The National Register.
London, England, 1812-06-14 00:00:00

JITSE 14.

as to insure the enlightened support of the Protestants of the United '
kingdom ; so that the measure should not have the effect of trans-
tcrrilig the discontent from one class to another—nor be regarded
a; the triumph of one party, but the means of conciliating and recon-
ciling all classes of the Empire.—(Henr, hear, helix* As to the se-
cond proposition, there was tio variance at all. His minute contained
the words " the best means," that of Marquis Wellesley " adequate
means. It was known that alaris Wellesley's opinion as to the scale
on which the war had been conducted, was, that it had not been ade-
quately extended, and that accounted for the expression used by the
Noble Marquis ; but as he had himself iiot been in Administration for
twa years he could not know whether the mode of conducting the war
had been inadequate. As, however, he concurred with his Noble
friend upon the policy of prosecuting the contest with vigour, what,
his Noble Friend meant by 6‘ adequate" he had expressed by best"
means. [Ehe Right Hon. Gentleman then read the letter of Earl Grey,
taring the grounds of his objection, and his satisfaction of the explan-
ation given of it.) They were perfectly aware that the Adminis-
tration proposed to be formed would contain the seeds of difference, but
they felt also that it would do good service for the country. He regretted
the failure of a proposition, which, if it had been met with candour on
one side, had been meant as sincerely on the other. And here he must
say, that the application was not confined to Lords Grey and Grenville.
The object of Marquis Wellesley was to form an Administration com-
posed of men distinguished for talents in all parties, and with that view
had commissioned him to address a proposition to some of the Mem
hers of the then suspended Governmant. By the Noble Marquis's de-
sire, he accordingly waited on the Earl of Liverpool, and made in his
presence the minute.which had beep reach Tu this he received for an-
swer, that it was not necessary to discuss the basis, as neither the
Earl of Liverpool nor any of his Colleagues would take any part in an
Administration formed by Marquis Wellesley. He, upon receipt of
this answer, wrote a private letter to the Noble Earl. without the
knowledge of Marquis Wellesley, beseeching him and his Colleagues
to reconsider their decision, on the ground that they would not stand
fairly with the country if it should appear that they withheld their ser-
vices from personal objections. To this the Earl of Liverpool replied that
his answer had not been sent without full consideration, that he was
actuated by no personal objections, but that when he considered some
recent publications reflecting. upon him and his friends, be could not,
with honour to himself, or consistently with his respect for his departed
friend, consent to act with Marquis Wellesley. He thought it due to the
Noble Earl to communicate the contents of this letter to the House.
But with respect to the charge it contained against his Noble Friend,
be would not attempt to weaken by going over the same grounds that
had been so irresistibly urged by himself, in his triumphant justification
in another place—a justification the effusion of an innocent heart and a
magnanimous spirit. He should here refer to a letter written on the
254.1 of May, to Earl Grey, in which he, without any communication
with him or his Noble Friend, pointed out the principle of conciliating
the Catholics, and of vigorously prosecuting the Peninsula war, as the
best basis for the union of public men. As to the assertions hat the
first proposition could not be accepted, made by the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman and the lion. Mover,the should only say, that no one could state
that any disposition had been shown to balance parties, when a majority
was offered in the Cabinet to the Noble Lords, a concession that might
in other circumstances be considered dangerous. tfe would not say a
word of the motives of the Noble Lords in rejecting the proposal made
to them; he was sure they thought they were doing a great service to
the country, but at the same time fairly indicating an opinion that
nothing less than a surrender of all power into their hands would satisfy
them. He did not blame them ; 'this was their view of the question, and.
on that their rejection was made. Lord Wellesley having surrendered'
his commission into the hands of the Prince Regent, it was trans-
ferred to Lord Moira. Of the subsequent proceedings he could not
speak of his own knowledge, and Lord Wellesley having sent for him
to communicate with Lord Moira, he thought he ought not to have any
further commenication with that noble Lord, for this reason, having
been one of the persons nominated by Lord Wellesley to hold a seat in
the Cabinet, reserving however to himself a right to accede or not, to
such Administration as that NoJale Earl might form; at the same time,
;lying him (Lord Wellesley) an assurance, that if the negotiation should
break off, he (Mr. CO was at his command. But in justice to the Noble
Earl, he read the correspondence which passed between Lord Moira and
_
eds Grey and Grenville, preparatory to the minutei, and which led to
the interview between those Noble Lords, at which Lord Erskine was
present. These minutes had been commented upon by the Right Hon.
pentleman (Mr. Ponsonby) in a sense they_did not bear, and as if the
breaking of the negotiajiott was because the Noble Earl had net the same
powers totreat about the Household that he hadrupon the other points.
t did, however, appear to him (Mr. Canning), that that power was
distinctly given; but Lord Moira, with that frankness Ad candour
which 'narked his character, never.once having. stated that his power
was limited, bet that in his .view of the interests of the public he must
resist it. It might be a subject too delicate for him to mention, what
had taken place between-the- Prince Regent and Lord Moira after the
rapture of the negotiation, but-.from whet fell from the Right Honour-
able Gentleman in the course of his spelehe he Celt it but justice to the
Noble Earl that he should state what that Noble Earl had conimu-
nriliucat_eed..to him, not more than five minutes after his interview veith the
; Regent. The Noble Lord told him, !ieasked his Royal !highness,

