The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-04 00:00:00

Cheeritig)...-Then the Hots.
~xorw-
ard hialist of divisions of all ...,:fosmo-
politieal--during a long period. If I bad time to apply
myself to-the subject, I think I could produce a still greater
number, and I, myself, was the occasion, in some measure,
of one in 1822, when I brought forward the subject of the
invasion of France by Spain. My purpose was, to set the
conduct of France towards Spain in its proper light before this
country—before all the rest of Europe—and before all the
woad ; and I cannot look back upon my exertions on that
occasion without the greatest satisfaction that I ever felt
in my life, with the exception of some parts of my profes-
sional conduct which certainly Ido look back upon with
unrivalled satisfaction. On the occasion of that motion
respecting the conduct of France towards Spain, I was
supported by the House—and I was supported in princi-
ple by the Right Hon. Gentleman who now holds the
situation of First Lord of the Treasury. The only thing
which I objected to on that occasion w.., tdrst while the
Right Hog. Gentleman and myself eg.- he
did not pursue exactly that mode of acting upon it, or
rather of speaking upon it, which I would have preferrei.
I certainly did express my opinion that the Right lion.
Gentleman should have adopted somewhat of a higher tone
in his representation about that transaction, but neither
nor those who supported me on that occasion went the
length of saying that the Right Hon. Gentleman ought to
have, at all events, gone the length of declaring war against
France for its most unjustifiable aggression upon Spain.
We certainly, although powerful, were proportionably mo-
derate in our oppositicin ; 'and were not sufficiently factious.
We have .now, however, got a good factious Opposition,
and, I congratulate the country that the ground has
been so ably taken—(a loud laugh),--and that the
Opposition is now to be conducted in the true spirit of
the most factious and unabated asperity ; and then 'to
make it the more convenient, it is very small.—
(Hear, hear, :and a laugh.)—A large Opposition is too
numbrous ; for; when people begin to count divisions by
Inindteds on each side, then there is so much moderating
and such compromising, that the cause of opposition is
:•onsiderably weakened ; and you never see such an Oppo-
sition spiced with so much exasperation -as to make it suf-
ficiently factious to iatroduce an entirely irregular debate in
the very middle of a discussion regularly ordered for the
night. This is reserved for a smell Opposition; and the
country is no doubt to be congratulated that now an -Oppo-
sition is to be conducted on the tree principles-of faction,
and be spiced in imeira manner fur to render it exquisitely
palatable. But, recurring, to the .41.1setesion which took
Ace in 1822, respecting -the, condact of France towards
Simi!), 'I must eheerve, that we bad little intention of bring-
ing the' question toes:-divisiot at all. But an 'Honourable
Gentleman who then had something to do with the, Ad-
ministration, but seldom took a share , in the debate,
forced us to a division. ":For,". said 'allude to

the Member for Bishop's -Castle—" wo will divide, in
order to show your weakness." This, I believe, was the
real cause of the division on that oasasion, and so much for

that matter. • Now we come to the question of Parlia-
mentary Reform, and it is quite unnecessary for me to re-
mind the House that we, who formed the late opposition,
were as a body divided upon that question, many being at
one time against Reform altogether, who had so far yield-
however, as to be for moderate Reform, which Major
Cartwright and others called mock Reform, but which I cer-
tainly call by no such appellation ; and several still objecting
to any P..fiamentary Reform. It is impossible to say with
my appearance of reason or sound argument, that we as a
,ody stood pledged in favour of that question, against which
the Right Hon. Gent. at the head of the Treasury, I am ap-
prehensive, does stand pledged. That we, therefore, who have
)een so long divided among ourselves on that question, should
m that ground, as a body, refuse to join an Admininistration
vhose principles and conduct we approved of in so many
rather particulars, would be perfect folly, and injurious to
the favourable side of that very question ; it would be in-
justice to ourselves, and dishonesty to our country. The

treat features of the late Administration, after the loss of
the late Lord Londonderry, were marked by large views,
tud by a liberal and truly English feeling, more particularly
in, its foreign policy, • and its conduct with. regard to the
rifling States of South America—(hear o—and on the most
ut*ent questions respecting trade and manufactures under
the conduct chiefly of the Right Hon. President of the Board
Controul, the proceedings of that Administration were
rounded on liberal and enlightened views, and such as were
:Lilly approved in the main by the great body of the Oppo-
sition. These have been the three cardinal points of the
Administration—the large features upon which they have

