Page images
PDF
EPUB

functions, and duties; in which we might, in war, without an empty boast, bid defiance to our enemy, and, what is of still greater importance, in which we might safely make peace.

COMMUNICATION FROM NAPOLEON.

The foregoing topic has barely left me room to say, that the others, enumerated at the head of the Summary, will be taken up in the next sheet. A remark or two must, however, be made upon the subject of the Communication from Napoleon, "containing," as the Speech informs us, "professions of a pacific disposition." And these remarks must almost solely be confined to the exposing of certain misrepre sentations in the ministerial prints relative to the language of Lord Grenville and Mr. Fox upon this part of the Speech. After mentioning the pacific professions of France, the Speech proceeds thus: " I have in

consequence, expressed my earnest de"sire to embrace the first opportunity of

[ocr errors]

restoring the blessings of peace on such "grounds as may be consistent with the

permanent safety and interests of my do "minions; but I am confident you will "agree with me, that those objects are "closely connected with the general se

tending for months without a single cheering voice; can any one who has read his speeches upon the military force of the country, from the proposition to augment the Scotch militia in 1802 to the present day, who has been an observer of his unconquerable perseverance against popular and parliamentary prejudice, and who has seen, that, step by step, all his opinions and all his predictions have been verified even to the very letter; can any such person believe, that he is now actuated by the vulgar, the grovelling motive, of obtaining a momentary victory in debate! Long, very long, it is evident, that his mind has been turned to the subject which he appears now so anxious to urge to a discussion; and, it is not less evident, nor indeed less generally acknowledged, that he has therein. attained to that degree of perfection, to which a mind like his, steadily directed to any one object, must naturally be expected to attain. He appears to have clearly foreseen, that the troubles of Europe must lead to the commencement of a military age, and, therefore, to have been desirous to prepare his country for maintaining its greatness in that new state of things, that state of things, which, let apathy, avarice, or cowardly blindness say what they will, has now arrived. Prompted by this laudable desire, he has persevered with a constancy, which, under similar circumstances, is unparalleled in communication with those Powers on the the annals of parliament; and, can any man, "Continent with whom I am engaged in not himself divested of every dignified sen"confidential intercourse and connexion, timent, for a moment believe, that he now "with a view to this important object, and pants for the honour of merely discomfiting "especially with the Emperor of Russia, Mr. Pitt! The object of the motion is evi- "who has given the strongest proofs of the dently what it professes to be, to obtain the "wise and dignified sentiments by which means of entering into an ample and solemn "he is animated, and of the warm interest investigation of the causes, which have pre- "he takes in the safety and indepenvented this country, with a population of fif- "dence of Europe."Upon this part of teen millions of souls, from having an army the Speech the ministerial writers have equal in numbers to that of many a state not represented Lord Grenville and Mr. Fox having a population of more than five or six as being decidedly at variance in opinion, the millions of souls; and, when these causes former applauding it as a mark of the deter are clearly exposed, to endeavour to remove mination of ministers not to listen to proposals them, and to place us in a situation, in which for peace on any terms; and the latter conwe shall no longer be harassed with volun- demning it, as expressive of an intention to teerings and requisitions and ballotings; in delay the entering upon negotiations with which the dress, the name, and the honours France immediately, and without consulting of the soldier shall be given to the soldier our allies. Nothing can be falser than this alone; in which the profession of arms shall representation, as will be testified by every be rescued from its present state of humilia- one who heard the debates, and, as will tion and misery: in which the political and clearly appear, when those debates are pub. civil liberties of the people shall not be un- lished in their correct state. [Want of dermined by an intermixture and confusion room compels me to break off, but the subof military, political, and civil authorities,ject shall be res med in my next.]

66

curity of Europe; I have therefore not "thought it right to enter into any more "particular explanation, without previous

[ocr errors]

Printed by Cox and Baylis, No. 75, Great Queen Street, and published by R. Bagshaw, Bow Street, Corent Garden where former Numbers may be had; sold also by J. Budd, Crown and Mitre, Fall-Mall

VOL. VII. No. 4.]

LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1805.

[PRICE 10D.

