Ilthiel of the Frenca Government recommenced stated, no one observation err reference to the prin.
his system of wit) oinded 'aggression, with a rein). ciple of actual possession ; although that answer
vatted lust of power, with a complete disregard of WAS intended to amplify and elucidate the import-
ell those matinee and us sg ...which were wont to sup- ant nature of the basis. proposed, together wit.' the
part the bonnet. a- ' I peint.s of the civilized world. probable commercial advantage of France, and the
But if a fun . r pro- of was still wanting to exhibit consequent respect of her naval fin. With 'tepee to
the charefteristic duplicity of tne French Cabinet, the conferences of the Earl of Yarmouth with the
let us, my Lords. 1..0k to the dates, when the Rus. French Minister, how does the history disclose itself?
slats Minister, lyOubril, was either forced, or trick- On the t2d of June, a letter was dispatched from
ed, to sign a separate treaty with France. Here the the French Minister to Mr. Fax, for the purpose of
strong indecemest with that Minister, was to save explaining the nature of the conferences with the
the Austrian empire ; for this specific pie pose, and Earl of Yarmouth, and .. e objeCt of that Lord's
this alone, the treaty was atilt:illy executed, by the departure for this country. This letter arrived in
Plenipotentiary of Russia ; yet, if Ido not much London the 4th of June, the same day on which
masconstrue the dates, the changes in Germany, and that Noble Lord reached town; yet, in this continue
the Rhenish Confederation. were not only meditated, nicatien, there is not an admission of the principle
but actually completed; if not at the signing of the of the uti poorktis; and though the Earl of Yet-
treaty, by D'Oubril, most certainly before the ar- mouth had a conference with Mr. F as, about the
rival of that Ambassador with the treaty at the time of its arrival, yet, in the answer of Mr.
Court of eteretersburgh. In this most Begitious Fox, of the 14th of June, there is preserved an
conduct of one nation to another ; in this uniform equally unaccountable silence upon the adtual
perseverance in fraud, aggression', and injustice, I principle of the ati pot:dais. It has been re-
find the strong argument which justifies me not to ported as a reason that the direct basis of actual
lament the failure of a pacific adjustment, with an possession was lot specifically stated, that it arose
enemy, whose aggressions, in time of peace, are froM the peculiar circumstances of the German do.
equally hostile with his movements in war. Hay. minions of His Majesty. Wily the situation of those
ing thus declared my opinion upon the result of the dominions should operate against a clear, decideo.
negotiation. I shell now advert to the basis upon and unambiguous expression of the basis upon which
which the Declaration of His Majesty has asserted the contrafting parties had respedively agreed to
that it commenced and proceeded. The principle treat, I am at a LOSS te comprehend. But I must
of runnel possession, re the uti postiiittit, is asserted again repeat, that in the history of diplomacy I ne-
to be the basis upon which the respective Govern- ver either reed or heard of such a basis of negocia-
menus originated the discussion. Now, my Lords, don as that which His Majesty's Ministers have, in
fairly and plainly arguing the question, and the present case, wleeted for the ground of their
comparing the understood and admitted meaning justification. There are a few other points upon
of the oti possideth with the two bases agreed upon which I beg leave to trouble your Lordships; one is
between that great departed Statesman, the Secre- the last letter of M. Talleyrand to the Noble Lord
tary for Foreign AfFatre, and M. Talleyrand, I who latterly conducted the initiation at Paris. a
do confess I cannot recognize the principle of I should hope that no such letter was ever received,
actual possession as the basis of a treaty. ('is or that no Miaister of a hoods power would dare
porridetis are two Latin words, fully empevioriug to send to the Pleniereentiary of Great Britain, a
the contraeing parties to hold, 'in their respeetive communication replete with the most base and
possession. whatever territory or conquests soever, injurious calumnies ;---calumnies which 'ceded to
over which, at or before the execution of too treaty, eekihie that Noble Lard in the most savage form,
they may have obtained a sovereignty- Let us and which, Lam fully persuaded, were to hint un-
compare this definition of the uti post:die:is. with the fonndedly and itnproperly addressed. Another
two beset agreed upon, either with the one which instance of the same inveterate m dice end unpon-
specifies the. *determination of contracting upon cipled audacity was the contradiction of one of the
general grounds for ourselves' and allies, or with French Plenipotentiaries, to the repast the Earl of
the mere enlarged principle of guaranteeing the Yarmouth had made of Ins conferences with the
security of the lesser states; and lam sure, that, French Minister, on the basis of the negoeciarion, and
from such a comparison, there is nothing in :he which reports were denominated Poletsc,t ROManelf.
