The National Register.
London, England, 1812-01-12 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGXSTrit.

TYMERIXVP,FRETAkt
2.adisi.— •
HOUSE OP LORDS.

..-",
TUESDAY, JAN. .7. • •
At half past three o'clock this day the Lords appointed by virtne of the
Prince Regent's authority for opening Parliament by Commission, hav-
ing taking their seets on the Woolsack, •
The Lord Cueece Leon directed.the said Commission to be read by
the Clerk at the table, which being done, the Lord Chancellor then read
the Regent's Speech, which was as follows:—.
44 MT LORDS KND GENTLEMEN,
44 We are commanded by his Royal Highness the Prince Regent to
express to you the deep sorrow which he feels in announcing to yell
the continuance of his Majesty's lamented imlispositior, and the un-
happy disappointment of those hopes of his iMeijesty's early recovery,
which had been cherished by the dutiful affection of his family, anti the
loyal attachment of his people.
" The Prince Regent has directed copies of the last Reports of le r
Majesty the Queen's Council to be laid heoere you ; and he is satisfied
that you will adopt, such measures as the present melancholvieltigency
may appear to require. , •
64 In securing a suitable and ample provision for the supp en of his
Majesty's royal dignity, and for the attendance upon his Majesty's
sacred person during his illness, the Prince Regent rests assured that
you will also bear in mind the indispensable duty of continue g to pre-
serve for his Majesty the facility of resuming the personal exercise of
his royal authority, in the happy event of his recovery, so earm.sr ly
desired by the wishes and the prayers of his family and his subj e ts.
" The Prince Regent directs us to signify to you the satiefacte.n with
which his Royal Highness has observed that the measures which have
been pursued tor the defence and security of the kingdom of Portugal
have proved completely effectual, and that on the several occasions in
which the. British or Portuguese troops have been engaged with the
enemy, the reputation already acquired by them has been full/ main-
tained.
"The successful and brilliant enterprise which terminated in the stir-
prize, in Spanish lestremadura, of a trench corps, by a dettichinent of
the allied army under I ieutenant-General Hie, is highly creditable to
that distinguished officer, and to the troops under his command, and
ha' contributed materially to obstruct the designs of the enemy in that
. pert of the-Peninsula.
' The Prince Regent is assured, that while you reflect with prEe
and satisfaction on the conduct of his Majesty's troops, and it the
allies in those varisius and in.portant services, you will render jiistice
to the consummate judgmeet and skill displayed by General Lord
Viscount Wellington in the direction of the cantp:tgn.
' "In Spain the spirit ot the people remains unsebdued, and the system
of warfare so peculiarly adapted to the actual condition of the Spar)i,ii
nation, has been recently extended and improved unk!er the wlv.tuta;:es
which result from the operations of the allied armies on the fro 'tier, and
front the countenance aiel assistance of his Nl:tjesty's 11.:vy an the c,;,tit.
" Although the great exert loos of the enemy have iii some qt.,rtt rs
been attended with success, his Royiil Highness is , er waded y u wild
admire the perseverance and gallaetry manifested by the Spanish et-
inks. Even in those provinces principally occupied b; the feench
forces, new energy has producede; the peeple, mei the increase of
difficulty and danger has more connected 'diem of gene' ai
resistance.
" The Prince Regent, in the name and on the hebalt his Majesty, cones,
mands us to express his confident hope that you will enable him to cup
tinue to afford the most effectual aid and a'sistauce in support ot the
contest which the brave natioes of the Peninsula J till maintain with such
unabated zeal and resolution.
4' 'His Royal Highness commandos
.us to express his congratulations
on the success of the British arms in the island of Java.
" 'l he Prince Regent trusts that you will concur with his Royal Hieh-
nese in approving the wisdom with whith this enterprise, as well as toe
capture of the iilends ."IBriurbon and the Mauritius, hae been conducted
under the immediate direction of the Governor-Getieral of India ; and
that you will applaud the,,dt cision, gallantry, and seirit con .pictiofisey
displayed in the late operetions of the brave amity ueder the command
of that distinguished Officer Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel eitchmtsty,
so powerfully and ably supported by Ms Majesty's vocal forces.
" By the completion of this system of operations, great additional
security, will have been given to the British commerce and possessions
the East In lies, and the colonial power of France will have" been
entirely extinguished.
His Royal Highness thinks it expedient to recommend to your attt•n-
tion the propriety of providing such measures forthe tuture governmeet
of the British positisions in. India, as shall appear trent experience,
and upon mature deliberation, to be calculated to secure their tote. nal
prosperty, and to derive from those flourishing dornit ions the utmost
degree of advantage to the commerce and revenue of the United hen-
dorm
46 We are commanded by the Prince Regent no acquaint yen, thet,
while his Royal edginess regrets that various important uleeets of
difference with the Goveninaent of the United States of Amen, .. etid
remain unadjusted, the dillculties vrhic h the affair of the Cbeearah•

