Star.
London, England, 1810-03-10 00:00:00

en
of
al

e,,ptors as a prise front lit enemy, -HadAg could
b, more unjust than this, and let who would practice
it, we shladd not. (Hear, hear.) Itin this country
even in our private transactions, we act upon higher
principles between man and man than in any other,
let us not upon great public questions contradict the
dictates of conscience. ( Hear, hear.) •If We have got
greater p Aver and strength than the enemy] let us
shoe them we possess moderation in proportion —let
vs not merely be just and uprightrbut mild and leni.
eat. Such were the printiples. upon which-we acted
in 1756, when Montesquieu gave us the high praise
of mot seeking how profit might be made, but how
justice might be done. -
A Naval Officer, whose name we could not learn,
said, he wished to remind the House, that vessels
which, in time of peace, had gone to France on par-
ties of pleasure, were scandalously detained and made
prizes of. He justified the law in question, and con-
tended that we had acted with more moderation than
other countries.
Mr. M. MONTAGUE observed, that it was some-
what curious for the assertion of the Noble Lord, that
the Customs of Great Llritain had increased precisely
twn millions, whilst the Customs of France had been
diminished two millions.
Sir JOHN NEWPORT thought his Honourable
Friend (Mr. W. Smith) and the.Honourable Gen-
tleman (Mr. Wilberforce) entitled to the thanks el.
the House for having brought this subject uruicr -the
%•ew of ParliAment, as he looked ttpon the pr•actice
alluded to, as little better than lieenced public robbery.
The ATTORNEY GENERAL stated,!.:that
alienever any property was found in the possessionof
the Court of Admiralty, it was disposed of according
to the law of nations, by which it became forfeited
riot to the captors, but to the Crown ; and was ac-
tually at the disposal of the Crown, without any con-
troll w:Jatr,er, on the part of the captors. .
T:ie motions were then put and agreed to:
COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY.

lie was persuaded,- that if the House was now, feiti
the first time, called upon for an opinion, so far from
l
regretting their former opinion, they would be ac-
tuated by the same sentiments and feelings, whicli
were not more congenial to the character and honou
.rd
than conducive to thu best interests of the nation. •It
they would look at the question in this point of *viewi ,
they would find the measure proposed not alone due
to the honour and character of the British name, hut
upon considerations of sordid interest, find it equally
consistent with sound policy as national honour and
reputation—no les.i dictated by maxims of prudence
and interest, than consonant to every principle Of
public faith, national policy, and liberal conduct. It
!wad not be doubted* that the cause of Spain was
now the cause of this country, and that the longer we
could make or enable that country to resist the
strength and exhaust the military resources of France
the more we should promote the interest of this coun-
try in the existing war. As long as there should re-
main a hope of success in Spain, it was obviously the
best policy of this country to keep up the spirit of re•
sistance to French usurpation in the Spanish nation.
The power of France could never be completelF es-
tablished or really secure in Europe, until that power
should be established on the ruins of the independence
of Spain. So long as *Spain should continue to resist
the-usurpations of France, it would be necessary for
that power to direct a great proportion of its strength
and disposeable force against Spain. It was there-
fore the duty, as well as the policy of this country,
to foment and keep alive in the Peninsula that spirit
which alone could hold out any hope of success to
the cause, which might thus perhaps become the
germ of the liberty and independence of the world.
(Hear, hear,' hear.) It was not then a question to
consider, what were tile best points of the Peninsula
to which our succours should be directed, or whether.
Spain was to be supported ? The fact then was, that
we were in possession of Portugal, and that we were
in great strength in that country. The real question
therefore was, whether when in possession of Portugal
under such circumstances the House should adopt the
proposition, either to support those who were disposed
to continue the struggle in that country, or by with.
drawing the British army to leave them to their fate,
and abandon their cause altogether ? (Hear, hear !)
The luestion, he should repeat, really was, whether
that House should determine to sustain the cause of
the Peninsula in Portugal, or, by deserting it, leave
that country to be overrun by the enemy : in doing
which, they would surrender to France the most con-
venient station, and the most important instrument
of hostility against this country ? Was that a ques-
tion which Gentlemen were -prepared to accede to ?
Would the Committee deem it prudent or politic tti,
leave the British army in that country, and not avail
itself of the support and additional strength which
was to be derived from the Portuguese army intended,
by the measure he ha 4 to propose, to be taken into
British pay ? If they should be of opinion that the
English army could answer any useful purpose-byre-
mooni in Portugal, sorely it must be desirable to
take advantage of any accession of force which the
mean- of the country aforded, and which. would con-
sequently enhance the ultimate prospect of the cause.
Bnt if they should now think to.withdraw their army
they should, in this instance, trot feel these senti-
ments which made the express tO'his Majesty their
approbation of his having entered 'into a treaty with
Spain after her reverses—if in the 'contemplation of
the present difficulties, and without a just regard to
the prospective interests of the cause of the Peninsula,
they should determine to abandon Portugal alto-
gether, sure he was, that it would be in effect to
abandon the cause of this country, and to tarnish the,
character and honour of the nation. When lie looked
back to that feeling which induced Parliament to ap-
prove of a perseverance in support of the Spanish
cause, after the difficulties and reverses which had been
sustained in Spain, he could not bring himself to sup-
pose that any indisposition would be shewn on this
occasion to maintain still the cause of the Peninsula.
At a period when the hopes of Spain were so reduced,
when the cause of that country was to be sustained
almost within the walls of Cadiz, was it, he would
ask, either for the interest of the surviving energies
of the Spanish cause, or for the immediate advantage
of the cause of this country, that we should with-
draw, or profess to withdraw, are British army from
Portugal ? What consequence could result from such
a cause, but the inevitable subjection of Spain and
Portugal, and the necessary augmentation of the ene-
my's means of hostility against this country ? But it'
might be said, that by still retaining possession of For-.
toga', we should only be able to occupy thirty, forty,
Or fifty thousapd French troops. Even if that
the true state ache case, he would ask, whetherZet
'would not be a material object; at a time,' whew 'the
French army was likely to he folly occupied in Spain?
Was it nothing, that, if the French should think of
invading Portugal, they should, in order to give them
any hope of success, bring an army of at least 100,000
men to act against that country ? Or, should Portu-
gal be left, by withdrawing the British army, in such a
state that 10,000 men would be amply sufficient to
over-run and subjugate that nation ? Such a senti-
ment he did not expect to hear expressed in that
House. Indeed, so convinced was he of the wisdom
and policy of the measure he meant to propose, that
he should not have felt it necessary to make any ob-
servations to recommend it to the adoption c.f. the
Committee, if it had not been for the manner in which
his notice had been received by the Gentlemen op-
posite, and which led him to think it would meet
with opposition. But it might be asked, whether
any person could be sanguine enough now to hope,
that the Spanish cause would succeed ? If he were
not sanguine enough to entertain such an expecta-
tion, even still, it was his opinion, that the cause
ought not then to be abandoned. But what were
they to think of the opinions of those Gentlemen, who
were always of opinion, that it was impossible for
Spain to hold out so long ; they, who told the House
so often, that the cause was hopeless ; that it was vain
to send out British troops to sustain it ; that if Spain
was to succeed at all, she must succeed at once ; and
that she could never maintain a protracted contest
against the disciplined armies and emu mous resources
of France.? Spain had continued the struggle hitherto,
however • and whatever might be the gloomy aspect i
of- her affairs at present, the cause of the Peninsula, t
according to his opinion, ought not to be abandoned.
He, was sanguine enough thus far, that it would be
difficult for France to establish a tranquil domin:On
in-Spain, unless Great Britain should separate herself

