Star.
London, England, 1823-04-15 00:00:00

(0100LLIA4

11"101T-Are 1,23.
" inlffnizcr.
3 both I oipts:tj
the present
nes'
Mott in.-Ituglaui.'•
e other then icch
reasonable fatuk,
a retteaf withr4
'f their plans,tzi
:e

r Spanish (hue%
not lead them 64
vie hopeft Of rift
wren thiseituskt,
would be wa
her our ktopoupt
rt affret the 4,4
rd Spain. TAM
ar, that the
he
exchisktei
sitliberatiOn lf
t cr the presettto
that Spain sbeA,
re could submit%
eat to its polity,

R. SCIIRET Alt
r 2.5, 1823-

tith a leatling
,s reasons not nun
igton's saggest
:ts of the Connie
o consideration ti
such a prooeedak
ce ut the tlaiagett,
was the inevitabk
itution ; but adder
,1 the question, t 1.4
10, but to await 'tit

:uart to Mr. Seat.
23, which relates a
:1(1 with M. Jr Cka.
spee.:h, and ps
Constitl:rion.

MR. SEC2LT.IIII
1. 13.

h January, 1823.
les from M. de Cta
) be read to M. Si
at after the fruitier
i:temal Power
Fitzroy Soment
not left Paris sere
'hen the French di,
:..)vernment to hue
ne of greater mod)
:ri:went of his N.,
Mini-ter front Ws
iintenance of pea:e
tt of r lacing birmel
ire : and that if
tr.:Mom, and pl
ii co advance to tie
ith him, a firm aid
the two countries
rance and Spain t
of France be pl
ais Catholic Majesty
to Spain the preci.
;itution ; but In oric ,
ng intentionally le.
e will not renew hr
system be establishe
King. assuring
cges of the Monarch
rd in favour of ever:
from the promnlgs
to present period.
A'Costrt to Mr. St
4, 1823. It states
" he broke out ins
the French Gowen
is inevitable : he nib
onstitution emanate
'ereignty than thud
tg, in which his Ms
and that these seta.
he Answerwhiel ht
pain was prepared?
uld find that the WV
g than she seemed a

0 MR. SECRICALI
VARY -

, February 791595.
sbriand's statement of
Lent of amicable rdi
emely •ague, that la
anish GOVerftMeitt, if
icessions which woad
he will not low sight
ment in his power:
of the shutting up of
the Spanish Minister
as, there was neither a
istry to be changed a
,ose their adoption, till
nd that, had any hopes
might depend upon u

:onversation, M• Sam
e evident acknowle4lF-
lent French interest 1,1
he King of Fras,e.s

to Mr. Secretarj Can.
, February 21, Das,
tonight peace might be
ild engage at a Mutt
1, in the tneanwhik,
King to bis 0001
'jos, and go to symboling
erablishment of JAWS
r Ministry. •
A`Court to Mr. Sects:
6, 1623, on the gib-
osed in the Coles, tot
before the entry of a

fr. Secretary Catmint.
-esses his regret at bit
id with respect to ibe
act of pardon for se/
rms before the 14 di
,tion in favour of chess
se confined may fel

r ZVilliam A'Court tE
r explanatory •
• Charles swat to
French• Minister 10
Ilan A'Court to
.bruary 35,
.18
Miguel, foe the psl2loo
articles respecting. #
:eyed, that the Bsidst
ision, u suppos.ing tin
be a much easter dill
tern' acid to re-tstab.
n the most insig,P44lo
it AS the most 410 1.

