Star.
London, England, 1803-12-07 00:00:00

CORRESPON.DENC& BE? !VEEN

MIS MAJESTY,
THE PRINCE OF WALES,
THE DUKE OF YORK,
AND MR. ADDINGTON,
4IN THE orFFrt OF BELITAKY SERVICE MADE BY
ROYAI. MCI:NEL:S TUE PRINCE OF WALES.

(Copy) " Carlton Houle, July 28, tBc3
" S:s—The fubje& en which I addrcfs you prelfes
to heavily en my mind, and daily acquires fuch ad-
ditional importance, that notwithilanding my with
to avoid any interference with the dilpofition made
by his Majefly's Ministers, I find it impoffible to
mit) hold or delay an explicit flatement of my feel-
irzs, to which I would dire your molt ferious con-
fideration.
.‘' When it was officially communicated to Parlia•
rnent that the avowed objed of the enemy was a
Oefcent on our kingdoms, the queflion became is ob-
vious that the circumnances of the times required
the voluntat y tender of peribnal fervices; when Par.
hanent, in confequence of this reprefentation, agteed
to extraordinary meaftues for the defence of there
realms alone, it was evident the danger was not be-
licved dubious or remote. Animated by the fame
Wm which pervaded the nation at large, confcious
of the duties which I owed to his Majetly and the
Country, I feized the earlicik opportunity to exprefs I
rtty dc fire of undertaking the relpontibility of a mili-
tat command, I neither did, nor do prefume on
fupp :fed talents as entitling me to fuch an appoint-
ment. lam aware Ido not porters the experience of
aatial warfare ; at the fame time 1 cannot regard
myfelf as totally unqualified or deficient in military
fcience. 'lnce I have long made the fervice my parti-
cular Study. My chief pretentions were founded on
a fence of thole advantages which my example might
produce to the flute, by exciting the loyal energies of
the nation, and a knowledge of thole expalations
which the public had a right to form as to the perfo-
nal exertions of their Princes at a moment like the
prefent. The more elevated my fituation, in fo much
the efforts of zeal became neceffarily greater, and I
confefs that if duty had not been fo paramount, a re-
fledion on the fplendid achievements of my predecef
furs would have excited in me the fpirit of emulation;
when, however, in addition to fuch recollediuns, the
nature of the contell in which we are about to en-
gage was impreffed on my confideration, I &mid, in-
deed, have been devoid of every virtuous Sentiment if
I felt no reludance in remaining a pat Eve fpedator
of armaments, which have for their object the very
exiftence of the Britifh Etnpire.
" Thus was I influenced to ma':e my offer of fer-
vice, and I did imagine that his Majefly's Ministers
would have attached to it more value. But when I
find that, from tome unknown caufe, my appoint-
ment teems to remain fo long undetermined; when
I feel myfelf expoled to the obloquy of being regard-
ed by the country as pang my time indifferent to
the events which menace, and infenfible to the call
of patriotifm, much more of glory, it then behoves
pie to examine my rights, and to remind his MajJ-
ty's Milliners that the claim which I have advanced
is arielly connitutional, and junified by precedent,
and that in the prefent Situation of Europe, to deny
Smy exercifing it is fatal to my own immediate ho-
nour and the Suture interefts of the Crown.
" I can never forget that I have Solemn obligations
Impofed on me by my birth, and that I Ibould ever
thew myfelf format in contributing to the preferva-
lion of the country. The time is arrived whets I may
prose myfelf fenlible of the ditties of my fituation,
and of evincing my devotion to that Sovereign, who,
by nature as wcli as public worth, commands my
=loft affedionate attachment.
repeat, that I Humid be lorry to embarrafs the
Government at any time, moll particularly at fuch
a crifis. But, flocs no event in my future life can
compenfate me for the misfortune of not participat-
ing in the honours and dangers which await the brave
men dcflined to oppofe an invading enemy, I cannot
forego the earneft renewal of my application. All I
{ohm is a more oflenfible fituation than that its which
I am at prefent placed; for Situated as I am, as a
men Colonel of a regiment, the Major General com-
manding the Brigade of which fuch a regiment mull
form a part, would juftly exped and receive the full
credit of pte-arrangement and fuccefsful enterprize.
" I remain, Sir, very Sincerely, Yours,
.4 R. H. Henry Addington, /cc. &c. !cc. (stare!) "O. P."
" July a 6, 18c3.
" A week has now elapfed Since the Prince of
Wales tranfmitted to Mr. Addington a letter on a
cubic& of the higheft importance ; though he cannot
anticipate a refufal to lo reafonable a demand, he
muft Still esprcfs fume forprize that a communication
of Such a nature (hold have remained fo long un-
aufwercd.

