would act in conjunction with us for one, the noble field-marshal who was placed at common object, would it not have been the head of the government, that the something more than foily, if this country treaty entered into must be fulfilled; but had refused to accede to the proposal ?- their lordships well knew, that there was if we had said to the Russians,

a material difference between acting upon not countenance your proposition--we a treaty with determination and energy, protest against the proceeding-we will not and adopting such a cold, hesitating, feeact in concert with you—we will not be ble line of conduct, as would render that bound by any treaties—we leave Turkey to treaty little better than a dead letter. be occupied by you, as Spain is by France?" Undoubtedly, the language of ministers Ought this country, having the means of induced an apprehension- it might be a pefered her of objecting to any aggrandize- culiarity in their style of a virtual, if not ment on the part of Russia, to have neg- actual, dissolution of this treaty. In that lected the opportunity, and left herself case, it was only to the co-operation of without any right to call hereafter upon France and Russia that we had to look Russia to restore to freedom and inde for the realization of those hopes respectpendence whatever countries she might ing Greece, which were so ardently enterhave enslaved ? Ought we to have tained; but if Russia found that England left Russia irritated at our policy, and manifested a cold compliance with the ready to act single-handed—which must obligation of the treaty, he feared she have been the case, according to all ex- would soon adopt such a line of policy as perience, before many years had passed ? this country would long have occasion to It could not be doubted, from the charac- rue, These were the feelings which led ter of the Russians, that feelings would him to ask for information on this subject. burst forth which governments cannot al. He was aware that he could have obtained ways control, and to which the Russian a complete explanation, from his noble government must pay attention. No one friend (the marquis of Lansdowne) near could believe that that government could him, so far as regarded the period during long have kept inactive the people of that which he had been in office; but the country, connected as they are with the noble marquis could not inform him of Greeks by religious ties, and for whom they what had taken place subsequently; he feel a common interest.-It appearing, could not explain the causes which led to however, from the treaty before their lord- the cold phraseology to which he had before ships, that we had adopted the broad alluded. For this explanation, therefore, principle to which he had referred, he now he must look to his noble friend opposite. wished for the production of other docu- His noble friend, who had been the friend ments, to ascertain whether or not the go- of Mr. Canning, and who was now the colvernment of this country had followed it league of Mr. Canning's bitter opponent, up by sending out such instructions to the could give him all the information he Mediterranean as were calculated to give required ; for he had formed part of the it effect. It was with this view that he late administration, and of the adminismeant to move for copies of those instruc-tration which preceded that, and he was tions. He trusted it would be found from now happy in forming a part of the noble them, that the most cordial measures had duke's administration. His noble friend been adopted to promote the object of this had been lately advanced in a new chaalliance. He also asked for the produc- racter, and one in which the country took tion of these papers, because he felt that a deep interest; namely, a guarantee for the whole people of England took the the fulfilment of the treaty. The noble deepest interest in the subject. It was earl was the residuary devisee of his denot unnatural that they should entertain parted friend's political principles; he had an anxious desire to have the fullest ex- maintained, both at home and abroad, the planation of a case, in which such a strange liberal policy of Mr. Canning. To him, difference existed between the manner in therefore, the country looked for the perwhich it was treated by the government of fect fulfilment of this measure. His noble France, and the dull phraseology, the friend had filled an important character in “ untoward” language applied to it by the the recent union which had taken place: present administration of this country. He their lordships had heard much of the was aware that the House had been told, language of a cestui-que-trust--they now at the commencement of the session, by I saw that this cestui-que-trust- this great

