The Sun.
London, England, 1801-02-03 00:00:00

cause such an attack had not turned.out success-
ful. Before any good could be effeded by an in-
quiry-on this subjea, before it could be entered
upon with any means of decision, the House must
be satisfied that they. were well acquainted with
all the circumstances of the two contending
Powers r that they knew. the relative force of
Austria and France. It was doubtless very
tasy to decide upon the consequences of an event
after that ,event had taken place. He was as
ready. as any Noble Lord to deplore that affairs
shouldnhave taken such a turn as 'they had done,
but it formed no subjed in his mind fur incula
pating MiniSters. Turning to our conduct to
Neutrals' his Lordship declared that lie rather
felt a wish that some sort of inquiry should be
instituted as to the. justice of that conduct which
Government had adopted, and to which it might
again return with regard to the Northern Na--
tions. On this head he had supposed that .bet
one opinion would have been entertained. It
was obvious to every one, that the situation of
this Country was such, that it was essential to,
its existence to preserve uninjured the Rights of
13elliierent Powers at Sea ; when it Was seen,.
therefore, that engagements were entered into
by Powers in violent hostility with this Cdun;.'
try, no doubt could .be entertained but that such.
engagements were to be considered as ads of
hostility against us. He thought with, the Noble
Lord who had moved the. Address, that on
such a subjed it was not easy to temporize ; he
trusted, however, that in measures of Admini-
stration, there was to be discovered a proper de-
gree of forbearance, and, at the same time,
a proper dignity. Hts MatEsTv had in his
Speech given .an opening to the Northern rowers
to enter into :explanations, but, at the same
time, it would:ill become him to hold out to
the House any great hopes of such an explana-
tion. When some short. time ago His MAJESTY
bad sent to Copenhagen, had his Ministers then
refused to listen to the overtures. made to them by
that Court, had they employed the means of
strength ,which . were in their hands, they might
perhaps have been charged with wantonly pro-
voking war. It would appear, however, that,
in the course of that whole transaftion, the British
Government had- ailed with -proper temper, and
had not considered what they could, but only
what it was essential for them to enforce. with
regard to the negotiation with France, His MA-
/ESTI' had in his Speech stated, that it would afford
him the most heartfelt satisfaetion, whenever the
disposition of the enemy should enable him to re-
,store to his Subjeas The blessings of Peace. That
declaration, his Lordship trusted, would be con-
sidered here, as well as elsewhere, fully sufficient
to convince the world-of the disoosition of Hti
D/Let am on that head.. lie deprecated an in•
otutry on this point, as, in the event of int)..
tiation, it would be attended with disadvantages,
and, in. the alternative of continuing the war,
would produce no beneficial effeCts. The Noble
lan concluded with an encoinium on the Navy,
sam x
,VAn com heme wu nas
acion happY to have heard so Much
.

' , The sari of CARNIRVON could not com-
prehend the smallest cause from HIS MAJ CS CY 'a
speeeh, and there was ,no other Paper upon the
Table, for voting ,that part of the Address
which related to the. Northern Nations ; but he
was merely given to understand that there
was a cause. No one was more ready than him-
self to give support to the Government, and he
should have remained silent, had' he not heard
that any evil, whether, occasioned by misma-
nagement, of which he did not mean to accuse
Ministers, or otherwise, was to be passed over.—
When he recollefted the situation of the Country
'last year, and that all that had vanished—when
he considered that we were become the objets of
resentment, not indeed justly so, of many Nati-
ons, he thought himself justified in calling for
an Inquiry, not with a view to impede the ex-
ertions of Ministers, but because he saw no rea,
son for plunging into War without Inquiry.—
He understood that upon former occasions we
had surrendered some of those Rights, for which
we were now contending. He did not profess to
be versed in the subject, hut if we had so,done,
it was clear that what we had said to one favour-
ed Nation, was to be considered as having been
said to every Nation, because it shewed that
such Rights were not necessary to our safety, and
unless they were so, they were not to be asserted
by War. His Lordship concluded, by giving it
as his opinion, that it would be more reasonable
in the House to negative the Address, and to
confine itself to expressions of its Loyalty and of
its determination to support Hts MA) ESTY in the
exercise of his Rights.

