The National Register.
London, England, 1815-04-30 00:00:00

TITE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Lord CA B'll EllklaGH said, 0 was impossible, lie conceived, for an)
man to concur in the address, who had n-t made up his mind on the
question, whether our security was to he looked to hi immediate war,
or its an armed state of nominal peace, and who wow not prepared to
approve that 1111 l umal peace, which must be attended with an expendi-
ture nearly as great as war. The return of Bonaparte to France, in
defiance of ad engagements, was an insult as well us an injury to all par-
ties, and exceeded whatever was dune by preceding governments of
Frau e, however base and degraded. This man glorified himsclion the
The 'lion. member had never thought
per preinnon of his bad faith.
Poetimparte's character a matter Of great Impurtauce ;. but take his pre-
Yiou•corattiet, and couple it with the present circumstances, and a cons•
vete case was made out against ally reliance epees him, and which re-
duces di • question re merely that of power. We were fully emitted to
pm. that he would only preserve pence till the :.cession suited Lilo
t slime
to violate it, alien we had with other nations reduced our expenses,
while lie continued his labours to augment his military force. IVere it
stirirosed that this new crinsteution would he any sutliciebt cootronl, how
rea:ist constitutions had France already received in the course of a hew'
Year It cons:itittio•;s on paper could control Boonaparte, he would
•s
be the rot itioff,itsive person alive. The party in with whom
he at presetit eminected himself Old not entertain seetlflitlli a in general
i common with him, and lie vie% ed Mem only as instruments by w loch
be cuelit reassemble li.s formerly vu furious hunds,who were still thirsting
fur pimpler and sp harem. Did arty body tliii.k that when he again
gut at the head of 410,000 crolet he would find any objection or ditli
Cully to disposing of his previa counsellers. whether Futiclee or Idieierine
Butampar le, it they epposed his views ?_ What di+ lie say to Monsieur
Laing, who was at the head of some asseiel,ly or other ? Ile told him
a ter tits return truto Russia. that they talked ahem what they
did net understand, that they might go about their business;
that he was born for his situ -lion, and that the wishes of
the French had made hint their Emperor. What grounds were
th•re tar trusting to, his keeping the peace that were consistent
wilt) the tiews and cap-mations of the perjured French army ?
present siniatiou might be called a re-electioll ; but it was
the effort of a large, cutruoted army, tired of peace, dissatisfied with
halt-pay, uneasy under the benevolent at d pacific sway of I,tois the
XVI; lilt, which was honouredby the respect of the other nations. The
prospects of the soldiery were to revel again in the plunder of (Abe!
countries, and to gain military promotion through war: thi•v thought
only of rising above their reap. ctive grades. Indeed, it he did not
shape his conduct according to their views of promotion and pillage,
he was likely to meet the contempt of the army, and to become odious
to them. If, howevt r, the French people were so infatuated as to lend
themselves to the views of Buonoparte, and become a party to so gross
a breach and fraud. then, he must say, it was an unfortunate case ; but
it France were so dead to proper feelings, the war must be with
Fr ince, and it would be for Europe to contend for its own liberty
and safety. He could conceive that France, worn out with revolmiens,
ruight prefer submission to an usurper, rather than make a moral effort
in her otvn behalf, arid that when he had restored his army she would
still submit ; but Europe was not to suffer France to choose her own
field of action. Austria, Prussia, and all Germane, &c. were not to
be expos( d again to plunder and devastation. It was right in such an
event to make the seat of war hi France herself. The French army
was tot to find the world a sacrifice to their profts and professional
advancement. If they thought •it their right to disturb Europe, she
ought to teach those who were so fond of war, that they were nut to
have it exactly as they wished it, but as Europe should choose it. It
was unjust to suppose that the Allied Powers wanted war. When he
was t•ha ged with hip mission to France, whatever danger might be ap-
prem.:At-if Irons the cegocirtions, lie felt it. a they that all conditions
should be bona fide maintained. The negotiations in France pro-
seeded on the principles of the declaration at Frankfort ; and it was an
ogled to spew, that it there was bad faith the fault would lie with France.
It the French now suhniitted to litsunaparte, it. was cm from their own
N •iieral desire, but from the desire end power of the soldiery. It by no
means followed that the A' lies were to treat with him now, men ly he-
se Ise they had treated with him before his act of abdication. A treaty
its ght have been concluded with him between Chatillon end Paris;
but he withdrew his own proposition• «hide three days, on the
et ent of the very fir I slight seceess which he experienced. The
Allies made no proposition mine favourable than the treaty of Paris.
I was said that Duonaparte offered more favourable terms,-which were
retased. That was not the ease. Though his minister proposed such
terms, be withdrew them, Whatever terms had Litok4de, we could
have admitted lioneparte's ambassador at the was as to the
set letiterst of liairope, A great urivaionge was gained by Fretice,andcr
the change of gevernmeut, iii she safety of admitting her minister to
rote,lresa. The allies did make taerifices for a general peace. Whether
its adversity or In prosperity) tuorlarirte ucver uegyected un: step to

