ministers, if their principle of secrecy was the historian be left to search in Fain for adopted, might recline on their bed of public documents on which to ground his roses, or remain concealed, like moles in relations. The impossibility was 90 evj. their apartments under ground, till they dent (since the chasminast so soon be happened occasionally to blunder into discovered by the colleagues of the milight.

nister, and by the sovereign, who could Mr. Hawkins Broune denied that the not fail to be surprised at the departure noble Jord had in a former debate made and arrival of messengers without disany quotation from a private letter. He patches), that he was astonished how the had used the fact in the way of argument, right hon. gent. (who, to great acuteness leaving it to the house to give what de- of understanding, joined that knowledge gree of credit they pleased to his assertion of business, which certainly must sber He thought the production of the letter bim that acuteness of understanding, without the name would not be a sufficient though theoretically advantageous, might guarantee for the safety of the person be practically injurious to business) could from whom the communication was re- advance such a monstrous supposition. As ceived, and would therefore support the his noble friend had justly stated, many amendment.

cases must occur, in which a minister at a Mr. Secretary Canning would fairly foreign court might, in his public official state, that he had hitherto abstained from dispatches, relate facts and occurrences to speaking on the subject, because whatever his own government, and, at the same might have been the course of the debate, time, confide to them, in secret communiif it had been possible that the argument cations, what he conceived to be the of the hon. gent. should have influenced springs and motives of those occurrencer. the house, or that the arguments of his An ambassador might be put in possession, noble friend should not have influenced through confidential channels, of such in. the house on what he conceived to be the formation. He might receive it on the clear question before them; if the incli- score of his own personal character, or he mation of the house had shewn itself to be might be trusted, under the understood unfavourable to his view of the subject; obligation of his office, by a friend, a mishe should then have stood up, not merely tress, or a courtier of the sovereign, in to argue against the motion, but to entreat whose capital he resided. The whole nathe house, that if they did not place in ture of the information would then conhim that confidence, without which it was sist in the authority, which authority was impossible for him adequately to fulfil the precisely the circumstance that could not duties of his situation, they would permit be divulged. Otherwise, when a British him to retire, retaining his honour. Not minister went to a foreign court, he ought one spark of that honour should he con- loudly and generally to declare to all ceive he retainer, if he were to divulge about him, do not tell me any thing that which at the time when it was com- which you do not wish should be laid bemunicated, and since, and now, he felt, fore the British house of commons.' Unwas communicated in confidence. Under fortunately, too much already had been that impression, however great the defer- divulged, and so far from depriving the ence which he entertained for the house, future historian of his materials, we anand however anxious he was to bow to ticipated him. It would be easy to point their decision, were that decision to call out books that had been translated into for the production of the paper in ques- other languages, which had caused the tion, he would rather incur their dis- disgrace and death of individuals, implipleasure, than thus compromise his own cated by them. But, then, said the hon. honour and character. Having said gent. if this letter was unfit for produetion, thus much, he should proceed to re- it ought not to have been quoted by the mark on some of the arguments that had noble lord. The answer to this was, that been urged by the opposite side of the it had not been quoted by him. His house. A right hon. gent. (Mr. Wind- noble friend stated a fact; he was asked ham) had imagined a possible case in by the hon. gent. whether he had stated which the private correspondence between that fact before, and he answered yes, but the secretary of state at home and the in a private letter; and this the hon. gent. minister abroad, might be pushed to such chose to call a quotation! Of course, the an extreme, that all official intercourse hon. gent. asked his noble friend to reply might be carried on in that manner, and to this question as a courtesy; for surely