Lord GRENVILLE lose to deprecate the idea
of calling upon the 'House for its approbation of
-any ads of Ministers, which might hereafter be.:
come matter for discussion, He _did not feel it
necessary again to go ovex the subjects which had
been adverted to -by the Mover and Seconder
of the Address, in a manner which, for ability,
he had never heard exceeded. -Upon the points
of Amendinent, however, and upon what, the
Noble Earl who ,had spoken last, had stated, he
thought it necessary to , say something. Hti
NIA E STY •liad, at the conclusion of the last Ses-
sion of Parliament, informed them shat an7Etn,
bar go had been laid on the Ships of his Subjeds
in I,Lusaia,, and, that his representations on the
point had failed of procuring, redress. The Muse
was not now called upon to Inquire what was the
previous cause_ of the quarrel beti'een England
and Russia, because the latter was bound by•pre.
vious Treaty not to ad in the manner in which
she had abed with relation- to.-British Ships and
hierchanclize, even in the event of hostilities be.
tween the two Countries. The House was called
upon to say, whether it would maintain His
j liSTY in his just rights ? He. considered any dif-
ference of opinion on'this subject 'as impossible,
and-could not suppose that theii-LardshipS could
express any hesitation as to conveying to' the foot
of the 'Throne their assurances of their disposition
to :la as , the dignity of the Country :required,
With reapet 'to the Coalition into. which -Den-
mark and Sweden had entered, in,,t1130, it was
inconsistent, not only with'the Law of Nations,

