Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

of the powers at war with France or its allies. During the armistice, no troops belonging to any of the powers at war with France were to be landed at Stralsund, or any other part of Swedish Pomerania, or the isle of Rugen. If, how ever, there should be a debarkation of any troops at Stralsund, in consequence of superior orders unknown to general Van Essen, the general engaged, that they should not commit any act of hostility against the French. *

Towards the end of the same month, April, marshal Mortier, and general Van Essen, improved the terms of mutual accommodation into a more certain prelude to a permanent peace. It was agreed, April 29th, that none of the parties should resume hostilities without giving a month's previous notice, instead of the ten days fixed by the armistice of the 18th, When the king of Sweden was informed of the armistice, and the events that led to it in Pomerania, he determined to come thither, and take the affairs of this province, political and military, into his 'immediate management, and accordingly arrived at Stralsund early in May. Though he was far from approving of the armistices of the 18th and 29th of April, he was sensible that those armistices, which he considered as most disgraceful, were owing, not to any misconduct on the part of the general, baron Van Essen, but to the imprudence, and precipitation of general Armfeldt, in crossing and advancing too far with his column beyond the Peene. While general Van Essen, therefore, was appointed governor-general of Pomerania, and decorated with the grand cross of the Swedish order of the

sword, general Armfeldt obtaine
permission from the king to resig
These marks o
his commission.
favour were shewn to genera
Van Essen on the 14th of May
at a grand parade; when the officer
of the different Swedish regiment
stationed at Stralsund, and variouer
places in the vicinity, were also
presented to his majesty, by whon-
they were received in the most gra.
cious manner. He expressed his en.
tire satisfaction with their conduce
in the last campaign in Pomera
nia. In the course of the cam...
paign, the Swedes were joined by
2,000 Prussian officers and soldiers,
under the command of general
Hinning, and were placed among the
troops in garrison at Stralsund.
This officer was also presented to
his Swedish majesty.

While Gustavus was thus employed, in reviewing and promoting his brave and loyal Swedes, he was himself not a little animated, it may be presumed, by the arrival at Stralsund of the English general Clinton, with assurances of speedy" succours of all kinds from the British government + in the administration of which, there had been, on the 24th of March, a great change. The ministers, who were desirous, above all things, of peace, and who had been amused with a negotiation by Buonaparte, until he was prepared to take the field at the close of September 1806, were exchanged for others, better disposed, it was generally imagined to afford cordial, prompt, and effectual succour, and co-operation with the confederacy against the tyranny, and still growing ambition, of the ruler of France.

Rapport du Baron D'Essen, &c. Reçu par 8. M. le Roi de Swede à Malmo, en Scania le 24e Avril par un Courier expedié de Stralsund lo 20o. † Swedish Gazotta, published at Stralsuud 14th May.

CHAP,

CHAP. III.

Meeting of Parliament- His Majesty's Speech delivered to both

Houses by Commission- An Address in Anscoer -- Moved in the House of Peers, by the Earl of Jersey -Seconded by Lord So. mers-Observations on the Speech by Lord Hawkesbury-Replies made to Lord Hawkesbury, and the Speech in general defended by Lord Grenville-An Address in Answer to the Speech from the Throne, moved in the House of Commons by the Hon. William Windham-Seconded by Mr. John Smith-Speech of Mr. Can. ning on the present Occasion, and Character of his Speeches in general.-Substitution proposed by Mr. Canning, of a new Ad. dress in place of that proposed by Mr. Lamb-Reply to Mr. Canning, and the Speech from the Throne in general defended by Lord Howick-Reply to Lord Hoseick, and various Strictures on the Conduct of Administration, by Lord Castlereagh_The Ad. dress, carried Nem. diss. Thanks to General Sir John Stuart, and the Officers and Soldiers by whose valour the Victory of Maida was obtained, moved in the House of Peers by Lord GrenvilleAnd in the House of Commons by Mr. Windham.- These Motions earried in both Houses by Acclamation.

