relative to the augmentation of the army, by Count Lacepede. Empire, as well as the levy of 100 cohorts from the 1st band of the National Guards, and has with care compared the different dispositions with the reasons which have been stated to you. This project is divided under two titles. The 1st offers one of those important institutions which will signalize one of the most illustrious of reigns; the 2d puts in motion part of that force established by the 1st; one is the ground of action, the other the consequence and application of it.Let us, before all, examine the first :-It separates into three bands the National Guard of the Empire; it points out the Frenchmen who, according to the difference of their age, must belong to one or other of these three bands; it fixes the successive renewal of their different stations; it determines the nature of the services which their country and sovereign have a right to expect from them.And now, what is the national guard of the empire? The nation armed. And what nation but that which extends from the banks of the Baltic Sea to those beyond the Tiber; and whose ancient renown every day requires fresh eclat by its successful and new associations, and by the immortal glory of him who governs it? people."-My Lords, I will not permit myself to doubt of the salvation of my country, encompassed though it is by diffi- Senators,-Your special commission has culties and dangers on every side, and that examined, with all the attention the imthere is yet in store for this United King-portance of the subject demanded, the Sedom, a long and a bright train of prosperity natus Consultum project, relative to the and glory. Animated by this consoling organization of the National Guard of the hope, I will still continue to recommend patience to my calumniated and oppressed countrymen, for the hour of their deliverance cannot be far removed.-My Lords, I have done, and have only to express my acknowledgments for the attention with which I have been honoured, during so long a trespass upon your Lordships' time; and humbly to move you, That a Committee be appointed to take into consideration the Laws imposing Civil Disabilities on His Majesty's subjects professing the Catholic Religion; and to refer to that Committee the several Petitions of the Catholics of Ireland, now upon your table; and also those of their Protestant Countrymen, strongly in affirmance of the necessity of conceding to the justice of the Catholic claims. No counter Petition having found its way to either House of Parliament from any quarter, with the exception only of that solitary attempt to raise the Protestant cry, in which the Minister has succeeded, in the obsequious City of Dublin, by a miserable majority of 16; and after a former baffled effort. These two classes of Petitions contain, I have a right to assume, a fair expression of the undivided sentiment of the Irish nation, on a question, to them, of vital importance, and not interesting, in -This nation had not received different any proportionate degree, to any other part successive laws, but particular organizaof the United Kingdom.-It is also my in- tions only. It is going to receive a grand tention to move your Lordships to refer to political law, a general organization. the same Committee, the Petition of the And what a wonderful change is this proEnglish Catholics, that truly respectable found conception of the Emperor going to class of our fellow subjects---together with produce! Order was established at his the several Petitions for Religious Liberty, command, among the immense number of from different denominations of Christians, Frenchmen, whose very zeal and bravery, which were presented by my Noble Friend not regulated by his foresight, woald have (Earl Grey) at the same time.---For the led to confusion and disorder. That adpurpose, therefore, of taking into considera- mirable, and regular motion, is the result tion the laws imposing Civil Disabilities of the high wisdom of him; who, comon His Majesty's subjects professing the Ca-bining with the fruits of his genius, the tholic Religion, I now move your Lordships to resolve yourselves into a Com mittee. OFFICIAL PAPERS. produce of experience, carries his views into future ages, to give durability to all the monuments he erects.- -But what is the grand and principal effect of this new institution? The safety of the interior, FRANCE.-Reports laid before the Conser- and public security. Hitherto the safety vative Senate on the 10th of March, of the interior of empires was provided for 1812. (Continued from page 512.) by armies, who became offensive or deIII. Plan of a Senatus Consullum, pre-fensive according to the circumstances of sented to the Senate on the 13th of March, the war and the chances of success. But Let us now the security was neither entire nor durable. | lanxes of Napoleon enjoy. The fear of a reverse weakened it: bad proceed, Senators, to examine the second success might annihilate it; and what a title.situation was that people in, whose comforts and labours were every moment interrupted by anxiety and fear?- -Let us refer to history, and we shall see how frequently weak governments could only satisfy their subjects by imprudently pointing out the number of their troops, their military dispositions, and their political arrangements; and been obliged to give way, by dangerous and absurd dispositions of their forces, to the ridiculous ideas which the want of security suggested, joined to false notions respecting the true elements of a good defence.