The Sun.
London, England, 1812-02-28 00:00:00

der the existing crcumstances, it was the duty of Par-
liament to address the Prince_ Regent to look _for
other Coensellois ? It wits an inquiry not into the
State of the_Nation, but into the State of Parties.—
His Noble Friend had been accused of having,
great conveniency of pi inciple.. That charge applied
much more.jeatly to Gentlemen on other side. His
Noble Friend's opinion on the Catholic question
was the same as it had been from the ITuion. But
those who now excla;med against any change 'of
of opinion on that subject,- might recoiled, that
only a year before Mr. Pitt's death, they declared
they would use every means to bring the Catho-
lic question -to a successful issue. When, how-
ever, they came into office, although they ma-
naged to abolish the Slave Trade (a most important
measure, and one in the highest degree honourable
to them), they allowed a whole Sessi! u to pass
without a word on the Catholic Question, and in
the next Susaion only tried to introduce something
on the subject into the Mutiny Bill. It was the first
step, but the consequences to which it led were such,
that no Wise and reflecting mind could fail to exue-
rience the greatest uneasiness from their conteMpla--
tion. Finding that some difficulties lay in their
way, these unchangeable men stated their readiness
to continue in office rather -than press the matter,
Mr. Fox was the pattern of the Gentlemen opposite,
yet thiough hes lite they waved the consideration of
the Catholic Question ; but now they exclaimed that
there could be no delay, although something very like
insurrection or rebellion was at the bottom of the
proceedings en that subject. The opinion of all
the Membcrs of Government' was what it had.'re-
cently been expressed to be. ciencuiroi that
at least the present was not the proier time for the
concession of the Catholic claims. Shouldthe mo-
ment arrive when his- Noble Friend might thiuk
that the coin,. tsions might with safety be made,
he would of course give that advice to his Royal
Highness the Regent, who would have to de-
cide between his Noble Friend's advice and his
(the Chancellor of the Exchequer). Without as-
piring to a knowledge of what might be the future
opinion of the Regrut, he was content to serve Ins
Royal Highness, while he would accept his_ services.;
and when his- Royal Highness should no longer
think his advice good, with every feeling of respect-
ful gratitude for the honours conferred upon him,
he was pet fecily piepated to make his bow, and re-
tire. He should not think himself justified in endea-
vouring to fix a permanent and indelible impression
on the Royal mind. It was his duty to give his
Royal master the best advice in his power, during
the period *of his service ; but he should have no
right to impute to his -Ruyal Highness a dereliction
of principle, should he, under a change of citcum-
staeces, alter his npinion. Nor in the circumstance,
that because the Regent, at the comtnencemene of
the Regency had expressed himself frankly, and
under the influence of the prejudices studiously ex•
cited in him against the aipisters of his Father,
acid because the observation, that in so short a pe-
riod their services had been productive of the
greatest advantage and glory of the countty, occa-
sioned the magnanimous expression at the end of.
the first year of his Royal Highness's Regency, that
he could not withhold the sanction of his approba•
tion from them, could tie conceive any thing that re.:
fleeted -on his Royal Highness the slightest cause of
disapprobation. On the various topics so well haw.
died by the Hon. Baronet, he weeJd say tat ping,
but content himself with referring the HODOor.ble
Baronet -for a reply to 014 past debates, aud. to the
debates that were to come;. satisfied as he was that
the real object et the motion (although, pet haps, the
Hon. Batonet might not himself be aware of
was that which he had stated at the commencement
of his speech.
Mr. LAMB was not disposed to undervalue the re-
sources of the country, but he could not see that
agreeing to the-Hon. Baronet's motion would be a
confession of weakness. A Committee on the
State of the Nation was particularly called for at an
sera like the present, when the atlairs of the State
were carried on by an inefficient and divided Mi-
nistry-They had lost their strength in the Noble
Lord who had resigned (Lord Wellesley), and gain-
ed weakness in the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Cas-
tlereagh): The present commercial eistress he did
not impute to Ministers, but in a great measure to
the Ruler of France, but it had been greatly aggra-
vated by the conduCt of Government. Time notice
given by an Hon, Friend of his respeOing the Or-
ders in Council was no argument against going into
a Committee, as no where, in his opinion, could
the subject be so properly brought forward. With
resped to the question relating to Ireland, if it was
really let loose, he was glad of it, as if every man
was allowed to vote as he thought right on that sub-
ject, he telocontident that heehould shortly vote in
one of the largest majorities that had ever been seen
in that House. -He hoped that Minis-Jere would not,
'for the sake of keeping their places, put any jug-
• gles on the vountry. if they did not mean to let
every man loose -on that question, he hope they
Would continue to ad- On their old system, and not,
by a juggle, throw the obioquy of rejecting the pe-
tition' oft the Ministers, on the (louse of Commons.
' He agreed will. the last speaker in the view he took
of the Peninsula. Notwithstanding all the errors
that might -be charged to Ministers, he could,not
look on the war which we had carried on there with
any thing like dissatisfaaion at the condud of Great
Britain. He thought it had rased the character of
the army and of the country ; that it had improved
in the best manner the discipline of our troops; and
that With such a chance as we had appeared to have
of doing good, we could never have been exculpated
to posterity it we had not generously and gallantly
- spread the shield of our defence before Spain. He
thought the House ought to go into the Committee;
bat if it were gone into, it was his intention not
to impute that to Ministeis which was the fault of
the times.

Lord DYSART opposed the motion, and contend-
ed that to go into the Committee might be produc-
tive of evils of considerable magnitude. He defended
the present system with great ability, and maintained
that it was necessary to put faith ad the energ!es of
war, In order to bring, the, present contest w a
glorious termination, in an honourable and advan-
tageous peace.
Mr. HERBERT defended the policy of continu-
ing the war in the Peninsula. It he could see any
good likely to result from ding into ti:e Cuaunitiee,

)111AS WOOD, of No. 35, Maidsn-lane, Covent-garden; aft
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