THE CHE new parliament that had The first topic touched on in the been called in October, assem• speech, was

the late negociation bled according to appointment, on with France; the papers exchan. the 15th of December. It was ged in the course of which, his ma. opened in his majesty's name, by jesty had ordered to be laid before commission. The commissioners them: bis majesty's efforts for the were the archbishop of Canterbury, restoration of general tranquillity, the Chancellor, the earl of Ayls. on terms consistent with the interest ford, and lord Walsingham. Mr. and honour of his people, and good Abbot was chosen speaker in the faith to his allies, had been disaphouse of commons, with universal pointed by the ambition and injus. applause. Some days were taken tice of the enemy, which, in the same up, as usual, in swearing in the memo moment,* had kindled a fresh war in bers of both houses. "On Friday Europe; and of which the progress 19th, the lord chancellor delivered had been attended with the most to both houses, what the commis. calamitous events. After witnes. sioners had in command from his sing the subversion of the antient majesty.

constitution of Germany, and the

That is, at the very moment when those efforts were made. This, though nog very distinetly expressed, is, no doubt, the meaning.

subjugation

in the unconquerable valour and discipline of his fleets, and armies; the unimpaired sources of our prosperity and strength; and the unity in sentiment and action of the British nation. The conclusion of the whole was, "with these advantages, and with an humble reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, his majesty is prepared to meet the exigencies of this great crisis; assured of receiving the fullest support from the wisdom of your deliberations, and from the tried affection, loyalty, and public spirit, of his brave people.

subjugation of a large portion of its most considerable estates, Prussia found herself still more nearly threatened by that danger which she had vainly hoped to avert by so many sacrifices. She had therefore, at length, been compelled to adopt the resolution of openly resisting this unremitted system of aggrandizement and conquest. But neither this determination, nor the succeeding measures were previously coneerted with his majesty: nor had any disposition been shewn to offer adequate satisfaction for those aggressions which had placed the two countries in a state of mutual An address, in answer to the hostility. Yet in this situation his speech from the throne, was moved majesty did not hesitate to adopt in the house of peers, by the earl without delay, such measures as were of Jersey. It was the first time of best calculated to unite their coun- his addressing their lordships. In cils and interests, against the com- adverting to the topics of his mamon enemy. The rapid course of jesty's speech, the first to be noticed the calamities which ensued, oppo- was, the negotiation between this sed iusurmountable difficulties to country and France. As the papers the execution of this purpose. In respecting this subject, would shortthe midst of these disastrous events, ly be laid on their lordship's table, and under the most trying circum- it would not now be necessary to stances, the good faith of his majes- enter into any detailed discussion ty's allies had remained unshaken. respecting the progress and result The conduct of the king of Sweden of the negotiation. It must howhad been distinguished by the most ever be evident to their lordships, honourable firmness. Between his from what had transpired, that it majesty and the emperor of Russia, had been broken off in consequence the happiest amity subsisted. It of the imperious conduct and exorhad been cemented by reciprocal bitant demands of France. If the proofs of good faith and confidence. French government would not conThe speech proceeded to declare, sent to treat on equal terms, the the necessity of public burthens; fault was theirs. We had deeply to recommend as great economy to lament the heavy calamities which as was consistent with those efforts had fallen upon Prussia. But at which it was necessary to make the same time, it was no small satis against the formidable and increa- faction to us, that the councils of sing power of the enemy; to de- Prussia had not been precipitated clare his majesty's satisfaction, in into rash measures, by the instigawitnessing an increasing energy and tion, or advice of this country. It firmness, on the part of his people; was scarcely possible to fiud in all

history,

[ocr errors]

