The Sun.
London, England, 1803-06-04 00:00:00

'iT UR D 4 Y, JUNE -4,
.rBo3.

perfeelly satisfied as to the hostile mind of France,
yet from all the information he had been able to
obtain, and particularly from persons who were on
the spot,he did not think 'that these preparations
were of sufficient importance to justify the tenor of
His Majesty's Message. Still more ; the first in.
telligence which Lord Whitworth received upon
the subjetl was received by him at Paris, after the
Message had been delivered upon this subjesq, he
would appeal to Bonaparte and Talleyrand them-
selves, as well as to other,,authoriiies ; and it was
not unworthy of remark, that previous to the Mes.
sage, the Troops sent by Bonaparte to the Coast,
were 'really fitted for Colonial 'Service, whilst those
sent thither afterwards were 'Veteran Troops.
He could not conceive that there was any man
who possessed a spark of British. Spirit, or had a
drop of British Blood in his veins, but must
view,the conduCt of the First Consul with that in.
dignatiun which his hostility towards this Coon.
try called for. This Country, however, was not
at that period menaced by the preparations of
France ; the object of the First Consul was by
means of Egypt to cur off the resources which
we derived from our Indian possessions ; his' objeet
also was to embarrass our Commerce, and *stow
generally our resources. These were the imme.liate
steps, but his ultimate objed, undoubtedly, was to• ►
strike at the root of the Greatness and Independence
of Great Britain. If however they looked to the
condo& of His Majesty's Ministers, they found
that the Peopie justly complained of being kept in
a state- of abeyance, and of insult and aggression ►
' committed on the part of France. He conceived
that where one injury was committed and not re-
dressed, it necessarily•invited more. He might be
wrong, but he felt that if he had sustained an in.
suit, and had obtained no redress, he should shrink
'from Society. Had His Majesty's Ministers
made Representations ?—lf they. had, it was an
additional-insult, on the paroof France, iii not
listening to them. What was the conslud of Mini.
sters with resped to the French Commercial Com-
missioners 1---Instead of aCting as. they did, they
ought to have sent these persons out of the Coun.
try, and then demanded reparation for the insult.
With respeCt to Hislland and Switzerland, the
People of those 'Countries had committed the crime
of asserting that Independence which was so obnox..
ions to the First Consul. The independence of this
Country Was obnoxious to the First Consul, but we
had successfully maintained that Independence, aotthe
trusted we should again assert it with that energy
which the cause demanded, and with that, success
which it: deserved. At the time Ministers sent coon.
ter-orders for the surrender of the Cape, and other poi..
sessions, eves, •aa of violence that was urged, bad
been offered to this Country, except the Mission
and Report of Sehastiani. He would satisfy- him.
self With the charge against Ministers of with-
holding all communication from Parliament upon
the sullied of the ,state of Public Affairs, He
charged them with having-held out hopes of Peace,
at a time when they must be satisfied that they
were not well founded ; -with not having made those
remonstrances which ought to have been made, and ,
with having, by their inconsistent mad, de-
based and lowered the spirit of the People. With
respell to the aduous Contest in which we were-en.
gaged, he hoped the time would arrive when the
general talents of the Country woUld be united, anti
direCted to external objects, forgetting all, internal
considerations and all party dissentious. At a moment
when the People were called uporifur all their personal
exertions, had they not a right to call for the exer.
tion of all the mental-talents of the Country to di.';
reef them ? 'He concluded by stating his Resolutions
(the.first•of which he moved) to. the following ef.
fee, 4' Than it appeared to the House, Irvin His
Majesty's Declaration, that there had been, on the
parr of France, a continued series of aggressions:
and insults towards this Country, from the period
of the Definitive Treaty, in violation of every
principle of good faith—that His Majesty's
tiers had, during that period, withheld all communi.
cation from that House with roped to the conduet',
of France, of th'i 'steps taken by 'them in conse.
,quence of spelt cendutt. That it was the duty-of
His Majesty's. Ministers to make timely and ade-
quate representations with respea to such aggressions
arid insults on the part of France, which it appeared
!shad- not been made. , That it appeared to the House,
'that on -the 17th of Odobcr, orders were sent out
revoking the former orders for the surrender of the
Cape of Good Hope, and on the 16th of -November
connter.orders were sent
,out fur its surrender, al.,
though the hostile views of France were then tho.
roughly knows.; and that -by their t undoes His,
Majesty's Ministers had proved themselves to be
undeierving of the confidence of that House, and
unfit to conduCt the:affairs of ,the Country."
On the first Motion being read:from the Chair,
Cohn,/ GRAII.4III said, he wished to say a few'
words, which he could have wished to have said
before the Hon. Gentleman had made his Motions ;
• but as this would probably be the last daton which
he s)tould be present in the House during 'the Ses.
sions he .hoped for .their indulgence upon the
present occasion. What he was about, to- say re-
lated to the Island of Malta. He held in his ,hand
a Periodical Publication, which probably contained
the same Paper relative to that Island. which had
beets ordered -by the House on the preceding day,
but which, belch. it his duty to,declate, contained
a gross misrepresentation, respecting the conduct of
General Vigor. It was there stated that the French
Garrison had' .Offered hostages for the performance
of the conditions of the Capitulations which was
' wholltunsrue. Capt. Maticusst- went to Malta '
to treat
.with the GarrisPn, and he (Cols GRAHAM)
accotopanied him
lit, the s. good deal wasleft to his
diaerctioo, sbutsame time Pcocral ,Pigot

