Star.
London, England, 1815-02-22 00:00:00

P4IRLIitM.ENTARr PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE OF LORDS, FEBRUARY 21.
The second reading of the Scotch Trial by Jury Bill was, after
a few ohm:nations from Lords STAMM Pi and Euson, fixed for
Thursday next.

NAVAL ADMINISTRATION.

The Earl of DARNLEY, before- he should pro.
ceed on the Order of the Day in moving for the
Papers of which he had given notice, felt that he
should not do justice to the subject if he did not
take notice of the recent brilliant achievement of a
gallant Naval Officer (Captain Hope), which was
only one among a countless multitude which were
sufficient to prove, that whatever disasters or dis-
graces attended the progress of our naval exertions,
no blame was to be thrown either upon the officers
or the men, but that the whole rested with the un-
skilful and improvident arrangement of the Naval
.Administration. It happened, indeed, that the En-
'dymion was the only ship which had yet met the
Americans with any thing like an adequate tome ;
but the crew had not been obtained without the ex-
press solicitation and expostulation of the Cowman-
der. The Noble Lord (Melville) had exulted lately
in the statement, that the number of captures made
against America exceeded those which had been lost
to that Power. But considering the comparative
forces of the two countries, there was little room for
boast on that account. What he complained of, and
what the country had to complain of, was, the gene-
ral feebleness and inefficiency of the gun-brigs which
had been employed against the enemy, and which
afforded no chance of success, being.otten unable to
contend with the privateers of America. It was his
intention to move. first for an account of the number
and force of all the ships of war, under those of the
line, employed during. the contest with America up
to the year 1814, distinguishing in their crews the
boys from the men. There was another object to
which he was desirous of directing the attention of
their Lordships, namely, the construction of our
ships, in which this country, by some strange means
or fatality, was confessedly inferior, not only to the
Americans and the French, but even to Russia, and
other maritime nations. Upon that head he should
move for Copies of all correspondence with the Ad-
miralty respecting the construction of vessels, and
also Copies of Reports made to the Admiralty hoard
on the same subject. The unhappy fate of the Ma.
cedonian, the Java, and some other ships, was clearly
owing to their being sent to sea in an unprovided
state, and exhibited a heavy charge against the Mi.
nisters of the Marine Department. Be should farther
move for-Minutes of the Court-Martial on Captain
Barclay; also, for a Statement of the Expenses in.
curved by building with American timber, in a Bri.
ash Dock-yard, the Psyche and Bronte frigates. It
was well known that the st. Lawrence, built on the
Lake Ontario, could never have been manned or ap-
pointed without the means supplied from the ships
of war and transports, sent from the Duke of Wel.
lington's army to America. He next adverted to
the unprotected state of the trade, especially on the
Cork station, which had been the subject of grievous
and general complaint. He believed the present
Administration had furnished the first instance of in-
btructions having been given to British Officers to
decline a combat with die enemy, yet this he would
assert had been done. On that subject too he should
move for the proper documents. He challenged the
Noble Lord to deny the fact, iihe could ; and it he
could not, he would leave it to the House to decide
whether the present Naval Administration was wor-
thy of any farther confidence
Lord MELVILLE was not aware that it was ne-
cessary for him to enter minutely into all that the
Noble Earl had advanced, especially as it was not
his intention to refuse the Papers called for, except
indeed one which he should presently take notice of.
Some serious charges had been preferred by the Noble
Earl—some respecting America, and others general.
No one was more ready than himself to afford infor.

