The National Register.
London, England, 1816-02-19 00:00:00

FE8.19.

THE NATIONAL REGISIIIII

the North American coast, and on the African the same squa-
dron as in the last peace With respect to our home station,
there would be nine small vessels, in addition. for the purpose
protecting the revenue against smugglers. Circumstances
would call for a larger number of men to man tbese vessels,
iii point ofsize, had been int:re:own from 28 and 32 gun
frigates to 36 and 38. It was also intended to retain the 4th
division of marines, which, with the increased complement of
seamen, would make a total increase of men of .5000. This was
owing to the great increase and growing prosperity of our
foreign trade. It was understood that the permanent Peace
Establkhment was to be 23,000, which !number was less than
at the close of any preceding war. The vote, which however
he should now call for, was 33,090, front the circumstances he
had jnst stated. He had to claim credit of the House for the
guard of Admiralty, for the rapidity with which ships had been
paid off, and also with which the peace ships had been manned,
the number wanting to complete them being only 4,000. The
number of ships manned were, tfto guns, ii frigates, and
27 sloops. The lion. Haronet then moved, •"fliat 33,011
seamen, including 9,990 royal marines, be granted for the ser-
vice of the year."
.. • . .

Mr. PoNSONBY would not object to the vote of 33,000, 'taking
the necessity for the number on the responsibility of the Go-
vernment. He could not avoid observing on the call for 33,000
as a permanent peace establishment. The regular number in
former wars was 16,000 or 15,900. There was no tear of at-
tack. We were differently situated at the close of the Ameri-
can war, when the combined fleets of the enemy rode trium-
phant, and compelled the British fleet to seek shelter in our
harbours. France, at that time, had as many ships as Great
Britain ; united with Spain, more. If it 4,000 men were enough,
why vote 23,000 now. There was now no appearance of u
formidable navy. The whole of the'Powers, if they were to
be united, could not produce 25 sail of the line. The Right
Hon. Gentleman suggested the necessity of making some ad-
dition to the pay of naval officers, instead of keeping up so
large an establishment.

treaty which he bad been induced to sign wh.le in a state of fered ;-or, being aware that they haul interfered in some way.
duress All his thoughts seemed devoted to the study of the ,should not haie endeavoured to spew, that the kind of inter-
means- by which he might overthrow the Regency and the Cor. ference which he recommended was better than what had been
tes, which, as the allies of England, had so effectually laboured adopted. He aoula not consider the speech of the Hon. Gen-
for the salvation of Spain. The Cortes refused to ratify the tlenein as calculated to lay down auy principles on the subject
treaty which Ferdinand bad concluded with Blionaparte, be- which it would be wise to practise, with a view to the interests
cause it was inconsistent with good faith to England, as it went of either country. He had indeed heard it sometimes said, that
against the stipulations of that concluded with this country by In the profession to which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman
Admiral Apodaca in lam. They treaty of Mei they adhered belonged, it was not uncommon, in the defence of a diem, to
to; and this it had been the object of Ferdinand to break, and sacrifice his interests, for the sake of making a display of la- •
indeed to dissolve all the arrangements which had served to lent. Certainly in the present cast, with a view to the into-
knit the two countries together. He apprehended it nits rests of those individuals on whose unfortunate situation the
unnecessary to pursue further the conduct of Ferdinand to question arose, nothing could be more unadvisable than any
prove the present to be a case which called fur our inter- interference on the principles which the Hon. Gentleman had
ference ; when be had cruelly punished those who were laid down. If the Hon. Gentleman thought of any thing short
united with us in war and in council, in Iris behalf; who had of interference by force of arms, there' never was a speech
not only made this ungrateful return to them, but who had more calculated to defeat the end proposed, and to make Par.
given up the treaty which had been negociated in favour of fitment see the utter inexpediency of the measures which it
this country. lie wished not to by utinecessarily minute in recommended. Without thunding himself on auy accurate in-
noticing the punishments which had taken place. It was formation, the Hon. Gentleman had made imputations against
however right to state, shot 27 Members of the Cortes, and two the personage on the throne °familia ; and, substituting on this
of the Regency, had been consigned to dungeons; and besides, occasion a reasoned invective fur the asserted one which be
a great variety of persons, in private stations, who had attached had on a former occasion employed, lie had endeavoured to
themselves to the patriotic cause. These, after remaining 10 prove, that the King of Spain was acting on a course of settled
or 20 months in confinement, without being brought to trial, hostility to this country; that he, was a voluntary party to the
Ferdinand, as if to take away that complaint, had ordered to 'Treaty of Valency, against Great Britain and her allies ; that
he brought to trial, and had accordingly signed a commission lie had returned to Spain with the settled purpose of carrying
rim that purpose. Three commissions,one alter another,had bees the treaty into execution, and that he was now proceeding iu
signed by his Catholic Majesty, by which those persons were the accomplishment of his design. This was the ground on
sent to be tried, not before men selected from the great body which the Hon. Member called upon the House to interfere.-
of the people, but before creatures supposed to be subservient (Hear, hear, hear.) But the House would feel, that in order to
to his views, and by them to be sentenced to punishment, or make. interference effectual, it was not the proper way to begin
acquitted, according to the nature of their case, on inquiry, by insulting and degrading the person of the Spanish molten:- h.