signed the C.apitolation.. Col. GRAHAM was pro.
reeding when he was called to Order by
General G,ASC6YNi who wisheil to know whether
the lion. Gentleman argued front authentic docu-
ments, or mere Newspaper report? '_ •
Colonel GI:AIIAM again threw himself upon the
indulgenee'of the Howie, .and there being ,a loud cry
of "Gong," he proceeded. It-was stated, he said,
in the publication to which he had alluded, that the
British Qeneral, 'though very well acrainted with
the scarcity of provisions in the town, had yet al..
lowed the French Troops to take away provisions,
in consequence of which they again plundered the
inhabitants. 'Phis_ statement, he said,, seas so far
true, that there was a very sthall quantify of wheat
in the Garrison, and as it was Possible that in the
course °fa tingle night ShipF might land wheat there;
though, at the Mile' time, he do not mean to..throw
the slightest blame upon those who coodtiaetl the
blockade, with respeet to which it was admitted by
the French, that they thought it impossible that a
blockade could be so well kept up, yet in coose_
quence of these circumstances, Captain MARKHAM
and himself thought it necessary to conclude the
capitulation as soon as possible.. It, was true that
the Garrison had only 24. hours provisions. ' There
was one article in the Capitulation ,by which the
"French were allowed to carry away their eifetts,
but the French Admiral and General both pledged
their honour that the Tcoops should carry away no.
thing but their private property. As to.any p 1 tin.
' der before Capt. MisaitH Asa and hitnself arrived in
the Island, they knew nothing of it. • .
Mr. CANNING spoke to Order ;. he ahottght h
was hardly fair that when an lion.,Geritletnati had
just made a motion, that the attention of the House '
should be divertedfrom it in the manner in Which
it had ben. The. lion. Gentleman, (Col. GR A'
ilAVis) observations. would have come tatter when
the .subjea of 'Malta., was mentioned, which had not '
been the case. at present. . • .

. .
The SPEAKER pbserved•that it was entirely a
matter of indulgence, .►nit
Cot— GR.AIIAM concluded, by denyiog what Was
stated in the Publication alluded to, with ri.soectt To
the Maltese laying down their arms upon'the Glacis.
Lord TEti►et.t? requested the Motion to he again
read, after which

