Star.
London, England, 1802-05-15 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTART PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FRIDAY, MAY 14.

The Bill for abolithing the Praftice of Bull-baiting and null-
running was ordered to be read a fecond time next Wednefday.
The Military and Marino Mutiny Bills went through the
Committee, and the Report ordered to be received on Monday.
The Commitment of the Militia and the Lottery Bill; the
Committees of Supply and Ways and Means for granting and
making provifice for a further Supply to his Mafetty, were de-
ferred till Monday.
Sir W. GIART brought in the Kent Infurance Company Bill.
Read a firft, and ordered to be read a fecund time this day fen-
night.
The Bill to prevent frauds and gees in the file and admea-
furement of foot, allies, and other articles of manure, was read
a third time and paffed.
Mr. BAKE% brought in a Bill for regulating the admeafure-
ment of coals, in London and Weftminfter.—Read a Mt, and
ordered to be read a fecond time on Monday next.
The Coventry Bridge Bill was read a third time and gaffed,
Mr. &max.:. moved for an Account of the Q!acdty of Bri-
t& Plantation Sugar and Rum imported Into Great Britain for
oat, year, ending the sth of Aprll bat. Ordered.
Mr. ALZIANDIMbrought up the Report of the Polt-Ofike.
the PoR-Hate Duty Bill, and the frith Indemnity Bill, which
were feverally ordered to be read a third time an Monday.
Certain Accounts were prefentcd trimly, to the Eaft India
Company.—Ordered to lie on the table.
The kith Sugar Drawback Bill was read a fecood time, and
committed for Monday.

DETINITIVIt TRIATT OF FIUM

The Order of the day being read for retuning
the adjourned debate on the .Addrefs to his Ma-
jelly on the conclu(ion of Peace, the Speaker read
the Addrefb as propofed and moved by Mr. Wind-
ham, and as amended by Lord Hawkeibury.

Sir WILLIAM Yowl° commenced the difcnffion
by feveral compliments on the purity of the mo-
tives, and the patriotifm of the fentiments, by
which his Right Hon. Friend (Mr. Windham),
and the Gentlemen who fupported the Addrefs,
were influenced. To that Addrefs, as originally
propofed, he felt himfelf called upon to give his
decided fupport, for it appeared to him to be the
refult of the molt ample and impartial review of
the conditions of the Treaty, as they actually
af-
fefted, or were likely to affeet Great Britain in a
political and commercial view. He was jullified
in laying, with the full concurrence of the Houfe,
that pro laftious motives could be imputed to the
Gentlemen who did not view the Definitive Trea-
ty in the fame favourable light as his Majefly's
Minifiers ; and their condo& more deferved the
tl anks of the public, as their objea was to call the
attention of the Country to a true retire of the dam
gers of its prefent fituation, to thew to the public
the precipice on which they flood, and to entreat
his Majeßy to direa his Minifters to watch with
the uunofl caution and vigilance the aftual awful
crifis of affairs. The Addrefs evidently did not go
too far in advifing the King to adopt the line of
cnndua recommended, as not only the Rate of
France, but that of Spain, was neceffary to become
the fubjea of confideration in purfuing wife and
vigilant =Aires, and it was obvious that the
peace afforded no fatisfaltory grounds of real fe-
curity,finee Mini tiers themf.lves acknowledged the
imperiousneceffity ofkeeping up in the time Of tran-
quillity a yea and expenfive military defenfive force.
After animadverting upon the material difference
between the Preliminary and Definitive Treaty,
although it was Rated in the Noble Lore's amend-
ment, that the latter was founded upon the balls
of the former, he proceeded to fhew the danger
which at all times threatened Italy, from the con-
verfion of the Cifalpine Republic into an inftrn-
ment of France. With refpea to the new Conai-
tution of Malta, he could fay, from his own expe-
rience, that it was completely inadequate to the
end held out, and that fo far from the inhabitants of
Malta being Capable of making part of the new
order of Knights, very few of them, and he was
enabled to fpeak pofitively, for he had refided in
this Wand ten weeks, were adequate to perform
with propriety menial offices of a higher fort. The
recent fyßem of Government wits under every cir-
cum fiance a molt difgracefitl event to the Order of
Malta, and pregnant with alarm and danger. He
next confide red our relation with France in the
Weft Indies, particularly in St. Domingo, in the
Levant, the Mediterranean, and in the Eaft Indies,
and expreffed, in Rrong terms, his apprehenfion of
the perils to which the new influence and acquifi-
tions of France in thole parts would lead. What
could not be paffed over in filence was, that France
was more to be dreaded from all there additional
advantages, as the would improve and extend them
by the very nature, aaivity, and power of a mili-
tary Republic. The confequences which were
likely to arife from the Definitive Peace, in a corn.
