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No. XVI.-Letter from Mr. Canning to Count Nicolas de Roman zoff. Dec. 7, 1808.

SIR.I shall lose no time in transmitting to your Excellency, by an English courier, the answer which the King my master shall command me to return to the official note, annexed to the letter of your excel lency, dated the 16-25th of last month, of which I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt. I seize with avidity this opportunity of renewing to your Excellency the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honour to be, &c.

GEORGE CANNING. No. XVII.—Official Note, Dec. 9. The undersigned, his Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, has laid before the King his master the note transmitted to him by his Excellency the Count Nicholas de Romanzoff, minister for foreign affairs of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, dated on the 16-25th of November. The King learns with astonishment and regret, the expectation which appears to have been entertained that his Majesty should consent to commence a negociation for a general peace, by the previous abandonment of the cause of the Spanish nation, and of the legitimate monarchy of Spain, in deference to an usurpation which has no parallel in the history of the world. His Majesty had hoped that the participation of the Emperor of Russia in the overtures made to his Majesty, would have af forded a security to his Majesty against the proposal of a condition, so unjust in its effect, and so fatal in its example.

Nor can his Majesty conceive by what obligation of duty or of interest, or by what principle of Russian policy, his Imperial Majesty can have found himself compelled to acknowledge the rights assumed by France, to depose and imprison

friendly sovereigns, and forcibly to transfer to herself the allegiance of loyal and independent nations.

If these be indeed the principles to which the Emperor of Russia has inviolably attached himself; to which his Imperial Majesty has pledged the character and resources of his empire; which he has united himself with France to establish by war, and to maintain in peace, deeply does his Majesty lament a determination by which the sufferings of Europe must be aggravated and prolonged; but not to his Majesty is to be attributed the continuance of the calamities of war, by the disappointment of all hope of such a peace as would be compatible with jusuce and with honour.

GEORGE CANNING. No. XVIII.-Letter from Mr. Canning to M. de Champagny, Dec. 7. SIR, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 28th of last month, and of the official note therein inclosed. As soon as I shall have received the King's commands upon the subject of that note, I shall not fail to transmit to your Excellency, by an English messenger, the answer which his Majesty may command me to return to it.

I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, &c.

GEORGE CANNING. No. XIX.-Official Note, Dec. 9.

The undersigned, his Majesty's principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, has laid before the King his Master the note transmitted to him by his Excellency, M. de Champagny, dated the 28th of November.

He is especially commanded by his Majesty to abstain from noticing any of those topics and expressions insulting to his Majesty, to his allies, and to the Spanish nation, with which the official note transmitted by M. de Champagny abounds.

His Majesty was desirous to have treated for a peace which might have arranged the respective interests of all the powers engaged in the war, on principles of equal justice; and his Majesty sincerely regrets that this desire of his Majesty is disappointed.

But his Majesty is determined not to abandon the cause of the Spanish nation, and of the legitimate monarchy of Spain; and the pretension of France to exclude from the negocia tion the central and supreme government, acting in the name of his Catholic Majesty Ferdinand VII, is one which his Majesty could not admit, without acquiescing in an usurpation which has no parallel in the history

of the world.

GEORGE CANNING.

No. XX.-Letter from Count Nicolas de Romanzoff to Mr. Canning. Paris, 1 (13) Dec.

SIR,-The messenger which I had dispatched to your Excellency is returned to this place, and has brought me the letter which you did me the honour to write to me on the 7th of

December. Some hours afterwards, the messenger whom your Excellency has sent to Paris, delivered to me from your Excellency, a letter without date, which was accompanied by a note, dated the 9th of December. I shall transmit the whole for the information of the Emperor my master. I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your Excellen cy,the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honour to be, &c.

COUNT N. DE ROMANZOFF. No. XXI.-Letter from M.de Champagny to Mr.Canning. Paris, Dec. 13.