Co10;iel- BASTARD complained of the substitti-
tion of these Motions for that of which notice had
been given; respeCting the State of the Nation ; be.'
cause, in his opitiion-, If the State of the Nation was
fairly laid before Parliarhent, it would he the hest •
justification of the conduct of Ministers.. The
situation of the Country wai one of great anxiety,
but was it to be attributed to the late Or to the.
present Administration ? The present AdMioistra-
;ion had come into power at tt most critical period,'
and had add under difficulties unparalleled. They
found the whole chain of connection with which this
Country had tided, broken, and the Country dis.
contented in a very high degree ; the circumstances
in which they were placed compelled the rl'reaty of
Amiens, and, in his opinion, mad:: it prudent' riot
to push every poiht of aggression. We were now
forced into the Contest,. and he hoped we should
carry -it •no With spirit and vigour, but un.
less His Majesty's Ministers could have car.
tied.' With- them the 'sentiment's' of. the Public, and
could' sheW that they could, not ayoid the
Wdr, he thought • they • Would not have done
their dti!Y He did tint' think it necessary to go
through the'topics-which had been orged; but with
respett.tri the want ofeomMunication, ail the mares.
sions'of France were matters of public noloriery,`
and it was in the power of every Member !ti
for informati n. rfite !ton. Gentleman (Mr. P.A.T.
TEN) had alluded to a Mgdtiation said to he car-
ried on for tilling the Treasury Bench with all the
talents of the Country, but it -was understood that
that NegotiatioO chiefly related to the. return to
power of one Right Hon. Gentleman of whoth he
had the highest opinion, and that it was broken off
because that Right Hon. Gentleman would not re..
turn to power without others—(a loud ct_v ifOrdtr, •
•Order),---Wilen he said' he heard two opposite' par. -
ties;- the. one accusing Minister's of being too
and the other of being t(43 timid, he conelm4d
'from thence that Ministers had acted jwit as they
ought to.have done. It, reqoired more fortitude to
bear an insult than to resent one. A man worn out
ought not to attempt to combat with another in full
health and vigour; We' required. time to renew our.
.strength, he hoped to God the time: was come 'whew
our strength was renewed.. ire likewise hoped that
we should not go on In &fermi re tram' which
nothing
,but ruin must resolts but that it would be•
offensive.
Mr. PATTI N explain'ed.

Mr. //. B-ROWNE said, he did not think
our present danger was brought on by the condthtk
of Administration. The Hon, Gentleman (Mr.
PATTI N), had deliveted himself with considerable
ability; but he :nust confess, that he never saw
so strong a Motion as -that proposed so f‘tbly. sup.
ported in argument : a much stronger Parliamentary
ground ought to be brought forward in support of
such a Motion. In one sentiment tittered by that
Hon. Gentleman they must, however, all agree, that
it was 'necessary to lay aside all party db:sentions,
and, to unite with' one heart and one voice in the
prosecution of the Contest in which we were engaged.
It could not be doubted that the First Consul
aimed at the It of Great Britain.--
With respell to the hopes of Peace alledged to be
held out by His Majesty's Ministers, he never
drew from those expressions any thing further than
a slight hope of 'Peace. Under all tie circum.
stances of the ,case he should have 'thought, His
Majesty's Ministers highly blameable, if they had
not acceded to the Treaty 91Aniiin9, aod he thought
that tikuta,:circurnstazes justified their odeavoars

fPRICE iXiIEN*Cr;

to enitire.acOntinwice of dial Peace:. Thinking;
as
.he•Llikt, that, nothing could be better for 'the
Countiy than an eini,ealour to preserve the Peace of
Atnier3,.; he..thought that whilst there was atiy
hopes of preserving that.P.:Ce, consistently ;with.
the Honour of the Country, that the Negotiation
would be better edrrier,i_on by the Cabinet than by
the two
.Houses of Parliament: If War. had been

inevitable, then Umi4ubtedly there ought to have
beenaconununication to Parliainent, .but .if there
was a chance of Peace no communication ought cer.
tainly to be made. it was very trite that the spirit
of the Treaty of Amiens was grossly violated long
before the communication milde by His Majesty's
Minister 9, but the spirit of a Trcety was a matter
of :speculation, it waS 'necessary that the. Letter
should be violated before 'a War took place :this
was ,exadly the case in the present instance. If with
respect to the Attnaments. in the Ports of France,
Ministers were to blame, they were to blame on
the right side ; it was better to give
,an alarm ton
soon than too late. After the views of the First
Consul bail boen disclosed, as they were, he thought, -,.
it was by no means too WWI to sound tin alarm, and.
he thaUght that Ministers were. entitled to praise
rather than censure:

