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POLITICAL MISCELLANY,

COMPREHENDING

REFLECTIONS, STATE-DOCUMENTS, OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS, FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE, &c.

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AND WE SHALL SHOCK THEM: NOUGHT SHALL MAKE US RUE,

IF ENGLAND TO ITSELF DO PROVE BUT TRUE."

SHAKS,

THE reports which have been lately circulated, respecting the

occurrence of obstacles to the signing of the definitive treaty on the part of Spain and Holland, as well as on account of the appointment of a power to guarantee the possession of Malta to the order of St. John of Jerusalem, are, we have strong grounds to believe, altogether unfounded.

Although the congress has not yet assembled at Amiens, there can be no doubt that every principal object has been maturely discussed, and satisfactorily settled. His CATHOLIC Majesty has appointed his plenipotentiary to the congress, and the Batavian republic must submit to the wishes and dictates of the First Consul.

The conclusion of the definitive treaty of peace, and the adjustment of all commercial regulations, between Great Britain and France, may be expected to take place before the end of the next month.

The immense preparations making in the principal parts of the republic, for the expedition to St. Domingo, have attracted the attention of our government; and although it was the earnest desire of BONAPARTE that it should proceed to its destination with all possible dispatch, we understand that it is not, in consequence of the official interference of Marquis CORNWALLIS, to put to sea, until the completion of the definitive treaty.

The expedition will receive every possible assistance from our government, which cannot view without some apprehension the establishment of so powerful and independant a state, as that which TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE, is desirous to consolidate in St. Domingo.

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IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

THURSDAY, OCT. 29.

HIS Majesty having left the House the Speech was read by the Lord Chancellor.

The Address was moved by Lord Bolton, and seconded by Lord Lilford.

The Duke of Bedford heartily concurred in the Address. He thought that better terms might have been obtained, had a negotiation been earlier entered into in the spirit of sincerity and conciliation. But his observations upon that subject were not directed against the present Ministers. They had his sincere thanks for their successful efforts in terminating a disastrous contest. In this instance they had listened to the voice of the people, and he hoped they would persevere in shewing the same attention to their wishes, by restoring the free exercise of their constitutional rights.

The question upon the Address was then put, and carried with

out a division.

On the motion of Lord Hobart, the House was ordered to be Summoned for to-morrow, on a proposition for a vote of thanks to the British naval and military forces employed in the expedition to Egypt.-Adjourned.

ост. 30.

The House being acquainted that his Majesty would this day be pleased to receive their Address, the Lord Chancellor, with several of their Lordships, proceeded to St. James's with the same. About half past three, their Lordships returned, and the House being resumed,

Lord Pelham said, that he had it in command from his Majesty to lay before the House copies of the Convention which had been entered into between his Majesty and the Northern Powers; and also copies of the Preliminaries of Peace, which had been signed between his Majesty and the Republic of France; which his Lordship then presented, and they were severally ordered to lie upon the table. His Lordship then moved, that they should be taken into consideration on Tuesday next, and the House be summoned.

Lord Grenville made a few observations on the papers which had been presented: for, in his opinion, it would be proper for them to have copies of all the treaties and conventions which had been entered into between the Billigerent Powers, and communicated to his Majesty he had drawn up a motion to this effect, which his Lordship read, but did not afterwards offer to the approbation of the House.

Lord Pelham expressed himself much averse to all premature discussions, especially as an early period might be appointed for taking the subject fairly and fully into consideration.

Lord Hobart said, that in rising to propose the postponement of the Vate of Thanks to Sir John Hely Hutchinson, which he had

given notice it was his intention to move for this day, he hoped he should not be supposed not to have a due sense of the important services of that gallant officer; for the fact was, that when he and his Noble Friend at the head of the Admiralty Board, were about framing the resolutions it was intended to submit for their Lordship's approbation, it was found that the official dispatches from Lord Keith had not as yet been received; and as it had hitherto been the practice to thank the two branches of the service at the same time, when they had acted in conjunction, it had been thought best by himself and colleagues to delay their testimony of gratitude to Sir John Hely Hutchinson until those dispatches should come to hand.

SIR JAMES SAMAUREZ, BART.

Lord St. Vincent gave the highest praise to Sir James, for his gallantry on the 12th of July, in attacking the French squadron, and also for the very great and almost unexampled exertions he afterwards made to refit his ships, so as to be enabled on the next' day to renew the engagement with the combined force of France and Spain, in the Straits of Gibraltar, in which the former lost one ship of the line, and the latter two first rates; and concluded by moving, that their Lordships should resolve that the Thanks of that House should be given to him for those meritorious services.

Lord Nelson also bore his testimony to the merit and bravery of Sir James. He commended the attack for being as bold as ever was meditated; and would pledge himself that, if it had not been for a failure of the wind, that gallant Admiral would certainly have carried the French ships into Gibraltar.

The resolutions were then put and agreed to; as were also one to thank the Captains and Officers, and another the Sailors and Marines, who served upon that occasion. The resolutions were ordered to be transmitted by the Lord Chancellor.-Adjourned to Tuesday next.

Νον. 3.

