Newfoundland Mercantile Journal, 1827-02-08, no. 668

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iMtvt&ntilt Sournal.
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Xo. 668.
Saint 309110, (^uvrfraa,) if-mutati* 8, issr.
(One Guinea per annum.)
'We have been induced to insert in ("his
number that part of (he Speech deliver-
by Mr. Canning, in the Ilou.e of Commons on (he 12th Dec. last, relative to
the war wiih Spain, which appeared in
the form of a Supplement lo our last,
— from the inconvenient size Ofi which
it was printed to file wiih the Journal :
so that, should reference to il at any fu-.
lure perirod be required, il wiil be found
on our files.]
Conclusion nf Mr. Canning's Speech.
mer place, a( (be particular lime when tha
Constitution would bo carried into practice,
might be misinterpreted into a circumstance
confirming ihe conjecture that ihis Constitution was lhe fruit of lhe agency of England. Now, with respect lo the character
of that Constitution, I am not called on,
nor, indeed, have I any right lo pass en
opinion, although, as a private individual,
I have formed mv   opinion upon it.     But,
as an English Minister, ell  I can say is,
May God pro.per this aiiempt at Constiiu-
lionul liberty, and may the nation where ii
is made be as prepared to receive and cherish il, as in oilier respect* she is able to
dischargo her duties ain-.ng-H lho nations of
Europe—[Much cheering] Of lhat Constitution I um neither ihe champion nor the
crilic ; but I remember that it ha- proceeded from legitimate authority—a circumstance which may reconcile to it the
Powers of the Continent; and I know
that il is recommendstd more strongly to
our approbation by the ready accordance
it has met with from all orders of Portuguese. That Constitut-on, unquestioned
in its'origin even by those who are most
jealous of new institutions—thus sanctioned
by the acceptance of those wbo are to live
under it—a Constitution, in principle, resembling our own, ihouch differing in its
modifications—such a Constitution, I s_y, it
is impossible that an Englishman should no(
admire and desire to see flourish. But we
wouid be far from allempiing lo impose it
oa at. unwitting people, or light the battle
for it, in case we saw a fair, honest sch'is-n
amongst (ha people respecting iia adoption
— [Cheers.] We do thVn go (o Portugal
in compliance with the obligations of a treaty; and when there, nothing shall ba donn
by us forcibly to maintain the Constitution!
but as certainly shall we take care that nothing shall be done by others to prevent it
from taking effect.—(Cheers.) This much
T say, and another word is not necessary
on the point. Internally let the Portuguese
settle their own affairs ; but external force
—while England has an arm lo lift in her
defence—external force sball not be used
to controul the opinions of th> people of
Portugal . — (The animated delivery of (bia
sentence called forth universal and repeated
cheering) Extern-I force has not, it i3
true, been openly directed against Portugal ; but what can be said of a force which
seeks Other channels, assumes otber shapes,
finds its way to Portugal, strives io change
itt characlpr from emernal to internal di-order by
the employ ment of renegadoes and rebels of
itsfcwo'arming? That is a species ol foreign
force which 041g.il not lo be allowed again.t
any power, sod least ofall againsi a power
which bas (he honor and happiness of be-
*itig the ally of Great Britain.—(Cheers.)
Mas Spain used lhat force ? I do not enisr
Id© the question, whether lhe aggressions
proceeded from a Government acting in de
liberation and foresight (sod when it cea
M so to act, it cessea io be a good govern-
ins-til), or that it is the work of soma focii-
ous fanatical agency which overroles the
coucsefs of Government, which defies it *"
Ihe capital, aod disobeys it on the frontier,
It msners not to Portugal—it msttersn ot
to England, whether or not this invasion be
tfi# 091 of IW »cr«t power, over -.Web, >f,
tho native Government have no controul
it should resume it as soon as possible; and
if it hsve con'rol, it deserve) to ba made
responsible for tbe mi.chevious operations
of thi-i concealed power. It would, however, be unjust lo the Government of Spain
to say, lhat in it alone wns found thai un-
conquerab'e hatred of free institutions,
which no doubt is the origin of this aggression. There is a decided and inveterate
love of arbitrary rule and unlimited sway io
the Spanish nation and Spani.h people ;
and ihey no dotib', feel annoyed by the contiguity and neighborhood of liberal institutions.—[Hear, hear.]—Theie is between
the two naiions an antipathy and an oppo- |
sition of feeling, which it does not require
tbe authority or (he suggestions of die Government to excite and stimulate and bring
into action. There exists a mutual dislike
and a mutual antipathy—one h-isging as it
were, ihe malconies's of ihe ether. This
dislike might have Originated in individual
hostility, arising from -lie opposing interests
of two neiahborin.; people. I am inclined
to think that such was lhe origin of this dis- ,
like, which afterwards spread i'self. and
gained sireng'h ; in its progress matured
and combined and confirmed ; and I'm illy
brought into action by those angry and hos-
lile fs*elings, disse.niiiaied among (he whole
community. I am very wilii; g (O belir»e
hat this dislike is stronger in lhe Spanish
nalion gener_i|y,  and Spanish people, than
be S|Miii.h Government. But if, though
partaking of these ho-uile feelingst»f ihe
Spanish nu'ion,   the   Spanish Government,
•r'heless, never intended to give body
to ilie feeling—if  ilietr orders,  ts they say
b disobeyed by their own subjects — if
iboy sincerely disliked and discoiiiiienanred
this aggression on the Ally of Great Britain
if there ivere repealed violations of iheir
most solemn engagements, and thair promises weiu broken from time lo lime, all a*
gainst their will, let us now hear some
glw of repentance—(Hear, hear)—let us
hesr their expressions of regret, and let ua
wiiness their sorrow for what was involuntarily done. There was an opportunity af-
loided them to prove the sincerity of their
profession*. Let this proceeding on our.