but with particular Treaties entered into by
those very Nations. When this Convention was
entered into in 1780, the Country was in consi,
- derable difficulties, but on receiving the intctUi
genee of this Coalition, our ant;wr was, that,
the prance we ,should pursue as theteWhieje
had been settled and regulated by Treaties 'with '
these Powers. It might be asked, perhaps, wh:i t
would be the harm of now ecquieviegein the de-
mands of the Northern Confederacy ? r The harm
would be, that we should again -have to dismiss
the point at a moment when we might be less able
to do it with success than at present.' He was
far from wishing to disguise from the House the
situation of the Country, were it in his power so
to do, but he could certainly hold out no hope
that the Country would--.ever find itself in a bet-
ter state to try the question. All forbearance,
it might be seen, had . been of no died,. when
Edidis, Conventions, and Treaties had been
- found to be of none. Denmark and Sweden
had: concluded Treaties,. expressly reA,gi4
tion ofethese rights ; but it was. evidetie that
they Welted only for the Moment when the em-
barrassments of this, Country might enable them
to:entertain hopes of seeing the British Navy in
weaker state. If we are again to terisporiee.in
the subjed, it is certain that the question will
be. again revived at that moment when the
Northern Powers enete consider us as most ens-
harrasseA—that it
,will be reyiyed when it may
he supported by our, common enemies, France and
Spain. That man must be extremely sanguine,
who imagines time the Naval Power of;
.Frence
and 'Spain will, ever be less able, to assist that of
Denmark 'anti Sweden. No War was to, he.fotind
in which the relative.situation of France and Spain
was so much reduced as in the present. He was
astonished at hearing Noble Lords, after avowing
their :ignorance on the subjeA, while they ,had
such an authority to, refer, to on the ease. as, the
Judge. who piesided„in the Admiralty Court, yet
speaking in-opposition to these points, le ,was
the first
.time he ever heard a doubt.expresscci on
the eubjed, or opinions entertained, that a special'
agreement with one Power was a renunciation of
the right as to other Powers. These who. sup,
posed this to be the case, might satisfy them-
selves by a reference to the instruftions give!'
by the American Governmenteto their Ministers
in France. If the ancient law was reverted to,
the case was ' the .same.., The renewal of the
Treaty of .17.80, his. Lordship seid, was a breach
of Neutrality, sinceit was, not,,merely an asser-
tion of principles,. but an engagement, to impose
them upon Great Britain by force. If the qaes-
tion were of blight importance, he stioulde under
such circumstances, hesieate ; but in a ' point, of
such magnitude it was still more necessary ,to do
so, The Inquiry which the Noble Earle Wished
to promote, ,seemed to stand, on the, some footing
as every other.-questioe,of the same kited. On
the one hand, it was to be considered what were
the grounds for. it, and on the other, what was
the
.danger attendant upon. it. It was to be
taken into,contemplation, how far it would.he
eese at present to interrupt the measures for the
prosecution of the War, In order to carry on
those - for the 'lnquiry. It had been said that
Parliament had reposed a confidence, and that,
therefore, the Inquiry was necessary. But had
not the vessel of the State been preserved ?
! A comparison of our situation with that of the
proudest Monarchy, in Europa
*would shew this.
We were indeed euppertineg great burdees,ehut
we were supporting them with increased- means.
• Ministers were called upon by their opponents
to. prove this, not by the general situation of the
Country, but by the general result of the War,
and this at a moment when, those who called for
that proof did justice 'to his Lordship's
_Noble
Friend (Earl Sr eirele), and admitted that the
confidence which had been reposed in the Naval
Administration had been.well bestowed, and was
fully justified, Was it nothing to have gone
through eight years War. with such AUCCCSS) to
have beaten the Enemy at the mouth of their own
Harbours If we were called upon to give an
account of the War with France, the first, ques,.
den would be, What. ba4 :been otir.'".Naval suc-
cess ? To this the answer Was readily furnish.
ell, and it was not, less. ttiuMphantly.. so than to
the second question7--What. COlenies we had
lost? .To.the suicessesevhic.h the answers to these
questions 'would • State, What: is —oppsised?-e---
The Patch, Expedition ?--True it is, that
it failed. in overthroWing the Go` erem.eet
but it had succeeded in the iinportant point of
rescuing from that Government the Patch Navy.
The result of such an Inquiry would leaveeo
doubt 'hat it was `well, planned and 'well directed.
It had failed in consequence of two circumstance's;
first, the .season, which, owing to an anavoida.
ble,delay of six weeks, became too adyanked for
our success.; arid, secondly, 'the unhappy reverse
WhiCh befell the arms of our Allies, till that mo-
ment successful, and 'Which enabled the Fneiny, to
detach a larger force from Switzerland and' its
neighbourhood 'than' could otherwise have
.been
spared, If any objeftion he Made tn'the point
chosen for the attack, the anxiety of Enemy
on the subjeft, and the embarrassment it occasion_
ern them, furnish a, sufficient answer. Of the
Expeditions to Ferrol and.cadiz; we have been
told, thatit was very iMprudeet tOattack them,
and thus to' irritate Spain; but Spain, it should
be remembered,, was our F.nerny.::-4as a Net-
val Power, and allied with. our inveterate Fete-
my, France. To weaken it, was to weaken
France ittelf.. It should be remembered that some
Spani4.ll ships were already in Brest,,
.and that more.
might he cariie4 'there. Another Noble Lord
eta called uponAinisters,for the reason why they
had not attackedJrance itself : such a measure
had, he retnemlireae formerly been ccimbatcd.by
the same tide of the House as now:. advancedit. If
on fanner occasions this objection to it had auy
'weight, they must be considered 'as, haying had
much more force last year, BA in -the expedi Lions
against Ferrel' and Cadiz we clid.not sueeced,-and,'
from the languege of the Noble Lord it be
supposed that some, great evil had I ,see, us.
These expedieicee were in. feta planned
a design, that,' if they were. see-e4sfel, i!' -
vantages resulting from thetii would be impur 1411 Z ;

but if they were otherwise, it would soon be
perceiVed, and the attempt might be abandoned
without, loss. Was the House, his Lordship
asked, 'prepared to censure the adoption 'of such
plans .Was. it prepared to say, that Minis rs
were never to titndertake enterpriz; ut
when they were sure of success ? Would it e
proper to expose the men at the head of iffairs to
the stigma and disgust of such an inquiry ? It
w:ts undougialy, the privilege and the duty of
the Holtse to 'enter into inquiries, but never
upon.such light grounds as those which:had. been
now advanced. Lord GRA i(v tLL F. ,concluded
very able speech, by asserting the ability, of Eng_
land to continue the War, unassisted by - any.
Allies, at the same time adverting to the pledge
given in His Majesty's Speech of his dispositions
to Peace. -