APRIL SO.

aridity his viees of ambition no step was ever left by hies to-seek altar
something unposeessed ; nothing with him was evet kited except a coo.
scant attempt at aggrandisement. Unless his very nature, was changed,
the same things must happen. He would only change his means, in or.
der to recover what he had lust. But Huoneparte's character was peel].
liar to himself ; and he knew circumstances of his cundect marked by
systematical bad faith, and of which lie had sufficient evidence. lie had
an intercepted instruction frotu Bnonaparte to his minister, which was
to have been destroyed in certain cases, which from accident it was nut
so done. It disclosed a system of perfidy unparalleled in the transac-
tions of the civilized world. It was dated March the 19th, when the
discussions were net closed, end when he was undertaking a hossrdoes
military opt: ration, arid which might be fatal to him, when he moved
from Arcis sur.Aube. Buonapette. thought his success probleitiatical,
and gave new instructions in favoer of concessions. The instructioes
were in the form of a secret letter, signed by the Duke of Bassani), ad.
dressed to Caulincouit. There had been many instances et breaches oi
;,egociations, but generally some defet.ce was set up for them with re•
spect to instructions. The minister of nthintip lite was desired to
conclude a treaty, hut to keep back certaiii parts as hint! as lie e•aild,
the execution of them beieg to be dela, en, notwitl standing tly ra/A4-
cations, so that nn advitittage might be alters. !S take,, of therm
This was a tii-ctinistince contrary to all experience lee such matters.
There wits expressed • deliberate intention to tee ity utio ulotlatently
to refuse compliance with the t ity : and wh•At were those points oil
which this had faith was to time ? Wity, they were wino Buiiiwoetta
called the three great keys of the Fie. cn empire ; and which soffit:is
roily skewed what his objects were. the that of these keys alas Ant•
were, which might be called 11:e key of Divisor! i the secouit key was
hitter; which w .s in tact the key of Germ:try.; and the third key,
which was to he kept back even aver ratilieation. was Alessatieria, which
was so fact uot the r.ey of France, but the key of Italy. What better
proofs could be :Oven of the nature of the nom ? It was clear lie
would break the treaty as soma as it suited him Was it, their, wino.
portent whether this man was replaced in power or nut ? In power,
lie would probably sour) pour a military dolor, over the world.--••
Those who had concluded the peace must be quite as sincerely die.
posed to preserve it as the Hon. Nleniber. By passing mach ad ad.
dress, Fiance could only be deluded into the notion of ao impression
on the people of Eastland dilieseut from that of the eantioeut. With
respect to the pecuniary support of on allies, a distinct proposition
at no very distant day would be submitted on that subject, whirls
would not be found such as to Rive an undue facility to war through
our means. He trusted he should soon satisfy the 'sense, that the
proposition was studiously calculated not to produce those effects
%thick some might apprehend. Great Britain would not give assist-
ance to favour the motives of war, but would act so as to leave the
snliject to the proper feeling of the danger and necessity by the
other nations of the continent.

