Page images
PDF
EPUB

1

Mr. Whitbread.—I brought no charge they were about to publish a very large against the hon. gentleman. All I said map, six inches to a mile, in which all the was, that a person who was educated as a lodes and veins of ore would be marked, civilian, could not be more capable of as well as the elevation of the different judging of military matters than members hills, which was a point of great importof parliament in general were.

ance in mining. If he thought any public Mr. Frankland Lewis said, that when it disadvantage was likely to arise from the was originally determined to form an ac- publication of this geological map, he curate survey of this country and of certainly would not put private benefit in France, it was intended for the benefit of competition with the safety of the counthe two nations; artists were selected from try. The same remark would apply to each, and degrees were measured on both the maps which had given rise to this consides of the water. No person thought of versation; from the publication of which danger, until it was too late to think of he conceived no inconvenience, and much preventing it. Surveys of Kent, Sussex, benefit, would be derived. Essex, and a great part of Dorsetshire, Mr. Baring said, that Cassini's maps were published under the administration had not been destroyed: he had, in his of the duke of Richmond. One of two possession, a very good set of them. He conclusions must, in the present instance, considered it truly ridiculous to apprehend be come to. Either the maps ought to be any danger from the publication of the published, with a view to that public remainder of the British survey, after the benefit which was originally intended, or enemy were placed in possession of all the the project ought to be abandoned alto- information they could possibly want, the gether, if danger were apprehended from maritime counties having been already it. How could Government think of pro- published. The hon. gentleman imagined, ceeding with so expensive an undertaking, that there was nothing connected with and, at the same time, refuse to let the those estimates, to which they could obpublic participate in the benefit of it? ject, except the grant which respected The whole of the argument in favour of maps. There was, however, a sum of the concealment of those copper-plates, 240,000l. charged for fortifications, in the was uncongenial with English feeling, and present year, in this country, to which he reminded him of the mean jealousy of the strongly objected. It would, perhaps, be Chinese and Spaniards.

asked, “Do you wish those fortifications Mr. D. Giddy said, that if the proba- to be abandoned?” He had no hesitation bility of danger from the publication of in saying, that he sincerely wished they those maps could be clearly shown, he were, with the exception of the iwo great certainly thought it would be right to naval arsenals of Portsmouth and Plyrefuse them. But he saw no reason to mouth. It was, perhaps, expedient to have apprehend any disadvantage whatever. them fortified; but he believed there was Indeed, he understood, that a set of maps no man, conversant with the military dehad been published in France, which fence of a country, who would not say, (although the elevations were not marked that the fortifications at Dover and Chalon them) could very easily be filled up, bam were utterly useless. so as to answer every practical military Mr. Ward began to address the compurpose. He had stated, last session, that mittee, and was observing, that he did not if ministers persevered in refusing those repent any expression he had made use maps, be should make a motion on the of, in answering the hon. gentleman opsubject; but, as it might have been con- posite-when he was interrupted by sidered a hostile measure, he had ab- Mr. Whitbread, who said, it had never stained from it. The hon. gentleman had occurred to him, that any thing calling stated to ibe House, that it was not expe- for repentance had happened in the dient to give any farther information on course of the evening. But, when the this subject; but if some good reasons bon. gentleman alluded to what had prewere not given in the next session, for viously passed, and stated, that he did not withholding those maps, he should feel it repent it, he (Mr. Whitbread) thought it his duty to bring the matter under the right to call for an explanation of the hon.

consideration of the House. In that part gentleman's expression.-(Loud cries of of the country (Cornwall) with which he « Chair !") was particularly connected, a Geological Mr. Brogden.--I think there has been Society had been recently established; too much of personal attack and of per.

T

705]

Ordnance Estimates.

sonal feeling in the observations of the hon. gentlemen. It had better rest here. Mr. Whitbread.-The attack I conceived to be parliamentary; and the manner in which it was met I thought also to be parliamentary. But the manner in which the hon. gentleman has alluded to it, I look upon to be unparliamentary, and I object to it.

