Star.
London, England, 1801-11-14 00:00:00

as far as ptaelicableathough certainly not fo com-
oletzly, in war alfo. The prattice of France, and,
ndeed, the pi ineiple on which the Armed Neutrality
vas founded, went &really to the reverie. Great
Britain had nothing that the could gain from her
ivaic, but much to lofe. France, in times of war,
Crete her whole commerce into neutrals: we, on
:be contrary, cxercifed a wholefome and falu-
tat y check on the neutral trade of the enemy.—
With refped to the fyftem of moderation which
bad been obfervcd by his Majefly's Miniflers in
adjulling the difpute with the Northern Powers, he
thought they were entitled to much praife on that
plea. It was a principle of found policy not to
gall an adverfary by wanton aggreffion ; not to
pulh matters to extremes, for the purpofe of mak-
ing an ostentatious difplay of fuperiority. The
points for which we contended might be divided
into four dirett, and two collateral queftions.—
All thefe four had been completely abandoned by
the hobble Powers. The definition of a port in a
!late of blockade was now fo fettled as not to leave
the fmalleft doubt upon the fubjet. It was not
merely the attual Ration of a fquadron, but its
allotment for that purpofe, which conftituted a
blockade. Thus, though adverfe gales might
blow our fquadrons from their Ration for a time,
flill the exiftence of the blockade remained ac
knowledged. This was a point of no fmall mag-
nitude. With refped to the exceptions in favour
of Ruffia, they could have no prejudicial cilia un
the interefts of this country. Not more than
from 15 to 20 Ruffian (hips, on an average, palled
the Sound in the courfe of a year. The right
of fearch was admitted to all purpofes of prac-
tical benefit,. but its exercife only fubjetled to i
fuch limitations as prevented nes of infult and
vexation. The dotrinc, that free bottoms con-
nit uted free goods, was likewifc renounced, and the
right to fupply an enemy with contraband articles
of war entirely furrendered. Thus the Armed
Neutrality had abandoned every one of their four
leading points. With refpeet to the Loafing and
Colonial Trade, the regulations now agreed upon
were fuch as only permitted the carrying on of
trade already eftablifhed with Neutral Powers, but
prohibited the commencement of new branches of
I commerce. 'Thus the Houf; would perceive, that
there was not a fingle point of confequence to the
profperity and national ftrength of this country
which was not completely attained. And they
would further perceive, that the only regulation
propofed by the hoftile Powers, which we had
been induced to adopt and incorporate with our
own Code, was precifely that one of all others
which moll effetually tended to baffle all at-
tempts at collufion. No (hip was to be accounted
neutral unlefs the Captain and half the crew ap-
pertained to a Neutral Power. Thus we bad effec-
tually accomplifhed every objet for which we had
entered into the conteft. It never could anfwer
the end of juftice, nor yet of found policy, wan-
tonly to trample on a difcomfited foe. There was
a degree of magnanimity due to the charatler of a
great Empire, which this country, he was proud
to fay, had on the prefent octagon moll eminently
difplayed.
Dr. LAWRENCE began with remarking his fur-
prife that the Noble Lord, in Rating the nature
of the Convention entered into by the Northern
Powers in tBOO, had Paid, that its Ripulations
were of a general nature, and without any Treaty
by mere acceffion, became common to other na-
tions, fo that Praia, with whom we had no
Treaty, might inftantly have obtained all the be-
nefits contended for. It was curious that this cafe
fhould have been mentioned, becaufe among all
the Powers with'whom we had entered into difcuf-
fion or hoftility refpeting the queftion, Pruflia was
the only one againft whom we had taken no hof.