"To those who wished to continue the war for the purpose of reducing the power of France, I wish to "state, that another campaign could not have been made at a less expense than forty millions, and a perpe"tual annuity (except for the operation of the Sinking Fund) of two millions per annum, in addition to our "other burdens. Even certain success would not have been worth such a price."——Mr. AddinGTON (NOW Lord Sidmouth's) Speech, 3d November, 1801.

97]

SUMMARY OF POLITICS.

THE NEW MINISTRY.The Pittites deny that it is a new ministry, and, as we will not dispute with them about mere words, we will allow, hat it is Mr. Addington's ministry revived, or re-instated; but, we never can allow, that no change in the ministry has taken place, and that, in the language of a Pitt newspaper of yesterday, that "Lord Sidmouth at the council board "is to be considered of no more consequence "as to public measures than Mr. Addington "in the chair of the House of Commons." No: the Addingtons may now, surely, retort Mr. Pitt's sarcasm of the 18th of June last, and assert, that, whatever other persons may think of the matter," the right "hon. gentleman, at least, must be con"vinced, that a very real, and quite suffi"cient change has taken place." In a preceding sheet (written on Friday, the 11th instant), it was stated, that Mr. Addington was to be created Lord Viscount Raleigh, which was no mistatement, that name having, at that time, been fixed on, and, it is said, at first actually inserted in the patent. This is only mentioned for the purpose of showing, that there was no mistatement upon the subject, either intentional or otherwise.The Earl of Buckinghamshire (late Lord Hobart) is now, as it was then said he was to be, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster, and a member of the cabinet. Lord Sidmouth is the President of the Council, in the room of his grace the Duke of Portland, who retires from office on account of ill health, but who keeps his seat in the cabinet. Lord Mulgrave is Sec. of State for foreign affairs, in the room of Lord Harrowby, who retires on account of his ill health. Mr. Sergent, late a Secretary of the Treasury, is not yet appointed to be a privy counsellor ; but to that list, as already lengthened by the names of Messrs, Wallace, Bragge, Long, Tierney, Hiley Addington, Canning, and George Rose, are now added those of Messrs. Nicholas Vansittart, R. P. Carew, Sullivan, and J. Houkham Frere. "In the multitude " of counsellors," says Solomon," there is "wisdom." And Blackstone, in speaking of this particular council, says: "But, the

[98

principal conncil belonging to the king is "his Privy Council, which is generally "called, by way of eminence, the council. "And this, according to Sir Edward Coke's "description of it, is a noble, bonourable, "and reverend assembly."It does not seem to be generally known, though it is said to be very certain, that the place of Secretary of State for foreign affairs is to be given up to the Marquis of Wellesley, upon his return to England, and this step or something like it appears, indeed, to have been in the contemplation of Mr. Pitt, even before he repossessed himself of the reins of power, as will be seen by a reference to Mr. Henry Wellesley's letter, which was intercepted and published by the French.* "I believe," says the letter," that Pitt "will return to office in the course of a year. This makes me wish, that you "should be on the spot, to form part of the "new ministry, which would then be ex"cellent, if Pitt were at the head. What "do you think of it pray? You would be "able to obtain every thing you wish with "regard to India; and, if you thought pro

66

[ocr errors]

per, to return again as Governor General." Is this now the scheme theu? By calling home the Marquis, however, Mr. Pitt secures the Directors, for the present at least, and by keeping the place of Secretary open, he secures the recalled Governor General's friends. The Marquis must, nevertheless, experience some surprise and mortification, upon finding that he is to form part of a cabinet, at the bead of which is that very Mr. Addington, of whom so contemptuous mention is made in the letter here referred to, especially after all the assurances which he must have received, that the breach ber tween Mr. Addington and Mr. Pitt was ir reparable. The same letter says: " Lord

Grenville (who is the organ of Canning) "told me, that Pitt has such a contempt for "Addington, that he would not, at present, "act with him on any conditions whatever." What is meant by Lord Grenville being the organ of Mr. Canning, is, doubtless, that, upon this occasion, his Lordship reported to

Political Register, Vol. VI. p. 534.