Lord MO, 1' Rai rose to notice a personal allu,
sion toliimself by *Noble Friend of his, and to
set him right, in a. misconception, in every re,
spett in -.which he htid professionally been
cerned.with Majesty's Ministers, he acquit-
ted 'them' of every imputation.. of:
.blarne— The
force Of which he was the heady -some years ago,
he belitiechhe.dispoial, though ithad been chang-
ed, to have, beenfor the interests of theiCountry.
His Lordship then. enteredtspou the subjet more
immediately before the linuser,And insisted- that
there were grounds.for inqiiity how the country
had been brought from -her high..and , powerful
situation; to .her preseurdegradation and distress.
We had lost all our. Allies,. and. most of:them-had
become, our Enemies-,he thOught this demanded
serious inquiry, and, concluded a.speech of 'con-
siderable length by givingAis support
.to the
Amendment. . .

Lord, MULGRAVE rose to reply to the last
Noble Lord, and successfully combated. his ar-
guments, by proving, that if we have lost our
Allies,' no blame could possibly on that ac,coutit
attach to-his Majesty'A Ministers.
.His Lord_
ship gave hicyoice for the Address as originally
tioved. - ,

The Emit of.Ft FE said a few .words, but in. so
low a tone that we ,could not hear him. As we
understood, his Loritship suppotted.thr, Amend:.
ment. ,
_ _

Lord -ELDON prefaced an excellent. speech •by
Saying, that he could not answer .it to..his.con-
science, or to his Country, were he not to give
his, Vote upon the present occasion,; and he felt
it equally his duty
_to state shortly his reasons for
the Vote he should give.: The situation of the
Country was awful. and momentous in the highest
degree. Upon the conduit that we -now
should. adopt, depended the present interests and
the future existence of the Empire. His LorrL.
ship then took st review of the Question now agi-
tated by the Northern Powers against this Coun.
try, and proved, from the Law of Nations, that
the Right of searching Neutral Vessels ori-
ginated in the, Rights. of Nature; and that .no
Convention or Treaty could permanently destroy
that right... It .was interwoven, in fait, with
the right
.of 'Self-defence ; for if a Power pro-
fessing to be neutral, conveyed the means of an,
noyance to an open Eikerny, that Neutral Nation
did in, faet, by , furnishin* the Ineans of our
-
situation, 'become suer ailive,Enemy. His Lord-
shiptheAadverted., to an' authority that_ had been
very favourably mentiurted in that House, and to
which he might naturally. be supposed to be par-
tial ; bet he,knew that the Charader. alluded to
had notfortned his opinion upon this question, till
after ~the most mature deliberation—till after ho
had read every thing written upon the subjeti
that, existed in Europe. The Person of whom he
spoke, was of all men the most open to corr'iiftion,
and the .most likey. to forego an opinion which
could be proved to him to by erroneously formed;
but upon this important •subject he could say, ,that
the •mo're he .thought upon, it,. the more be was
convinced of the strength and: solidity of the
Right which this Country asserted, •and for .which
we were now likely to contend arid the decision
which was given in the case of tlie,Swedish Con-
voy, was. founded upon the strict principles of the
Law of Nations ; and that decision was not .a-de-
cision for this .Country only, - but ,upon :broad:awl
general principles. The Right for which we, now
contend, is.nota:Right established for this Coun.-
try only, bet for all Nations equally circumstanced
as we are. - His- Lordship then eltpatiated very
largely upon the, importance of asserting this right,
as the -fo.utuletion, of our Neval Glory, our Com-
merce and our Wealth. Two.great evils presented
themselees to OUT choice, for. he, would admit, that
a new War, ,circumstanced as this Country now
is,. is a verygreat evil; but of two evils, it is
always best to, chase the .least. • War,. with all
its inconveniencies and horrofs,.Was surely pre-
ferable to the voluntary sacrifice of that; without
which the glory, the indepeedence, and even the
existence of the Nation must he extind.,.
The Earls of CARNAR iTO N. and Su FOL both
explained., :
Lord HOLLAND took a review of the condat
of the War from its commencement, and repro-
bated the measures of;Ministers throughout. He
concluded with giving his
.hearty assent to the
Amendment., .

