Star.
London, England, 1801-03-26 00:00:00

IRCH c 26, 1801.

or Weft Indies was taken from that which was to
be employed againtl France, which was to root
out Jacobinical principles, which was to prevent
the aggrandifement of the Regicide Republic ! It
has been chid that America was conquered in Ger-
many. Has France, then, done nothing towards
the acquifition of Colonial potlaions? Her frontiers
now extend to the Rhine, to the Alps, and to the
Ocean : the has reached a pitch of great nef, which
Louis XIV. never afpired to in the matideft dreams
of his ambition. All thefe poffeffions we have con-
tented to abandon astlie price of peace. Thus allour
loffes were irretrievable and our triumphs empty.
Mina-L.l-s have readily offered to give up all their
boafted acquititionsfor peace, for peace which they
Ii
might have made with France confined within her
ancient limits, while their country was profperous
and happy. An Hon. Friend of mine lately laid,
and faid with truth, that there was no thore from
the Texel to the Adriatic which had not witncEd
the defeat of our forces and the difgrace of our
arms. Recoiled the unfortunate attempt upon
Dunkirk, and the thameful retreat through }lol-
-1 land the enfuing year. Witnefs the evacuation of
Toulon, the abandonment of Cornea, and the (Ff.
gracefnl expedition to quiberon. But I !hall con.
r tine my felf to more recent opera: ions. About four
years ago it was found neeetfary to rait-:: a definitive
force of t 00,000 men. Soon after ihings took a new
urn, and the confederacy againft France was re-
vived. Miniflers then, untaught by experience,
nor humbled by ;seise' lity, entered into all their for-
mer projects, and called out for a difrofible force.
Accordingly the militia were reduced, and an
immenfe army placed at their difpolal. Their &ft
exploit was the expedition to Holland, and one
more impolitic in the defign, or more difgraccful
in the iffuc, never was attempted. Yet all enquiry
into the failure of it was peremptorily refuled. It
this didnot, what ever demanded inquiry? A Britifh
army, the go-eatelt that ever left the country, fup-
ported by a lirong auxittary force, after many dd.
afters, and one defeat, capitulated—gave a ranfom
for its fafety to a General commanding an army in-
ferior innumbers! I will not decide whether the fai-
lure was owing to the plan of the expedition or the
condutl of it; but one or other was faulty, and
the Committee bound to declare which. When I
faid that this expedition was the moll difgraceful
in our hitlory, I forgot thole which fucceeded it.
The difporable force was augmented by the facri.
five of the remaining part of the fupplemcntary
militia, and it was confidently promifed that an
impreffion would inttantly be made on France.
Our lofs in tbe Dutch expedition was laid to amount
only to Soo men ; therefore half fo great a force
never was granted to any Adminiftration. What
great explottwas performed? Was France over-run?
Did we refcue from her yoke Belgium and the
other countries the had conquered from our allies ?
In December and January when the Vita Cnidul
made overtures of Peace, oppofition were told that
the power of France was at the lowell ebb, and
that nothing could fare her from unconditional
fubmilhion, but liftening to her propofals. Her
armies were ruined, her finances were deranged,
rebellion raged in her provinces, her inhabitants
were incenfed againft each other, and agreed in
nothing but abhorring the exilling Government.
Ourfelvas audour allies were in the molt Ilourithing
circumttances,and that our fituation would become
worfe was quite impollible. When thefe overtures
were haughtily rejeded, I think, Sir, Minifters thould
have kept their promife ; yet, not an attempt was
made till the French armies had penetrated into the
heart of Germany, and the fate of the Houle of
Auftria wasdecided in thc battle of Marengo. Senn
; after that Sir R. Abercromby arrived off Genoa,
and found it in poffeffion of our enemies. Spain
next became the °Ned of our enterprifes, and an
attempt was made agaioft Ferrol. Our failure
there was lately under debate, and I mull fay,
notwithflanding the fpeech of the Hon. General,
that it (till feems to me to have been highly dif- f
graceful to the Briti(h arms, and highly detrimen-
tal to the intcrefls of the Britith nation. Of our
attack upon Cadiz, I fcarcely know in what terms
to fpeak. To thew that they do not deferve the
heavielt blame, Minilters mull prove that they
were not informed of the diforder which raged in
that city in time•to countermand the expedition.
