Star.
London, England, 1801-02-03 00:00:00

review of the prefent fituation of this country, cont.'
pared with what it was a year ago, it was hardly
poflible to conceive what could he adduced to op-
pok fuch an inquiry. France from being compa.
ratively humbled, from having a vietonous and
well difciplined foe to combat with, had laid her
enemies at her feet ; had carried her conquering
arms into the heart of Italy, then in poireffion of
our A I iies,and had diCtatt.d the terms of an armiftice
almolt at the gates of the capital of Auftria. It
was in this Rate of aggrandifement and of triumph.
when fhe WAS prepared to turn her arms againft
this country etch:timely, that the Houfe was called
upon to pledge itfelf without examination to the
fupport of Mtnifters in a new cont.eft. It was to
be recolleCted too that in 1780, it had not been
thought neceffary particularly to interfere, when a
convention fiw.ilar to the prefent was entered into,
and from that time the principle on which it was
adopted had gradually ceafed to be an objet of,
material intereft. At prefent indeed it was revived,
but the fulleß confideration was requifite before
it was determined " to cut the knot by,
the !word." The Honourable Member then
adverted to certain events that took place under
Elizabeth, and from them drew an inference
in favour of the argument he held on the fubjet.
Having •
notice of the ftrong affertions with regard to
the long-eftablifhed and undoubted nature of the
right in queftion. On the principle that this was
really the cafe, which he did not feel inclined to
deny, it was of confequence recognifed in former
treaties betwixt this country and ;the Northern
Powers. Thefe powers, however, at prefent pro.
felled to regulate their convention on the principle
of former treaties; and it was proper that thefe
profeflions fhould be put to the tell by means of an
inquiry. The queftion betwixt this country and
Ruins, and betwixt this country and the other
Northern Courts, was befides very diftinet in its
nature. In the cafe of the former it related to a
pretended claim on a particular ifland, and in the
other it referred to a mifunderfianding refpeiffing a
long-eftabliflied right.
The Honourable and Learned Number next pro-
ceeded to view this difpute in all its feveral rela-
tions, as conflated with contraland goods, with
the doEtrine of free bottoms making free goods,
and with the various definitions of the nature of
a blockade. He prefented a view of the difcuf-
fions which have taken place, and the opinions
which have prevailed on each, and inferred that
every thing in the nature of the difpute requires a
cool invelbgation. On the fuppofition that it
flan be finally refolved to go to war, he pointed
out the little comparative value of what we have
to expe& from the poffeffion of thefe powers,
when controlled with the vaR exertions and facri-
hces neceffary to mair.tain this new contell. In
the prefent Rate of the country, threatened as it
was with the whole force of France delivered
from her enemies, it was to be reflelted on with
coolnefs before our fyftem of war was extended.
Thefent was a moment rather to appeafe than
to inflame, rather to deftroy the fources of anci-
ent animolity than to kindle hatred againft us
among Rates hitherto conneeted with us in friend.
ly intercourfe. He concluded, by preffing. on the
attention of the Houfe the necellity of fenous re-
&pion, before their fupport was pledged to mea-
tures on the propriety of which they were hardly
prepared to decide.
The Soticivox Grimm. !poke next. He,
confidered that the prefent was a crifis of fuch a
nature as to have precluded all diverfity of fend-
matt, and anticipated that even thofe accuftomed
to oppofe the general meafures of Adminiftration
would have concurred in the motion for the Ad-
drefs. It had been Rated, that the prefent was a
moment of difficulty and danger. If it was fo, it
called for a proportional exertion of energy and
vigour, to fupport thofe long eftablifhed rights
which a formidable confpiracy was railed to de.
ftroy. But we were not now, it was alledged, in a
fituation to affert thofe rights, becaufe doubts yet
exifted as to their propriety, their expediency, or.
their juffice. It was of importance to enquire into
the foundation of thole doubts, and to afk when
they arofe in the prefent difpute ? If the opinion
of any individual in this country, at all competent
to judge of the affair, had been required to Rate
on the day previous to the figning of this convent
lion, whether he entertained any doubt whether
thefe rights were founded on an antient ufage, or
whether they were intimately connected with the
fundamental interefts of the country, it is contrary
to all probability to fuppofe that a finale doubt
would have been entertained on the fubjed. The
doubts then which had arifen fubfequent to the
fignature, were doubts fuggefted not by enquiry
and the examination of the accurate autho-
rities, but fpringing from party, or originating
from fear. Such language, however, was calcu-
lated to have a very unfavourable operation, by
leading the confederated powers to fuppofe that
we were afraid to affert our antient rights. It
wap of conkquence to ails the Honourable Gen-
tleman (Mr. Grey), to tell the Houfe when fuels
doubts had previoully occurred. Had they oc-
curred to any of the molt virtuous or enlightened
Adminiftrations which bad ever adorned the hit'.
tory of this country ? Had it ever occurred to Earl
Chatham during his glorious and tuccefsful career?
