་་* R. J*M**S*N. OFFICIAL NOTE, published by the FRENCH DIRECTORY, refpecting the Reports spread, that an Envoy from. the BRITISH CABINET had arrived with Propofals of Peace to the DIRECTORY. DIFFERENT Papers have advanced that an English Plenipotentiary had arrived at Paris, and had prefented himself to the Executive Directory, but that his propofitions not being fatisfactory, he had received orders to quit France directly.. All these affertions are equally falfe. The mention made in the English Papers of the fending of a Minister to Paris to treat for peace, recals to mind the overtures made by Mr. Wickham to the Ambassador of the Republic at Bafle, and the reports spread respecting the million of Mr. Hammend to the Court of Pruffia. We have not forgot the infignificancy, or rather the duplicity and the Punic ftyle of Mr. Wickham's Note. According to the partifans of the English Min try, it was at Paris that Mr. Hammond was to come to talk of peace, and when it was known he was going to Prullia, the fame perfons afferted that he was going to accelerate peace; and yet the object of that negociation is now known to have been to engage Pruffia to break the Treaty with the Republic, and rejoin the Coalition. The Court of Berlin (faithful to its engagements)' re British Miniftry, however, by calling that intrigue a miffion of peace, added to the hope of giving a new enemy to France, united that of juftifying the continuation of the war to the British I would be Water, might I have 156 A R.. J*M**S*N. nation, and to throw all the odium of it upon the French Government. Such was alfo the object of Mr. Wickham's Note, and fuch is the view of the prefent publications in the English Papers. This object will appear evident, if we only reflect how difficult it will be for the ambitious Government of England to wish for a peace, which will take from it its maritime preponderance, rel eftablish the liberty of the feas, give a fresh fpring to the Spanish, Dutch, and French Navies, and carry the industry and commerce of the two nations to the highest pitch of profperity. But no further credit will be given to the pacific intentions of the Britith Mi niftry, when it is evident that English gold, the intrigues and infinuations of the British Cabinet, prevail more than ever at the Court of Vienna, and form one of the principal obftacles to thofe pacific negociations which that Court (if left to itfelf) would willingly enter into. Another motive not to believe the pacific intentions of the British Ministry is, the moment they have chofen to spread fuch reports. The English Nation are impatient under the continu ation of the war. Some answer muft be given to their complaints and reproaches. The Parliament is going to meet. Some means must be found to fhut the mouths of thofe Speakers who are against the war. The levying of tain all thefe ends the British Miniftry must have to announce, that the French Government refufes all reasonable propofals for peace, Paris, Sept. 30. JOURNAL of the PROCEEDINGS of the FIRST SESSION of the EIGHTEENTH PARLIAMENT of GREAT BRITAIN.. HOUSE OF LORDS. ON Tuesday, Sept. 27 the Grit Sef fion of the New Parliament was opened by a Commiffion from his Majefty. The Commithioners were the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord Prefident of the Council. Mr. Harfell and the other Clerks, with feveral Members of the House of Commons, attended, and the Lord Chancellor informed them, that his Majefty deferred acquainting them with the important subjects which induced him at that prefent moment to call his Parliament, until they had chofen & Speaker. For this purpose they retired to their own House, and all the Lords that were then prefent took the neceffary oaths. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28. "His Majety having already receiv ed the moft ample and abundant teftimonies of the very able, honeft, and honourable manner in which you have filled the high and important ftation to which you are now called for the third time, and the talents and integrity with which you have performed the various arduous duties attached thereto, has commanded us to fignify unto you, that he is perfectly farisfied with the choice of the Commons, and that through the medium of this Commission, be, in the The Speaker being approved of, addreffed the Commiffioners in his official capacity early to the following effect: 46 MY LORDS, ol flea? The Lord Chancellor, and the other fulleft manner, gives his approbation to you as their Speaker." Commithoners being feated on the Throne, the Uther of the Black Rod (Sir Francis Molyneux) was fent to the House of Commons, to command their attendance in the Lords, in order to fignity their choice of a Speaker, and to return the perfon fo chofen. In a few minutes the Black Rod returned, fol. lowed by about 300 of the Commons, with Mr. Addington at their head. Being come to the bar of the Lords, Mr. Addington addreffed their Lordhips to the following purport; "MY LORDS, "In obedience to the command's of his Majefty, fignified through the me. dium of