The National Register.
London, England, 1811-02-17 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

the Prince Regent, it, the manner in which hr had conductdd
birrselt thr,u;;hout the whole of the important business which
fbilltinett't-te sunyct of the presmt Addre.4s. _ _

Gaosvr; vox rose, and stated, that though he. felt no ob-
ICtiort Mth.r general teti...r of the address, ht.c• could by no means
-fledge him-,4f to_the approval of it ail. His Lordship adverted
-.with. grew:severity to the- injurious delays which 'Ministers had
;oo.umitted•in, priiparing_ lite:measure of the Regency, which at
last lausitist war a ph...Wont-like, skeleton-like, and impotent mea-
.SUM. Iv. • %Ur!'
• LOlrd.Gin NY1404 It rose and said, that a great part of the Ad-
dress ILA lit; perfect and hearty concurrence, and he had never
before heardi o!i'arly similar occasion, a Speech more distin-
guished for just sentiment, spirit, argument, and liberality, than
that wisich had been tdelivered by the Noble Lord who moved
the Address.. . ‘;.!,!

Lord Liverpool Mr./that after the speech of the Noble Earl
who hui moved the Address, ard that of his Noble Friend who
had seconded woutd not he necessary for him to trespass
for any length of time upon their Lordships' patience. With re-
spect to.America,.it was and had been, on the part of Govern-
Anent, the constant desire to irt in the moq conciliatory manner,
with .the fullest and fairest views towards the most beneficial,
commeroial, and poiitical interests of both countries. And it
was even the most anxious desire of his Majesty's Government
to preserve a perfect understanding with U.e United States, as
highly essential to the defence, the security, and even existence
of this country.
Lord RA Nnott said a few words in favour of the Address,
which was then carried in the affirmative ; and upon the mo-
tion of Lord Liverpool, th..- Lords, with the white wands, were
ordered to present the same to his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent.--• Adjourned.

him on his listening to the eloquence of the Hon. Gentleman
(Mr. Mihies.) With regard to what had been said oil the pri-
vate character of his Royal Highness the Prince, he could
only sav, that iu heartily concurring with the present able out-
line of his character, he expressed the general opinion of the
nation, by giving his own private concurrence, which he could
do with the warmest sensations, knowing how justly the Prince
merited them. He perfe'tly approved of his Royal Highness's
conduCt,on the pres-ta occasion, and no eulosium of his could
make it clearer to the public, nor give it a firmer hold on the
nation's approval. He woulck feel inclined, he said, to give his
Majesty's Ministry evi ry possilsle assistance in the discharge of
their arduous duty, while they continued to follow measures
proper and beneficial to the nation; but he would reserve to
himself the freedom of his conscience, and should he withhoei
his assent from any measure which they deemed proper to adopt,
he would show to the House his reasons for dissenting from
them, and let the country see that he acted from no dark nor
ambiguous motives. He concluded by saying, that in thus giv-
ing his opinions, he hoped the House would consider that he
spoke truly and faithfully. He wished not to he deemed speak-
ing and approving through any motive like complaisance; having
stated that, he would forbear saying any thing farther on the
subject.
Sir F. BURDETT.—There are one or two observations of the
Hon. Mover and the. Seconder with which I can by no means
agree. To his Royal Higlitheas's conduct lam disposed to ren-
der every justice. But at the end of three months, it eppears
to me, we are in the same unconstitutional state as when our
proceedings commenced. I could have wished his Roysl High-
ness had not accepted the Regency, fettered and crippled as be
of necessity must be, by the restrictions that have been imposed.
And from his rot appearing this day to open the Parliament in
persen, it is natural to conclude, that his Royal Highness does
not reel greatly satisfied with the situation in which he has been
played. After one phantom of a Great Seal, we have made
another of a Regent. I have no inclination to prolong the de-
bate; but I must briefly advert to the disuse of the practice of
making Members acquainted with the King's Speech before
they hear ft in that House. The reason of this omission lam
unable to explain, but it appears to me to he both disrespectful
to the House, and inconvenient as to business. On this account
I wish the question to he adjourned till to-morrow, that we
may be able to form our opinions at more leisure, and with
more deliberation. Ministers appear to he placed in rather an
aukward situation, from the absence of his Royal Highness,
who seems, like Sir John Falstaff, to he heartily ashamed of his
ragged soldiers (./iii«de laughing); but for all their toritearrass-
ments they have only themselves to blame. The Hon. nay.
concluded with expressing his wish that the question should be
adjourned till to-morrow. •
Mr. Lassa v. said, that he could not give his avowal to the
applauding that part of the Hon. Gentleman's speech (Mr.
Milnes.) where he had so strenuously recommended the laying
aside of political discussion. Was a man, he said, rot to give
his own opinions. and should these opinions differ !rum any mo-
tion proposed ? Should measures be attempt toto be adopted
contrary to constitutional principle ? Was a Member of the
Hun. f-lou e not expscted to express his ideas warmly, and slush
himself into all the warmth, and even fierceness of contetitior,
which such measures would- call forth ? lie considered that
admonition as a censure of the conduct of the House in the de-
bates which had been lately agitated. And be would only say
for himself, that he had given of his opinions according to
what he deemed the spirit of the constitutional law, and what
was equally as dear, the dictates of his own conscience. He
bad contended against the' Regent being, under any restrictions,
because he said that it conferred a power on persons which the
strictures of constitutional law had never before acknowledged
as capable of receiving such gift. On that part of the Address
which related to Spain and Portugal, he could notate where
praise so unqualified could at all be applied. He would recom-
, mend the must strict political economy in the national expen-
diture, and he hoped his Majesty's Ministers would speedily
bring forward the estimates of money necessary for the public
service, that they might discuss them, and that the nation might
know what resources it was possessed of, and fudge with what
vigour it could continue the war.
Mr. PA RNZL L cemplained that no notice had been taken of
Ireland in the Address, and he hoped that the Mouse would
soon find an opportunity of treating cud so interesting a subject ;
and, should the Hasse. seem at all dilatory, be would find an
occasion to introduce to the notice of the Hon. House the urgent
concerns and affairs of that country.
General 'feta LETO NI said, he fully coincided with the Address
in aeknowli diving the virtne of the Prince Regent ; but, with
retard to the subject of Portugal and Spain, he should feel hima
self called on t enter a strong protest.
'the questivo WAS then nut, and carried without any dissenting
voices.