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
moved ti)e Order of the Day for resolving into a
Committee of the A:hole House, to consider of.the
supply granted to his Majesty.
The Order having been read, the Ordnance Esti-
mates were referred to the Committee. On the House
ing into the Committee, Mr. Lushington in the
C!!:.

Sir THOMAS TURTON asked, whether it was
intmded to vote the Ordnance Estimates in the Com-
r,:t•ee •that night ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER.
replied, that if the other important question should
pmduce any very lengthened discussion, the consider-
,:f the Ordnance Estimates should not be pro-'
(ceded with.

PORTUGUESE TROOPS IN slur= VAT.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER,
in rising for the purpose of submitting to the Com-
mittee a Resolution for granting to his Majesty the
sum of .030,000, to enable his Majesty to take a, i
,cores of Portuguese troops into his pay, should have
felt justified, if what had fallen from Honourable
Gentlemen opposite, when be bgodgiven notice
of his motion, had not afforded reason for
thinking it could be opposed, in supposing that it
would meet with generals approbation. When he
looked back to the feelings , which pervaded that
'House and the country at large, on the first intelli-
gence of the patriotic struggle of Spain, be could not
but consider this application to Parliament as one
whio would have been expected and required from
t`le Government by the country. If that House still
retained any of that generous and honourable feeling
—if it retained any part of that indignation and ab-
horrence with which it was penetrated against the
atrocity and perfidy of the Ruler of France, in his
unprincipled usurpation of the Monarchy of Spain ;
or if that House was still influenced by that noble
sympathy which so strongly interested them in-the
cause of the Spaniards suffering under that perfidy,
atrocity, and usurpation, he was persuaded that there
could e:ist no disposition in the Committee to resist
his motion. He was well aware, that it might be
said, that the measure he had to propose, related not
to Spain, but to Portugal. Bat he must contend,
that the interests of both could not be separated ;
that whatever should be done to give strength to
Portugal, would add to the means of Spain ; and
that to prov:de for the defence and security of Porto -
toga!, would be to promote the general interests of
the- Peninsula, and the particular success of the Spa-
ni,'a cause. It was incumbent upon him, however, to
admit, that if France should ever succeed in este-
bitshing a secure and tranquil Government in Spain,
it would be impossible for Portugal, with even the
asiist,ince which this country could afford, effectually
ivist the attempts of France. But if this country
61 cilia still continue to hold Portugal, pouting the
struggle in Spain, and thereby meaace the rear and
flanks of the French forces in that country, he was sure
it would be admitted, that we should by that means
Promote the cause of Spdin, and consequently the
interests of all parts of the Peninsula. •
in this place particularly to refer to the feeling=
had been excited by the first built of Spanishipa-
tiotisrn ; and here he did not mean that general;end
2-Tdttlt spirit of enthusiasm which glowed in every
British bosom on receipt of the intelligence of the
cmgenial efforts of the Spanish people, but' that more
eeliberate judgment contained in the recorded opi-
'.kln of Parliament. In the Address of that House,
a: the commencement of last Session, he found the
paragraph:
We congratulate your Majesty on your receiving from the
quii.h Government the strongest assurances of their determined
I..rw'rance in the cause of the legitimate Monarchy, and of
natitotal independence of Spain ; and that, ao long as the
iktiple of Spain shall remain true to themselves, your Majesty
'1: continue to them your most strenuous assistance and support.'
ilese were_ the sentiments which that House enter-
:,tined last year upon the subject. In the Address,
•,t the commencement of the present Session, they
:tad said,
Vje cannot sufficiently express our satisfaction, that the Spa-
ntah
,T,,l7_ertrneut, in the name at .d by the authority of Ferdi-
:gu v!!. has determined to assemble the General and Exmoor-
_lCortes of the Nation. We confidently trust, this mea-
'e ~
give fresh animation and vigour to the Councils and the
7,7..
.qain, and succa3fally, direct the energies and spirit of
mt_csp.s.iitsh people to the maintenance of their legitimate Mo-
i,lefl.a.nd t;:e ultimate deliverance of the Spanish Nation."
"n heHouse had expressed such sentiments in their
recorded votes, it was not too much to expect, that•
the
c9mmittee, with a view- to confirm tlie principles
upon Which those sentiments were founded, would not
Pose
,his measure, taken in direct, omformity,with
wishes of the nation, and the votes of Parliament.

