ticularly of such of them as affect, either, by the means of the stamp, have all the directly or indirectly, the interests of celerity of a vehicle of that sort, unit this country. This account will be accom- ing therewith the durability and conve panied with such facts and observations as nience of a magazine. The twenty-six may be necessary to expose those views, numbers, which will appear in the cours which, otherwise, might not, by readers of half a year, will make a volume of 410 in general, be, at first sight, clearly per- pages, to which will be added, regularly ceived. III. All state papers, carefully collected and correctly translated, if a translation be necessary. The precise meaning of papers of this description is a matter of such great importance, that, to put the reader in possession of the very best information, the original will be sometimes inserted as well as the translation. To render this collection as useful as possible, in all future diplomatic discussions, it has been thought necessary to begin it with the treaty of Luneville, which will be found to be the basis of those compacts, which are now new modelling the territorial sovereignty of Europe. IV. Discussions, fair and free discussions, of any and of every measure of his Majesty's ministers, relating to foreign affairs, colonies, commerce, manufactures, revenue, debts, expenditures, laws civil and military, and, indeed, any and every other topic, relating to politics and political economy. V. A weekly selection of such foreign intelligence and domestic occurrences as bear upon political questions, and are of some public importance. VI. No advertisements of any kind, are to be admitted; but, it is proposed to give brief notices of such new books and pamphlets, as treat of politics or history, or of any other matter, relating immediately thereto. VII. Promotions from the London Gazette, confined to peers, the higher clergy, the higher branches of the law, statesmen, admirals, and general officers. an index of all the names and matters, cen tained in the volume. I sincerely wish it had been in my powe to make the price lower than ten-pence but it could not be done without constan loss; and, when the amount of the stamp the size and quality of the paper, and th entire absence of advertisements, are sidered, I trust, that the price will not b thought too high. VIII. Births, deaths, and marriages, confined to the families of the nobility and of members of parliament. IX. The price of the three per cent. stocks, on every day of the week, with occasional accounts of the prices of foreign stocks, and of the rates of insurance and exchange. X. The price of corn and bread in London. con As to the object and principles of the work, I cannot subjoin a better develope ment of either, than is to be found in the following extract from a postscript to m Letters to Mr. Addington. The four last-mentioned heads are admitted, not as subjects of tittle-tattle, but as facts connected with history and political œconomy. "Having mentioned this work, Sir, giv me leave to observe before hand, that I hav no intention to range myself in a systemati OPPOSITION to his Majesty's ministers, o to their measures. Such an opposition disclaim. The first object, which I have invariably had in view, is to contribute my mite towards the support of the authority of that Sovereign, whom God has commanded me to honour and obey; and, as the mean most likely to effect this object, I have ge Derally endeavoured to support the measure of those, who have been appointed to exer cise that authority. If, therefore, I do now or shall in future, openly disapprove of som of the measures of His Majesty's presen servants, religiously abstaining from every act and word, tending to weaken the govern ment, and exerting all my feeble efforts to defend it against its enemies foreign and domestic, I trust that you yourself, if I should happen at all to attract your notice, will have the justice to acquit me of inconsistency of conduct." Such, with the addition and improvements, which time and experience may suggest, will be the contents of this work, which thongh it is not HAL ALEY a wspaper, will, by letter, already ordered a regular supply, at MR. COBBETT's, or elsewhere, will be pleased, nevertheless, to repeat their commands, in the manner above pointed out; a request which it is hoped they will excuse, when they consider the danger of omissions, and the more powerful motive of wishing them not to give their support to a publication, of which, after a perusal, they may possibly disapprove. Gentlemen, to whom this number may not be addressed, and who are well-wishers to this undertaking, will have the goodness to reflect on the absolute impossibility of avoiding such omissions, for the supplying of which, however, a quantity of the First Number will be, for one week, kept on hand. The publication of the Second Number will, for the sake of giving time for applications, be postponed to Saturday the 30th January, on which day, and on every succeeding Saturday, at four o'clock in the af. ternoon, the publication will take place, at Mr. Richard Bagshaw's, Newsman, Bow Street, Covent Garden, by whom odd numbers will be sold, during the week, and by Mr. Whittle, No. 3, Southampton Street, Strand, Mr. Wright, Piccadilly, and Messrs. Cobbett and Morgan, Pall Mall. WM. COBBETT. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. * Tuesday, October 29, 1801. This day His Majesty opened the Session with the following most Gracious Speech from the Throne: My Lords and Gentlemen, tended with as little molestation as possible to the Subjects of the Contracting Parties. Preliminaries of Peace have also been ratified between Me and the French Republic; and I trust that this important Arrangement, whilst it manifests the Justice and Moderation of My Views, will also be found conducive to the substantial Interests of this Country, and honourable to the British Character. Copies of these Papers shall be forthwith laid before you, and I earnestly hope that the Transactions to which they refer, will meet with the Approbation of My Parliament. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I have directed such Estimates to be prepared for the various demands of the Public Service, as appear to Me to be best adapted to the situation in which we are now placed. It is painful to Me to reflect, that provision cannot be made for defraying the Expenses which must unavoidably be continued for a time, in different parts of the world, and for maintaining an adequate Peace Establishment, without farge addi-tional Supplies. You may, however, be atsured, that all possible attention shall be paid to such economical arrangements as may not be inconsistent with the great object of effectually providing for the security of all My Dominions. My Lords and Gentlemen, I cannot sufficiently describe the Gratification and Comfort I derive from the Relief which the Bounty of Divine Providence has afforded to My People, by the abundant produce of the late Harvest. In contemplating the Situation of the Country at this I have the satisfaction to acquaint you important conjuncture, it is impossible for me to refrain from expressing the deep that the important Negotiations in which I was engaged at the close of the last Session tude which have been manifested by all desense I entertain of the Temper and Fortiof Parliament, are brought to a favourable conclusion. The differences with the Nor- scriptions of My faithful Subjects, under the thern Powers have been adjusted by a which they have had to contend. The disvarious and complicated difficulties with Convention with the Emperor of Russia, to tinguished Valour and eminent Services of which the Kings of Denmark and Sweden have expressed their readiness to accede. My Forces by Sea and Land, which at no The essential Rights for which we contend- dented exertions of the Militia and Fenciperiod have been surpassed; the unpreceed, are thereby secured, and provision is bles, and the Zeal and Perseverance of the made, that the exercise of them shall be at-Yeomanry and Volunteer Corps of Cavalry and Infantry, are entitled to My warmest Acknowledgments:--And I am persuaded that you will join with Me, in reflecting with peculiar satisfaction on the Naval and Military Operations of the last Campaign, and on the successful and glorious Issue of the Expedition to Egypt, which has been marked throughout by achievements, tending in their consequences, and by their example, to produce lasting Advantage and Honour to this Country. It is My first wish and most fervent Prayer, that My People may experience the Reward they have so well merited, in a full enjoyment of the Blessings of Peace, in a progressive increase of the National Commerce, Credit, and Resources, and above all, in the undisturbed possession of their Religion, Laws, and Liberties, under the Safeguard and Protection of that Constitution, which it has been the great object of all Our Efforts to preserve, and which it is Our most sacred duty to transmit unimpaired to Our Descendants. HOUSE OF LORDS. Lord Bolton moved the address, which was as usual an echo to the speech, and was ceconded by Lord Lilford. The Duke of Bedford rose, he said, with no intention to disturb the harmony, which he perceived was likely to prevail, but to express his hearty concurrence in the sentiments of the Address. He was, however, of opinion, that a more fit time for making peace might have been found at a much earlier period of the war; but, no blame was, on this account, to be imputed to the present ministers, who had, from the moment they came into office, endeavoured to effect that which they had now happily effected, and for which he begged them to accept of his sincere thanks. His grace concluded by observing, that the general exultation of the people proved how welcome a peace was to them, and he hoped, that as speedily as possible, the Constitution, of the enjoyment of which they had so long been deprived, would be restored to them,, and that an attention would, in future, be paid to their wishes. The address was agreed to nemine dissentiente. Lord Pelham moved, that Lord Walsingham be appointed chairman of the committees during the present session. Agreed to. Adjourned to Tuesday. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Lord Lovaine moved the Address, which was seconded by Colonel IFoodhouse. Mr. Fox expressed his decided approbation to the Address. He heartily joined in the general joy, which the peace had given rise to, whatever difference of opinion might take place with respect to its terms, or its general tenor, or the manner of concluding it. Mr. Pitt rejoiced in the unanimity which was likely to prevail. He highly approved both of the peace with France and of the Convention with the powers of the North. When either of those great topics should come before the House for discussion, he hoped he should be found to agree with the hon. gentlemen who had just preceded him, and that they should both express their approbation, although, perhaps, for different reasons. He expressed his thanks to the ministers, who had effected these great objects, and concluded with an eulogium on the valour of the navy and army, and on the fortitude and loyalty of the nation at large. Mr. Windham esteemed it a great misfortune to be compelled to differ in opinion from his right hon. friend, but he hoped he should want no apology, if he now differed from two gentlemen, who had heretofore uniformly differed from each other on the whole of the subject of the war, though they now coincided in approbation of the peace. He proceeded in a tone and language, which deeply affected his hearers. "Are," exclaimed he, "the circumstances of this "peace the natural signs for rejoicing that "have been wont to justify our exultations 66 upon former occasions? I own, Sir, they "strike me in a direct contrary point of "view, and when I am called on to rejoice, "before I put on my wedding suit, I shall "first inquire, whether I am called to ce"lebrate a marriage or a funeral? When "I am desired to illuminate, I shall first "endeavour to learn whether it is to light 66 me to a feast or a sepulchre. For, Sir, if "the solemnity of a death-bed declaration "has any claims to veracity or sinceri ty, I should have no hesitation, were I "to make it at this moment, as to my firm "persuasion and belief, that my hon. friends, "in signing this peace, have put their sig "natures to the death warrant of their "country. I know, Sir, the inconstancy of "human affairs, and I am not profane enough to set bounds to the dispensations "of Providence--neither can I pretend pre "cisely to foresee what different changes "may be wrought in the dispositions of the "people of England by intrigues from with 66 66 out, or convulsions from within. But upon 66 no rational view that I can take of this "subject, nor any prospect to which my "discernment enables me to look, can I see my way out of the evils it will entail upon my country." He ob erved, that by the indiscriminate surrender of our conquests, we had thrown out of our hands the only means of counterbalancing the enormous aggran dizement of France; but concluded with aving, that there might possibly exist some unknown and irresistable necessity, which had induced his Majesty's ministers to submit to the terms of the treaty, and that the nation ought to thank, instead of censuring for the Beasure they had adopted. Mr. Addington (the Chancellor of the Ex(requer) denied, that the preserving of our conquests, and the extension of our colonial s.stem, was the most effectual way to counterbalance the aggrandizement of France. He thought, on the contrary, that the relinqashing what we had conquered was the caly pledge for our security; and, that it was in the preservation of our constitution, our capital and industry, that we were to book for our means of future defence. "As to necessity," said he, "I disclaim it, Sir. I "will be no party to any such plea; and I thus publicly declare, that had it been found indispensibly necessary to continue "the contest, no deficiency whatever would have been found in the finances and resources of this country: and it would "have been the grossest dereliction of my duty to have let such a suggestion pass "uncontradicted." Mr. Sheridan said, that the speech from the throne contained distinctions and characters of the peace, which, if they had been echoed in the address, he for one would not have given the address his support. As it now Sood he had no objection to it. He observed, that notwithstanding the apparent unarinity that prevailed, he was confident, that, of this were the time for men to speak out their real Hghts, there never was a period of less animity than this. He differed from those who called the peace honourable and glorious, and still more from those, who thought it inexpedient to make any peace at all. It was a peace of which wa` glad, but of which no man could possibly be proud. every man Earl Temple begged, that, in voting for the address, he might by no means be understood as giving his approbation to the preliminaries of peace. The address was carried nemine contradicente, Friday, October 30. HOUSE OF LORDS. Lord Grenville prefaced a speech of considerable length by stating his reasons for having on the preceding day, recommended: an unanimous concurrence. He did not, he said, even now wish to anticipate a discussion of the preliminaries of peace; but, he thought necessary to protest before hand against that concurrence being construed. into an approbation of those preliminaries; and, previous to any discussion thereof, he expressed his wish to obtain some explanation of those articles, which related to the integrity of our allies, particularly of the clause respecting the integrity of Portugal, whether it was meant to preserve that power as it stood before the war, or, at the date of the preliminaries. Lord Pelham declined entering into any explanation on the subject 'till the preliminaries themselves should become the ques tion before the House. Upon the motion of Lord St. Vincent (first Lord of the Admiralty), seconded by Lord Nelson, the unanimous thanks of the House were given to rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, "for his gallant and spirited cons "duct in the action with the united fleets "of France and Spain, off Gibraltar, in which he had destroyed two Spanish men "of war, and taken a ship belonging to "France."