mercial fenfe, were not left alarming than in a po-
litical view ; for fuch were the benefits accruing
to the French. Republic from the vat extent of
her coals, and the non-renewal of former treaties,
that it required every effort, every exertion of all
our capital, all our ingenuity, all our induftry to
counteraa them. He was however free to con-
lets that the Peace, fuch as it was, ought to be
obferved with every poffible teflimony and
del sonasation of good faith ; but the country
could not be too fizongly or ton frequently remind-
ed of the dangers it had to encounter. Should
another war occur loon, we flould have to meet
an enemy with means, refources, and forces much
fuperior to thofe difplayed on the late contell. Af-
ter dwelling-for Tome time on the application of
the political maxims of Tacitus, Livy, and Mon-
tefquieu, in his Ufa), on the Decline of the Ro-
man Empire, to the prefent crifis of affairs, be con-
cluded with obferving, that in confequence of the
able fpeeches already delivered in fupport of the
-original addrefs, he fhould trouble the Houfe no
longer, but give it his cordial affent.
Lord CAITLMAOII." Sir, as the inkjet now
under the confidemtion of the Houle has been al-
ready very ably and very fully argued, I thall not
trouble you with confideriag the quettion in de-

tail, but rather treat it as a whole, with its gene- and regulations, may be taken at twelve hundred
ral and probable elle& upon the views and interefts. tlionfand Byres ; and, making every allowance for
of this country. The difference between the Pre- the defalcations occafioned by the abolition of cer-
liminary Articles and the Defiaitive Treaty of lain Longues, and by the confiscation of the pro.
Peace has been much preffed and haw upon by perty of Commanderies, and the ettates of the
my Right Hon. Frierd (Mr. W:ndharn) and the Order during the late conteft, we are not without
Gentlemen who have argued in favour of the ors- reafonable grounds for believing that there will,
ginal addrefs. That a difference does exift, and after every dedunion,ftill exift funds to the amount
a material variation, between them, I readily ad- of about one hundred and twenty thoufand pounds
mit, but I can by no poflible means bring myfeif fterling. I muff alfo remark, that the duties of
to believe that the difference is filch as to have juf. the port, and the revenues of the ifland in gene-
titled us in refuting to proceed in the Negotiation, ral, may be conliderably encreafed by new regula-
and in precluding ourfelves from acceding to the tions, and that there is at this moment an accu-
Definitive Peace. In this point of view lam in- mutate(' furplus in the Treafury, of the petition
clined to confider the fubjeet, and I muff obfeive, of the Grand Mader, which was refuted by the
that the alterations are not, as they affee the Con- late Emperor of Ruflia when he filled that office.
tinent, fuch as would bear us out in renewing the When, therefore, the Hon. Gentleman talked of
contell. In adverting to the acquifitions made by the infufficiency of the funds for carrying into ef-
France, the firft that ftrikes me as an objet of the feet the new arrangement, however, I may fay,
greatek confideration, is the poffeflion of Loui- that it is not fuch as that promifed by the Prelimi.
fiana ; becaufe it is pectiliarly that kind of accef- nary Articles, yet it is certainly one to which the
fion, which in a colonial view, and confequently funds are not fo very inadequate asGentlemenfeem
in a maritime light, relates to, and is intimately to think. In dwelling on the vaft addition to the
conneeed with the interefts of this country. It is, power and influence of France en the coaft of
indeed, that fpecies of acquifition which more than South America, I cannot but think that thofe
who fupport the original Addrefs have gone too
any other should be looked to by us as a primary
objeet. But, Sir, however ffrongly I feel the far, and that they have puttied their arguments
force of this remark, I muff in jultice obferve, that to an excefs. In urging that the boundary,
the polfeflion of Lottifiana does not fo far add to as fettled by the river Arawari, gives to the
the difference of fecurity arifing from the change French the command of the river Amazon,
between the Preliminary Articles and the Defini. they pledge themfelves to thew that the Ara.