• .
from the cause of that country. But a secure or tiara, but still many Members ofthelitiOsitiiiisthave bees*
gull government France could not establish in Spain, startled and alarmed at the picture. A Right Ho-
without much difficulty, nor easily make any effectual nourable Gentleman (Mr. Huskisson), lately in the
application of the means of the Peninsula in her hos- Administratioo, and whose attention had been pecu-
tility against this country. She might occupy Spain liarly called to the subject, had told the House that
with an army, but her power would be confined with- a revision and retrenchment in the expenditure of the
in the limits of her military posts ; and it would re- country, not to the extent of a few troops of cavalry,
quire nearly as large an army to keep possession, as not as to some militia regiments—but a radical and
to make a conquesk of Spain. There never.lead exist- complete retreechment—was absolutely required.—
ed a nation capable of subduing a population posses: This was no idle phantorn,buta stateinent coming from
•sing the mind, and heart, and soul, of the Spaniards. a Gentleman who possessed informat'on onthe subject,
They might sustain reverses ; but victories and the and whose duty it had been to exarnineintoitminutely.
triumphs of their enemies would teach them discipline, He thanked the Honourable Gentleman for the
and infuse into them a spirit which would be the ruin , warning, but he wished it had come at an earlier pe-
of their oppressors. Under these circumstances, he : riod, when the Honourable Mern!ear for Oekhanip-
,
should put it to the House, whether it would be pro- ton (Mr. Wardle) in the CO!IFSC of the last e;essiou.
dent or wise to abandon Portugal? The last Austrian called the attention of the lieuse to the subject. It
war had arisen, in a great measure, out of the contest he hal done so, they would, probably. be now saved
in the Peninsula. During the progress of that war, the Inquiry in which they were at present engaged ;
it would be in the recollection of the House, that they weuld have been saved the late disgraceful Er.
one other day's successful resistance of the French pedition Ai-other Honourable Gentleman admit-
army by the Austrians, might have overthroan the ted that we must retrench ; then, why be called on
accumulated power of the enemy. That such events to vote a million of money in this hopeless. experi-
might again take place, it was not impossible. No ment, at a period too, when the depreciation of our
man could anticipate what might arise of this cieicatp- paper money was about one-third ? These were clis-
tion in the course of a short period, and under all the agreeable truths, but they 'twat be toll. With eeono..
circumstances of the world ; but as long as the ion_ ; my, the country possessed the meaes of retrieving fit-
test was, or could be, maintained in the PeniAtia, self, butnot without it. Bonaparte looked not to his
he considered it the best policy of this country hail 1p- shim but to our prodigalitYforeffecting ouroverchrow.
port and promote it. Under this impressions4bVre- ).11-It4r. Citrwen) was unwilling to venture this last
fore, he should move, " that a sum of .€9Bd, 'be s e. We were in an awrul situatioe ! The Cnnsti-
granted to his Majesty, to enable his Majestito * had undergone a change. The House was not
advances to the Portuguese Government in _wawa t ha 4 it had. been. A Minister, formerly, could not
of its exertions in that kingdom, by taking 50,900 helamain in office, without possessing the confidence of
Portuguese troops into the British pay." Htaland labe House.- Now Ministers found that they could
only to add, that it was proposed to make these ad- I."retain their situations without possessing the conti-
vances pursuant to an arrangement made with Ole : denceeither'of that House or of the country—(Cries
Portuguese Government, and not by a treaty waiich of 'Hear, Thar.) Mr. Pitt could not maintain him-
would be binding to the country, or take- the expen- self after he had last the confidence of the House,
diture out of the controul of Parliament. but the present Ministers hadgreater reliance on the