part also be a measure of defence to the
kingdom of Portugal, and not a declaration
of war with Spain —(Hear.) —But now lei
us come to the facts, it is gent-rally known
tbat there were great and frequent desertions from ihe Portuguese army inio lhe
territories of Spain, and a'so from the Spanish nalion into Portugal.—The Por'.ugu-e
Authorities, well enough inclined of themselves, and farther encouraged by our advice, refused all assistance from those from
Spain, who offered it ; end whenever lhe
Portuguese Government had any opportu-
nily of exercising a discretion, (hey discouraged these desertions from the Spanish
soldi*rs ; Bnd rhey did so, by giving up individuals whenevtsr they could do so Wiih
safely to (hose individuals. Gentlemen,
were aware (hat there exisled between lhe
two nations of Spain and Portugal, alipula-
tious by which tbey were muiually bound
to make exchanges of deserters from their
respectiva armies. All (lio__- who deserted
from Spain, were •<_ be given up by Portugal, guaranteeing for them, at the aame
time, certain conditions against the infliction of punishment. Portugal, in lhe giving
up oflhe deserters from Spain, by our advice, perhaps —but whether by advice, or
from tbeir own unso'iri'ed Wish—I will not
ssy, waived all conditions and stipulations.
They desired their own territoiics to ho
spare.I. and they had s:gnifi.d to the Spanish Government their entire satisfaction
in complying with the existing slipnlation.,
instead, ihsrefore, of harboring the Spanish deserters—instead of furnishing them
wiih arms and ammunition, and clothing,
ibey had them aent back into the interior of
Spain. But on the oilier band, the solemn
engagements entered into not only with
Portngal, but with France and England
al.o, in (bis rrspect have bean repeatedly
and shamefully violated.—These promises and engagements were not made and
broken once, but several limes. The deserters from Portugal aifd from the Portuguese army were encouraged and furnished
with ammunition, ihey were clo-hed and
trained, ami kept together in depots, fit
and prepared to act aggressively.. These
were facts whicii were not to be contradict*
ed, nor e.en doubted. It w.a«, therefore,
now open for the Spani.h Government—
it res'ed imps-raiively on ih.* Government
of Spain, to show that this aggression was
nut iment-onal on ihe pari of that Government.—(Hear, hear ) It rested with ihem
to prove that (be fault was not with them
but that so far from intending any aggression, ihev were teady to make reparation
for Ibe (jflTence. But tbese promises and
assurances were made not only to Portugal,
bul also to France and England ; and here
I should do an injustice to (he Government
of France, if I did not broadly slate and
declare that the mosl urgont applications
were madu by Franc**, ss well as by this
country, lo ihe Government of Spam ; but
these applications prov;nl equally fruitiest.
