Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-08-06
FOREIGN.
HOUSE OF COMMONS, JUNE 3.
EOreiD, E,Br,,,,on, nm


Mr. benson presented petition from
the meS:,lianis aud ship owners of the
parishes ct Bermonsay and Roihcrhithe,
against The Foreign Enlistment Bill. The
honorable member observed IL was signed
by upwards of $50 of The most eminent
merchants and ship owners. The petit
non WAS read and ordered TO lie on tie
table.
MIR. L. Wilson said he held similar
petition from The merchants aud shin ow-
ncrs q! the city Of LONDON, i'm which the
petitioners declared their opinion, that
tins measure was one of the most vital
importance 10 the commerce and prospe-
rity OF the country. The hon. member
observed, II was somew hat extraordinary
HAT now IN The 10Th century, we SHOULD
he called or TO make laws declaring " hat
neutrality was. IL was also somcw hat
extraordinary that Spain should call for
such measure at a time when she had in
her ports an armament equal 10 rarryi ing
out trsops sufficient To crush not only tile
Insurgents, az they were called, nut all
the subjects of This country engaged
there. He could not but consire ia; at
tlme !" hen we ere ter'l,ng r-ii',ons
complaining of the distresseS of every
branch OF our manufactures, ministers
dit 'uN BdUSt btlNIt, Nv
blind compliance with the wishes of the
court Of Spain, we forfeited the advan
tages we were at present deriving from
our intercourse and commerce with South
America. The petition was brought NJ
and read, and ordered 10 lie ON lie ia bic
Petitions were presented from New
Castle, Poplar, LImehouse, sc. against
the enlistment bill. The Attorney General
then moved the second reading of the
bill. SIR Il. Wilson said ihst when the
learned gentleman brought in This bin,
he, toreseeing the bad reception il would
meet With, declared that the measure was
his alone, and thar he would take all the
responsibility on himself. The noble lord
however, had CALAMITY stepped forward,
and declared II political measure, in
which he would take his share. The noble
lord and learned gentleman had said, this
was measure intended TO preserve neu-
tTaliiy shut i'm fact ii was intended 10
prevent succours being sent 10 the weaker
party. The hon. member then proceeded
To refer 10 The Acts of tie 9th and Goth
OF George III. which were to be made the
foundation of the present Act, but he
wished the House TO look TO the situation
OF The country when those acts passed,
and when similar acts were passed in the
! reigns Of James |. and III. He commended,
however, that an act of this description
had never been passed, except when This
country was principal in the war, and
even then as soon as passed they became
A dead letter and he dehed the Aitor-
ney General 10 namE on irp>,ance IN WHICH
| lhH acts OF the 9th or 18th George III. bad
been acted upon. In Nag, during a re,
belion, French corps having surrcn.
dered on the coast of Wales, number
of Irish officers were found i'm that corps,
but on producing commissions from the
French government, they were treated as
prisoners of war and when ia a later
period, Gen. O'flara was taken by the
French, and an order was made bv the
Convention for his trial, the Duke Of York
sent Lord Hutchinsoh 10 protest against
such a proceeding, aud cited the case OF
l746. In the vars between Russia and
the Porte, the Russians were almost con
siantly commanded by Sco,ehmen, vet
this had never been held as cause OF war
between the Porte and us nor had Gen.
Moneys engaging in the service Of France
against Austria, been considered as a
subject OF quarrel between IT'S and Aus.
iria. Again, in the engagement between
| the English feet under Rodney, and the
| French under De GraSse, there were
Swedes serving or board both fleets. II
! was said, indeed, that America had pass
| ed such bill as this. He admired Anne.
| RIGA, but he could see her policy in this
friend OF tie Patriots, and had furnished
them with two fine irigates but Spair
had tempted her from the cause of The
Patriots, by giving her the FIoridas.
| He knew il was dangerous TO be "a pro-
! phet, but he could foresee that Amer,e0
,ooutd go on pushing till either by intrigue
| HTedtS or force, she WOuid get Ca6a, ana
! from thence she isoHd reach the continent
plant the standard on Me1icam ground, secure
the commerce Of South Amcrica and having
done thu, wOHh taHgh at rs as their dnpes
| Clear hear y The present bill was ore
which humanity rejected and policy con.
demUed in fact, bill in favor of Ferdi
nand, and in opposition 10 liberty. Hear
| Hear! The hon. member concluded bN
moving as an amendment, that instead %
now, the bull should be read secOnC
time this day six mouths.
The Attorney General expressed hi.
surprise at the doctrine of the galIan
General, who had commended that tho
subjects of Great Britain were 10 BIZ
allowed TO enter into the service of Fo
reign States, even at war with us. No, No
He knew The gallant general bad not sale
HAT IN direct terms: but if what had beer
SAID by him of The instance of the IrisI
brigade in the service of France, was Il
be recognized in the House, il went tina
length. Hcar Herr THE principle o
the bill now introduced by him was, that
where we were in friendship with stale
the king had right 10 command IFS sub
iccis moi TO enter into service against tn,
state. The king has also n right 10 com
'oand, AS far as he can control, the return
OF all his subjects who were absent. /
u we're moi so, the consequence would be
ilat The State would be a mere cypher, !
a body Of individuals might saw, " VI