777

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THE


gate occasioned hive hens inaidly =moved ;Ud we are directed to
;.,sure you, that in the furtlaor prograskiirthe discussions with the Utaked
ates, the Prince Rtgentevillcotitinaie to eemplor such meane of con-
ciliation as may be cousstentyeiltis the honour and dignity of his klajes-
tf, crown' and with the due maintenanCe of the maritime and corn-
rights and interests of the British Empire.
GENTL?:I4LN OT THE 'House or COMMONS,
" His P oaal Hiehnees has directed tbeestimates for the service of the
curreso year to detail before you. He trusts that you will furnish Inni
with such supi lies as may he necessary to enable hint to • continue the
contest in which his Majesty is engaged, with that spirit and =widens
which will afford the best prospect of its successful termination.. His
Royal Highness eomhtands us to recommend that lota should resume
the consideration of the state of the finances of Ireland, vdsicls you had
coal n fenced in the last Session of Parliament. He hoe theMfaction to .
inform you, that the improved receipt of the rettennent On the
last, as compered with the preceding year, confirms dm heEef, -that the
depression which that revenue bad raperiaaced, is to be attributed
to
accidental and temporary causes.
" MT LORDS AND GZerrtIMICIR,
" The Prince Regent is satisfied that you entertain a just sense of the
irdtioui duties which his Royal Highness has been called upon to fulfil,
in consequence of his Majesty's continued indisposition.
" Limit r this severe calamity, his Royal Highness derives the greatest
consolation from his reliance on your experienced wisdom, loyalty,
snd public spirit, to which in every diiicu he will resort with a firm
cse.fidence, that through your assistance and support he shall be eta-
tiled, under the blessings of Divine Providence, successfully to discharge
the important functions if the high trust reposed in him; and in the
n. me and on the behalf of-his beloved Father and revered Soviet darn to
ne.intain unimpaired the prosperity and honour of the n.!:ian."
The Earl of Siseeir sever rose, and called the attention of their Lor-
d-5 ips to the Speech just read. He was certain that the house would
unanimously coceur in opinion, that there would be but one sentiment
es to the lamentable state of our afflicted Sovereign, and the hitherto
dis.ipaointed hopes of his Family and of his subjects. But it would be
some consolation to know, that every effort would be made to render
emple and careful the attendance requisite for the care of his Royal
Person, and in making the most adequate provision for the resumption
of the Royal Atuher;ty, whenever it should please Providence to re-
store him to health of body and mind. It was a circumstance of the
highest magnitude, as well as tritooph over the enemy. that notwith-
standing his hoists, the kingdom Of Port sgill was rescued from his ir-I.<!Fi).
and rendered impregnable to his atta .I.s. it was also a neeter of ti:c
greatest pride diet :.-ipanish province of Estremadura fee the (acts
of the geihut and h:iiiient entrrp•iae performed ,there by Lieut -Gen.
Hail, and the ge!ant soldiers under his command, who 1;e their signal
valour defeete:d r." -e elee'linatlons of the enemy in that quarter. !its
Lordship was sect that their Lordships would agree with him
in piyieg every t to applause to the consummate skill, vigilance,
.and sot d,om, eisakeed by Lord -Wellington during the whole of the
canoe/jet, th.-re; aer: it was a ;citifying circumstance, that the system
of warfare eiturel and congenial to the Spanish nation had acquired
stew vigour, and had been considerably extended, seconded as it was by
the vowel ful assistance of her allies. His Lordship having dwelt onewse
tofics fir some time, then glanced at the achievements of our forces in
thei East Itches, the capture of the Island of Java, and congratulated the
House and the country on the fall of the last colony possessed by the
enemy in the Oriental world, through the gallantry of Sir Samuel Auch-
. may, supported as Ti: was by the spirit and aid of his Majesty's naval
forces there on the occasion. His I ,ordship then obscreed;that as our
acquisitions in the Eastern world had so increased, there was no doubt
but that Parliament would feel the expediency of adopting such mea-
sures as would eveetually secure the the internal prosperity of those
&Minions; As to the unhappy differences that have prevailed between
the 8; at:s of Ameriet and this country, however it was to be lamented,
still 1w trusted that the expectation was to be cherished, that by the ape
pllcation ef,every means of conciliation consistent with our honour and
welfare, these differences would be completely adjusted. In turning his
eyes to another parr of the United Kingdom (Ireland), it was certainly
a staatter of dowitlerable gratification, that during the last year her finan-
cial resources had vastiy increased, and her revenue likewise; and
finally, it was. a circtunstance of the happiest tendency, that should the
. malady of our afflicted Sovereign not abate, that his Royal Highness the
Regent will endeavuur,by the aid of Divine Providence, in the name of
Iris .I\i'lajesty,.co preserve unimpaired the prosperity and honour of this
vast empire.
The Noble I .ord then moved the Address, which being read by the
Lord Chancellor,
. *Lard Batewereolv seconded the Address.
Lurd Gimes:feet:with much apparent warmth, rose and stated that
he hid listened to the soceeh with attention and with surprise. He could
not avoid, even on t.ht lint day of the Sessions, making same remarks
upon it, and availing-Idols if of that opportunity of desiring that he
might nut be included among those who gave it their approbation. His
...Lordship in strong terms ieveighed against the measures adopted in
what he called" the lavish expenditure of the resources of the country
in a wide wasting warfare on the Petrie Alla." Sore e parts of the Speech
be could have no objection to, be in common with their Lordships la-
mented the eftilictiens of the and that of his family, and he