-Like votes were passed in ho nour of captains Hood and Kates, and such of the officers as principally distinguished themselves, and of the seamen and marines in the two engagements, under Sir James Saumarez in the Bay of Algesiras and off Gibraltar. HOUSE OF COMMONS. Votes of thanks similar to those this day passed by the Lords were passed in the Commons. Foreign Affairs) having laid before the Lord Hawkesbury (Secretary of State for House copies of the convention with Russia and of the preliminaries of peace with France, moved that the latter be taken into consideration on Tuesday, and the former on Friday next. Mr. Grey rose to inquire, whether the integrity of Portugal, for which we had stipulated in the preliminaries with France, Their lordships having returned from carwas intended to preserve her, dominions ying up their address to his Majesty, Lord such as they were before the war, or such Phan (Secretary of State for the Home De- as they were after the treaty between Porpartment) laid before the House the conven-tugal and Spain. He also wished to know, previously to the discussion of the terms of ton with Russia, signed at Petersburgh on the 5th of June, and the preliminary treaty of peace with France, signed at London on the 1st of October. * The treaty signed at Badajos on the oth of June, 1801, by which Portugal was compelled to cede to Spain the town and district of Olivenza. the peace, whether the preliminaries with | Portugal admitted the woollens of other nations France would release Portugal from the to be imported upon terms, heretofore enstipulations, into which, it appeared she joyed exclusively by us, we should be at had now entered with France, to admit liberty to place all other wines upon a footing French goods into her ports upon the same with those of Portugal.* footing as British goods, and thereby according to France a participation in those commercial advantages, which she had, for a century past, accorded to England alone. Lord Hawkesbury answered, that the preliminary treaty certainly was agreed on without any participation, on the part of either Holland or Spain; but, that France was considered as capable of acting for them as well as herself. His lordship said, that as he was now up, he would answer two questions, put on a former day (by Mr. Grey), relative to the sixth article of the preliminaries, which, at that time he did not answer, because he was not then in possession of official information on the subject. The meaning of that article was, that the territories and possessions of her faithful Majesty should be maintained entire as settled by the treaty of Badajos. With respect to the admission of manufactures of other countries into the countries of Portugal, upon the same footing as those of England, he could only observe, that the preference now given by ach country was reciprocal; and that, if The remaining proceedings of the session, down to the date of this number, cannot, for the reasons before mentioned, be allowed any considerable portion of room. A few of the more prominent and important political topics only will, therefore, be noticed. On the 3d of November, (the day on which the preliminaries of peace were discussed in both Houses), Lord Grenville, in the House of Lords, asked for previous information, respecting the state, in which our treaty with France had left the territorial and commercial independence of Portugal. Lord Pelham answered, that, as to commerce, Portugal was still at liberty to treat with this country; and, that respecting boundaries of her territory, it was guaranteed from and after the treaty concluded on the 29th of September, 1801. The former lord not being satisfied with this explanation relative to the commerce, he, after some opposition from Lords Hobart and Thurlow, made a motion for the production of papers relating thereto, which was supported by Lords Spencer and Caernarvon, who contended, that it was inconsistent with propriety and candour to call on the House at once to plunge into the discussion of a matter, on which they did not possess the necessary information. After some further conversation, it was, however, agreed to enter on the order of the day. The address of thanks was moved by Lord Romney, seconded by Lord Limerick. It was opposed by Lords Spencer, Grenville, Warwick, Fitzwilliam, the Bishop of Rochester, and Lord Caernarvon; and was supported by the Dukes of Clarence and Bedford, Lords Westmeath, Pelham, Hobart, Rawdon, Mulgrave, Westmoreland, the Lord Chancellor, and the Bishop of London. The House did not rise It is well known, that there are no other wines, worth mentioning, but those of France; so that, be cause Portugal has been compelled to grant to our enemy, favours, which he has hitherto confined to us, we, by way of retaliation, are to grant favours to our enemy! This statement is materially different from that given by Lord-Hawkesbury, who stated the territorial integrity of Portugal to be that, which she enjoyed from and after the treaty of Badajos, which did not the include the cessions made by Portugal to France, in treaty of the 29th of September, of a considerable portion of territory in South America.—This might, however, be a mere error in describing the treaty. |