It had further pleased his Catholic Majesty to review their -(lleardisar.)-If the Hon. Gentleman thought it was the duty
sentences, and to proclaim to the world, either that these crea- of this House to embroil the country in any dispute ea to tips
titres were not disposed to be sufficientlysubservient to his views, merits or demerits of the members of factions in foreign coma-
or that they had miscalculated the point at which they concluded tries, he trusted he would meet with few in this country to
his animosity would stop, by taking the work out of their hands. countenanee such an opinion. With a view to the benefit of
Some of the punishments would nevertheless have been thought those individuals in Spain, whose sufferings he was sure every
sufficiently severe in this country. Several of the patriots had Member of the House agreed in deploring, the course which
been sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and others were the Hon. Gentleman had taken, was the lust to be expected
ordered to confinement for a longer period. One person, a poor from a man of his understanding.-His Lordship stated, that
tradesman, who haul proved himself friendly to England on all from the first moment of Ferdinand's entrance MM Spain, the
occasions, and who had been active in promoting political British Alubassadur, Sir Henry Wellesley, hail applied to bins
discussions on the conduct of the Government, was sen. of his own accord, and afterwards, with the full authorization
fenced by these tribunals to four years' imprisonment,- of Government, to induce him to accept the Constitution of flue
o What said Ferdinand, on seeing this sentence, " only Cortes, and to spew lenity towards the Liberates. If any fault
four years' imprisonment, for a wretch who had presumed had been committed, it was in g g farther than the rights of
to speak in public on polities.'-(A laugh.) He immediately an idly justified. It had been officially notified to the King of ,
nndertoek to revise this sentence, and, takings more en- Spam, that no money should be paid him, neither was any 1110-
larged and legitimate view of the subject, he immediately nay paid him, in consequence of his conduct, with the exeePa
struck out the first assigned doom of this nufertunate man, who tutu of 4000 dollars fur table-expenses during his journey from
was a cripple, with his own hand, and ordered him to be France to Spain, which had been advanced at the request of
hanged. (clear, hear, ham) The public, however-he meant oneot.the chiefs of the Liberates. 'Elie representations in be-
the scum of Madrid, with whom Ferdinand was popular-(a half of the persecuted, wbo, in their day of power, had also been
mound-ill proof of the assertion that that country fares ill where Persecutors, hail out been confined to this country. 'The Mi-
the Monarch had the mob for his ally), even these, his Majesty's testers of the three great continental Powers, our allies, had
own rabble. had rescued this poor man from death, and the hem" instructed at the Court of Madrid ; and the prescut nut-
punishment haul in COOSCqUellee been commuted for imprison- nun was likely rather to defeat than to forward the views with
ment torten years. While speaking attic cruelty of the punish. winch' we had interfered- As to V eneral Whittingham, who
ments inflicted, he thought it might be proper to mention the had distinguished himself in seemed battles, amid sacrificed
name of the virtuous, the patriotic Arguelles, whose fate could brighter prospects here to the cause of Spain, which he had
not be contemplated but with pain mud indignation. Arguellaa, espoused at its earliest dawn, was he to be blamed for obeying
the most enlightened, the most eloquent of the patriots, whose the orders of his superiors, when he did not even know what
eloquence had always been devoted to the right cause, who has their object was? On these grounds, be never found himself
always raised his voice In praise of liberty; In favour of the called upon to give a more paramount or stronger uegadve to
alliance with this country ; against the Inquisition, and against anv motion.-(Lead and continued cheering.)
the African Slave Trade; Arguelles was .condemned to serve Lord Jown tteassu..saw no reason why interference should
as a comoionaoldier to the garrison of Cewhineedi had been sent not he enemas. little further.
