14] 
Elba, however difficult the entire 
prevention of it might be, more 
diligence ought to have been used 
in making use of such means of 
prevention as we possessed. The 
marquis concluded with moving 
for an address to the Prince Re- 
gent for, “ 1. Copies, or extracts, 
or substance of any instructions 
which may have been given by 
his majesty’s government, to any 
of his majesty’s naval comman-= 
ders respecting Napoleon Buona- 
parte and the island of Elba. 2: 
Copies, or extracts, or substance 
of any information which his 
majesty’s government may have 
received respecting the design of 
Napoleon Buonaparte to escape 
from the island of Elba, together 
with the date of the reception of 
such information.” 
The Earl of Liverpool began his 
reply with expressing his surprise 
atan attack now commenced upon 
a treaty which had been known 
to the public for twelve months 
past, and if so objectionable as 
now represented by the noble 
marquis, ought long ago to have 
been brought by him before the 
notice of the House. He then 
proceeded to consider the situa- 
tion of the allied powers and of 
France at the period of the treaty 
of Fontainbleau, and asked what 
would have been the sentiment 
of this country, and of all Europe, 
ifa great addition of hazard and 
bloodshed had been incurred for 
the sole difference between treat- 
ing with Buonaparte, and making 
him a prisoner. He then took 
into consideration the choice of a 
place assigned for his retreat, and 
contended that wherever he had 
been, not being subject to per- 
sonal restraint, itwould havebeen 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1815. 
equally easy for him to have car= 
ried on intrigues with his adhe- 
rents in France, and ultimately 
have effected his escape. Was 
the noble marquis aware, that but 
for the continuance of the Ame- 
rican war, the whole navy of 
England would not have had the 
power to search the meanest fish-_ 
ing vessel. The establishment of 
a_ naval police to prevent his es- 
cape from the island of Elba was 
then wholly out of the question. 
‘With respect to the remark, that 
by a breach of the articles of the 
treaty, a pretence had been given 
to Buonaparte for contravening 
it, his lordship observed that he 
had never in his proclamations 
made use of such a justification, 
but had averred that he came to’ 
reclaim his crown, because sum- 
moned to it by the voice of the 
nation. Further, his Lordship as- 
sured the House, that previously 
to Buonaparte’s escape, the allies 
had taken measures to fulfil the 
articles, not to the letter, but 
with a spirit of liberality becom- 
ing great powers; and that it was 
the intention of the court of 
France to have executed its part 
of the engagement with the great~- 
est punctuality. 
These topics were discussed 
more or less at large, but with 
little variety of argument, by se- 
veral other speakers, who were 
chiefly the lords in opposition. 
Ona division, the numbers were, 
Contents 21, Not-contents 53. 
Majority against the motion, 32. 
The same subject was brought 
before the House of Commons on 
April 20, by a motion from Mr. 
Abercromby which was a counter- 
part of that of the marquis of 
Wellesley. The debate which fol- 