guarantee, had been powerful to effect | duct which he was, no doubt, well able to much; for he had caused two members defend. He knew that noble viscount's of the late administration who could not character well, and respected it highly, and sit together in the same cabinet, to was sure that what he had done was done take their places side by side without any with a view to the welfare of his country. danger of violence. He supposed these He would now move for “ Copies of all two right hon. gentlemen were bound over Instructions to the Admirals of the Comto keep the peace towards each other. bined Fleets in the Mediterranean, agreed Was his noble friend also their surety for upon by the British, French, and Russian that purpose? It was, however, to the Plenipotentiaries, and transmitted to the noble earl and his friends that the country said Admirals between the 6th of July, must direct their hopes of the present go and the 20th of October, 1827." He vernment, that it may not again fall into should follow this motion up by another, what was called the Liverpool adminis- for certain explanatory documents pretration. He supported the last adminis- ceding the battle of Navarin, to the protration, and that of Mr. Canning which duction of which he presumed, there would preceded it, because he felt that they were be no objection, as he only called for papers the most remote in principle from that of lord which had been transmitted to ConstanLiverpool. He had therefore hailed them tinople. Some further despatches may as the dawn of better feeling : but now the also have been received from sir E. Codold rampant creature threatened to revive; rington, subsequent to the battle, which, the snake had been scotched, not killed. for his own sake, and for the sake of the He saw that all that had taken place in service, ought to be laid upon the table. the cabinet had only been contrived for Every thing ought to be freely supplied, the purpose of getting rid of a few inde- that could place the conduct of that pendent Whig members who, by being gallant officer in the clearest and most placed there, prevented the two parts of honourable light. the Liverpool worm from re-uniting. There Earl Dudley said, he feared he should was, in reality, no pretence for the change disappointment the expectation of his nowhich had taken place in the ministry. ble friend, when he stated that it was not With respect to lord Liverpool, he enter- his intention to follow him through the tained the greatest esteem for that un- various topics upon which he had dilated, fortunate nobleman; but towards the thing and through which he had presumed, called the Liverpool principle, he enter- somewhat too hastily, that it was his duty tained the opposite feeling. If such prin- to follow him. What he had to say would ciples were again to prevail

, their lord-relate chiefly to the demand for the papers ships would again have green bags upon which his noble friend had called for. His their table, and red coats at the next noble friend had urged, as a principal reapopular meeting. But perhaps they could son for their production, that they were look to the “ guarantee for preservation necessary to the vindication of the galfrom these principles, if he would but lant admiral who commanded at Navarin come forward and state fairly, that he had and the officers who served under him. accepted a pledge for the continuance of his answer to that was, that the character that policy which he had previously main that was not attacked required no defence. tained. He was most desirous for this Admiral Codrington, so far from having avowal; for he looked with great anxiety his conduct attacked by his majesty's goto this guarantee, and wished to know vernment, had received distinguished rewhat the country had to expect at his wards at their hands. He therefore stood hands. He did not know if this ministry in no need of vindication from them. If would follow the examples set them last year; his conduct had been criticised by those but he dared to say there were many who who had no just grounds for judging of it, now wished that much of what was said that was not a reason why his majesty's last year was unuttered. He did not wish ministers should make out a defence for to know why the viscount (Goderich) had him, by the production of papers, which, resigned his most important office for grave political reasons, it was inexpewhether the communication was oral, or by dient to produce. Besides, even if there letter, or merely contained in a postscript. were no objection to the production of these He trusted, nevertheless, that the noble papers, others would be required in illusviscount would explain to the House, contration of them; for they could only be

one.