tile meafures. 'fhe Learned Gentleman then pro-
ceeded to confider the different points of the Con-
vention before the Houfe. The at ticle contended
for by the Treaty of Armed Neutrality, viz. That
free bottoms made free goods, was given up by the
Northern Powers, referving the Treaties now in
exiftence—and certainly a very important thing
for this country that filch an article fhould never
become the recognized law of Europe. With te-
rra to the enumeration of contraband commodi-
ties, it appeared to him that the flipulation was
too much like the admiffion of a general principle,
inflead of Rating rather an exception. It appeared
to him different from the former Treaty with Ruf-
fia. in as much as by the condition that no other
articles, enemies property excepted, fhould be lia-
ble to fi.:zure, it keened to imply that Ruffian
commodities on board of (hips belonging to any
other Power, fhould be free. The article in goof-
tion, likewife, did not leave us in fo gOod a litua•
tion as it found us, particularly with regard to the
right of pre-emption which we now enjoy. The
war of opinion too, that the attempt of definition
as to what conflituted blockade, was not fitted to
remove the doubts which fubfiffed on that folic&
As to the right of convoy, it Was one which this
country had never esercifed againft other nations,
and there was no inflance of a convoy being con
i
demned, though convoys had been brought n.—
He made tome allufions to the cafe of the Swedifh
convoy, in which cafe he contended that there had
been no intention on the part of the Swedes to
fupply the enemy. He contended that, in the cafe
of (catching a convoy now, the burden of proving
that the cargo and deflination of the 'cite's ender
convoy was illegal, was thrown upon this country.
His opinion upon the whole was, that the points
in difpute were very' imperfealy fettled, and that
the principles of future difcord were anew intro.
duccd. Ilc then proceeded to jun ify an opinion of
his on a former otcaflosi, alluded to in the debate,
and contended that the difpute with Denmark and
Sweden had been blended with a difpute with Ruf-
fia, totally of a different nature, viz. about the
llland of Malta, with which Bonaparte had now
(educed the Emp:ror of Rtiffia to abandon the in-
terels of the King of Sardinia.
Lord GLEN arty's, in a few words, took notice
of tome points in the fpeech of his Learned Friend,
in which Ise Teemed to have miftaken the fad.

11, LAWIUNCE explained.
Mr. SI URGL :Si in a !bort fpccrli, contended that
the Convention had fecund he clcntial intcreas of
thi. country.

, Mr. NEWIOLT (aid a few words on the fame code.
Mr. ERSKINE raid that he rofe to express his ap-
probation of the Convention. He had not been in
the Houle when the Intik& was formerly difcuired,
though he was not altogether a ['ranger to it. But
a (bort time ago we had feen this country.ftrug-
gling.in a ruinous and an ur,neceffary war; welad
teen the Powers of the North, three great nations,
arrayed in hoftility again[' us—confederated to in-
troduce alterations in the maritime cod.: of Europe
repugnant to the effential interefts of this country.
Now, however, we fee Preliminaries of Peace fign-
ed with France, and the Powers of the North ac-
ialing to a Convention by which they pledged
themfelves to the fupport of thofe effential princi-
ples of Maritime Law which were heldro be moft
favourable to the Britifh profperity and greatnefs.
The point of free bottoms making free goods was
given up. NVe retained the right of fearch, which
indeed Is the pledge and feaurity of the principle
that the privilege of free bottoms (hall not be in-
troduced. The queftion with the Northern Powers
was a delicate one, becaufe it involved their inte-
refts very nearly ; the commodities deemed contra-
band were their produce, and the rigid application
of the rules again[' commerce in contraband did in
fad interf:re with the principal fource of their in-
duflry. In his opinion, however, the Convention
was what it had been called —a a jtelicious corn-
prornife," that fort of compromife on which, as
Mr. Burke had well obferved,all human benefits are
founded :—the Powers of the North were pledged
to relit the principle of free bottoms making tree
goods ; enemies property was not to be proteded ;
and the definition of contraband tended as much as
potlible to prevent future difputes on this fubjed.
I am pleated to find, Paid Mr. Erfkine, that the ar-
rangement which has taken place, while it fecures
the intercft and the honour of this country, has
not tarnilbed the honour of other nations. It is
fit that every nation (hould be jealous of its honour.
I know how neceffary it, is for thofe who (peak
from that fide of the Houle to be careful of their
expreffions when they talk Of what is due to the
honour of other nations. I with to give no room
for mifreprefentation. I know that the country an
which PROVIDENCE has ca[' my lot, is the fphere of
mv-duties, and therefore mu[' be the chief object
dray affedions. We cannot embrace all alike.