--The project of the Senatus Consultum, which is presented to you, Senators, prevents for ever all these inisfortunes.- -When should even all the active armies quit the frontiers, and proceed to an immense distance to hurl the imperial thunder, the immense enclosure of the empire would present numerous defenders, which could be replaced by still more numerous defenders; and the French empire, considered, if I may be allowed so to express myself, as an immense citadel placed in the middle of the world, would shew its natural garrison, in a national guard, regularly organized, uniting to the constancy and instruction of old veterans, all the vigour of a youthful army.- -This is what the hero has thought fit to do, to render our frontiers inviolable,-to tranquillize minds the most prompt to conceive alarıns, to guard the public security against all the attempts of false zeal, from ignorance or perfidy. This is what the father of his people has done; for this great benefit but trifling sacrifices are required. -The cohorts of the first band will be renewed with one-sixth each year; the young Frenchmen who constitute a part of it will know the exact period when they will return to their paternal roofs, and be restored to their affections, their labours, their habits; they will enjoy the price of their devotion.- -Arrived at the age in which ardour is united to strength, they will find in their military exercises salutary games and agreeable relaxations, rather than severe duties and painful occupations. They will not be strangers to any of the advantages which the old pha You have heard the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and for War, expose the frank, firm, and moderate policy of the Emperor. European commerce must be freed from the shameful yoke wished to be imposed upon it. Nature demands this: the most solemn treaties prescribe it: the imperial interests of the State demand it.Already does the enemy of continental independence suffer in his island a part of those evils with which he wished to inundate the world. He has sworn everlasting war. Let a formidable power render abortive this attempt against humanity. Let all the active armies of the Empire be ready to march to whatever place they may be called by the greatest of heroes. Let 100 cohorts of the first band answer to the country for its frontiers, strong places, ports, and arsenals. Let 100,000 brave nien, chosen from among those of the 1st band, join the standards of glory. Here we again find the same paternal solicitude of the Monarch, and the same foresight of the great Captain.- What relates to the successively renewing of that part of the first band, which will be placed at the disposition of the Minister of War, is fixed with care; and every Frenchman of the first band who shall have married anterior to the publication of the Senatus Consultum, shall remain in the bosom of his young family, and constitute part of the second band. The assembling of a part of the 1st band will allow the conscripts destined to augment or complete the active armies, to be longer exercised at their depots; and every thing has been calculated in such a manner, that at the least signal a numerous army can be promptly collected, and with facility march towards all the points me naced.- In order to be able better to judge of all the advantages of the institution proposed to you, represent to yourselves, senators, all the irregular appeals from the national guard which you have witnessed. Let those of our colleagues, whose military renown and the confidence of the Emperor have frequently placed at the head of these national guards, hastily collected, remember how much they have (To be continued.) Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent-Garden. VOL. XXI. No. 20.] LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1812. [Price 1s. "Forasmuch as the state of every King, Ruler, and Governor of any Realm, Dominion, or "Commonalty, standeth and consisteth more assured by the Love and Favour of the Subject toward "their Sovereign Ruler and Governor, than in the Dread and Fear of Laws made with rigorous Pains "and extreme Punishment for not obeying of their Sovereign Ruler and Governor: And Laws "also justly made for the preservation of the Commonwealth, without extreme Punishment or great "Penalty, are more often for the most part obeyed and kept, than the Laws and Statutes made "with great and extreme Punishments, and in special such Laws and Statutes so made, whereby "not only the ignorant and rude unlearned People, but also learned and expert People, minding "Honesty, are often and many Times trapped and snared, yea many Times for Words only, with"out other Fact or Deed done or perpetrated--The Queen's most excellent Majesty, calling to "Remembrance that many, as well honourable and noble Persons, as other of good Reputation ❝ within this her Grace's Realm of England, have of late (for Words only, without other Opinion, "Fact or Deed), suffered shameful death not accustomed to Nobles; Her Highness, therefore, of her "accustomed Clemency and Mercy, minding to avoid and put away the Occasion and Cause of tire "like Chances hereafter to ensue, trusting her loving Subjects will, for her Clemency to them "shewed, love, serve, and obey her Grace the more heartily and faithfully, than for Dread or "Fear of Pains of Body, is contented and pleased that the Severity of such like extreme, danger❝ous, and painful Laws, shall be abolished, and annulled and be made frustrate and void." 609] [610 nalty of death.These gentlemen opSUMMARY OF POLITICS. posed the introduction of the bill upon the BARRACKS AND RIOTS.