he would not pretend to arrogate to him- | interested, and in which it must now feel self the right of demanding from every more deeply interested than ever-the mamember in that house an answer to any ritime rights of England. The reverse of question that he might think proper to this was the fact. If the hon. gent. had pow yose to him. If the hon. gent. did so attended accurately to his noble friend, he arrogate, he would say, that to him exclu- must have been convinced, that the form sively he would deny that courtesy. The of the declaration was of itself a proof, hon. and learned doctor (Laurence) had that it was not a matter of concession. taken very angry notice of the manner in Had it been so, it would have made part which the dictatorial tone of the hon. of the price of that concession : it would mover had been reprehended. For him- have made part of the treaty. What was self, he could not say that the tone of the it, that at that time, under the appellation hon. mover had been much higher to- of the law of nations,' attracted the atnight than he usually chose to pitch it; tention of Europe? So far was this term and he hoped it would not make greater from applying to our maritime right, that impression on the house than it usually it never happened that in any public docuhad made. With respect to the arguments ment the maritime code was meant or menof the hon, and learned doctor on the tioned. What were the cases to which question before the house, be had himself that expression referred ? The recent anticipated the answer to them, by ad seizure of the duke D'Enghien on neutral mitting that, prima facie, strong ground territory, and dragging him to slaughter ; must be laid for the production of a pri- the recent seizure of a British minister vate letter, and if any names which it (sir T. Rumbold), on neutral territory, contained ought in discretion to be sup- and carrying him prisoner to France. Did pressed, they should be so suppressed. the hon. gent. see nothing in this seizure How did this apply to the present case, of a British minister, and this murder of a in which the name was identically the French prince, but that which must attract matter of consequence? If the learned the attention of the continent to the maridoctor discredited the statements of his time code of Great Britain ? On that manoble friend, let him Such a pro- ritime code, a separate provision had been ceeding, though not very civil, would at proposed, in an article to which his noble least be intelligible ; but it was most ex- friend on the part of G. Britain had retraordinary, by way of putting his noble fused to be a party. By the first of the friend's truth to the test, to move for the papers which would be produced, in conproduction of a letter, the only part of sequence of the motion before the house, which by which his veracity could be as being a dispatch dated the 7th of April, it certained, must be suppressed !—The right would be found, that his noble friend had hon. secretary proceeded to state on what declared, that no consideration whatever, grounds he supported the other part of the not even the certainty of a total rupture amendment proposed by his noble friend. with the confederating powers, would inSince the speech of his noble friend on a duce him to consent to the proposition former night, an attempt had been revived | made by the Russian minister, to submit to prejudice in the minds of the public that the maritime code of G. Britain to a conadministration in the year 1805, which gress of the great powers of Europe ; and had endeavoured to establish a continental that ie was fully authorised to declare, that coalition against France. He would not the British government would never consent now enter fully on this subject, not con- to such a reference or interference. Was this ceiving that it was comprised in the hon. the language, were these the symptoms, of gent.’s notice, although he should always concession ? Unquestionably, after the rebe prepared to meet any attack on the jection of the article proposed, after the sig, merits of the great individual, now no nature of the treaty, his noble friend had more, who had so principal a share in that received and transinitted home the Detransaction. It had been thought by the claration alluded to; but he had it not in hon. gentlemen opposite, that in the his discretion to refuse to do this ; and he speech of his noble friend they had found accompanied the reception of the Declasomething derogating from the policy of ration with a strong expression of his rethat confederacy; on the ground that the gret, that his imperial majesty had thought administration of that day were content to it necessary to make it, and with a firm sacrifice to its accomplishment a question repetition of what he knew to be the sen; in which the country had ever felt deeply timents of his court on the subject. Did

say

SO.

his noble friend forfeit the favour of his in the course of the debate, observed, tbat sovereign by this conduct? Were his ma- if there was any thing dictatorial in his jesty's ministers lukewarm on the occa- manner, he was sure that such manner sion? On the contrary, as would appear could less become any man in that house by the papers when produced, on the re than himself, who had so few pretensi oui ception of the treaty, lord Mulgrave wrote to assume it. As a member of parliament to his noble friend, expressing his majesty's however, he did not arrogate great priviapprobation of his proceedings, and de- leges, and he never would allow those priviclared his majesty's determination not to leges to be derogated from by those, who submit his rights of maritime war to any in the most dictatorial manner charged mediation whatever. This was during Mr. him with being. dictatorial; and who in Pitt's administration. Nor was this de- the most arrogant manner accused him of termination concealed from the foreign arrogance. To the right hon. secretary ministers; for the copy of a letter of the who had treated him with so much freesame date from lord Mulgrave to the dom, he would say, that the vices of his Russian ambassador would be produced, manner were levity and misrepresentation. in which his lordship expressed similar The first was manifested in the mode in sentiments; declared that no statesman which that right hon. gent. jeered his hon. would ever be found in this country, who and learned friend near him (Dr. Lauwould venture to unsettle that on which rence), one ounce of whose sterling worth the power and prosperity of the country he would not exchange for all the gilt rested; and stated, that his noble friend gingerbread on the other side of the house. had discharged a decided duty in the re- Ofihe second vice of his manner, mistejection of the proposition that had been presentation, he had given a striking inmade to him. Where was here the sacri- stance, by introducing a debate on papers

