The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-02-14 00:00:00

Lis own satisfaction ;• but other Members might dif-
fer from the Hon. Gentleman, and he for one begged
leave to differ from him totally and entirely. For
Lis part, he placed the highest confidence in the Mi-
nister. He thought that the Minister had conducted
the atiairs of the country well, and that was not his
bumble opinion, but the opinion of many who had
core experience and were infinitely of more consi-
deration than himself. But be the talents of the

blinister and his Colleagues what they may, it was
at least evident, that their conduct to America had
been conciliatory ; that it was as conciliatory as was
compatible with the 'independence of Englishmen ;
who, though they should not wish to be the aggres-
son towards America, did not, however, at the same
time, like to receive insult from her. There was a
• deal of swaggering exterior in the conduct of Ame-
rica ; but he was much desired, if there was not also
much wisdom at the bottoms of that conduct, and a
wisdom which would, in his opinion, recede in the
end from a war with this country. But as to the
present motion, could it possibly tend to any good
purpose, or was it not rather calculated to produce;
*very bad one? He did not much care who was k
or who was out; but if the preservation of the marl.l
time rights of the country were to depend on the
continuance in power of the present Minister, he
would support the Minister for the sake of the
rights.—fatestion, question.]
Mr. WHITBREAD said, although the HON.
seemed eager to come t 9 a decision, he hoped thet
be would gain the customary indulgence of being al.
lowed to answer the arguments of these who had
spoken against the motion. The Hon. Gentleman
who spoke last was extremely anxious to know what
good pnrpose the motion could serve. lie could tell
tile Hon. Gentleman, that one good purpose which it
would evidently accomplish, was to give him infor-
mation on the subject of America; fos it was quite
evident from the tenenr of his speech, that he was
greatly in want of such information. The Hon.
Gentleman had made a declaration in favour of the
Illinister,---be was ready to place every confidence in
him. This was, no doubt, a spontaneous effusion,
a gratuitous declaration, springing from his heart,
and directed by his understanding. He was
even generous without bounds; for he not only
loved the Minister, but he loved his colleagues
too.—They were all wonderful men ; they were
all men of talent ! His praises, though very sincere,
as it must Liftsupposed, were, however, extremely
well-timed*Or they came just after the grand an-
nouncement of the Right lion. Gentleman, who, as
if he had escaped from durance, had told the coun-
try in no very obscure terms, and rather with exulta-
tion, that he was to be the Prince Regent's Minis-
ter. As far as personal consideration could affect
bim, he (Mr. Whitbread)* could assure the House,
that he was exceedingly careless who was Minister;
but as far as his country was concerned, as far as
higher and more exalted motives could sway his feel-
lings,-he would say, that he most seriously indeed
regretted this declaration of the Right HouOurable
Gentleman. lie regretted it, because it forced upon
Itim considerations of the most melancholy nature ;
because he knew that the continuance of the Right 1
Honourable Gentleman in power, augured fatally
laud omiuously for the happiness of his country; be-
*arise such a disastrous fact promised no good, and
foreboded every evil ; because, calamitous as had
beee.ehready sesr 'intakes; this was the abetting out
ofhope ; this wasthebeginning of despair ; this was the
consummation of evil. But be would ask the lion.
Gentleman still, why was his support of the Mini-
sters so broad ?—lf the Hon. Gentleman wished to
'be considered as delivering a consistent opinion, was
he quite right in lavishing his praises on the Minister
and alt his colleagues ?—Was he not aware, that
amongst those colleagues there was at least one, who
differed from the Right Hon. Gentleman opposite,
even pa prisscipk; and how, then, could his
approbation equally and consistently extend to both ?
N—Tear, hear!] The Hon. Gentlemen then ar-
gued against the denial of the Papers by the Chan.
cellor of the Etehequer. He was confident, that if.
a motion were made in another place for these Pa-
pers, the Marquis Wellesley would not oppose it.—
The Honourable Member for Yorkshire had refused
his assent to the production of those Papers, be-
clause, iu his opinion, they would lead to angry dis-
cussions. That Hon. Member had said, that he (Mr.
Whitbread) had spoken to night different from his
usual manner. He was sorry that he could not say
the same of the Honourable Member, for to do'
him the justice, or rather injustice, he had spoken
indeed most like himself. He had been unfor-
tunately peaty of ncrinconsistency—he unhappily had
not departed from the usual course which he had
marked out for himself in that House. The Hon.
Gentleman had said, that the production of the pa
-
pen would cause irritation. lie deprecated the fiery
debate and the hot contentions which those papers
would p,oduce; and yet, with marked inconsistency,'
and elas.at in the same breath, hie said, that Ski ba,A
every information which we could wish Were Us ;
and that every Member had already in his hands just
as much information as was necessary to be the fopne,
tiolius of a contentious debate. As to whaLwas said
by another Honourable Member (Mr. Stephen) 044
th disappointment he felt at the course he (Mr. W.).
had taken in enforcing his (notion, he could only
sly . that he was extremely sorry for that honoura-
ble Gentleman'adisappoitement, aggravated usit was
by the preparation which he avowed himself to have
made, of following the question step by step; *oi.
discussing the Orders in Oilmen in all their bearings:
It was certainly a great hardship on the Honourable
Gentleman not to have the opportunity of speaking,
fr"r hours, as he had done on a former occasion on
this subject ( I laugh.) If the Hon. Gent. had been in-
dulged with that oppo rtu nity,he would have performed
great feats;. he would have shewn how"wront Arne,
rica was, and how right Great Britain: he would
have shewn how little England had to deplore the
Orders Couucil ; how 1. ry slightly her trade had
been affected ;—not only how slightly her trade had
been affected, but how much it had been ber..Ated—•
bow much her prosperity had increased,—how much
)ter wealth had been augmented. All these fine,
things had been lost, because the Hon. Gentlest:awl
could not make the speech he intended. But libel
iote: Member resisted the production of the pee'
pets. ile denied the Member for Milboarne- the
obtainment of his cui kno ; and he assisted to keep
beCit- 014.4 inferMigieel WOlll4 imfe 6onecW

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