Mr. R. Ward said, when he stated that he did not repent any words he had uttered, it was with reference to a public subject, and to his conduct on that particular subject: and he begged leave to disclaim any wish to treat the gentleman (whose private character he highly esteemed) with disrespect.

they were brought forward, be pretty sure
to be gratified, as he (Mr. Whitbread)
should find it very inconsistent with his
feelings or principles to sink, like some
with a good grace.
other hon. gentlemen, into perfect silence

Sir J. Newport asked why the accounts
ordered, were not laid before the House.
of Ordnance Contracts, which had been
He was well informed that a provision
which had been ordered by the law of
1782, to be inserted in all contracts with
House should participate in the profits,
Government, viz. that no member of that
had not been inserted in those contracts.
in a contract with another Board, as ap-
He had also very good information, that

Mr. Whitbread.-There is a word omit-peared by the answer to a bill of disted, which, situated as I am before the committee, ought, I think, to have been particularly used. The hon. gentleman speaks of me, as the "Gentleman," not the "Honourable Gentleman." This, I take to be unparliamentary.

Mr. R. Ward meant to have designated him as the "Honourable Gentleman." He did not repent a single word he had said; but, in making this observation, he intended nothing personal.

Mr. Brogden was desirous that the conversation should cease.

Mr. Bennet expressed a similar wish; at the same time observing, that there was something in the course pursued by the hon. gentleman that very naturally excited the notice of his hon. friend.

covery, two members of the House had
actually participated. A very good pro
vision had heen inserted in the Ordnance
Contracts, viz. that no clerk of the office
fication of the omission of that which the
should participate; but this was no jesti.
law required.

Mr. R. Ward said, that as soon as the accounts were made out they would be days. He could certainly state, that no presented. They had been voted but ten member of parliament had entered into a contract with the Ordnance.

Mr. Baring wished to know whether that provision which was ordered by the law of 1782, had in fact been inserted in the Ordnance Contracts?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer answered, as he had found on inquiry. that it had by inadvertence been omitted,

Mr. H. Martin asked on what ground the addition of 1,500l. had been made to the salary of the Secretary of the Mastergeneral of the Ordnance?

Mr. R. Ward said, that with respect to the course he might feel it necessary to adopt, he should always follow his own discretion. He then proceeded to defend himself from the charge of having asMr. R. Ward answered, that formerly serted, that gentlemen were not competent to criticise military works, because they He never there were two secretaries, but that in were not military persons. stated any such thing. He merely ob- 1813 the experiment had been tried of served, when gentlemen were censuring performing the service by one, which had military works, in general terms-calling succeeded. The two secretaries had staff this ridiculous, and that preposterous appointments in addition to their salaries, that those who understood the subject and received fees on warrants. The staff the fees were paid to the account of the better, thought otherwise. Even though appointments were now taken away, and a civilian, he conceived he was quite comdepartment; so that instead of an increase petent to make this remark. of expenditure, the public had in fact saved between 14 and 1500!, a year.

Mr. Whitbread observed, that the hon. gentleman's profession of unrepentance was quite unnecessary, as he had not been called on to repent. For his own part, he should not desist from observations on those estimates in future; and so far the hon. gentleman, who was desirous of being attacked, would, from the manner in which (VOL. XXXI.)

Mr. H. Martin observed, that he hoped the increase of expence would turn out to be a saving in other instances; but since the year 1810, when accounts of the into the House, there had been an increase crease of salaries bad first been presented (22)

the said High Contracting Parties, equally animated by those sentiments of cordial

of allowances to the officers in this department little short of 30,000l. Mr. R. Ward said, the increase of allow-good-will and attachment to each other, ance was made to the servants of the public in the Ordnance Department in proportion to their length of service, on certificates of good behaviour. The clerks were paid less in the Ordnance Department for the same service than in any other.

Mr. Martin wished to know on the subject of a pension to colonel Congreve, which he should at some future time bring before the House in a specific form, whether there was any precedent for the manner in which that pension had originated, viz. by the intimation of the Royal pleasure to the Master-general? He should say nothing at present of the grounds of that pension, but he merely wished to know as to the form, which had been also followed in the case of the pension to colonel Shrapnell.

Mr. R. Ward said, the form of proceeding in the case of these two pensions was the same which had always been followed from time immemorial on the grant of any pension or allowance in this department, viz. by an intimation of the Royal pleasure. The Resolutions were then agreed to.