Never ; and In far was that great Raterman from
ever propofing to yield up this right, that he was
complained of by the Northern Powers for having
enforced it with unufnal vigonr. If the Hon.
Gentleman was doubtful of the juftice of this right,
it was lingular that he had never previcoußy Rated
thefe doubts to the Houk' bat had deferred
bringing them forward till a confederacy was
formed, whole objefe was to wren it from us by
force. After this, the Learned Gentleman en-
tered at great length into an anfwer to what had
been advanced by the laft fpeaker, and contended
that it would be highly inexpedient to give up the
right is queftion in the prefent circumßances of
the country.
The Learned Gentleman next contended, that
the blow which this confederacy teemed to midi.
tate, was aimed not only at our maritime lope-
riority, but even at our national exigence. To
wiard again!! and ward a that blow, a regard

both to the juftice of our eaufe and the rnainte-P
name of our rights loudly called upon us to take .
every precaution. How then could the Addrefs
be oppofed which promifed that the necelfary
meafures of precaution fhould be adopted ? The
Honourable Gentleman, however, who propofed
the amendment, had made a fpeech in fupport
of it, which was calculated to excite defpondency
in the country, and which fecmed to be addreffed
to the fears, not to the wifdom and good fenfe of
the Houfe. He was far, indeed, from imputing
fuch intentions to the Honourable Gentleman ;
for fuch intentions would argue the extreme of
folly or treachery. Yet thc tendency of his
arguments went to raife doubts refpeding our
refources, and to damp the fpirit of thc
country, in which, if there arguments could be
fuppoied to fucceed, would: they nut frulirate
our means of providing for our fecarity, while they,
encouraged, the hopes and magnified the power of
the enemy ? If the Gentlemen opponte him were
not prepared to ad a manly, they Iholild at lealt
endeavour to as a continent part; and not be at
variance between the objeds they profefs and the
means to be employed for their attainment. It was
his with that the higher orders of the country would
imitate the fober fortitude of the inferior elafs of
the people. The latter felt real diftrefs from. the
burthens and privations to which the expenses of
the war aid the prefent fcarcity expofed them : but
they fupported both with exemplary patience and
in lubminive lilence ; while the upper claffes, whom
no fuch (offerings could approach, were torturing
their imaginations to dikover inftances of calamity
and diftrefs over which they might eloquently la-
ment. Such mock lamentations would ill fupply
the means by which France and thofc who united
in her hollility againfl this country were to be re-
filled. That refinance, to be effedual, mull be i
upheld by fortitude, vigour and perfeverance ; and
as thefe were recommended in theAddrefs,itthould
have his moil cordial fhpport.
Mr. TIEIKEY Paid, that had the Learned Gen-
tkman abilained from the latter part of his fpeech,
he thould not have troubled the Houfe with a tin-
gle obfervation ; but he could not remain (lent
after hearing the lung train of mifreprefentations
in which, that Learned Gentleman had indulged,
and the artful arguments by -which he attempted
to inflame the minds of the Houfe and of the
Country againft his Honourable Friend (Mr.
Grey,) by imputing to him fentiments which his
Honourable Friend had never uttered. He would
here appeal to the candour of the Houfe, and to the
amendment of his Honourable Friend, and then
defy the Learned Gentleman to point out a fin-
gle word in it which had any tendency to excite
defpondency, or to facrifice the juft rights and
liberties of En liftmen. Were Gentlemen on
his fide of the lioufe to be told that they
.dealt
in nothing but difpiriting pidures of the melan-
choly (late of the nation, by which they depreffed
the fpirit of the people, while they increafed the
hopes of the enemy, beCaufe, after being deceived
during eight years by every promife made, and
difapposnted in every enterprise undertaken by
Miniiters, they, at the dole of thefe eight years
of a ;Waitrons and difgraceful war, refuted, with-
out Come previous enquiry, to continue to entruft
the remaining refourees of the country to thofe
hands by which they had hitherto been fo !home-
fully rnifapplied, or improvidently lavithed ? As
to the quellion of the maritime rights which we
claiitied, and which the Confederacy teemed de-
termined to difpute, he only withed that the Houk
might paufe and examine whether thefe rights
might be furrendered without vitally affeding the
interefts of the country, or whether the queftion
concerning them wasnot now prematurely brought
into difcuflion and difpute The Houfe was called
upon to come to avote on this delicate and implicat.
ed fubjea before any documents to guide theirdeci-
lion had been laid on the table. The Right Hon.