Feeling as a man, and as an Englifliman, I mull
fay that I with the conefpondence between our
Commander and the Spanith Governor had never
been laid before the public. Some fteps ought to
be taken without delay, to efface the imprellion
which this publication mull have made to our dif-
advantage. Byfubmitting tamely to thereproaches
which arc raft upon us, we acknowledge their
truth. Thefe two expeditions have been called re.
connoitring parties ; but, as things Itand at pre-
fent, they mull he believed by all to have brougkt
infinite difgrace and ditlinnour Upon the country
from which they were tent. This army is new
employed againit Egypt. What may be the refult
of the attempt I do not pretend to prediEl. I hope
it may be fliccefsful ; but when I confider the ob-
(tacles to be furmounted, I confifs I am not very
fiinguine. Hoe then arc (refit proofs of thc want
of vigour, of indeeition, and delay of l'slinifters.—
The armament at lag failed from Gibraltar on the
3d of December; and down to the end of Janu-
ary, to which the Well accounts came, Sir R.
Abercrombie bad not found himfelf in a Iltuation
to attempt a debarkation.
I have not tittered Co much into detail as I
could with ; but, to eflablith my point, unfortu-
nately it isnot neceffitry that I thould. What can
Minilters urge in their defence ? They had not
money ? Their moll extravagant demands were
cheerfully complied with. They had not a fuffi-
cient number at troops ? It appears by the haft re-
turns from the War Office, that we have z6111.c00

RiC :IX•P'_?N:'r

rank and file; and I will venture to affirm, that lit
the days of our greatett glory, when by our vis.ne_
ries we received ibme compentittion for the flici
flees which we made, when we extorted the admi-
ration of Europe by our behaviour at Minden, and
humbled the Home of Bourbon by our viClorie;
at Qt2ebec. our efrealVe force was not fo great by
one-half. Shall I then he told that the enemy was
far fuperior If I had hinted this Taft year, tine
idea would have been treated with contempt and
indignation. Vigour and cnterprife will always
have the advantage. Grant what you will to in -
beeility, ignorance and indecilion, and you never
grant enough. While that mighty Genius in
France, truaing to the relburces of his own mind,
reaored life and energy to the Government ovsr
which he preluded, led on his armies to viaory, and
laid his enemies at his mercy—Minitters, polleffed
of every thing, idle, lupine, and wavering, fuffereJ
the feafon fur itEtion to elapie, and, when they did
fend out expenitions, Cent them to excite the ridi-
cule and contempt of cur enemies. Such tanners,
I maiwain, Sir, cannot have happeoed withoti,
mifmanagement and incapacity. I thould bt
furry for my conntry if they could.
If the condo d of the war has been impolitic,
the impoliey of rejefling the overtures which have
been made fin- negoeiation is Rill more apparent.
I thall not return to the early periods of the war,
when Minifiers held a lofty and menacing tone ;
though Gentlemen would do well to compete their
language to M. Chattvelin to %that they have held
attiMfequent pariods.—l defire tboiSi who fty there
is no doubt of the propriety of the condua of Go-
vs•rnment, to compare their haughty difiniiFil of
Chauvelin wiih their mean folichation to
Otto : that and various other opportunities us
treating with France, :rik the twee.: confined with-
in her ancient limits, occurred, and were neglen.:
ed. When the confederacy began to meet with
adverfity, when Mini ficrs might-have learned from
experience the folly of their dcfigns, when they
might have known the impofibility of fubjugating;
an armed nation firegglirg for liberty, when they
might have been ceraia that no faith was to be
placed in our allits, another opportunity occurred,
which was rejeßed at-ith equal di!llain. But I
fhall confine myfellto the offer made by 'Prance in
the beginning of toe ;aft year: were Ito mention
former occations, I might he told that there was
a plea in bar to my propofal for inquiry, as the
conduet of Government bad been fitnainned by
Parliament. But many who voted ha year for
the addrefs, approving of the int Heir rejection of
the overtures of Benapatte, a vote whi..11.1 lincere-
ly believe they have fume bitterly repented—l re-
coital well, obferved that they x4,ted nn confi-
dence; that they were by no means pledged to
fupport this Rep in the fequel ; and the if pe• •!
