Слике страница
PDF
ePub

XXX

Subsidiary Treaty with Sweden.

on his mind of the absolute NÉCESSITY which called for measures of a direct contrary description.

SUBSIDIARY TREATY WITH SWEDEN.

Our ministers it appears from their haughty language on the subjeet of negociation, and their conduct, towards Sweden, entertain some hope of stirring up a fifth coalition against France. They inform us that a treaty of alliance is formed between Britain and Sweden, and that they are every day in expectation of receiving a copy of it from the Swedish court. It is reported that the pecuniary aid we are to furnish, is one hundred thousand pounds a month! and that a considerable naval and military force is to be sent to the aid of our august ally! The conduct of the King of Sweden has for some time past assumed that Quixotic cast, that we are not much surprised at his falling into the snares of the British cabinet. By some official accounts published by France, inserted in our following pages, it seems that our ministers have been earnestly endeavouring to embroil Sweden in the war; thus falling in with the inclination of the chivalrous monarch, who perhaps fancies he may by this splendid alliance, by uniting his forces with those of Great Britain, effect the deliverance of Europe! We should however imagine that there are few persons, with the exception of the parties in this alliance and their instigators, but must foresee as the almost unavoidable consequence of this new and puny coalition, if not the total ruin of one of the parties, the deep humiliation of both. If our ministers are not in a hurry to transmit their reported monthly subsidy, they may probably save themselves altogether the trouble of sending it, unless it be destined for the coffers of Russia or France: for notwithstanding the mighty preparations which some of our public prints inform us are going forward in Sweden, we believe it will excite lit tle surprise should the jutelligence speedily arrive of Sweden having made peace with Russia and France on their own terms, or of her being added to the number of the conquered and ruined states of Europe. We have yet no information of the grounds on which Russia and France (for no doubt both powers are combined in this business) have declared war; but the conduct of Sweden towards Denmark as appears by the official documents, has been very suspicious: the language of the former to the latter, instead of being in that friendly tone which Denmark, when her neutrality had been so grossly outraged, had a right to expect from a neighbouring state, has been contemptrous and insulting. By a debate in the house of Commons (Feb.25.) we find that there have been some attempts made by our ministers to excite Sweden to invade. Denmark at the very time our commanders had agreed to leave the Danish territories agreeably to the articles of capitulation, which however our ministers in the spirit of jesujtism observe" they meant to fulfil agreeably to the spirit, though

Subsidiary Treaty with Sweden.-Orders of Council. xxxi

"not of the letter." To the question of Lord TEMPLE, whether they were not endeavouring to persuade Sweden to occupy the Danish territories on the British leaving them, no answer was given: after a clamorous outcry from the ministerial benches for the question, the motion for laying before the house the correspondence which had passed on the occasion was negatived by the usual majority. It is not improbable but that this matter will shortly be cleared up by the correspondence being published by the enemy. We dismiss it therefore for the present with the observation of Mr. Ponsonby." The conduct of ministers, in fact, appeared to "him exactly to resemble that of two highwaymen, one of whom "should first address a passenger, demanding his money and threat"ening his life; the passenger offers his purse, but begs that his "life may be spared; on which the highwayman accepts the purse, "and promises not to injure him: but the moment he walks off "he whilstles his companion from the hedge, and says do you dispatch him."

[ocr errors]

ORDERS OF COUNCIL.

The orders of council affecting not only the trade of neutrals but the trade of this country also, have occasioned several long and 'spirited debates in both houses. Their illegality, their violation of Magna Charta has been positively affirmed on one side; the only answer to which on the other side appears to have been, that in a state of war it is necessary to deviate from those general rules adopted in a state of peace. Our readers, however, must not expect us to enter into a discussion of the subject; and that for a very just reason:-They are scarcely intelligible to those who are much better judges than we can ever expect to be. A respectable member of the house of Commons of considerable mercantile abilities, (Mr. A. Baring) in a pamphlet he has just published on the subject, remarks as follows:-"I beg to disclaim any intention 'to 'expound the literal text; it seems purposely intended that no "person should profane it with his understanding, without paying "two guineas for an opinion, with the additional benefit of being "able to obtain one directly opposite to it for two more!``What "the motive can be for such studied obscurity on this occasion, as "well as on that of the proclamation respecting seamen, it is diffi"cult to say, unless it be to surprise the Americans into a belief "that they no longer speak English!"*

Some of the commercial regulations and prohibitions which are taking place in consequence of the new morality adopted by our ministers, are a disgrace, not only to civilization, but even to humanity having been informed that the article of bark is, in consequence of the blockading system become scarce in France, they

xxxii

Orders of Council.-Royal Droits of Admiralty.

have, although it is in more than one sense of the word become a drug in this country, brought in a bill to prohibit its exportation. Mr. Whitbread characterized this measure, 66 as a most detestable "mode of warfare, in which we waged hostility with the wounded "and the dying, with sick chambers and hospitals:" and the only answer vouchsafed to these, and other just and humane arguments used on the occasion, was, "that there was a necessity in time of "war to use every means to distress the enemy." The speech of Mr. WHITBREAD was sneered at by Mr. PERCEVAL as a "fine "sentimental effusion about war!" The distresses which are fast increasing in consequence of the system of injustice pursuing by both the hostile nations, threaten to give the war such a new character, that former wars may be denominated a sort of" civil game com"pared with this uproar." How long our countrymen will patiently submit to be thus ruled we know not their sufferings however great, are not undeserved; and until the wrongs of other nations as well as their own shall awaken their sensibility, they must not be surprised if the friends of war ascribe even their petitions for peace to selfish, rather than to patriotic motives.

