Star.
London, England, 1814-11-09 00:00:00

prominent and peculiar importance;' he meant the
naval part of it. In the contest in which we were so
long engaged, out naval character attained a proud
and glorious height; but since engaged in the com-
paratively diminutive contest with America, it was
unhappily much deteriorated. hi contests with ships
of the same force our vessels were debated : the
causes of these disgraceful and injurious results called
for serious investigation. In a former Session he felt
it his duty to call the attention of the House to it,
and probably he would have to do so again. The
present state of affairs between this country and Ame-
rica should be more explicitly stated, before the
House was called upon for its support, as the Ad.
dress imported ; the attainment of Peace 'upon sate
and honourable terms he regarded but as words of
'Course. It would be for the Government to declare,
whether it were Meant to force America to such
ktegns as might seem fair and honourable tp us, or
rwhether a new Natter wand be. Wet Cot or whe-
ther the question of war now turned upon any oth
grounds without bringing under discussion our mari-
time rights ; and whether the Americans were dis.
posed to conclude peace without any of those unjust
calls upon them? These were topics upon which Par-
liament ought to be informed. He trusted the war
would not be protracted on account of any unwar.
rentable pretensions on the part of this country.' The
Noble Earl then adverted to the topic of the Slave
Trade, and seemed to express his surprise, that after
what passed on this subject, and the assurances which
were given, that no farther progress was made to.
wards effecting the so much desired object of the
Abolition. Upon the whole, it appeared to him,
that the present were very unfavourable circumstances
for calling for any thing like unqualified approbation;
and he felt he shduld be wanting in his duty to their
Lordships if l►e suffered these topics to go without
some observation on his part. With respect to the
important question of the naval administration of the
war with America, he particularly felt himself called
upon. At the same time, he earnestly wished some
person better able to do justice toahe subject would
come forward before the close of the Session, and
urge that enquiry which was so loudly called for.
Viscount MELVILLE felt hiniself called upon
to trouble their Lordships with a few remarks, it' con-
sequence of what fell from the Noble Earl, respect.
ing the Naval Administration of the war with the
United States.. He had• to complain that the Noble
Lord's charge was of so general a nature—so ab-•
stracted from all particulars, that he could scarcely
find any specific mode of reply. He wished to know
to what particular circumstances, events, or periods,
the Noble Lord alluded, - id;
his opinion, that the Nay,
country was not conducted
ought to be 1 He trusted
pet Wm to stoat it- lifer
charge of the Noble Earl,
most unqualified manner
of the war against America. _se (_ i.)
not deem that branch of the war so very badly con-
ducted, when it had brought, within a few hundred
men, 20,000 American seamen into our prisons.—
Was that a mark of misconduct? There were a few
other little facts of the kind to advert to.—When the
Noble Lord should bring forward his charges, he
hoped he would not put out of the consideration of
their Lordships, that very near 200 American ships
of war, or armed vessels, had been taken or destroy.
cd ; of these there were no fewer than 199. Of the
enemy's trading ships they had no documents exact-
ly to direct their calculations, but of these there were
no fewer than 900 taken ; to these, if the various other
descriptions of vessels were added, he had every rea-
son to hope that little less than 1900 were captured
in the whole. If it were then meant to say that the
croizers of this country had not done their duty, their
Lordships must know how these facts would
With respect to the protection of our trade, the rates
of insurance compared at certain periods, may throw
some light. How did that stand ? Notwithstanding
the numerous privateers ufAmerica, the means of pro-
tection afforded were such that the rate of insurance
in June last was rather lower than it was in the month
of June preceding the American war. Perhaps the
number of captures on the coasts of this kingdom
and Ireland was in the contemplation of the Noble
Lord:On this head the Noble Viscount (after glancing
at the comparative numbers of vessels respectively
taken in former wars between this country and
France,) observed, that he had taken some pains to
be informed as to the extent, and he found that the
number of them since the Peace of Paris was 172
these were of ships going to foreign ports under cir-
cumstances in which it was impossible for them to
sail with convoy. Now out of these 172 ships, over
which the Admiralty had no controul, no fewer than
94 had sailed and exposed the properties in direct
violation of the law. Of the ships which sailed with
convoy, there was scarce an instance in which corn.
plaints were not made by his Majesty's officers, of
ships deserting their protection, and exposing them.
selves to all the risks of capture. With respect to
the coasting trade, the whole number of vessels taken,
over whom the Admiralty had controul, did not ex-
ceed eleven ! From these plain statements it would
appear how far the Noble Earl's general charge was
founded or not. He could assure the Noble Lord that
his general inferences were totally inconsistent with
any intiamation he had ever received on the subject :
and that with respect to what he had alluded to rela-
tive to contests where the respective force was equal,
that the Noble Earl was misinformed. With respect
to the question as applying to the occurrences on the
Lakes of Canada, he could then afford no di►tinct or
satisfactory information, because no details had yet
arrived to enable his Majesty's Government to sub-
mit
any thing to their Lordships in an official shape.
All that he could say on the subject was, that when-
ever the Noble Lord should bring forward the en.
quii y, he should be perfectly prepared to state at all
times, as now, that with respect to a supply of naval
stores for thou particular service, it would be found