Ai the tirit irruption 'rum Spain into Portugal, ihe A-T.bas.idor Irom France, al ihe
Conn of Madrid, remonstrated wiili (he
Government of Spain, and said tliat she
wus not (o look io Franco for support, hul
was to 'ake tl.e consequence*, of ihal conduct upon herself. I am lh -refore hound
lo say ihut the French Government exerted
itself on this occasion, in conjunction wuh
the Government of thit Country. If they
have pursued any other system on another
occasion—[Hear, hear,] ihat was a question of another sort. I am bound to say,
that they did nil ihat was in tlieir power to
purstu.l. and even force the Government of
Spain to (he execution of its own promises,
and io respect ils engagements. But now
I am come to consider, how will England
moot ibe call that is now made ? I hope
she will ni:'.'! it in such a way ns to slop
the consequences iu lhal point, in which I
wish -she would, and not to pursue them to
that dreadful extremity whi-'h I hope is
is not neces-aty.— [Hear, hear.] Il will
hi remembttred, thai I set out by saying
thst many reasons induced me to be strong
in the resolution ihn,t nothing short of the
national faith, and ihe pr_*_--rvation of En-
g'and'. hounr, should make desirable any
approximation to the danger of war.—
[Hear, hear] But let tne be understood,
howe-«', not as meaning that I entertain a
drea^ of war in a good cause.—[Hear,
hear.] Ant! in no other cause may i( ever
be ibe lot of tbis country to be engaged
in war. I do not dread a war from any
waul of sullicient means and ample resources. I have other reasons, though none
from fear of the resources of the country, against pushing the war in which she
might be engaged, to any dangerous consequences. I have taken (he liberty, on one
occasion heretofore, of adverting to tbis
subject. I ihen maintained that lho position of this couniry was a position of neutrally, and that not rnly in respect to the
contending nations, but also from prin-
cip'e. 1 said then that it was a state of
neutrality alone by which we could mat'n-
tisia lha! balance of power which was necessary not only to our safety, but to (he
safely of all other naiions in Europe. It is
now ihree yea's since I proclaimed those
principles ; and three yeai. experience has
confirmed, and nnt altered my opinion. 1
fear much thai, if the war was (o go beyond
the limits of Portugal and Spain, it would
become a war more dangerous in its consequences. It would become a war of principle—a war o'conflicting opinion —(Hear,
bear;) and, il we were to enter into il,
our objoct would be rather to mitigate than
to exasperate it. Yet I know that this
couoiry could not enter into such a war
twiihont proceeding farther. The nnmber
of discontented spirits in the conntry—the
number of ihose who were fond ofa change,
and who were dissatisfied with our present
state—would push the war beyond these
moderate limits. It is this consciousness
of our situation, and that this count, y possesses a giant's strength—[hear, boar]—
that makes me fear for the consequences.—
But it was one thing (o possess the giant's
power, and it was another thing to know
how lo use it. It was our business not to
seek for opportunities ol making a display
of our strength ; but, by a prudent, yet
firm exertion of it, to show (hat we knew
how io restrain ir, and convert it to (he
preservation of oihers ns well es ourselves.
Let us not let loose the furies of-wer wiih*.
out at least having Ihe lash in our own
hands, whereby  we may urge or control
" Lsietanlet -.mo. teropestates que sonora.
tmperio prcmit, ac*vinc!ia el careers, frsx.ia:.
Ni facial, maria «c lerr-i.  esTl.im.jite profundum
Q.jippe (ensnt r_pi_i tecum, verrant que per au-
The consequences of letting loose the
pasaions, which are now but too baoiy
wound up, I could not contemplate wuh.
om horror—[Ilea', hear] ; nor could I lie
easy On my conch il I unnesesaarily
let loose ihu furies cf war. This and not
nny fear about tbe sufficiency of our re-
sources, was the reason why I so much
dreaded a recilrri-nce to war. This is lh..
rsnson for which I would forber... and tor
which I would put up with an.; ihing short
ofa b.each of national faith or an Jesuit to
tljs- national honor, rather ihan let loosu all
the impetuous passio >s now ia ihis country,
and recurring to ail the evil, of war, without knowing v hete to ep.. tin. devas-ation.
Thi-. is that love of pr-.ro by which ihr*
British Government acknowledged openly
lhat it was infltuiicv I —ih._ is t-.e boundary which the laws of nations required to
bo drawn. I will not forward this principle*. bo*vs»Ter, wiihout ad ling. " Let us, at
all events, defend Portugal. We go there
nottor_taliatnthi_ aggression, but to preserve her. We will ptanl our st indartj
(here ; and where the standard of England
is planted ; there foreign dominion shall
noi dare to come."—Tli- K-. Hon. Gent,
sat down ami.l load nnd continued cheers,
but roso again nnd said, '* The Address
which I have lo move is merely an echo of
the Message sent down by his Majesty
pledging (he concutret-ca of (his Hon-e it
such measures as h.s Majesty may think
necessary to adopt for the defence of our
ancient Ally, lhe kingdom of Portugal.
THE BROKEN LEG.
Bonnard appeared at all limes, and every where, b.fore mid-day, a prurient and
amiable mm ; hut after dinner, and in
ibe evening, be was not always precisely
so. In jfaef, hu was a true son of the ancient German., so often reproached for a
love of drinking, and knew no greater o
joyineni than that of giving amidst conviv
al friends, iho inspiring songs, " Enjoy the
charm of life,"—" With laurel crown ihe
timing bowl,"—and of emptying out a
llisk of good old Hoel, as an accompani
ment. Had he been satisfied with one
flask, nobody would have had a right to say
Bosh: aga-iPi' him, especially as his income
per.niited it ; but one flask was sure to
call for .mother, even to the sixth or «e-
venh.