•
Station, but surely neither the Noble Lord nor !AV
House could be prepared to enter on the examination
.of papers so diffuse and voluminous as thew which
the Noble Earl had named. He should, thowever,,
offer a f.Av words in answer to that Noble 'Earl. It
was urgtki. that the British shipsweraiiiferior.to those;
of America. That was a Charge almost pa vague
for notice But the Anieriain vessels were supplied
with picked OEM That was true. for the whole ma-1
rine population of the American States . vtaii.devoted
to that purpose, and it would be strange if they did
not take advantage of such a circumstance; whereas,
the British seamen were 5,1 dispersed as to be answer-
able to the various calls which diSPersed thenn over
the whole globe, and jrit.
„few, comparatively, had
been acting nn the ,tertcatt ibis* Ole British
ships, tliougt one all Manned withpioled sa;liars, were
yet so manned as best to answer the enlarged 6bjects
fur which they were. employed. At to tlik ihips
called American frigates, it .wa's . :Mere iiicli:ninte
fbr a few ships of. force enough to be ranlet of the
line. But because America had three or four 'ships
of that description, did the Noble LOrd infer, that no
British ships of inferior strength Should venture on
the American coasts ? ft was surely enough to have
a few applied to that purpose. But as to the con.
tempt expressed by the Noble Lord for that species of
force called gun-brigs, whatever the superior know-
ledge of the Noble Lord might be, gun-brigs had
been especially required by Sir A. Cochrane. As to
the construction of ships, it was a subject 6f 'bible
difficulty to decide on sometimes. It Was tree, in-
deed, that there was much room ftir ittiprotiiment
in the_. construction of ships ;.and the Commissioners
appointed by the Admiralty to inq bire. flub that
subject, bad made a report, which eras frinaliately
icted upon.
. l'heother parts of the Noble , speech were
answered by Lord blei.vitxr, and the motions, with
the exception of one (relative to the instructions to
COniminderi, Which was withdrawn), being put,
were severally agreed tp.

BRITISH TROOPS IN FOREIGN PAY.

Lord GRENVILLE, in calling the attention of
their Lordships to the subject of the Order. of the
PAY,. should cOOfige. hiMpelf to. two .Papers. . He
should Move, first, for an Account of the *number of
'oops en 'ployed 6tl the continent receiving British
Ply; arid nett, for a tiatethent of. the '44ff
ypu. the firit. it trust fie in.thek LOrd-
Zilfs' lecOlQuen, as it was dAply impressed upon
Iris -aqd Num tbafpf. the Public, that when the War
was terifiinatird antler circumstances 'so it 'minus and
exhilirating to all Europe, it was naturally expected
that the biridetiso so .b4vity Aill'uteri, yet so
fly bitinelsy:the Penfe of tlkrt tosntry, would
base in a time. Instead of that rw.elve months
and more had,ielapsed without „even any apparent
rogrcss. towards Abet kv.ent. lie was aware that
Ail present was not the proper time Tor entering at
largo op .thc discussion of those caplet,. which em-
ll-aced two . points of the utmost, importance. the
#uatroial 3041 political interests of the country. His
j,tard,ship thqt tor* a comprehensive. view of the sub-
ject/in its
.variotis relations, and concluded with aloe.
14.4 th4.1104411t1P040 already named. ,
I:lier..titri of. E having. no objection
jtkproduce the.,Papers>called for by the. Noble Baron,'
ihui /411 e, to my on the occasion. Whenever the
Noe st..ould come-fishes the subject would be pro.'
.perly .befote the House, he should be ready to itis.•
Ofy, ip stettry instance, the conduct of his Majesty's,
G9,Crl3lllollt. • • • • •• • •
_The blaiquis of LANSDOWNE approved of the!
xr &liners, of the Noble Earl to produce the Papers
required, by. Ms Noble Friend, and trusted that the
vtould ago° arrive when that Noble Earl would
have An opportunity .of fulfilling his engagemetn,l
to .make out the justification of his • Majesty's Mi.,
asters, against, the charges and objections which
nt present appeared to bear so hard against their!
conduct. lie ardently hoped that the Noble Earl:
would be able to thew that the armies on. the Con..
sineut in British pay, had been devoted to British
objects. .and upon principles and in a manner. mot cal-
culated to involve this ,country in contests, for which;
wither her interest, her character, nor her means
were inked.. . . .
The motions thenleing severally put, were agreed
to, and the House adjourned.