The Sun.
London, England, 1812-06-13 00:00:00

THE LATE NEGOCIATIONS.

No. 52.-Minute of Mr. CANNING'S Proposition to Lord LI-
VERPOOL, dated Fife-house, Aray 23, 18.12.'
The Princeltegent having laid his commands
upon Lord Wellesley to form a plan of an Adrni-
nistration, to 'be submitted for his Royal High
ness's approbation, Mr. Canning was requested
by LOrd Wellesley (as the channel of t ommuni-
cation thought likely to be most agreeable to Lord
Liverpool) to inquire of Lord Liverpool, whether
there would be a disposition on the part of Lord
Liverpool, and of his Colleagues, or of any of
them, to. entertain any proposal which should be
made to them for forming part of that Admini-
_ stration. • "
The principles upon which the Administration
was intended to be formed were stated. to be,
lst. The taking into the early and serious con-
sideration of the Executive Government the state
of the laws affecting the Roman-Catholics, with
a sincere and earnest desire to bring that import-
ant question to a fiaal and satisfactory settle
ment.
2dly. The prosecution of the War in the Pe-
ninsula with the best means of the country.
It was stated, that there would be the strongest
wish to comprehend in .the arrangement, without
any individual or party exclusion whatever, as
many as poisible of such persons .as might be able
to agree ii. giving their public services to the
country WI these two principles.
With respect to the distribution of offices, it
was stated, that nothing of any. sort was' decided
or stipulated ; but that every thing would be open
to be arranged to the honour and satisfaction of 1
all parties.

No. 3.--Memorandum for Lords GREY and GRENVILLE, dated
May 24; 1812. •

In such a moment n the present, we feel it to
be the duty of ail public.-men, both by frank and
conciliatory explanations/ of principle, and by the
total abandonment of every personal objection,
to facilitate, as far as maybe in their power, the
means of giving effect to the late Vote of the
House of Commons, and of averting the imminent
And unparalleled dangers of the country.
Lord Wellesley has selected twii, among the
many important subjects which must engage the
attention of any men, who could, in- such.circum-
stances, be called upon to consider of the accept:.
ance of stations of public trust.
On.those two points our explanation shall be as
distinct as it is in our power to make it.
On the first, indeed, our opinion is too well
known, and has been too recently expressed, -to
need repetition.

We lave derived a very high gratification from
Lord Wellesley's powerful exertions in support of
the claims of- the Roman Catlthlics4 as well as
from the manner in which that subject is advert-
ed to in his minute ; and we'd() not hesitate to
assure him, that we wll warmly support any pro-
posal made by any Ministers, for the immediate
consideration ofthose claims with a view to their
conciliatory adjusiment ; a measure without which
we have declared., that we can erktertain
no hope, in any case; of rendering our own ser-
vices useful.

. .
As-to the second p'Oint, no per Son feelS more
strongly than we do the advantages which, would
result from a .Successful termination of the pre-
. sent contest in. Spain. But we are of opinion,
that the direction, of military operations in an ex-
tensife war, and the more or less vigorous prose-
cution of thOse operations, are questions not of
principle but of policy ; to be regulated by -cir-
cumstances in their nature temporary and &Lau-
ating, and in many cases known only to persons
in official stations.--by the engagements of the
country, the prospects of ultimate success, the
extent of file exertions necessary for its attain-
ment, and the means of supporting these efforts
without too great a pressure on the finances and
internal prosperity of the country.
On such questions, therefore, no public men,
whether in or out of office, can undertake for
more than a deliberate and dispassionate Consider-
ation, according to the circumstances of the case
as it may appear, and to such means of informae
tion as may then be within their teach. But w,
cannot in sincerity conceal from Lord Wellesley-
that, in the present state of the finances, we en-
tertain the strongest doubts of the .practical
bility of an increase in any branch of the public
expenditure.

Ok a Communicaiion made by Lord Wr.i.r,rs
Lnir to Lords GREY and *GitEm-It4,E, at•Lord(iilLY'S Houk,
dated May 23, 1812:
Lord Wellesley stated; that he had refl•eived the
Commands of his Royal Highness the Prince
gent, to lay before his Royal Highness the plan
of such an Administration, aS he. (Lord Welles-
ley) might deem adapted to the present crisis of
afiirs.
That he had apprised his Royal Highness of
' the necessity of ascertaining the views and dispo-
sitions' of all parties with regard fo certain gene-
. ral principles, previously to the formation of any
such plan.
That he considered himself merely as the in-
strument of executing his Royal Highness's com-
mands on this occasion ; and that he neither
claimed, nor desired for himself any station in the
Administration, which it was in his Royal High-
ness's contemplation to forti-'L .
Under these circumstances, he requested to,
know, whether any obstacle existed to the con-
currence of Lords Grey and Grenville, or their
friends, in the following general principles, as
the basis upon which au Adminstration might be
formed := .
First, That the state of the laws affecting the
Roman Catholic, and the, claims'of that body of
his-MajeSty's subjects, should be taken into im-
mediate consideration, with 'a view. to a concili-
atory.adipstinent.of ;those claims.; -
Secondly, That. the war in the-Peninsula should
be prosecuted on a scale of adequate vigour.
Lord Wellesley stated, that as Mr. Canning and
lie agreed in these principles,- he had requested
Mr. Canning to communicate them to Lord Li-
yerpool.
Lord (Wellesley reduced the substance of
this communication 'to'writint2,-, and.now submits
it to Lord grey and Lord Grenville.
(Signed) - • WELLESLEY.
•