tart in it, Wand Alone.eoull stet remsla a,pasiilve spectator -or
juT mien be its results."
Na, 40, 41, and as,—From Sir William A'Court to Mii
.secrawyommiss.Asplanatory. • •
ssORETART CANNING TO SIR CHARLP
• ,110;
• • • 'STUART.
Fgcsi Mee' -March 31, 1823.
l'ise hopes of an, accommodation between
. ,
and Spain, which his Majesty has so long
been encouraged to cheriih in despite iof all unfa-
vourable appearances, being now unhappily extin-
%lanai, I am commanded by his Majesty to address
se year Excellency, for the purpose of being com-
municated to the French Minister, the following ex-
planation Of the sentiments of your Government upon
the
.present posture of affairs between those two
liagdoms.
Tie King has exhausted his endeavours to preserve
the pace Of Europe.
The question of an interference in the internal con-
cerns of Spain, on account of the troubles and dis-
'tractions which have for same time prevailed in that
kingdom; was not one on which his Majesty could,
for himself, entertain a moment's hesitation. If his
Mainsty's Plenipotentiary at Verona did not decline
taking part in the deliberations of the Allied Cabinets
upon that question, it was because his Majesty owed
to his Allies; upon that as upon every other subject,
a sincere declaration of his opinions; and because he
hoped that a friendly and unreserved communication
might tend to the preservation of general peace.
'The nature of the apprehensions which had in-
duced the King of France to assemble an army,
within his own frontiel, upon the borders of Spain,
bad been indicated, in the first instance, by the desig-
nation of the " Cordon Sanitaire." The change of
that designation to that of an " Army of Ob,erva-
tion" (winch took place in the month of S±otemher
last) did not appear to his Majesty to imply mat c than
that the defensive system originally opposed to the
contagion of physical disease, would be continued
against the possible inconvenienciei, moral or politi-
cal, which might arise to France, from a civil contest
raging in a country separated from the French terri-
tory only by a conventional line of demarcation.—
The dangers naturally incident to an unrestrained in-
tercourse between two countries so situated towards
each other—the dangers of political intrigue, or of
occasional violation of territory, might sufficiently
justify preparations of military defence.
Such was the state of things between France and
Spain at the opening of the Congress at Verona. The
'propositions brought forward by the French Pleni-
potentiary in the conferences of the Allied Cabinets
were founded on this state of things. Those propo-
sitions did not relate to any project of carrying at-
tack into the heart of the Spanish Monarchy,-but
were in the nature of inquiries:-Ist, What counte-
nance France might expect to receive from the Allies
if she should find herself under the necessity of break-
ing off diplomatic intercourse with the Court of Ma-
drid? and, 2dly, What assistance, in supposed cases
of outrage to be committed, or of violence to be me-
naced by Spain? These cases were all contingent
and precautionary. The Answers of the three Con-
tinental Powers were of a correspondent character.
The result of the discussions at 'Verona, was a de-
termination of his Majesty's allies, the Emperors of
Austria and Russia and the King of Prussia:-Ist.
To make known to the Cabinet of Madrid, through
their respective Ministers at that Court, their senti-
ments upon the necessity of a change in the present
system of the Spanish Government ; and, in the event
of an unsatisfactory answer to that communication,
to recall their respective Ministers ; and to break off
all diplomatic intercourse with Spain. .2ndly. To
make common cause with France against Spain, in
certain cases ; cases, as has been already observed,
altogether contingent and precautionary.
His Majesty's Plenipotentiary declined concurring
in these measures ; not only because he was unautho-
rized to pledge the faith of his Government to any
hypothetical engagement, but because his Govern-
ment had, from the month of April, 1820, uniformly
recommended to the Powers of the Alliance, to•ab-
stain from all interference in the internal affairs of
Spain; and because, having been from the same pe-
riod, entirely unacquainted with whatever transac-
tions aright have taken place between France and
Spaim'his Government could not judge on what
grounds the Cabinet of the Tuilleries meditated a
possible discontinuance of diplomatic relations with
the Court of Madrid ; or on what grounds they ap-
prehended an occurrence, apparently so improbable, as
aommencement of hostilities against France by Spain.
Ko proof was produced to his Majesty's Plenipo,
tentiary of the existence of any design on the part of
the Spanish Government, to invade tire territory of
France; of any attempt to introduce disaffection
among her soldiery; or of any project to undermine
bet political institutions : and so long as the struggles
PAd.disturbances of Spain should be confined within
the circle of her own territory, they could not be ad-
mitted by the British Government to afford any. plea
for foreign interference. If the end of the last, and the
beginning of the present Century saw all Europe com-
bined against France, it was not on account of the in-
ternal changes which France thought necessary for
her own political and civil reformation; but because
**Attempted to propagate, first her principles, and
afterwards her dominion, by the sword.
Impossible as it was for his Majesty to be party to
the measures concerted at Verona with respect to
SPIN his Majesty's Plenipotentiary declared, that
tbdritishGovernment could only endeavour, through
his Majesty's Minister at theCour t of the Catholic King,
"to allay the ferment which those measures might oc-
Ilion at Madrid, and to do all the good in his power."
Up to this period no communication had taken
Ace between his Majesty and the Court of Madrid,
as to the discussions at Verona. But about the time
of the arrival of his Majesty's Plenipotentiary, on his
Man from Verona, at Paris, Spain expressed a de-
ire for the a friendly interposition" of his Majesty,
10 avert the calamities of war. Spain distinctly li-
nked this desire to the employment of such " good
°km," on the part of Great Britain, as would not be
ammesistent with " the most strictly conceived system
ef ue tr
u ai ny. Nor has any period occurred, through-
eft the whole of the intercourse of the British lio-
/etutnent with Spain, at which the Spanish Govern-
aaatmt has been for one moment led, by that of Great
°main, to believe, that the policy of Iris Majesty, in
*contest between France and Spain, would be other
than neutral. . .
In pursuance of this regotst, and of his previous
adoration at Verona, his Majesty's Pltnipotentiary