the Treaty, as to render it wife to rejeet all paci- wars has the command of the Amazon, a cireum.
fication. In the difquilitions and refearches which ° (lance altogether impoffible, from the relative
lii-
have taken place on this particular fubjea, lam tuation of the two rivers to the equator. I Mall
now, Sir, with the permiffion of the Houle, confider
not a little furprifed that one thing has efcaped
the penetration and fagacity of thofe Gentlemen' what has been the fuccefs of the war, and what
who aka to the polreffion of Louifiana by France, has been our compenfation and indemnity. And
on the grounds fpecified in the treaty of Utrecht. I fir}, let me deny that any indemnity, however
Although it was provided by that Treaty, that no I great, can be fufficient—that any compenfation can
part of Spanilh America should go to France, yet I be adequate, at the conclution of the molt fuccefs-
they feem to have forgotten that Louifiana did fill wan. We looked for general TecnritY, and in
not then belong to Spain, but to France, and that , afctrtaining what we have have gained, I can-
confiftently it cannot, by virtue of its prefent ac- j not, better advert to the points of our fecurity,than
ceflion, he viewed as forming any breach or viola- by recurring to three cafes as Rated by my Right
tion of the Treaty of Utrecht. But it is faid, I Hon. Friend near me (Mr. Pitt). Our great
points of fecurity were to be obtained, ill, by
t 4 Are we to acquiefce in every new encroachment I
abolifhing thofe principles which threatened the
of France ? n. we tamely to fubmit to an un- .
fubverrton of our Conflitution and Liberties; adly,
warrantable extent and increafe of dominion and °
influence ?'"fo this I can only anfwer—we ought by rendering them too weak to prove dangerous;
to be particularly an eious to give to Europe. and andedly,by making the enemy who profefd them
:lei mi. too impotent to praaife them with effeet. Our fe-
to this country, every proof of our firm el
nation to cultivate the Peace which has been con- curity arifes out of all thefe points taken together,
eluded ; every solid teltimony and affurance of our, and when we talk of 'the principles profeffed *by'
the enemy, let me ask, do we now hear of plant-
perfeverance to improve the prefent Rite of tran-
quility ; every mark of our difpotition to render Mg the tri-coloured ftandard on the banks of the
it fecure and permanent. But I will add, -if 'Thames ?* Do we 'hear the French fpeak of this
.: o France continues to act as the haat], bet country but as of the•belt model of liberty, and
the figning of the Preliminary Articles . as holding out the belt example of rational free-
conclefion of the Definitive Treaty, that I;doni ? Slut fuppofing they even now entertained
a cafe there can be no juft expeaation that
thefe principles, have they any hope of diffafing*
,
the peace of the Continent, or the maritime peace, I them with fuccefs throughout this-country t NFu
will he long preferved.—[Here a general cry of I Sir, the novelty of the doßrine is over r the dan-
' hear! hear! refounded through the Houfe, in which gars and calamities it produced are yet before us.
the voice of Mr. Pitt was particularly diffinguith. Right Hon. Friend has indeed Paid, that he
ed.:l—Having thus Rated my opinion, with re- •faould look upon the relloration of Monarchy in*
fpett to the difference which hay taken place be. France, as the hell tell of the deffruaion of thefe
tween the Articles of the Preliminary Treaty and principles, but he never argued that it was Mo-
thole of the Definitive Treaty, in a fummary I narchy alone which could give us fecurity. In
way, I now touch upon fume further changes •. this conluet he fubjeeted htmfelf to no charge
between them. One of no fmall importance is of incontinency, for he wifely varied his means
unqueftionably that which has been effeeted in with circumftances, and although the accom-
regard to the Wand of Malta, and which in a
plifliment of • one particular objeß would, have
military point of view, as its fituation relates to' been more gratifying to him, yet he did not,
when that failed, give up all other confiderations
Egypt and to Italy, is an objeet of confiderable
which might ultimately' lead to the fame end. Our
magnitude. I do not, Sir, however rank Malta
to highly as to its commercial advantages, for fecurity has alfo rifen out of the tranfaetions and
I cannot think that we are in want of naval confequences of the war. • Although it cannot be
Rations and of ports in the Mediterranean; and denied that France has been very much aggran
when I inveftigate its real inti infic value, lam dized, yet competing France on the Continent
with our maritime power and acquifitions, I think
inclined to fay, calculating the great expence
our eftabliffiments there would put us to, that we I (hall be able to thew that our trifular fecurity is
are better without than with it. But then Malta 1 greater than the Continental fecurity of France.
