HOUSE OF LORDS, January 21. This day Parliament afembled, purfuant to his Majesty's Proclamation, when the Commiffioners appointed to open the Seffion read the following Speech:

"My Lords and Gentlemen, "We have received his Majesty's commands to affure you, that in calling you together at this important conjuncture of affairs, he entertains the most perfect conviction, that he shall find in you the fame determination, with which his Majefty himfelf is animated, to uphold the honour of his crown, and the just rights and interefts of his people. We are commanded by his Majesty to inform you, that no fooner had the result of the Negotiations at Tilfit confirmed the influence and controul of France over the powers of the Continent, than his Majesty was apprised of the intention of the Enemy to combine those powers in one general confederacy, to be directed either to the entire fubjugation of this kingdom, or to the impofing upon his Majesty an infecure and ignominious peace. That for this purpose, it was determined to force into hostility against his Majesty, States which had hitherto been allowed by France to maintain or to purchase their neutrality; and to bring to bear against different points of his Majesty's dominions, the whole of the naval force of Europe, and specifically the fleets of Portugal and Denmark. To place these fleets out of the power of such a confederacy, became therefore the indifpensable duty of his Majefty. In the execution of this duty, fo far as related to the Danish Fleet, his Majefty has commanded us to affure you that it was with the deepeft reluctance that his Majefty found himself compelled, after his earnest endeavours to open negotiation with the Danish Government had failed, to authorise his commanders to refort to the extremity of force, but that he has the greatest fatisfaction in congratulating you upon the fuccefsful execution of this painful, but neceffary service. We are further commanded to acquaint you, that the course which his Majesty had to purfue with respect to Portugal was, happily, of a nature more congenial to his Majesty's feelings. The timely and unreferved communication, by the Court of Lisbon, of the demands and defigns of France, while it confirmed to his Majesty the authenticity of the advices which he had received from other quarters, entitled that Court to his Majesty's confidence, in the fincerity of the affurances by which that communication was accompanied. The Fleet of Portugal was deftined by France to be employed as an inftrument of ven

