Star.
London, England, 1816-02-16 00:00:00

, strove, done,. protested against
Our right to interfere with another nation, by dictating
to it the form of government which it should" adopt,
otby imposing on a great people any king. or fa-
mily that it might be our wish to see reign over them.
While he maintained his former opinions on 'these
subjects, he would contend that a right to interfere
might spring from other circumstances; and. it was
OR this principle that hr.should to-night submit his
motion to the House. It could scarcely be oeeessary
for him to remind those who beard him of the whole
argument formerly held, when it Will resolved by
Ministers to interfere with France. It was then as-
serted thit we had no right to interfere with that na-
tion, because she chose to be governed as a Repub-
lic s that en this account we were not bound to in-
terfere in behalf of those who had never been our al-•
lies—that this fueltished no ground for the recal of
our Ambassador from Franceor to break the peace
which then subsisted between the two countries:—
These principles, at the cotiimencement of the French
Revolution, had been maintained on that side (the
hClpposhioa side) of the House, and these he still
irnoted. So far was he from deviating from
them; when be contended that the interference of
thireountry with respect to Spain. was now called
for, that the opinion of that great man. now no more
(Me: Foal. guided him oh this occasion, and the sub-
stank:sof hafnium* motion was drawn from the words
he (Mr. Fox) bad used when he last spoke in that
House of our interforenee in the affatrs of France.-
- The House would feel that he referred to a conver-
sation which had taken place about the end of De-
cember 1792. Previous to this. in consequence of
the conduct of the Revolutionary Government towards
the Royal Family of France, Lord.Gower, our Am-
bassador, had been recalled. A difference titular be-
tween the two countries, and the King's Ministers
declared France had no longer a government capable
'of maintaining the relations of peace and amity.—
Those who sat on the Opposition side of the House
at that time, contended, that whatever might, be the
faults of the. French Government. as it was then the
Government &facto, it ought not to have been treated
in this manner. But when the proceedings of those
persons who were members of it became so atrocious
as to shock those who had at first been disposed to
think hvourably of them—when, having got the
person of the King and others of the Royal Family
into their possession, the catastrophe which ensued
was but too distinctly foreseen ; and no doubt WAS
entertained of their intention to sacrifice them—then
all men whose minds deserved any consideration. were
_shocked at the lengths to which the Revolutionists
were going, and the opponents of Ministers .were
unanimous• in their exerticnis to stop the evil which
they all deplored. It was then that Mr. Fox bad
come down to the House with his fi iends, and vindi-
cated the course which he bad thought it his duty to
pursue ; he denied the propriety of Lord Gower's
fecal. or rather he questioned the necessity of it, but
be strongly expressed those feelings ul horror and in.
die,nation with which the conduct of the Revolu-
tionists had inspired- him. He. on that occasion, ar-
gued that the treat of onr Ambassador, no one haring
been 'appointed in his place as an accredited Minister
• from this country,* must prove fatal to the .cause of
the Royal Family of France. If we had kept our
Ambassador, he contended, it would have been in our
power to interfere our good offices in behalf of the
unfortunate Monarch, and have given weight to the
declarations of England. which, might have pro-
duced a strong feeling among the people, and which
would-probably even have had some effect upon the
Convention. In this spirit. Mr. Fox proposed that a
motion should be made, the object of which was to
afford the House an opportunity of expressing those
feelings of indignation and sorrow which necessarily
grew out at the events which had recently occurred.
This, it was hoped, might operate in favour of the
Royal Family, and deter the persecutors from the
consummation of their guilt. A motion for this pur-
pose WAS made by Mr. Pita, on the recommendation
of Mr. Pox, for the correspondence which had cakes
plaice on the subject of the recal tit Lord Gower.—
This gave all those who felt as Mr. Fox did, an op-
portunity of expressing their sentiments, and that
Right Honourable Gentleman expressed a hope that
the debate would have a salutary effect s though he
did not calculate on its proving the salvation of the
Bourbons, yet he expected it would do some good.
lie however still telt that an accredited agent from
this country was wanting in France, to give force to
the representations of this country, and to throw its
t hole setight into the scale with effect. He should
not have gone so far into the history of these proceed-
ings, but for what occurred on a former night.—
Having colic so far, it might now,.be accessary for
Nutt to go. still farther, to compare circumstances of
the intetterence which had been deterroined on then,
with 'those under which a similar exertion was now
called for. Those for whom he now wished this coon-
. try to interest itself,. were suffering patriots and our
Thefwere 00w-oppressed, for having strug-
&la against the formeroppressors of their country.
