The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-03-12 00:00:00

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circumstances in pareicidar, or refer to any vulner-
ehle points, alai shall Irate Gentlemen to make
their own refleaioue on it. MR if the war should
become neccasary, I meet differ with those who re-
resent, that there ore not in the present Admini-
Anton abilities to coedit& it. Surely, Gentlemen
will hardly maintain, that if one of the principal de-
partments in the condua of such a war be consigned
Lord St. Nf inceht, there arc nor the first-rate abili-
ties to govern it! With such a guide and leaaer at
• our head, we can he in no danger; and if the war
be commenced. and there are no meens of stopping
it, there will be a necessity of her going into rt
with cordiality and energy. If there be really
a danger of invasion, hoe-ever some people may
disapprove of the grounds or necessity of the war,
there was no Englishman who would net say', aye,
and feel to, that the French must be. resisted with
the linked force of the country. I must again er-
hortthe House to call for, and insist on more eepla-
Dation, before they become parties to the war. The
great grievance of the last war has been, that its (+-
Fa was never clearly laid down, and never under-
stood. The present Minister, no doubt, Owes to the
country a severe responsibility for the measures he is
pursuing ; but I • cannot • controvert what he has
stated—that the tirne is not yet come for it. I readily
believe his assertion, that the charge of too hasty
concession was unjustly made to him ; but I hope
and trust, that he will maize light of such repraaches,
if he does not feel them himself. He must he sensi-
ble, that when the hour of respensibility shall- arrive,
in whatever crisis the nation may find itself involved,
it will not be by high-eounding words that he
can possibly be detntied. It will indeed be a hap-
py thing for all, if war can be avoided ; bit if it
be unavoidable, let us remember, that our forces et
sea are now as great as ever. What passed in the
last year of the war, has proved to the world, that
we possess G.' meads and Officers that may be safely
opposed to any that can_ be brought against them,
and that our troops have fully and *mealy main-
tained their former reputation of being the best in
the world. What then have we to fear ? I dread
nothing in the way of battle, either by sea or
land, but my apprehensions arise from this, that
contemplating all the circumstances of these
widely extended dominions, I am firmly convinced,
that if a war were now commenced, and continued
for many yeare,with all that uninterrupted success
in every quarter, which we have here rather to wish
than eepret with confidence—yet even so glorious
and successful a war would, in thc end he, the most
grievous, perhaps the newt ruinous calamity let
could fell upon this country ."
Mr. FRANCIS, in explanation, said. that when
he alluded to the exclusion of the ability.' of the
catintry from the' adreieisrrnzion of the affairs of
the nation, he be no mains alluded to any pca am
conned:lel either with the army or navy, for •ehose
services he entertained the highest consideration.
Mr. BURROWES said, he. had considered the
nee Gentlemaa on the Hoof.' (Mr. Fix) as one Of
the best judges and ablest supporters of the Consti-
tuicui ot the c aniti y. He has therefore the more
surprised to hear the lion.'Gent. call upon hfutisteis
-in so urgent a manner to ceplain tee danger we were
exposed to, and the necessity for adopting those mea-
sures at precaution which were recommended in his
Majesty's Message, and upon which a constitutional
;tad prudential yelicy sfrialy enjoined his Vatoaty's
Ministers, while scussions were pending, to observe
the utmost reserve anti secrecy. The Hon. Gentle-
man said, that by vetting for the supply this night,
he made himself a party to the war—This he by nc
means could assent to (ere Mr.. Fox said he did not
.mean so). If he misunderstood or misrepresented
the Hen. Gentleman, he was, anxious to apologize
for it, hut he really so co/waived the tendency of his
expression. Another Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Fran-
cis) rather injudiciously referred to particular ob-
kat and causes for the renewal of the war, but
where was the necessity far. this ? We are simply
iafermed in his Majesty's Message, that certain mi-
Itary preparations are making. in the ports of France
and Holland, while discussions of great importance
between his Majesty and the French Government
are pending, the result of which is uncertain, and
hie Majesty recommends certain measures of pre-
caution. In consequence of this, his Majesty's Mi-
nisters bring forward a Motion for answering the
purposes recommended in the "Message ; and can
any Man ia this House vote against so moderate a
supply ?—So far froni causing despondency or alarm,
•it must afford the greatest conmletion to the coun-
try to know, that our apprehensions of the renewal
re hostilities. must be very trifling, when so inconsi-
derable an augmentation of our naval forte is ap-
plied for. It would be very different if we were
e alled lame for a supple could to that mentioned by
an Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Dent) who spoke before
him; that indeed might aceteelarm, but we are bare-
ly called upon to adopt precautionary measures; and
we should feel ourselves much indebted to Admi-
aistrution for their vigil:tete in protentiag us from
any surprise. The First Consul of France, in the
event Of an unfavourable issue to the discussions
now vending, may attempt to throw an army into
England cr Ireland; end if sttch was the event, could
any thing justify Ministers in not adopting every
Measure of arodential precAution ? The language of
Ministers was uniformly for .cc : and he Was con-
fident their Wishes most cal), agreed with their
leeguage. They knew, and they telt their respon-
sibility ; and under such an impression he was confi-
dent, would not hazard any steps to render that re-
sponsibility dangerous. It was, therefore, prema-
ten... to call upon Ministers for explanation—The
French were arming, and to prevent surprise or
Ileac:wry, we. adopt a precautionaty mode of arm-
ing also. But we are not front the Message to In-
ter, as several Gentlemen seem to do, that we arc in
a state of actual hostility. It should rather be con-
sidered as the preventative of hostility. He entirely
differed e ith the Hon. GenueMan on the floor (Mr.
ox) on the subjea While renewal of the war. lie
was confident, if, such an event Unfortunately should
take place, that the energies of this country would
be found unimpaired, and-equal to meet the most
Obstinate and decisive connia. But he would re-
peat, that we ere not called upon to enter into hos-
tilities; and he Would contead,until that was the case,
nay explanation on the part of Ministers would be
premature, imps open, and highly dangerous. He
tonchidea by warmly suppertuag the Motion for the
Supply.
Lord HAWKESBURY said, the Hen. Gentle-
Arian who spoke last treated the question in a men-
pet which did him great credit. e' is to the consti-
- attiortal opinions delivered by another Hon. - Gen-
thattan Gyre. Fox) he could not entirely agree with


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