ROYAL DROITS OF ADMIRALTY.

We are happy to find that Sir FRANCIS BURDETT is renewing his active services for the public by promoting inquiries into abuses; aud that the attention of the house of Commons appears likely to be fixed on a subject which calls loudly for investigation. From what has transpired even at the outset of the inquiry relative to the Royal droits, the public may perceive a motive which induces our statesmen to commence war, by first striking the blow, and giving their reasons for so doing afterwards. By this means numbers of vessels sailing on the ocean or harbouring in our ports in fancied security are seized, and being afterwards condemned, become the property of the crown. In this predicament were the valuable Spanish frigates rapaciously captured under the administration of Mr. PITT; and in a still more rapacious manner were lately seized between three and four hundred Danish vessels! The value of the captures made by these honourable means since the commencement of the present war amounts to many millions. Out of the produce of these captures, various sums amounting to one hundred and forty thousand pounds, have been presented to different branches of the royal family; but to what purposes the great mass of property has been applied, remains to be discovered. Sir FRANCIS BURDETT's motion for the statement of the application of the funds was, on the day of its introduction, objected to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who proposed an amended motion for the amount of the proceeds only, leaving any inquiry as to their application to some future period,

[ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors]

the ministers amended motion was after some debate, carried by a majority of 25. In the course however of that debate so much matter was divulged, that the next day Sir CHARLES POLE, introduced another motion similar to that framed by Sir Francis; and which was carried without a division. When the necessary documents are laid before the house the honourable baronet will proceed in the investigation.

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

In the course of the above discussion some very curious circumstances transpired which served to place the patriotic services of the famous Buenos Ayres commodore, Sir HOME POPHAM, in a most striking point of view! The following are the facts as stated by an hon. member, Mr. LUSHINGTON.-" The baronet, when an officer "under the rank of Post in his Majesty's service, in the year 1787, "being out of employment, went to Ostend, and there purchased "and freighted a ship under Imperial colours, and proceeding with her to India, returned homeward with a full cargo, touched in "Ireland, and landed some of his goods, and repairing to Dunge"s ness there landed the remainder: that is in other words-there smuggled them! His vessel was seized in the very act of carrying 16 on this contraband trade, process was instituted in the Admiralty; during the proceedings the hon. baronet claimed his share of the " cargo and freight, but when it became necessary to serve a process of the court upon him, he was not to be found, but abscon"ded. The vessel was condemned as lawful prize, yet the gallant captain of the Brilliant never received a penny for his capture, "and eighteen years elapsed, when, to the wonder and astonish"ment of all who heard of it, the hon. baronet, instead of being “punished for violating the laws of his country, instead of being "degraded for descending so much below the honourable profession " in which he had been bred, was rewarded by a Treasury warrant of 25,000l.!!!" The only answer to this serious charge from Sir H. POPHAM was, his extraordinary services to his country on other occasions. The hon. baronet in returning home from the house had the misfortune to fall on the pavement and sprain his ancle; and as in consequence of this misfortune, he has obtained leave of absence for a month: all discussion on the subject is of course deferred. Till it is renewed the only remark we shall make is, that of admiration of the abilities discovered by the honourable baronet in turning his services to his country to a proper account. The bucaniering expedition which drew down the reprimand of a court martial, proved a source of considerable emolument. The harbour of Dungeness in Sussex has long been a favourite spot for smugglers, who have found the services they have there rendered their country attended with considerable gain; the hon. baro

68

VOL. III.

Some of our correspondents have expressed their surprise, we have not noticed various reflections which have lately app in Cobbett's Register. We beg leave to reply, that we for several weeks past seldom met with any of his reflections deserved our notice. We some time since exposed the ignorance the depravity which he had discovered on subjects of conside importance to the public welfare; his detestable principles specting the slave trade, and the education of the poor; an despotic maritime code; every thing that he had advanced on subjects which have the appearance of argument, has been than sufficiently answered, in our former numbers, as well a several other writers. Mr. COBBETT, although he has had ne the courage to reply to those arguments, nor the honesty to re his errors, has persevered from week to week in 'repeating in guage of increased scurrility, his refuted assertions, Can any who reads the contemptible libels, the stupid falsehoods which is continually publishing against the Americans think them deser of notice? They all carry with them their own refutation. His re advice to our ministers to lose no time" in knocking the towns of "Americans about their ears;" that is, reader, to lose no time in bu ing their houses, and massacreing the inhabitants, men, women children, is too infernal even for our ministers too follow. excellent pamphlet which has recently been published on the v by Mr. ROSCOE, has thrown Mr. C. into another fit of insanity, effects of which are very apparent in his two last numbers. Inst of attempting to reply to Mr. ROSCOE's arguments he has ven the most infamous and foul mouthed slanders against the auth a gentleman, it is unnecessary to add, who on account of literary talents, and his virtues private, social, and public, co mands universal respect. Mr. COBBETT describes Mr. Rosc as a man "entertaining an unnatural partiality for the enemy who "cause he has pleaded in the true spirit of a professed advocate undisguisedly French, and impudently profligate:-he charg him with wilful falsehood, writing what was not true, and kno ing at the time he was writing it was not-with a baseness, an "total want of principle: this latter charge is repeated several tim in the course of a few pages.* * We hope Mr. ROSCOE will not degrade himself as to write a syllable in answer to such malignan

[ocr errors]
« ПретходнаНастави »