•

NATIONAL IiEGISTER.

?JAN 12.

1111111101 W , , =-
acknowledged the valour, the discipline, and the zeal of the British
army and its Conanandets. But he would not have it understood that
with respect to the States of America we had conducted ourselves with
.policy or wisdom, lie might add, or even with jnstice. He then glanced.
at the Albin of Ireland; he deplored the situation of that country, and
deprecated the late transactions there. In language of the most severe
reprehension and point, he redi;uled the manner in which Ireland-was
noticed in the Speech, and said, that even admitting the fact to be as
stated, that her revenue was increased during the coarse of the last year ;
it was but a paltry consideration, when put in contra-distinction to the
true welfare of that part of the kingdom, the granting ro its inhabitants
the rights of nature and of nations—the enjoyment unrestricted of their
civil immunities. If Ministers really intended to increase rationally and
substantially the revenuesof Ireland, they should encourage their fellow
subjects there—they should aid their industry, and give them an interest
in their native soil. Ministers may rest assured, said the Noble Lord,
that if that should not be speedily practised, the consequenc. 5 would
be more serious and alarming than they were at this moment aware of.
The subject was of high and dear import, and was now come to a crisis,
from whence Ministers could not shrink • and he would tell their
Lordships, that either he or some other Noble Lord would, in a very
short time, bring the matter to their view. For the present he would
rest content with having expressed himself thus, and entering thus vies
voce his solemn protest against the unqualified terms expressed in che-
f Address.
!I The Earl of Let/CP...POOL spoke in reply. He passed over those tonics
I I which the Noble Lord had signified that he did not object to, and came
li r.ir. ctly to the disputed points. First, with regard to the war in the
llPeninsula; this he maintained was not only contiucted with the wisest
measures, but was happily proceeding in progressive successes. Ili.
I .ardship entered into details .of the various achievements of the :JA
I campaign, anti insisted that it was not only glorious to the British and
Spanish arms, but highly advantageous to the great cause of the latter.
With respect to Ireland, he should be ready to meet the Noble Loru on
that topic, whenever he should bring it forward. At present, he Never,
Ihe could tell him, that be wholly approved of the canducz of the Noble
Duke who governed there, and would justify hint to Cie last.
i Earl Ga Cr supported the sentiments of Lord Grenville.
n The Earls of DARN LET and Low:root. spoke, as did Lord GREN.
0 v 5.1.1: again in reply.
I [
Ile w
e question aF at last put, and the motion was carried without a
divisions—Adjourned.

