it has been that of a sensible, a brave, and an innocent woman. All the world must say this, and all the world will say it. 66 This very day," says she, "I request that my Letter may be read to the House." And, I dare say, that she was very much surprised, that it had not been read to the House the day before. The Speaker certainly knew what he was about; but, for my part, I can see no harm that could have arisen from his telling the House, at the moment he received it, that he had received such a Letter. He might, I should have thought, have verified the authenticity of the Letter after he had informed the House of the receipt of it as well as before he gave that information. of the charge, yet as Her Royal High16 ness is conscious of no offence, she feels "it due to herself, to the illustrious Houses "to which she lis connected by blood and "marriage, and to the people among whom "she holds so distinguished a rank, not to" "acquiesce for a single moment in any im"putation affecting her honour.The "Princess of Wales has not been permit❝ted to know on what evidence the Mem"bers of the Privy Council proceeded in "their investigation; nor has Her Royal "Highness been allowed to be heard in her "own defence. She knew only by com"mon rumour that such an inquiry had "been instituted, until the result was com"municated to her in the form of the Re"port. She knows not whether she is to "consider the Members of the Privy Couri"cil by whom her conduct has been in"quired into, as a body, to whom she "would be authorized to apply for redress, "or in their individual capacity, as persons selected to make the Report on her "conduct.The Princess of Wales is, therefore, compelled to throw herself on "the wisdom and justice of Parliament, "and she earnestly desires a full investiga❝tion of her conduct during the whole pe"riod of her residence in this country. Her "Royal Highness fears no scrutiny, however "strict, provided it be conducted by im -However, I suppose, I may be wrong in my view of this matter, the Speaker being a man of such great learning and experience. -As to the Princess's Letter to the Speaker, it requires no comment. is so plain; its sentiments are so just; it is so unquestionably excellent in all its parts, that it will stand in need of nothing to set off in the eyes of the world. where will the base panders of the press, who have calumniated her Royal Highness (for ends too evident to mention); these caterers to all the low, filthy, cowardly feelings; where will these wretches now hide their heads? OFFICIAL PAPERS. NORTHERN WAR. But, lery, were obliged to conclude the agreement of becoming neutral, Macdonald finding himself separated from the Prussians, determined on making a speedy retreat with the remainder of his troops. The cavalry pursued him vigorously, and on the first day took several Officers, and about 800 men of the lower ranks prisoners. Count Wittgenstein having, in the meanwhile, obtained intelligence that the enemy's troops, which had been in Dantzic, were marching to Taplaken and Wehlaw, probably with intent to strengthen Macdo The Honourable House seemed to have been posed by this communication; for the reporter states, that an awful silence of some minutes ensued.—Mr. WHITBREAD then asked the ministers what they had to say upon it; and he was answered by Lord CASTLEREAGH (you know that name, my friend), that, as Mr. COCHRANE JOHNSTONE had given notice of a motion, on the subject of the Princess, for the 4th, he did not think it necessary now to say any thing upon what had taken place.The matter was then dropped; but, before this reaches the public eye, it will, doubt-nald or to cover his retreat, he turned with less, have been revived, and that revival will, I dare say, lead to a complete developement of all the circumstances connected with this most important matter. In the mean while, it is impossible for me to withhold my tribute of applause of the Princess's conduct in this emergency: his corps against them, and LieutenantGeneral Count Stenheil was, on the 22d Dec. (3d Jan.) already in Taplaken and Wehlaw. He likewise sent a strong party of cavalry into the low country behind Koningsberg, and towards Elbing, for the purpose of depriving the enemy of all means of collecting provisions; as, according to accounts received, he is driving in corn of different kinds. Admiral Tchichagoff states, that on the 22d (3d Jan.) his headmost troops entered into Insterburg. LieutenantGeneral Tschaplit's vanguard entered Gumbinnen; and Major-General Count Woronzow marched into Memersdorff.-Lieutenant-General Tschaplitz informs, that Major-General Count Oruk was, on his entrance into the village of Stalupenen, received by the inhabitants with undissembled joy and transport; they all unanimously exclaimed, "May the Emperor Alexander be the protector of the innocent suffering nation!" and immediately went to procure provisions and forage for our troops. night, took advantage of every step he made for his retreat. On the 23d of this month (Jan. 4), at two o'clock after midnight, Col. Riedeger, with the Cossacks before mentioned, pushed vigorously forward, and after an obstinate fire of mus ketry, entered on the enemy's shoulders into the city; in which about 1300 men were made prisoners.