, fice of honour and of rights? Whatever before the papers were laid on the table, the hon. gent. might think of other parts and by pronouncing a panegyric on the of his noble friend's character, they must noble lord, before the house was in posknow his candour too well to suppose that session of the means of ascertaining whehis observations on a former evening were ther that panegyric was well or ill-foundintended for the purpose of producing, ed. As to the inutility of presenting not an exculpation, but a panegyric on

the letter with the names suppressed, it the conduct by which he evinced, that he would be advantageous to have it even in was deterinined not to compromise that that shape. The mere declaration of the which was the solid foundation of the power noble lord was fugitive, and could not be of this country. He congratulated the made the ground of any subsequent parhouse and the public, that such a deter- liamentary proceeding. He could not see mination had been evinced. He trusted the necessity under which the right hon. that similar principles to those which secretary would labour' of resigning, were pervarded this negotiation, would pervade his motion agreed to. That dreadful any other negotiation in any other hands. calamity to the country surely need not He trusted that the great example which take place; but, dreadful as it would be, ke the administration of that day had set, owned he would rather see the right hon. by refusing to purchase an object, how- gent. quit office in that manner, than that ever desirable and important, by the sa- he should be turned out by the dark junto crifice of that which was not the peculiar which lurked about the throne. He restrength of Britain alone, but which was peated his former assertions as to the unfair the source and support of the general inanner in which Mr. Garlike and lord strength, by which that object appeared Hutchinson had been treated, and after to be attainable,—he trusted that that ex- some other observations, concluded by ample would be followed to the end of calling upon the house to take this opportime. He trusted that what we had not tunity of asserting their rights to have given to acquire a great good, we should formally before them, that which was used never give even to avert a great evil. He in debate for the purpose of influencing trusted that what we had refused to grant to their judgment. the request of friendship, would never be A division then took place, when the extorted from us by the menaces of hos- numbers were: For the amendment, 114; tility.

For the original motion, 50. MajoriMr. Whitbread, adverting to the personal ty, 64. imputations that had been cast upon him

A

Exports, 1043.
America, Dispute with, 311, 431,
American Treaty, 927.

Giffard, Mr. John; Dismissal of,
B

1077,
Brazil Trade Bill, 732.

J
с

Jesuits Bark Bill, 1920.
Copenhagen Expedition, 156, Journals of the House, 1254.
340, 873, 1947,

K
Cotton-Wool Exportation Pro- King's Message respecting Swe-
hibition Bill, 1946.

den, 1042, 1076.
Curates Suspension Repeal Bill, King's Speech, see Lords Com-
148.

missioners Speech.
D

L
Danish Fleet, Restiution of the, Lords Commissioners Speech on
612.

Opening the Session, 1.
Danish Ships detained previous

M
to Hostilities, 920, 1179. Mediation of Russia and Austria,
Debtor and Creditor Bill, 1068. 434.
Dispute with America, 311, 431. Mutiny Bill, 1179, 1183,
E

0
Expedition to Copenhagen, 156, | Offices in Reversion Bill, 870,
340, 873, 1247.

1044, 1086.

Orders in Council, 149, 465,

641, 735, 780, 029, 1265,

1244, 1269.
Orders in Council Bill, 1079,
1148, 1954.

Р
Patents, 1253.

R
Restitution of thc Danish Fleet,

642.
Reversion Bill, 870, 1044, 1086.

S
Scotch Judicature Bill, 1945.
Sweden; King's Message re-
specting, 1042, 1076.

V
Vote of Thanks to the Officers

&c. employed in the Expedia
tion to Copenhagen, 156.