at we should not dorr
could be so blistd. AP!
other VoWoo.lool

leteiv.ed instruct:Wit Patii; •
mitG9Tkel7niagine4lithis offeithi,ethireire Borriti Glhst I‘oaleitvermnY'llent.•
from motives of expediency, as well is fro •
deratlons of justice, the employment 'towards
of a language of reproach or of intinsidatiom- TNT
represented as matter of ne light moment the first
breach, by whatever Power, of that general pacific
settlement which had been so recently established,
and at the cost of so many sufferings and sacrifices to
all nations. Nor did they disguise from the French
Government, the anxiety with which they looked for-
ward to all the possible issues of a new war in Europe,
if once begun.
In addition to suggestions such as these, the Bri-
tish Government endeavoured to learn from the Ca-
binet of the Tuilleries, the nature and amount of the
specific grievances, of which his Most Christian Ma-
jesty complained, against Spain; and of such spe-
cific measures of redress or conciliation on the part
of Spain, as would arrest the progress of his Most
Christian Majesty's warlike preparations.
The French Government declined the formal me-
diation of his Majesty; alleging, in substance, that
the necessity of its warlike preparations was founded,
not so much upon any direct cause of complaint
against Spain, which might be susceptible of accu-
rate specification and of practical adjustment, as upon
the general position in which the two Kingdoms
found themselves placed towards each other ;—upon
the effect which all that was passing and had been
for some time passing in Spain, produced upon t'ae
peace and tranquillity of his Most Christian Majesty's
dominions ;—upon the burdensomeness of that defen-
sive armament which France had thought herself
obliged to :establish on her frontier towards Spain,
and %, hich was alike inconvenient to her to maintain,
or, 'without some change of 'circumstances which
would justify such change of counsel, to withdraw ;
—upon a state of things, in short, which it was easier'
to understand than to define; but which, taken alto.
gether, was so intolerable to France, that open hos-
tility would be far preferable to it.—War would at
least have a tendency to some conclusion ; whereas
the existing state'of the relations between France arid
Spain might continue for an indefinite time increas-
ing every day- the diffieulties of Spain, and propa-
gating disquietude and alarm throughout the French
Army and Nation. • •
But although his Most Christian Majesty's Govern-
ment declined on these grounds, a formal mediatfon,
they prolessed an earnest desire -for peace, and ac- ,
cepted his Majesty's'" good offices"Lwith Spain for
that object.
Contemplating all the mischiefs which war might
inflict upon France, and through-France ultimately,
perhaps, upon all Europe ;• and- which it-must inflict,
more immediately and inevitably, upon. Spain, whose
internal animosities and agitations a foreign war
could not but exasperate and prolong—the. British
Government was deeply impressed with the necessity
of peace for both kingdoms ; and resolved, therefore,
whether invested Or not with the formal character of
mediator, to make every effort, and to avail itself of
every chance, fur the prevention' of hostilities. The
question was now become a question simply and en-
tirely between Spain and France ; and .the practical
point of inquiry, was not so much hOw the relations
of those two Governments had been brought into'
their present awkward complication ; as how that
complication. could be solved, without recourse to