CONVENTION BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE NETHERLANDS.] Lord Castlereagh presented, by command of the Prince Regent, a copy of the following CONVENTION between Great Britain and the United Netherlands; signed at London, 13th August, 1814. In the Name of the Most Holy and Undi

vided Trinity,

The United Provinces of the Netherlands, under the favour of Divine Providence, having been restored to their independence, and having been placed by the loyalty of the Dutch people and the achievements of the Allied Powers, under the government of the illustrious House of Orange and his Britannic Majesty being desirous of entering into such arrangements with the Prince Sovereign of the United Netherlands, concerning the colonies of the said United Netherlands, which have been conquered by his Majesty's arms during the late war, as may conduce to the prosperity of the said State, and may afford a lasting testimony of his Majesty's friendship and attachment to the family of Orange, and to the Dutch nation:

have nominated for their plenipotentiaries: namely, his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the right honourable Robert Stewart, viscount Castlereagh, one of his said Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, a Member of Parliament, Colonel of the Londonderry regiment of Militia, Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and his principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, &c.; and his royal highness the Prince of Orange-Nassau, Prince Sovereign of the United Netherlands, his excellency Henry Fagel, his Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary at the Court of his Britannic Majesty:-who, after having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed to the following articles :-,

Art. 1. His Britannic Majesty engages to restore to the Prince Sovereign of the United Netherlands, within the term which shall be hereafter fixed, the colonies, factories, and establishments which were possessed by Holland at the commencement of the late war, viz. on the 1st of January, 1803, in the seas and on the continents of America, Africa, and Asia; with the exception of the Cape of Good Hope and the settlements of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice, of which possessions the High Contracting Parties reserve to themselves the right to dispose by a supplementary convention, hereafter to be negociated according to their mutual interests; and especially with reference to the provisions contained in the 6th and 9th Articles of the Treaty of Peace signed between his Britannic Majesty and his Most Christian Majesty on the 30th of May, 1814.

Art. 2. His Britannic Majesty agrees to cede in full sovereignty the island of Banca, in the Eastern Seas, to the Prince Sovereign of the Netherlands, in exchange for the settlement of Cochin and its dependencies on the coast of Malabar, which is to remain in full sovereignty to his Britannic Majesty.

Art. 3. The places and forts in the colonies and settlements, which by virtue of the two preceding Articles are to be ceded and exchanged by the two High Contracting Parties, shall be given up in the state in which they may be at the moment of the signature of the present Convention.

Art. 4. His Britannic Majesty guaran- it be acquired before or during the late tees to the subjects of his royal highness war, and of retiring to whatever country the Prince Sovereign of the United (they may choose. Netherlands, the same facilities, privileges, Art. 8. The Prince Sovereign of the and protection, with respect to commerce United Netherlands, anxious to co-operate, and the security of their property and in the most effectual manner with his mapersons within the limits of the British jesty the King of the United Kingdom of sovereignty on the continent of India, as Great Britain and Ireland, so as to bring are now or shall be granted to the most about the total abolition of the Trade in favoured nations.

Slaves on the coast of Africa, and having His royal highness the Prince Sovereign, spontaneously issued a Decree on the 15th on his part, having nothing more at heart of June, 1814, wherein it is enjoined, that than the perpetual duration of peace no ships or vessels whatever, destined for between the Crown of England and the the Trade in Slaves, be cleared out or United Netherlands, and wishing to do equipped in any of the harbours or places his utmost to avoid any thing which might of his dominions, nor admitted io the affect their mutual good understanding, forts or possessions on the coast of Guinea, engages not to erect any fortifications in and that no inhabitants of that country the establishments which are to be restored shall be sold or exposed as slaves--does to him within the limits of the British moreover hereby engage to prohibit all sovereignty upon the continent of India, his subjects, in the most effectual manner, and only to place in those establishments and by the most solemn laws, from taking the number of troops necessary for the any share whatsoever in such inhuman maintenance of the police.

traffic. Art. 5. Those colonies, factories, and Art. 9. The present Convention shall establishments which are to be ceded to be ratified, and the ratifications shall be his royal highness the Sovereign Prince duly exchanged at London within three of the United Netherlands by his Bri- weeks from the date hereof, or sooner if tannic Majesty, in the seas or on the possible. continent of America, shall be given up In witness whereof, we the undersigned within three months, and those which are Plenipotentiaries, in virtue of our respec, beyond the Cape of Good Hope within the tive full powers, have signed the present six months which follow the ratification of Convention, and have alfixed thereto the the present Convention.

seals of our arms. Art. 6. The High Contracting Parties,

Done at London, the 13th day of August desirous to bury in entire oblivion the dis.