enquiry it thould turn out to be imp, . •
would certainly condemn it. I therefore 1, L . •

I coididence to their fupport. I maintain, Sir. t:..i
1 the cafe was not fully laid before them. Tin fob-
dity of the confederacy was then largely dwelt
upon by the Miniler, and urged as a complete
iuflification of our perfifting in the conteff. I call
upon the Right Hon. Gentleman to account for
Ins affertions. Did he then altially believe that
there was a firm and cordial union among all the
Confcderates ? Had he no fears of the Emperor
Paul? }Lid he no fufpicion of the Maritime Con-
federacy which has fnce become fo formidable?
The Right Hon. Centleman teems to deny that he
had. To prove his fincerity he can only plead a
want of prudence, vigour, and capacity. When
the Ruffian troops had been defeatti in Italy, in
Switz,:rland, and in Holland, and caletilatinn:
upon the perf,tnal chars ter of the Sovereign which
has fines been lb much dwelt upon, but which w.ts
then equally well known, could it not be fulpetled
that we thould incur the of our Northern
Ally? But had not peps aelually been publicly taken?
Had not the Swedifh Government alerted the
right to tend (hips under convoy free from fearch ?
When we refilled the claim, did they renounce it?
On the contrary, had they not condemned the Cap-
tain, and led him nut to execution? If Govei n-
ment was guilty in relating the overtures of the
enemy in January tow much deeper is their guilt in
afterwards Rill obainatelyrefuling to listen to nego-
tiation? Though I think France had a tiLht to iidot
upon a navalarmilticebeforelhe would admit n sto t
joint negociation, fill I think Minitlers aC'ted
in rejating it. P.,ut I can gono farther. Here I mak
flop in my commendations. Why was the offer
for a feparate negotiation related ? If on no other
account, we ought to go into an inquiry to hear
whit reafons Minifters can align for their conduet.
They fay, good faith prevented them. I deny
thot any pledge to the Emperor prevented an im-
mediate negotiation. It any had esiitcd. it ceafed
to exil after the Cqnvention at Marenn'n, and 1ti!1
more after that in Germany which fuecceded it.
Befides, it is iniumbent upon Minders to pima:
that the Emperor called upon us to !vont m
this hipulatien. I ale if he ever thcwed any :misty
lel we Ihould &fen him, or once complained or
remonftrated ? On the contrary, is it not noto-
rious to all the world that he was pacifically in-
clined, and that our Government furred him up
to revenge and to blood ? It is not n' t-rions tlsat
to the Britifh he naves ati tlk misfortunes
which befell him fabtequent to etc recommence-
merit of hollilitiec, the diugras-e of iii. arms, the
lots pf his dominions, and tl.: :tint of his honk ?
I call unsure the Right l'am. Ccitlzmar to declare
upc_n what grounds a, a fpalater" he Kt, vc this
advise. Can he plead ateisiet.:, as he did (t...itit
what jurflice I (hall not fop tit erqn7re) with re-
gard to the battle of Marengo ? .us
tromerire line, from the Rhine tr. the Danube.
from the Danube to Cie Asit:atie, t:kre n'.l% no-
thing but dif:omaire and deer, ty. I know Loot

II

far it is impreper always to judlt. 1, ttc ; but
where, on an muncule kale of ortations, every
think ntileariies, I mitt! conclude tlia: there never
was much chance offuecefs. I would Moon c, Sir,
into this lubjed, not only to eentiti c the
iturs, but to read a lcifon to the nov. lam told
that they are dell' ous of peace. I hope, Sir, the
repot is true ; but I cannot forget that they have
uniformly fupported their predecetfors, and that
they all applauded the fentiments of the Right
Hon. Gentleman, who thanked heaven for the
failure of the negociation at Liiie. Therefore,
this condua fhoulJ bz invefligated for the fake of
example, to fatisfy the public, and to rzmove all
doubt from the minds of our ctierni;:s.