that all the demands, all the expectations, all the re-
quisitions from that part of the world, had not only
been complied with, but had been anticipated in every
instance, at least two fold (Rear, kettP I) beyond what
was required!' He would establish that the supplies
had been so furnished, and under these circumstances
•the Noble Lord was at full liberty to bring forward
his charges whenever he thought proper.
' Lord GRENVILLE considered that common
sense and observation only were necessary to perceive
-that the present contest .with the United States of
America had been productive of tesolts highly injuL
lions to the exalted reputation of this country, and
telling to the feelings of Englishmen. With respect
to the sufferings complained of by the merchauts, be
could not believe that representations upon reptestoL
tations would have been presented if there had bee*
no strong ground for remonstrance. We had sot.
gained more injury in our naval cba-act+et• froM the
prints of the prAmit- Ainerican War than-fibs
.tflose
of the preceding twenty years. He hoped that a day
would speedily arrive
.when the American contest
*Mild be deliberately and impartially examined in
detail. When such an examination should take place,
be wished that the conduct of the contest on our part
;sight be found worthy of approbation. Certain it
Was, however,, that the disasters which had befallen
oor ships on the Lakes, and the succeuful depreda-
tions of the American privateers on our commerce,
Ltd with the circumstance that no blow had
struck worthy of the great force of this
country, had excited a general feeling of regret and
indignation. In every quarter murmurs of discontent
end regret were heard. That this feeling was preva-
lent could scarcely be disputed. Whether it was just
he could not pretend to decide in a positive manner,
but from what he knew, however imperfect his in-
formation might be, it appeared to'him that he would
not be justified in expressing approbation of the man-
ner in which the struggle with the Americans had
been carried on. It was necessary to look at the
power of Great Britain, the force of her enemy, and
the results of the contest between them. In Lining
this, who mild hesitate to say, that the instruments
in the hands of Ministers had not produced effec's
'adequate to what might reasonably have been hoped
from• their strength ? His Lordship waited anxiously
for a detailed investigation of the subject, which he
Should assist with the impartiality of a Judge. He
did not wish to prejudge the question, but facts were
so obvious and glaring, that it was impossible to dis-
guise them. With the largest navy-upon the ocean,
Great Britain had .been insnited, her ports had been
actually blockaded, and her commerce greatly in.
iured - American

. preponderance
waters which the British nation had a right to (spec',
both from its resources and the profusion with which
it bad poured them forth, for the purpose of giving
full effect to the warlike measures which Ministers
might adopt. If any thing could have persuaded him
to a different opinion on this subject, it would have
been the eloquent speech of the seconder of the Ad-
dress. He congratulated the House on the acquisition
of such a Member. As to the general question al the
war with the United States, while oar unjust Orders
in Council were in force, he could never consider the
war altogether just on the part of this country ; but
when they had been repealed, there was but one voice
on the subject. No one was willing to give up our
maritime rights. As to the present negotiations, no
information was given, and, indeed, nr.ne was to be
expected, either relating to those at Ghent or at
Vienna. It appeared to his Lordship, that the prin-
cipal cause of the war with America being now de-
stroyed, by the termination of the grand contest in
Europe, nothing could be easier than the adjustment
of the differences between the two countries. It was
surely not necessary to continue the waste of human
blood for the sake of a mere abstract question, which,
in all probability, that sanguinary proceeding could
never terminate. There might be impediments to
the negotiation of which he was not aware, but cer-
tainly the language of the Speech was not of the, most
pacific tendency. If, indeed, there were substantial
reasons for the continuance of the war with America,
they should have been stated in a public declaration.
If the object of the war was not changed, the House
would still feel bound to support it ; if, according to
report, the object of the war was no longer the same,
this should have been stated. He would say nothing
positive on this subject, but the point ought to have
been explained to Parliament. The statement of the
Address of the readiness of the British Government
to make peace on honourable terms was a mere com-
mon-place, as it was of course the duty of every Go-
vernment to do so. The war, indeed, before our Or-
ders in Council, was a war of aggression on the pet
of the Americans, but the object now in continuing it
ought to be peace, and not punishment of our enemy.
This point was the mote worthy of particular atten-
tion, because the war appeared not to be pursued with
the view with which it was originally undertaken.—
Such a calamity as the war which now afflicted this
country, ought not to exist without some vci y poi+ er-
ful cause. It was not to be treated with indifferenoe,
nor were any exertions to be spared to put an end to
it. The Address furnished no information as to the
grounds on which the war was still carried on. His
Lordship next adverted to that part of the Address
which mentioned the capture of Washington.—
The Address appeared to exult in the events which
had taken place there, and which had cast a dreadful
stain on British glory. He admitted that the enter.
prise itself was one of the most brilliant that had oc.
curred during the present contest, and he deeply Te•
gretted the fall of the brave Commander who had led
the troops to the glorious field of conquest ; but he
no less lamented, that the same of that Commander

. , . .., O-
ed, on which he grounded jured by American cruizers and privateen. a the
Laval Administration .of the'Lakes of America our naval force had beta Wonted,
:ted in the manner in which it and anew disgrace inflicted upon our flag. It needed
ed their Lordships would p00...430 great *focal lagocity to see that the•
-
..
lo
him its ?tor ter thernetv..-tiorati vf-defonditsg Canada-seas brebta ft =
:arl. who had censured in the lion of the Lakes. No military. force could otherwise
er the Naval Administration be adequate to the purpose. Yet no proper measure
mica. He (Lord M.) could bad been taken to insure that preponderance on those