DF.Ti.NTIC_iN OF A PORTUGUESE OFFICER.

Sir F. Boni:ter r stated, that a Portuguese individual, in 1809,
wizen the British fleet lay off Portugal, had been invited to dine
with Lord George Stuarc, on board his ship—that after dinner
be was shovvii orders front Mi. Secretary Canning for arresting
hips.— hat he was confined for a fortnight in a dungeon at I-leli-
viand, and brut:ght to Coldhath-fields Prison, where he had
remaino d two years, without the smallest notice having been
taken of him —that he had been denied the use of pen, ink, and
paper, and precluded even from reading the newspapers. He
therefore would enquire of his Majesty's Ministers if they knew
any thing of the business, and he wished that an enquiry would
be speedily made whether such a person was to he su rigorously
used, and what was the crime for which he was committed.

Mr. YoRKE said he knew nothing at all of the matter, and
INCI.O such iu existeuce, he wxs sure an inquiry would be speedily

Mi. PEKCEVAL said, it being stated by the Hon. Baronet to
he an action of a Nlembei. of Patliament, it would have certainly
been lictt,:r to have been brought forward when the Hon. Gen-
tleman (Mr. Canning) WAS' in the House.
Sir F. Buarit•rr replied, that he did not see whether Mr C.
was in his place or not, and he thought that his Mtjesty's Mi-
nisters had been well acquainted with the subject in question.—
Adjourned.