acted ever since the Right Hon. Gentleman now at the
head of the Treasury came into the Foreign Office. -Of
rheir conduct on these occasions I certainly approved, and
I should have been mad, if I had not approved of them,
,;)r they were propounded by myself, so far back as 1812.
There was some interruption after this, when I was out of
Parliament—but when I returned again, I resumed the
,ame sub;ect in 1816, and, for a whole Session, was op-
posed to the late Lord Londonderry, on the point of his
rOreign policy ; and, in the year 1817, I proposed my own
views to the House, on the question of the policy adopted
with respect to foreign Nations, and chiefly South America ;
Ind the views which he bad then advocated were com-

pletely conformable to those which the Administration
acted upon ever since the time of the late Lord Londonderry.
may be remembered that I rose and dwelt upon the con-
duct, or, at least, the very surp;cious aspect of the Holy
Alliance, when that • Alliance was nearly formed, or
was in the embryo, or the gristle; and the House may
well remember how I was answered by the late Lord
LOndonderry, on these occasions. When I raised my voice
tdainst that Holy Alliance, and stated openly that it wag
to be distrusted, and that any junction with it, or support
if it, was a disgrace to the English Government, I was
treated-as a perfect fanatic, as a seer of signs, and a dreamer
if dreams—the very words with which I was assailed. I
was told that nothing could be more innocent, more mild,
it more harmless, than the union of Russia with other
Powers, under this interesting bond and title of the Holy
Alliance ! I persisted in the declaration of my opinion,
that the combination which then took place threatened
'o be highly dangerous to the liberties and inde-
pendence of Europe, and of all civilized Nation 4 ;
aid events soon proved, that in that opinion I was
well founded. But when the Right Honourable Gentleman,
who was now at the head of the Tre'sury. came into
the Foreign Office, a more liberal ,it.,l view of
foieign policy began to be displayed, and .cur 1:lotions with
other nations were conducted with more sound and more
English feelings. When these principles then began to he
Itir eloped as the basis of the foreign policy upon which the
Administration was determined to act, the Right Hon.
Gentleman had my approbation. On these grOunds the
flight Hon. Gentleman has now my -approbation ; and as
long as he continues to act upon these principles he has a
right to demand my most cordial, zealous, and disinterested
support.—(Loud and continued cheering.)
Mr. CANNING--I rite, Sir, at present, only to claim
that priority of discussion for the preposition which is re-
;ularly before the House, which properly belongs to that
wbject, and of which the Hon. Gentleman has so irre-
ularly and iriproperly endeavoured to 'deprive it. The
manner in which the Hon. Gentleman has introduced this
liscussion is most irregular and improper, and is only au
1.3 X fortunate, that this method of proceeding has a ten
.lency to work its own cure by the disgust which it ne-
cessarily creates among all impartial people--(Hear, hear);
and the Gentlemen opposite may find, that if their weak-
ness should make them resort to mere annoyance, our
strength will bear them down. The Hn. Gentlemen aro
well aware that the priority of discussion this night be-
longs to a subject, the consideration of which involves scone
of the most important interests in the State (the Ship-
ping interest) : and there was now no question, many
people waiting within these walls who feel deeply irate,
rested th tt the regular discussion should come on. I
.!an assure th.• Hon. Member, that I have no fe.,ling of
malice or asperity against him for any thing he may have
said oi- insinuated against my own conduct, for I am too
old a st:.ger not to have 'stood many an attack—some of
them, perhaps, somewhat 'heavier than any charge which
the Hon. Gentleman Mi made.--4A- laugh.)—As to any
-,uch chargee, When they are tegnlarly and properly brought
forward, I shall be prepared to answer them ; but it is
sufficient for me to disdain them when they are irregular
And improperly obtruded. With respect, however, to one
observation relating t 6 myself, I fell the other night into a
-light mistake as to the manner hich theresignations had
been given in and delivered to his Majesty, and when that
,nistake was pointed out, I immediately acknowledged it.
As far as the Lord:Chancellor's resignation was concerned,
sic Majesty and myself (lid not think that be meant to re
:ign at ail ;‘ and I have only to say, with respect to him,
that his c,induct has been throughout, in every point of
view, unexceptionable. As to the remark of the Hon.
Gentleman respecting the patent for a Judge Advocate ly-
icg the Table, I know not how he can draw any con-
clusion, except upon the Cambridge principle, that the num.-
tiers of the masts and the guns of a vessel being given,
you could find out who was the master.—(A.laugh.)—But
it will be the better conduct for the Hon. Gentleman to
pursue not to press this matter to a division on the present
°ovation, but allow the House to go instantly to the real
question of the night. -
'Admiral DOUGLAS made some observations as to an
insinuation which he conceived the Honourable and Learn-
ed' Gentleman to have thrown out against a relation of his.
Mr. BROUGHAM—I had not the least intention of
saying any thing disrespectful against the Noble Relation of
the Gallant Admiral. With' respect to that Noble Lord,