arms, and an amicable adjustment produced, through'
mutual explanation and concession.
Nothing could have induced his Majesty to sagged
to the Spanish Nation a revision of its political institpt-
Lions, as the price of his Majesty's friendship. Bee
Spaniards, of all parties and descriptions, admitted
some modifications of the Constitution of 1812 tole
indispensably necessary; and if in such a crisis as'
that in which Spain now found herself—distracted
at once by the miseries of civil war, and by the ap.l
prehension of foreign invasion—the adoptien of mo-
difications, so admitted to be desirable in themselves,
might afford a prospect of composing her internal
dissensions, and might at the same time furnish to
the French Government a motive for withdrawing
from the menacing position which it had assumed
towards Spain, the British Government felt that no
scruple of delicacy or fear of misconstruction ought
to restrain them from avowing an earnest wish that
the Spaniards could prevail upon themselves to con-
sider of such modifications, or at least to declare their
disposition to consider of them hereafter.
-It is useless now to discuss what might have been
the result of his -Majesty's anxious endeavours to.
bring about an accommodation between France and
Spain, if nothing had occurred to interrupt their pro-
gress. Whatever might be the indisposition of the
Spanish Government to take the first step towards
such an accommodation, it cannot be disguised, that
the principles avowed and the pretensions put forward
by the French Government, in the Speech from the
Throne at the opening of the Chambers at Paris,
created new obstacles to the success of friendly inter-
vention. The communication of that speech to the
British Government was accompanied, indeed, with
renewed assurances of the pacific disposition of France;
and the French Ministers adopted a construction if
the passage most likely to create an unfavourable im-
pression in Spain, which gripped it of a part of its
objectionable character. But all the attempts of the
British Government to give effect at Madrid to such
assurances and explanations, proved unavailing. The
hopes of success became gradually fainter : and have
now- vanished altogether.
It remains only to describe the conduct which it is
his Majesty's desire and intention to observe, in a
conflict between two nations, to each of whom his
Majesty is bound by the ties of amity and alliance.
The repeated disavowal, by his Most Christian
Majesty's Government, of all views of ambition and
aggrandisement, forbids the suspicion of any design
on the part of France, to establish a permanent mili-
tary occupation of Spain ; or to force his Catholic
Majesty into any measures derogatory to the inde-
pendence of his Crown or to his existing relations
with other Powers.
The repeated assurance which his Majesty has re-
ceived, of the determination of France to respect the
dominions of his Most Faithful Majesty, relieve his
Majesty from any apprehension of being called upon
to fulfil the obligations of that intimate defensite
connection which has so long subsisted between die
Crowns of Great Britain and Portugal.
With respect to the Provinces in America, which
have thrown off their allegiance to the Crown of

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, APRIL 14.
• St.veral Petitions were presented against the Insolvent Debtors'
Act, and against further concessions to the Roman Catholics ;
and one from Dr. nig!more, praying for a better regulation of
the Ecclesiastical Duties of Clergymen.
• FRANCE AND SPAIN.