Gentleman has indeed promifed to produce papers,
and told the Houfe that he had made up his mind
ppon the queftion ; but as the Houfe had not the
fame means of forming a judgment, he trufted they
would flare his feelings, and not alfent to the Ad-
drefs in its prefent form. The Learned Gentle-
man had obferved, that the lower claffes of the
people (offered much, but that they (offered with-
out &murmur of enmplaint or difcontent. It was
true they did—but did not the middling and upper
claffes of the community Coffer alfo ? Was not their
pride humbled by the privations they mutt Cub-
ism to, inlowering the eflablithrnents tranfmitted
to them by their fathers ? Yet they are accufed of
indulging in idle lamentations, and this accufation
is made an an Engin }ionic of Commons, who
have already Coffered fo forcly from the war,
while perminion is denied them to a& why, and
for what, are further facrifices to be deemed necef-
Cary ? If an attempt is made to Chew the country
the fatal confequences of blindly perfevering in
the mad conteft in which Miniften have Involved
it, thole who make the attempt artaccufed of sid-
ing, not only in eppofition to Government., but
almoft in league with the enemy. The blind con-
fidence which the Houfe uniformly repofed in the
prornifes and the projelis of miniftersi would in-
evitably accelerate the ruin of the country; yet, if
it were allowed to be examined, it would appear
that they did not poffefs a tingle claim to fuch
confidence. The Hou. Gentleman then proceeded
to thew how miferably the War Department had
been concluded by a Right Hononrable Gentle-
man (Mr. Dundas), for whom that office had
been exprefsly erected. On his meafures attended
nothing but difgraee : box if we are so fight on,
why not permit-us to fight under better aufplces ?
Was that Right Honourable Gentleman to con-
tinue lavithing the treakre and the blood of the
country with the moft perfed apathy, the molt
callous in difference hosiery of onkr ! order 1)
—upon which
The Sr aria interfered, and raid he felt it his
duty to admonith the Honourable Gentleman that
fuch language was irregular and unparliamentary.
Mr. TIUNIY allured the Houle that he meant
no perfonal imputation of inhumanity to the Right
Honourable Gentleman (for his (ukeptibility of
humane feelings was well known), he only in.
tended to obferve that the official conduit of that
Right Hon. Gentleman, efpccially with regard to

. •
die Dutch tpeditiort, wore the appearance of
being utterly callous to the miferies it had pro-
duced. Mr: Tierney concluded by obferving, that
it was the drift of the amendment to place our re-
maining refources in Ilan& more capable of em-
ploying them, and be Ihould give it his molt de-
cided fupport.
Mr. SECRETARY DUNDAS faid, the Hon. Gen-
tleman who fpoke lafl had very often of late made
life of very peevifh, irritating, hard, long-legged
words towards him ; he was ready to fupport any
meafure he had ever advifed, from a confcientious
certainty that he had given filch advice from the
pureft motives. As to 'be queßion of the Armed
Neutrality, during
.the American war, it was to be
remembered that it came on at the very end of
the war, and after this the country was entirely
exhaufted, which made it a very different queition
to what it was at the prefent moment. But it was
evident for what purpofe the Honourable Gentle-
man had introduced it, which was clearly to draw
the attention of the Houfe from the queftion now
before it. Honourable Gentleman had ac-
cufed him of being callous ; and he was fo callous,
he, allowed, as not to permit the ill-natured lan-
guage of the Honourable Gentleman to put him
out of temper, depending alone on the rectitude of
his own intentions, and difregarding the clamour
endeavoured to be raifed againft thofe meafures
he had recommended or fupported.
Mr SULRIDATII." I fhould only, Sir, have
troubled you with a few words upon the prefent
occafion, if it had not been for what has fallen
from the Right Hon. Gentleman oppofite me,
and from the Learned Gentleman near him.
It is not for sue to inquire how far it is Par-
liamentary to alert that any Hon. Member
riles not to (peak to a queflion, but to miflead
the Houfe. But whether that be a right
method to purfue or not, it is a fpecies of
manmuvre pradifed by no one fo often and fo
fuccefsfully as by the Right Hon. Gentleman.—
By a kind of humour that is not natural to him,
and by a jocularity, he does not feel, he endeavours
to divert the Houfe from the impreffion made by
the fpeech of my Hon. Friend. I have always
remarked, and the Hoak may take it for an in-
variable rule, that he never feels fo fore as when
hefeems to be in abundant fpirits and quite de-
lighted. The Right Hon. Gentleman thinks,
that my Hon. Friend avoided all argument upon
the fubjed ; with great fubmiffion, I think he
Rated diftinEtly the purpofe for which he rote.