re

Mr. Wellesley what he had heard from Mr. Canning; so that, either in Mr. Pitt or Mr. Canning, there must have been the grossest duplicity, or Mr. Pitt really had, in July 1803 (the date of the letter) a profound contempt for Mr. Addington; and, to Lord Wellesley, who has been, in the interim, at a distance from the scene, the present situation of Mr. Pitt must appear truly astonishing.The public prints exclusively attached to Mr. Pitt's part of the ministry, particularly the ORACLE and the SUN, continue, almost incessantly, their efforts to persuade the public, that Lord Sidmouth and his part of the ministry are to have no weight in the deciding upon public measures; that the title bestowed on the latter is to be considered merely as a reward for services in the chair of the House of Commons, and not as prime minister, respecting Mr. Addington's conduct in which last-mentioned situation Mr. Pitt does, we are told " tain all his former opinions." Indeed! Yes, he may retain them; but there are great odds, that he will take care to keep them to himself. Neither he nor Mr. Canning will be so indiscreet as to again express them, at least not in a voice loud enough for any one to hear. Their newspapers will, perhaps, persevere in their present line of conduct; but, from the language of the THE TIMES, which is the leading print of the Addingtons, such conduct is not likely to pass with impunity as will appear from the following passages, taken from an article bearing all the marks of demi-official authority." If to our feelings there is any draw"back from the pleasurable sensations in "which we are disposed warmly to partici&C pate with the public under the present ap#66 pearance of things, it arises from witness"ing the persevering and diabolical malig"nity, with which some wretches connected " even with ministerial journals, have conti"nued their venomous but impotent efforts to 86 sow the seeds of jealousy between the two "distinguished persons, whose reconcilia❝tion has so deeply interested their coun" trymen at large. Our readers will per"haps recollect, that soon after it was an"nounced, we noticed strong symptoms of "this wicked propensity, which, so far from abating, has since more distinctly displayed its mischievous character, and has stamped discredit and disgrace on the "publications which have suffered their pa"ges to be soiled by these foul emanations "of inventive malice, envy and selfishness. "No falsehood however glaring-no impu"tation, however gross-has been omitted by these out of darkness, to attain the great

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

object of their hearts, a revival of mis"trust and dissension between two friends, "whose renewal of confidential intercourse "has been contemplated with such true pleasure by every man of generous feel "❝ing, and by every real friend to his king "and country. "The day of their [the "sons of darkness"]" success is past; "misrepresentation will labour in vain to "blast again the best hopes of the country, "On the integrity, fair-dealing, and honor "of Mr. Pitt and Lord Sidmouth, the pub"lic has, we believe, fequal and unqua "lified reliance. The latter is to the former "not a rival, but a coadjutor in his govern "ment; and whether as president of the "council, or filling any other high office, "shares the responsibility of public measures, as

66

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

a member of the cabinet. At this we "rejoice. We contemplate with becoming "pride the state-vessel under sail, with able "pilots at the helm, and manned by an effi "cient and united crew. Fermin and insects may cling about her sides; but will we trust, never be enabled to impede her course and obstruct her progress."-Who are here designated under the name of "ver ❝ min it is by no means difficult to guess. The next song that Mr. Canning writes about the vessel of state, he will of course take care to talk of the pilots and not of the pilot, who weathered the storm! The Sid. mouths seem resolved not to yield an inch; and notwithstanding the conciliatory hints of the COURIER, a print boisterously loud in praise of Mr. Canning, that "Lord Sid "mouth and his immediate friends will "have too much good sense to suffer Mr. Wind"ham's motion to draw them into a perti"nacious adherence to the wisdom of their "former measures," the public will see, that concessions are to come, if at all, from the other branch of the family. The question is not, whether the Sidmouths will adhere to the wisdom of their former measures; but, whether they will, either expressly or tacitly, allow that they merited the charge of "incapacity and imbccility." On the other hand, there are, amongst the close friends of Mr. Pitt, some persons of perfect independence, of great respectability of cha racter, and of considerable weight, who, one would think, cannot feel very pleasantly at the prospect of the approaching We can see a reason quite satisfactory for the continued adherence of Mr. Canning, Mr. Long, Mr. Robert Ward, George Rost, and the like; for that of the Claude Scotts, the Thorntons, the Smiths, the Peeles, e much difficulty in guessing at the motives of &c. we can also easily account; nor is there

scenes.

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

It is.