The Earl of LIVERPOOL.—In obedience to the
command of his Majesty, I rise, my Lords, to lay
before your Lordships the Papers relating to the ne-
gociations recently carried on, on the part of this
Government, at Verona, at Paris, and at Madrid.
The Papers which will be delivered to your Lordships
in the course of the evening, will of course speak for
themselves as to the line of policy adopted by his
Majesty's Government in the negotiations to which
they relate; but it is essential to a right understand-
ing of that line of policy that an ex?lanation should
be given of the views and intentions of the Govern.
ment, in order that your Lordships may be fully
in possession of the whole case. The negotiations, my
Lords, to which these Papers relate, commenced in
the last summer at Verona, and were subsequently
continued at Paris and Verona. Previously, how-
leer, to entering into the detail of these negotiations,
it-is necessary for me to.go back to a former period,
for the purpose of explaining the situation of Spain.
The Noble Lord then entered into a luininous expo-
sition of the affairs of Spain, from the establishment
of the Constitution in 1812, the acceptance of it by
-Ferdinand in 1814, advised by Sir Henry Wellesidy ;
the determination of the king to act on other advice,
and delaying for a period of six years to give the re-
presentative Constitution and limited Monarchy he
lad promised. This led to the restoration of the Con•
stitntion of the Cortes in 1820, and, said his Lordship,
" Whatever objections there may be to this Consti-
tution thus re-established, there is nothing either in
the Constitution, or in the mode of its re-establish-
ment, that can call for any interference on the part
of foreign Powers. And with regard to the three
Allied Powers, they undoubtedly can have no right
to object to that Constitution, because from 181'2 to
1814, during which period that Constitution was, in
operation, they solicited the friendship, the alliance,
and co-operation of Spain in the great cause in which
they were engaged, in connection with this country,
for the restoration of the liberties of Europe. They,
therefore, can have no legitimate ground of objection
to that Constitution,which is precisely the same as that
under the dominion of which they repeatedly sought
the friendship, the alliance, and co operation of Spain."
It was under this impresssion that the British Go-
vernment decidedly disapproved of any interference
in the internal affairs of Spain, .nor was it thought
that they would form a prominent topic of delibera-
tion at the Congress of Verona. It was, however,
thought advisable that a Plenipotentiary should be
sent to Verona to state the views of the British Go-
vernment. In consequence of the death of his Noble
Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign AffairOlie
Duke of Wellington was selected for the mission.—
The Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Canning) who had
succeeded to the Foreign Department, in consequence
wrotean instruction to the Noble Duke, stating, on the
part of his Majesty's Government; with reference to
any interference on the part of Foreign Powers in the,
internal affairs of Spain, that "so objectionable does
it:appear to them in principle, as well as utterly im-
practicable in execution, that when the necessity arises,
or (I would rather say) when the opportunity offers,
I am to instruct your Grace at once frankly' and
peremptorily to deflate, that to any such interference,
come what may, his Majesty will not be a party."—
His- Lordship then ably recapitulated the• remon-
strances of the Duke of Wellington at Verona, his
answer to the:three questions proposed by the French
Minister; the protest of his Grace against the con-
duct 'of the three Allied Powers in breaking off all
diplomatic relations with Spain. When the nego-
tiations at Verona were terminated, his Majesty's
Government became anxious to offer its mediation as
to:the external question between France and Spain—
the only question to which his Majesty's Govern-
ment was dispused to pay attention, his Majesty's
Government being no party to the menace held out
to the Spanish Government in the event of any.vio-
lence being offered to the King or Royal Family, or
ofany change of dynasty, &c. and having strictly
acted upon the determination not to interfere in any
way with the internal affairs of Spain. This offer of
mediation was declined by the. French Gover.p-
ment, but which, .at the sank time, espiessei its
willingness to accept his Majesty's good offices
with Spain, and professed in earnest desire for peace.
Alluding to the prioriples each party demanded al
the bases of negotiation; •the modification of• the Con-
stitution on one bide, and the withdra..ing of the
Army of the Pyrennees 'on the other-;• Iris I.srd,hip
said, those who look to. the state of Spain shoald lout•
also to the state of F.rance at the time, and no.man