. _
La J A ty.:Ns.A,PqroN said, he rose with great
reluctance., but in 'a moment like the present he
rhought it incumbent tvon every Member to deliver'
• his opinion. He could not agree o,ith,either of
the two Hon.. Gtoticrwn who had just sat down,
and lie thought it particularly occeisary to advert to .
.
an assertion made by one of tb.ose Hon. genital-191,
.that the:condkt .of His Majesty's late Ministers
had led to: the 'present 'situation of the
„Countty.
At the time the, present Ministers Caine into power
the. Country,. was en aged in a War, and there was
also a powerful confederacy in 'the N ,rth ngainit
us, The Conteat id. ..the North was broirglif to a
happy termination; and perhaps it might be said, by,
the present Ministers, but it should lam. recolleded
that the Expedition to the Bailie was planned and
even equipped by the late. Ministers ; and with
reyeet to 0)4, Expedition to Egypt, it was to be
attributed the. measure; of the late Ministers that,

it was brought to an issue so glari:„us. With re-
bpea to the (Asjeaions of the Qentleman (Mr.
FIAwKINa BitowNE), to the. Motion of his tion.
Friend, his answer was, read His, Majesty,'s Decla-
ration, read the Papers on the Table, it would there
bt--lound that there had beer a continued series of
aggresaions and insults ot), the part ql France. When
the Definitive Treaty-was debated in May, in the ,1
last year, the. Revenues of the Spanish Losgue had
already, been confiscated, and the tenth Atticle pf
the Treaty of , ,Atniens rendeml , impossible to :he
executed. .All the transaaionl restive to Piedmont,
Parma, and Piacenza, l'lad taktri place previous to
the 23(1 of. November, when Eli', Majesty's Speech
was (sage to ,Parliament, and, ; 7.-Ainisters then
said, that there was no reason to appi4en4 that tho
Tscaty of Amiens would he broka. The whole
of the :tggres&itnle and in.4.llcs tiyhich were now coat-
Onissed of leave then heart coto4;iikti.L.,.with the eta
ception of tho. Report of S:lLisii;k:d, and, that On,

loided no awe .Of the views of qie t irst Consul . than
w.e..keew befur;.

‘1,1,1) L s a that. with, •respetk, to
the first I\eotiiin he • thought very' little need be'
said, as it. was entirely founded upon His Mar
jevy'S Declaration. In that Deelaration they, at
lepgth had the avowal of His Majesty's Ministers,
that. there had been a,continued Sy6le a of pg gression
on. the pan of France towards this Country ever
since the
,sigoature of the Treace of Amiens. The
abominable policy„pursued by France, the hostile
views of that Inuit, whO in Egypt, lad trampled upon
every Jiang sacred, 'had inordered,the todortimate
inbibitanis of, that unfortunate' Couotry, and had 3
poisoned his own defenceless Soldiers ; the princi-
pies that manaaed upon' were now evowed to their
full. extent. But how His. Majesty's Ministers'.
could now come' to the House with His Majesty's
Declatation in. their hand, and say that-they now
saw through the designs of,Fraeee—how they could:,
Aay that they had now only fouild ntt.whatt hadbeeol.
evident ever since the signature of the Treaty of;
Amiens remained f .r them to discover. 'What was the
.staterneot of. the Ministers on the e3a of Nov. hut ?
Theyshen said that there was no ground to suspect the'
renewal of Hostilities with Fratice,,w4ilst there was
not a single aa of aggression which had.nnt existed
at. that moment, except the.. Report of Sebestiaiii.
The aonexatioo c,if Patina, which was,, stated erotic:
of the grOuotis of Wars taken place before that 4
peritid. The dare of the order, to one of the Corn.
mercial CoMroissioners to quit the. Country—the,
detention of our Ships—the
.stay of the French:
Tteops in-Holland; who, idler it was understood
that they were about to evacuate that Country r • •
ia.e,
•
niatneo n possession of its frontier towns—all this
was previous to the 23d of November. The Tenth
Article of the Treaty ',of Amiens was rendered im-
possible to be executed, at the very moment-when it
W. 15 stated by Ministers that there was no' groulid
to apprehend the renewal of
.finstilities. Nay,
even on the 23i1 of April„ t 80z, the King of Spain had
annexed tei his Crown all the Revenues of the order
of. Malta in that
.Country, and whether Ministers
knew of that. fad otE.eially or not, the fad was so,
and so stated, and it was known at that period that
that Article could not be executed, ieasmuch as the
existenaeof the Order must depend upon its re...
sources, and those were taken 'away. -In .his' Letter
of the 22d of August, the Noble Secretary of State
had expressed the readiness of this Government to
fulfil that article of the Treaty respefting Malta,
and had required that exertions might be made to.
obtain the guatantees of the other Powers of Eu.
'rope to an Article which it. must be known could
not_be executed. • All this, too,. was 'previous to
the 23d of November. He Would. not now consider
whether the iOterferenee
.of this country in the