-In my last, ground, chiefly, of its inefficacy as to the at page 597, I was, for want of room, com- object in view, contending that severe laws pelled to break off my remarks upon this are less likely to succeed in repressing subject. I now resume them, under a con- crimes than laws less severe; and they cited viction that the times are now such as call in proof, the consequences of the law passed for our most serious attention to the means this session against the Luddites in Notof preserving the internal tranquillity of tinghamshire. This is a very important the country.-We, at the page just re- subject, and the circumstances of the times ferred to, left the Secretary of State, Mr. render it even more so than it would otherRyder, introducing into the House of Com-wise be. I will, therefore, insert at full mons, a Bill "more effectually to prevent length, what the Prime Minister, Mr. Perthe administering and taking of unlawful ceval, said in answer to Mr. Horner, who "oaths." This bill was grounded upon was the first to oppose the introduction of the alleged facts, that the copy of an oath the Bill.- -Mr. Perceval said, "that no had been found in the pocket of one of the "time should be lost in sending down the slain rioters in Lancashire, which oath" Special Commission, which met with the bound the party not to reveal the names of "approbation of the Honourable and the persons composing "the commitlee,' "Learned Gentleman. According to his and to put to death any "traitors that may "view of the subject, Ministers would not rise up against us." But what committee," do the duty they owed to the loyal inhaor who us were, is not stated, nor is there bitants of the country, if they did not any date, either of time or place.—This "exert their utmost efforts to protect them, oath is said to have been found upon the "by a new law, from the attacks of those body of one of the men killed in the attack" who set all former laws at defiance (hear!] upon the factory of Messrs. Burton; but," What did Gentlemen mean when they it is not said by whom it was so found:"recommended the trial of experiments ou there is not, that we hear of, any proof of "the Bill of 1798, at this period? Did the sort; the paper might be no more than they intend that while the trial, that. the draft of something projected by the pos- "would in all human probability be vain, sessor; and, really, unless the existence of" was making, His Majesty's subjects should a committee in the disturbed counties could be assassinated, and their property debe ascertained, this paper does seem to me, "molished with impunity (hear, hear, as it did to Mr. Horner, Mr. Brougham," hear!)? IfGentlemen on the other vidá and Mr. Whitoread, to be too slight a "of the Ho se had possessed any pondon f foundation for a new enactment of the pe- "the information that every day reached 66 X 66 appear strange to me to hear it asserted 66 "Government, they would be the last to "recommend such dangerous delays, while "death was the fruit of the desperate ma"chinations of the disturbers of the public "tranquillity. Were we to sit down "quietly to make experiments when an ef"fectual remedy was in our power (hear, "hear!)? If Gentlemen had been called 66 upon to defend either themselves or their "neighbours from the attacks of these ruf"fians, they would be convinced of the "folly of such an undertaking. This was "not the case of a conspiracy by two or "three individuals-it was a combined ef"fect of an immense number, who entered "the dwelling-houses, and compelled the "trembling inmates to take the terrible "oath which had been read. It was a "crime little short of treason, or an attempt upon the sacred person of Majesty. It 66 was said by the last speaker, that this 66 was one of the frequent attempts of Go"vernment to provide for an extremity by "an immediate enactment:-he (the Chan"cellor of the Exchequer) might with "much greater truth assert, that the pre"sent was only one of the frequent attempts "made by Gentlemen opposite to defeat "the measures of Government, the objects "of which were the security and salvation "of the State (hear, hear, hear!). Much "of what had been stated as to the system "of internal and external commerce, of "Government being the cause of the dis"turbances, would have a most mischievous effect (hear, hear!). It was, be"sides, an assertion that was perfectly un"founded; for in those districts where the "disturbances were chiefly prevalent, the "most active leaders were known to be per"sons who were not in want of any of the "means of life, but who employed the ge"neral opinion of distress to their own advantage, to create and foment disturb"ances for which there was little or no "cause (hear, hear!). The Right Ho-However, if this be the case; if the people "nourable Gentleman then proceeded to argue that the Bill would be effectual for "the purpose intended; and adduced as a "proof, the Act to prevent the Seduction "of Soldiers from His Majesty's Service, which had proved highly beneficial. In "his view of the subject, the clause afford"ing a shelter to the repentant criminal was a useful and necessary provision, "and did not deserve the censure bestowed 66 upon it. He insisted, on the whole, that "the present Bill was no more than the "loyal subjects of the kingdom had a right "to demand."