On the question being put,
Sir JOHN NEWPORT observed, that the latter
part of the Right Hon. Gentleman's statement had
reilieved him from much difficulty, as the advance was
not to he made in pursuance of any arrangement that
could fetter the judgment of that House. He was sur-
prised that the Right Hon. Gentleman could have
suppc.sed that such a motion could be agreed to with-
out opposition. If any question would provoke oppo-
sition, it must be that which would make them con-
tinue efforts in a cause, which every one, but the
Right Hon. Gentleman, considered hopeless. The
Honourable Baronet then referred to the documents,
to shew that the Portuguese levies had not been ex-
pedited as they should have been. He did not think
the embodying of 30,000 Portuguese troops, at the
expence of nearly one million, could prop the hopelesi
cause of Spain, now confined almost within the walls
of Cadiz. The Right Hon. Gentleman had relied
much upon the' recorded opinion of Parliament.
Whilst the Spaniards were true to themselves, Par-
liament was pledged to support them. But he de-1
uied that.they had been true to themselves. If they ;
should be 'obliged to embark the British army, as he I
supposed, they would, what was to be done with these
50,000 Portuguese troops ? Were they to be brought
to this country, and added to the already enormous;
foreign army in its service = or were they to be sent
to the Brazils ? or to be lett fully equipped and ready
to add to the military force of Bonaparte ? He trusted,
whatever the Right Hon. Gentleman might say of I
the difficulty of establishing a tranquil French Go-
vernment in Spain, that the means and resources of
this country would not be wasted in encouraging an i
intestine desultory warfare in that. As the contest
was now hopeless, he would not trust any more men
to the disposal of Ministers, all whose measures, down
to the present hour, had been characterized. by a
wanton waste of blood and treasure.
Mr. VILLERS stated that he had stedfastly la.
baured, and with great effect, to embody troopi in
Portugal, and had never relaxed his exertions for
raising the levies. The question was, whether we
should leave our army in Portugal to be aided by all.
that Portugal could Uo, or to contend with the enemy
alone, when the whole mass of the people depended
on them for protection?—He was of opinion that if
the Spaniards had done their duty (and his opinion
was deliberately formed on the spot), the aid afforded
by this country would have more than sufficed for the
deliverance of the Peninsula. He could not conceive
how any one could be of opinion that an army should
remain there unaided by our allies. The Portuguese
Government had displayed great energy in raising the
supplies. He concluded by panegyrising Lord Wel-
lington.
Mr. CU.RWEN had looked in vain to what fell
.
from the' Right Honourable Gentleman, for some
grounds in support of the present motion. What,
however, was he to think, when the Honourable Gen-
tleman who spoke last, and who was on the spot,
stated that Spain had not done its duty. In the:e
circumstances, how could Gentlemen call on that
House to agree to the present motion, as creating a,
diversion in favour of Spain ? The House had Itsffd,
too, from the Honourable Gentleman who spoke Ittst,
that there was energy in Portugal in the collection of
taxes—but had he said that there was any enefgpiin
the people in providing for the safety of the country ?
If there had been any patriotism in Portugal, 'wciuld
it have suffered the French army in the first instance
to over-run it in the manner it had done ? He be-
lieved the Portuguese looked on the contest as being
a British cause, and not of one for the interests of P-or-
tugal ; and he was afraid the gallant army which we
had in that country, was placed in a very disagreeable
predicament. It was incumbent on the Right Ho-
nourable Gentleman in calling on the House to con-
cur in the present motion, to shew that Portugal was
in a situation to be saved—no prudent man could
say that Spain was in this state. But was there no-
thing in the condition of the country to oppose
the vote now proposed ? Was there nothing in the
mode in which it was now found necessary to
collect the taxes, which ought to make the House
hesitate, before it voted away a million of money,
without the prospect of any 'advantage resulting from
it ? If our enemies could form a wish as to the con-
duct it would be most agreeable to them- we should
adopt—if Bonaparte could express a wish on this sub-
ject, it would be that we should attempt to support
Portugal. For he must know it would be the height
of madness in us to do so. But had nothing lately
passed in this country to make the House pause ?
Had nothing lately occurred in that House ? He
confessed it was nothing new to him (Mr. Curwen) ;

~ ~

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•

.