The King, the Queen, and the Royal Family of
, Fiance, though in a deplorablestate, a state which
might well call forth sympathy, were still, unlike the
Spanish Patriots, wholly unconnected with this could-
try. They had no claim on us from any bond of
union which.bad subsisted between the two partie
Having been led to speak of preeedepts, he would
adduceone or two More, that would bear eqtrally on
the case in point.* He would not go-back ,to the isit
rind when queen.Elinaloith interfered in behalf of the
'Protestants in the Low. Cintries. nor would he dwell 1
on the steps which were afterwards ,taken on thepaitl
of this cintutry, to procure some amelioration of the
situation of .the:Huitatota. These, is' well as the.
• effort.: in.stleskiz Alive; Cromwell in favour of the per-,
seCuted Procestants. must he fresh in the memory
the lloose, and fig would nLundtaatly bear hire out
•in Makingthe utodidWith which he purposed to cost
elude. .11Ar thcpic:esiri: noe. better than 411 these
• . . . . •
wpm 4.wlts,tip ~to get*Over—be alluded • to
the Addresaee unanitiensly, voted on the subject of
the hitt' Stare Tracts some years Wk. Bads

,ie Spanish
on That occasion described the Inquisition and the co;
lonial traffic to be htsxnaster's , two eyes. o Then.'
replied that illegitimate Monarch (Oliver Cromwell)
as I must trouble your master to put out his two eyes."
He mentioned this, to skew the soreness of the Spa-
ilith Government an it onialtraffic.being'touebed
ben ;. and, if ;uteri'. et any thing on which its
liensibility was in ,a tent degree greater, it was on
that in wliirh ir was most guilty—its trade in African
*laves. It would be as safe to ask them to liberate
a prisoner in the Inquisition, or to requite to work
less hardly thgsLtunpinyed in the mines, as to
interfere withtbrrithieen Slave Trade—(llear.)--
-To ask Spain and Portugal to give up ernes share
in this commemOstas sot to do more than Spain
and Portugal would de, if they were to send over to
England to negociate a measure for the relief of their
'suffering brethren, the oppressed Catholics of Ire,
Hand. The Slave Trade occupied the same place is
the politics of Spain and Portugal, which the ciao.
tition of Catholics from a full participation in the .Beiii.,
tish Constitution held in our system. Notwithstaodir,
big this was known when the Addresses he had men.
tioned were proposed, so. determined were Parks.,
meet on the subject, that no voice had been mina
3ilinat them, and they had been carOm to het febt
• the Throne with the unanimous approbation of,
loth Houses. These had since been acted upon in
the same spirit, as appeared from the correspondeppy.
.now before the House. It was for thOse who shiliiild
'object to interference on behalf of the Spanish Pa-
triots, on the ground that such a proceeding had no
precedent, to get rid of the interference for the Royal
Family in France in the year 1792, and of the Ad.
dresses respecting the African Slave Trade, to which
be had directed their attention. If in these instances
the House had interfered for those to whom they were
bound by no common tie, save that which binds all
mankind together, surely there could be no reason
for refusing it when it was claimed in favour of the
unfortunate Spaniards, with whom we had been
united in the Council and the field. It would be for
those who opposed the motion to shew that these our
Allies were less connected with us than the Royal
Family of France. or the African Slaves had been.
It would he recollected that in 1800, Admiral Apo-
daca. the nominal Minister of Ferdinand, but really
exerciaing the power of the Spanish Junta, concluded
a Treaty with this country on behalf of Spain. This
Treaty bound England never to negociate a Peace
with France to the surrender of the rights of Ferdi-
nand, and Spain engaged neter to make a Peace
without the concurrence of ibis country ; or, in any
ease, to conclude one against its icterests. Some
time had elapsed with various fortunes when negocia-
tions were entered into with the Spanish Government,
by Lord Wellesley ; [and here he-offered the tribute
of his admiration, of the enlarged, liberal, and
statesmanlike views--of the cogent reasoning and
persuasive eloquente uhich had distinguished the
Notes of that N'ible Lord. and which had reflected,
so much honour on the principles of the British Go;
vernment]. The great object of the negotiations
carried on by the •Marcptis of Wellesley, had been
this—to assemble the Cortes. His language had
been, " Call the-Cortes—do not be satisfied with an
imperfect Representative Body unknown to the Con-
stitution of Spain, but call the Cortes at once, and
let them take the whiile state of the country into their
consideration, and effect the necessary reform in your
system." In consequence of the great efforts made
by the Noble Marquis, the Clines were called toge-
ther is the course of a few months, and a Regency
was appointed. Of the individuals which formed
this Regency (all the Members of which were select-
ed from our interposition), two had lately been sen-
tenced so punishment by Ferdinand, and were to be
found in the Black List of his victims. These were
part of that Regency who had maintained relations
of amity wits us, who had made common cause nith
114 the interest of Spain being considered the interest
of England, and the resources of England being li-
berallyresorted 'to in order effectually to sustain the
cause of Spain. The real Allies of England were,
the Regency and the Cones : they had struggled for
the liberties of their country, when they were as ig
norant how Ferdinand was employing himself, as he
believed every one in that House was careless what
Might ultimately be his fate. Towards the end of
the year 1813, or the beginning of the year 1814,
when the power of Bonaparte began to totter all over
Europe, a Treaty was begun between him and Fer-
dinand his prisoner. By this Treaty he bound him-
Pelf to remove the English army from Spain,ltinehe
French army being withdrawn, and, in a word, co-
operated, as much as was in his power, with tuna-,
parte, against this country and its Allies. Such con-
iklence had Napoleon in Ferdinand, thet he immr.
