The Sun.
London, England, 1832-01-27 00:00:00

he Dutch nation—a union which has heretoforeheen considered
as greatly-conducive to the security of both States, and as the
best support of the liberties of Etirope ; and which is still not
only agreeable to their respective interests, but essential to their
common welfare.
" That to dictate a treaty to the Dutch Government, by
which the interests of HollMd are so deeply affected, and to
compel that Government to accept it without modification, we
cannot but consider as unjust, and as likely to prove fatal to the
maintenance of that ancient and intimate alliance which has
so happily subsisted between the two countries.
" Humbly; therefore, to pray that his Majesty will be gra-
ciously pleiised to issue such directions as may render the said
treaty in the articles above referred to more consistent with the
regard which is due to the honour of his Majesty's Crown, to the
security of our own permanent interests, and to the just claims
of his Majesty's faithful and natural ally."
Earl GREY said, that the Noble Lord who had just sat
down, in the long and aide address he had just delivered,
h et set out with acknowledging that his motion was one
of an extraerdinary nature, and such as could not be justi-
fied but by the most pressing circumstances. That admis-
sion the Noble Lord could not help making, when he set
out with declaring that his object was to prevent the exe-
cution of a treaty—an object in which he would be justi-
fied, if he believed that all the proceedings he had related
deserved the charac•er lie had ascribed to them—proceed-
ings which, sifter a long and laborious investigation, had
been brought to a conclusion, and on which had depended
the peace of Europe.—( Hear, hear.) The Noble Earl had
stated that the interests of England had been sacrificed—
the honour of the Crown degraded—that there were no
interests of any kind whatever which had not been affected
by this treaty ; and all this he imputed to his M.ajesty's
Ministers, and chiefly to the individual who had then the
honour to address them. He had given the Ministers
much credit for great power and influence, if be supposed
that, having the object he described—namely, the object of
suoiticing an Incient Ally—theycould influenceall the other
members of the Conference having interests no less strong
than our own connected with Holland and with the safety
of Europe, and being no less than ourselves influenced by
those prejudices and feelings of old association, which might
have been some security to the Noble Earl that such a
course could not be pursued. He said the Noble Earl gave
them credit for great power indeed, if he supposes! they
could make all the other members of the Conference concur
with England in a treaty, the object of which was to de-
stroy the independence and power of Holland, and to ag-
grandize the power of France.—(Hear.) Yet that was
the object which the Noble Earl imagined the Ministers to
have pursued with their eyes open, and which he imagined
also they had made all the other Powers of Europe sup-
port them in. In pursuing his argument, lie had compared
the conduct of his 31,1jestyla Ministers with that of the
Ministers of Charles 11. when they united with France
against Holland. He would boldly ask the House if there
was the slightest similarity between the two cases ?
(Hear.) Nothing could be more adverse to the interests
of the country than the conduct of the Ministers of
Charles 11. ; but the conduct of the present Ministers was
entirely different. In what situation had they been placed ?
They weie amidst all the difficulties they bad inherited from
the Noble Lord who proceeded them—(Cheers)—in the
midst of those embarrassments which the late Ministers
had provaied for there—(Hear)—and yet it was to them
that these thins were imputed. Those difficulties were
great. The Noble Earl had given him more consequence
than he ever wished or had ever been able to attain. He
was willing, however, to take all the blame to himself, and
to give ail the merit to those who were entitled
to it, especially to the Noble Lord whose industry
and ability had been so conspicuously manifested in
these negoclations ; but was it owing to him or
to any opinion% of his that this country had plunged
into a war of tweroy-five years, and had incurred
eight hundred millions of debt?—(Cheers.) Or was it
owing to any policy of hito that when the long anti ruinous
war was concluded, a system was erected of such a nature
that it necessarily fell to pieces from its own original in-
trinsic vices?—(Hear. ) Was it owing to hint that the
great revolution of France had occurred—that the country
of Belgium had risen in insurrection against its Sovereign,
am) that that union had been made which he thought was
made up- n false principles and impolitic views ; or was it
owing to him or his Administration that the Noble Duke
hims, If had, before he (Lord Grey) came into office, de-
clare! that that union -never could be re-established ? Ile
asserted that he was not the individual who had plunged
the country into these difficulties. He asserted, on the
other hand, that they had endeavoured, under circum-
stances of peculiar embarrassment, to establish another
system in the place of that which had been destroyed by
its own impolicy. In addition to all these difficulties and
embarrassments, there were others harshly less oppressive.
