The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-06-04 00:00:00

of his eonfidenee. The right of censuring Mi-
nisters was one of the most important that Parlia-
ment could possibly exercise ; but it was one that
ought to be governed by discretion. It ought to
be the first objed of Parliament to look to the public
safety. There might be questions of this sort in
which men might feel something more than it was
proper or prudent for them to express. Ile put it
to the House in this point of view. He conceived
that there were grounds of dissatisfaction with regard
to some points of his Majesty's Government. But
he wished the House to consider whether entering
into the circumstances of their conduct, at this mo-
ment, was likely to promote that national defence and
resist ince of the common enemy, for which Parlia-
ment and the country had pledged to the Sovereign.
To displace an Administration, and form a new one,
was not the work of an hour or a day. The inter-
val between the dismissal of the one, and the forma-
tion of the other, was an interval of awful suspence,
particularly at a period like this: It was a period,
during which the Executive Government would of
course he suspended. Days and weeks might finish
without those measures being adopted, which were
so peculiarly necessary, perhaps, to the very ex-
istence of the country. He, therefore, called upon
the House, unless there was that necessity which
the Hon. Gentleman who had moved the resolu-
tions had stated, to avoid coming to a vote, which
shall violate the pledges it bad already given to
his Majesty, to support him in the war in which
he had been compelled to engage. Ile observed,
that there were parts of the subject very delicate
indeed to dwell upon. They were subjeas with
regard to which it ought to be left to the Crown
to decide. He felt that the considerations which
were involved in this motion, deeply affected the
public, and it was peculiarly the duty of the repre-
sentatives, that they should vote conscienti, busty.—
Those, who thought the conduit of his Majesty's
Ministers deserved applause, and that they had given
a satisfactory answer to the motion, would of course
vote in their favour. Those on the contrary, who
were of opinion that the charges contained in the
resolutions were well founded, would of course sup-
port them. He should not enter into the consi-
deration of the grounds of either of those particular
opinions. He deprecated all discussion. He wished
the Hoe :e neither to adopt the resolutions that had
been moved, or to entertain the string of resolutions
of which notice had been given. He thought it
was improper for the House to enteitain a Motion
of this kind, if the good which it might produce
would be overbalanced by the evil. He was
desirous that not an hour should be lost in
carrying into effed-that solemn pledge and assurance
which the House had given his Majesty. It was
the duty of the House to make good that solemn
pledge without delay ; and he thought it advisable
that the first pledge which the House of Commons
should give his Majesty, should be by appearing at
the foot of his throne, tendering to his Majesty a
Bill of Supply, adequate to the extraordinary exer-
tions we are called upon to make, and proportionate
to the nature of the interesznig struggle in which we
are engaged. It would fatthar be the duty of
the House to call upon `.:is Majesty to consent to
some strong and vigorous measures of finance, be-
yond what had hitherto been resorted to, and also
some measures equally energetic. for filling the
ranks of the army and the fleets of the navy. In tad he
recommended to him that system which should have
the effea of giving to the country a numerous ;old
well disciplined force, capable of proteding it aBaulct
every rash attempt of the enemy. Such, he said,
we the objeCls by which the House of Commons
would realise the assurance which it had given
his .Majesty. It would be most improper in-
deed, it, after having given that pledge, the
first offering should be, a tender of advice to
dismiss from his Councils his present Ministers.
Theltight Hirnourable Gentleman said, that the
sentiment by which he was actuated, was Aa bind-
ing upon him, that he certainly should act upon no
other. He neither approved of the violent resolu-
tions proposed against his Majesty's Ministers, nor
did he think that his Majesty's Ministers were
wholly exempt from blame. Therefore he did not
address himself to those who were influenced by
either of those sentiments. If 6:ere were any in the
Home who held the same opinion which he ex-
pressed, it was to those he addressed himself. With
a full determination to take no other part than that
of the one which he had avowed, he felt he was
acting in conformity with the dictates of his con-
science, in moving that the other Orders of the Day
be now read.
Lord HAWKESBURY declared he would not
accept the compromise which Mr. Pitt had offered,
but called for a decided censure or support. He
lamented the conduit of Mr. Pitt, and entered into
a general defence of Ministers in the Negotiation.
Mr. CANNING supported the resolutions strong-
ly, and censured the conduit of Ministers. He
then went through the diplomatic correspondence
that passed between this Country and France, com-
menting upon it as he proceeded.
Lord CASTLERKA.GH contended that Minis-
ters had a right to call for a decided vote one way
or the other, because if tley were left in doubt they
would be rendered unable to carry on the public
service with vigour and energy.
Mr. SLOANE supported 11r. Pitt's motion.
Sir 'JACOB ASTLEY spoke against the resolu-
tions moved by Cok,ael Patten. -
The MASTER of the ROLLS opposed the mo-
tion of Mr. Pitt, and contended for a di.,-;ded vote.
He then went into a general answer to die argu-
ments of Mr. T. Grenville.
Sir ROBERT PLELE said, there ware many
parts of Ministers conduct which he slid nol oppose,
and he should, therefore, vote for the moon, that
the Orders of the Day be now read.
. The SECRETARY of WAR took a compara-
tive view of the state of the Army and Navy no*,
with their state at the commencement of the last.
war, eat contended that Ministers had evinced the
greatest enetgy, and that they had amply provided
for the safety of the country, and made every ne.
cessary preparation for camying on the war with
success.
Mr. JOHN CLAUDIUS BERESFO7`,I), ad-
verting to the conduit of France, observed, that at
the moment when the Government of that country
was complaining of libels published in this country
against France, a se, of traitors were encouraged
aod paid at Paris, and a paper, entitled Theilrgur
actually set up for the express purpose of calumni-
ating this country, asal Ignacio/owing to stir up re.
beißus in Ireland. He censured the conduit of
Miaisters, and supported the motion of Mr. Pitt.