cesses, terminating in that glorious action which immediately preceded his death, which from its character and result, seemed to have crowned the expectation which even a sanguine admiration of the British navy would induce one to form.-The noble lord expressed a hope that the feel ings, it would have been much stronger Had not that distinguished person saved than that now before the house. Impres- the constitution? Had not the measures sed as he was with the eminent virtues, the of his administration been productive of transcendant talents, the distinguished ser- unprecedented prosperity? And were vice of his deceased friend, he had no not the success of our arms in war, infi. difficulty in stating, that he should have nitely more splendid than any thing that felt the compliment paid to his illustrious had been achieved during the adminis. father, and which his hon. friend had copied, tration of every one of his predecessors, rather cold and inadequate on this occa- not even excepting that of his illustrious sion; but it was deemed advisable to fol- father? Whether we looked to the amount low the precedent chalked out in the case of our military forces, and their efficiency of lord Chatham, and the precise words wherever they had occasion to act; whether were adopted; because, even highly as we looked to our means of defence or Mr. Pitt's friends, with justice, esteemed attack, we saw ample grounds to assert the his merits, it was not conceived right to success, to panegyrize the wisdom and take any novel or extraordinary proceed-vigour of Mr. Pitt. But if we looked to ing, to mark the public deference for his our navy, what an impressive testimony character. It was not thought just to of his active vigilance and provident at place the name of Mr. Pitt on such a tention presented itself to our view! It pedestal, as should by its comparative was notorious, that, under his administraelevation depress the distinction and con- tion, that important branch of our power sequence of other meritorious public men. had advanced by rapid progression, and -With respect to the observations of a attained unparalleled glory. In that delearned gent. on the other side, (Mr.partment indeed, his administration prePonsonby) that the system pursued by sented a series of the most brilliant sucMr. Pitt should be altogether abandoned, that it should be interred with him, he begged to remark to the learned gent. nay, he would advise him, if he wished to attach the confidence of parliament and the country to the party with which he acted, to adopt a different tone. For he had little doubt, that if dangers shouldings by which he was actuated, would arise similar to those against which Mr. plead his excuse for trespassing so long Pitt contended, the councils of the country on the attention of the house. He prowould feel it necessary to recur to the fessed the utmost anxiety to avoid any system of Mr. Pitt. The efficacy of that observation that had the least tendency system had been experienced, its benefit to render the debate personal, or to proto the country was universally felt and voke party feelings. In this, indeed, he acknowledged. To that system we, in fact, but imitated the conduct of the gentlemen owed the internal peace of England amid on the other side, who had throughout the convulsions of Europe, and the secu-performed what they conceived to be their rity of the English constitution. To that duty, in a manner that redounded highly system the learned gent. owed the conse- to their credit. Certainly, the friends of quence he possessed, the honours that Mr. Pitt had no reason to complain of awaited him. Any deviations, therefore, any part of the course pursued by these from such a system, under similar circum-gentlemen. Not an expression was heard stances, it was not wise to recommend; that was calculated to excite an unpleaand sure he was, that such recommen-sant sensation; and he was happy to per dation would not be graciously received ceive that the discussion was, on the whole, among the respectable and intelligent not less honourable to the individuals enpart of the people.-Adverting to the re-gaged in it, than it was creditable to the marks that had been made on the alleged individual who was the subject of it. failures of Mr. Pitt, the noble lord challenged any gent, to mention a minister in the history of the country, who, if success were to be the criterion upon which public honours were to be voted, was by any means entitled to such honours as Mr. Pitt. Mr. Wilberforce rose, to bear testimony to the great public virtues and splendid talents of Mr. Pitt, in whom he declared the love of country was to be found as sincere and ardent as ever yet existed in any human bosom. With regard to the assertion, that success was a proper criterion by which to world, that distinguished statesman comappreciate the merit of a great man, the pletely succeeded, by the vigour and saga. hon. gent. reprobated the idea, as incon-city of his measures, in preventing that sistent with wisdom and justice. But if the dreadful plague from reaching us. This character of Mr. Pitt were to be tried by was the main source of his distinction; this that rule, where were we to look among was the great pedestal of his fame:-The the great men of ancient or modern times, hon. gent. pronounced an high eulogium on for any who had stronger claims to the gra- the manner in which the proposition had titude and respect of their country, than been discussed by the gentlemen on the those which could be advanced in favour other side. Their conduct, he conceived of that illustrious personage? Success, to be not only honourable to their own chahowever, might be, in many instances, a racter, but to that of their, country. It very erroneous criterion of real merit. Re-afforded a signal instance, that the spirit sults might sometimes arise, the cause and of party could not operate in the breasts of credit of which might not at all belong to