-The celerity with which our troops forced their way into the city, obliged the enemy, besides this to leave about eight thousand of his exhausted troops behind him, and to sink about 30 pieces of artillery, with the cartridge-boxes, which belonged to the besieging train that was in Courland, and which the inhabitants are now employed in getting out. Besides D.c. 25 Jan. 6./-Adjutant-General this several Russian staff and other officers Wassifichikoff reports, under date the 21st and privates who had at different times Dec. (Jan. 2), that according to certain in- been made prisoners were again restored to telligence obtained from the inhabitants, liberty, and a considerable quantity of prothe whole French army has passed through visions and forage were likewise found in Insterburg on its retieit: there was not at the magazines. After taking possession of that time left of the whole French Guards the city, Colonel Riedeger again set out more than 1500 1401. The 27th Dec. with the aforesaid cavalry, without making (Jan. S), General Coot Wittgenstein re- the least delay, in pursuit of the enemy. ports, under date of the 25th est. (Jan. In the course of our pursuit of the enemy 6), that his vanguard, under the command from Tilsit to Koningsberg, and after taking of Major-General Schepileff, on the 2d possession of the city, he has lost 51 pieces Jan. 4), came up with the enemy near of cannon in the whole. Adjutant-General Labrau, where they had taken an advan-Wassiltchikoff states, under date the 24th tageous position, and defended themselves obstinately. The battle continued till noon, and after they were driven out of their position they retired towards Koningsberg, into which place Major-General Schepileff's vanguard was carried on their shoulders. The enemy lost three pieces of cannon in this engagement, and had several Officers, and about 300 men of inferior rank, made prisoners. Major-General Schepileff took possession of Koningsberg with the vanguard of the army, in the night of the 23d (Jan. 5.) His Majesty the Emperor's head-quarters, and those of the Field-Marshal, were on that day in the village of Orany. "Dec. 28 (Jan. 9.)-Gen. Count Wittgenstein reports, under date the 26th inst. (Jan. 7), in completion of his former statement, concerning the taking possession of the city of Koningsberg, that the enemy were driven out of that city by the four regiments of Cossacks, viz. that of Major-Gen. Radisnov, of Lieut.-Col. Tschernisubow, of Major Tschtschilen, and of Major Selewanowall under the command of Col. Riedeger. They had observed the enemy's movements from the commencement of the evening, and notwithstanding the darkness of the instant (Jan. 5), that the Austrian troops, after strengthening their advanced posts, had drawn themselves towards Warsaw. The head-quarters of his Majesty the Emperor and of the Field-Marshal arrived this day in the village of Meretsh." Wilna, Dec. 30 (Jan. 11.)-On the day before his Majesty the Emperor's departure from this place, namely, on the 25th Dec. (Jan. 6), the following Order was issued from his Imperial Majesty to the troops: "SOLDIERS! Your valour and perseverance have been rewarded, by a renown which will never die among posterity: your names and deeds will pass from mouth to mouth, from your sons to your grandchildren and great grand chil dren, to the latest posterity.- -Praise be to the Most High! The hand of the Lord is with us, and will not forsake us. Already there remains not a single enemy on the face of our country. You have reached the borders of the Empire over their dead bodies and bones. It still remains for you to go forward over the same, not to make conquests, or to carry the war into the countries of our neighbours, but to obtain a wished-for and solid peace. You go to procure rest for yourselves, and freedom and independence for them.--May they be- American station, in contemplation of the come our friends.- -The acceleration of possibility of the occurrence of hostilities, peace will depend on your conduct. You not to commit any aggression, but to resist are Russians. You are Christians! Is it if any aggression should be attempted on necessary, in addition to those names, still the part of the Americans; and if the Ameto put you in mind, that it is a soldier's ricans should actually declare war, then not duty to be valiant in battle, and peaceable to wait for further instructions from home, on the march, and during your residence in but to consider war as declared by this peaceable countries? I do not threaten you country, and act accordingly. In a few with punishment though I know that many weeks after, the Orders in Council were among you well deserve it. You have seen abandoned. Whatever might be the opiin our own country, the robbers who plun nion of Government as to that measure, it dered the houses of the innocent peasantry. was right that, if these Orders were to be In your just emotions of revenge against abandoned, this country should have the them, you have punished those villains who full advantage of it. Instructions, therewould resemble them. Should such a one, fore, were sent out to Mr. Foster, that in contrary to expectation, be found, he can-case America should have declared war, he not be a Russian, he will be driven from amongst you!Soldiers, this is demanded and expected from you, by your true religion, your native country, and your Czar." AMERICAN WAR. HOUSE OF LORDS, February 18. Earl BATHURST moved the order of the day for taking into consideration the Papers relative to the present War with America. The order of the day being accordingly read, should propose an armistice, until it was His Lordship stated, that these papers were very voluminous; but it was not his intention to enter into a particular examination of their contents, because he did not apprehend that to be necessary for the purpose which he