Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-06-30
FOREIGN NE MS,
Selected from London papers TO The 18TH
April.
IMPERIAL PARLIAAHEN-T.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
APRIL l6

! 80 PEN rose 10 say few words
on subJect deeply interesting to the feel
inSs and homer OF this country. 1t was
win pam he was compelled to advert to
inc disagreeable, question; but the trans
actions that had lately taken place in
france relative to it rendered it pecessa-
~ to rescue the character of the poverp-
ment and OF the country from the infa.
nous charges made by the French ao-
Vsrnment against one of our ministers at
foreign court. To justify the acis Of
violence which had been committed bv
TIC french government, it had been mr..
geo. that instructions had been given bv
our government TO that minister TO eucoi-
| rage and excite the subjects of France IN
the commission of The most abominabI,,
| crimes. AS long as the charges aea;n.ts
thls country had been confined 10 yeb;cIec,
OF the rancour and malevolence of The.
French government the noble Lord wouIJ
nave thought 1t wise TO treat them with
that scorn and silence such unlounded
caiumnies merited; but in his opinion the,
case was now altered. A publication had
oeen circulated, purporting TO be the COR
respondence between our minister at Mn.
nlch and Frenchman residing at Paris
by This 1t appeared that the Frenchman
had betrayed his trust, and put the French
| government in possession of the cores
pondence. This publication has been
| communicated 10 all the FOREIGN minis
tiers at Paris and from their renI;es. -
would appear that they had all with the
single exception of The Russian Mi
MISTER, preJudged the matter on aIIepa,i-
| ons improved, ard he trusted unproyable:
lie should not dwell upon the sery;I,,v
WIN which Europe bowed to the power
OF france, but he wished to see that SER
witty confined TO the continent, and tn
nave II proved TO the world, that there
was one country at least, which is neither
70 be awed by its Menaces, nor aspersed
by its calumnies. As TO the CHARGES,
which had in This instance been made
lie thought he had a right to call on his
Mslesty's ministers 10 clear up. He tho't
he had right to call on them in Justice.
to themselves, in justice 10 the indiy,duap
concerned (Mr Drake) and above all in
justice to the character Of the country. 10
feiute The atrociods calumnies, and to re-
pei the iniquitous charges so uniustly
made upon the honor of the country. He
| trusted he should be justified in calling ON
hrs MaJesty's ministers to prove TO the
world that they had not armed the barS
OF the assassin, that they had not aimed
the dagger in the dark, but on the con-
irary, conducted their system of hostili-
ties rn that fair, open, and manly man.
ner. which belongs to legitimate warfare.
The Chancellor Of the Erchegucr-
l feel myself under the highest obi
patIOnS tn the noble Lord
ty he has afforded me Of thus public
~ repeiling and refuling the most base
and untounded charge that ever has been
brought against the government Of any ci-
vllized country. / am sure that the house
will scarcely expect from me any thinr.
more than expressions of the utmost sur
prise, indignation and adherence, against
/ the foul and atrocious calumnies of the
most wicked and lyrannical government
that ever was established in the midst ne
civilized people. The servants of his
majesty spurn at such charge, and viii
oppose TO ii their character and their ho.
nor In compliance with the noble lords
/ request, ! now affirm with a clear consci-
ence, and with perfect truth, that no IN.
StrHcffo7S haUe BEEN sent By the Eritish po-
OernneHt 10 any Of IRIS residents abroqd IN.
consistent with he rights of nations. Of no.
nor, and IF JurtafrHdeHce. shall savno-
thing at present Of he CONSTRUCTION put nm
OF the supposed correspondence, bat as
sure the House that no person can be
more anxious than am myself to yjrd;-
cate the conduct OF his malesiy's minis.
ters' and to falsify the abominablc CHARGE.
which IS evidently meant as the grossest
insult upon the character ofthc SOVEREIGN
and his government, and as a means Of
wounding and degrading through them,
The feelings, the character and The honor
OF the people Of this empire. The 90
vernment has not yet received any dis.
patches from the resident al Munich, mfr.
Drake upon this subje6: but as soon as
they arrive, | shall think il necessary
to make such communication as will [
am convinced, rescue his character az
wei as ours, from so foul and dcteslab!e
SANDER. have petlsG confidence that
the more The particulars of his conduct
are euquired into, the more apparent will