Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-05-19
IMPERIAL PdRLLzlfKaT
BRITISH HOUSE. OF
M4RcH 90.
Causes Of the Late Change IN Adm1n's'
tYQts0ns

~ t#cfI
Lord Howick addressed the speaker nearly
in the following terms " Sir--As a motion
has been made by an honorable gentleman Tor
the adjournment oflhe house during that Pc
Rod, which at this season of,thesyear is usu-
ally allowed as a relief from = iatigues OF
business, | trust it willnot be conslderedlia-
proDer or irrevoientin me te take the oppor-
funity of giving the house that explanation
which i last night intimated, that 1T Was my
intention to communicate. 1t Is .of the ut
most importance tomyself and my colleagues
that the circumstance which led tothe recent
change liz his maiesty's councils should be tul-
iy and fairly explained. tits undoubtedly OF
considerable importance to the house and to
the pubIic, to receive that explanation, that
they mag be enabled TO form a proper estimate
OF the character and disposition OF those per-
sons to whom the administration OF the coun-
try Eas been lately entrusted; c! the transas-
tons which led to the dismissal OF those per-
sons, AMI OF the probable result OF the change
These considerations render important also
the decision Of the present question, as to the
~psopriety OF alaager or shorter adjournment
) Of the house, from the necessity that may oc-
cur Of bringing forward some measure which
tic late extraordinary events may slew to be
expedicnt. For myself. sir, every feeling,
every motive by which man can be a%ctuated,
makes it of tic highestimportance to me,
that as soon as possibly | may have the opPor-
tunity OF convincing the house that my beha-
vior in this affair has not been such as to induce
them to repent the Kindness which | have e.
YER had the good fortune to receive at their
hands. Every moments delay, while, during
that moment, a doubt may be entertained by
the house Of the conduct OF myself and my
colleagues, who have heretofore enjoyed SO
many Instances of their distinguished coma
dencc and support, is indeed to me most pam
full. But anxious, sir, as l naturally am, to
clear myself and those with whom | have had
the honor to act, from the imputatons that
have been cast upon US, l feel In common with
the Memorable gentleman who SO expressed
himself Yesterday evening tMr. Sturges
Rouracl great regret at the necessity which l
am un4ero OF doing SO in the absence OF those
who, as some seem to think, ought to &c pre-
sent, to watch my statements, and detect my
inaccuracies. In saying this, | am tar from
imputing to That honorable gentleman the IN
tention of throwing out any unfair mslnua-
tons. know we'll the natural part1ality eve
nv one entersains for self, and | know that par
TALLY may bias a man, and induce hlrs to take
a view. perhaps not strictly correct, OF sub
jaot in which he. is personally interested; l
am, therefore, as anxious as the honorable
gentleman can be, that those persons should
be prescnta al the investigation OF the transac-
tons / have alluded to and | earnestly hope
that this matter may yetbe discussed Oh some
future day, when those honorable gentlemen
NAV assist the house in examining and citing
the details of it In every part, from the com
menceraent to>the corclusion. Sir, 1t Is nell
Their my nature, nor in my habits, to shrink
from the examination of my life but I am
reduced to this alternative, either to submit
to have the public mind prejudiced by reports
and misrepresentation, supported by partial
extracts from confidential papers, or in the
absence of those who cannot now be present,
to do that which Justice to myself, and to my
colleagues, imperiously calls upon me to do,
by a fair, OPEN and manly exposition of eve
ry part of the late transactions, to afford the
only antidote against the mischievous effects
S of those garbled statements, and wilful mlsre-
presentations. Under such circumstances,
Sir, it is impossible, in the fulhlment OF my
duty to myself, to my colleagues, to the
house, and to the country. to suaer such a
period to elapse before l make thi3 explana-
ton, as must necessarily intervene, ~erc the
persons to whom | have alluded can resume
their seats in parliament. Their absence,
however will have this effect 1t will induce
ne to conGne myself as closely as possible to
a dry statement of facts. | shall carefully a
void every thing that may lead to a discussion,
and dwell on those points alone which are ne
cessary for the vindication of myself and my
friends. I shall cautiously abstain from en-
tering into any argument founded on the
facts which / Shall relate, leaving, until after
the holidays, when those gentlemen will take