this Commiffion, the Members of his Majefty's Houfe of Commons have proceeded to the choice of a Speaker, to act as their organ during the continuance of the prefent Parliament, and it is now my duty to inform your Lordships, that fuch choice has fallen upon me, and that I now ftand here returned by the Commons of Great Britain as their organ, for the purpofe of fubmitting their choice to his Majefty for his moft gracious approbation. If in what has been done, any thing thould be deemed amifs, or in any manner not "agreeable to the with or defire, of his Majefty, it is farther my duty to requeft, that in fignifying his Majefty's difapprobation thereof, he will be graciously pleased to "remit back again to the Commous their right, and fignify his commands, that they chufe another Speaker, who may be andre confonant to his Majesty's pleafure, and who may be more able to dif "Since the choice of the Commens of Great Britain has received his Majefty's royal affent and approbation, I feci in peculiarly my duty at this moment to declare the high fente feel of the honour conferred on me, and at the fame time to return my mod grateful and humble acknowledgments to his Majetty, for this last and additional mark of his Roval and most gracious favour. Amidft the various qualifications which the high and important istion to which I have had the honour to be called, demands from the person who fills it, I hope I may flatter vielf that to integrity at least I can lay claim; and that a arm and fteady attachment, and ardent love for the Constitution of this country, and the moft zealous and ftudious endeavours to attain a thorough knowledge of the laws, customs, and ufages of Parliament, have been the unremitting and invariable objects of my attention. In the courfe of the various duties I thall have to fulfil in the exécution of the great truft now committed to my charge, I have to entreat and hope, that whatever language I may chance to ufe, his Majefty will always be pleased to put the most favourable conftruction on my words. In de vinog My Lordsy pedallas In farther conformity to my day, I here, by petition to his Majefty,offert and claim all the ancient and various rights and privileges of which the Commons of Great Britain have been, time out of mind, poffeffed, and have invariably claimed, and do now humbly petition his Majefty, that he will be pleafed to grant the fame; that their perfons and fervants shall be free from all arrefts and moleftation; that their words, fpeeches, and debates shall be free; that they fhall, uninterruptedly, enjoy all fuch privileges as Members of Parliament have heretofore enjoyed; and that in all cafes whatever, the most favourable conftruc tion fhall be put upon all their proceedings," The Lord Chancellor replied, to the following purport: MR-SPEAKER, You having been by his Majesty's approbation, fignified through this Commithion, fully empowered to act in the exalted office to which you have been called, by the choice of the Commons of Great Britain, we have his Majesty's commands, at the fame time, to affure you, that his Majefty will at all times, -2s to your words uted in the fulfilment of your duties, put, as you have defired, the meft favourable conftruction; that the perfons, eftates, and fervants of the Commons, thall be free from all arreft and moleftation; that their speeches fhall be free; and that as to all the other rights and privileges of the Commons, which by your petition you have afferted and claimed, his Majefty has Calfo commanded us to affure you he will grant them in as full and ample a manner as they have ever heretofore been granted, either by his prefent Majefty or by any of his predeceffors." The Speaker and the Commons then withdrew, and returned to their own Houfer Several Peers took the oaths and their fears. Adjourned. THURSDAY, OCT. 6. His Majefty went in the ufual ftate to the House of Peers, where, being feated on the Throne with the accuftomred-tofemnities, and the Commons being fummoned, and having appeared, his Majefty delivered the following moit gracious Speech : My Lords and Gentlemen, This a peculiar fatisfaction to me, han the present conjuncture of affairs, to fecutio 3our advice, after the recent opportunity which has been given for collecting the fenfe of my People, en Agaged ning audifficult and arduous contest Dark for the prefervation of all that is most www.deari corus.br Jasin 1t is qui .. VOL. XXX. OCT. 1795. "I have omitted no endeavours for fetting on foot negociations to reftore peace to Europe, and to fecure for the future the general tranquillity. The fteps which I have taken f for this purpose have at length opened the way to an immediate and direct negociation, the iffue of which must either produce the defirable end of a just, honourable, and folid peace for us and for our Allics, or must prove, beyond difpute, to what cause alone the prolongation of the calamities of war must be afcribed. "I fhall immediately fend a perfon to Paris with full powers to treat for this object; and it is my anxious wish that this measure