GENERAL 
It has been remarked, in the 
account of a former debate, that 
no doubt could really exist of the 
determination of government to 
join with the allies in a war, 
against Buonaparte. This, how- 
ever, was 2 measure of such seri- 
ous consequence, that many, he- 
sitated to concur in it without 
fuller proof of its political neces- 
sity ; and some felt considerable 
doubts as to the moral justice of 
drawing the sword to compel a 
nation to discard a ruler whom it 
had with apparent consent adopt- 
ed. Under the impression of these 
feelings, Mr. Whitbread, on April 
28th, rose to make a motion for 
an address to the Prince Regent. 
As his speech, and those of the 
members on each side who joined 
in the debate, consisted chiefiy in 
the recapitulation of matter al- 
ready brought into discussion, a 
very concise account of the result 
will be here sufficient. The hon. 
gentleman began by commenting 
upon the gross delusion practised. 
on the public by the ministers in 
taking no notice of the treaty be- 
tween the allies signed at Vienna, 
on March 25th, of which they had 
received an account on April 5th, 
when the Regent’s message was 
brought down on the 6th, and 
taken into consideration on the 
7th, by which suppression they 
had held forth the possibility of 
an alternative between peace and 
war, whilst in fact they had en- 
gaged themselves to the latter. 
He then made some severe ani- 
madversions on the declaration of 
HISTORY. [el 
the allies, by which one individual 
was placed out of the pale of civil 
society, and endeavoured to show 
that there was neither justice nor 
policy in making him the object 
of a war. He concluded by mov~ 
ing, “That an humble address 
be presented to the Priffte Re- 
gent to intreat his Royal High. 
ness, that he will be pleased to 
take such measures as may be 
necessary to prevent this country 
being involved in war on the 
ground of the executive power 
being vested in any particular 
person,” 
Lord Castlereagh, in opposition 
to the motion, began with de- 
fending the conduct of govern- 
ment with respect to the charge 
of concealment, by saying, that 
he was unwilling, by a prema= 
ture disclosure of a treaty of 
which the ratifications had not 
been exchanged, to. prevent a 
re-consideration of the policy: to 
be pursued towards France under 
the circumstances which had re- 
cently occurred. He thenattempt- 
ed at length to invalidate all the 
reasons for placing a confidence 
in  Buonaparte’s future conduct, 
which had been adduced by the 
mover, and expressed a decided 
opinion of the necessity as well 
as the justice. of dispossessing 
him of power. The debate, in 
which many members partook, 
not without considerable asperity, 
ended in a division, .in which the 
numbers for the motion were 
72; against it 273. 