Englishmen, to extinguish those feelings the plan of operations intended to pro-and sentiments, which enable men fairly duce them. He was aware that parlia- to judge of character, and justly to esment acted entirely from results, in voting timate merit. He declared that he felt addresses for naval or military achieve- great satisfaction in contemplating the ments. But the reason of that mode of course of this discussion, which he had no proceeding was obvious. The parliament doubt would terminate in the adoption of could not act as a military or naval court his hon. friend's motion. To that motion martial. It did not belong to them to en-he was happy to give his warmest support, quire, or to plan or conduct. Upon such and that he felt but a small tribute of desubjects they could only decide from results. ference to the memory of a man who was But the case was quite different with regard ever the object of his esteem and admirato great projects of domestic or foreign po- tion, who was equally distinguished for licy. Such projects the house was able to great talents, for exalted character, for enexamine, and, upon examination, they larged views, for personal purity, and for might appear to have been contrived with indefatigable patriotism. Of him, indeed, the utmost wisdom, although productive it might well be said, that the first wish of his of very unfortunate results, through the heart was the good of his fellow creatures, weakness or treachery of those employed and the sole object of his study that of his to carry them into execution. The appli-country. Undoubtedly, had self been of cation of these general remarks, the hon. any consequence in his consideration, he gent. observed, must be obvious: they were might have materially contributed to promeant to guard against premature impres-note bis own views of policy by cultivating sions upon a subject, into which he would connections and private friendships. But not enter further at present, as he was to these things, which are so diligently very unwilling to utter any sentiment upon consulted, and which are of such material this occasion, that was likely to excite op- use to other public men, Mr. Pitt was quite position. He would offer no opinion upon inattentive. To whatever regarded his own the subject of the last campaign, but sim-interest, he was perfectly indifferent. Inply observe, that it did not follow, that, deed this distinguished man was always because success was on the side of the ene-forgetting himself, but ever remembering my, Mr. Pitt was to be allowed no merit. his country. This question, however, was yet to be de- Sir Robert Williams said, that he was not termined; and, until the determination aware he could make any motion to effect should be pronounced, he would not pre-his wishes, but that he hoped and trusted tend to say that his deceased friend was deserving of praise, at the same time that he protested against the application of censure. But, overlooking this question altogether, there was a part of Mr. Pitt's political life, upon which the world had long determined, which fully entitled that great ornament of his country to his country's best wishes. When the revolutionary spirit had convulsed France, and alarmed the whole civilised that the friends of the illustrious person Majority 258 89 169 The ayes having come forth, were addressed by lord Castlereagh, while in the lobby, nearly in the following words: Gentlemen, to-morrow the Treaties alluded to in his majety's speech, will be laid before the house; and a day will probably be named for discussing that great question, involving so much of the merits and character of Mr. Pitt. I hope and trust, that gentlemen will give a full attendance on that day; which will be more necessary, as we have lost the splendid talents of that great man. Strangers were not re-admitted into the gallery; but, we are informed, that Mr. Cartwright gave notice of a motion for Monday next, for the payment of Mr. Pitt's debts. HOUSE OF LORDS. Tuesday, January 28. and those with whom he had the honour to act, than a desire to do nothing that should be in the least detrimental to any of those powers to whom the treaties referred. They could, indeed, have no other motive, as those who, in all probability, would shortly succeed to the offices occupied by himself and his colleagues, would have an opportunity of investigating the documents themselves, and of judging whether or not his majesty's present ministers had been actuated by a proper caution in withholding them. With some of those noble lords, who would probably soon succeed to office, he had not the honour of being personally acquainted; with respect to others, he could rely most confidently upon their candour and justice; and even if they should be convinced that his majesty's pre[CONTINENTAL WAR.] Lord Mulgrave sent ministers had been too cautious in this said, he was commanded by his majesty instance, he was satisfied they would do to lay before the house copies of trea-ample justice to the purity of the motives ties entered into between his majesty which actuated himself and his colleagues, and the king of Sweden, and the empe- when they inspected the documents which ror of Russia, and also of the accession were now withheld, and which would them thereto of the emperor of Germany and come into their possession. He was at the Austria. He wished there had been a same time most anxious that every docufuller attendance of their lordships, in or- ment which could with safety or propriety der that he might have fully explained the be produced, should be laid before the reason of expediency and necessity, which house, in order that the whole of the late he conceived to exist, for withholding cer- transactions on the continent might be tain articles which formed parts of those fully developed and laid open for discussion. treaties. This explanation he should, un-He was ready to admit that the unfortunate der the present circumstances, reserve, un-issue