diately suffered his prisoners to go at large (senSubfes'
perhaps, that he could not do a worse serilce to
Spain )•; and what did Ferdinand An on this -occa-
sion ? Did he revoke the Treaty of Valency 15710 w.
Did he hasten to Madrid? No, he avoided it, and
retired to Valentia, after refusing to sign the Constle
tntion, and to recognise the existing Authoritiee,i
, without revoking the Treaty which be had been .in.
duced to sign while in a state of duress.' All his
thoughts seemed devoted to the study of the means
by which he might overthrow the Regency and the
Cones, which, as the Allies of England, had so ef-
fectually laboured for the salvation of Spain. The
Cortes refused to ratify the Treaty which Ferdinand
hid conceded with ikinaparte, because it was in-
tonsistent with good faith to England. as it went
against the stipulations of that concluded with this
country by Admiral Apodaca in 1809. The Treaty
of 1809 they adhered tor and this it bad been the
object of Ferdinathrto break, and indeed to diseohre
ell the arrangements which had served to knit the two
countries,tooother. But though he bad formed this
plan probabliby himself, he could not execute it with-
out our assistance. What representations were Dude
to him by our Minister at Valencia he knew not;' at
the time Ferdinand appeared to be countenanced ,by
'England in what he was doing, bet the Noble Lprd
must know whit he had been tuthozised to make..

• • ,
curie' tn.
luelient person (Sir
/ate against his pro-
instructions, we should
arhaie for seven-
- months had east on
that case avoided.
istpined by the counts-
men,. The troops'
against _ Lin English pay, and
at the head of the vanguard of Elio's corps marched
,en English officer. General Whittingham (a Lieu.
waist-Colonel in our army) had advanced to Madrid
before Ferdinandhe surrounded the town; Ferdi-
nand meanwhile advanced in the rear, or behind the
rear.—(4l laigh.)—The Cartes were surrounded by
Gmrperal WhiningbeM, the proscribed list was then
twaeght forward, and the Cartes, with two of the
'Regency, were arrested, and thrown into dungeons.
This was effected by troops in English pay; but even
hereour co-operatipn did not end. Pay and clothing
had subsequently been advanced, to the amount of
half a million of movy. He knew a Right Hoe.
Gentleman opposite, admitting this, had said the ac
icoutits were not closed at the time. This subterfuge
was advanced to make it appear there was a balance
due to Spain from this country. But he would ask,
when we made the Treaty by which this money was
to paid, were there no conditions on the other
aide ? It there were conditions, had these conditions
been fulfilled when the Treaty of Valency (which
was not revoked) had been concluded against
as ? Had we agreed to pay our money at all ha-
zards ? Were all-Treaties reciprocal but those which
were to drain of citir redundant wealth ? Were we
to advance nsonef to •Spain, whatever might occur—
even though those we undertook to subsidise went
over to Bonaparte ? After what had taken plait%
not merely at Valency, but between Ferdinand and
our Allies, the Regency, and the Cortes, this cons.
try had a right to pause before it advanced another
shilling. Nor was it only by money that our appro.
.bation of the conduct of Ferdinand had been mani-
fested. General Whittingliam, sifter what hr had
described, was made a Lieutenant-General is the
Spanish service, and thus put above all the Spanish
Major-Generals; and be was then, by the advice of
the Noble Lord (Lord Castlereagh). so doubt, ad-
vanced in the English service. He had had the ho-
nour to be made an Aid she Camp to the Prince Re-
gent, and was thus put over about one hundred and
fnrty Lieut.-Colonels in our army. The services of
.General Whittingham he was not at all disposed to
undervalue. They had not been confined to the ope.
