The National Register.
London, England, 1808-01-24 00:00:00

54

." THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

.which formed part of the law of nations. He approved of the
disavowal of the principle on which the attack of the Chesa-
peake frigate took place. He WEB sorry to heilk the language
which Was held as to the uiaimporiance of a contest with Ame-
rica, for it would prove a great calamity to both states. With
regard to peace, he thought it was not to be obtained by talking
of it, or petitioning for it; but he would never countenance any
attempt to throw obloquy on the efforts of any portion of people
who, thinking di lierently, availed themselves of their undoubted
constitutional right to state their t.entiment. On this topic he
adverted to, and highly panegyrised, the language held by Lord
Milton to his coustintents. He concluded with again expressing
his regret that Al inisters had called for the approbat ion of Par-
liament to the attack of Copenhagen without previous iuform-
ation.

Loan Gnaw...H.l.g pursued a similar course with Lord Sid-
mouth. He reprobated the silence with regard to the informa-
tion which caused the attack on Copenhagen, the Orders of
Council, and the severity of our comluet to America. lie
blamed Ministers highly for not making the State of Ireland a
rat of his Majesty's Speech.
Lotto /fairaeiarar, in a long speech, defended the attack
on Copenhagen. The Ministers could not state their authority,
nor lay their information upoa the table, from ohs ions motives ;
but they had information that justified their proceeding. He
enumerated the several heads of information. First, they
learned that there were secret engagements in the Treaty of
.l'ilsit ; and that the view of the parties was to confederate all
the Powers of Europe; and particularly to entage or seize on
the fleets of Denmark and Portugal to annoy this country.
'I hey heard this from their public Ministers then abroad.—They
heard it from their faithful Ally, Portugal. They also re-
ceived information of the hostile iutantions of Denmark from a
quarter to which they lead often been indebted for the first
knowledge of the designs of Bonaparte; from, or rather through
the disaffected in Ireland. They learned that Ireland was to
he attacked from two points —Lishon and Copenhagen ; and
they never found the information of these persons. hoe ever they
come by it, false. And, filially, they had a confidential coin—
municaiiim, that,. in the Council of the highest authorities in
Copenhagen, the matter was discusred, whether, on nn optima
being put to them, that they should join either En:;land or
France, an option which they understood was to he put to
them, they resolved that they would join France. Having
learnt this, Ministers would hare been traitors if they had out
taken steps to secure the fleet. The Noble Lord 111E11 went
over the several other topics of Lord Grenville's speech—Por-
tugal, America, the Orders io Council, awl the State of Ire-
land. On the two last he declined saying much. The tote
would come regularly before them on a future day, and the less
that was said of the other the better.
After several other Noble Lords had delivered their senti-
ments on each side, the amendments were negatived, and the A-
ddress carried without a division.—Adjourned to Wednesday nest.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
THURSDAY, JAN. 21,

Cter Ms Majesty's Speech was read. Lnrin 11.4 VI LTO V rose
to move tile Address. It was his maiden speech ; and If it con-
tained nothing new, it was, at least, appropriate to the occa-
sion. lie bpoke highly of the warlike triumphs of the nation,
and he anticipated more, It had been, aced it must be, said he,
that tear must he the only channel and source of our national
security. Such sus the uncertainty of any peace lasting, that
in his mina it is more than probable the e‘peoce of a peace
establishment would be great, and always attended by the ham rd
of ;wing cudtlenly and unevpectedly violated. The Noble Lord
then made a transition to his Majesty's Ministers, whom he
bigld v complimented for husbanding the resources of the coun-
try in the manner they had done. They had done their duty,
and were dicing it daily-, and they highly merited the counte-
nance and support both of that House and the country at large.
ifa. ELLIN seconded the motion, _ _

l.nea<D Mtt.ros vindicated his conduct with respect to the di&
&rent meetitrzs in Yorkshire, but could not but regret, notwith-
standing what he had heard from his Majesty's Speech, of the
flourishing state of the finances of the country, that there were
many hundred mechanics at this moment destitute in the comity
he had the honour to represent, from the evil tendency of the
policy pursued by his Nlaieqy's ministers.
GEonGs PoNstimar observed, that the Speech now read
from the Chair was the longest he had ever heati of, and em-
braced a greater viipioly of Et:pies than y uthc:r. It aispearcd,

<:

JAN. 21.