Lord ALTHORPS having; said a few words,

Mr. Poresounv condemned the language of Lord C. ; maintained
that no such feeling actuated the French people, contended that
such sentiments were enough to create war, and strongly supported
the motion. as more necessary than t ver.
Mr. W. ELL.lnir and Mr. WILBNIUURCE deprecated war without
the strongest grounds, yet admitted that no safe peace could be
made with Bnonaparte.
Mr. TIERNEY contended, that war would be the ruin of England,
as the Allies could not move a step without our money; and what
was the condition of our finances!
Mr. W. Pots wished to acquaint the house with a single fact.
He happened to be with the Duke of Wellington when lie received
the English papers containing the speech of the Hun. Gentleman
who-brought forward this motion, in which he expressed his opinion
that the declaration of the 13th Mardi, which was signed by the
Duke of Wellington, was an invitation or excitement to the assas•
sination of Buonaparte, and he never saw any person so much ape.
prised anti horrified at the idea that such a construction could be
put upon it, His Grier declared he could not lease supposed such a
sentiment would have entered into die mind of any human below of
the present day, and be was much more snrpri,tel it mild bass
emanated front the mind of a British senator.

Mr. Ciordon and Mr. Coke supported the motion.
Mr. Witursit eau began his reply with o'xpressing his entire satir.
fiction, that the Right Hon, Gentleman (Mr. W, Pole) had men,
tioned the conversation of the Duke of. Wellington on his opinion
of the declaration of the Isth of March, which was "cued by his
illusti ions relative ; yet, notwithstanding the surprise eaprossed by
that Noble Dike, who, he had no alotilit signed the paper inf. a ma,
meat of inadvertency, tie (Mr. IV.) xtill remained of the same ol'i*
niun respecting the meaning of the declaration, and notwithstanding
the 4itelaieter of Use Noble Mkt_ it wo.t on teord eft ate terhi

APRIL

.

jnde,. of. Re then eentineed to reply at great length; and on his
conclusive a division took place
Aye*, 72 ; Noes, 271.—Majority, Int.
The Committee nn the Property Tax was postponed to Monday.
.Adjuntned to Monday.

COMMON HALL.
--.....--

Friday there was a very numerous attendance at the Ccm-
pion Hall, to take into consideration certain resolutions re-
specting this country being pledged to a war with France.
Mr. WAITHM AN came forward to move the resolution..
lie began by stating, that of all the important subjects be had
ever brought before the attention of the Livery, this appear-
ed to him to he the most important. It was now about t
Years since he had first come forward in public, to condemn
the principle of a war which then appeared to be carried on
for the purpose for whit h a new war was now threatened—
to interfere in the internal affairs of a neighbouring country.
Such interference be conceived to be at all times unjustifiable.
At the time of our glorious revolution, when our ancestors
rejected the bigot James, and called in William as their sove-
reiz,n, they would not have endured any foreign nation pre-
teLding to dictate to them what sovereign they were to. have.
It was with shame and indignation that he RaW the name of a
itish moritter signed to the infamous declaration which the
Allies lately published at Vienna. To- that declararion not
only the ministers of Austria, Russia, Prussia, and of this
country, had signed their names, but the ministers of the Le-
' bored Ferdinand, and of the King of Sweden, also adhered.
If usurpation was so great a crime, was not the beloved Fcrdi-
yowl himself an usurper, who now occupied a throne, which,
by the notions of legitimate sovereignty, belonged to his fa.
Cher? The King of Sweden, too, must feel great horror at
usurpation, who had himself been raised, by circumstances,
to the throne of Sweden, (in the life-time of the King who
formerly reigned there), and who had since been helped by
the Allies to the kingdom of Norway, and the spoliation of
Denmark. Ile Considered the principle of the war that was
now threatened as absolutely indefensible; and as to the pro-
bable consequences of it, when he considered the enormous
expense which the last war of 20 ears had brought upon this
country, he deprecated the re commencement of war on a si-
milar principle. lie considered that the character of Bona-
parte was no reason for our going to war with him.- Alen
were, in general, the creatures of circumstances. There was

something i-n the nature of power, that, let it fall wherever it
would, it was usually abused. Considering, however, the
present altered circumstances of France, and its diminished