, -
.4440i* and Abe Cantle of. nerds ippeiriliti" Jtal . *titan' iinytbing kith
•aubstatatialludecided theirsepaeation from theiteikee' the army could hate been at tea:
copntry ; although the format' recognition of those son. Neither 1,. nor any mon I ingietreasithili tem*.
Provinces, as. Independent States, by his Majesty, lay, would advice that Spain Omelet 'elk up one
may be bastened Or 'retarded by carious external cir- atom of her Constitution or system whith its ntikeV•
cumstaeces. as well as by the more or less satisfac- Miry for her own protection; but we littotra ftot.
tory progress, in each State, towards it and only that the Constitution bad defects; but defects or
settled form of Governments Spain has long been such a natuiertsrenctered somemodificatianneeesiary:
apprised of his Majesty's opinions upon this subject. We had also to take into considerationthit thett was
Disclaiming,. in the most solemn manner, any inten- a civil war then raging. in Spain ; Old having been
tion of apropriating to himself the smallest portion of called upon by Spain to interpose, we had a tight td
the late Spanish possessions in America, his Majesty ; a.k h:it means she possessed of resisting the power
is satisfied that no attempt will be made by France to of Fiance, if it should be brought to act against her ?
bring under her dominion any of those possessions, Every person, at all acquaimed with Spatni'is aware
either by conquest or by cessian, from Spain. that a great portion of her territory is open to inva-
This frank explanation upon the points on which, sion ; therefote, if war should commence, though she
perhaps, alone the possibility of any collision of might he ultimately safe, asthe was in the'last wars,
France with Great Britain can be apprehended in a it must be a safety put-Chased-by great sacrifices; her
war between France and Spain, your Excellency will fairest pros incet•mtist be' overrun and pillaged—tor
represent to M. de Chateaubriand, as dictated by an it is absurd to maintain that pitritdei.will.not be the
eranest desire to be enabled to preserve,,in that war, effect of war, whatever proclamatiOnt may say to the
a strict and undeviating neutrality ; a neutrality not contrary ( Hear I hear! hear! front the Opposition).
liable to alteration towards either party, so long as The offer of personal mediation on the _part of the
the honour and just interests of Great Britain are Duke of Wellington, through Lord F. Somerset, and
equally respected by both. the hope that peace wourd be *preserved, up to the
I am commanded, in conclusion, to direct your time of the King. of France's. Speech, were next no-
Excellency to declare to the French Minister, that his tired, 'hod his Lordship then proceeded to vindicate
Majesty will be at all times ready to renew the inter- the policy of the British Government in the whole of
position of his good offices, for the purpose of ter- these negociations, that of strict neutrality, and re-
minating those hostilities, which his Majesty has-so furred to the documents as a proof, not only that
anxiously,although ineffectually.endeavoured to avert. from the beginning of the transactions we openly
—I afil. &c. (Signed) GRORGE CANNING. avowed it to Spain, but that she so understood it.
Rb Excellency the Rt. lion. Sir Charles Stuort, G.C.B. Ile would here repeat what he had said on former
acc. acc. &c. occasions, that if the lionouror Intel ests of the cour-
-
try should require it, he would ;save no difficulty in
finding the means of cat ry ing it on. But after a war
of unexampled duration and calamity, and when we
found our commerce and manufactures flourishing
in a way which they had never done before, and our
agriculture recovering from its depression, it would
not have been politic to- have thrown these advan-
tages into the handsaif other nations. But, said his
Lordship, in the nett place, I ask what is the nature
of the war in which you must embark, if such was
to be the determination ? Let no man suppose that
sending out a fleet or granting a subsidy would be
sufficient. If you embark with Spain. in this contest,
you must embolic, as you did before, with all your
power and with all your means. " Toto certanduns
est corpore Regni." The first brigade you send into
Spain will bring the whole war upon your own shoul-
ders; and a war carried on in Spain will be four times
more expensive than in any other country in Europe.
You must prepare, not for an ordinary war, not for