The moriier, sisters, and brothers, wiih
whom he re.idr-d, ha.I the mo'iiricaiiou of
seeing him return home, six evenings in the
week, perfectly intoxicated. Their most
urgent remonstrances w here fruitless./ and
ihey began lo ihi-.k thai his drunkenness
was incurable. L.u-a, bis sweetheart,
thought eo too ; for, after innumerable
quarrels, a b.-eatli was at iengib made between iho lovers, who, i.ideed, were almost
as much as betrothed.
Hitherto be li id, from a re'pect to Laura-
maintained at least the outward appear-*
ance of good manners ; but now he be-*'
came a shameless and notorious drunkard.
Almost every nighl he bad either as.
wilb watchmen, or slept off bis intoxicalioi
in the Street. His health thereby I
gan . i.ii.bly to bo injured, antl his forlum
to melt an ay. In short he was upon the
brink of ruin.
Two of his friends, v. ho, although the]
ofien drank with him, always k-pt diem
selves, within the bounds of moder
were much grieved at his conduct, and r
solved to reclaim the drinker, 6y a meihot
hot the most ccrumon iu the world. Wuh
this view, they one evening nccompuntei
Bonnard io a public wine-cellar, and appeared in particularly high spirit*. _
^ Hock was called for, and thev enrou'a/red
! him to quaff as much cf it a. he liked, and
lhal was no small duse. He drank him-
[self into the clouds.
About rriidnigbt, the two friend, hegafi
. to yawn, shut their eyes, and «eemej io
fall usle.p. Bonnard waa ds-l'gb'e.l, for
be cou'd now drink nnoibcr flask without
j being reproved by them. Before, however
h« had finished it, intoxication reached its
highest pi cb, and lie at length fel , de.ri-
Vid of reason, luto a sound and deatnlikst
sleep.
His f.H.idi instantly started nn front
their pretended slumber, shook and jogged
lum, and to iheir great joy, found ihat ha
exhibited no symptoms of wekefuii>e«__
By ■ sign whicli wu3 previously eg-eed upon, they now cat'ed in •_ su'rg-on, who was
wailing in ibe adjoining arpartroent. He
imm-diateiy entered, bringing with him.
•pi.nts and other implements l..r a b-. ken
leg, and so.m lareH up lhe right limb of
Ihe sleeper, rs tightly ns if had been, most
dangerously fractured. They ihen aprink-
lod water upon his face, and gave a learful
thundering cry.
The sleeper started up—aeiz.d instantly
his log svhii.h '.be splini» squeezed, and
wished to rise Irom the ch ir; his frienrfs,
j however, held htrr. fast, crjing out, " IJn-
! fortunate man ! s'ir not—you have r-r-e-'v-
ed a dangerous contusion. We hsd scarte-
ly fallen asleep, when, attempting to go
| down stair", ycu fell, broke your leg, and
. f..inted. We awakened, rai-ed you up,
; and caused you to be dreessed. In Hea-
j ven'a ninne, slir not for your life! Wo
have ordered a liner, and it will be here
imroediatly lo carry ynu home."
Bonnard was deliiiou-t ;—his fancy
magnified the pressino ot the splints to tha
pain ofa real bnken limb, and, never once
imagining tha' he was deceived permit-
led himself lo be borne home lamentin".
There, his family received him, as was
concerted, with tears and wail;ng<. For
four weeks he continued lo he visited by
the surgeon, who kepi hs leg . qtieez-.-d into a case, so lhal he could uot move himself,
and did not doubt the rea'ity of the alle"e*l
accident. So long as itnprisonm.nl ncs
intolerable ;— he cursed wme as th.* cause,
of In* misfortunes, ami made a solemn vow
nover to get drunk in fu t tl re.
At tbe expiration of a month, the surgeon
informed him the cure was completed. Ha
went as if upon eggs, to save his broken
leg, and hia first walk was to the house of
bis sweetheart, whom he anxiously entse-sted
to forget the past, and once more (o reiustala
him in her affections She promised both,
on condition of a temperate treat's probaii-
on. He kept it manfully and (hen became,
the btisliaud of Laica, and continued during tho rest of his life, an orderly respect-
b!e man, who never, at any one lime,
drank more than be could carry.
After several years, Bonnard, for (ho
firsl (ime, discovered ihe trick that had
been played upon him; ho thanked bis
friends heartily for it, and began once more
to tread fi'tnly upon his lijhi leg, the*
Sl.ainir.g of which he had always nutili
then mo*}', carefully avoidvd.