to his pestilential dungeon on the coast of Africa, within sight Alderman C. Sai tau, on the authority of letters which he had •
of a fortress belonging to (hie es/nutty-that of Gibraltar. It received from the most respectable characters iu Spain, ex-
was now for the House to determine, whether this was a cause pressed his conviction, that the people of this country were
which called the their interference. He bad 'hewn that this glide mistaken as to the state of affairs in that nation. lliere
country had interfered times oat of number in other cases; at was not a more Popular monarch in Europe, nor one to whom
this moment an army was maintained in France for the express his subjects were more devotedly attached than Ferdinand,
purpose of interfering in the concerns of that country, LA they Gen. alasritews said; that F--d was u u—r, an odious
had it under the heed of the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Cass and detestable tn--r.--( faighter.) The speech of the Noble
tiereagh). This interference was must extensive, and the Lord was intended by his Lordship to close the mouths of all
whole Freud' police might be said to be under the control of those who were not min the same Aide of the House ; but no-
the Mike of Wellington. It was then for the House to say, thing could be said by the Noble Lord to shut the mouths of
whale this line of conduct was pursued in Cue quarter, whether those on his (General Mathews') side of the House, or to alter
we might not to use our weight and influence to relieve those their opinious.-(Loughtera They nould raise their voices
who, bs actin!! in concert with this country, had been brought against the iniquitous acts of that iniquitous r F---- -
into distress elsewhere for the good faith which they had ob- whom he hoped to tee hurled from his ill-gotten and blood-
served with us. stained t—e.
Mr. BROLGHAM charged Ministers not only with total in. Mr. litassinrr defended the conduct of the Liberates., who
difference to the fate of the Cortes and Liberals*, but with bay. had not acted against the interests of this country. He main-
Mg paid the troops which Ferdinand employed uguinkt them; taiueul the right of interference on the partof the House. He
and promoted the officers who executed his orders. in eau. also shouldslike to know what person, or what Minister, bad
lug for interference, however, he did not wish to break the re- comiselled the sending the. Order of the Garter to Ferdinand
rations of amity which subsisted between this country and a VII. although, to be sure, an honour had been ruceived in
',emu of the sort he haul described. lie did not mean that return.
threats or menaces should be resorted to-lie ilid,not mean that Mr. BROUGHAM perceived, from the declaration of the
we should tell him what we had effected for his interest and se. Noble Lord, with no small astonishment, that the country MO
curity-which would be ungenerone-no--he wished that an interfered all along, had sent instructions to her Ministers, and
appeal should he made to Fertliaisuiles apprehensions. He wanted in nothing to the unfortunate Liberates ;in fact, that
ought to be led to consult his own prudential polies-a princi_ the object which he had thought to gain by his motion, haul at-
pie of which he did not suppose him destitute. Such a lessen ready been attempted. But how could he divine that such
should be given as would make him reflect on a great mud seri- MAR the reality? When a notice bail been given, and souse
oils truth, which he (Mr. Broitaltans) would express, nut in his conversation had taken place on the subject, the Noble Lord
own words, butt in the words of a Minister, who had wjiispered bad preserved a dead silence, fur the purpose, 110 doubt, Of
it in the ear of one of Ferdinand's predecessors-" that His eittrappiug his opponents by their silence into the present um.
Majesty had but two enemies- one of whom was the whole nun: which lie should not press if the intertarenee of Govern.
world-end the other his own Ministers !" lu conclusion, the melt had taken place after December, when the last violent
learned gentleman observed, that, happily for the interests of proceeding of Ferdinand against the Li berates had occurred; taut
humanity, there was one place in which the trnthinight boldly the results of our efforts (amid not then be known. If before •
be epokran-te here the crimes of Sovereigns rnicht be arraigned that period, he would persist in hie motiou, as it would be clear
-where the oppressed alight be vindicatradanid that it oppress's,s that the exertions of Government had failed.
rolled to an account-sad that place was, the COMBILOII3 House Mr. W etteettsv Pote maintained. that his Nibble Friend
of Great Britain I- -(lieur.)-lie then moved- had clearly stated, that from the moment of Ferdinand's en-
"'That an humble address be presented to the Prince Regent, trance iuto Spain, Government haul used its best offices in fa-
entreating Hie Hovel Highness to take into hi- gracious comas 110111' sit' the Members of the Cortes and the Liberates. He
&ration:de. sufferings of the late Spanish Regency and Curtis; therefore wondered at the surprise the Hon. Gentleman had
and representing to his Royal Highness, that the Allinnec at expressed. It was true, that he had not a scat in the House last
',resent subsisting between his Royal Iligaess and his Catholic year; but his friends ought to have informed him, that two or
Majesty, affords the most favourable opportunity for the inter. three times during the last Session, in answer to a Member
ference of Great Britain, with all the weight which belongs to now no more, be (Mr. W. Pole) had explained, that from the
the country and to the sentiments of that House." moment Sir Henry Wellesley had met the King di Spain itt Ve-
Lord C4STLEREAGII.-111 the whole course of his parliamen- tenets, he had left nothing untried to persuade him to accept
Lary experience, he never recollected to hare met with any the Constitution, and to treat the Liberates with mildness. It
Mier that surprised lens more than the native of the motion was therefore hardly poseibk that the Gentleman opposite
with es-hiele the lion. Member hail conclusleithismetsch. The should ten have known the coarse adopted by Government.