1814. sentions which have agitated Europe,

(L. S.) Castlereagh, declare and promise, that no individual of whatever rank or condition he may be, in

(L. S.) H. Fagel. the countries rrstored and ceded by the present Treaty, shall be prosecuted, disturbed or molested in his person or pro- In order the better to provide for the perty, under any pretext whatever, either defence and incorporation of the Belgia on account of bis conduct or political opi- provinces with Holland, and also to pronions, his attachment either to any of the vide, in conformity to the Ninth Article contracting parties, or to any government of the Treaty of Paris, a suitable compenwhich has ceased to exist, or for any other sation for the rights ceded by his Swedish reason except for debts contracted towards Majesty under the said Article, (which individuals, or acts posterior to the date of compensation, it is understood, in the the present Treaty.

event of the above re-union, Holland Art. 7. The native inhabitants and should be liable to furnish in pursuance aliens of whatever nation or condition of the above stipulations); it is hereby they may be, in those countries which are agreed between the High Contracting to change Sovereigns, as well in virtue of Parties, that his Britannic Majesty shall the present Convention as of subsequent take upon himself, and engage to defray arrangements to which it may give rise, the following charges : shall be allowed a period of six years, 1st. The payment of one million reckoning from the exchange of the rati- sterling to Sweden, in satisfaction of the fications, for the purpose of disposing of claims aforesaid, and in pursuance of a their property, it' they think fit, whether Convention this day executed with his

[ocr errors]

FIRST ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.

Swedish Majesty's Plenipotentiary to that effect, a Copy of which Convention is annexed to these Additional Articles.

2dly. The advance of two millions sterling, to be applied, in concert with the Prince Sovereign of the Netherlands, in aid of an equal sum to be furnished by him towards augmenting and improving the defences of the Low Countries.

3rdly. To bear, equally with Holland, such further charges as may be agreed upon between the said High Contracting Parties and their Allies, towards the final and satisfactory settlement of the Low Countries in union with Holland, and under the dominion of the House of Orange, not exceeding, in the whole, the sum of three millions, to be defrayed by

Great Britain.

In consideration, and in satisfaction of the above engagements, as taken by his Britannic Majesty, the Prince Sovereign of the Netherlands agrees to cede in full Sovereignty to his Britannic Majesty the Cape of Good Hope, and the settlements of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice, upon the condition nevertheless, that the subjects of the said Sovereign Prince, being proprietors in the said colonies or settlements, shall be at liberty (under such regulations as may hereafter be agreed upon in a Supplementary Convention) to carry on trade between the said settlements and the territories in Europe of the said Sovereign Prince.

It is also agreed between the two High Contracting Parties, that the ships of every kind belonging to Holland, shall have permission to resort freely to the Cape of Good Hope for the purposes of refreshment and repairs, without being liable to other charges than such as British subjects are required to pay.

SECOND ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.

The small district of Bernagore, situated close to Calcutta, being requisite to the due preservation of the peace and police of that city, the Prince of Orange agrees to cede the said district to his Britannic Majesty, upon a payment of such sum annually to his Royal Highness as may be considered, by commissioners to be appointed by the respective Governments, to be just and reasonable, with reference to the profits or revenue usually derived by the Dutch Government from the

same.

[blocks in formation]

CONVENTION BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN sented, by command of the Prince Regent, AND SWEDEN.] Lord Castlereagh prea Copy of the following

CONVENTION between his Britannic Majesty and the King of Sweden, signed at London the 13th August, 1814. In the name of the most Holy and Undivided Trinity,

His Swedish Majesty, by Article 9 of the Treaty concluded at Paris on the 30th of May last, having consented in virtue of arrangements stipulated with the Allies, that the Island of Guadaloupe should be restored to his Most Christian Majesty, and it being understood and agreed that in consideration of the incorporation of the Belgic provinces with Holland, as provided for in the Treaty of Paris, Holland should be liable to furnish, out of the colonies now in possession of his Britannic Majesty, the compensation to which his Swedish Majesty is entitled for the rights ceded as aforesaid; and whereas it has been deemed more expedient by his Swedish Majesty, and by the Prince Sovereign of the Netherlands, that in the event of such incorporation taking place as aforesaid, the compensation to be furnished by Holland, should be made in money; and his Swedish Majesty having agreed to accept the sum of 24 millions of livres in full satisfaction of his said rights: and his Britannic Majesty, as the friend and ally of both Powers, being willing to become answerable to his Swedish Majesty for the due and punctual discharge of the said compensation, their said Majesties have resolved to enter into engagements accordingly, and have for this purpose nominated as their Plenipotentiaries, namely, his Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the right honourable Robert

« PreviousContinue »