When the Prince of Wales defined to be placed
in a fituation which might enable him to fliew to the
people of England the example of zeal, fidelity and
devotion to his Sovereign, he naturally thought that
he was only fulfilling his appropriate duty, as the
full fubjat of the realm in which as it has pleafed
Prtoviotacx to caufe him to have been born, fo he
is determined to maintain himfelf by all thofe ho-
nourable exertions which the exigencies of there cri-
tical times peculiarly demand. The motives of his
conduct cannot be mil-conceived or mifreprerented.—
He has, at a moment when every thing is at flake
that is dear and (acre,' to him and to the nation,
silted to be advaxced in military rank, becaufe he
may have his birth-right to fight for, the throne of
his Father to defend, the glory of the people of
'England
to uphold, which is dearer to him than life,
which has yet remained unfrillied tinder the Prince,
of the Houk of Brunfwick, and which he auk will
be tranfmitted pure and uncontaminated to the Weft
Arimated by loch fentiments, he has
lat!irally dented to Ix placed in a fituation where he
ca-s a.tt according to the feelings of his heart and the
the Lima •;f: confcience.
.‘ 1:1 :1,7 the offxr, in again repeating h, the
P. i ^: t.l ‘Vale! cos.fitfera that he has only perform-
• Ls duty to birmelf, to tie (late, to the King, to
4...:r0pe, wLafe 11-c may be involved ni the io ,z of
i;irg crittyll. If t:ii% loader of his 1.,!, vices is rejened,
• x if: ev...r 1 'T...1 Ole all Lis of have bccn•
• n, fr, sod t. he ha been deprived of making
• clett,txr t:re eirrtnd.tr.c,, ~f 'hr: cm-

pire, 114 own inclinati.ins, and his early and long at-
tention to military affa:rs, would have rendered fo
particularly grateful to himfeif, and he truth, not
entirely ufelefs to the public."

^ Downing ftreet, July 27,_18c3.

" Upon receiving the letter with which Mr. Ad-
dington was hat week honoured by the Prince of
Wales, he allured his Royal Highnefs that it thould
be immediately laid before the King : this was ac•
cordingly done, and the letter is lull in his Majefly's
pacifism. A communication was afterwards made
to his Royal Highnefs the Prince of Wales, in a
mode and through a channel which Mr. Addington
humbly hoped his Royal Highnefs would approve.
Mr. A. however, now finds it to be incumbent on
him, in confequence of the expeaation which has
been expreffed by his Royal Highnefs, to (late, that
his Majelly, on being informed of the fentiments and
willies of the Prince of Wales, applauded in the
flrongell manner the feelings by which his Royal
Highnefs is aCluated, but referred neverthelefs to the
aufwers which his Majefty had judged it neceffary to
return to fimilar reprefentations—which, in obedi-
ence to the command: of his Royal Highnefs, had been
laid before his Majefly upon former occafions."

" Carlton Howe, July 28,1803.

is The Prince of Waleshas received Mr.Addington's
written communication of the lalt night. The Prince
of Wales has only to obferve, that he requires Mr.A.
to fohmit t his Majefly his laft note, dated the 16th
of this month.

" Downing•ltrect,July 28, 1803, half pall t t P. M.
6, Mr. Addington is jolt honoured with the commands
9f the Prince of Wales, and will net fail to lay his
Royal Ilghnefs's letter, dated 26th of this month,
before t:.e King.

" Downlurftreet, Auguft T.

" Sta—ln obedience to thecommands of your Royal
Highnefs, I laid before his Majefty the letter dated
z6th July, with which your Royal Highnefs had ho-
noured me, aad I have it in command from his Ma-
jelly to acquaint your Royal Highnefs, that the
King had referred Mr.Addington to the order he had
before given him, with the addition—that the King's
opinion being fixed, he defired that no further men-
tion Ihould be made to him upon the fubjet."

..-.- - . .
" I have the honour to be,
" With, Sir,
" Every fentiment of refped and deference,
" Your Royal Highnefs's molt obedient humble
fervant, (Signed) a HENRY ADDINGTON."