geance against Great Britain. That Fleet has been fecured from the grasp of France, and is now employed in conveying to its American Dominions the hopes and fortunes of the Portuguese Monarchy. His Majefty implores the protection of Divine Providence upon that enterprize, rejoicing in the prefervation of a Power so long the friend and ally of Great Britain, and in the profpect of its eftablishment in the New World with augmented ftrength and fplendour. We have it in command from his Majesty to inform you, that the determination of the Enemy to excite hoftilities between his Majesty and his late Allies, the Emperors of Ruffia and Austria, and the King of Pruffia has been but too fuccefsful; and that the Minifters from those Powers have demanded and received their pafsports. This measure, on the part of Ruffia, has been attempted to be juftified by a statement of wrongs and grievances which have no real foundation. The Emperor of Rufiia had indeed proffered his mediation between his Majesty and France. His Majesty did not refuse that mediation; but he is confident you will feel the propriety of its not having been accepted until his Majefty should have been enabled to afcertain that Ruffia was in a condition to mediate impartially, and until the principles of the bafis on which France was ready to negotiate, were made known to his Majefty. No pretence of juftification can be alleged for the hoftile conduct of the Emperor of Austria, or for that of his Pruffian Majefty. His Majesty has not given the flighteft ground of complaint to either of those Sovereigns; nor even at the moment when they have respectively withdrawn their Ministers, have they assigned to his Majefty any diftinét cause for that proceeding. -His Majesty has directed that Copies of the Correfpondence between his Majefty's Ambassador and the Minifter for Foreign Affairs of his Imperial Majesty the Em peror of Ruffia, during the Negotiations at Tilfit, and the Official Note of the Ruffian Minifter at this Court, containing the offer of his Imperial Majefty's Mediation between his Majefty and France, together with the Answer returned to that Note by his Majesty's command; and also Copies of the Official Notes prefented by the Austrian Minifters at this Court, and of the Answers which his Majesty commanded to be returned to them, should be laid before you. It is with concern that his Majesty commands us to inform you, that notwithstanding his earnest wishes to terminate the war in which he is engaged with the Ottoman Porte, his Majesty's endeavours, unhappily for the Turkish Empire, Empire, have been defeated by the mahinations of France, not less the Enemy of the Porte than of Great Britain. But while the influence of France has been thus unfortunately fuccessful in prevent ing the termination of exifting hoftilities, and in exciting new wars against this country; his Majesty commands us to inform you, that the King of Sweden has refifted every attempt to induce him to abandon his alliance with Great Britain; and that his Majesty entertains no doubt that you will feel with him the facredness of the duty which the firmness and fidelity of the King of Sweden impose upon his Majefty; and that you will concur in enabling his Majesty to discharge it in a manner worthy of this country. It remains for us, according to his Majesty's command, to ftate to you that the Treaty of Com merce and Amity between his Majefty and the United States of America, which was concluded and figned by Commiffioners duly authorised for that purpose, on the 31st of December, 1806, has not taken effect, in confequence of the refusal of the Prefident of the United States to ratify that inftrument. For an unauthorifed act of force, committed againft an American Ship of War, his Majefty did not hefitate to offer immediate and spontaneous reparation. But an attempt has been made by the American Government to connect with the question which has arifen out of this act, pretenfions inconfiftent with the Maritime Rights of Great Britain; fuch pretenfions his Majesty is determined never to admit. His Majefty nevertheless, hopes that the American Government will be actuated by the fame defire to preferve the relations of Peace and Friendship between the two Countries, which has ever influenced his Majesty's condut, and that any difficulties in the difcuffion now pending may be effectually removed. His Majefty has commanded us to flate to you, that, in confequence of the Decree by which France declared the whole of his Majesty's Dominions to be in a ftate of Blockade, and subjected to feizure and confiscation the produce and manufactures of his kingdom, his Majesty reforted, in the first instance, to a measure of mitigated retaliation; and that this meafure having proved ineffectual for its object, his Majefty has fince found it neceffary to adopt others of greater rigour, which, he commands us to ftate to you, will require the aid of Parliament to give them complete and effectual operation. His Majefty has directed Copies of the Orders which he has issued with the advice of his Privy Council upon this fubject to be laid before you; and he commands us to recommend them to your early attention. GENT. MAG. January, 1809.

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"Gentlemen of the House of Commons, "His Majefty has directed the Eftimates for the ensuing year to be laid before you, in the fullest confidence that your loyalty and public spirit will induce you to make such provifion for the public fervice as the urgency of affairs may require. His Majefty has great fatisfaction in informing you, that, notwithstanding the difficulties which the Enemy has endeavoured to impose upon the Commerce of his fubjects, and upon their intercourse with other Na tions, the resources of the Country have continued in the last year to be so abundant, as to have produced, both from the permanent and temporary revenue, a receipt confiderably larger than that of the preceding year. The fatisfaction which his Majefty feels affured you will derive in common with his Majefty, from this proof of the folidity of these resources, cannot but be greatly increased, if as his Majefty confidently hopes, it shall be found poffible to raise the neceffary Supplies for the present year without any material addition to the public burthens. "My Lords, and Gentlemen,

"We are especially commanded to fay to you, in the name of his Majesty, that, if ever there was a juft and national War, it is that which his Majefty is now compelled to profecute. This War is in its principle purely defenfive. His Majesty looks but to the attainment of a fecure and honourable Peace: but fuch a Peace can only be negotiated upon a footing of perfect equality. The eyes of Europe and of the world are fixed upon the British Parliament. If, as his Majesty confidently trusts, you display in this crifis of the fate of the country, the characteriftic spirit of the British Nation, and face unappalled the unnatural combination which is gathered around us, his Majesty bids us to affure you of his firm perfuafion, that, under the bleffing of Divine Providence, the struggle will prove fuccefsful and glorious to Great Britain. We are laftly commanded to affure you, that in this awful and momentous conteft, you may rely on the firmness of his Majesty, who has no caufe but that of his people; and that his Majesty reciprocally relies on the wisdom, the conftancy, and the affectionate support of his Parliament."