i
_


torpor both of that House and of the public. What
1 change was there in the feelings of the public now
and during the inquiry of last year ! Then the pub-
lic thought that the House had given I blow to cor-.
ruption. Seeing that this v. as not the •case, they
were now completely quiescent. It the House Wished
to save the country, this iv,' s the tirneto dismiss allied-
ings of party, and to look only to the effectual means
which at that moment offered. He should not presume
to say what the danger was, but it was one which must
not be neglected. The firs: olijoct was to bring the ex-
penditure of the country within its income ; the moment
they did so, they wouldcutoff the 110 pes of France. The
vote of this night, if it was such as he expected, would
do more for the good of the count' y than the battle
of Talavera, or the capture of half a French army.
This would bring us ultimate success, but we must
not look for it otherwise. The Right Honourable
Gentleman (Mr. Perceval) asked, should we aban-
don Spain and Portugal ? No, surely not. Not
abandon them, but give them the means of defending
their country, if they chose it. But, in doing so we
Were not to encourage civil wars. Such a proceeding
was contrary to British justice. Under these feelings
he should vote rather for deferring the question. No
injury could arise from that, and the effects produced
by a few weeks might be sufficient to shew the utter
impossibility of the measure.
Mr. LESLIE FOSTER cited Robertson's His-
tory of Charles the Fifth, to prove the gallantry of
the Spanish people, and contended that the character
rof valour and steadiness which they displayed on va-
rious occasions, particularly at Saragossa and Gerona,
fully justified the expectations whidi induceiirthe inn
1 terpo ition of our Government in favour of the Spa-
nish cause. In support of such a cause, and the peo-
ple more materially ii‘.erested in its success, he could
not hesitate to afford all the aid in his power, nor
could he ever despair of .uch a people until they des-
paired of themselves.
General FERGUSSON le' t it his duty to express
his opinion as a military man upon this occasion. He
could not indeed sit silent, and.allow the delit•.'on to
go forth, that Portugal could derive safety from the
armament referred to in the motion. He would put
the question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or
to any Gentleman v.ho had spoken upon the 'other
side, whether he seriously believed thsat thirty thou-
sand men could be found tit for military serv•..... in
all Portugal, or rather, whether even half that num-
ber could be produced capable of efficiency ? With
every disposition to do ample justice to the activity
and skill of his gallant Friend (General Bercsford)
he thought it quite absurd to calculate upon the
formation of such a corps of Portuguese as any
Officer could rely upon, to act apart trona a British
force, or to afford any effective aid in the event of in-
: vasion. Upon such an occasion indeed, the cam-
' paign must be fought by an army composed of very
different materials from th.tse which it. would be ra-
I tional to look for among the Portuguese people. The
opinion which he entertained upon this subject de.
rived additional confirmation, from some intelligence
which he had recently received from a friend, who
14 the fullest opportunity of personal Observation.—
In fact, the Portuguese levies were of such' a descrip-
-1 loop that he should regret the fate of our gallant
',troops, if called upon to co-operate widi them. In-
deed he saw no use to which such levies were conver-
tiisle, while there was too much reason to apprehend
their tendency to produce inconvenience and danger,
and therefore he could not approve of the motion.
Mr. M. FITZGERALD wished to know what
was to become of these Portuguese levies in the event
of an evacuation of Portugal ? Was it meant to Lend
them to Ireland, where it was deemed inexpedient to
entrust the defence of that country to ali army of our
own fellow subjects of the same religion ? ' Was it
meant to detain them in England to augment the
number of foreign troops which was already, and in
justice, complained of as too large for the security
of English freedom—or was it meant to incur the
erpence of sending them to our coketies, or to the
Brazils ? As to any benefit to be derived from these
levies against the common eaemv, he fully concur-
red in opinion with the gallant Officer who had just
sat down. He had indeed never heard of any
achievement performed by the Portuguese, with the
exception of that in which 2000 men, headed by the
Bishop of Oporto, entered Oporto, and took twenty.
four Frenchmen prisoners. (A laugh, and Hear, hear.)
The idea of retaining Portugal appeared to him to
be quite chimerical—while our keeping up a fo:ce
there was attended with enormous expellee. Indeed,
he had lately seen a military memoir, presented to
Louis X V. at the time of the contest for the Sp. Irish

-7-

. .
yet more tolerable to • the Spanish people than the ,
atrocities committed by the French from dal to day
in utter violation of every law human and divine.—
The effects of this system were so sensible throughout
Spain, that' the post could not pass without a squa- mu
drop to guard it. France had no other hold of Spain
at present than that of a military occupancy. He BRI
thought that, under all circumstances, the cause was URS
not hopeless ; and not being io, it might be produc- did 1
tive of lasting mischief to it, the now refusing the aid ng it.
that was proposed. There was wisdom in knowing and o
the fit and serviceable moment of despair; that .mo- abanc
ment-had not yet arrived, and it was not wise to an- for, thi
ticipate it.—He should vote for the Resolution. nbers a
Captain PARKER spoke with warmth in favour of 2—M.
the Resolution. It had been said. that the cause was were n(
hopeless. He denied it (a laugh)—it could not be Half-1
hopeless, for while there was life there was hope.—
E E v
(A Laugh.) He asked, if it. became a generous Power
like England to abandon a friend in the moment of • •
LONDON.
distress ? Qentlemen argued, that dbr assistance . - ,--
could do no good, but would not, ur refusal of that
assistance do considerable harm The Portuguese SATURDAY, MARCH 10.
troops had been greatly abused, as men unwilling or PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
incapable of defending themselves. Put them under . S per Cent. Cons. for money, 87E—acc. 66 to 68+
canna- British Officers, and he would warrant they , S per cents. 971 es—omnium 1-4: pr.—Excheq. Bills Ss. il s. pr.
Bonds I I s. pr.
could be made something of. Let such men as the I
victorious Lord Wellington, or the gallant Marshal
Eight millions of the debt now floating in Ex-
Samford, have but the leading of them, and he
chequer Bills dated between the 20th of February,
*Ovid pledge his existence that under such men
.thostould never run away. (r 4 laugh.) The grant 1809, and 16th March, 1810, both inclusive, are im-
a itself was wise, but at such a critical period it mediately to be funded. A letter to this effect, sent
was indispensible, and he should therefore vote in to the Bank of England by the CHANCELLOR. of the
sftnri, of it.
' EXCHEQUER, was read yesterday to the Gentlemen of
E Mr. WHITBREAD spoke in ioinplimentary- terms
ii Ir the characteristic fervour and spirit so becoming his the Stock Exchange, by Mr. HASE.—For £lOO prin.
fouth, his profession and his descent, that breathed cipal money subscribed, it is proposed to give £lO3 ss.
tlirOughout the speech of the Gallant Officer who last in the Navy 5 per Cents. In the event of the whole
sat" dovm (Hear, hear.) He could have wished to .of that sum being subscribed, the CHANCELLOR of the
have seen that spirit more profitably exercised. An al-' EXCHEQUER states it to be his intention
lesion had been made to Sir Sidney Smith, the orna- 4 not to propose
=tent to his profession and the glory of his country. any addition to the Navy 5 per Cents. this Session.
He certainly was willing to do justice to the services of On the.propositiOn being approved by Parliament, the
_ ....

