The Sun.
London, England, 1812-05-20 00:00:00

'THE MAQUIS TVELLESLEY.

The following has been handed about in the poll-
*4l circles as the statement given by the Marquis
WRLLEsLzy of the causes of his resignation :—r

" Lord .WELLESLEY expressed his intention to
resign., because his general opinions, for a long time
pant, on varivs important eriestiolns, had nor sufl6-

cient weight to justify him towards the public, or
towards his own character, in continuing in office;
and because he had no hope of obtaining from
the Cabinet (as then constituted), a greater portion
of attention than he had already experienced.
" Loird WELLESLEY'S objections to remaining in
the Cabinet arose, in a great degree, from the nor-
tow and imperfeet scale. on which the efforts in the
Peninsula were conduCted. It was always stated to

him by Mr. PERCEVAL, that it was impracticable to
valazge itiat system. The Cabinet followed Mr.
PERCEVAL implicitly. Lord WELLESLEY thought
that it was perfealy pra&icable to; EXTEND the
Valk in the Peninsula ; and'. that it was neither
'safe nor honest towards this country or the- allies,'
to continue the present contracted scheme. No
hope existed of converting Mr. PERCEVAL, or any
:•tlf his ,colleagues: no •alternative, therefore, re-
Asined.foi Lord WELLESLEY but to resign, or to
submit to, be the instrument of a system which
neveradvised, and which he never could approve.
" Lord WELLESLEY had repeatedly, witb great
teludance, yielded his opinions to the Cabinet .on
Many other important points. He Was sincerely
,
Convinced by experience, that in every such in-
stance he had submitted to opinions more incor-
,-
red than his own ; and had sacrificed to the ob-
ieet of accommodation and temporary harmony,
'tore than he could justify in point of strict public
duty. Ia zap, he was convinced by experience,
that the Cabinet neither possessed ability nor know-
ledge to devise a good plan, nor temper and dis-
c t;rnment to, adopt what he now thought necessary,
truleu Mr. PERCE.VAL should concur with Lord
WELLESLEY. • To Mr. PERCEVAL'S judgment or at-
tamments
t Lord WELLESLEY (under the same expe-
rience) could not pay any deference, without injury
to the public service. • •
"With these views and sentiments, on the [l6th]
" January, Lord'WELLESLEY merely destteci per-
mission to withdraw twin the Cabinet; not requir-
ing any change in his own situation, and imploring,
Po other favour than the facility .of resignation.
this plain request was.norified to the PRINCE RE-
CENT and to Mr. PERCEVAL as nearly as possible
it the saine tnoment of time; with the expression'
L_Ortt WELLESLEY'S wish, tlta't the precise time
of hisiesiguation might be accommodated to the
Pleasure of his Royal H,ighness, and to the con-
lenience of Mr. PERCEVAL, as soon as the restric-
i°os should expie.

" The PRINCE REGENT received this notification
with many gracioui expressions of regret ; and Mr.
411cEvkL, in writing, used expressions of regret,
4,
114 also of, thanks, for the manner in which Lord
LLESLEY had signified his wish to resign.
" Mr. PEJICEVAL, without .any communication to
14rd WELLESLEY, instantly attempted to induce the
.11
ItiNcE REGENT to remove him before the expira-
liou of the restrictions ; and tepeatedly urged ,the
attempt with great earnestness ; -severally proposing
erd
muotaA, Lord CASTLEREAGH, acid. Lord SID-
-110
urn, or some of his party, to supersede Lord
WtLLESLEY witlout an hour of delay. Mr. I'Ert-
RvAl. never gave any intimation to Lord WELLES-
of these proceedings, nor even of his wish for
4rcls WELLESLEY's immediate retirement.

The PEINCE REGENT stilrpressing Lord WEL.-
I;SLEY to retain the seals, he, submitted to- his
°Yal Highness's commands ; declaring, at the
Same time;, his anxious desire to be liberated, as
s°°ll as his Royal Highness should establish his go-

l'ertiment.

When it appeared, at the expiration of the re-
-Btriltl:ms, that the PRINCE REGENT intended to
Co
Mr. PERCEVAL'S government, Lord WEL-
tts
• LEY again tendered the seals to his Royal High-
N"
with increased earnestness. On that occasion,
be& informed that his Royal Highness was still at
tY, and was resolved to form his Cabinet accord-
(o his Royal Highness's own views, and being
17.\171nrorded to state his opinions on the subject,' Lord
BLLEsLEy declared,thiat in his judgment the Cabinet
uu
a''t to be formed, first, on an intermediary principle
tesPeating the Roman Catholic claims, equally ex-
from, the extremes of instant, unqualified con-
. 4,e 881°U, and of peremptory, eternal exclusion; and,
bec"dl.9, on an understanding that the war should
te %dueled with adequate vigour. Lord WELLes-
that he personally was ready to serve with,
r. p
LRCEVAL on such a basis.; that he never
• ail' would
t:ite serve under Mr. PERCEVAL in any
u"itarices. He said, that. he would serve under
;41 Motaa. or Lord HOLLAND, on the propoSed
; but that he desired no office, and enter-
....
ileul.lo other wish than to be instrumental in form-
& ,uct, , • •
at • an i-VlMinistrition kr the PRINCE REGENT,
Ukt, I 'bk' corthißfent with his Royal Highness's

honour; conciliatory towards Ireland, and equal act
the conduct of the war on a stale of suecient extent
He made no exception to any Prime Minister buy
Mr. PEacSvAt,,' whom he considered to be ifn:o.n-
petent to fill that office; although sufficiently quAL
ified for inferior stations. He offered to act under
any other person approved by his Royal Highness ;
but he stated, that his own views rendered him
much more anxious resign instantly.

"The PRINCE REGENT commanded Lord WEL-
LESLEY to continue, until his Royal Highness
should have communicated with Mr. PERCEVAL
through the LORD CHANCELLOR. Lord WELLESLEY
staled; that such a communication' must prove use-
less; but submitted" to his Royal Highness's earnest
desire. In two days afterwards, Lord WELLESLEY
received, through the LORD CHANCELLOR, the
PRINCE REGENT'S acceptance of his resignation, and
accordingly delivered the sealS to his Royal High-
ness on the 19th of February, 18 1 2."