The House then divided,
For the Amendment . 17
Against it • - 73

Majority 5.6
The Address was then carried without a divi-
sion. .The LORD CH AM PEP:LA.IN was direaed
to wait upon His MA) Es-L.1,, and, take his Royal
pleasure when he would receive the Address.
The Earl of DARNLEY gave notice,. that he
would, to-morrow se'nnight move their Lord-
ships for a solemn Inquiry into the condua oPthe
Lxpedi lions.
Lord G RENVILLE moved that lord ,:VVAL-
si NG HAm be appoined Chairman .of the Commit-
tees_ of that House, which was carried nem. con.
His Lordship; then moved, that a. Committee be
appointed, ,IRS,had been customary, • for the pur-•
pose of assigning to the Peers, according to. their
respeCtive ranks, their. Seats in the New House
or Petls.
At Twelve. o'Clock tile:House adjournid till
To..morrow.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
•
MONDAY, FEB. 2.
•
Bsioas three o'clock, Mr. QuARME, Deptity,
Usher of the Black Rod, came. will, ills ES . •
Ty's Commands for ,the imtnediatc attendance of
the House in the House of Peers ;—the Sr 'AKER.
with • the Members attended accordingly, and ,
being-returned,' a considerable number 01 Mani-
--bore-Averomwsoro-athl-500k4h0i5....iam5,*4.0../..---
Tlle Clandevine Outlaw pill was. reidt.
ra
lirt, the gilt time •-`
- -
The :Tlik".4tri? then infra7meFiTiTTiouSrtraT
-
having attended His: htilEst44\lll..titeq-Idulc of
Peers,. where His -11/I.Atesvr bad delivered a
Speech, he hackobtained a .Copyi which he rel.:
accordingly. •
Sir WATKI* IVILLIAAfS' WYNNE said,
he rose foi the i.ltirposu of may ing:, an -Imaible M.
&lin' to' thinfi'lltS awry 'for
eitius 'Speech; which- the Housielthad7--that day, •
heard, and • in• 'doing so, lie tru4tedi. fia .shonlif
haie. the indulgence .of-the 'House to InctiOak tfie
Manner, whilst he proceeded to state the.geouncis
which lielAkgecirteave-to move an. Address of . I
thanks. The-ffiist !Meeting of the Mired Par-
OF •Ireland;` 'vas- in
itself an event :srfo .iMporeaat itc:nature,,and
promising so -muck-benefit io. its
.conßquenees,
as,:.-he 'thought,- must raise the inOst SOli4 I
satisfaCtion in. they„mind of every well,wisher
to- the Empire. It was' true,.,illat when this.
subjed \vasunder diseussion, there yiere some
who questioned the propriety of th 4
measure ; -but for his part, he had nevtr enter-
tained,a.doubt of :olute necessity. .The
quiet manner in which it had been accbraplisheti
also 'served to afford.plea.sure. If a:partial,oe ••
local' injury, was sustained,:-which Might. be: till
ease with regard to,t_he City of Dublin, yet the
generalivilfare; he• had no dottbc) would .be
greatly pibmoted4 -if was his titan hope thit.
the hatmott.'atitt anion now Oseablish#d between
the two. Kingdoms would be ednsolidated ; that
all, petty \diStiritilotis and -jealnus ie's; be t : tho
two Countii.es )+vp ltl 1 Obliteritid; *MA
tvery Gentlernan*otild coniidirlbints6Pbolintlf:.
Withortvpartittlity., thegetitiar*
welfare Of -t he I:lliika- Kingd6in.
ihe afairs' of be enntinrit,.he eOrilti 'if& brit Dal;
meet itafe; itt:iliesitini:7llllie that:ll4*
hoped Suitablenttaiu res would be fitiOretli andkthai •
' no.onewould-heiiiite in assuring kre m.h+Estr
ihe%onited-kekelininatioil of the floilstLio!mahliaa-
the hOnour and security of flienkittlifl'im3-1411 •
Dominions.''''Tfel:Pate aggrs-sP;ri •
ti R. •df Ruis-t;k,'",:a; on 'oCtrlpartii;.-4•64111,:.:Uta6
provoked., -aid in-_e:xprets 'elmeratt.iii;iy: to I.lllr
late Treark,:beie'in.Rusiittaiid This Ctuntry;lii
which : as'stiptelated, t4t;iii.:-eile-of.anvvrtift:.-..