the application that had been made of it ; it refer
to foreign coin, to Dutch gold, and I** to the cur-
rency of this country. He entered at length into the
policy of not now abandoning the cause of,the Spa.
wards, and expressed his intention of voting for the
Resolution.
Mr. WHITBREAD explained.
Mr. BATHURST said, that if the gratft was at all
to be made, i-.e did not see the necessity of any further
delay. in making it. He did not think the cause as
yet hopeless, and of course could not agree that it
should be yet abandoned. The question then being
loudly called for, the gallery was cleared for a division,
when the numbers were—For the Resolution. 204
Against it 142—Majority 62.
Strangers were not again admitted, and the House
adjourned at Half-put Two.

I

succession, from which it appeared, that our main-
taining a force-in Portugal, without advancing into
Spain, was the very course of Policy which it was for,
the interest of the French that our Government should
pursue; and it would not be denied, that there was a
considerable analogy between the conduct of that war
and the present.
Mr. M. MONTAGUE observed, that neither the
Spanish' nor Portuguese people thought their case
desperate ; but the Gentlemen on the other side seem-
ed anxious to persnade them and the people or Dig-
land that it was so. He was not, however, to be in-
fluenc4by the observations of those Gentlemen, and
therefore he would vote for the motion.
Mr.TIERNEY suggested that the Chairman should
now report progress, in order to afford time to the
House to address the King, for the purpose of ex-
plaining the grounds on which the question was op-
posed, and praying for further informlttion.
Lord DESART vindicated :the charter of the
Portuguese people, among whom, he contended, there
bad been Many noble displays of gent)* patriotism
and military spirit. in proof of this, heObid refer to
many Officers who had had opportunities of observ4-
tiem,.aud particularly to Sir Robert Wilson, for whose
conduct at the head of Portuguese troops, it Would be
recollected that there was before the House a notice of
motion for a vote of thanks. I
Mr. C. BERESFORD thought he should not do
his duty? if he silently passed by a direliction of :the
bravery and exertion of a nation, which,. if we 4i4.ntit;,
assist, its troops must- be disbanded.. The Hon. Gen-
tleman
then mentioned the connection vehich the Etn-
peror of France is about. o formiand.which he thotialn
could not fail to affect the politics of Europe ; and
this surely was not a time for us to abandon a faith-
ful ally.
Lord MILTON approved of an original interposi-
tion in the cause of Spain ; but he disapproved of the
conduct of the war, and particularly,of the system now
proposed, which would convert us intoncipals, in-
stead of acting merely as auxiliaries. In fact, if this sys-;

