came to us perfectly uncircumscribed and unfettered by previous stipulations. That the noble earl does so understand it I cannot for an instant doubt, and I much lament that the noble marquis, who was the channel of this authorised communication, is not present to give his interpretation; but having received that authorised communication first personally and verbally to myself, and afterwards when it was committed to writing, and having understood it according to the natural and obvious import of the words, it was impossible for me to act then, or to act now, regarding that proposition, in any other way than that which was dictated by the plain construction of the language employed. 1 must here beg leave to read from the written document a single paragraph, the substance of which was first personally made known to me:

That his royal highness the Prince Regent has signified his pleasure that Marquis Wellesley should conduct the formation of a Government in all its branches, and should be First Commissioner of the Treasury, and that Lord Moira, Lord Erskine, and Mr. Canning, should be Members of the Cabinet. That it was probable that a Cabinet formed on an enlarged basis must be composed of twelve or thirteen Members; that the Prince Regent wished Lords Grey and Grenville, on the part of their friends, to recommend for his Royal Highness's approbation the names of four persons, if the Cabinet should consist of twelve, and of five persons, if it should consist of thirteen Members, to be appointed by his royal highness the Prince Regent, to fill such situations as might hereafter be arranged. That his royal highness the Prince Regent left the selection of the names to Lords Grey and Grenville, without any instruction or personal exclusion; that in completing the arrangements, the Prince Regent has granted to Marquis Wellesley the entire liberty to propose the names of any persons to hold places in his Royal Highness's Councils, or any other persons.'

66 This, my Lords, was the proposition made to us, and which we understand as naming particular persons, and as limiting, circumscribing, and providing by previous stipu lated arrangement, that particular places shall be assigned to such particular persons. Under such circumstances, I need scarcely add, the proposal met with my decided refusal, sanctioned by the concurrence of my noble friend before me (Lord Grenville), after consulting with my noble friend behind me (Lord Holland). It is true, the subsequent

explanations have been afforded by the noble earl (Moira), but without professing to have any instructions of authority from the Prince Regent. In doing so, I give him full credit for that anxious desire to promote the interests, tranquillity and prosperity of the nation, which throughout life he has uniformly displayed (Hear, hear!) These explanations were, however, private and personal, for the purpose, as he conceived, of removing an imputation upon his conduct; but as I have before said, they were not of an official character. That he was not vested with any powers for this purpose, is confirmed by a letter from the noble marquis, who, referring to these explanations, stated distinctly, that neither he nor the noble earl had authority to make any but private communications, and he expressed his regret that they had not the Prince Regent's express commands to enter into such explanations as he deemed necessary. I have thought it due to myself, and to my friends, to notice distinctly these facts, and they were further necessary in answer to what fell from the noble earl, on the subject of the delay which has occurred. To the private communications, with the concurrence of my noble friend, I returned a prompt answer, in which I referred to the former official paper, containing the authorised proposal upon which I had already communicated my determination; at the same time, I felt that these personal explanations, if subsequently sanctioned, might remove some of the obvious objections to the detail, yet they in no degree altered the general principle on which I had rested my previous decision. Thus much it appeared necessary that I should say, to prevent the possibility of misapprehension, and I lament sincerely, that in consequence of the speech of the noble earl, it was utterly impossible for me to remain silent."

Earl Moira-" The great difficulty that has arisen rests solely upon the construction to be put upon the document from which the noble earl has read a passage, and I confess that they strike my understanding in a point of view directly opposite. The noble lords would probably have thought with me, if they had possessed the same means of judging; for in a previous interview with the noble marquis, I had an opportunity of knowing the real sentiments by which he was actuated in drawing up the written proposal. The noble marquis will hereafter have an opportunity of bearing testimony to the correctness of my statement; the whole