The next fi.b.Hl to which I ye.),ild beg your at-
tention is our fituation with regard to foreign
powers. What are the etudes which at the end
of a long war have Rimed up a formidable con-
federacy againft ns ? This flidden change is alma
without a parallel, and the conkquencrs of it no
man can forefee. Again commit our fituation
now, with what it was when you rejated die over-
tures of Bonaparte. One principal argument ofed
by a Right Honourable Secretary ou that occafion,
was a long ii.t of the powers with which France
was at war. I cant-els filch an argument is not
without weight ; but haw deep an impreflion mull
it make when Atte enemies were all lately our
allies, when they were all lately combined againa
France, and now join France in a confederacy
againft you! I formerly went pretty much at
large into this fubjett, and my conduEt upon that
occafion, I am told, excited furprife. I can only
fay, that I wifhed to recommend moderation and
temperance. I withed that we would not lathly
come to any decifion, but try firll what would be
done by forbearance and conciliation. I wiffied,
in fhort, to recommend to your example the wife
conduct of the British Government in 1780. But
though I expreffed no opinion then, I had one ;
and the more I reflect upon it, the more firmly I
am convinced that it is well founded. The fub-
kit I (hall enter into fully in the Committee. I
would now afk, Are we not bound to inquire into
the circumflances from which this confederacy has
arifen ? Here I am not afliamed to repeat a fenti-.
ment I have exprefled before—,4 All true and totted
policy mull be founded on juffice.!' There is no-
thing new in it, I confefs, but it is. valuable.
Has then our condua to the Northern Powers
been guided by juflice ? I know that charges in
official notes have been brought againft us by the
Swedes and other neutral stations. They have com-
plained that their trade was molefltd ; that their
!hips were detained; that juftice was refuted them
in our Courts, or at leafi fo long delayed that it
was ufelefs. This charge is a ferious one, and,
whether true or falfe, deferves to be minutely in-
veffigated. We may thus have provoked the neu-
trals to alert their dormant claims, and produced
• rupture which may prove fo calamitous. Into
the matter of right, to far as it depends upon the
public law of Europe, I (hall not at prefent enter,
but content myfelf with obfcrvinge that the more
thdb queffions are confidered, they will be found
to bc the more intricate, perplexed, and contra-
dl&ory,
and that they generally arc decided by
forte, the skims ratio mum. Betides, an unpro-
fitable right is not in my opinion worth difcutling.
The fubjea is purpofely involved in fuels contu-
ion, that it is not eery to give a perfpicuous view
of it. It is Paid that you would give the enemy
=limited means to equip their navy. Them are
two queffions moll diffina, which yet are always
(confounded together. That with regard to contra-
band, and that which refpeas free bottoms making
free goods. Withcontraband sue have at prefent no-
thing to dn. In the convention oft 780 and the pre-
tent there is an article which exprefsly excepts con-
traband. Whethernaval llores are to be confidered
as contraband, it is not cafy perhaps to deter-
mine ; but fortunately we are relealed from all
perplexity, becaufe there is a reference to their
particular treaties with ps, and by there they fay
they will be found. By fiveral treaties formed with
the Northern Powers about the middle of the IA
century, the power of fending naval Itores to the
belligerent nations is esprefily conceded to them ;
Denmark is an exception, probably becaufe Den-
mat k had no naval Rams to fend. Holland had
the power, and exercised it, and if the poffeffed the
power, it was of little confequence to whom it was
denied, as the then carried the commodities of al-
moll every nation in Europe. There is nothing
in the convention with regard to fupplying block-
aded places which cangive us any offence. here
are even limitations in this refpeel of the conven-
tion of 1780, and their definition of a blockaded
place is unexceptionable. They nest claim a
right to trade from port to port with the enemy,
which we imagine will not be difputed with them.