FRIDAY, JAN. 10.
The Baal of LITER POOL moved the Order of the Day for the appoint-
ing a Setect Committee to examine his Majesty's Physicians touching
the "slate t,fith Majesty's health.
AfL, r the list was read, the Earl of LIVERPIOL moved. " That the
Cotriiince should sit on Monday next, with power to adjourn."
Upon the motion of Lotd GRENVILLE, it was then ordered that Drs.
Sir H. Raiford and Willis attend this Select Committee.
THANKS TO LORD MINTO, ANL ARMY AND NAVY IN
INDIA.
The Earl of Liv. arooL rose to call the attention of their Lordships
to the subject ef which he had previously given notice, the great and im-
portant services which had been achieved by the Governor-General in
India, and by the Officers and troops employed in that country. The
subject then before their Lordshiln had nothing in it confined, distinct,
or separate: it was general and complete, the result of consummate po-
licy,profound wisdom, and intrepid resolution. So long back a:; the
year 11308, the policy and the practicability of wresting from France the
Islands of Mauritius and Bourbon, by which our commerce was so se-
verely annoyed, had occurred to some of our Officers, who, early io
1809, transmitted home a proposition to that effect. Circumstances at
that time prevented Goveniment from. sending out specific instructions;
and it was not Until 1810, that they were transmitted. In the inean
time, however, with a provident accumulation of the requisite means,
and With a degree of skill, promptitude, and resolution, which had ne-
ver been exceeded, the Governor-General, at his own risk and respon-
' ability, undertook the attack of those islands successively, and captured
them. In 1809, he viewed the probability of Java's becoming the centre,
not of Dutch, but of French host Indian power. The same circum-
., stances which before had prevented tho,prompt communication of au-
thoritative instructions trom Government, kept him back on that occa-
sion, but no sooner was the capture of Mauritius of Bourbon effected,
than the Governor resolved to lose no time in the endeavour to reduce
'Java. A new and shorter navigation was resorted to, the arduous and
important euterprize which, at his own suggestion, and his own risk,
had been undertaken, was effectually and gloriously achieved. The
conduct of Lieutenant-General Auchmuty too was entitled to the high-
est encomiums that the admiration and the gratitude of his country
could bestow. His I .ordship then adverted to the meritorious and bril-
liant services of General Abercrombie and Commodores Brougham,
and Rowley,and of all the Officers and men, both military and naval,
who commanded. at Bourbon and Mauritius, and concluded with
moving-
-46 That the Thanks of the House be presented to Gilberc Lord Minto,
Govsrtior-Getteral in Italia, for the signal and splendid advantages
de-
rived front the wisdom and ability' cf his Administration, particularl
.! in the capture of the islands of ttaurities, Bourbon, Java, fi.c."