He declared, that he fhould not have fpoken at
all, had it not been for the left part of the
Learned Gentleman's fpeech, which' did call for
the animadvert-ion of every member in the
Houle. For what was the jut of that fpeech ?
—Very eloquent it certainly was, but it was
in fad a charge againft my Honourable Friend
that, with mock lamentations, he was endeavouring
to encourage' defpondency, and ailing almoft as if
'he were in league with the enemy. But the
learned Gentleman's argument is a curious one.—
Is it not, he Pays, encouraging defpopdency, when
our fituation is fo defperatz ? We contended that
we could not fucceed in the objects of the war,
and it was then faid that we were encouraging def-
pondency. pondency. The event turnedeen as we predicted.
Again we (aid, paufe ; for your Allies will fall off
if yon go on with the war. Again we were told
that our difficulties had become greater, and that
we were only encouraging defpondence by our ad-
vice. Again we afferted that if the war was con-
tinued, we fhould at length bring the reft of the
powers of Europe againft us. That day has ar-
rived. Onr Allies have fallen off; and we have all
Europe againft us. It is then fuggefted, that we
ought not to take the affertions of Yfiniften for
granted, and that we ought now to paufe. Then
comes the eloquent fpeech of the Learned
Gentleman, afferting, that all who made ufe
of fuck language' ought to be confidered
as almoft fn...league with the Enemy.—
This he illuftritid by a fimile, which he thought
to be unanfwerktle. What, Pays he, would you
fay to a General who should harangue his army,
' and tell them that their refources were unequal to
the conftid ? Why Sir, let me fuppofe that any
General, gifted with this co* fasA had made
this language and that a Colonel, if he dared
to (peak to his General, fhould fay to him, you
have often told us before that our refources were
more than equal to the conteft, that we fhould find
allies in every nation, and friends whereier we
went ; but (if this Colonel could add) we have
difcovered, that in all thofe promifes you have de-
ceived us, and allihefe predidions have been dif-
appointel—we have found ambufcadeg where we
expeded fupport, famine where we expeded plenty,
anti a boll of enemies where we looked for none
bat Mends. Jolt fb is the cafe with the drefent
Minifiry. But the learned Gentleman proceeds to
contrail the conduct of the lower orders of the
people with the language held in this Houfe. Sir,
I havealWaysehtitight it &Aprons to endeavour
to make difference between the lower orders and
thofe above them. But I confers I fcarcely ever
heard any doctrine of that nature more dangeroull
urged than I have heard it this night. We talk
of quiet; Sir, I:am more alarmed at the unnatural
quiet, this (Era pier, than I fhould be if I heard corn-
plaints accompaniedeven with Come tendency to
diforder. But why don't you hear complaints? You
have gagged the people, and bound them band and
foot, and-then you fay, look how quiet they are.
Sir, I would alt., is there ant place but this where a
man may (peak his (mils/tents freely? If that be
the cafe, is it not Idle to talk of this quiet of the
people? My Honourable Friend deals in no
mock lamentations; no mock principles, nor mock
profellions—he feels deeply the (amnion of the
country ; if be wants to look at thofe in whom
the diftreftits of the country produce no painful
fenfationi, he will look to thofe who profit.
by the war ; he will fee there no difturbance
of repofe, and no privation of enjoyment. But,
lays the Learned Gentleman, is there any
man capable of the meannefs of making fub-
millions to Dance? Yes, Sir, his Majefty's
Minifters, for they have done it. We have
heard it afked, whether we could make peace with
regicides, and whether a man could be found,
diet would be the bearer of fuch a propofal

Sir, Minillers have done it ;—they have done it
three times, after as lofty boalis as thofe which
the learited Gentleman has bccn making for them
this day by proxy."
Mr. PITT laid a few wprds in explanation, alier
which the queition was loudly called for, and t:::
Houle divided on Mr. Grey's amendment.—iiyes
63, Noes 245—Majority 032.
Mr. SHFRIDATI gave notice, that on Thurfday
next he thould bring forward a Motion relpeZtMg
the late negociation with France.
Mr. STURT gave notice, thatAn Monday rt
he would &brim a Motion to;die Houk relative
to the expedition againit Fe 1, and Mr. Jones pt,..
mifed a motion refpeeing Egypt, for to-mort4.4.
formight.—Adjourned at half pail eleven.

LONDON.