was, according to the Preliminary Articles, to The power and influence of France on the Conti-
have been made perfealy and abfolutely indepen- nent, if not dreadful, are at leaft unfatisfattory ;
dent, and an arrangement of that nature was to but whatever apprehensions may be entertained
have been provided and carried into full effee. of, whatever dangers and difaftrous effeets may
I own it does not appear to me that fuck an ar- adult from, that power and influence, they are at
rangement has been made, but let us for a moment I prefent too diftant, too remote, too much fubjeet
confider the plan which is fuhftituted for it. It is I° to (peculation and to the vicifiitudes of all human
objetted that, in the new Settlement of Malta, the h affairs, for ns to contemplate them with any degree
Funds are inadequate to provide for the Order of of certainty. Bat looking to the prefent relative
f
Knights as they are to exit ; and undoubtedly situation of both countries—to the Continental
the firft queftion which profents itfelf is, to after- power of the one, to the maritime power of the
fain the amount of the Funds, fuch as they arc, or other—there is no cable for alarm, no fubjea of
will probably be; but before I enter into any en-1 anxiety or pain that can refult from the compa-
quiry on this head, allow me to obferve, that I rifon. I am Corry, Sir, that my Right Hon.
cannot give my arrant to the objection made by Friend oppofite to me, in fpeaking of the power
my Right Hon. Friend on the other fide of the of France, fpeaks of it with a timidity; calculated
Houk, that it would be difgraceful to the Order to lower our own confidence and tendino to im-
to admit, as it is ffipulated in the Definitive Trea- pair our own dignity. If I were now to enquire
on what principle we should aft in order to te-efta-
ty, one half of the garrifon to confift of native
Maltefe. Such a flipulation does not contribute, blifh our influence on the Continent, I (twilid not
in my mind, either direetly or indirealy, toalte dif- hefitate to fay, that we ought to aft upon the prin.
grace of the Order, fur it certainly canbe tip dif- eiple giiitg to France maritime refources and
honour to the pure} fentimehts of chivalry to per. Colonial advantage's. There is not in the adoption
form military duty with the natives, of an Ifland Of this principle to much to he feared as finite per-
which they and the Knights pofrefs and are bound , lons may be inclined to think there is in it, if mi.
to defend together. As to the Funds, of which fo nutely inveftigatcd, any thing contrary to the real
great A deficiency was laft night complained of by and belt interefts of this country. From the mo-
a Right Honourable Gentleman, (Mr. Grenville) ment that France is enabled to acquire colonial
it may not be altogether improper to fet the and maritime refources, the his more than ever
Right Honourable Gentleman right in fume of to dread the occurrence of hoftilities ; (be has from
his Ilatements. He forgot, Sir, to add to the that moment more juft and ferious caufes to fear
Funds, as he then rated them, the poffeillons of war. Let us, in order to form something like a
the Knights of the new Longues that are to be eorrea eftimate of the relative Rate of France and
created—he omitted to add the new to the old re.. Great Britain in this refpee, examine the Rate of
venues of the different Commanderies. Taking the: their trade and commerce. Our exports have,
Funds as they are allowed to exift,accordingaci the during the war, been encreafed from twenty.four
belt authorities, I find their amount to be not lefs to forty-three millions, and lour imports from
than fix millions of livres, or nearly three hundred eighteen to twenty.four millions ; our tonnage
thoufand pounds, eaclufive of the penfion granted , has accumulated from one million fix hundred
to the Grand Manor of the Order. The reve-; thoufand to two millions fix hundred thoufand
faun arifiug in the Wand itfelf, from various fonrces ' tons while our feamen employed in the mere
. • .