annals of diplomacy, to justify, from such a con. Upon the whole of tiie evidence which the Papers
struction of the bases of a ocrciation, by tile most presented to this House contain, I still contend.
tortured pea version which the most ingenious rea- that the basis of :ritual poesesston is not early not
soner m .e. adopt,' any thing approximating to the proved to he true, but that the evidence maker out
principle of actual possession. IhetHis elajhsty's no such proposition, even in the remotest view of
Ministers were sincere in believing that the uts pos. the case. To the other parts of the Address. I re-
sidetis was the admitted basis, I most candidly be. peat my most cordial and hearty assent Deeply
beer, and that it was the assign of the French Ge-- impressed as I am, wish the necessity of meet*
vernment to encourage that impression. at the the dangers of the crisis, and the menaces of our *-
same time that it cautiously avoided wearaittiog veterate enemy, with all that firussese, oattioekso
itself to such a compee, throughout tba mum aad spirit, which have ever evinced the m irked in-
progress of the correspondence. Indeed. the COO* sapidity of this country, And preserved, eavistlaell.
dna of His Majesty's Government has proved the polity cf the national chareeter."
it to be a Government seeking peace, in the Lord GWIVILLE, ia reply :.-s's 14y Lords,
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when 1. eoreider all the.cireutrotonces. of the Neo
otaeXation, tr r • gatatily andeaatredi to or 1. w ach
t was fur.. Ogled. the underlie zeal ar,d Steadiness
lisoliyed fn it throutahout, on out part, f w the at-
ainment of the ohjed prolos and the clop icily
sod insincerity evinced rte. enemy. I am not
urprised that every • who has read the
Vapers, and heard oil • has parsed, this night,
es uld vote for the *AO:ass: I am not 3llr-
oused that evrry man sir old he mit to woe
o en address, that should photo, himself, that
e last drop of b!ood '3 veins should be
ad, upon tech a stare .of the case as that wh ch
a. been made. out When. then. I :cnnsi ter the
in tits of the case, and hay-, moreover, the pride
d satidadion o' sioieg form so elequently en-
onceo, I find it d•fficult to briog myself to occupy
:ate attenti nof the Howse, by any refutation of the
case that has been made out against His Majesty's
Min'orri. Fearing, however, that silence miyht
be conorned into doresped for the Noble Lotus by
whoa) ahy otj-dinrs have been made. I shall tree-
!) OH upon the attenflon of the Boost fur a few
inomentes— Coming, then, to the observations of t e
Noble Lnrd (I•44wkeshu,y), I sac, that if his ob.
jedion be founded in fart, taken in its lull extent.
it would prove only this :—lt would prove. not that
we have suffered any injury from the mode in with
the N-gociation was condufted, it would not prove
hot we had sustained any disadvantage t!, it moic
not have existed, bad no such measure eves tag, n
place. I dsfy any man to advance any thing to
that effeft. Indeed, a Noble Lord has sta'e.l a
dietindion, which I think would have relieved him
from aoy doubt or uneasiness upon that ground. •
He does not say, that the Dachiration of our Go-
verntnent is not true. He only says, that it is rot
made out by the Papers. Sto why 3s it necessary
that it should be fourid in the Papers? If any soap
of writing. Cr any evidence whatever was disc•-vered,
front which it coola ba inferred thwe the aft pearyteos
had net been the basis agreed upon, the noiearitea
would have some weight; hut, if this is not the fee,
why then the necessity that the Dechowion , old
be bone out by the pipers? Considering the i, h
charader of the Noble Law Lord (El!on). and the
great learning and talents svhich he has dhplayed at
the head of a legal department, I do think •t Incon-
sistent with his great knowledge and experience in
that line, to tiejed the hest evidence that toe na roe
of the ease rffords. and Lice up the inferrer. 'II at
.any man should rrj. et the onpuaent f s'oricAti f
liAlleyrand, in hi. own favour, i' a natural me.