may lead to the reftoration of general peace. But you must be fenfible, that nothing can fo much contribute to give effect to this defire, as your manifefting that we poffefs both the determination and the resources to oppofe, with increafed activity and energy, the farther efforts with which we may have to contend. "You will feel this peculiarly neceffary at a moment when the enemy has openly manifefted the intention of attempting a defcent on thefe kingdoms. It cannot be doubted what would be the iffue of fuch an enterprize: but it befits your wisdom to neglect no precautions that may either preclude the attempt, or fecure the fpeedieft means of turning it to the confufion and ruin of the enemy. "In reviewing the events of the year, you will have obferved, that, by the kill and exertions of my Navy, our extensive and increafing commerce has been protected to a degree almoft beyond example; and the fleets of the enemy have, for the greatest part of the year, been blocked up in their own ports. "The operations in the Eaft and Weft Indies have been highly honourable to the British arms, and productive of great national advantage; and the valour and good conduct of my forces, both by fea and land, have been eminently confpicuous. "The fortune of war on the Continent has been more various, and the progrefs of the French armies threatened at one period the utmost danger to all Europe. But from the honourable and dignified perfeverance of my Ally the Emperor, and from the intrepidity, difcipline, and invincible fpirit of the Auftrian forces under the auspicious conduct of the Archduke Charles, fuch a turn has lately been given to the course of the war, as may inpire a well grounded confidence, that the final refult of the.. campaign will prove minore, difaßtrous to, the enemy, than than its commencement and progrefs for doubt of your determination to defend, Gentlemen of the House of "Com "I rely on your zeal and public fpirit for fuch fupplies as you may think neceffary for the fervice of the year. It is a great fatisfaction to me to obferve, that, notwithstanding the temporary embarraffiments which have been experienced, the state of the commerce, manufactures, and revenue of the country, proves the real extent and folidity of our refources, and furnishes you fuch means as must be equal to any exertions which the prefent crifis may require. "My Lords and Gentlemen, The diffreffes which were in the last year experienced from the fearcity of corn, are now, by the bleffing of God, happily removed, and an abundant harvest affords the pleafing profpect of relief in that important article to the labouring claffes of the Community. Our internal tranquillity has alfo continued undisturbed. The general attachment of my People to the British Conftitution has appeared on every occafion; and the endeavours of those who wished to introduce anarchy and confufion into this country have been repressed by the energy and "wildom of the laws. "To defeat all the defigns of our enemies, to restore to my People the bleflings of a fecure and honourable peace, to maintain inviolate their religion, laws, and liberty, and to deliver down unimpaired to the latest pofterity the glory and happinefs of thefe kingdoms, is the conftant with of my heart, and the uniform end of all my actions. In every measure that can conduce to thefe objects I am confident of receiving the firm, zeilous, and affectionate fupport of my Parliament." ANG His Majesty having retired, and the Lords being unrobed, Earl Bathurst rofe to move the ADDRESS. His fpeech was replete with approba tion of all the meafures adopted by Minifters, and particularly that for obtaining a safe and a folid peace which, if, from the haughty demeanour and ex. travagant terms of the Directory, it could not be effected, he was perfuaded the whole nation would unite to a man, in refting and bringing, if pothble, to a ftate of reafon, a furious and implacable nation. The fortitude and perfever ance of the Emperor, and the brave and politic conduct of his victorious brother, the Archduke, were the theme of his Lordip's praife; who concluded by moving an Addrels, the echo, as usual, of the King's Speech. The Earl of Upper Offory feconded the motion. Earl Fitzwilliam then rose.' He ob ferved, that at different periods of the war, he had always heard it as the principle of cur conduct, and the object of Minifters, that there should be established in France a Government with which we could treat with confidence, and attain general future fecurity. He trem bled when he found not a word of this principle in the Speech; but that, on the contrary, it feemed all at once abandoned, and we were going meanly to fubmit to the arrogant and declared enemies of established order, not only in their own, but in all other countries. He defired their Lordships to reflect how the French domineered in Italy, Spain, and wherever they found admittance; and he asked if they were prepared to fubmit to the mandates of the Directory. At their command were they to let loose thofe punished for fedition and