Star.
London, England, 1824-03-19 00:00:00


man, certainly did not fall behind the Hon. Gentleman in
'Military intention—(Laughter).—He did not wish to
pry further into. matters than was necessary, and by
some it might bethought that in what he was about to
say he was going teo far; but in cases of this nature, it
was the duty of Government to know what was going
on; else, bygiving way to too much secrecy in respect
to the conduct of individuals, they might, before they
could be sufficiently aware of it, become involved in
hostilities by the warlike conduct of their awn subjects.
He could assure the House, too, that lie would not re-
late the circumstances which they would presently hear,
if he were not in a condition to adduce most respectable
evidence of their authenticity. " Then, Sir, about the
middle of the month of last July, the heavy Falmouth
coach—(Roars of laughter)—yes, Sir, the heavy Falmouth
coach, in the month of last July, was observed to pro.
teed to its wonted destination with more than its usual
celerity—(Much laughing).—The coach contained two
passengers; the one a fair Lady of considerable dimen-
sions, the other a Gentleman, who was about to carry
the succour of bis person to the struggling Patriots in
Spain—(Continued laughter).—l am further informed,
and this interesting fact, Sir, can also be authenticated,
that the heavy Falmouth van, which Gentlemen doubt-
less are aware is constructed for the conveyance of
more cumbrous articles—not of the human species,
certainly—(Loud larghsng front all sides of the' House)
—was laden upon the same memorable occasion with
a box of most portentous magnitude—(Laughter).—,
Now, Sir, whether this box, like the flying chest of the
conjuror, possessed any supernatural properties of loco-
motion, is a point which I confess I am quite unable to
determine; but of this .1 am most credibly informed,
and I should hesitate long before I should state it to the
House, if the statement did net rest upon the most un-
questionable authority, that this extraordinary box did
contain a full suit of Spanish uniform, together with a
helmet of the most curious workmanship, and so far
beyond the usual size, that it exceeded all other hel-
mets spoken of in history, not excepting the celebrated
helmet in the Castle of Otranto—(Cheers and laughter).
The idea of going to the relief of a blockaded post in
a full suit of light horseman's equipment; was some-
what new, perhaps not strictly consonant to• modern
military operations. However, almost at' this time
the arrival of the promised-force of 10,000 men, which
never existed except on paper, was hourly expected,
and when the Gentleman and his box made their ap-
pearance, the Cortes were overwhelmed with joy, and
rubbed their hands with delight at these harbingers of
the long-promised aid. In fact, be knew nothing in
ancient or modern history that could at all compare
with the jay that was expressed on the occasion, except
in the play of The Rehearsal, which was written by the
Noble Lord's great ancestor, George, Duke of Bucking-
ham, when the two Kings of Brentford are informed,
66 sin,
" The army at the door, but in disguise,
" Entreats a word of both your Majesties !"
(Loud and continued Laughter).—Such must have been
the effect of the arrival of the Noble Lord. How he
was received, or v. hat effects he operated on the coun-
cils and affairs of the Corms by his arrival, he (Mr.
Canning) did not know. Things were at that juncture
moving too rapidly to their final issue. How far the
Noble Lord conduced to the termination in plumping
his weight into the sinking scale of the Cortes, was too
nice a question for him just now to settle—(C'heers and
Laughter). But it must be evident that by circumstances
like those to whicli he had alluded, the Government, if it
exercised common and necessary caution, was called upon,
without any appeal from the French Government, for
disavowal. It was not -for him to condemn the prin-
ciples and motives which led the Hon. Gentleman to
make that generous sacrifice of himself in the cause of
Spain; but that which he urged was, that if they would
have that neutrality on the part of the Government, they
must be content to be bound by the feelings, expressions,
and determinations of Government; nor ought they to
expect to be allowed individually to carry on war
against a Government with which their own was in
amity. In doing so they compelled their Government
to go fat ther than otherwise they needed, from the strict,
line of neutrality, and to say more than they would
otherwise say, in order to set the balance once disturbed
again even. There was another part of the question
upon which he differed from the Noble Lord whose •
Motion they were now discussing. The Noble Lord
insisted, that while Spain was in the occupation of
France, should any Spanish force be raised to send to
South America, that ought to be considered in all re-
spects as a French force, and as such treated by (ileac
Britain. Now, so far he would concede to the Noble
Lord, that this would be a question of degree. He
could imagine such an occupation of Spain by France
as would lead him to conjecture that it was for other
purposes than those professed by France; and he could
imagine, that if under such an occupation any very con-
siderable levies of Spanish troops were raised to be sent
against South America, it would be a strong indication
of that disposition on the part of France. But they were
to look at things as they now stood : there was nothing
in the condition of the French forces--nothing in their
distribution—nothing in the quality of their occupation
—nothing in the mode and conduct hitherto employed
as to them—nothing in the councils or the practice of
the French Government—nothing in the declarations of
the Spanish Government to lead to any inference that
the French Government had that intention. He could not
argue upon any case which stood in direct contradiction
to the views and policy of the French Government.
His answer would be—look at the papers on the table,
and it would be seen that the French Government closely
approximated to the views of the English with respect
to the Spanish American Colonies. With those who
would say, " I can't trust the French—l don't believe a
word of their assurances," there could be no argument
of any kind : no assurances of any sort could prevail
with them. He was sum that the French Government
looked at the question not precisely in that point of
view in which it was considered by the English Govern-
ment, because the relative interests were different; but
they viewed it in the same, and in no other light, with
the other Powers of Europe. As to the other appre-
hension entertained by the Noble Lord, it was useless to
discuss it. That any other Member of the European
confederacy could be put in danger by the present oc-
cupation of Spain, was a vain dread. It was not possi-
ble, from their situation or circumstances, that they
could by that circumstance be placed in greater danger
from the power of France:
" Stabant orantes pried transmittere cursumo
" Teadebsatque mamas rips illusions amore."
If the Noble Lord's motion were carried, he would find
from the papers produced the accuracy of everything
which he (Mr. Canning) had now advanced. Nor could
there be any immediate objection to it, as far as the
negative assurances of the French Government were in