of the late events on the continent, til the remainder of the documents should be laid on their lordships' table. He thought it his duty, however, to state now to their lordships, that to the treaty of St. Petersburgh, as it now existed, or at least as it came to this country, there were attached fifteen supplementary articles; of these, the tenth article was never ratified; it was of course, therefore, nugatory, and of no validity of the remaining articles, the second, third, seventh, and ninth, contained recitals, the publication of which might be injurious to the welfare or the safety of other nations; and, therefore, it -had been thought expedient to withhold them. He could, at the same time, assure their lordships, that the articles he had just alluded to, were merely conditional and prospective, and did not bear upon any of the points of the question respecting the late transactions upon the continent, which their lordships would have to discuss. With respect to the propriety of withholding these articles, he was convinced no other motive could be imputed to himself, that that unfortunate transaction which put a period to the hopes derived from the employment of vast resources, demanded investigation; but he was equally ready to declare that his majesty's ministers did not shrink from the discussion, that they wished to meet it fairly and fully in every part. It was still inore his anxious wish that the discussion might take place, in order that the character of that illustrious statesman, that, earnest and anxious patriot, whose loss they all deeply deplored, might be fully cleared, as it undoubtedly would be, from any imputation arising from the contemplation of the late unfortunate events on the continent. He was fully convinced, that the result of such a discussion would be a thorough justification of the plans of his majesty's ministers, and a complete refutation of every attack made upon that illustrious statesman, in consequence of the unfortunate issue of a well-concerted plan. He should decline entering into any farther discussion of the subject at present; when the papers were printed, a day would pro bably be fixed for the investigation of the subject, when he should enter at large into its consideration. The papers were then ordered to lie on the table. The duke of Norfolk urged the necessity of their being printed. Lord Hawkesbury replied, that being laid before the house by his majesty's command, they would be printed by the king's order. who had the opportunity of improving those talents, and directing that spirit of enterprise and intrepidity which displayed itself in his earlier years. On this head, much credit was due to sir Peter Parker, to lord Hood, to earl St. Vincent, and other dis tinguished officers, to whom such opportunities were afforded. To these, for their early distinguishing, and calling into action, [VOTE OF THANKS TO THE NAVY.] the important qualifications, with which Lord Hawkesbury rose, pursuant to notice, the late gallant viscount was so eminently to move the thanks of the house to vice-endowed, much praise was due; and so far, admiral lord Collingwood, and the officers it might be said, those distinguished officers, and men under his command, for their in the first instance, contributed their parts conduct in the action, and achieving the to the glorious and important services he glorious victory off Trafalgar, on the 21st subsequently rendered. It was not, howof October last. In stating the grounds on ever, to these great and pre-eminent consiwhich that motion proceeded, respecting derations, of the important victories of the which, he felt confident, there would be no Nile, Copenhagen, and Trafalgar, that their difference of opinion in that house, he be- lordships were alone to look for the merits lieved it would not be deemed irrelevant and perfections of that gallant officer; on in him, before he proceeded farther, to en- various occasions, even in the earliest part deavour to pay that tribute of applause, of his professional life, they were eminently which they all must feel was due to that to be found. His various services, as a great and illustrious commander, under subordinate officer, while on the Mediterwhose auspices that signal and glorious ranean station, were, in that point of view, victory was achieved, whom it was the mis- particularly to be regarded. In that quarfortune of the country to lose in the mo-ter, not only his zeal and intrepidity were ment of victory; but a consummation, so repeatedly manifested, but his talents and glorious to himself, incontrovertibly estab-professional skill, and in a way which was lished his claim to the meed of immortal unequalled by any other officer in similar honour. That, however, was not the sole circumstances! and the same superior dismisfortune the country had recently expe- play of talent and enterprise was uniformly rienced. She had the misfortune, within exhibited by him on every occasion of sea few months, to lose two of the most dis-parate command. When his majesty was tinguished military and political characters first pleased to order a specific remunerathat ever graced her annals, at an early, tion for his services, on the formal repreand about the same period of their re-sentation thereof, which, on his part, be spective lives; under circumstances, and at came necessary on such an occasion, that a time, when all the abilities, vigour, ta-illustrious officer had truly set forth, that lent, and energy of the country, was requi- he was concerned in the capture of seven site for her preservation. He felt, that ships of the line, ten frigates, and a numpart of what he now alluded to, was fo- ber of smaller armed vessels; that he had reign from the subject he had regularly to been one hundred and twenty times in acobserve upon, but so much more strongly tion with his majesty's enemies, that he the occasion which suggested it, that he had lost one of his limbs, and one of his