Star.
London, England, 1807-03-27 00:00:00

FXPLANATiON.

Lord HAWKESBU RY moved that the Houfe, at
its riling, thould adjourn to Wednefday fe'nnight.
Lord GRENVILLE Paid, that he did not rife for
the purpofe of offering an amendment to the motion
of adjournment, but to (late, as their Lordfhips well
knew, thole circumaances in the flotation of public
affairs, which he found it receffary to bring before
their Lord/hips. He rote for the purpofe of (biting,
as far as he was acquainted with them, the- caufes
which occafioned the recent changes in his Majefty's
Councils. Their Lordfhips would recollee, that when
fame of the Adeniniliration, of which he formed a
part, found it neceffary to retire fix years ago, they
did not explain the motives of their refignation. The
confequence was, that mifreprefentations took place,
and their charatlers fuffered. Were it only to avoid
the recurrence of fimilar inconvenience, he for one
would have felt it incumbent upon him to Rate what
he conceived to be the point upon which his Majefty
had thought proper to difpenfe with his Cervices. But,
at prefent, he had a (Ironger claim to be heard. He
wifhed to know in what reign it ever hadhappened that
part of the confidential minutes were given to the pub.
}ic ? Minifiers had given their advice in writing to his
Majefty, and a garbled extra& of the advice In given
found its way into a Public Pape?. Were there not
Conllitutional grounds enough, by which a knowledge
of that advice might have been obtained ? Might not
thofe who were anxious to obtain it, have moved an
Addrefs to know who gave fuch advice ? Or might
they not have advifed his Majesty to communioete a
copy of filch written advice to Parliament? He would
alk if ever, in the hiflory of the country, a fimilar
inliance badoccurred of fuch a garbled and unfair corn.
munication? Their Lordfhips could not be furprifed
if, under there circumfiances—if feeing efforts made to
deftroy his charaaer by the moll unworthy and dif
lioneft means—he felt it to be his duty to alk his Ma-
jelly's permiflinn to make fuch a (latement as he
meant, with the indulgence of their Lordfhips, to fob.
mit to the Houfe. He did think it his duty to prefent
his Petition to his Majefly, and he fhould be guilty of
ingratitude, if he omitted to (late that it was received
with the fame goodaefs and juftice which he had al-
ways experienced from him. He felt the indilpen.
fable neceffity of entering into fuel explanation, and
he had his Majefty's gracious permillion to make it.
In petforming this neceffary talk, he would endea-
vour to difcharge it with all poflible rc Ilse& and pro-
piety, for he had no complaints to make. The vin-
dication of his charaCter was the peat ()hie& he had
in view. At the period he adverted to, their Lord-
fhips knew that the great and illtiffrious Statetinan
who was then at the head of his Majetiy's Councils,
thought it his duty to propofe that Parliament thould
grant great indulgences to the Catholics of Ireland.
uch propofals not meeting aid; the approbation of
his Majetly, that great Statefman withdrew from
the Government, and his Lordship accompanied him.
The fame opinion was alio entertained by his great
rival, that great luminary whole lots the counts y had
to deplore in the courfe of the year. his Laidthip
was of a fimilar opinion ; and if he erred, it was in
common with thefe, the two greateft Statefinen
which any country ever produced. On three quell
lions only did there great men agree during the courfe
of their long political lives. Thefe were the Sinking
Fund, the Abolition of the Slave Trade, and what
is called the Cadtolic Queflinn. Two of tilde had
been carried, the firli as loon as it was propored, and
the fecond atter great delay, and having to eoccunter
every fpecies of artifice and mifreprefentation. The
third relied upon fuch grounds of jet Rice and policy,
that he could not conceive how any one who under.
flood the interefis of the country, could eppufe
it. On a former occafion, he had factificed ob.
jugs of ambition and gratification, and he was
ready to make Inch facrifices again. He did it upon
the principle that four millions of lubjeas were
to he governed by conciliation and kindness, and not
by intolerance and exclufion. Different overtures
were afterwards made to him for his alliaance. His
anfwer invariably was, that his Sovereign might com-
mand his fervices, but he never would relinquifh his
privilege of fpeaking his mind on the queflion. An
opportunity afterwards arofe, when the Catholics of
Ireland withed to have their cafe taken into confider-
;llion. They did him the honour of feleCting him to
prefent their petition, which he willingly accepted.
Upon the event of the motion which he then made, it
was not neceffary for him to trouble the Houle with
any obfervations. The majority who rejteled it could
not be underflood as having given a lading pledge
that they Would not accede ta it. A few months after
this, the country wits deprived of the great llatcf:nan
who was at the head of his Maje.fi's Councils. The
King fent for him, under tilt impreftinn that he r.right