rendered intelligible by the production of into between them. But if his noble the communications which had passed friend asked whether there existed amongst between our Ambassador at Constantinople them a fair understanding as to all matand the Allied Powers; while these, again, ters of general policy, he replied directly, would lead to the necessity of producing and decidedly, Yes.—With regard to the others which, under present circumstances, observations of his noble friend respecting it would be highly inexpedient to produce. the treaty, he could assure him that it was It was rather too much, therefore, to ask the intention of his majesty's ministers for documents of this description, when that it should be executed—fully executed. not even an opinion was called for from It was never intended “ to keep the word parliament on the subject to which they of promise to the ear, and break it to the referred. In this instance the government hope.” It was meant to be fulfilled, in of this country was acting in concert with spirit, as well as to the letter. His underits allies; and they were therefore bound standing upon this subject was, that this not to betray their confidence. If it had treaty, as far as depended on this country, been the object of noble lords to take was to be fulfilled in the spirit of peace these affairs out of the hands of the go- and conciliation : the object of it being vernment, and disclose their secrets to to establish the pacification of Greece ; those who were most disposed to counter- and in that spirit it would be the duty of act their views, their lordships could not his majesty's government to carry it into adopt a mode better calculated to effect full effect. He knew of no shrinking from that object, than by insisting on the pro- that duty, on the part of any member of duction of these papers. If their lord- the government to which he had the hoships considered the Executive government nour to belong ; nor had he any reason incompetent to adopt and conduct those to believe, that, in their mode of fulfilling measures which were most fit to be adopt- it, there would be any falling off in the ed, then the proper course to pursue would present government from the preceding be, not to call upon them to disclose state These were all the observations he secrets, but to ask his majesty to transfer had to make in reply to the speech of his to other hands, unbroken, the confidence noble friend. He had endeavoured to exwhich had been reposed in theirs. It had press himself shortly in the most satisfacbeen said, that there could be no reason tory manner he could. But when his nofor withholding this information from ble friend called upon him to go at large the people of this country, after it had into all the details and circumstances conbeen communicated to other states. The nected with that treaty, he must beg to fact was, that a very small portion of decline doing so now: this was not the fit these documents had been so coinmuni- time for entering into them. The proper cated: the great mass of them remained period, however, would arrive; and he undisclosed. These were the reasons would then-should he still have the howhich he had to offer for not acceding to nour to hold the office which he now filled the motion of his noble friend.—There -go into as ample and as detailed an exwas one other point, in the speech of his planation as his noble friend could denoble friend, to which, although he had sire. It was not because he was afraid of no intention of entering into any of its being unable to give the most satisfactory details, he would briefly advert. His no- explanation of every circumstance that he ble friend, in alluding to the change which declined doing so now, but because he did had recently taken place in the adminis- not think it was either fit, or wise, or tration of the country, had insinuated, seemly, to go into the facts relative to that that between those who remained in office treaty at the present moment. Whenever and those who joined them, some sacri- the proper time came, he would not shrink fice of principle had taken place, and he from it; but he trusted he had said enough had asked what stipulations had been to convince the House, that he ought not made ? Stipulations there were none. at present to comply with the motion of If, indeed, there was so little honour or his noble friend. confidence amongst them, that it was ne- Lord Goderich said—If, my lords, I feel cessary to stipulate for each other's prin- myself compelled to offer myself to your ciples, they would be, in his opinion, most lordships' notice at this early period of the unfit to act together. No stipulations, debate, I have to offer as an apology that therefore, he repeated, had been entered the noble earl who has introduced the

,

motion before the House, having alluded for me to trouble your lordships with an to the circumstances which produced the exposition of the reasons which led me to late change in his majesty's government, think that there were circumstances in the imposes it upon me as a duty which I finances of the country which rendered owe to my own honour, to your lordships, such a measure desirable. Suffice it to say, and to the country at large, which always in the present instance, that I did think takes an interest in the character of any so, and thinking so, I considered that the individual, however humble, who has taken measure ought to be pursued with an a part in its government. I owe it to my honest and a zealous determination to render own character to explain the grounds upon it effectual for its purpose. It would have which I acted on that occasion, and which been my duty, concurrently with my two led to that change in the administration right hon. friends, when I succeeded most to which the noble earl has alluded. In unworthily—and I will add most unforturising, however, to discharge this duty, nately, in some respects—to the head of I feel that I have to solicit the indulgence the government last year, to have preof the House, because I am about to with-pared for the introduction of such a meadraw your lordships' attention from the sure. I am now alluding to what would more leading and important subject, which have been my duty had I retained that my noble friend has brought before you. elevated situation ; when I should, in conUndoubtedly, the more immediate cause cert with my right hon. friend, the then which led to the recent change, was the chancellor of the Exchequer-our situairreconcilable difference of opinion, upon tions being those to which the regulation a subject of the deepest moment to the of the finances of the country more imcountry, between two individuals, members mediately belonged to submit to our colof that government, holding situations of the leagues in office, first, the general situahighest importance in the administration tion of the public finances; and then, as of public affairs (cheers from the marquis connected with that subject, the important of Lansdowne]. My noble friend manifest- question of the finance committee, and ly understands the circumstances to which the mode in which that committee was to I allude. And I will take the present op- be constructed. It did so happen, howportunity of stating, although it does not, ever, that when the time arrived at which perhaps, belong immediately to this part some measure of this nature was contemof my subject, that, so far as regards the plated, in the month of November, so conduct of my noble friend, in the situa- many circumstances had arisen, connected tion which he held, I never had to deal with with our relations with foreign powers, that a man whose character stood higher for it was impossible for me to be prepared to honour, for fair dealing, for candour, for submit to my colleagues any definite or conciliation of manner, or for a straight- satisfactory view of the subject. It is forward disposition in the pursuit of the true, indeed, that the situation of Portuwelfare and interests of his country gal was then becoming every day more [hear]. I am almost ashamed to speak and more settled; and there was every in these terms of my noble friend in his ground of satisfaction and congratulation presence; but I am forced, in justice, to to every well-wisher of this country and say thus much.