had then in view, which was, to call upon the House to declare, whether the Government of this country had acted properly in rejecting the proposi-neutral from a trade which we chose to tion made on the part of America, to suspend the exercise of our undoubted right to search for our own seamen, during the discussion of the question, whether any substitute for the present mode of exercising it could be found, and that, too, without stating any regulation in the first instance. If he could hope to obtain the unanimous concurrence of the House in an Address, approving of the rejection of such a proposition, under such circumstances, he should be sorry to enter upon any collateral matter that might disturb that unanimity. In support of an Address of the description which he had mentioned, he should, with the leave of their Lordships, submit a few observations to their attention. In the month of May last, instructions had been sent out to our Commanders on the carry on ourselves. There were, however, several very strong reasons for not interrupting our own trade, with these rivers, all at once. In the first place, a large supply of flour was expected from them for our army in the Peninsula: in the next place, our West India islands had not made the necessary arrangements with a view to a state of hostility between this country and America; and, lastly, British manufactures, to the value of five millions sterling, were on the way to America, which, in case of a regular blockade, would have been liable to be stopped. An early blockade, therefore, would have only interrupted our own supplies. We had a full right to choose the most convenient time for our blockade. The Americans had certainly chosen the most convenient time for her American Government had been finding fault with its exercise, and yet they had never attempted to state any such regulation. Why did they not bring forward their regulation, that it might be seen, whether it was really calculated to answer the purpose? Why did they call upon us to suspend the exercise of so essential a part of our maritime rights, without some security at least for a proper substitute? We did not claim the exercise of the right as far as respected national ships. Why did they not try the efficacy of their regulation in regard to these ships? But they had adopted no such regulation on the contrary, in that country where the practice of taking the seamen of this country into their ships had most prevailed, all representation on the subject had been treated with the most marked and uniform neglect. He would state one or two instances of this neglect. In the first of these instances, some blame had attached to ourselves, and a proper acknowledgment had been made. He alluded to the affair of the Chesapeake, with the nature of which their Lordships were no doubt acquainted from the discussions in the newspapers. Some of our seamen had deserted their self, in her declaration of war against us. There was no particular reason why it should not have taken place a few months sooner or later than the time when it actually happened. The real cause of the particular declaration having been published at the time when it actually appeared, was the hopes on the part of America, of intercepting our homeward-bound West India fleet; and, accordingly, Rodgers had been dispatched with his squadron to capture that fleet. A squadron of our's, however, having been sent out for its protection, Rodgers returned without effecting his object, and the American Government was disappointed. To this, no doubt, was owing the difference in the tone of the second propositions made by Mr. Russel. But, although the tone was different, the propositions were substantially the same. The proposition made by Mr. Monroe to Sir John Borlase Warren, was also of the same description. The only condition on which the Americans would accede to an armistice, was, that we should suspend our right of impressing our own seamen. Mr. Monroe said, that he had no doubt but some other regulation might be found to answer the same purpose; but he had not stated what that re-ship, and their desertion had been attended gulation was. But supposing none could with circumstances of mutiny. They were be found after we should have agreed to the seen, by our own officers, in the streets of suspension, what then? Were we to be one of the American towns; and it was known permitted without molestation to resume that they had entered on board the Chesathe exercise of the old mode? No, if no peake, American ship. A representation substitute could be found, then the war was consequently made to the Captain of was to be resumed; in other words, we that frigate, and the answer was, that there' were called upon to abandon our right of were no such men on board. The Chesaimpressment at all events, or otherwise peake sailed soon after, and was met by we were to have war. Such was the pro- the Leopard. The American frigate was position on the part of America, and such hailed by the Leopard, and the question was the proposition of which he now put, whether these men were then on called upon their Lordships to approve the board. The Captain answered, upon his rejection. What was the right which they honour, that they were not. Liberty was thus called upon us to abandon? It was a then requested to search, the Chesapeake right which we had always exercised, with- for them, which was refused. Force was out dispute in regard to other countries. It then used-the frigate was searched-the was a right which we permitted other coun- men were found