•
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13.
Sir 8.. W. Guise took his Seat for the county of Gloucester.
Mr. 1411.1 S brought up the report of the Address to the
Prince Regent.
Mr. ilu reins:sow said, that he entertained every sentiment
of respect for the Prince Regent, and the firmest confidence ie
the exertions of our army in Portugal, headed as it was by one
who united extreme exertion with very great talents. Whether
he lo ked to the army, the General, or the Peninsula, he felt
the highest degree of dependance upon the effortz.- of the British
arms. He could not, however, but protest against the conduct
of Government, who had not granted to Lord Wellington a force
aufficieolei4rtit eor timely io cu-operate in the cause of Spain...—
He con Ithat Pfesent adds was not suited to paltt y
compligueuta,laut dematultd the utmost coolness of deliberation
and acceradcpotenquiry. The Prince should be told of the state
of the empire, of she...partatrbed situation of Ireland, that great
and injured and neglected part of it ; of the reduction of the na-
tional resources, and of the incr.. asing and tremendous resources
of the enemy. The Metreaaahnuld express an earliest wish tor
* aecure sad honourable peace, and should bear a pledge, that .1
the machinations of the enemy. should be of such a Malik* as to
11144 the continuance. of ,war iedispensible, the House would
wake use of all iwcapishility 40 support ;he contest ; that it
should watch over the public ezpoid it tire and above all, the rank-
ling wounds of the also cswentry, which was at this period sof-
ering so much from, injustice.
f Sir 'l'. TU R TON ',poke on the same side.
An interruption was here made to the debate by Mr. Canning,
who begged leave to say a kw words respecting the manner to
which his twine was used last night, upon the subject of a native
of Portugal, said to be confined in Coklbath-fields with his con-
currence. He thought it necessary to state to the House, that
he was totally unaccitiaiottd with the circumstance.--After some
observations emu Sir I,;rancia autdcit,ad Mr. Whitbread, Mr.
pledge) himself to. anguirepartigularly into the subject,
and see that justice should be nendered upon the occasion.
The alebate ou the ..-'lddreisti was then resumed by Mr. Whit-
bread, who said, if the House were to judge from the speeches
9144.).N.N1uver and Seconder of the Address, the Country had
LOtititlg its* forward to but..interniinable, annihilating war-
fare. •He sow nothing d6erviog of praise for the past, or likely
to excite hope for the flittiretati what had passed in Spain and
$91;t11,11., He wos-aware that our country WAS strong, the peo-
pia .sipe..4re their opposititet to France, and the reao...rees of the
.e.inpirogreat ; • but as we were now going on in Spain and Por-
Mgol,titv.v tomuot soon be exhatsted. A!trr. taking an able review
of :he state of affairs both foreign and domestic, Mr. Whitbread
.voucleasieksamitteeleclaringthat if the Prince Regent's NI ini,ters
liewed,a,44arrrninatiou to act in their accustomed manner, he
wuil)l4F•wftrod vilito his ace bounned opposition to their measures.
Mr. tt.c.lttovArt. defewied cb,. caolpaigu in Portugal, and tag -
:ed.,i4ootecossity aeiti policy of continuing our exertions in that
ounfry. lie acknowledged the enemy hail made an impression
tiglltsiteicopraneset‘of this .country, but this impre:ssi:ln he only
Ats•,texripbrary. .The pretensions of the kuler of
4k4nee.worvnothing less than the ruin or this country, and. till
he abated from too.-ie pretensions, it was yossible that peace
49114(ktml
Sir JOHN 14EWPORT complained of the systematic neglect
shewn towards Irela,.d ; he was firmly of opinion that much of
the mischief that hapy. ned in that portion of the empire, and
,-uch of that embarritsstmut And calamity in which she was in-

r"" ft k:

101

volved, was owing to the loose and negligent manner in which
its business was conducted in that Rouse. and regularly tte.er-
red till the close of the session was apvroaching. When he
came to look at the real situation of Ireland, and to contemplate
the very inefficient force of regular troops to keep the peace of
the country . he spoke the sentiments of numbers of Gentlemen
who also acted wait the Rigia Hon. Gentleman just sat down,
when he expressed that there was serious cause or apprehension
and alarm.
Tile CHANCELLOR of the Exeuttorrt, in reply to Sir 1.
Newport, assured him, that no reinfurcemc.nts had recently been
drawn from Ireland, and that the amount or milhary force now
in that country was probably greater than it had been at Any pe-
riod which the Hon. Baronet could mention.
A conversation here again took place between Mr. Whitbread,
the Chancellor of ;:he Fxchehequer, and" Mr. 'Visite, respecting
the Portuguee Officer deta. led in Colds ath-Lelcisprison ;
Whitbread expressed his stirpri-,:e that no record of such a trans-
action was kept in the Home Department ; Mr. Perceval and
Mr. Yorke did nut consider it proper to make any statement tmi
the subject till all the circumstanct s were ascertained. sir.
Yorke, however, said, he had learned that theperson ar. eitte tiou
had been apprehended as a spy, and conducted hither front Ate.-
liguland by a warrant front Lord Liverpool.
The Report Was then brought up inid agreed to, and the Ad-
dress was ordered to be presented to they 1-)Lioce Itt:gent.—
Adjourned,