It W4S easy to say, " do this, and do that," but lie be-
lieved, that if they would consider all the difficulties in
which the Governintnt were placed, they must be con-
vinced that the Government could not have acted other-
wise than they hail done.. It was not in ordinary and
peaceable times, or with long-established Governments
that they had to deal. The times were times of revo-
lution ; and time Government of France, though he
firmly believed that it was conducted with the greatest
honesty of purpose, and with the most able views,
was still much checked and embarrassed. It was the
Government of the recent revolution ; it was urged on
and goaded by a violent party, ready to take almost any
part against its own Government, on certain questions;
and under such circumstances it had been their task to
negociate. Then came the Provisional Government of
Belgium. the creature of a revolution, urged on, too,
like that of Fiance, by a violent party, which refused to
listen to re:asonahle terms ; and with theft, too, the Minis-
ters had to ds al. If they had had had to deal with all
the resources of the country, and might have dealt with
them with perfect freedom of action, it would have been
different; but the circumstances of the country were not
LT/durable ; and the state of Europe was such, that a
slight spark would have fired the train, and spread ruin all
around. Never had Ministers negociated under more dan-
gerous circumstances. Belgium had been separates! from
Holland. The Noble Earl denied that fact, and had said
that no separation had taken place when the present Mi-
nisters entered on office. Had it not? Had not the King
of Holland been driven from Brussels ?—(Hear, hear.)
Bad he not acknowledged that something was necessary to
be done to satisfy his Belgian subjects? Had not the
Prince of Orarge, in a proclamation issued by himself,
declared tl.e independent and separate existence of the Go-
vernment of Belgium ?—(Hear, hear.) Had not the Noble
Lords opposite been called on to put down that separation ?
—(Hear, hear.) Aud had they not refused ?—(Cheers)—
refused that application, and pre,cribed an armistice to
both parties. which they describes! as the performance of
an engagement to them and the Conference?—(Hear)—
and in doing so, had they not laid down the limits
within which the Dutch were to retire—limits which, in 1
were those of Holland in 1814—thus clearly inti-
inat;ng their opinion that a separation was necessary and
isse.vitable ?—(Hear.) The Noble Earl had said that they
should not have seated another house on the throne of Bel-
gium. He slid not ; lie wished the Prince of Orange to
lae still at the head of that country, and believes! that no-
thing better could have occurred to have settled the peace
of Europe. But circumstances took a turn which pre-
cluded ail hope of such an event. That wish, too, he was
anxicus to say, was cordially and sincerely expressed by
France.—(Hear, hear.) But, he repeated, circumstances
had occurred which, when they should come to be known,
would show, beyond all doubt, that no other course could
have been pursued. The restoration, which they admit-
ted ought not to be by force, it was impossible to effect by
other means. They had sent Ministers in vain for that
purpose. It then became their duty to look for the settle-
ment of Belgium in another manner. He assumed that
the re union was admitted to lie impossible, notwithstand-
ing the invective fnunded ot. the misrepresentations of him.
(Eat! Grey), when there was no wish of Isis heart more
Wong than that Holland should be placed in a situation
4)1 strength as to frontier; that her natural resources
should be improved ; and that she should be enabled
to ea-assume her place in the scale of nations. The
next erect was to place Belgium in a state of strength ;
efid that abject was necessary, even with a view to
tha interests of Belgium itself. The Noble Earl here
mad extracts from the protocols, to show how these
objects had been endeavoured to be obtained. What would
have been the effect if they had left Belgium without
eommunications by sea, without the means of exporting
her commodities and receiving the produce of other
countries in return, without the means of communicating
with the German provinces—what could have been the
result hint a spirit of discontent and restlessness, looking
for the first opportunity to join any Power that would
redeem Belgium from such difficulties; and looking,
therefore, with anxiety to cultivate the friendship and
throw herself into the ernes of France.—(Helms, hear.)
Time protocol of the 27th of January, 1831, contained the
basis of the ultimate treaty of separation ; they comprised
the whole of those 21 articles which had been so much
4oienadverted upon, and, in fact, the 24 article, were but
tievg lop meat of that protocol. The territorial livisioo
was Dec-1y the same in the sine as in the other, for in
both the ancient limits of Holland were fixed on. To the
-Lost material of the rules laid down in the protocol, Hol-
land assented. There was nothing in the propositions of
the protocol relative to the navigation of the Scheldt, or
to the territorial division to which Holland then stated
itself opposed. But the proposals in that protocol were
nor. agreed to by Belgium when a very great degree of
excitement existed.—an excitement which theTl Govern.
went were not able at that time to controul. me ques•
tton had been put why these proposals had not been en-
forced against Belgium? The answer was, to employ