- It does, I must confess, 66 66 66 are employed in this way, who are their employers? This I have asked before, and have heard no answer. But, how comes it that any part, any considerable part, of the people should possess the desire to produce insurrection? If it be, as Mr. Perceval has here asserted, to men not in want that the riots are to be attributed; what can be the motives of those men? What can those men want? If, indeed, their proceedings could be traced to some Political Society, we should then stand in need of no explanation. But, those Societies have all been extirpated long ago. The time. principal actors have all been destroyed or the new invention of binding to secrecy by ruined. And, therefore, it is impossible dreadful oaths has, it seems, gone into opeto trace the present disturbances to such a ration. Now, then, the administering or cause. -Mr. Perceval, in several parts of taking of such oaths is to be punished with his speech, spoke of the "LOYAL subjects death. And thus has this capital offence "of the king," as entitled to the protection grown out of the law for making framewhich the proposed law would give them. breaking a capital offence. This always We will, by-and-by, inquire what degree has been, now is, and always will be, the of protection that is likely to be; but, first, progress of severe laws. The passage, let us ask why this phrase should have been which I have taken for my motto, contains selected? For, does it follow, that all an expression of this opinion; and, Mr. rioters are "" disloyal" men? Oh! no. Perceval (being a lawyer) must know For there were, as Manchester well knows, whence it comes; he must know that it is the "Church and King" riots of 1792 and not extracted from the Jacobin creed, but 1793; there were the " no-popery" riots is copied, word for word, and letter for letof the year 1780. So that Mr. Perceval ter, from an English act of Parliament, of should not, it seems to me, have made use which, indeed, it is the preambulary part. of a phrase, which would represent the Very different, it would seem, are the noterm rioters as synonymous with that of tions of Mr. Perceval and Lord Castlereagh traitor. This is, however, the fashion, and their colleagues; very different would and, I suppose, it will continue for some their notions appear to be from those exIt, however, can do no good to those pressed in this preamble; they seem to who make use of it. They over-shoot their think that severe laws will be obeyed better mark thereby; and that they would find, I than laws which are not severe; though, I believe, if they could hear the remarks made am inclined to think, that, in the whole in France and America upon the accusations world, there never has been an experimental that they choose to make. The truth is, proof of the truth of that position.Mr. that, so great is the desire to trace every Whitbread, in answer to Mr. Perceval, sort of opposition to the system to a Jaco- said, "that it was perfectly true, that if bin source, that those who are actuated by "the measures of Government had not that desire seem to overlook every thing "created they had augmented the distresses else. And, they will certainly have the" of the inhabitants of the manufacturing mortification to find, that, in the end, the" counties, and it was now proposed to puworld will be convinced that there exists"nish them for crimes of which governno such source; or, at least, they will find, ment had in a manner promoted the comthat there are no means of discovering such mission. One great objection to it in his source. Mr. Perceval will, therefore, it "mind was, that it resorted to the ullimum seems to me, do well not to talk of the supplicium for a comparatively slight ofrioters as "disloyal" people. It can do" fence, unless Ministers intended to prothem no possible harm. It is quite suffi-" ceed by re-enacting the statutes of Henry cient for them to be rioters. But, it may "VIII., which directed that for particular "crimes the offenders should be boiled. cause the Emperor of France to believe, that, what has arisen from his commercial "This conduct certainly would not be 66 without support, and that of modern regulations, has arisen from a radical dislike to our own government, or, at least, to "date, and from high authority, since the "Chancellor for Ireland in the year 1798, the system of sway now in existence. Mr. Perceval represents the proposed bill "justified the infliction of torture. The as "necessary to the security and salvation "good that would result from this Bill of the state." I have seen so many of" might be easily ascertained, from observthese measures of "salvation," that I really "ing the very beneficial effects produced by 66 But, in the Nottingham Bill. How many cribegin to despair of their effect. what does this measure of salvation consist? "minals had been either discovered or puAnother principal Why, simply in authorizing the Courts and "nished under it? Executioners to hang people for " tendering reason which induced him to resist the “ or taking unlawful oaths." Some time" progress of this Bill, was, that no disago, an act was passed to authorize the "tinction was made between the crime of hanging of people for frame-breaking," taking an unlawful oath and the assassiwhich offence was before punished with "nation of a man: he should, therefore, transportation. Since that act was passed,"vote against this Bill, not from party the violences have greatly increased, and" spirit, but on public grounds.' X 2 I |