Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-04-21
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
ERFURTH PAPERS.
Tuesd y, ian. 81.

canon he was pleased lo make to Parlia-
| met, with respect 10 the proposition m d..
for peace from Erfurih. The priac.pIe
on which his majesty acted, in the transac.
! ion submitted tn the con ,de~a ion of the
louise, he had n, duub, wou d induce he
House 10 resolve TO supper, h Majesty IN
continuing the war, as it was impo, sibe
he could hea ken o proposition in ~ h CHI
Spain was at the time to be abando ed o
he enemy. He d d not Conceive that
here could beany opposit on or diversity
II opinion on the subject, ard whatever
m GIT b. said on he occasion, or whatever
there might BE- Of doubt or hesita ion, az
| 20 the approval OF the steps taken on he
occasion, yet he was convinced that not
an indiv dual in The House would stand
up and say that there was any ps0babil-
ny OF The result of the neg C alton ending
IN peace in the overture from Erlurth
the enemy Gould have no serious ,dea of
peace. and yet thaugh this was he case,
ne challenged any MAJ 10 say that any
TAR object was omitted Oh the par, OF MS
MaJesty's ministers to produce ,rauqu v,
or that any maner "a wantonly inliodu-
ced tn render the chance of psace impDs-
s'oie on the fair g,ounds of criticism, If
| 'hey were denIed applause, they certainly
did not incuc either censure or blame.
Every person must recollect he observed,
he feelings OF the pubic with respec, 10
| he struggle OF Spain at the time &c over
,ure Was ma for peace from Erlurth.---
II any blame was 10 be attached 10 mia.
,sieTS' Sd tar from their being reprehensi
be for not prntIaaing the negoc.ation, it
was probable ,hat they were not sufTici-
en'ly gu IN putting an end 10 it in the
hfsl instance, IS there WAS no question
out he Object of The enemy was delay &
deius'on. II, however, beloved minis.
'ers, wlhou The probability OF doubt, TO
| ascertain what the enemy really had in
view; theref,re it was equally important
| 10 examine into his object as IL vas 10
bring h ovsru u spe edy dec .ion.
| After the in xsmplcd del,nq ency AID
detestabie a'Icciye, OF Bonaparte, on con.
sulting political expediency, or a high
! moral PRINCIPE, It might have b en- lust
| 10 nave rejected at nee ali oyer,ures, un.
( less he niade some a.onemeul for his per.
hdIcusness and outrage, AMI that minis.
ters would not treat with him unll he
had abandirej Spain, and re.to ed the
oPanish fanny to The ihroDs, whom he
had seized, as prelude TO gene al pa.
( c'ficaton. Having however no Precedent
for SUCH proceed NJ, and mimic ers con.
ceIving that if they acted on such a 0. IN.
c'pie as atoDement, they must also ssy,
there mus be sponge TO wipe GU, all his
to- mef tran actions they required NJ such
atoDeme 1T. bu received The owe ture from
Eriurth, and her conduct was now before
ne House' After entering no an e.
iaborate fence of goyernmen he con.
clGdsd by wing an bumoie address, 10
his MaJc,y' for his grsc Gus communica-
ton RESI- ecs,ng The proposition made for
peace from Eriurth, and The result there.
! OF.
J Sir Francis Burdeu said, having a DIFF.
J ferent view OF the present question from
any OF the gentlemen who had that nigb,
delivered their opinions, and not having
previously attended any ofthe meetings
connected with the cause OF he Span,sh
ptoi le, nor expressed what were n = M
tons on that subject, he could not allow
the question To 20 70 vote without short.
ly delivering his sediments on he ocoa
slon'--On address proposed % be devo.
ted % hls Majesty, he Understood it IN he
as matter OF tight IN any member To
enter into any discussion Of the general
interests OF he country. II might he dis
agreeable 10 the ears of Engii,hmen, to
near the PeriIous situation of their conn.
ny described, TO have enumerated tain
OF occurrences more calamitous and i'm
p'oVid-nt probably than had ever disgra.
ced any nation on he face of he globe.
bu! still, he'd he not been instructed br,
he superb judgment Of the speaker, he
should h We been of opinion that the hon.
orab'e member who spoke s.. had he
no. waved he right, was EFT ed O have
proceeded and migh fairly have ,ntrodu.
duced any parailei instances of a.rocitv.
whe0 told n he her side, tba, tbc "a
d the empe o. OF the French, by which
his country was precluded from i,steniog
TO his "VerIures Tor peace, was an instance
OF he most unpa allelt d stroc ty which
BAD ever s5raced county. He feIt
no pleasu c IN recalling % the recollection
OF the houe The calamties and burdens
under which the people of thts counfv
gcOaned. He did not wish them 10 I,,t