After a desultory conversation respecting a point of order, which lasted for nearly two hours, the order of the day was read, for taking into consideration the

PRELIMINARY ARTICLES OF PEACE.

Lord Romney rose, and said, that feeling as he did for the situation of the country, after so long a continuance of the extraordinary and eventful contest in which we had lately been engaged, it was with the highest satisfaction that he now moved an address of thanks to his majesty for his most gracious communication of the same to their lordships.

Lord Limerick seconded the motion.

Earl Spencer expressed great reluctance at being obliged to give his negative to the present motion; but could not, in consistency with the part be had taken in the last administration, nor with the present sentiments he held as to the terms of the peace, conscienuously do otherwise.

The Duke of Clarence supported the motion.

Lord

Lord Pelham said, we had concluded peace with honour, though not with that sort of glory, which is founded on the bumiliation of your enemy. We had done more: we had overcome the prejudices in France and Ireland against the British constitution, and had stifled those principles hostile to its safety. Had we no allies? he asked. Yes, we had the firm support of the British people.

Earl Westmeath congratulated the house on the termination of the glorious struggle, which had at last gained a safe peace.

Lord Grenville after a speech of considerable length observed the faith of France was not to be depended on even in time of monarchy. On an average, we had never been ten years at peace with her. Even monarchs took advantage of our dissentions to do us injury; and now she will watch such opportunities, too likely to be afforded by the disaffected at home. Of the danger, those acquainted with the recent transactions in the metropolis were notignorant, in which an unusual triumph has been given to the peace, and the jacobins had shewn the utmost exultation and joy. His lordship expressed his satisfaction at that paragraph of the king's speech, which alluded to a large military establishment at home to repress disaffection; but this showed ministers did not calculate much on the security of the peace.

The Lord Chancellor in reply, said, that the firmness of the British legislature, valour of our fleets and armies, and moderation of government, he made no doubt would render peace lasting. Earl Moira supported the peace, and hoped ministers would preserve the principles of the constitution.

The Duke of Bedford rejoiced that the friends of the war no longer influenced the councils of the nation, and hoped the present ministers would return to the true principles of the constitution.

At half past two o'clock, Earl Westmoreland, in a long history of the war, justified it, and applauded the peace. The Bishop of Rochester spoke against it, on the grounds of Lord Grenville. The Bishop of London applauded the peace, as necessary after nine years of war, and two of famine. Lords St. Vincent and Nelson approved of the peace. The Marquis of Buckingham, in a long speech, opposed it; so did Earl Fitzwilliam, who never could agree to make peace, with the French republic. Earl Carnarvon opposed the peace and Lord Hobart concluded the debate by a speech in its defence. The house divided:→

Contents for peace 114-Non contents 10-Majority 104. Adjourned at half past five in the morning to Friday. NOVEMBER, 10. The order of the day for taking into consideration the conven tion with the northern powers was postponed to Friday.—Adjourned.

NOV. 11. The lord chancellor read a letter from Lord Keith, in answer to that which communicated to him the vote of thanks passed by the house

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house in the last session, for the services performed by the squadron on the coast of Egypt.-Adjourned.

NOV. 12

Lord Hobart moved the order of the day, for taking into consideration the services of the military in Egypt. In moving for a vote of thanks to Sir J. Hutchinson, and the officers and soldiers under his command.

Lord Nelson seconded the motion.

The motion was put, and carried nem diss. and ordered to be communicated to Sir J, Hutchinson by the Lord Chancellor.

A vote of thanks was then passed in favour of the general and subaltern officers serving in the army in Egypt; and a resolution adopted, highly approving of the zeal, discipline, and bravery, displayed by the non-commissioned officers and privates.

Lord Hobart then rose, and, in consequence of the absence of Lord St. Vincent, from indisposition, moved similar votes and resolutions to Lord Keith, and the officers and seamen under his command; and also to Admiral Blanket, and the officers and seamen of the squadron in the Red Sea.

Lord Nelson and the duke of Clarence said each a few words in praise of the exertions of our naval forces on the coast of Egypt, after which the respective motions were adopted, nem. diss.-Adjourned.

CONVENTION WITH RUSSIA.

NOV. 13.

The order of the day for taking this subject into consideration being read,

Lord Holland rose to request that some of the noble lords on the other side of the house would state, whether the courts of Sweden and Denmark had acceded to the convention.

The lord chancellor said, that they had expressed their readiness to accede to the treaty on the table.

Lord Darnley, after a speech of some length, concluded with moving an address, approving of the terms of the convention, as completely securing the undisturbed naval rights of the British nation

Lord Cathcart seconded the motion for the address.

After speeches at some length from Lord Grenville, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Holland, Lord Mulgrave, and Lord Nelson, the question was then put and agreed to, and the lords with the white staves ordered to wait upon his majesty with the same.-Adjourn

ed.

NOV. 16.

The house heard counsel on a Scotch appeal, Phillips v. Blair, &c.--Judgment for appellant.

NOV. 17.

Three Naturalization bills went through their different stages.

NOV. 18.

Their lordships limited the time for receiving judges' reports on private bills to the 19th March next.-The malt duty bill, the bill

for

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