rations at Madrid—be had distinguished himself in
the battles of Barrosa and Boyle% and witlipatriotic
warmth he believed him to have nobly borne his
share in all the Spanish campaigns ; but .the last ser-
vice he performed, and for which it might have up-
peered the ieward he received was given, was for
making himself the tool and the satellite of Ferdi
nand, by executing his plots against the liberties of
the Spanish people. He doubted not. that General
Whittingham bad his instructions for what be-had
done • but he considered it to be his misfortune that
he had not received the rewards (which he well de-
served) which had been bestowed.on him, at an ear-
lier period. It was a misfortune. not only for him,
but for the character of the English Government,
that he had seemed to betewartied, not for his exer-
tions in the battles of Baylen and Barrow, but for
his exertions against the Allies of England, the Re-
gency, and the Cortes. He apprehended it was un-
necessary for hint to pursue further the conduct of
Ferdinand. to prove the present to be a case which
called for our interference, when he bad cruelly pu-
nished those who were united with us in war and in
council, in his behalf---who had not only made this
ungrateful return to them, but who had given up the
Tie sty which had been negociattd in favour of this
country. He-wished not to be unnecessarily minute
in noticing the punishments which had taken place :
it was, however, tight to state, that twenty-seven
Neither' of the Cones, and two of the Regency,
had been consigned to dungeons. and besides a great
variety of persons in private stations, who had at-
tached themselves to the patriotic cause. These, af-
ter remaining nineteen or twenty months in confine-
ment without being brought to trial, Ferdinand, as
if to take away that complaint, had ordered to be
brought to trial. and had accordingly signed a cont.
mission for that purpose. Three commissions, one
after another, bad been signed by his Catholic Ma-
jesty. by which those persons were sent to be tried.
not before men selected from the great body of the
people, but helmet-creatures supposed to be subset:-
'teat to his views, and by them to be sentenced to
punishment, or acquitted. according to the nature of
their case,' on inquiry. It had further pleased his
Catholic Majesty .to review their sentences, •and to
proclaim to the world, either • that these creatures
were not disposed to be sufficiently subservient to, his
views, or that they had miscalculated the point at
which they concluded his animosity would stop, by
taking the work out of their hands. Some of these
punishments would nevertheless have been thought
sufficiently severe in this country. Several of the
pattiees had been sentenced to two years'. imprison-
ment, and others were ordered to confinement for a
longer period. • One, person, a poor tradesman, who
had proved himself friendly to England on all occa-
sions, and who had been active in prompting politi.
cal discussions on the conduct of the Government
was sentenced by these tribunals to four yeayb' im-
prisonment. " What l" said Ferdinand, on seeing
this sentence" only four years imprisonment fur a
wretch who hadpresumed to speak in public on po-
(4 kragis.)--He immediately undertook to
revise this sentence, and, taking a more enlarged and:
legitimate, view of the subject, he immediately struck
out the fist assigned doom of this unfortunate man,
who was a Op*, withltis own hand, and sentenced
him to be hanged..-(Haar,/sear, hear.)—Tbe public,
however—he meant the scum of Madrid, with whom
Ferdinand wat.popular-.(a mournful proof of the
assertion that. that comutry fires ill where the Mo-
narch-hid the melt for his ally), even these, his Ma-
jesty's own rabble, -had rescued this poor man from
death, and the 0406ln:tent bid in consequence been
commuted for imeritOnment for ten years. 'While
'speaking of the crualtfof the punishments inflicted,
he thought it m' ht tie roper to mention the name
of the virtuoui..the pahrantic Arguellaa, whose fate
could net be. eoo4loliited bet with Oak end indigna.
tion—Aigueilas, the.otioit iiieghiened, the moat elo.
anent of the peth whose eloquence had always

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_as tioq,seb tut *coßetiqed . iti striink this i Ina if theie. 16, .11b011tbein) lent" 146
hay of losing the high- Character we had pri yklboa)otittibtfre delicate than another to be toukhed. ••
' ' d been:l,oA to that et
wore degra.ding tbes.,l other. it •Wite • uoirest.lolV. it our.tli. plomatic tra - • 113
;But no, at that time he Was sustpi
marched against tlx Cones were i
. teith Spain, it •Het** Wellesley Ito ' tenionstrati
ably this, It was on tMkpriuciplS alone he now ca ' littioloiiial flare Trade. 'lt s known what .cetaktio. It he had had such instr
ioewsrdi and doing this, be was antiotit toggle henOthe answeagivertio:ClliverCtonswell, when no; ...liave had the cm* we now 1
hi did Att sattillee -one tittle ofthat Opinion wit' .in the zenith. of his prosperity, and when by his means tleir stigma which tbilist twenty
had formerly delivered on the injustice of interfering tile poorer of England bed been greatly tanamed; in r anisette inestbitet been in
in certain cases withotheenations,Where this course his Ministers peAk to the Spanish Minister-against-
bad been decided upon -by the English Gommttent. the Inquisition, '
andclaiming for this country. a Fir• ileace of the English Govcrnrr
As stro.ngly,.es be. bad ever done, he protested against ticiptionin the colonial wade. The Spanish courtier
_ _ .. . ..... _.•A .1....... itt the head of the vaneuard of El