The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-06-16 00:00:00

MINTRTRRIAL NEGOCIINtIONS.

Mr. SHERIDAN rose to give notice of his inten-
tion to bring forward a Motion on Wednesday next.
He was sure there was no person i* the Rouse who
felt more deeply than himself how desirable it was to
stand well in the public opinion ; but he was also
sure that no person deserved the good opinion of the
public who did not also desire to protect his personal
honour when called in question. lie therefore took
the earliest oppOttunity of expressing his purpose to
bring forward a Motion on Wednesdarnest, desir-
ing farther official information respecting the nego-
ciations which had been lately carried on for a
change of Ministers; and he now applied to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer to allow him to take
an early hour on that day. lie should merely
make a brief statement of facts, which would lead
to no discussion, and which he was sure would ad-
mit or no contradiction. After the statement which
he should make, there would not be a living being,
he believed, in the character of a gentleman, who
would countenance any reflection on his honour or
character.

; Lord YARMOUTH was aware how unparliamen.
tary a proceeding it was to refer to any thing that
had taken place on a former debate. He hoped,
I however, the House ‘rould permit him to say, that
when le made a statement to them on a former night
respecting a Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. She-
ridan), he certainly did fancy he saw him sitting in
his place. As, however, that was not the case, and
as what he had said had been misrepresented, he
copld now restate to him what lie had then expresesd.
--Vries of No! by a few, and a more general ay
" of Go on !]—When the Right Hon. Gent. alluded to
the public, he meant hint (Lord Yarmouth) in the pub.
lic—he was not more titan one in the public ' • and
there might be persons out of doors capable of put-
ting an unfavourable construction on his silence.
IHe felt sure the Right lion. Gentleman was con-
vinced he had not misstated what had passed between
I them • though what he had stated had certainly been
misrepresented out of doors.—[Cry of Goan with
the statement !]—He could not but express his grati- '
tude to the House for their good humour in allowing
him to proceed. lie should do so without more sue.'
plusage than what was unavoidable by a man not in
the habit of public speaking. He should now pro-
ceed to the statement, observing however that he
had no thought of contradicting his Right Honour.
able Friend. He did state to the House the other
night, and he was happy now to restate it, because
it was not heard by all, an intention on the part of
a portion of the Household to resign. He stated
that they had determined to resign—at least that a
large number of them had determined to resign
on such a change of Ministers as would induce a
, change of measures. He further stated, that they
had made this determination known to the highest
quarter with all possible respect, ' and that three
great officers in particular had stated, within twenty- ,
four hours of each other this determination to those
persons who might then be considered as at the head of
the Government ; in other words, that they made
their intention to quit their situations known to the
political chiefs of their party. Their intention to do
so was certain, though it was. combated in a.certaial
quarter of the "highest 'respectability. With I
regard to what bad passed between his Right Ho.
nourahle Friend and himself, he would now restate
it to the House. 44 My Right Honourable Friend
and myself," continued the Noble Lord, " hap..
pened to meet one evening in a well-known place,
where we were accustomed to spend our evenings.—
I hear, Aid he, you are all plug to resign.-1 said
we were.—Let me desire of you, said he, as an old!
Ifriend, not to do so—take my advice and think bet- I
ter of it—we will talk of it, if you please, to..
morrow.—l then observed, what you say will al-
ways have more weight with me than any man in
I this kingdom. Accordingly we appointed an hour
'next day to talk further on the subject, but as the
)Right Honourable Gentleman did not come at his
hour, I went out without seeing him that day."—
His Lordship was about to proceed with his state•
ment, when
, Mr. SHERIDAN rose. He did not wish to stop
any Member while addressing the House ; but as he
lad already given antic, of a motion, when every
`,person would have an opportunity of making what
sibiervation's he thought proper, he submitted it to
the alseretion of the Noble Lord, whether or not he
lotted to proceed farther with his statement, at 'ibis
Itline. if, however, the Noble Lord was so inclined,
ttndthd House thought fit he should now proceed, he
lkoiSed they would also allow him and any other
'Member an opportunity. of afterwards making such
observations as might occur to them.
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