The National Register.
London, England, 1812-05-24 00:00:00

THE ,NATIONAL REGISTER.

CABINL T NEGOCIA TIO NS.

MAY

In consequence of the chath of Mr. Perceval, a nqtociation (at the in.
stance of the Prince Regent) has taken place between I .ord Liverpool,
and the Marquis Wellesley and Mr. Canning, for the avowcd liar_
pose of inducing the two latter to become Members of the pr.( sent
Administration. The negociation has, however, been unsuccessful.—

The grounds can which these Gentlemen refuse to come into power,
will be seen by the following official dociantnts :
Minute of Conversation between Mr. CAN NI NG and Lord LIVERPOOL)
dated 17th May, 1812.

Gloucester Lodge, Sunday, May 17, 1811

Lord Liverpool stated to me, that he was commanded by his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent to make me the following colintilliC%
tion

That upon the melancholy event of Mr. Perceval's death, his Royal
Highness being desirous of continuing his Administration upon its pre.
sent basis, was desirous also of strengthening it as much as possible, by
associating to it such persons in public life as agreed most nearly and go.
nerally In the principles upon which public affairs had been conducted ;
That with this view his Royal Highness naturally looked to Lots
Wellesley and to me ;
That he (Lord Liverpool) was authorized to express the disposition
of all his colleagues to act with Lord Wellesley alit] me, under an ar-
rangement which might be at one* consistent with their own honour
and duty, and honourable and satisfactory to us;
That with respect to Lord Castlereagh, it was fair that it should he
distinctly understood, that the situation in which he stands both in this
Government, and in the House of Commons, was to be preserved to
him;
That With respect to the oificial arrangements, he (Lord L.) would
not have been the hearer of any proposition to me, but one which was
understood as comprising my friends. In answer to a question put by
me, Lord L. stated, that his colleagues were desirous, that he should be
appointed to the office of First Lord of the Treasut y ; and that this
sire was known to the Prince Regent, when H. R. H. commanded Lord
Liverpool to undertake this communication.
Lord Liverpool added, that he was ready to answer any other enquiry
that I might wish to make ; or to clear up any thing that he might have
imperfectly explained. I said, that I thought it better to receive his
communication just as he gave it to me; and to defer making any re-
mark, or giving any answer whatever, until I should have communica-
ted it to my friends ; Lord Liverpool himself undertaking to see Lord
Wellesley.
I would, only therefore, ask—Whether I was to consider the opinion
and policy of the Government as remaining altogether unchanged i.pon
:he question relating to the laws affecting the Roman Qatholics ?
Lord Liverpool answered, that his own opinions upon this subject re-
mained unchanged ; and that he was not aware that those of his col-
leagues had undergone any change.
I then wrote this minute in Lord Liverpool's presence ; which he
read over, and suggested such corrections as appeared to him necessary
for making it perfectly accurate. (Signed) GEORGE CANNING.
May 17, 1812.
Lord Liverpool, on leaving Mr. Canning, immediately proceeded to
Marquis Wellesley, wit'. whom a conversation took place, of ao exa, tly
similar import to the above.—The Noble Marquis's miswer to the pro-
position was as follows

Apsley-House, May 18.
From the communication received through Lord Liverpool, I under-
stand, that his Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been graciously
pleased to signify his desire of strengthening his Administration upon is
present basis, by associating me with it, as one of those: persons Who
agree most nearly and generally in the principles upon which public
affairs have been conducted.
From the same communication I also derive the gratifying intelligence,
that all Lord Liverpool's colleagues have authorized him to evil,- a
disposition to act with me, under an arrangement, consistent with their
own honour and duty, and honourable and
satisfactory
to ir.e.
I receive this notification of the Prince Regent's commands with
every sentiment of duty and affection ; while it affords me matter of juit
satisfaction, that, to the 4istinguisked honour of such coinh sanding tio-
tice from his Royal Highness, is a• !ded so high a tu..tiniony of the ce,iii-
dence and esteem of all the respectable persons composing
his present
Administration.
Witli all humility towards the exalted authority from which this pt'''
potion proceeds, and with the most sincere regard for those tlirotedi
whom it is conveyed, !Isot, however, declare, that I should have di •
dined it at the first iiblarit of its approach, if motives of deference and
submissive attachment had not imposed upon me the obligation of
receiving it With respectful consideration.
The proposition necessarily rests upon a supposition, that I entertain
no such difference of public sentiment with the pre.4ent Adininstration,
as should preclude me from acting with them, under an arraiigemen!,
compatible with our mutual and respective honour and duty.
But it appears Worn Lord Liverpool's candid and explicit statst-i
meta, that, upon the important question, which regards the haws afi.tct-
ing the Roman Catholics, Lord Liverpool's opinions remain unchanged;
nor is lie aware, that the sentiments of his Colleagues, on that subject,
have undergone any change.

r-

I

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MAY 24.