SIR, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of the 9th instant, together with the official note that accompanied it. I shall lose no time in laying this note before the Emperor my master. I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to your Excellency the assurances of the high consideration with which I have the honour to be, &c.

PARLIAMENTARY REGISTER.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Thursday, Jan. 19.

The Earl of Bridgwater moved an address in reply to his Majesty's Speech. But his lordship spoke so low as to be nearly inaudible below the bar. He observed, that though there were different opinions respecting the convention of Cintra, yet all men must agree, that our troops had displayed uncommon spirit and bravery..

The address was then read, after which, Lord Sheffield seconded the motion, in a written speech, apologising for want of talents as a public speaker. He congratulated the house on the proud situation in which the country was placed! He applauded the goverment for the assistance rendered to Scain, and rejoiced it would be continued as long

CHAMPAGNY.

as Spain was true to herself. He deemed it fortunate that Bonaparte had directed his hostilities against our commerce, as the event shewed it was out of the

power of him, and of all his edicts, to injure our prosperity. For this pros perity we were much indebted to the present administration, who would, he hoped, persevere in their plans; for nothing was to be effected but by a bold and vigorous prosecution of the war.

Earl St.Vincent said, he had heard much of the vigour of the present ministers, but in their conduct he saw nothing of real vigour. He could discover nothing but vacillation, imbecility, and disunion in their councils. He totally disapproved of the convention of Cintra; a transaction, he said, more disgraceful to the British annals had not occurred since the epoch of the revolu

tion. They had adopted " a Board of Inquiry" of which he must say, that such a board was never instituted for any other purpose than to cover some blot some glaring instance of either political or military misconduct. His lordship concluded by making an emphatic appeal to the house. If my lords, said he, you are determined to do your duty, you will present yourselves in a body at the foot of the throne, and remonstrating with his Majesty, you would say to the Sovereign, either you must dismiss your present ministers, or the country will be lost.

Lord Sidmouth said, that from the silence of the ministerial benches, there seemed to be no doubt entertained of that house concurring in the measures of vigour and perseverance so strongly recommended in the speech of his Majesty. But he was astonished to find that no explanation had been offered, with respect to certain passages of the address, which went to pledge the house to approve of an alliance with Spain, concluded under very peculiar circumstances! He doubted much the wisdom of those ministers who had advised his Majesty to compromise the country by such an alliance. It appeared to him, that in their measures, there was an obvious want of system.

Earl Grosvenor approved of those parts of the speech which expressed a determination to give all possible assistance to the Spaniards, and a disapprobation of the convention of Cintra. He disapproved of the conduct of ministers, though he did not mean to oppose the address.

Lord Grenville reprobated the whole conduct of ministers, in their conduct of the war respecting Spain, Portugal, and America: but approved of their rejecting the recent offer of negociation, as he was convinced the war ought to be vigorously persevered in !

Lord Liverpool said, that the address pledged the house only to the general support of the Spanish cause, which was consonant to the sentiments entertained by all ranks of the people in this country.

Lord Moira observed, that there had been a period in the war, when the force which we now had in Spain would have been sufficient to have stopped the passes of the Pyrennees, and led to the capture of every Frenchman in that country. His lordship entered at some

length into the question of the convention of Cintra, and declared that in his opinion the error was of a political not a military nature, and therefore an inquiry into the conduct of ministers was indispensibly necessary.

Lord Erskine generally censured the conduct of ministers, and more especially their rejection of the conciliating overture from America.

The Lord Chancellor and Lord Mulgrave asserted that ministers had no design to inflame the misunderstanding with America; but that they would not deprecate her hostility, at the expence of our dearest and most important rights. The question on the address was then put, and carried unanimously.

Friday, Jan. 20.

Lord Liverpool laid copies of the correspondence between the Emperors of Russia and of France, and their secretaries, with Mr. Canning, respecting the proposals for a negociation, as submitted from Erfurth.