but here the Noble Lord te;.: ewdenee tit the -
French Papers, where they do support our cafe,
and says, Here I End a verbal nota of Lord Yon-
month, and it does not make it our. Now, it the
Noble Lord had died, .and no possibility' reeroar.ed
of throwing a light upon what was ooseire. or es-
, plan,ing what was doubtful, an objedion might be
made to the verbal note, on the ground that the re
was no oppnrtur.ity of examining Lord Yarmouth
upon the sithjed. But what was the tad ? Lord
Yarmouth ha been Adually re ,mined in another
place [Ste hit *tub in the House ej Comm.,,, on
Wednesday nigh:], and his . Lordship bad de-
clared, that several bows of a Treaty had been
rejefted, and that the uti possidetis had been w-
ieder' by TAlleyranl, in preference of any other.
What d• uhf then can remain upon the subject, and
• unless you do doubt L ird Yarmouth, why agitate
the question? If this mode of argument he eon s
it is surely a little perverse to raise ohjedions upo..
the ground that we have not proat where we have
proof, and that the best that can be demanded
us. The case is capable of proof, and that proof
has received ; but the Noble Lord not only objeCla
to this proof, hut proceeds to throw out a slur upon
.the condo% of the Negotiation, under one of the
ablest Statesmen whom this country ever saw,
and one of the most coned. compeehensive, and
decisive Ministers, ever employed nn such an un-
dertaking. I do say, that Mr Fox completely
understood the whole business, and that the Noble
Lord, opposite, has as completely mistaken it.
But the Noble Lord, (Won), says. why not
put these points all upon paper ? —Now, leek what
course the Noble Lord swishes us to have pursued ?
l'o lay dawn a precise way in such a business is
nugatory, and a precise rule by which it is to be
concluded is nut of the question.—Fhe thing is ire,-
possible. ghat, then, in such case was to be done
Why, then, the busiaess was opened, tire ground
cleared, and the matter ripe for written commoni-
cations, then to reduce what had been agreed to
verbally into written documents Now, tom the
moment of Lord Land Male's visit In Paris, hewer
instruded by Mr. Fox to enforce, and ilia enforce
the necessity of coromittieg the proceedings to wri-
ting. It was for tins express purpose Lord Yar-
mouth was sent back from Paris. His crimmonica-
tiont with the French Minister had been verbal,
Eva the regular course recia:reO that he should re-
tnrp to London to res'uce them to writing. This
heine• done with accuracy and fiaelity, no oh-
jedion'holds good agamst the proceeding upon
the wititmd el neglect. error, or mistake
Had the • Noble Lord attem?ted to whew that
we had agieed to a different proposition than that of
the all !militias, it would have thrown upon ua the
necesasty of disproving it ; but there is not even An
insinuation too.loit effeft. When Lord Yatmooh
went to Paris, lie was mitered to insist upon tie;
basis, or to eentrn, without shreing his full powers.
That his Lotctillip..did proJuce these pn.vers, wit--
out such admission;. can only be attribute to Hs
anxiety for peaer. fb. conduct, in that particular,
can only be asctibed to his wish to conciliate all
parties. and tamale, lam sure. subjed this Govern-
wont todnv charge of mistake or negligence."
• Lord ELDON shortly,
exownAtion.,observetf,
that he had mid the letter o 7 the 14th of September,
was followed by ane, in which not one word layout
the roe peoldoue was mentioned: nay, he would go
further, and state, that it was not until the Artiele
13, page 31, that Lord Yarmouth was permitted so
opus his tell powers.
Tiro Earl of LAUDERDALF., in answer. ob-
served, that in the course of the prerem debase.
Brae extraneous raster had been inooduced by e
*Mt Lord, on the opposite of the House, Oar: fe
Aid ever heard upon any sribjeie ; it was not 1 is
retention origovally to have troulded their L :,.-
drips with many observations. or at all to pr,.:rang
the debate; nor did ne now mean to fr Pow to- No-
ble Lord through all char extraneous matter t e had .
se introduced. I. was, iu truth, a question wfocti