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subject was opened with a spirit of the utmost fairness, and with a sincere desire to leave ample room for subsequent discussions and arrangements. With regard to the nomination of individuals, it was to be understood to be a mere statement of a wish on the part of the illustrious personage, who administered the power to the noble marquis, and it was naturally believed that the names introduced would be acceptable to the noble lords, because they shewed the amicable tone and disposition in which the proposal was made. For the last seven years it is known that I have not belonged to the party usually designated as the opposition, and though free from all political engagements, yet our views in general have been so accordant that I have voted with them, perhaps upon more occasions than even some of those noble lords who have been stiled their firm political friends; and this circumstance may shew at least the disposition with which my name, with others, was inserted as an individual to be honoured with a seat in the Cabinet. I see likewise a noble and learned friend (Lord Erskine), whose name will likewise be noticed, and to whom the same remark will apply. I can conceive nothing that more decisively and unequivocally shews the intention with which the proposal was framed, than the circumstance that it points to the political friends of those to whom it is addressed. The House will also remark, that there is no designation of particular offices, or indeed of any one office, so that all was left open to the fullest discussion, and I shall be much surprised, when the noble marquis is afforded an opportunity of making his statement, if he does not confirm my opinion, that his instructions were of the most general and liberal nature. I will even go further, for unless the nature of the interview between the noble marquis and the noble lords was of a nature entirely different from that which I obtained, the noble marquis must have stated distinctly that all ulterior arrangements were to be matter of future free and unshackled discussion. But, my Lords, I am deviating from the course I would lay down, and I am shewing, in my own person, the unfitness of arguing a question before the necessary information is supplied. The truth is, that I put one construction upon the paper, and my noble friends put another, and surely I have a right to contend that it has been misapprehended; and looking at the service of the country as the object in view, it will not be denied that it is a laudable attempt to remove the misconstruction.

It

might perhaps be expected by some noble lords on the other side, that I should disclose something regarding the present state of the negociation; but though I would discountenance any such communication at present, yet if it be required I shall not shrink from making it; but it will not be forgotten that it was only yesterday morning that I was able to ascertain what course of proceeding ought to be adopted. Although our efforts have hitherto failed, yet (looking towards Lords Grey and Grenville) even at this moment my hopes of conciliation and union are not extinct in a quarter where I am anxious that my offers shall be accepted, and which has candidly manifested a disposition to promote the general object. It has been admitted on all hands, that a crisis of greater danger and difficulty never was known; a moment when the country claimed more anxiously the service of every man who is capable of rendering assistance, was never recorded in our annals; and I hope, that neither these nor any other discussions may communicate to public men, as I am sure they will not to me, any sharpness of spirit which may delay, or perhaps even defeat, an object on all accounts so essential to the welfare and perhaps the existence of the British empire. Under these impressions I wish at present to go no further, and shall sit down, repeating my firm conviction of the spirit of conciliation with which the original proposal was made to my noble friends."

Lord Erskine-"The House will, I hope, excuse me, if, after what has fallen from the noble earl, I feel it necessary to say a few words upon this subject. It appears to me that the real question to be decided is, whether my noble friends are justified in putting the construction they hold upon the written proposition made to them? and this construction was to be ascertained by a candid and fair perusal of the paper. I confess for one, never having seen the document, or indeed heard of it, until it was read to me in company with others, I put the same construction upon it as that which is entertained by my two noble friends. That the proposal was made in the most liberal spirit, and from the most honourable motives, cannot be denied; and had the object been attained, the deliverance of the country from its present calamities could not have been placed in better hands. It was, however, most material, that those who, at the present crisis, when all are imperiously called upon to exert their utmost talents for the welfare of the state,

refused to accede to the proposition, should point out distinctly, and beyond the possibility of doubt, the solid grounds on which they rested. It is at all times desirable that public men should stand clear in the opinion of the nation, and as the interpretation I put upon the document was precisely that which my noble friends entertained, I thought it right thus shortly to express my concurrence in the sentiments they have expressed.'

The Marquis of Douglas-"I obtrude myself unwillingly upon the House for the purpose of impressing upon noble lords the imperious necessity for prompt and vigorous measures. At a period acknowledged to be without parallel, we have now been for some weeks confessedly without a Government. I cannot by any means concur in the interpretation put upon the paper by the noble earl (Moira), but I coincide entirely in opinion with my noble friends near me, that it would have placed them in a situation where they could not conscientiously act, and which, if they had consented to have held, would have been equally unconstitutional and impolitic. The opinion to which I have come has been clearly expounded by my noble friends, and until further investigation at the proper time convinces me to the contrary, I shall continue to hold it. In the present condition of affairs something ought to be done, not only for the country, but for public men, and it is due to the noble marquis that a speedy explanation should be afforded. I will not myself suggest any particular day for the discussion of this very interesting subject, but I would recommend that some noble lord, acquainted with the engagements of the noble marquis, should name a period that he imagines will be convenient. I will not detain the House longer than to make a single remark upon the probability that the noble marquis was actuated only by a wish to conciliate in the offer he was instructed to make, and which was refused, according to my views, for the most solid and indispensable reasons. I confess, that it never appeared to me likely that the noble marquis, whose political opinions on nearly all subjects were so opposite to those of my noble friends, should be able to effect that union of parties and sentiments, which at the same time that it is so desirable it is so difficult to procure.

The Duke of Athol-" I had not, my Lords, the honour to be present in the House when the expression, an expla nation of which has this night been given, was employed; VOL. III.-1812. Z