America by the letter of Mr. Canning to | wave that privilege of reply, to which, by Mr. Pinkney, dated the 23rd Sept. 1808. the courtesy of Parliament, he was enThat communication reached America pre-titled as the original mover of the Address. tavious to the election-a time in a democra- However, he could more freely dispense tic country of great heat and political zeal. with the exercise of the right, inasmuch What was its effect? It was to be traced in as every argument that was used by his the following circumstance: It was well opponents was ably met by the hon. friends understood that in the various states, pre- who supported him; and where there vious to the election of a President, each was such a manifest deficiency in meeting state elected an Inspector, to whom was his observations, he could not, at that delegated the vote of that state for the hour, trespass on the house, even for the in election of a chief magistrate. It was well purpose of exposing the absurdity of such known that on the appointinent of the In- attempts. The only point on which he spectors, previous to the late election for a meant to remark was that on which so President, persons from the federal, other- much stress had been put by the hon. and wise the English interest, were almost uni- learned gent. who followed him in the versally returned. But such was the effect debate, respecting the evidence taken at of the able and well-timed communication the bar of the house last session upon the of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, that effects of the Orders in Council. He had the whole public mind of America was in- not lately perused that evidence, or he sulted by his ill-placed irony; and the believed he might have produced as strong consequence was, that a revolution of pub-testimony in support of his opinions as the lic opinion took place, by which the party in America presumed not most friendly to English influence, was intrusted with the sovereignty of that growing and extensive nation. Concurring, therefore, as he did, in all the sentiments of his hon. friends, and wholly disapproving of the conduct of his majesty's ministers towards America, he felt himself bound to vote for the Ad-on whichever side it was given. dress.

hon. gent. produced to the contrary; but he recollected perfectly well the manner in which Mr. Maling gave his testimony, and that he was admonished by the chair to be less extravagant in giving his opinions; which circumstance, together with the whole tenor of his evidence, rendered his testimony of very little consequence,

The Question was then put, when there

For the Address
Against it.

Majority

83 145

62

Adjourned at 7 o'clock on Tuesday morning.

Mr. G. H. Rose entered into some ex-appeared, planation upon the business of his diplomatic mission to America, and said, that notwithstanding the sole object of his embassy was to make satisfaction in the affair of the Chesapeake, he found it impracticable to conclude the business without leading to protracted discussions, the nature of which were incompatible with the honour of this country. And even the very vessel on board of which he went, was not suffered to remain in an American port, but under the direction of the commissioner of customs, and in such station as he should point out. This was so totally incompatible with the nature of the situation he held, as to induce his departure.

Mr. Whitbread then rose and said, that in consequence of the anxiety expressed from all parts of the house for the question, he should not detain them longer, but

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Tuesday, March 7, 1809.

[MINUTES.] Colonel Longford presented a Petition from the Corporation of Cork, against the Claim of the earl of Ormond to the Prisage of Wines imported into Ireland.-On the motion of the Secretary at War the Mutiny Bill was re-committed, when various amendments relative to the licensing canteens by the commissioners of Excise, with their exemption from billeting of soldiers, were agreed to.

END OF VOL. XII.

Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough-court, Fleet-street, London,

King's Speech, see Lords Com- Vimiera, Battle of, 145
missioners

Distillation of Spirits from Corn, Moore, Sir John, 131, 138, 208

Croker, J. W. 233, 343, 35, Giddy, D. 318

Romilly, Sir S. 207, 743, 853, Wardle, G. L. 92, 179, 197, 206,

Perceval, S. See Chancellor of Stewart, General, 132, 155, 204,

For the Alphabetical List of the House of Commons, and List of the Ministry, see
Vol. X.

Printed by T. C. HANSARD, Peterborough-court, Fleet-street, London,