power, he thought it not improbable that the conduct of the
Government would in future be altered by those circum-
stances, and that those sentiments of equity and moderation
which they now professed might be adhered to. As to the
idea of declaring any Sovereign, or any human being, out of
the pale of the law, that appeared to him to be most chock-
ing. Ile really was astonished to find some men of good
seuse and conscientious feeling support so infamous and im-
pious a principle. (After this expression, there was a consi
derable hissing from the opponents of Mr. Waithrwan, and a
considerable tumult of applause from his supporters. Al-
though it was evident tbat those who hissed were a minority,
yet by their pertinacity they effectually prevented Mr.Waith-
man froze being heard).
The LORD MAYOR then came forward, and reminded the
Livery, that as they were then met for the purpose of consi-
derio and discussing the suhject to be proposed to them, it
w3t their duty to hear patiently every hody who addressed
them, whether the sentiments expressed by. them were quite
palatable to their own feelings or Dot. He had promised the

Livery at the time of his election, that no political opinion
should sway his conduct in that high office. He had endea-
voured to hold the balance even between the different par-
ties, and had therefore convened that meeting upon the re-
quisition which had been sent to him. k was his duty, and
he was sworn to dischar“e it, to be impartial, and to preserve
order and tranquillity in the city. This was a duty that he
was determined to perform. If they would not allow persons
to be heat d, but would drown their voice in clamour, he
should feel it his duty to put an end to the present meeting
(loud applause).
Mr. WAI T MAN was then suffered to proceed. He did
not think that this country had any thing to fear from France.
When France had all the Powers of Europe allied with her,
this country was able to stand against them all. lie then
dwelt fur some time on the little attention that was paid to
the petitions Of the people upon the subject of the corn bill.
Ile also expatiated on tl e vexations and oppressions of the
income tax. Ile concluded by moving several resolutions.
Mr. FAVELL seconded the resolutions.
Mr. PERRINO could not comprehend the resolutions which
had been proposed, and which, instead of appearing in the
simple form that resolutions usually did, presented an im-
mense mass of abstract reasonitigs. As to the our pose for
which this meeting was convened, he so far agreed in its ob•
ject, that he thought that ttus country ought not to be
pledged to war. Ile thought that it might be very necessary
to be in a state of preparation, but still he did not wish to
see us pledged to war. It was not that he doubted the right
we had to go to war with Bonaparte. lie coincided entirely
in the observation of a most profound statesman ana eloquent
spelker (Mr. Plunkett) " that if war was expedient, Bona-
parte had given sufficient provocation to make it justtfiable.'
He doubted very much whether the elements of the coalition
had not been much weakened since the last year. There
were nearly the same parties to it, hut the cause was now
completely changed. Instead of it being new a united effort
to resist the domination of France, a very different object was
proposed for the present war, and one in which there was a
peat diversity of opinion. He believed that the elements of
the coalition had been much weakened by the proceedings of
the Congress at Vienna.
Mr. BUNT (of Bristol) then came forward, and addressed
the Livery at considerable length in support .of the resolu-
tions. He thought that the Government of France had shown
every wish to keep peace with this country, and that, there.
fore, our Government ought to have .met them with a corre-
sponding spirit. The people of France had a right to choose
what sovereign they thought proper. Our ancestors had
claimed the right of choosing and dethroning Kings, and in
one instance of dispensing with their heads. He thought
that by the principles of our revolution, it was decided that
the power of choosing Sovereigns remained with the people.
Why should we, then, endeavour to force upon France a Go-
vernment which all the French nation detested and abhor-
red ? (a mixed tumult of hisses and applause interrupted Mr.
! 11. for a considerable time). If_ the Government now plunged
the country into war, it wouldbe a war of the most unjust
oppreskion (another tumult of hisses and applause.) Mr.
Hunt continued speaking for a considerable time in the same
strain.
Mr. TuoMPSON spoke at some length on the same side.
Mr. S. Dixou said that all the arguments that he lia•
heard went on the mistaken supposition that this Gvernmen•
wished to interfere in the internal afNrs of France. Thi.,
was what our Government never had done, and what it
most expressly and solemnly disclaimed. They might natn-
ray hesitate to making a treaty with a saan who had viclatcci