The Commons having retired, Lord Galloway rose to move an Address to his Majefty. His Lordship entered into a comprehenfive view of the various fubjects contained in the Speech-he defended the attack on Copenhagen as neceffary to defeat a confederacy into which it wa the intention of France to force Denmark, and as farther justified by the hoftile fentiments which that Court betrayed towards

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us, and by her armaments so infinitely exseeding her legitimate wants. He complimented Minifters and the Country on the success of the measures which had placed the Royal Family and Fleet of Portugal beyond the grafp of France; and rejoiced to find that Government was determined not to concede one point more to America.

Lord Kenyon followed on the same side, but in fo low a tone of voice as not to be diftinctly heard.

The Duke of Norfolk objected to the House being called on to approve the expedition against the Danish Fleet, without any document being produced to establish the juftice or expediency of the measure; and, in order that inquiry might precede fuch decifion, moved an amendment to chat effect.

Lord V. Sidmouth strongly reprobated the attack on Copenhagen, which he characterised as wanton and unwise, dishonourable in its execution, and unproductive of advantage in its result. He combated the affertion of hoftile disposition or indication on the part of Denmark, which had been urged in extenuation of our aggreffion towards her, on the ground that her forces were concentrated to oppose France, not England; that the abundance of her naval Aores refuited from the circumftance of a given sum having been annually appropriated to their purchase without reference to their confumption; and farther, that shis accumulation had been the effect of years; and at a period when Ruffia, which powerfully influenced Denmark, was in close amity with England, and would have reftrained any measure or intention of hoftility towards us.

Earl of Aberdeen thought the avowal of the Crown Prince in 1991, of his inability to refift the influence of Ruffia, furnished argument against his present independence. Lord Grenville denied his having made any fuch admiffion. He thought the conduct of Minifters towards Denmark had promoted the views of the Enemy; and by the useless and unjuft acquirement of a few hulks had united a gallant people against us; and he reprobated the attempt to induce Parliament to fanction that dereliction of honour and policy, with out producing the smallest evidence towards its palliation. He ridiculed the anticipations of the commercial resources of the Brazils; and concluded by recommending the speedy amelioration of the ftate of the Catholicks in Ireland.

Lords Hawkesbury and Mulgrave refted the defence of the Expedition to Copenhagen on the information received from Lisbon of the intention of France to employ the fleets of Portugal and Denmark for the invasion of Ireland; and on the

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Earls Lauderdale and Buckinghamshire fupported the amendment; but it was negatived without a divifion; as was ther, proposed by Lord Greville, for reserving any pledge in regard to the quef tion of a Ruffian mediation, until the papers relating to it were before the House.

In the Commons, the fame day, Lord Hamilton rose to move the Address to his Majefty; and the fame was seconded by Mr. C. Ellis. There was nothing remarkable in the speeches of either.

Lord Milton expressed some surprise that the House should be amused with fine declamations on the profperity of the country, at a time when we were at war with almost every country. He regretted that the King's Speech expressed no wish for Peace, at a time when the manufacturers of the kingdom fuffered fo feverely by war. Mr. Ponsonby did not propose any amendment; but took a general view of the points contained in the Speech. On the subject of the Copenhagen expedition, he faid he could not comprehend on what ground we had a right to attack that Capital, from a fuppofitien that Denmark was likely to be overpowered by France. It had been long the boaft of this country, that in the course of the war againft France, she conducted herself with honour, fidelity, and moderation. It now appeared that we had acted differently; and he should continue to be of that opinion until information was laid before the House that could justify the expedition. He regretted that no mention had been made of Ireland in the Speech.

Mr. Milnes defended the measures of Government. He admitted, that had the powers of Europe been fuffered to enjoy their independence, or if Denmark could have remained independent, it would have been impolitic in us to adopt any measure" by which the character of the country might be affected. He said, Minifters had exercised a wife difcretion in judging of the neceffity of the act in question. He quoted the opinion of Vattel, to thew that Government was justified in acting on reasonable presumption, or probability. The ftate of Europe shewed it was impoffible for Denmark to preserve her neutrality. Surely it was not to be supposed that France would have spared her alone, after having deftroyed the independence of every other nation.