i'nE EVE

INU

'A lL

all acting mere.:.._ _ _,...1,'. __ .4a..1.11 .
tern were acted upon, the Portuguese must rather con- • that distinguished Officer at Acre ; and he believed
sidir us as fighting for ourselves than for them, and had it not been for the check the Conqueror of the
what degree of efficient zeal weirs they likely to feel in World then and there met with, that bad as the present
_
such a contest ? But, with what prospects of success condition of Europe is, it would have been materially .0 commence from,. . attar-
--
could we in thepresent situation of affairs upon thePe. worse ; but Bonaparte, it seemed, knew, to use the
The rumour is still very general that numerous
ninsula, any longer persevere in such a contest ? With language' of an Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Jacob), I
the French under the walls of Cadia r. and with all the knew the period of despair, and proposed to meet it. changes in Administration will soon be announced.
circumstances in view, bow could any reasonable We should profit by the same lesson fat est ab hoste' As usual on the eve of such expected changes, report
man be reconciled to vote a million of the public doceri—let us know when every further effort will be has assigned to the following the places annexed:
money forthe purpose referred to.in the motion ? a fruitless waste of blood and treasure, and cease Marquis Vv .le •
LLESIAT to be First Lord of the 'Treasury.
But if success were even practicable, was it wife to to make them. That Honourable Gentleman had]
Mr. HUSlLlseor4—Chancellor of the Exchequer.
vote such a grant for such an aid ? It bad often been entered into a detail of shocking atrocities, alledgeds '
I Lord Mu LClo%l7E—Master-General of the Ordnance.
the practice of this - country to subsidize foreign by him to be committed by the French in Spain.— i Mr. CANNlNG—Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
troops ; but he believed that it never before entered Was be an eye witness to them ? And if he was-1. „ m,..r. 1.„
; °Air Cit ,or Lord CAsTxtztion--Ficst Lord of the Ad.
the head of any English Statesman to grant subsidies not, or if he were, why were they detailed to the!
miraity
M.
guesethose am
on a Porto force, to in factamong whom Committee, unless to inflame them upon .a question
Mr. RC Mt L—Chancellor, with a Peerage, • vice Lord Et-
the materials for an army could not be found. i where their judgment only should decide. Abuses,
DON, who is to resign.
Mr. BANKES approved of the Amendment ; and no doubt, must have prevailed ; but were Gentlemen
if it had not been put, he should pot have hesitated aware of none committed under circumstances of less I
The Princess Elizabeth packet has arrived at Fai-
t° give a direct negative to the original motion. He provocation, where the Clergy received the man- °
lamented the state of difficulty and embarrassment in dates of " power, to ascend aleir pulpits, and issue mouth, with mails from America. By this convey-
which
the House Was laced by this motion—but from them falsehocids not more rank than they were ante we have received New York papers to tie- 28th
the state was owing to the conduct of Ministers. It notorious ! But if . there was this spirit in Spain ultimo. When the packet came away the Non-inter-
must be in the remembrance of many Gentle. that had been contended for, where were its effects? course Act had not passed.
men whO nrw heard him, that this project of a For. Were they visible in suffering the French troops to ;
tuguese levy was first formed in November, ISOB The John Adams frigate, which our readers will
pass over the face of their country like light through ;
yet not a word about it was mentioned in the subse- an unresisting medium ?—Were they manifested in : recollect has been waiting at Cowes in order to re-
quent
Sessions, nor until very lately, when the project the defence of the Sierra Morena—a pass that 500 • ceive dispatches of importance from Mr. PINKNRY, is
was, it appeared, but very imperfectly carried 'into ' resolute -men might have defended against an
army ? ' likely to be detained a week or two longer: It is now
ezecution. In fact, the I-louse was calk,' upon for They had been, indeed, gravely told, that the post I
• said, that Mr. PINKNEY has proposed a- question, to
a vote to provide for 30,000 men, beforeany of that rcould not pass unmolested. No doubt- this was a i
body appeared to have been raised. But he could - most serime, calamity, and a conclusive proof of the ! which a categorical answer is eepected, and on the
never persuade himself to assent to such a motion; and energy of the popular spirit ! only unfortunately they i reply to which the ultimatum of the American Go-
among many other reasons, for these two, ss hich were I had the same proof in ano-Iter way in a neighbour. ! ;ernment will depend. - It is whelher.the Ministers of
obvious—lst, that we had not a million of money t 9 ing country. At the time of the troubles in Ireland I shit ' tau country will or will sot treat on the basis of the retro-
spare: and 2dly, that ifasse even had, this was not the the post was conveyed throughout that. county un-;
y cation of the Orders in Council ? -
way in which we ought to dispose of it. For any cysts- , der constant military escort. But what, in the name :
ent purpose of war, he really believed that 3000 British I'4 common sense, was the object in keePing up them! Certain Resolutions have been presented to the
soldiers would be of more use than 50,000 Portuguese, : troops in Portugal ? Was Portugal chosen' as the : American Cangress, with a view to authorise the
and why then should the country be burthened for the"i arena in which they were to fight over again the bat- j granting of armed vessels as convoys to American
support of such a force ? He very much doubted whe- is tie for the liberties of Europe ? or what they had been ° Ships when proceeding to foreign ports, providing
ther our conduct towards both the Spaniards and refused under better auspices were they to hope to gain;
Portuguese, was not calculated to induce an opinion !‘under those that were .less favaurable ? a qua Maresuch vessels are not laden with goods contraband of
amcng those people that'erery thing was to be done ' nag aliii , e dent rtai tibi VOW. Besides, the House I war. These resolutions are intended to protect if possi-
for ti 'm
and nothing Iythem. -It would probably had net been treated fairly. On the 28th of February.; ble American property from capture or deteption by
have been better if not a single British regiment had bills were drawn for the money voted on the Bth of i '
British Crnizers. , •
been sent to the Peninsula; and that means had been May following. Why had not .the House been in- I
taken to excite these people to struggle fair themselves, formed of those The House of Representatives have passed resoln.
bills which were at that time drawn by ;
than to take so -much of the struggle into our own: the Foreign Secretary? They had heard a good deal , tions highly approving of the conduct of the Ameri.
