V.

DIPLOMACY.

THE two following letters, from a recent publication,* to which justice cannot be done here, deserve to be selected, not only as illustrations of individual character in two eminent instances, but as exhibiting also the art of carrying a point in diplomatic intercourse, in the way which it has been ascertained from an opponent would be the most agreeable to himself.

"To Lieut.-General FAGEL.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"Paris, 15th Sept. 1815.

"I have seen M. de Talleyrand, who did not object very strongly to what I told him must be done. "I said that all I wished was to perform that which was

necessary, in the manner the least offensive to the King's "feelings. He said he thought it was best for the King "that it should appear to be a measure of force. To which “I said I had no objection; but I wished him, in the first

instance, to consult the King's wishes as to whether force "should be used, and the degree and mode of using it; " and I said I should be satisfied with an early answer. "He said he should speak to the King this night, and he "would let me know his wishes to-morrow after the council.

I hope, therefore, to have his answer before you will leave "town; but, at all events, you may tell his Majesty that "the thing is done, and that he will have his pictures. "Believe me, &c.

66 Lieut.-General FAGEL."

"WELLINGTON.

* The Despatches of Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington, compiled from Official and Authentic Documents, by Lieutenant-Colonel Gurwood. Volume XII., pp. 634, 635.

"To the Prince de TaLLEYRAND.

"PRINCE,

"Paris, 16th Sept. 1815.

"I should have been on my road to Brussels, if your Highness had given me this afternoon any assurance as to the pictures of the King of the Netherlands, "according to your promise yesterday. I have had it "communicated to his Majesty, that I hoped to be able "to announce to him to-morrow that I had got possession "of these pictures, and I cannot go and present myself to "him and tell him that I have not got them; so I have "not set out.

"A discussion as to the pictures has been going on for a long time between your Highness and General Fagel. "Your Highness has never given him a positive answer; " and, yesterday, I was obliged to inform your Highness "how I was situated.

66

You assured me that this afternoon I should receive an answer on the part of the King,* which would inform "me in what manner it was his Majesty's pleasure that I "should execute the duty imposed upon me. I now beg "to say to your Highness, that if you do not let me know "the pleasure of his Majesty in the course of this night, "I shall direct the march of a body of troops to take pos"session of the pictures of his Majesty the King of the "Netherlands to-morrow, at twelve o'clock; for I cannot "break my word to the Sovereign who has confided to me "the care of his interests.

"I have the honour to be, &c.

“ WELLINGTON.

"His Highness the PRINCE DE TALLEYRAND."

*Louis XVIII.

VI.

SELECT COMMITTEES OF THE

HOUSE OF COMMONS.*

IT deserves consideration whether the practice of suppressing, in the Reports of Parliamentary Committees, the different views of the different members of the Committee has any other than an injurious effect. Where decided differences do exist, the existence of them always becomes known, but without a full or distinct understanding of the grounds on which the differences rest. Would it not be better that, after the close of the evidence, each member should have an opportunity of recording his own conclusions, and that the chairman, with all the assistance he may choose to take, should afterwards have time enough to draw up his report, and that the whole should be laid before the House?

The Report of the Canada Committee of 1828 was not drawn up by the chairman. It did not state the opinions of those who had enjoyed the fullest opportunities of experience in the affairs of the colonies, but it shook and dislocated the whole structure of the Provincial Government; and for many years stood in the way of any resetting of it. It may safely be asserted, that if each member had then laid before the House of Commons, in writing, his own view of the case, and his ideas of the measures which ought to be adopted, and if the chairman had been

* See Preamble, No. IV. p. 133.

obliged to review these various opinions, and to submit, in conjunction with them, a scheme of his own for the future government of the colony, a remedy would have been found for the discontents whilst they were yet capable of being healed; or that, at any rate, there would not now, after the lapse of ten years, be the prospect of employing a whole session in the discussion of the affairs of a Province, in which rebellion and war are in full action, and from which a Governor, sent out in May, has flown back in November, to assure the Parliament that it has been all along, and still is, blindly ignorant of all that it is most necessary it should know, for the purpose of its being able to deliberate upon the subject.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY JAMES MOYES, CASTLE STREET, LEICESTER SQUARE.