Mr. Whitbread denied that the passage that was quoted from Vattel, in juftification of the expedition to Copenhagen, could apply to the defence of a measure

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fo cruel and unjuft in its principle, and which he feared would prove so baneful in its confequences to this country. By the attack we had gained 15 useless hulks; but had excited an inextinguishable ha tred in the breafts of the Danes, and given the whole maritime population of that country to France. It was urged, that the attack was made in order to prevent Denmark from joining France; but had it not shut us out from that country, and thrown its whole resources into the arms of France? Ministers afferted, that they had fome information of the designs of Denmark from his heart he be lieved they had none. If Denmark had leagued with Ruffia and France, was it not more likely that the would have connected her army in Zealand, to refift the attack of the power againft whom she had formed a collection? Upon this point they had afssertion againft affertion; and he believed the affertion of the Prince Royal of Denmark fooner than that of his Majefty's Ministers. Minifters, he said, had taken credit for the emigration of the Court of Lisbon: this he could not admit, though he believed the event would in time be beneficial to this country. It was not until the appearance of an article in the Moniteur, declaring the House of Braganza dethroned, that the Prince determined to emigrate; and Lord Strangford, after having quitted Lisbon, for the first time met the Prince on his voyage. It was with concern he observed, that there was no allusion whatever in the Speech to a profpect of Peace. He believed, that in the negotiation which had taken place lately with France, many opportunities of effecting Peace had been loft. He still thought that a Peace compatible with the honour and interests of this country might be obsained. If the disposition of Ministers hould not incline them to peace, he would think the people juftifiable in petitioning for the removal of fuch Minifters, to make way for others more disposed to peace. (Hear, hear, hear! from the TreaFury benches.) Peace, in his opinion, was neceffary to the falvation of the country; but he would rather that the country should perish, than submit to a dishonourable peace. We had fought 15 years againft France; and reduced, not vainly or intentionally, all the powers of Europe, except Sweden, to a state of fubferviency to France; to a power, the greateft the world ever faw, and governed by an Individual better able to wield that power than any perfon the world ever produced.

Mr. Secretary Canning made an able and animated reply to the obfervations from the oppofite fide of the House. The Secret intelligence received by Government

relative to Denmark, was what they never would espose; and therefore it was impoffible to give the information required by gentlemen who disapproved of the expedition to Copenhagen. The Minifters would fooner submit to have their conduct held up by gentlemen of Oppofition to the execration of the publick, than fuffer the fecret to be torn from their bofoms. Was it poffible, when there was no Capital on the Continent where the power of Buonaparte could not drag the offender against him to execution, that fuch a time should be fixed on for divulging the fources of fecret intelligence? was this Country to say to the agents, who served it from fidelity, or from less worthy motives, you shall serve us but once, and your life shall be the forfeit? He should contend, that the arrangements at Tilfit, and the measures which enfued, enfu without any document, fully juftified the measures of Government. With refpect to the late supposed Negotiation for Peace, no tangible overture had been made by the French or the Austrian Government. Prince Stahremberg, with that generofity of character for which he was so diftinguished, had made an offer of his perfonal services, to inftitute and establish a pacific intercourse. But that was not a mode of negotiation which could be fatisfactory to a country like this. With respect to the differences with America, it had been thought right frankly and voluntarily to difavow the unauthorised act of hoftility towards the Chesapeak. The provocation the Officer who had committed that act had received, went far to excuse him: but the right of fearching ships of war had never been acted upon long, or to any extent, and in latter time it had not been acted upon at all. It was, therefore, thought right to abandon this unfounded pretenfion unequivocally. As to the late Orders of Council, retaliating the reftrictions of the French Government upon our Commerce, he maintained our right to go as far as France, as by making France feel the effects of her own injustice, we could alone hope to bring her to more reafonable conduct.

After speeches from Lord Henry Petty, Mr. Bathurst, Mr. Windham, &c. againft the conduct of Ministers with regard to Copenhagen; the Chancellor of the Exchequer spoke in juftification of them. At one in the morning the House adjourned, after agreeing to the Address.