The only two points to be difculled, therefore, are
Whether free bottoms make five goods ? and whe-
ther neutrals have a right to fend merchant velFels
under convoy without being liable to fearch ? Of
whatever value the maxim of free bottoms free
good: may be to the Northern Powers, it does not
give them any teeth powers to fupply our enemies
with naval it:4res. Therefore a great many po-
pular and captiva:in7 arguments againfl it eall
the ground. la would only enable France, if
file has any goods for the foreign market, to get
tncni crp..rt:d. It would not even in :my degree
iicreare her naviga, lens. f afoul.' think that prima
fade the principle aullhl ht moft favourable to that
poser whieh has moll foreign commerce. The
trade of Franer we have :•eard i, completely
annihilated, and !),: mni:rt!4,11111:1 are ruined.—
What asi...antagy tlu.n ea:: at !he prefent mo-
nten!_, derive Gun, :Itc 1,1:1L;I.L, or of what detri-
ment
can it be to us ? r-: ing the other fide of
the queftion, ter t: the gez, by your denying the
principle. France ;: joioed b.: the
powers of
th• 7 North, and :•oti are ditabityi by the ruin of your
commerce. Brfires, fhoisid bo no gai. ?
Wl.•eo v.-t. are font out of eve: y port on the Con-
tinent, wcio.el it be no aalvtilita.! • to be able to have
mat.t.CaCtures and c•iharkt. produce carried fe-
curtly the Atm•tic..lis t. By that very principle,
N. h.::: you a::,1 P• :1:t :o ti:ecc.mmerce.l•lthetuC-
`'
• aa 4. 4.. r 445 '1 vita facility, which
is ii.4w • 4t. • . t interruptiims. I am
Wavy Lo. isA, :114 :.Cjidrid VCEt=l,6 frequentlp trade

realy between this country and France, and that
they carry front England not only goods to fup-
ply France, but likewite Come cf the furrounding
nations. In cafe of a Northern war this commerce
mull be very mach inerealed, and France will h.-
come a depOt for the reit of the Continent ; thu
you give her trade in one cafe, whereas in the other
' the would have none. Admitting the value ofthe
right, Gentlemen should ferioutly con rider whe-
ther it (-eight to 1w put in competition with the
lopport which France will receive in every war
from the ailitlance of all the North of Euroilie.—
This now is the fecund time that at the end of!
a war the Northern Nations have confederated
againit its, and they will continue to do fo in limi-
lar eircumitances as lung as men are governed by
interett. Sioppole you fuccoed in your
rights, how are you to !icon.: them ? Can they be
irrevocably confirmed by a piece of parchment, or ,
attached to a fortified place ? Injury will quicken
their fettle of interett, and they will be (purred on
not only by a love of gain, but a fpirit of revenge.
—From the prefent condua of Denmark you
may form a pretty fair effintate of the value of
forced conceilions. It has been laid be an Hon.
Gentleman, you might as well burn all your !hips
and difeharge all your failors. Had not this fen-
timent come from a pet fon of very great *authori-
ty, I thould have treated it as abfurd. By the
treaty of 1674, the point was conceded to Holland,
and by various treaties during the courie of the hat
century to France, to Spain, and to the Porte.
Yet during. that period our navy was created, art
gained the moll fplendid triumphs. Would, Sir,
we could revert to thofe days of power, plenty,
and happinefs! The Englith name had then
reached a pitch of glory beyond which the molt
fitnguine cannot hope to raife it. I call upon thole
who have any doubt with regard to the value of
the right, to think ferioufly of the policy of en-
forcing it at the prelim moment. After eight
firth years of war, ought not every new fubjeEt of
difpute to be avoided with care ? Why have vee
not followed the wife example fet us on 1780 ?
Againft Lord North, his bittereß enemy never
urged his condua at that period ; and though we
had waved our claims, never was the maritime fu-
per?ority of England fo decided as during the pre-
fent war. Authority is certainly againit us in the
right of fearching merchant veffels under convoy
tof a (hip of war. In t 6.72 it was exprefsly given
up. The reafon of the thing is against us not lets.