[ocr errors]

-Attentions! Attentions from a Sovereign to one of his subjects! And these are your King's friends" too! Observe also, that these attentions" were “naturally" shown to a person, who had, it is here assumed, served the King with "fidelity." And, is it so rare a thing, then, to find a map who has served his Majesty with fidelity? Lord Nelson, some people think, had served him with fidelity; but, what loyal subject ever thought so meanly of the kingly office, as to presume, that royal" attentions" were due even to the hero of the Nile and of Copenhagen? This writer may, perhaps, be disposed to deny, that Mr. Pitt has served the King with "fidelity;" but, unless this denial be acquiesced in by the adherents of that gentleman, it will remain for them to show, that Mr. Pitt has, at some time, received similar "attentions," unless they are ready candidly to confess, that Lord Sidmouth is the real" confidential servant" of the King. But, it seems, Mr. Addington had further claims to his Majesty's atten tions. He had not only served him with fi delity, but had retired from that service """with bonour." And is it meant to insinuate, then, that Mr. Pitt did not retire with *bonour ? Again; he retired without re"ward." Was-the Clerkship of the Pells and a slice of a royal park no hing? And did Mr. Pitt take a greater reward than that? No; but there was yet another claim to these extraordinary" attentions," to wit: those "recent circumstances," which might naturally" induce" a gracious King to be anxious that some particular mark of "distinction should be conferred." Which

the Wilberforces, the Lascelles, and others of that description; but it is not so easy to perceive why the Marquis of Stafford, for instance, Lord Exeter, Lord Lowther, Lord Romney, Sir Harry Mildmay, Mr. Patten, and some others, should suffer themselves to be exhibited in the majorities of an administration composed almost entirely, whether as to numbers or influence, of the same identical persons, of whose utter incapacity they appeared to be convinced only seven months ago! How highly and how. justly offended would these noble and honorable persons have been, if, in the month of May last, any one had told thein, that, in less than a twelvemonth, they would give their voices in support of the power of Mr. Addington! Yet, it is impossible that they should not see, and feel, that it really is in support of that power that they are now to stand forward. Very forward, indeed, they will not, in all probability, stand." rather to be supposed, that they will endedvour, if they resolve to adhere to Mr. Pitt,, to avoid any very frominent situation, in which endeavour they will, in all likelihood,. completely succeed!The visit of His Majesty to Richmond Park was, long ago,. correctly stated. Since that, mention has been made in several of the public papers, of a visit made by Mr. Addington (now Lord Sidmouth) to Kew. It has been asserted, that the premier went thither unattended; that he remained there, tête à-tête four hours; and that the visit was concealed from Mr. Pitt. Upon this THE TIMES makes the following remarks; and the reader will bear." in mind, that THE TIMES is the leading print of the Addington part of the ministry. "As to the principal facts, ad"mitting them to be true, what then? Mr. "Addington's visit to Kew could not, we presume, have taken place, without a "command from his Majesty; who would

66

[ocr errors]

naturally be disposed to show some atten"tions to an individual who had served him “with fidelity, and had retired from that ser"vice with bonour, and without reward: "it might even have been natural for a gra"cious King, especially under recent circum"stances, to be anxious that some particular "mark of distinction should be conferred. The "result, however, of the best inquiries that "we have been able to make, is, that this "visit of four hours was scarcely of two; "that Mr. Addington went in his carriage,. "attended as usual; and that a meeting "took place between him and Mr. Pitt the "very same day, or the day following, where "it is at least probable, that a confidential "communicatiga took place between them."

66

66

recent circumstances" were, doubtless, to be found in the turning-out of Mr. Adding ton; and, as that was effected through the immediate influence of Mr. Pitt, the inference, which the Addington writers wish the public to draw, is too obvious to be mistakeu by even the most shallow part of that publie! The reasons why Mr. Canning and George Rose, and even Mr. Fitt himself, should quietly submit to drudge along under the effects of such an inference are plain enough, and have already been stated in p. 32 of the present Volume; but, why sech persons as the Marquis of Stafford, and others of the same description should so submit, it appears very difficult to explain. From these matters of opinion let us come to the facts relating to this remarkable visit to Kew. FIRST; as to its duration, instead of four hours, we are now informed, that it lasted only two. Quite long enough for a tête-àtête; or, at least, quite long enough to satisfy Mr. Pitt, or he must be a very unreasonable