Monday, Jan. 23.

The Earl of Liverpool rose, pursuant to notice, to move the thanks of the house to Sir A. Wellesley, and to the officers under his command, for the victories gained by them in Portugal on the 17th and 21st of August last.

Lord Moira was perfectly sensible of the important services performed by Sir A. Wellesley, and without wishing to detract from the merit of them, should move as an amendment, that the name of Sir H. Burrard be introduced into the motion.

The house, however, over-ruling this amendment, the motion was then agrced to nem, dissent.

Tuesday, Jan. 24,and Wednesday Jan.25.

The Earl of Liverpool rose to move the thanks of the house to the generale and officers under whose conduct, and by whose exertions the signal battle before Corunna had been won, and by whose skill, activity, and courage the re-embarkation of the British troops had been effected,

Lord Moira cordially agreed to the motion.

Lord Sidmouth concurred in the sentiments of his noble friend as far as the army and its immortal leader were concerned. It had ever been his opinion, that under whatever circumstances they came into contact, a British was always superior to a French army.

Lord Mulgrave delivered an encomium on the merits of Sir J. Moore. Lords Grenville and Erskine acquiesced in the motion, without however pledging themselves to approve of the conduct of ministers in regard to Spain: the latter severely censured their conduct respecting the army sent to Spain.

-The different motions of thanks were then agreed to nem, con.

Thursday, Jan. 28.

The Earl of Liverpool rose to move, "That an humble address be presented to his Majesty, humbly thanking his Majesty for his gracious communication of the pacific proposals made by the Enemy from Eriurth, and of the correspondence connected with it; and that approving the grounds upon which those proposals were rejected, they were ready to support his Majesty in the vigorous prosecution of the war, as the only means of arriving at a secure and honourable peace."

Lord Grenville did not come down with any intention of opposing the address, but from the terms in which it was worded, it was impossible for him to give it his unqualified assent. His Jordship, although he approved of the rejection of the late overtures for peace, disapproved of the address, as holding out hopes to Spain and this country, which it would be impossible to realize.

Lord Sidmouth concurred heartily in the proposed address, though he by no means approved of the mode in which that declaration had been followed up, or the manner in which ministers had aided the Spanish cause.

Lord Mulgrave defended the conduct of his colleagues.

Lord Auckland took a similar ground to that of Lord Grenville, and was of opinion, that in the answer to the Erfurth proposition, we ought to have confined ourselves to a general statement, that in the negociation our allies must be included, and those terms would have admitted of further explanation.

After some explanations between the noble lords, the address was agreed to nem. dissen.

Friday, Jan. 27.

The Bishop of Bangor was directed to preach before their lordships on Monday, the anniversary of the mar Byrdom of King Charles the First; and after some routine business, the house adjourned to the 31st.

ΤΟΣ, Τ.

Tuesday, Jan. $1.

The Lord Chancellor informed the house, that he had received a letter from Sir David Baird, acknowledging the honour done him by the vote of thanks of that house. It was the more gratifying, as it was the fourth time he had experienced that distinguished mark of his country's approbation.

After some routine business the house adjourned.

Wednesday, Feb. 1.

The Duke of Norfolk requested to know when the treaty which the noble Earl (Liverpool) had stated, was concluded with Spain, would be laid on the table.

The Earl of Liverpool said, that the treaty would be submitted to their lordships as soon as the ratifications were exchanged. He observed, that no event had happened since the treaty was negociated, which, in his opinion, ought to make any difference in its stipulations; and also, that no event had occurred, which ought to cause a difference in the exertions which it would have been proper for this country to make in assisting Spain against the com mon enemy !—Adjourned to Friday.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Thursday, January 19.