on board, under different tries to exercise in regard to us. It was a names, indeed; but it was proved that right which we had uniformly acted upon, this was done by order of the Captain, who and one which we could not abandon would not suffer their former names to apwithout sapping the foundation of our ma- pear on his books. If our officer was to ritime greatness. The right which they blame, the American Government could called upon us to abandon, was essential to not but have known that their officer was he interests of this country; and indirectly also to blame. But there was no inquiry, essential to the interests of Europe, and-no punishment,-nor any thing that even to those of America herself. But Mr. Monroe had said, that a different regulation might be adopted to effectuate the some object. For these 10 years, the looked as if they considered the taking away of our seamen under such circumstances, as at all an offence. When we applied for redress in another instance, bricated, especially where there was no interest to prove the allegation false. For the small sum of one dollar, any person, upon the attestation of two witnesses, might get a letter of citizenship, which was to be prima facie evidence that he was a citizen. When some regulation was proposed, Mr. Monroe distinctly stated, that it was not to affect people of that description. We were required then, to suspend our right of impressment from American ships, in the hopes that some regulation might be adopt where the desertion of our seamen had been encouraged, the reply was, that we had no title to redress, as we had refused redress to them in the case of an American seaman, who had made his escape from the American ship Constitution, at Spithead. Inquiry had been made, however, by our Government in regard to this circumstance, as he trusted it would be in all cases upon a proper representation being made. Then the story came out the man whom they stated as having deserted, was, as appeared by his own declaration, a native of Ire-ed to answer the purpose; and it was to be land, and had served in different ships of distinctly understood, that when it should our navy. He had been taken, in a state be adopted, it must not attach upon any of intoxication, on board the American one who might pretend to be an American ship the Wasp; and having afterwards at- citizen. Such a proposition Ministers had tempted to escape, he was seized and put thought themselves bound to reject; and he in irons for several months. He was then trusted their Lordships would unanimously tried, and on his trial stated the facts of approve of their conduct in that instance. the case in his defence to the Officers. In- He did not mean to say, that under no cirstead of inquiring into the truth of these cumstances ought we ever to accede to any facts, or thinking of restoring the man, if regulation different from our present mode they should be proved, they ordered him of exercising our right of searching for, and to be flogged, and he was actually flogged, taking our own seamen; but certainly we and ordered to remain. He was after- ought never to abandon the right itself, nor wards put on board the Constitution, and ought we to give up our present mode of from thence he made his escape. Not one exercising it, till we saw how any other of these facts was denied on the part of the regulation that might be proposed, would Americans; and yet such was the case operate in securing to us the same result. which they stated as a reason for refusing Whatever, then, might be the difference of to deliver up our seamen. With such a opinion among their Lordships, in regard disposition, and such a system of action, to other parts of the transactions between on the part of the American Government, this country and America, he was confident there appeared no chance whatever that there could be no difference of opinion as to any regulation for keeping our seamen out this proposition. The Americans were inof their service would be really enforced. dustriously informed by their Government, At the very moment when they tendered that Great Britain was so much pressed at some regulation on this subject, they held present, that if they only stood firm, this out unexampled encouragement to deser- country must yield to their unreasonable tion. They actually claimed the right of demands. He hoped, however, that their cancelling the allegiance due to this coun- Lordships would show, by their vote of try from its own subjects; and that too in this night, that this country was not so time of war, when such a pretension, if much pressed by the difficulties of the acted upon to a great extent, must be pe- times,-not so weak or divided in policy, culiarly pernicious. The condition for be- as to shrink from going to the foot of the coming a citizen of the United States was a Throne, to express their approbation of residence of five years, and a residence determined resistance, when the most esmerely, without any property or interest in sential rights and interests of their country that country,—a residence, too, not ex- were at stake. In this hope, he proposed clusively in the district where the person that an Address to this effect should be premight claim to be admitted, but in any sented to the PRINGE REGENT part of the United States. Their Lordships must at once perceive how easily tes-rious consideration the papers laid before timonials of such a residence might be fa "That the House had taken into its se (To be continued.) Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent Garden. |