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

man. SECONDLY; we are told, that it is to be presumed, that it did not take place "without his Majesty's command." Certainly we are so to presume. But, because we are to presume, that Mr. Addington would not venture to visit his Sovereign without a previous command; because we are to presume that he would not knock at the royal apartment with less ceremony than : at the door of his apothecary, are we to conclude, that the visit had in it nothing which bespoke an uncommon degree of confidence on the part of the royal person visited? THIRDLY; Mr. Addington went in his carriage, attended as usual. That is to say, by his coachman and footman. And, who said he did not? Who said that he went as it were by stealth? Nobody. By the word unattended, was meant, however it might have been interpreted, unaccompanied, in the resence of his Majesty by Mr. Pitt, by any of the ministry, and even by any of the officers of state, or others usually near the person of the King. That it was, in short, that species of audience, to which none but the prime minister, or the Lord Chancellor, upon particular occasions, is seldom, if ever, admitted. FOURTHLY; it is insinuated, but not asserted, that, at a meeting, which took place between Mr. Addington and Mr. Pitt, the very next day, or the day following, the former communicated to the latter what had passed at Kew. The expressions are very vague. "It is at least probable that a confidential communication took place between them." Is that all? A confidential communication about what? And to what ef fect? The writer dared not state, that, at this meeting, Mr. Addington communicated all, no, nor any part, of what was said during the visit at Kew. Indeed, the writer wished to leave no such impression upon the mind of the public; and the truth evidently is, that, under the pretext of correcting the .statement made by the o her prints, the demi-official wiiter in THE TIMES has here taken occasion to render indubitable that, of which, before, some persons closely attached to Mr. Pitt affected to doubt. Of this only remaining excuse, this last disguise of their shame, the inexorable Addingtonian writers seem resolved to deprive them. Of whose triumph the reconciliation, is a mark the public must easily perceive from even the friendly language of the two parts of the ministry. On the Addington side, the "reconciliation;" the cordial reconciliation between two distinguished statesmen ;" the joy which the nation must experience at "a reconciliation essentially necessary to the stability of his

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"Majesty's government as well as to the "vigorous prosecution of the arduous con"test in which we are engaged "This is the language on the side of the Addingtons, whose prints are full of it; but, in the Pitt newspapers, you never hear any joy expressed upon the subject of the reconciliation Even the word is carefully avoided; and the only importance affected to be ascribed to the event is, that Mr. Pitt will gain fifty votes by Mr. Addington's coming over to him! And here a remark occurs upon this statement of the Pittites, and that is, that, either their statement is false; either Mr. Addington does not bring fifty votes, or, he has very nearly as many independent votes attached to him as Mr. Pitt has; for, it cannot be for gotten, that, upon Mr. Pitt's amendment 10 Mr. Patten's motion, he was in a minority of 56. If he were now to place himself in a similar situation, who is there that sup poses he would find twenty members at his back?Some persons imagine, that the recent distribution of blue ribbons, added to the many other mortifications which Mr. Pitt has had, and yet has, to submit to, will induce him to resign; and, if report speaks true, the mortification relative to the blue ribbons must be, one would think, insup portable. The noblemen, upon whom the four ribbons have been bestowed, are well known to have adhered to Mr. Addington to the very last; while the Marquis of Staf ford, to whom it has been positively assert ed without contradiction, Mr. Pitt was pledged to give one of the ribbons, was not only well known to be opposed to Mr. Addington, but was the very person before whose threatened motion that minister thought fit to retreat from office! Mr. Pitt, it has been asserted in print, and has not been contradicted, stood engaged, in this respect, to the Marquises of Stafford and Wellesley, each of them certainly highly worthy of the honour; and, it has also been asserted, that he exerted his utmost in order to make good his engagement. That he did not succeed we know! The disappointment of the Marquis of Stafford (supposing the garter to have been promised him) must, however, have very little weight with him, when compared to the circumstance of his being compelled (if he adhere to Mr. Pitt) to aid in upholding the power of Lord Sidmouth. This reflection really appears to be insurportable to any man of a noble mind, and that his lordship has always shewn himself to be such a man every one is ready to allow. To support Mr. Pitt, (though all he did might not be worthy of approbation,) es pecially when he appeared weak, was not

CYTILOBIY

« PreviousContinue »