nistory, an instance of a great powe

The address was er so totally overthrown, we might lord Somers, exactly in the same almost say andinilated, in the course train of observation, and strain of of a few days. Prussia, which had sentiment, re-echoing, illustrating, made sacrifice after sacrifice to and confirming, what had been ad. France, apparently with a view of vanced in the speech from the averting war, at length rushed pre. throne. cipitately into hostilities, and met Lord Hawkesbury, while he dis. with an unexampled fate: an awful claimed all party-spirit, and heartily lesson to other states. It was, concurred in every general senti. however, a source of great satis. ment expressed in the address, could faction that this country, when not let it pass without offering some Prussia actually made an effort observations on the speech which against the common enemy, did not had occasioned it. The first point hesitate, immediately to step for- on which he should observe, was ward, to afford her every assistance one not openly mentioned in the that circumstance would admit. speech, but only alluded to, namely, The king of Sweden had displayed the dissolution of parliament. He a firmness and energy, which con. admitted the king's power to disferred the highest honour on that solve parliament, in its fullest extent monarch. The contemplation of and plenitude. If it were possible the conduct of our faithful ally, that parliament could acquire legal Russia, and particularly her refusal permanence for ever so short a to ratify the rash and inconsiderate time, independent of the crown, act of her ministers at Paris, had there would be no security for the also afforded the utmost satisfaction. monarchy. But this, like It was true we had, in the course other part of the prerogative, should of a twelvemonth, lost two men of be exercised with a sound and pre.Cminent talents. But there was wholesome discretion. What was still ability left, amply sufficient to there in the state of the country, direct the energies of the country. to have justified the late unexpected The valour which had continued and premature dissolution of par. to be displayed by his majesty's liament? or a parliament which had fleets and armies, was an undoubted sat only four sessions, and had near. pledge of our superiority. With ly three to run? From the passing of all these advantages, and with the the Septennial act in 1715, there was great sourees of our prosperity and no instance of a parliament being strength unimpaired, we might look dissolved under six sessions, except forward with confidence to the re- in the precedent of 1784, which was sult. Relying upon ourselves, and unavoidable. At that time a mis. united in sentiment and in action, understanding subsisted between the we might set our enemy at defiance, crown and the house of commons, and finally, he trusted, bring this with respect to the government great contest to a successful and The opponents of ministry were glorious issue. The noble earl con- supposed to be more earnest - than cluded with moring, “ that an hum- his majesty's government, for the ble address be presented to his ma. prosecution of the war. jesty. “This address, as usual, was ture of the negotiation overwhelmed an echo of his majesty's speech. ministers, with any apprehension of Vol. XLIX.

D

dificulty

every

If the rup

difficulty, the fair mode would have the point of being involved in a conbeen, not to dissolve parliament, test with France, although he could but to have submitted to the existing parliament, the whole grounds of the negotiation. Mr. Windham, who was the last person in the world he should suppose capable of deceit, in an address which was published, told the county of Norfolk, that as far as he knew, there was no intention of dissolving parliament; and a proclamation appeared, in which a day was fixed for the meeting of parliament for the dispatch of business: and yet, notwithstanding these repeated as. surances, a dissolution was announ. ced, to the surprise and astonishment of the whole kingdən. He would not accuse ministers of any intention to deceive the country, but the dis. solution certainly had the effect of surprising it.

not account for the delay which took place in communicating with her. It was not until the beginning of October, when hostilities were on the eve of commencing, that ministers had endeavoured to open a communication with Prussia. But, by this time, events had occurred which prevented the noble lord Morpeth from fulfilling his important mission. They had afterwards sent out a military mission, at the head of which, was a noble lord, Hutchinson, a member of that house. But this was not till three weeks after the return of his predecessor, at a time when it was uncertain whether this expensive military mission would be able to discover the Prussian head-quarters, or, even a port to land in. Lord Hawkesbury in the course of his speech, introduced some strictures on the military measures of ministry, to which replies were made by lord Grenville. But, as these became afterwards subjects of formal discussions, it would be improper to notice them in this part of our narrative,-which aims not to give an account of all that was said in par liament, which would swell this article altogether beyond bounds, by which it should be limited in the history of Europe; but to relate the principal proceedings in parlia ment, and state the grounds on which these were founded.-Lord Hawkesbury, in conclusion, assented to the address, because it did not pledge their lordships to any of those points which might possibly

With respect to the disasters of Prussia, lord Hawkesbury admitted, with the noble lords who had moved and seconded the motion for the address, that they had risen wholly from the narrow policy within which she had encircled herself. Had his Prussian majesty, or those who ad vised him, consulted history, they would have discovered, that they who lent their aid to have others devour. ed, would be at last devoured themselves. He approved of the proceedings which had been adopted towards Prussia, in consequence of ber unjust aggression of Ilauover, and the measures to which she submitted against the commerce of this country. He approved also of the manner in which we suspended our particular quarrel when she was on

Even the most succinct account of our most important debates in parliament that can be given, may at first sight appear to take up more than a just portion in ich history. But let it be recollected, that this is the only council that discusses with freedom the great affairs; the only mirror that reflects with any tolerable degree of truth the transactions of Europe.

become

K

L

« ForrigeFortsett »