by the Address, that Ministers required the unqunlified appro-
bation of Parliament, for the affair of Copenhagen, and (littered
materially in opinion with the Noble Mover and Seconder, fur
he could never reconcile himself with the idea that the Ruler of
France had the intention of seizing on the Danish navy, he was
hound to say that Ministers could not produce the least ground
for the supposition. Ministers had, therefore, onlv anticipced
what they imagined he might do. With respect to America he
had nothing to say, as the papers were not laid upon the tablo,
that question must rest for the present ; but the state of Ireland,
on which the Speech was silent, required au immediate consider-
ation.—lie pledged himself to bring forward, as soon as possi-
ble, the attairs of Copenhagen, whiell he considered :tau!
with its disgrace the character of the tliitish nation.
Mu. MtuvEs at great length vindicated the conduct of his
Majestv's Ministers, and took a clear and comprehet.:H' view
of the situation of the Powers of Europe, watt tht it
and connections with France: but ,et, war in the preseat in-
stance was ahmilutety uremia; s/ for our existence SF a nation.
MR. WU TRU Edin then rose, and saidl that from Meat he!
heard, it was impossible for him to remain silent after what Lad
fallen front the last Speaker. lie deprecated in strong term;;'the
Copenhagen expedition, which he considered not only unjusf,
but extremely dishonourable. The nation was tok, it w;-s
measure ..fnecossity to plunder the stores of 1G or t 8 hulks, a
few tons of hemp and iron. when at the same time Min;,•••r,
not the slightest proof that Denmark was to maker a • wlincn
cause with the enem:: a.,P.ain:4 this country. After allotting t.,R. the emigration of the oval Family of Portugal, which Minis-
ters took the merit of to themselves, which he as an indiyid.m
totally denied, as it appeared clearly from the Proclate.,tiel of
the Prince Regent, that they had no share in ihquefoing tlevt
Court in its final determination. Ile then said that flier was
now as good an opportunity of•making Peace with France as
ever, and he had not the smallest doubt, if Ministers were ierions
but they might obtain it on honourable te,-ms. Mr. Whitbread
concluded with calling the attention of Ministers to the. state
Ireland ; something must be done, otl!erwise that errantry «null
he inevitably lost to the British Empire,
Ma. SeenEr4ur CAvvisc, at considerable length, and with
peculiar force, vindicated the measures which he and his col-
leagues adopted towards Denmark and other Powers, but did
nit think it either prudent or expedient to disclose the source of
information As hick guided their determination respecting the
former Power.
Mu. NNl:urn.cv contended, from good information, that all
the naval stores taken from Denmark were not sufficient for the
wear and tear of the British Navy for one month ; and also that
the Danes had even raptured 35 or :16 of our merchantmen, ladep
with naval stoles ; so that we had not much to boast of on that
score. lie concluded by giving notice of a motion op the Vale
of Ireland in the course of the Session.
Loan HENRY PETTY spoke at considt.ialile length against
the Address, as did also the lloy. COLONEL MONT./GUIS NAV.
THEW.
The question was at length,carried withoot a diyisionl and tic
house adjourtied*oue o'clock in the morniii

FRTDAY, JANUARY 22.
The House met about half past three o'clock, chci after pass-
ing some piivate Bills, the SOP:AKER I:,sped his writ 'to elect
Burgess fur the Borough of Castle Rising, in the coop of 'lhe
Hon. Charles Bagoti who has accepted of the Chiltern Ban.
dred's.
Sir Francis Burdett tt'ok the usual oaths and his seat on the
sfvood row of the Opposition Bench. lie appeared in excellent
health and spirits.
A Mexsenger from the Board of Military Enquiry preented
at the liar the Fifth Report of that Boaid, which was ordered
to he on the table.
The usual Committees were appointed and the Standing
Orders of the Wist! ii.newe.d, when new Writ'S were issued by
the fliEtt for the boixiitklf of Tregon, in the, room of God-
frey Wentworth, Esq. who has accepted of the Chiltern
!hundreds; And the borough of Tierton, in the room of the
lion. Richard Ryder, appointed ope of the CoOmn6sioners of
his Majr9ty's Treasury.

CONTESTED ELECTIONS.
Petitions, complaining of undue .eleetions, were presented
against the returns of Members for the follow lag ;Aare-, which
were ordered to lie on the table, and to he taken into considera-
tion, viz. Two for Banbury., on Tuesday, the 2cl of February,
at three ; Saltqih, on the wne day, 4 hakf past three ;