attacks on the Constitution, to fend for the Jacobins back again frem Botany Bay, and leave our Colonies and Iflands to French regeneration? He asked if France was to retain all her conquefts. If fo, with Spain, Holland, and Italy in her poffeffion, or as her tributaries, he declared our commerce would be gradually annihilated; and he did not think it was the difpofition of fuch rulers as France now had, to fur render any thing they had feized. In thort, he was fure they did not defire peace, for at this very period that ne gociation was opening, they had officially published a most infulting libel on the Government and people of this country. He had given the war his fanction and fupport, on the principle that it was for the maintenance of civilized order and morality, and for the defeat of revolu tionary politicians and doctrines ; and therefore he should move the following amendment: *That this House, strongly impreffed with the justice and necellity of the the prefent war, carried on for the maintenance of civil and moral order in the world, and for fecuring the balance of power in Europe, and the independence of all States, will continue to give his Majesty a vigorous fupport in afferting the general caufe of his Majefty and his Allies, and for preferving the good faith, dignity, and honour of the Crown, in full affurance that no steps thall be taken inconfiftent with thofe principles, or with the future fafety and profperity of thefe kingdon:s: and thould the apparently hoftile difpofitions of the Court of Madrid, inftigated by the intrigues and menaces of the common enemy, put his Majefty under the neceffity of repelling force by force, his Majefty may rely on the determination of this Houfe to give his Majesty the most ample fupport in defending against every aggrellion the dignity, rights, and interefts of the British Empire." Lord Grenville, after paying high compliments to Earl Bathurst, for the ability with which, he had introduced the Addrefs, replied to Earl Fitzwilliam. He faid, that if his Lordthip meant, as he thought he did, to infinuate that the war was undertaken by Minifters for the direct purpofe of establishing a Monarchy in France, he must deny that abfolutely, they had expreffed what they, ftill believed, that the best iffue to the contest would be the re-establish ment of monarchy in France, but they had never pledged themselves, much lefs the Parliament, to an opinion to wild and extravagant, that without this object no peace could be attained. . The difference of our situation from the countries where his Lordship had detailed the infulting and domineering Spirit of the French nation, was furely fufficient to dispel any fears on that account. He thanked God we were prepared to repel any ignominious de mands; and as to the paper that had been alluded to, it was a fenfelefs production, and fuch a difreputable pubHcation ought not to obstruct the progrets of a negociation, which might ter minate in conditions of peace, that it might be confiftent with the dignity and Boncur of the nation to accept.. Lord Abingdon faid a few words against the Addrefs, and it was then earried without a divifion, The following Proteft was after wards entered on their Lordships Journals by Earl Fitzwilliam, ift, Because, by this Addrefs, unamended as it ftands, the fanction of the Lords is given to a series of measures as ill-judged with regard to their object as they are derogatory from the dignity of his Majcity's Crown, and from the honour of this kingdom. The reiterations of fo licitations for Peace, to a species of Power with whole very existence all fair and equi table accommodation is incompatible, can have no other effect than that which, it is notorious, all our folicitations have hitherto had. They must encreate the arrogance and ferocity of the common enemy of all nations; they muft fortify the credit, and fix the authority of an odious Government over an enflayed people; they mu impair the confidence of all other Powers in the magnanimity, conitancy, and fidelity of the British Councils, and it is much to be apprehended it will inevitably tend to break the fpring of that energy, and to lower that fpirit which has characterised in former times this high-minded nation, and which, far from inking under misfortune, have even rifen with the difficulties. and dangers in which our country has been involved. 2d, Because no Peace, fuch as may be capable of recruiting the ftrength, economizing the means, augmenting the refources, and providing for the fafety of this kingdom and its infeparable connections and dependencies, can be had with the ufurped Power now exercifing authority in France, confidering the description, the character, and the conduct of those who compofe that Government, the methods by which they have obtained their power the policy by which they hold it, and the maxims they have adopted, openly! profelled and uniformly acted on, towards the destruction of all Governments not formed on their model and fubfervient to their domination, 3d, Because the idea that this kingdomOo 0 2 |