After the Speaker had read the Speech, delivered in the upper house, by the lords commissioners,

Mr. Robinson rose, and in his maiden speech, took a view of the circumstances in which this country stood in the present arduous contest with France. He thought a vigorous war preferable to temporising measures. We were intimately allied to Spain, and we were pledged to her to resist the tyranny and infamy of the ruler of France, who had stolen away the King, and his son Ferdinand. The despot of France was forging chains for Spain, which he trusted would be burst asunder by the energies of the Spaniards, aided by our ministers, who had distinguished themselves for the promptitude they had evinced since the struggle began. The hon. gentleman concluded by moving an address, which was, as usual, an echo of the speech.

Mr.S. Lushington seconded the motion.

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Mr. Ponsonby took a review of the conduct of administration. In the course of of the last year, those men of vigour had entered into a treaty with the King of Sweden, by which they were to pay, as a subsidy to that prince, 100,000l. a month. In that treaty there was a private stipulation, specifying military aid by England. How far that military aid was supplied might be known from Sir John Moore's expedi tion, which went to Gottenburgh and returned without doing any thing. The attempt of Bonaparte at the subjugation of Spain, he would readily allow had excited a most laudable spirit of enthusiasin in this country, highly honourable to its character; but he complained, that the mode of warfare carried on by his Majesty's ministers was not the proper mode, but was just the reverse. He was happy to understand from the speech delivered, that his Majesty disapproved of certain stipulations in the convention of Cintra, and if he was not greatly mistaken, that fact had been industriously concealed by ministers till this very night. Commanders in chief succeeded each other like relays of post horses on a road. The hon. gentleman concluded by giving notice, that on an early day he should call the atttention of the house to the convention of Cintra, and to the conduct of ministers, in regard to the army they had sent to Spain.

Lord Castlereagh vindicated the conduct of ministers, and challenged in quiry.

Mr. Whitbread severely arraigned ministers for misconduct; but he trust ed this session would be one of retrenchment and economy, and that a correction of all public abuses would take place. He wished to know why no mention was made of America in the King's speech? As to the orders in council, he wished to ask ministers how their mighty prediction respecting the injuries which those orders were to inflict on the enemy, had been fulfilled? The enemy were not starved, nor did their soldiers die for want of medicines. Mr. Canning warmly defended the sending out troops to Portugal in the first instance, and the answer given to the city of London. He combated the arguments on the subject of the Ameaican dispute, and with respect to Turkey, stated that he had not heard

from Mr. Adair since he sailed from Malta in September last.

Mr. Tierney lamented the cold reception of our troops by the Spaniards, which appeared, he thought clearly, in General Baird's not being permitted to land at Corunna with his 10,000 men, till an order was sent for that purpose from the supreme junta. He con demned in severe terms the liberty ministers had taken in sending so much money out of the country without the consent of parliament. After some further debate, the Speaker put the question on the address, which was carried in the affirmative without a di vision.

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Friday, Jan. 20.

The private business of the house was arranged. The 24th of February next was limited as the last for the presentation of petitions relative to private bills; the 27th of March for the reception of such bills; and the 8th of May for the bringing up the reports.

The hon. Mr. Robinson brought up the report of the address voted to his Majesty, which was read a first time. On the motion for its being read a second

Mr. W. Smith rose, not for the pur pose of any fastidious opposition, but merely to express a few opinions which he entertained on the subject. Many propositions of peace had been made to this country for the last sixteen years, every one of them fraught with some advantages, and which were always increased on each successive application, Now, though he undoubtedly coincided with ministers in their refusal of the last proposition (an acceptance of which would have for ever stained the honour and integrity of the nation) still he could not accede to the opinion that we were to listen to no proposal while Spain remained in the hands of France; a pledge by no means politic or called for. With respect to Sweden, it had been hinted, that the payment of our stipulated subsidy of 100,000l. per month should not be considered as a tie on her not to make peace when an opportunity occurred; no doubt, the des tinies and future political contingencies of that country must be left to the judgment of her government; but yet, if this principle was admitted, and if a condition of the treaty of peace proffered to her should be an associaties

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