ture, time should he allinved-to"i-Nr44
pert acid persons of -our felloitiosM4-Pfets-liettldel
there. He trusted,th4i the sOillorlihis .
would be ever-agreettto
The resolutions of the Nth-diet-1:i Poivees may
have prevent:xi, sO'S'ensible airefiet tWthe' lat
Measures taken' with a irievV. the
.Price of C'rain, -hoped rills
•fellow.:subjeas would he nOw willing. to stibiiiit
. .
' to those temporary ptivations,-*iqh 'the/inust
see to be unavoidable;' and when they considered'
also, the/unusual quantity of Grain which had ,
•
been already sown, and rhe'punislifnerit infliaed
on those wlto bad attempted to rAte the Price of
those necessaries of life. 'BLit to sue for Peace
with the EneinY, `at this moment, Would only
be to obtain. worse terms. .iiii"Majesty's inOJ.
deration and disposition;- n iliii'resueft, were
well known, and ' such aS 'the'' louse and tht
Country might safely rely upon, whilst a con-
vietion 'of the inordinate.. aMbition of. our
Enemies, would-impart additional ardour to
.the spirit of .the-People. Though. we had now
to' contend' with various Powcrs,.lie beliefed
our'resourCes -Cyanid he
.found to be Superior. to
that of any former period.` Connetted With this.
was the whole united Strength of the Kingdom,
undiMinished by jarring interests'.*.Hoping -front
.these•rircuintatiecs that there Would iiialavotir‘
able tertninatiOn 'to the-present canto.; t •lhe ' would'
move alt Address-of Thanks 'to -Hi s -MA e
which, as uSnaf;Wa's an'echo to the
kr.. Co RN,i1)41,1,. , I,r to :.cco,,rhl
, .
saA intrcit 016 IMAIse to shelir
him that cmidOUr wliich 05 ;n' :1
Lion Itaitfornierlv exPerien,.7cd. a! 1?c, Uniim
tween-Great_,Britaiti and Ireiana cot ciderulds
a happy Ara. When the Cloion
trid Scotland was :accortipli.;t, .(20en
said she esiceme:l it :a. happy, i,yi,t.that it lfad
taken phtci in-her Reip
fatlion must ,onr.Gracious 'Sovereign, expet,t6nce,
who had. Coliml the promised and s,tiutary.elred,
from that Union ~;(4 ! "An;.l it ilfei!eople
were assure 4 at ;*.h_ of t ilioo; Of .1 1; reit
• -
accession to their sttco4th and fewer,
,and‘lhe
confirmation of the Prowstant` Stgeession; the
present :Union ,could not
.fa 4 io be atended,o4%
reciprocal advantaf4cs to the United l(ingdiain,„i;f
Great Britain and Irelind. He should not at-
tempt to-discuss _its, yariousanCl,
extensive ;idvarl-
sages ;.they, had, been already a.hiy stated by
dentlemen -of the first abilities,,and he entertain-
ed the most sanguine hopeS, that the expeaa_
tions which, had .bien
,formed of them, would
be fulfilled. About, the time of the Union with,
Scotland, gi.eat jealousies had subsisted between
• the two. Parliaments • but th. 4 .was .pot the c*
between the two Parliaments.ofGreat, Britain and
Ireland. There was also the.,pleasing.presite
arising from,. the
,character Of, those Gentlemen
from Ireland, , who.had• to-day taken their'. places
in the House ; Oentleinen who were well ,cried in.
political and commercial knowledge, and in w11:4-
ever concerned the loCal interests of I relond, and all
tending-to promote the welfare of. the Empire at
large. There was one advantage likely to arise
from this Measure, , whiCh he could not overlook,.
as respeding the present Pressure on , account of
Provisions. He anticipated the greatest
.assist-
ance to this part of the Empire, from ; the CO-
tivation. of the unproduaive Lands,. and:che.in-
creased PrOduce of Ireland. The Grain Wou)d
also be more equally distributed, for he was
proUd in saying, we should now call the' riih