Star.
London, England, 1823-05-13 00:00:00

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'Moat/unjust attack trade by Louis XVIII. upon the
liberties of Spain. When, therefore, he referred to
the melancholy fruits we derived from Walcheren.
and. the disastrous defeat of General Moore, he
ifectod on topics not likely to encourage the result(
of that military glory since witnessed. No persona
knew the opinions he entertained in 1810 better than
the person who had taken so unfair an advantage of
a former speech, to promote the object of a recent
debate is 'abother place. Here he wished to refer,
their Lordships to the marked speech Attributed to
him upon the change of Adininistration In the year
1812, with respect to our policyin conducting the
Peninsular war; when he held that it was not expe-
dient recall the whole of our forces; but wished,
at the same time; to know the opinion of an illus-
trious Commander (Wellington), as the continuance
of warfare 'must' depend on circumstances con-
nected with ai stirvey of our own resources for war.
It was rather. in.,extraordinary fact, that the person
(we suppose this allusion was to Mr. Canning) who
attacked him lately the House of Commons, had
chosen to take partial extracts from his reported
opinions; but let their Lordships look narroa ly at
changes in opinion, and greater change might be
found, to all appearance, than was attributed to him.
Upon the melancholy death of Mr. Peiceval, in the
month of Way, 1812, when the Noble. Earl opposite
(Liverpool) was anxious to strengthen the Adminis-
tration, he then applied to Mt. Canning, who re-
quested to consult his friends; when, ultimately, he
declined to accept of place, because he could not
consistently give up the Catholic question. lie was
not disposed to inquire of Mr. Canning why he had
foregone that objection in this instance ; conscience
might happen to consist with convenience ; and in
the variation of circumstances, Mr. Canning might
find reasons for the change. He did not suspect, on
the other hand, that the Noble Earl opposite (Liver-
pool) had changed his known opinion with respect
to the Catholic claims; and much less could lie sus-
pect, for an instant, that his Noble and Learned
Friend (for so he would call him) upon the Woolsack
had changed his opinion to obtain that summurn
banum of his Noble Colleague—the introduction of
Mr. Canning into the Cabinet. So lately as the
Right Honourable Gentleman's parting speech at
I.iverpool, he (Earl Grey) had supposed that it was
impossible for him to concede a certain point; but
some reported proceedings at Harwich had stag-
gered the persuasion he formerly held upon this point.
That this person, who was a party to such negocia-
tions, should quote a passage from a speech of his
(Earl Grey) was the most extraordinary occurrence
that had ever yet taken place, and, he must add, the
most unfair proceeding which had ever taken place
in the political world. He came now to the last part
of his motion, to which he hoped for their Lordships'
concurrence. He should now move for " Copies or
Extracts of any Communications between Austria,
Russia, Prussia, France, and Great Britain, with
respect to any engagements entered into by Austria,
Russia, and Prussia, to make common cause with
France in the invasion of Spain, and his Majesty's corn-
municationnto those Powers on that subject. Also,
Copies or Extracts of any Information submitted to
his Majesty's Government respecting the Russian
Army on the Vistula, and the object thereof; the
same respecting the Austrian Army now in the Mi-
lanese ; and all information respecting the assembling
of Prussian forces upon their frontier nearest to
France."—He thought it right that these Papers
should be produced, in order that their Lordships
might know whether this war between France and
Spain was a national war between these two Powers,
or whether it was not a war undertaken upon a com-
mon principle, and in which, if necessary,. the ether
Powers were bound to support France. He had'
observed many things which created surprise, and
that surprise was not removed by any explanation of
the Noble Earl, or by the Papers on the table. He
was surprised that, previously to the introduction of
the Duke of Wellington -to Monsieur Villele, Mini-
sters were not aware that Spain was to form a pro-
minent part in the discussions at Verona. He had
before him the speech of the Duke de Montmorency,
in which he expresses his surprise that Ministers
should have said they were not aware that Spain
would form a prominent part in the discussions, be-
cause their attention was drawn to the fact. From
all that be saw, he must come to the conclusion,
either that Ministers were the most egregious dupes
of the Allies, or that they had intentionally shut their
eyes, or that they were making a bad excuse rather
than to make no excuse at all ; or,. lastly, that they
were deceiving the Public, a charge which he should
be the last man in the world to make, unless lie could
substantiate it by unquestionable evidence. Monsieur
Montmorency stated that England knew the dispute
between Russia and the Porte was nearly settled, and
that sire, having stated that she would not interfere
respect to Italy, must have known that Spain
was almost the only thing left for discussion. He
also was much surprised that the Duke of \Veiling-
ton, after having seen the three questions put by
France, should say that he had no apprehension of
the invasion of Spain, and that the only apprehension
at the Congress was an attack by Spain on France.
if they had,entertained such apprehensions, they were
the most extraordinary he had ever known. Mr.
Canning had taken great credit to himself for his
success in the negoesation, and he appeared indig-
nant at the ridicule which was thrown on the instruc-
tions. Ile admitted that the Right Honourable Gen-
tleman was entitled to thanks for the part which he
had taken, but it was to the thanks of the French.:--
It was said that the exertions of the British Govern-
ment caused the Congress to break up without.coniing
to a joint declaration of war. Now, it vas pretty
evident that these Powers had sent Notes to their Mi-
nisters to depart from Madrid ; and if they were pre-
vented from making a joint declaration of war, all
their acts proved that thsy were ready to make sepa-
rate declarations, and therefore Spain could not be a
gainer. If it' could be shewn that any diminution of
the Power opposed to Spain was the result of the lite.
negociations, he should be glad to qualify anything
which he might have said; but if the prite of Eng-
lish neutrality was not the neutrality of the Allies, lie
could not see what good all these negociations, for
which thanks were required, had produced. What,
be would ask, would it be contended that Powers
who would send Notes in reprobation of a Constitu-
tion were not determined, if necessary, to support a
Power engaged in putting down that Constitution—a