hands. Too muclrmoney, perhaps, had been 'fur. iof English valour, and how far it might be relied on in ; can Minister in his late intercourse with Mr. JAcasoN,
niched to them. They ought to have been urged to - restoring the canseof Spain. He too thought highly : and pledging that House to support with its whole
look to their own exertions, and if an adequate spi- .of Engliih'iraloor, but be thought V, highly Of English ' energy, any measures that may have been adopted by
rat had existed, they would have found gold them- --Acrtirece; but patient as the People of this CoUntrrwre. e,
the Executive Government in consequence. '-
selves, or created a substitute for it, as was the • that patience, like ever thing human, had its limits.
case in the popular struggles of America and Fiance..i The vistmor of the vigorous eiministration, might wear The following are the principal contents of the
—Throughput, he thought that the people of Spain :it tint at last (a laugh.) But, if they were to vote this' papers brought by the Princess Elizabeth :
and Portugal had been encouraged too much to-look tinillion of money, he wished to know where it was to " NEW-YORK, JANUARY 27. 9
to this country, and too, lit to themselVuq. This 1- be had ? Here the Honourable Gentleman adverted '
; «"Letters from Washington, dated= Monday, inform us that
was a mischief which, as far as was practicable, ought I. to the evidence of Mr. Huskisson before the Scheldt.'
Mr. Macon's Bill was under consideration that day, and that
to be remedied. But for this purpose the present IConttnittee; the substance of Mr. Huskisson's answer, ,
a Mr. Mourolt D moved its postponemetft until the ad of February,
motion was ill calculated, because it proposed that ; as weitnclerstood it, weld to shew, that if an army m ,
w
• hich after much debate was negatived at 3 o'clock ; and at half.
we should become principals in the \vat-, -and take p4:o,4o(Emen had been, in July last, landed in the north past four, the House adjourned without taking tht. final question.
the Portuguese people into oar pay. Where, ' honi..ii,foftEettne, it would have required £500,000 to set
Mr. GARDLNED, we understand, made a speech in favour of that"
ever, he would ask Gentlemen, were the means to beth ()don for a given time, and R3CtO,OOO to subsist , Bill
found of advancing this payment ?He begged it. itti. the, frelliat time—one month ; and, that this country I '
" A BM has been passed by the Senate, authorising the fitting
be considered that only 125,000 in gold and silv,erii coupe not at that time have contributed that extraordi-
out, officering, and manning the public vessels of the United
could by any means be procured to pay our 'troops i nary.supply of, tof £BOO,OOO. Did not a statement -
in the expedition to Walcheren ; and let it be borne : thitriature require examination ? Did riot the ques:i St2tes.
in mind, that money must be sent to Portugal ; .tiers/ lifter such a statement, call for further consider. "By accounts received in America from China, nine sail of
British East-Indiamen, a 64, a frigate and a gun-brig, were lying
for that alone, particularly in the event of invasion, ation ?. It was for this further delay be now contend..'
: at Chumpee, being detained there by the Chinese until they ob-
could serve for the payment of our military force.' ed.: Spain had not done its duty—no matter from
Paper would not answer. In the present scarcity what cause—the•people had, hoivever, some excuse tallied permission from the Court of Pekin to proceed to Wham.
poo. This obstruction Is said to havearisen from the Inisunder-:
of bullion then, he requested the_ particular consider... —they had been ,ur,,der the selfish sway of an aristo- .
ation of this point. The enemy-were now, perhaps, !.eracy that only wanted to use them as an instrument standing! of last yearberween the British and Chinese, not having
I
in the possession of Cadiz, which in fact escaped im- ito effect their own narrow purposes : their implicit .kenas yet done away. . med;ote c.ipture only through an accident. All the' confidence had been abused by the blind bigotry of an The Ladreees are deeeribed as dery active in capturing Arne-
calculations of Ministers were disappointed. All intolerant priesthood—a priesthood that, whatever it. ricate,Potnieuese, and indeed all unprotected vessels in the Chi-
tbeir predictiocos wei e falsified--even that of which preached, practiced not the gospel it ought, not alone nese neat." .
they held out an assurance so late as the 23dof Ja- ' ... .• to preach but practice : they had had the sword in - _ . ..
.nuary last was dissipates. The Cortes, which were their handsas often as the crosier—and they had had, Gibraltar Gazettes to the 19th ult. came to hand
to be immediately assembled, had not even a town in he" feared, in their hearts any thing but the meekness, last nigin. They confirm the accountsfrom thatquarter
Spain to meet in. The expedition to Walcheren had humility, charity, and peace that their blessed Master Which have already been laid before the readers of the
failed,- totally failed. li fact, nothing that Ministers had inculcated by his pure precepts, enforced by the STAR. The approaching subjugation of the Penin-
promised was fulfilled—nothing they srecnlated upon example-•of his Apostles' life, and sealed by the last sula, and final subversion of Spanish independence,
was successful ; and was it then possible, that the sufferings of his all-atoning death I While he (Mr. have rendered it alftolutely necessary to pike the spee-
Connnittee,' with such ample and recent experience? Whitbread) valued those precepts and that example, diest and most effectual precautions for.‘* safety of
could consent to invest such Ministers with the means he never could take pleasure in setting man against Gibraltar. Accordingly, the oovernor had issued a
of engaging -in any farther speculations ? his fellowman in a hopeless struggle. He thought Proclamation, enjoining under severe penalties, the
Mr.-JACOB contended that the present situation the present cause hopeless—and as such, he never immediate departure of all foreigners, wiyli the excep--
of Spain was such as to shew that all the efforts of would consent to its bi:ing uselessly and cruelly pro.i Lion of those specially licenced to remain. • Any of
Bonaparte had fallen far short of the total subjuga- tracted. the inhabitants harbouring such persons, were made
- tion of that country. H; said that, disastrous as Mr.HUSKISSeN denied that the evidence alluded 1 amenable to a Court tiartial. "It had also been de.
!nu.l.t b.; therils attendant upon civil war, they were to by the Honourable Gentleman, at all admitted of termioed to proclaim *alai ;al $491114 the Prat.
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time allowed for Subscriptions being received and
other particulars relative thereto will be made public.
Interest to commence from the .sth of January last.

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