—Our attachment mull proceed from the near to
the more diftant obje&s. take the circles made
by the pebble in the water, our affeetions' mull ex
pand in the fame fyttem. Here is the fpherc of
our duties ; here the deareft, the inim- lite abjed
of our regard and devotion. It is ( own coun-
try that firft demands our love, our cares, our
wifhes, our hopes. But if we can rave the honour
of other nations, while we fecure our own, I agree
with the Noble Lord (Hawkefliury) that it is true
magnanimity, as well as true policy. In difputes
between individuals, as between nations, the fore
way to procure a cordial reconciliation, is to pre-
ferve entire the honour and tender feelings of both.
Upon that principle I have ailed when called upon
in private life to aft in fettling the differences of
individuals. It is the fureft way to put an end
to all heart-burnings : to prevent the recurrence
of frefh contefts. I approve heartily, therefore,
of the Convention. I approve of it as the preli-
minary to thofc Preliminaries of Peace, in the
conclufion of which I fo much rejoice. I hope
that peace will be laftirg,—lt is neccflary to re-
deem the country from the evil confequences of
an impolitic and ruinous war. I unit that the
fpirit of peace has been adive in the negotiation
of the Treaty, and that it will continue to improve
its bleffings. To fecure the full advantages of that
peace, to counterad the fatal confequences of the
war, every facrifice fhould be made ; and it is the
duty of all to lend an hone[' aid to refeue the (late
from the effeCts of thofe difaftrous measures which
have fo long been purfued. To attain that great
obje&, I trua that Minillers will rept& a liberal
confidence in the Engin nation, animated by
Englifh principles: and that they will rely with
fecurity upon the vigorous operation of Englith
laws, Let Miniflers give us the Conflitution in
its native force and beauty. Let the people be
taught to cherifh it, and then whatever dangers
may affail us, whatever mortal force may be ar-
rayed againd us, we (hall be able to meet them
with full confidence, and repel them with united
fpirit. For theta reafuns he gave his fincere thanks
to Minifters for having concluded this Convention.
Sir Was. SCOTT entered into a brief invefaga-
tion of the leading Articles of the Treaty ; and
proved, that it was in every ref pet commenfurate
to our deareft interells, and adequate to the ob•
jells for which we had entered into the contca.
Mr. Thetis v.—l rife to etprefs my approba-
tion of the Convention under confideration, and
my concurrence in the motion. The prefcnt all-
nitters, when they came into office, pledged them-
(elves to oft: their hone[' endeavours to obtain
peace, and to ufe their power with jußice and mo-
deration. They have fulfilled their pledge, and I
feel myfelf bound to difcharge mine, which was
to give them an hone[' fupport, if in my con-
fcience I thought they deferved it. lam fenfible
of the difficulties under which the country labours,
but I fee no caufe for dcfpair. I think I fee a ray
of hope, and I trua I fli.dl not be dicappointed.
I troll that Miniflers are determined to ad upon
the only fyacm by which the nation, after its
ftruggles and facrifices, can be rained to its for- ,
mer fplendour and greatnefs. With thefe fenti-
menu I (hall not only give them no oppofition,
but contribute every exertion of my humble ta-
lents to aid them in the work.
Sir Wm. Score role to declare his concurrence
in the (entiments of the loft fpeaker. He had in
tended to enter into the particulars of the Treaty
on the TaLle; but the veryable fpeech of his Noble
Friend rendered it unneccffary. He wifbed to re-
fill a prejudice which feemed to be gaining ground
—he meant that manifefted by Gentlemen in con-
fequence of the exclufion of privateers from the
right of fearching neutral Chips; for he could af-
fure the Houk the privateers had as little abufed
that right heretofore, as any other defcription of
Britifh (hipping.
The quellimi being called for, was carried with-
out a air ifion, and the Addrefs ordered to he pre-
pa:ed.—Adjourned.