The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-19
RRIIVSH P.fRLIAIiEN-I.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, JUNE Is.

Spain.
Mr.. SHERIDAN rose, and addressed the
House, " NotW outstanding the latcness Of
the hour to which the late discussion has
continued, feel myself called on Ia prose
cute the subject to which have, on former
occasion, attracted the attention of the House.
In these DAYS of negotiation, it is not won
dcrful, proposition should be made to post
pone the present consideration. The propo-
sal has come from most respectable quar-
ter. and has been supported BY some most
plausible arguments of my right hon. friend
mr. Canning had Invited the Spanish No
bicman, lately arrived, to dine with himl
namely, that as those whono Represented
the Independence of Spain were partaking
of his hospitality, it would be better to per-
nit them 10 pass their evening in his socie-
", and under his immediate care thai com
pei him tn desert them at the hosWtabie
board. This certainly had some effect or
me when ] first heard it, bat as have since
found my right hon. friend has d spatched
gallant General, (Sir A. Weilesey.) to SUI
pcrintend the duties Of the household, with
his usual urbanty, feel no longer any hest
tatioa in proving temporary Inconvenience
to my Right Hon. Friend by calling the Al
tentinn of this House to the most important of
all subjects al present for this country and for
Europe collectively hoping the gallant Ge-
pl shing the Objects Of his present mission as
he may hereafter, be in the completion of
an enterprise for which his peculiar and ex-
trapl d,Hary talents seem not onlv to have
marked him out, but to which the urgency
the times in which we live, and the Judi
cious arrangements Of Ministers. have call
ed him. When detached on that expedition,
which is to prove the enthusiasm and the
spirit OF the British Government and British
nation have no doubt his success will be
no less conspicuous than that of his conviviaI
talents ar:ong the guests of my Right Hon
Friend. Let me assure the House, that
nave rot come down this evening intending
tolecture or advise the Government of Thu
country on the measures they may resort to
for effecting their purpose far from it; nv
province lies in very short and confined
compass. i have before stated that had
already consulted with my Right Hon Friend
most o. the topics which would neCessa-
rily commit themselves with the present
consideration, and here I must confess |
think it rather odd a Right Hon. Gentleman
should be altogether So suspicious of the ma
ture of my motion, as to BE aDprehensive
notwithstanding the privity of my Right
Hon. friend, that there mieht be sor.. ethine-
dangerous lurking beneath it. On the other
hand, wish to apprsc the House there ex-
lists no intention on my part TO introduce a
specific motion this subIect, in such a
form as shall exonerate Ministers from all
responsibility for the consequences of that
line of conduct they may hereafter be induc-
ed to pursue. admit, and with gratifcati-
on and heartfelt pleasure, there is nothing in
my Right Hon Friend that is not amiable
in his private life, and energetic and perfect
In his public career, still j must say there
is no man inclined to act upon his own con-
viction, and stand aloof from the opinions Of
others perhaps his only fault is, that while
he pursues his own determination with the
most infleXible pertinaCity, lac is by no means
inclined 10 grant equal tolerance to the at
tons or opinions Of others. 1t must then APP
ipearI have been twice mistaken; and hence
Iplaced in most unpleasant dilemma: by
member of the Ministry, as bringing for
ward motion Of msChievOus tendency, by
my honorable friend (Mr. Whitbread) as en-
deavouring 10 cover the Ministry from the
scrutiny of the public hereafter. 1t is the
extreme of injustice on the pari of my Right
Hon. Friend to deny to any person differing
with him in opinion, that tolerance which
the worth and energy or his own feelings not
unfrequently make it necessary he should
: demand at the hands Of others Nor can
express sufficiently my regret that any cx-
pectation should be excited, that ! should
so far prove myself destitute of either pr,I-
denCe or deCorum, as to avoweily give no
tee of an intended lecture to his Maiesty's
! government on the tXpr1ienCv or prophet,
Of their acqicscence in any specific recon-
=. mendation of mine. Ny intention is simple.
my wishes are conferred in the promotion tf
the public good. | propose to move a pro-
position in this house, for the purpose of en-
g7giog England heartily in the cause of the
outraged aad insulted Spaniards. wish not
however to engage this country in any wild
or mad speculating schene for their inter
csts. Rst this must say, since the period O.
the breaking out Of the French revolution,
! there has been no such opportunity afforded
! to this country to check the Bortentous
growth oil the empire and strength of France.
as 1T the present moment. Since the enthu-
siasm of Spain seems to have been excited a
gainst the unworthy treatment they hive re-
ceived, from one protesting himself their ally
and protector; since in Asturias the brave
| iHdiSeH9 of the soil have armed in defence of
! their independence and national character
the most happy result is to be c&pecled froal
their resistance should it be supported by a
similar display Of patriotism through Spain,
and the cooperation Of England We know
well what the brave A.turians have done.
and can again do--fvery thing is to be cx-
pected from the co1currt nee Of propitious cir
cumst"nccs.--It has been demanded, to what
purpose has the preseni inquiry been insti-
tuted in Parliament? If It was ms intention