lion. Gentlemen, although he had entered Ma wick at large The Liberates thensselgca were coastline", that all that was
into the doctrine et interferenee-altineigh he hadsaid SO miteh possible had been attempted in their cause ; and thatwas so no-
to prove that iaterference might be effectual; yet in his motion t ohms, both in Spain and in One ',wintry, that he was astonished
there was not one word of entreaty to his Royal Highness the the Hon. Gent. should not have informed himself of the fact
Prince Regent to act en the principle's laid down in the Speech, before be had brought his motion. Government had interfered
-there Was no prayer (hr interference. It was certainly most from the first moment : but if he thought proper to persevere
extraordinary that the Hue, Gentleman, entertabiing the sem in his appeal to the House, let his go on, only let him not my
timent% which he had expressed, should have spoken so strongly that they were taken by surprise. He would add, abet ft was
in rayon,' of interference, without taking the triable so make the opinion of Sir Henry Wellesley himself, that the language
kuv r whether or not the British G orerinstrat had intrr• used la Ibis game y, and the attempts made in this 110011114.

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IR 1 FEB .19. Tilt NATIONAL REGlserrit. - .
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Or the
the North Anu•rican coast, and on the African the same ',qua treaty which he had been induced to sign whde in a state of fered ;--or' being aware that they hail iliterfered in some way,
there dron as in the last peace With respi•et to our home swum, duress. All his thoughts seemed devoted to the study of the ,should nothate endeavoured to skew, that the kind of inter-
miner , there would be nine small vessels, in addition. for the purpose oilcans by which he might overthrow the Regency and the Cor. ference which he recommended was better than what had been
beest
I I protecting the revenue against smugglers. Circumstances tes, which, as the allies of England, had so effectually laboured adopted. He (soul,' not consider the speech of the Hon. Gen-
would call for a larger number of men to man these vessels, fir the salvation of Spain. The Cortes refused to ratify the Rennin as calculated to lay down auy principles on the subject
Jessie
v.hich, iii point °loin, hail been increaser' from g 8 and 3g gun treaty which Ferdinand had concluded with itouttaparte, be- whirls it would be wise to practise, with a view to the interests
frigates to 36 and 38, It was also intended to retain the 4th cause it was inconsistent with good faith to England, as it went of either country. He had indeed heard it sometimes said, that
Ile or di,isien of marines, which, with the increased complement of against the stipulations of that concluded with this country by in the profession to which the Hon. and Learned Gentleman
seamen, would make a total increase of men of 5000. This was Admiral Apodaca in ISO 9. They treaty of pm they adhered belonged, it was not uncommon, in the defence of a client, to
tit he
owing to the great increase and growing prosperity of our to; and this it had been the object of Ferdinand to break, and sacrifice his interests, for the sale of making a display of ta-
w' to •
Ming foreign trade. It was understood that the permanent Peace indead to dissolve all the arrangements which had served to lent. Certainly in the present cast, with a view to the inflo-
Entahli,hment was to be 23,000, which number was less than knit the two countries together. He apprehended it was testa of those individuals on whose tinfonunate situation the
been at th
• e close of any preceding war. The vote, which howers•r unnecessary to pursue further the conduct of Ferdinand to question arose,
nothing could be more unadvisable than ally
f the
he should now call for, was 33,000, from the circumstances he prove the ',lrwin to be a case which called fur our inter- interference nn the principles which the Hon. Gentleman had
tat had just stated. He had to claim credit of the House for the ference ; when be had cruelly punished those who were laid down. If the Hon. Gentleman thought of any thing short
on e: o
tsoard of Admiralty, fur the rapidity with which ships lied been united with its in war and in council, in his behalf; who had of interference by force of arms, there never was a speech
paid off, and also with which the peace ships bad been manned, not only made this ung fnore calculated to defimt the end proposed, and to make P ar.
rateful return to them, but who had
b0n5,•1.., Ler wftnthln tn resittnh.t. th...e. k.:.,. ...1., I min •I• 1- •