of that; and every reason for hoping that It must be in the recollection of your the time was not far distant when it would lordships, that in the course of the last be competent for the government of this session, the late Mr. Canning announced country to withdraw the troops which had to the other House of parliament, that it been sent to Portugal. It was still, howwas the intention of his majesty's govern- ever, uncertain when that desirable event ment to propose, in the course of the pre- could be accomplished; and when we sent session, the appointment of a com- looked at our external affairs elsewhere, mittee of finance. That measure had at- just at that crisis, it must be obvious to all tracted much of my consideration, and who are conversant with their import, that had I remained in the discharge of the we were not sure we could altogether esduties which had theretofore devolved upon cape the perils of war. It was impossible, me when in the other House, I should therefore, under these circumstances for have felt it necessary to submit a proposi- me to ascertain the extent of the demand tion of that nature to my colleagues for which it would be necessary for the gotheir consideration, It is not necessary Ivernment to make upon the country, to

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maintain those establishments which must government, at least, as I afterwards unnecessarily be regulated by the state of derstood-that a communication was made our external connexions, as well as by the to the individual in question, for the purdomestic exigencies of the state. That pose of ascertaining whether, if the go

. being the case, I was disabled from laying vernment should be disposed to recombefore my colleagues any precise and com- mend his nomination as chairman of the prehensive measure respecting the finances committee, he would undertake the duty. of the country, but the question was not This communication I beg to say was made, therefore out of my mind, or the minds of as I have already declared, without my those who acted with me. In the course knowledge, and it was also made withof that cordial, friendly and familiar inter- out the knowledge of one of the members course, which must necessarily be carried of the government who, from his situation, on between those who act in office toge- was more immediately connected with the ther, and who are not suspicious or jea- subject to which it refers; I mean the lous of each other--and for my part, I right hon. gentleman (Mr. Herries) who discovered no symptoms of suspicion or was then chancellor of the Exchequer. jealousy, and I believe my noble friend on But I ought to add, that from subsequent my right will confirm me in this [hear, explanations which were given to me, I hear ! from the marquis of Lansdowne) - understood that the application was not at in the course of that friendly and familiar all made as a settled thing, or in such a intercourse, which certainly did take place, manner as to pledge the government and it was intimated to me by a member of the bind them to the appointment. When, cabinet, that it would be desirable if there however, I learnt that this communicawere placed in the chair of the finance tion had been made, the result of which committee an individual of the other House was to me, from my personal feeling towho was considered by all who knew him wards the individual to whom it was made, as eminently qualified for the duties which any thing but unsatisfactory, the first questhe appointment would impose. As far as tion I asked was, whether any previous comregarded that individual, I have long known munication had been had with my right him, and I entertain a sincere and high re- hon, friend, the chancellor of the Exchegard for him, I know him to be a man of quer? I was informed, that there had the highest honour, the most incorruptible not been any. I lamented that circumintegrity; and, as a man of business, Istance-I could not but lament it-and I know him to be intimately conversant with imputed it to mere oversight. It seemed all those points which would necessarily to me an unfortunate circumstance that come under the consideration of the fi- any thing should have passed upon the subnance committee. It was therefore im- ject beyond our own immediate circle, possible that I should have felt any per- I begged that no time might be lost in sonal objection to the appointment of that putting my right hon. friend in possession individual : but, as the matter had not of what had been done, and in explaincome regularly before the government, but ing to him the whole of the circumstances. was stated to me merely in a casual and This was done by my right hon. friend, incidental manner, I did not feel myself the Secretary of State for the Colonies then called upon to express any other opi- (Mr. Huskisson). He explained to the nion than this--that as the question was chancellor of the Exchequer fully all that one which rested especially with the House had occurred upon the subject. No obof Commons, whatever appointment the jection was then made by the chancellor members of the cabinet in that House of the Exchequer. No offence was taken should make I should be satisfied with, by him at the time, as far as I have and acquiesce in. The matter was not heard, to any thing that had been done. placed before me for my consideration in It did, however, so happen, that on the any thing like an official way, not as at next day—after he had had the subject a ministerial conference, but under the under his consideration--my right hon. circumstances which I have stated, as a friend found that there were very strong mere matter of accidental conversation. objections to the proposed appointment It did however, happen, without my being which had been so submitted to him. He aware, at the time, that such a step had stated those objections to me; but I underbeen taken, that a communication was stood them to refer much more to the cirmade, not with any view of pledging the cumstance, of the nomination having been