TIRJRSDAY, Fr u. 14.
r
Leave was given to bring in 4 Bill to erect Bridge trom7thit
Three Cranes, Us tieeti-street, .-.,oto.tiwark.
ADD/LESS.
Lord CileOßCrt THTNNE informed the House that the
dress had been presented to the Prim,. Regent., to which hid
Royal Highness was graciously pleased to ratern the following
answer •
'4 Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I thank you Tor your
loyal and dutiful Address, and feel hig)lly gratified by the expres‘
shun of co. dolein:e and regret which you lutve.used the
situation Of his Majesty's health. lum further., gratificil utthe
assurance of your support in the dientult: utidertiAing• in which
I am engaged, winch will alone tnablx me effectually to conduct
the Government in the present arduous state of .
Sin .1. SINCLAIR gave uotic..• that. he would, en Monday; tali
the attention of the House to the laws respecting highways asiel

turnpike gates. ' •
I.t:ive was given to bring in a Bill to.continue the Bankrupt
Act k.i j'cotland. • • .
The SenAKnit read that part of.the beds ,Commietioner 8
Speech to the Howie respecting the Supplief, which
on the motion of the Chancellor of the Exch‘quer,oliiibircellec.
red to the Comm.ttee of Supply.—Atijourned. -k • •
• ^411,11 •
FRIDAY, TER. 15.
Mr. MELLisn brought up the Rupurt of the cdmniittee on
the expediency of ecectiin..; a New '1 heatre in the inetiopoli,,
The Report was agreed to, and leave given for 'bringing in a
Bill fur erecting a third Thcatre.

SUPI'I.IES. •
The CIIA.NCYLLOM of the Excat2tina moved the Order of
the hay, that the House resolve itself into a Com:ltd.:Le of
Supply.
CREEVRT complained of the intolerable system now
practised on the flutist! ; formerly. sal vites were nut. usually
granted, withibut firs: entering into gri.vances.....Tliirmnipro-
priety of proceeding wan attributable to the isactidd which rind
lately prevailed with the Nil:lister of the day, be .thatt•MOthter
who he might. Minister:. bad it now in their power to-ilitm-
duce, utid.r ambiguous :Led at any hour of toe tak;htothe
ordinary Supplies ; and it was in this way that a utiliirmutasta
half of money had tat year been voted to the irast ludia•
LuiW-
patty, a. nieitsure which was lleVer attempted; to be .disetidsod,
during its most important stages,
:aid even then it made but of about lltiy notactis...for
the day. And how was it.at last carrici ? Why, ,Ift,.; ientlns
ati g ihe per:..us attits:bed.to the 4abt
ilia i,:annpsitty~{iTaß iii
rectors of the liana, men in the lritmati, its . not.. doesiitiet.
that other Nit misers were prusept.ifi.rittikhier sersi2usiplts.
c equally objectionable, was thislasfivraighngdongutyser
:retviLes and supfkibsi, • a fa, vide 1)17 .411,1*0-
111-I;it it) o might to btt hilly and fair*: sedvicluxlr.
wined order, something nxed, *houttiuiatt adeipsodimaandaaiii.mg
into Conuntttees of the },resent slescriptioiry tort: at no% ...tm
CHAN4:LI.I.ON of the ELCLIEQUER lobarinurC,f
:scarcely • littew low to interpret Jhe renunkstjuctiirriight Ur.. he
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Creev ey), UnieSS, it:dee :, it. war bib wish
to redeem his former ncgligence by his preset 4 at....tiv•;y. Ht.
tone of complaint was not to be tecoticiiesi, to )a is yposing