The Statesman.
London, England, 1810-03-23 00:00:00

he hal done. The charge of haying
neglected to reply to a proposal made last year,
was prefaced in a Slate Paper issuing from the
t: much Government, and remained uncoutradict-
cd by Ministers. Would the Noble Baron de-
clare, that no proposal to the effect stated in that
document, was tendered ? flu had dwelt much
upon the necessity Of withholding information
pending negoci'atioa, and studiously avoided giv:
ing a plain answer to a plain question. With re-
spect to trammelling the 'lege:nation, he was var.
suadeil nothing was farther from his Noble
Fritod's thoughts, and he could not see what cm.,
bat rassraent could possibly arise to it from acted.
tug; to_ the motion. All that his Noble Friend
wished to obtain was a knowledge of the nature of
the communication, sod of the wanner and time
ef its reception.
The Earl of LIVF,RPOOL thought that the

speech of his Noble FAL:nil was perfectly satisfac-
tory. lit all the proposals on the subject of an
eetrhange of prisoners, that hail been made from
France since the Revolution, there had been mani-
fest injustice. The enemy always set out on a ba-
sis totally incensistent with the principles reeng-
tacd by all nations ; and it was only by tedious
rid difficult negociation, that they could be pre-
vailed upon to depart from them. With respect to
tyre; charge preferred by the Noble Merquis, that a
plain answer had been refused to a plain question,
hi, Noble Friend felt it his duty to oppose the pa.
pas moved for, because they tended to take the
negociation out of the regular channel. Their
Lordships woold not fail to perceive the very great
disadvantage,-way the absolute mischief that was
likely to arise from discussing this subject while it
was under consideration elsewhere. lie would
admit that there %acre varicose. cummuniratious on
this tery subject, during the pound alluded
The Noble Baron did not appear to understand
the stature of the proposals which he supposed to
have been made. If he did he would know, that
it was possible the proposed basis of negneiation
'might beau unjust as to render it inadmissible, at
the very outset, or that it might be so objectios-
able in parts as to render previous ex planation tie.
emery. He considered the motion to be both
very ill judged, and injurious in its consequences,
if granted. It would have the effect of embarras.
sing, instead of facilitating the tiegociation. It
would commit Government ou points of great de.
limey, and would not attain the end proposed.
Lost GREN VILLE could not consider the ex-
planation givens by the Noble Baron, or the No-
bit Rarl who spoke last, as any way satisfactory.
It was deficient in frankness and candour. 'Om
was something behind, something concealed in it.
•Wc were Dow fur the second dew involved in a
war, which it seemed stag to be tanied un as far
as depended ou the determination of Ministers, in
horrihle violation of the usual courtesies of that
dronifel state. What hit beets the proud boast
of this country up to this flay ? That it did on
all occasions every thing to suspend the cruelty of
war ; that no opportunity was neglected to try to
bring it back to the semblance of what it was in
former Ames. 'Phis was the state to which it
6,:eined ha Mijesty's Ministers were avers. to
bring the contest betwoeit us and France. the
Noble Raton said, until that night he was inno-
put of the document signed by the Duke of Ca-
dor*. Why was he so? %Vas it nut his duty to
have become acquainted with the contents of a
State Piper that was in every one's hands, and
that umbrae's.' achargestrainst that department of
which "he was the head The French Guvuru.
mint had accused his 'Majesty's Ministers of re.
jeeting a proposal fur an exchattge of prisoners of
War. If this accusation be inane on just get/twilit',
then the British Government fur the first time
'night say, " we are the cause that this dreadful.'
practice continues ; we are the cause that thou-
sands of our countrymess are starting and lan.
guishing in French prisons, from which they might
be ttleased, were it not for stir neglect or jot-
practicability." As to the argument that no ire:
formation could be &Gilled ou this subject with-
out prejudice to the negotiation that was pending„;
ho could easily skew, trona ss hat passed at a fur_
suer period, that DO inconvenience could possibly
arise. In the year 1797, a charge appeared in a.
French Piper, respecting the improper treatment
of the I..isoners in this coulitry. %Vid was the
conduct of that great Mall (Mr. Putt) whose
namewas so often quoted on the other side, on
that nocasionl He propte.ed that the charge
should be enteeiled to a Committee of the other!
House; Out that he or any person in this country 1
could possibly entertain a doubt of the falsehood
of the accusation, but for the purpose of sad fy.'
ing all Europe- by a Report and Resolution of
Parliament, the it was wholly unfounded. That
R.)3011160;1 was adopted by the Howie, and an
Address was voted to his Majesty, praying
him to take the Arece,sary steps to cominuni-
cafe a positive denial of the accusation to all the
Princes and Potentates with whom lie watr in
friendship and affiance. How dial the Gurerntneret
now stand ? :Here was a solemn charge, made in a
Paper crming from one of the highest official au.
Charities in France, which charge was soared to
spread throughout Europe, unrefuted anti anicon.
tratlicted. instead of disavowing an imputation
sn utivrorthy of the tuitional character, and so
intrary to its practice in other periods, the per.
lon most interested rose with a levity ill.suited to
;me ,tac-asion, and cinched the charge, instead of
meeting it fair!y. The explanation of the Noble
Marl was not leis equivocal and evasive. 'They
'acne to their Lordships with the stale end hack-
cued prst•Arce that any information on the subject
would be pi oitictire of disadvantage. The No-
,le Baron and his colleagues might elude the not-
ion for the present, but the information sought
;or must be disclosed, and if it was of the nature
asserted, and that he had reason to expect, he
')oped the vengeance of Parliament would follow.
A charge highly injurious to the humanity of the
British Govertunout had been made, and not re-
pelled, as it ought to byre beer, lie hoped the'
would agree to the motion.
The el.! of WESTMORLAND spoke to the
sseto effect as Lord Liverpool.
Earl GREY could not conceive why the Noble
Lords on the other side should bell:Etc to give a

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