INDEX TO DEBATES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

384, 487

A

Exchequer Bills Regulation Bi!l. | Licences, Commercial, 185, 923
Adiniralty, Droits of, 409, 412, 461

Liverpool Petition, respecting
449
Exchequer, Sums issued out of

the Orders in Council Bill,
America, Papers relating to, 553 the, 463

889, 896
American Treaty Bill, 162 Expedition to Copenhagen, 164, Lords Cominissioners' Specch on
Army Estimates, 753

190, 229, 252, 314, 385, 736, opening the Session, 37, 83
Assessed Taxes and Game Du. 1185

Lotteries, 1268
ties, 1302, 1327
Expedition to the Dardanelles,

M
Austria, Mediation of, 601, 801,

Mediation of Austria, 1258
1258

F

Mediation of Russia and Austria,
B

Finance Committee, 184, 1309

G
Bank, Arrangement with the,

601, 801
232, 415
Giffard, Motion respecting the

Mutiny Bill, 922, 980, 1160
с
Dismissal of Mr. John, 877

N
Cold-Bath-Fields Prison, 662, Great Grimsby Election, 698 Nabob of Oude, 1290
685, 1173

Greenwich Hospital and Naval Navy Estimates, 189
Commercial Licenses, 185, 923
Asylum, 976, 1243

O
Committee of Finance, 184, 1309

1

Offices in Reversion Bill, 96,
Committee on Trade and Navia Jesuits' Bark Bill, 695, 709, 1168

194, 1259, 1300, 1315, 1329
gation, 713
Irish Expresses, 1088, 1257

Orders in Council, 126, 154, 314,
Constantinople, Expedition to, Irish Grand Jury Presentments,

887, 1056, 1159, 1182, 1244,
384, 487
1250

1246, 1251, 1304
Copenhagen Expedition, 164,

K

Orders in Council Bill, 665, 696,
190, 229, 252, 314, 385, 736, King's Message respecting an

698,726, 889, 925, 1065, 1072
1185

Aunuity to the Family of the

Ordnance Estimates, 755
Curates' Suspension Repeal Bill,

late Lord Lake, 71, 786, Oude Charge, Conduct of Mar-
4:3
872

quis Wellesley relative to the,
D
King's Message respecting Swe-

410, 699, 993, 1089
Danish Flcet, 128+

den, 1053, 1160

Oude, Nabob of, 1290
Dardanelles, Expedition to the, King's Speech, see Lords Com-
384, 487
missioners Speech.

P
Denmark; Papers relating to, 755

L

Parliament, Law of, respecting
Droits of Admiralty, 409, 412, Lake, Lord, King's Message re-

Official Communications, 898
449

specting an Annuity to the Peace, Petition from Bolton re-
E

Family of the late, 111, 786, specting, 692
East India Company's Affairs,

872

Peace, Petition from Manchester
1071

Law of Parliament, respecting respecting, 1182
Exchequer Bills, 991

Official Communications, 898

Portugal, Papers relating to, 535

R.

Strachan, Sir R. on the State of
Reversion Bill, 96, 194, 1259,

his Squadron, 711, 679
1300, 1315, 1329, 1368 Sugar, Distillation from, 712
Russia, Mediation of, 601, 801, Sugar Distillery Committcc,!256
1353

Sussex Election Petition, 1156
s

Sweden, Treaty with, 694
Saltash, Right of Election, 691 Sweden, King's Message re-
Speaker, Resolution approving specting, 1053, 1160

the Conduct of the, 1170

Treaty with Sweden, 694

W
Wellesley, Marquis ; Conduct of,

410, 699,993, 1039, 1305
Westminster Election Petition,

1242, 1250

INDEX OF NAMES.-HOUSE OF LORDS.

Grey, Earl (late Lord Howick) 971; 1046, 1053, 1153, 1245,
Aberdeen, Earl of, 15

161, 376, 434, 444, 641, 781, 1324, 1345
Albemarle, Earl of, 1322
1048, 1087, 1154, 1183, 1248

M
Arden, Lord, 870, 1044

Grosvenor, Earl, 871, 1180 Melville, Lord, 1151, 1180, 1346
Auckland, 150, 160, 313, 465,

H

Moira, Earl, 159, 364, 441, 1017
733, 783, 872, 928, 10+3, Hardwicke, Earl of, 1077

1068, 1181
1244, 1278, 1348

Harrowby, Lord, 363, 652, 1047, Montrose, Duke of, 61%, 731,
B
1151

$71
Bathurst, Farl, 153, 443, 469, Hawkesbury, Lord, 28, 149, 151, Mulgrave, Lord, 31, 160, 350,
733, 1239, 1321, 1346