Mr. 1.1

361

" Sir, if I had proposed to your Royal Highness to remove all the officer,
of your Household ; would you have agreed to it r To which his
Royal Highness answered, " if you tell me it is necessary for the public
service, I will remove every one of them." To which the Noble Earl
replied, " Then not one of them shall he removed."—(Loud cheering,
and reiterated cries of Hear, hear !)—Alter some further observations'
he concluded by declaring, that as he had taken a part in this negotiation
he fat he could not vote upon the present question at all, and should:
therefore, withdraw.
Mr. l'oN so NBY and Mr. CANNING mutually explained.
Mr."FIER N EY observed, that his Noble Friends had shown every dis-
position to lend their aid in forming a united and efficient Administrae
non, and all they asked was the same powers which had been granted
' to ail former Administrations; and the only obstacle which stood in the
way of a final arrangement had been completely removed by the
speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Canning), who had now
nothing to do in order to renew the negotiation, than tO go into the
chamber of Lord Moira with the Noble Lords (Grey and Grenville)
and state to them what he hail just stated to the House. There was
welling in the way of renewing the negotiations, to which he was now
satisfied a favourable termination might take place, bet the return of
the Hon. Gentlemen opposite to office; who three weeks ago were de-
clared by that House to be week and ineidcient. 'I he question was,
what step they were to take on deer reooration to suspended anima-
tion ? It was only foe the Right Hon. Gentleman to go to Lord Moira,
in order that they might be put under water again. But was this a,
strong and efficient Administration, or not? What sort of new de•
scription of Cabinet was this, in which there was no opinion on pub-
lic questions. This was Liberty hall, every man was to act as he
pleased; and suppose, for a moment the same principle was to be ap-
plied to Spain, that these Cabinet Ministers meant to apply to :tie
'Catholic question ; one says, " Give me 50,600 men and ten of
money;" " no," says another, "give me 5001. and a ce.porai's guard;'
and thus was the business of this new formed Cabinet to proce:
But what was the House to do in this case; they had asked .or al. effi-
dent Administration, and they gave theM the same back
amended nor improved, but the contrary, for befoie they acted upon
some principle, now they had no principle at all. Rut what would the
country say to all this, or how could those Members who but the other
day voted the Administration inefficient, now go back to their
ents and say, we have got back the same Administration, and we Low
think them perfectly efficient. In his opinion the House sho. Id come
to some decison upon this important question. The Mution of the
Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Wortley) did no go far enough ; the Amendment
of his Noble Friend (Lord Folkstone) went too much into detail, but
approving highly- of that propoeed by his other Noble Fritod (Lord
Milton), lie should give his warm support to that Amendment.
Lord IiARMOU ru and Mr. TIERNEY mutually explained.
Lord ROBERT SEYMOUR said, it was thetitention of his noble rela-
tives to resign their situations if Lords Grey and Grenville came into
power.
Mr. FULLER said, the secret was now out; It was clear now what
the Hon. Gentlemen were iu the habit of going about from one corner
of a street to another; for this was their boasted love for their country;
it was their love for pensions and places, but the country would not ad-
mit the oligarchy they wanted to govern it by ; they would not have tea •
Cardinal Wolseys instead of one.
Mr. R. MARTIN expressed his determination to vote against the.
amendment. •
Lord CAsTtEREAGII said, the obvious tendency of the Hon. Gentle-
', man's Address was, to obscure an Administration on which it seemed
nevertheless to be pretty generally admitted, that the burden of pubic
affairs must, of necessity, devolve. That Administration had, never-
theless, never evinced a desire to stand between the Country and the
Crown ; and their having thrown no impediment in the way, more ford-
bly showed the inherent difficulty that was in the way of forming any
Administration. Of the fruitless negotiation which bad he en carried
on, he never had augured well; he could not do so when it became the
1 practice tor Gentlemen hitherto accustomed to repose some 'confidence in
each other, not to choose to confer without being pitted against each
)1 other, equipped with pen and ink to prevent any unfair advantage:.
He had not been a party to any negotiation while they were pending;
he had had no access to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent—the
only party of these with which he had any concern was, the cummuni-
cition which had been ivad' him by the Right Hon. Gentleman (N'r.
Canning) from a Noble Marquis, propsing that he should form pare
of. an Administration ; but he would put it to the House, whether he
could with any propriety have accepted of the oiler, after having beets
described in common with his friends, as a person to:ally incapable.
He had a great respect for the Noble Marquis, not ly op his own ac-
count, but also on that of his brott er, thq most illusriuus soldier of
Whom this country could ever boast ; hot it aFi ,tred to him, that when
he and his Colleagues refused to ser:c with him (the Noble Marquis)
they were as justifiable as he could be deemed in having dechred that
he would never *erve-with his late illustrious Friend. With rupee: to
• t',e question of the Catholic Claims, he conceived that it would. stand
in no better way than it now did, nor did he see the least ground tar
the constitutiutial horror expressed by the Gentlemen oppositt n the
occasi ,f). Every individual of rhe Government was at full :die; ty to
act upon their own opifilons,•aed for his part be would be ready to
communicate with any person in or out of office who might wish to