a maritime war, but for st:War in which you must
embark the whole enetgy of the country.. Jo the
former case, when we embarked with Spain, Spain
was not the object but the territory of war—Europe
was the object; it was the battle of Europe that was
fought within the Spanish Empire. Besides, let me
ask, what was the state of Spain herself at that mo-
ment? It was then a united country from one end
to the other. And how is it at present ? Spain is now
divided ; nor is it that sort of division in whiehall the
active spirits are upon the same side. There is enthu-
siasm, but it is an enthusiasm exhibited biroppo-
site parties. You have priests and peasants war-
ring against merchants and shopkeepers: if there
is the fanaticism of liberty on one side, there is
also the fanaticism of religion on the other-,(llear).
Should you now embark in the war with Spain, it
cannot be merely for the purpose of driving the
French out of that country—you must assist one half
the natives to drive out the other half. We know that
this war is unpopular in France—it is unpopular
among the commercial interests—and, I believe, it is
not popular even among the army ; for whatever
success may attend it, there is little or no glory to'be
derived from the result. But let me ask any one,
does he believe, that if this country should once in-
terfere in a hostile shape, the Spanish war would not
then merge in the English war? Would any man re-
commend to have made a menace, unless he was per.
fectly prepared to support that menace,ifunsuccessful,
by war ? There is a curious instance of precipitancy its
the history of this country,which I cannot forbear from
mentioning on this occasion. In the year 1739, the
Government of England was forced by the intem-
perance of parties into a war with Spain. The two
Houses of Parliament came to an unanimous Resolu-
tion that clime should be no peace till the right of
search was conceded. In some time after, a war broke
out with France; then the war with Spain was for-
gotten, it merged in that of France; and the Resolutions
which the two Houses had Made were fiargotten also.
We are all agreed that the object of France in Spain
is impracticable, unless the great mass of the people
are in their favour. . Now, if it is impracticable, why
should we intei fere at all ; and if it is practicable, why
should we contend against the wishes of the majority?
there is no claim of hon Our upon this country to
take part in the contest, and if so, I may be per-
mitted to ask whether her'essential interests will not
be better promoted by neutrality ? never doubted
for a moment that the first operations of France might
he successful; but at the 'sometime I never thought
that the success of those.operations would decide the
fate of Spain, as that must depend altogether on
the part which the people take in the struggle.—
There are, as has been stated, possible events which
might oblige England to interfere.—The • attack of
Portugal has been instanced as one of them, but we
have the strongest assist ances that the neutrality of
that country shall be respected. If your, policy is to
be that of neutrality, I hope it will be a candid, open
neutrality, such as becomes the character of this na-
tion. 1 know net what contingencies may arise out
of the war, but if such contingencies as have been
mentioned should arise, then will -be, the time for
Ministers to act, and for Parliament to support them
in maintaining the national honour; but unless yon
are determined to draw the sword and throw away
the scabbard, you will observe a neutrality honest
and effectual. I shall now conclUde with . moving,
that the Papers which I have laid *On the fable be
' printed. The House will then seethe whole force (4-
the transaction, anti be satisfied that the Government
of this country has done its duty to France, to Spain,
and above all, to the king and people of this Empire.
Earl G IRE Y, preferred entering into a thicoosiask 'without
being sufficiently uiformed on the subject, to suitetiordmeNeme
Lord's atatc/DICIIt to go forth tineuntradietelL Bevdet Stible
teiitius
Lord, bad failed in sheivibg that he had taken steps to porwinat,s.
war as threatening to the general peace of as ant ttiac
could he mentiosied—(llear,hear ! trim the ).-.-04
b .ii ad ted to this, anti 'tailed in a grreeattendecegreewhirattZl"iirgisb
.
gult
the direct amid manly policy of ptir met-awn. 4ti Sus* bast
been made un Spain without any pretence