153, 154, 156, 312, 313, 368, 446, 449, 656, 783, 1033,
Boringdon, Lord, 356, 646, 876, 43+, 438, 445, 433, 641, 660, 1150, 1249, 1250, 1278, 1323,
1044
734, 736, 785, 871, 920, 921,

N
Buckinghamshire, Earl of, 30, 927, 928, 974, 1052, 1053, | Norfolk, Duke of, 11, 149, 340,
357, 1180

1076, 1079, 1087, 1148, 1941, 443, 1087
с
1248, 1253, 1282, 1323, 1325,

0
Carlisle, Earl of, 735, 1047

1349

Oxford, Bishop of, 148
D
Holland, Lord, 152, 154, 158,

R
Darnley, Earl of, 382, 656, 872, 313, 651, 782,871, 876, 1070, Redesdale, Lord, 655, 784,871,
873, 1278, 1349

1150, 1181, 1940, 1249, 1260, 1045, 1086, 1324, 1348
E
1283

Rosslyn, Earl of, 1325
Eldon, Lord, see Lord Chancellor Hood, Lord, 1052,

S
Eliot, Lord, 875

Hutchinson, Lord, 350, 443, 446 Selkirk, Earl of, 65+
Ellenborough, Lord, 648, 1069

J

Sidmouth, Lord, 13, 38, 485,
Erskine, Lord, 354, 471, 642, Jersey, Earl of, 368

612, 661, 920, 921, 1151,1179,
653, 929, 975, 1149, 1245,

K

1181
1321
Kenyon, Lord, 11

Spencer, Earl, 870
G
King, Lord, 476, 1210

Stanliope, Earl, 1044
Galloway, Earl of, 6, 786

L

St. John, Lord, 750, 1347
Gloucester, Duke of, 1179 Lauderdale, Earl of, 30, 149, 485, Suffolk, Earl of, 921, 1247
Grenville, Lord, 16, 31, 153, 311, 786, 870, 921, 1052, 1152,

431, 444, 445, 446, 477, 641, 1235, 1253, 1278, 1323, 1346, Vincent, Earl St., 375
658, 73:3, 736, 756, 927, 972, 1348

W
1077, 1079, 1148, 1152, 1241, Limerick, Earl of, 367

Wellesley, Marquis, 342
1942, 1949, 1953, 1979, 1324, Lord Chancellor (Eldor), 149, Westmoreland, Eart of, 654,754,
1345, 1349

444, 473, 6-2, 650, 736, 871, 871, 1043, 1181, 1977, 1394

INDEX OF NAMES.-HOUSE OF COMMONS.
A

Bathurst, C. B., 69, 297, 905, , Canning, Mr. Secretary, 61, 63,
Abbot, Right Hon. C. see Speaker 1289

267, 310, 385, 387, 485, 536
Abercromby, J., 535, 1219 Barnard, S., 1268

606, 613, 614, 689, 693, 695,
Adam, w., 460, 463, 536, 759, Biddulph, A., 431, 800, 1266, 728, 744,752, 755, 759, +(!,
898, 912
1304, 1309, 1314, 1327

867, 889, 905, 1160, 1164,
Advocate General (Sir John Blachford, B. P., 865

1170, 1172, 1232, 1258, 1365
Nicholts), 450, 456, 457, 666, Bourne, S., 911

Castlereagh, Lord, 16+, +94, 756,
732, 924
Brand, T., 176, 458, 1236

790, 872, 892, 911, 980, 1064,
Allen, A., 1024
Brogden, J., 431

1144
Anstruther, Sir J., 702, 896, 1018 Browne, I, 7., 1267, 1239, 1313, Cavendish, Lord G., 797
Attorney General (Sir Vicary 1363

Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Gibbs), 731

Burdett, Sir F., 409, 410, 412, (Right Hon. Spencer Perceval)
B

449, 450, 456, 707, 799, 798, 71, 154, 176, 184, 188, 194,
Babington, T., 1269

980, 1080, 1083, 1174, 1178 231, 321, 393, 409, 415, 413,
Bankes, H., 96, 421, 1041, 1076,

C

416, 449, 454, 459, 462, 490,
1259, 1268, 1313, 1329 Calcraft, J., 711, 754, 755, 879, 663, 664, 688, 689, 690, 695,
Baring, A., 725, 732, 925, 1059, 886, 1031, 1319