The Sun.
London, England, 1812-12-19 00:00:00

The Address being read from the Woolsack—

Lord HOLLAND rose, and observed, that in the
course of his Parliamentary life, no question that
ever came under their Lordships' consideration
placed him in a state of greater embarrassment ;
and fOr these reasons :—On the one hand, he felt
the measure to be unwise and improper; yet, on
the other, though unwise in itself, it would, as
being'once proposed, be improper to. meet it with
negative. lie therefore should vote for the
Address. " He was confident, however, that if
there were no other compensation given than
what was then, before the House, the propriety
and policy of the measure was highly question-
able. It vas questionable on every motive that
should regulate sucti grants, and On grounds of
state policy. The Noble Earl, on setting out,
had noticed that objections were, entertained to
the measure, but those reasons he bad assigned
were those allowed by its opposers to operate in
favour of it ; and he had entirely overlooked
those reasons which they had urged against ft..--
He most heartily concurred in a great deal of
what had just fallen from the Noble Lord;, as re-
ferable to the sufferings and the patriotic devotion
of the Russians. The peasantry were - entitled:
to peculiar praise for their conkluct ; an hundred
concurrent reasons may cheer, stimulate, and
sustain military men, either officers or soldiers,
even in the hour of death ; but the peaceful pea-
sant had no such incite►nents ; when he sacri-
ficed. his - all, it proceedad from nothing but pure
devotfou to his country's cauSa. For every thing
done in the cause of -national 'independence, be
felt as warmly as the Noble Earl, whether they
were such exertions as were made 20 years ago by
the French .Republican Uovernment against an un-
provoked invasion ; or the efforts made by monarchi-
cal Spai4 against the aggressions of the EMperor
of France. He doubted the policy of the measure

, in question, upon- very - 'different grounds than
those contemplated by the Noble Earl. He
doubted its efficacy as to the proposed object. He
din not mean to dwell upon the extent of the gift;
as affecting the resources of. the country, but he
doubted its 'efficacy in relieving the -sufferings of
those who were the immediate objects of it. The
Noble Earl thought it was proper to forward the
assistance immediately, yet he solong withheld
from forwarding assistance to the cause of Spain.
If directed to the exertions made in that quarter,
it may operate more serviceably for Russia than
in 'the way proposed. It had been a request of
the Government of Russia, that assistance might
be sent to Spain ; and he adverted to the small
sum which the military chest of Lord Wellington
was at oee time allowed to contain. Thus deem•
ing of the measure, it ivay be objected to him,
then why not meet it with a direct negative
TO this he answered, that the amount, allowing
every other consideration in its favour, would fall
far short of the professed object ; indeed, two
.millions would, under the circumstances, be mote
appropriate Yet it may shew a disposition on
the of this country to assist the suffering
peasar s of Russia, and on that principle his vote
of rcj 3tion was withheld. But, he confessed,
! he wo, not persuaded that the Noble Earl may
not 1-ave had other reasons
.for. proposing the
measure, than what be had thoUght proper to
state to Parliament. He trusted, and hoped, that
the .Noble Lord had some other reasons, and
therefore, leaving the responsibility with him, he
would conctir in the vote. He trusted au entire
concurrence might be brought about between the
'two Courts of St. Petersburgh and London ; and
that they may sincerely co-operate, not only as
to belligerent Objects, but concur and agree as to
the objects, and to the basis of a negociation for
peace. He founded that hope on the vise, pru-
dent,and temperate words held out at the corn- '
mencement of the Session. He. hoped and trust-
ed,
that not only the two Courts in question, but
the council's of their allies May he imbued with a
desire and wish for the re-establishment of peace
upon a firm foundation—that they may be satis-
fied with giving a substantial and permanent inde-
pendence to countries which were yet but nominally
independent of France. He was free to acknow-
ledge, that, since the period of the year 1799; he
did not recollect any opportunity so favourable for
such objects. He was ready to acknowledge, that
in many situations of things, a Member was jus-
tifiable in submitting propositions respecting
peace and he thought, that with the entire con-
currenceof the two Courts, such d system may
be established in Europe as may give ,indepen-
deuce to those Powers who are now but nominal-
ly independent of France. Such, he trusted, may
be the object, and not that of any .vild and imprac-
ticable attempts to change the Government of
tl-,at country. On the particular grounds he had
stated, the Address should have his vote. - •

The Question was. then put. It was voted by
their Lordships nern. tils. and ordered to be pre-
sented to their Lordships in the usual way.