could not repress its expression. His lord- eyes. These were among the services of ship proceeded to expatiate upon the cha-his early life, when he was yet compararacter of the other illustrious individual, who was the subject of his recent general panegyric. The whole life of that great officer, he observed, was devoted to the service of his country; and never did there exist a person more fully and variously qualified effectually to forward that service, than the noble and gallant viscount, to whom he alluded. In contemplating his professional character, it was impossible to refrain from adverting to the merits of those tively unknown to the country as a distin→ guished commander, and previous to those glorious and immortal victories which eternised his fame to all posterity. On all these 'more important occasions, to which extensive command and proportionate responsibility were attached, his powers and exertions appeared to grow and to increase, in proportion to the magnitude and importance of the service on which he was employed. The late glorious action off Trafalgar, the circumstances of which were ent effect on the character of others. In so recent and so fresh in all their lord- this way was to be considered the conduct ships' minds, it was needless to expatiate of many of those who were placed under on; suffice it to say, that in extensive and his command. The high opinion which important consequences, it exceeded every the gallant lord expressed for that meritothing of the kind that graced the annals of rious officer, whose conduct was more rethe country. That glorious victory bore gularly the subject of consideration that the same proportion in its magnitude, bril-night, was equally creditable to both. On liancy, and important consequences, to the leaving this country, he expressed his saachievement at Copenhagen, that the latter tisfaction at the appointment of the noble. did to the previously unparalleled victory Collingwood to the command; and his perof the Nile, and which, in fact, that victory fect confidence in his skill, talents and exerdid, in all those respects, to every other tions. He then proceeded to comment on the that preceded it. It seemed as if the ener- gallant and meritorious conduct of lord Colgies of his mind, and the powers of his lingwood, in the action off Trafalgar, and exertion, expanded, and progressively in- of which many of the most skilful of the creased, on the respective occasions of those profession spoke in terms of unqualified glorious victories, and in each of them he applause. The first motion which he had seemed to surpass what he had exhibited to submit to their lordships was, for the in the foregoing instance. The superior thanks of the house to vice-admiral lord endowments possessed by the gallant ad-Collingwood; the second was for the like miral, were not to be considered alone as to rear-admiral the earl of Northesk; and, operating through himself; his example lastly, to the subordinate officers and seaand influence pervaded all those who were men under their command; and, if ever placed under him in command; his merits skill and bravery were manifested by Briwere not confined to that glorious energy tish officers and seamen, on any one occa❤ he displayed in the heat of action; the sion more than another, it was in the accoolness and discrimination of his mind, tion off Trafalgar. Of this splendid and formed a pre-eminent trait in his character; important victory, there was one prominent his promptitude to make the most of every circumstance to be considered; namely, the advantage that presented itself; a most great inequality of the contending fleets. He striking instance of which, and of unpre- had to apologise to their lordships, for having cedented presence of mind, was manifested detained them rather longer than was usual in his conduct in the critical and important on such instances, but the proportionably affair at Copenhagen. These, however, greater magnitude and importance of the were far from constituting the whole of his particular occasion, he trusted, would plead merits as an officer; his breast burned with his excuse. He then moved, "That the a pure, a noble, a generous love of glory, thanks of this house be given to vice-admiwhich was the main spring of all his he- ral lord Collingwood, for his very gallant roic actions; and he had the faculty of elec-and meritorious conduct in the command trifying all those around him with a similar of the fleet under the late admiral lord enthusiasm. No marks of ferocity or cruel-viscount Nelson, in the action off Cape ty, which so often stained the laurels of Trafalgar, on the 21st of October last, and successful victories, ever dimmed the lustre that the lord Chancellor do communicate of his achievements; but humanity and the said thanks to his lordship." mercy were the characteristics of his glorious conduct after the hour of victory. His conduct in private life was equally admirable with that which he uniformly manifested in his professional career. All the virtues which could adorn human nature, were to be found in the illustrious Nelson. The attribute of mercy was what most eminently distinguished him. In the lan-after a few observations, he would read to guage of the poet, it was not his wish to the house, and their lordships would adopt "Wade through slaughter to a throne, them, if they thought proper. H. R. H. "Or shut the gates of mercy on mankind." then went into the details of the profesIt was impossible the glorious example of sional life of lord Nelson, during the 23 such a man could be without a correspond-years he had the honour, of being acquaint The Duke of Clarence stated, that he did not rise for the purpose of proposing an amendment, or creating a difference of opinion respecting the resolution which the noble secretary of state had introduced, with a degree of eloquence and feeling which claimed his particular thanks. He had, however, prepared some words, which |