The National Register.
London, England, 1808-07-10 00:00:00

SUNDAY, JULY 10, 1808.

POLITICAL DISQUISITION.

NUMBER T W ENTY•I:I6 UT.

EXAMINATION OF THE LAST SESSION OF
PARLIAMENT.

On Monday closed the Second Session of the Fifth Par-
liament of Great Britain and Ireland,with the usual Speech
front the Throne.
A brief recapitulation of the businsss of the Session, with
such occasional remarks as may tend to convey an adequate
impression of the principal subjects which have occupied
the attention of Parliament. during its sitting, may not be
unwelcome to the readers of The Xational Register.
A question more calculated for popular declamation
and systematic debate than the merits of the Expedition to
Copenhagen, has seldom been discussed by the Legislative
Assembliesof this land. Much investigation and eloquence
have accordingly been employed on the topic :—One party
has defended it as a measure of the most urgent necessity,
while the other has described it as a deed which no state of
circumstances could justify. Without embracing the lat-.
ter opinion to the extent, we cannot help thinking the
advocates of its necessity have displayed more ingenuity
than proof. Upon ourselves, the strictures made in the
House of Peers by Lord Hutchinson (see No. 7, of The
Xational Register) made an impression with respect to the
expediency of this act of vigour, which no subsequent ar-
gument has been able to remove.- Should a time arrive,
when the greatest Power of the North may be inspired
with doubts of the policy of his alliance with France,
we fear the greatest obstacle to his complete conversion
will be found in the conduct of Great Britain to Denmark.
The next subject of importance which strongly divided
the sentiments of the Legislature, was the propriety and
consequence of the Orders in Council. Opinions on this
measure have been as various and contradictory out of the
louse as within. That it bore an aspect of promise to
the West India Proprietors, cannot be doubted, but that
it would prove exceedingly injurious to the British Manu-
facturer was equally evident. Sometime has now elapsed
and we hear nothing of the ellect. We confess we cannot
applaud an infringement of all the acknowledged rights of
neutrality for a nugatory or doubtful otiject. That Ibis
severe application of our maritime superiority was a politic
and necessary retaliation on France, for the violence of
her decrees with respect to the British commerce, we can-
not allow. Indeed, we arc somewhat itulignant when we
hear this and similar measures defended, by maintaining
the necessity of fighting France with her own weapons. The
original ground of warfare assumed by this country was infi-
nitely more lofty. What it pnay become by a professed
imitation of the violence of a nation, which has neither com-
merce nor commercial relations to preserve or acquire, we
will not attempt to decide. blow far these regulations have
assisted to internipt our intercourse with America, has not
yet been determined, or whether they had any share in pro-
ducing the precautionary plan of the embargo or not. The
countries of Great Britain eAmerica, it must be con-
No. XXVIII.—Vo!.I.

-.-

fessed, are at presenhnost curiously cirenmstauced. It is
oh% iously the interest of both, to avoid war, if possible,
and the ruling statesmen of each feel that it is so, yet
with these convictions fully operating on their minds, and
on the minds of the cooler part of the public
states, a coolness and distrust prevail, from
common enemy derives nearly as much advanl
could accrue to him from decided iq,stilities.
mon enemy, for let France succeed in her designs
Spain, and we shall soon hear her assume another '
America.

the question of Peace was again argued this
a debate, caused by the submission of some strong
tions by Mr. Whitbread, expressive of the disar
of the House at the refusal of the Russian Medi
a very comprehensive and able speech, the 1k
Mover detailed all the circumstances internal and
which should incline the country to listen to NI(
As this subject was particularly treated of b'
time, it is unnecessary again to enter into the meri
discussion. .The Resolutions were of course rejected
large majority. Whatever might be the propri(
particular decision, it is deeply to be lamented
is a numerous and powerful body of people in this
so enamoured with or interested in War, that ti
of Peace at any time or in any form tuner fails
their incessant clamour, accompanied by every
of horror and aversion.
For the Military Defence of the Counsitry
to observe, that little has been done by Parlia:
the Session we are describing. We by no means ,
occupy ourselves with any further revision of the
(as pompously stiled) of Mr. Windham and Lord
reagh. Ali the alteration which the former effected
mode of Recruiting (to which part of the Arm;
his attention appears to have been solely confined
latter has rescinded. This between the parties
great object, but we steadily Maintain that these
variations in the manner of raising men, which
rity sanctions with such infinite sang froid, are
of considerable mischief among the soldiery.
Secretary's scheme of a Local Militia, puttin
niciozis principle of Ballot oat or the question, is
deficient when considered as a Plan of National
It will raise a comparatively small namber of m'
to be employed on a particular emergency,
rouse tii-t honourable feeling in the effective poi
this country, which the spirit of the times regini;
we cannot help recommending Lord Selkirk'
Pamphlet on this subject to the attention of our

We are sorry that it is not in our power to co)
the Public on any particular advantages whicii
accrued from the labonrs of the Finance Comm
file of the Bill for preventinz the Grant of Re'
the Crown has rather checked the aspiring ho,
good kind of people, who were sanguine in the;
:ion of effectual reform through thl3 medium. For our
own part, whatever little disappointment we may It airs

üblic in both
)m which .the
advantage, as
We say cow-
designs upon
mother tone to
this Sessions in
strong Resolu-
disapprobation
Mediation. In
le Honourable
al and external
o Negociation.
of by us at the
le merits of the
e rejected by a
upriety of this
nted that there •
in tlris country
lat the mention
r fails to excite
very symptom
we are obliged.
iiament during
neans intend to
n of the plans
al Lord Castle-
effected in the •
Army System
confined) the
✓ties may be a , •
hese capricious
.•
hich the majo-
\t•-•
are productive
y. The Noble • •
Ming the per-
m, is miserably
.ional Defence.
)f men, indeed,
cy, hilt will it
a population of
!quire Again
.irk's, excellent
our Readers.
lo coi:gratulate
hick have yet
mnittee. The
Reversions by
hors of the
their expectit.

-441 i
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