I must therefore conclude, that the policy which has been pursued
Topecting the Roman Catholics, durinz the present Se•=ion of Par-
hament, is to be continued without abatement; the ctteral constituent
parts of the present Cabinet are to remain unclianged„. the highest and
most efficient offices in the State, therefore, arc to he filled by per—
sons, who still conceive themselves to be bound by duty, honour, and
conscience, not only to resist any mitigation of the present condition of
the Roman Catholics, but even to prevent the consideration of the
laws which affect that large portion of the population of the empire.
I cannot concur in the principle on which the present Administration
has conducted this important branch of public atfaies ; on this point,
I have recently expressed the strongest difference of opiaion with the
present Administration.
- - -

The declaration of Lord Liverpool precludes the hope of any such
change in the policy of the present Administration towards the Ro-
man Catholics as could satisfy my judgment. This difference is of the
utmost importance: without any other obstacle, therefore, this alone
compels me to decline the proposition which Lord Liverpool has con-
veyed to me.
I entertain a confident expectation, that when the Prince Regent
shall have considered the nature of this difficulty, he will extend his
indulgence to my humble representation, and will relieve me from
the pressure of commands, which I could not obey, without sacri-
ficing a public principle of the highest obligation.
These observations comprise a sufficient reply to the communication
received through Lord Liverpool. But I deem it to be a duty towards
the Prince Regent to declarerthat the considerations which induced me,
on the 19th of February, to resign the situation which I had the honour
to hold in his Royal Highness's service, have acquired additional force
since that time, and would cons,titute an insuperable obstacle to my ac-
ceptance of any situation in tlmpresent Administration.

I originally expressed my desire to withdraw from Mr. Perceval's Ad-
ministration, because my general opinions, tor a long time past, on vari-
ous important questions, had not sufficient weight in that Cabinet, to
justify me towards the public, or towards my own character, in continu-
ing in office.

My objections to remaining in that Cabinet arose, in a great degree,
from Ike imperfect scale on which the e.. Torts in thel Peilinsula were
conducted. It was always stated to me, that it was impracticable to en-
large that system. I thought that it was perfectly practicable to extend
the plan in the Peninsula, and that it wAs n.itlizr safe nor honest to-
wards this country or the allies to continue the present inadequate
scheme. _ _ _ _

From Lord Liverpool's statement upon this point, it is evident, that
since my resignation, it has been found-practicable to make some exten-
sion of the system in the Peninsula; but it is still intimated, that my
views are more extensive than the resources of the coin ti y can enable
the Government to reduce to practice. I, however, still entertain the
same views and opinions, without diminution or alteration; and I am
convinced, that a considerable extension of the scale of our operations in
the Peninsula; and also an effectual correction of min), branches of our
system in that quarter, are objects of indispensable necessity, and of
easy attainment.
With such a decided difference of opinion, in relation to the conduct
sud management of the war, my return into a Cabinet, composed as she
present is, would offer to me no better pi ospect than the renewal of
discussions, which have hitherto proved unavailing.
I learn from Loral Liverpool, that he has received no authority, in
forming the intended Administration, to make any proposal to any
of those persons now desdgnated by the !mine of "'Tile Opposition."
My inquiry on this point originated in a sincere conviction, (founded
upon an attentive observation of the general stare of public opinion,
and of the condition of the empire), that no Administration, which
shall not comprise sonic of those persons, can prove advantageous to the
Prince Regent, conciliatory towards Ireland, and equal to the conduct
of the war on a scale of sufficient extent.

It has been stated ertoneously, that the first act of the Prince Regent
upon his approach to unrestricted authority, was to esiablisli Mr.
Perceval's Administration: but the fact is, that his Royal Highliesq's
first act at that .crisis. was to dissolve Mr. Perceval's Administration ;
and to endeavour to Nun a Cabinet upon a more extended and liberal
basis. This endeavour was frustrated at that moment; and the for-
'l:anon of such a Cabinet was represented to his Royal Highness to be
nnpracticable. It has, however, since appeared evi.Aent to me, from
the discussiAls and deliberations which I have wine-sed in Yarlia.
trent, that his Royal Highness's benevolent intentions on that sueject
are now per ectly practicable; and that their accompliShment wo,ild
t'-"la to promote internal peace and tranquility, and to invigprate the
whole system of our external operations.
Impressed with this sentiment I should be untrue to his Royal High-
!less s interests and honour, as well as to the prosperity of the empire,
ii I concurred in any arrangement of an A.l:lnnistrutiJn win...l did not
include a fair and full consideratio-. of this most i:nportaut pint.
After such a dispassionate consideration, any opinion is, that a Cabi-
net might be formed, on an interm -diary principle r..;,pecting toe
It. ()nun Catholic claims. equally exempt from the dangers 'of instant,
qualified concession, and from those of inconsiderate, peremptory
ti•n
xciusion ; the entire resources of the empire might be applied to the
treat objects of the war with general consent, upon a full understand-