[—Can it be expeaed that an independent Rate,
[lnch as Denmark or Sweden, fbould allow its
' fleets to be fearched by an Englifh frigate or Cuf
'tom-houfe yacht ? Did we ourfelves never affert
this right which we now fo Routly deny ?—We
have often been in the relation of a neutral to-
wards Spain, who flora religious motives never
makes peace with the Rates of Barbary. Yetwe have
often lent contraband in (hips of war to Algiers,
and how thould we have felt had a Spanifb frigate
infißed upon examining them? I once put the quef-
tion to the Captain of a man of war, " Blown her
out of the water, to be Cure," Paid he. The right
of fearch, under proper regulations, is not dif-
pitted, and is the pretence of -a
fhip of war not as
good a guarantee as the papers which are reckon-
ed rufficient ? The Right Honourable Gentleman
Rated that this claim was not only against the law
of nations,but contrary to an exprefs treaty entered
into by Ruffia in 1793. Any one, however, who
confiders the terms of the treaty, and reads the
declaration of the Emprefs to the Court of Sweden,
mutt be convinced that this is a grofsinifreprefenta-
tion. When the Houle has been thus milled, an in-
quiry becomes doubly neceffary. If the right is of '
great value, one would think it of high importance
that it llsould be uniformly exercised, and that we
ought to chaffife every nation that calls it in quef-
tion, Pruflia not letsthan Denmark and Sweden.
,
Was the condo& of Pruflia, I all, Sir, one whit
lefs offenfive t Upon a Fruition fhip carrying con-
traband goods to the enemy being fcized, violent
complaints were made, and Cuxhaven and Rutz-
bottle were feized by the Prufilait troops. Did we
declare war egoista Proffitt? Did we kin all the i
veffels belonging to that power in our ports? No; '
we meanly induced the city of Hantburgh to pur-
chafe the !hip and rellore it to the King of Pruflia.
This was a mere quirk, hut it would not do, Cux-
haven was not abandoned ; and the Daiiith Mini-
tier (Count Betiofforff) had Rated to Mr. Drum-
mond that the Convention of Armed Neutrality
had been entered into betwixt Denmark, Sweden,
Italia, and Pruflia. The difference of our condua
towards Pruflia and the other Powers could only
be attributed to this, that we were more afraid
of the power of Prtillia. In the whole of this buil-
tiers Miniflers had neither aged with policy nor
with confiltent thinners. Our condua to the
King of Pruflia reminds me ‘f a Rory I have
heard of a noble Lord, who, taking offence at a
Gentleman in company, applied his cane very libe-
rally to the Gentleman's back. The Gentleman
fubmitted to the chailizemeat with great ploilofo-
phy, but being a few days after at a coffee-houfe,
without much provocation, he kieeesi a &How to
the door.—The Noble Lord heard of the affair,
and Aced his old friend to explain it. Said lie,
" You and I, my Lord, know whom we kick !"
From Denmark and Sweden we have not very
much to fear. The King of Pruilia might Mut up
the port of Hatnhurgh, and feize the clear:rate of
Hanover (or perhaps has a:Wally feized it.)—
Much as I have raid, much remains for Inc to fay
h:fore I rekale you from the trouble of hearing
brar!
.14:.a all park of ily
yi.j I come now to fpcak of the internal Rate
a tile country.—Two hundred and feventy mil.
lions have been added to our motional debt, min-
five of Imperial and other loans, and of the re-
diilion citified by the linking fund ; and yet we
are told by the Ex-Minifiers that they leave the
country in a flourifloing fituation. I ask any man,
whether, from dirnibillied comfort s.or front potitive
dithers, he does not feel this declaration an infult.
'Afk the ruined nonnufailowers of Yorkthite, Man.,
cheiter,_ and tirmingliam; alk the flarvin3inhalti.
tants of Lontion and Vt'etimintlerl In lonic parts
of Yorkihire, formerly the nu.:`. Ilourithiee, it ap-
pears from an authentic paper which I tidal in my
hand, that the poors' rates have him:aled from
poi to 60001. a year; though the wheic raek4ent

of the pal s not exceed to 'la In;:tr..
hail:, I know, limn multi:11)1:d authority, there
are near I I,cc-.) who %c .1 v..: parochial relief,
though t 1... who;e tit irlianitants cannot
c -.lnd ol a a re tinned oac of
the moil prolpeolits in Er ;Land. 'Flick are
into wlii, It pm will do w-11 to enquire.
It is ti.t thot.:4: uue half of our property is
gone, it is well :ed, ae. is ii.a.:.tvcdthe re-
mainder. Sir, I deny the atgalion. One half of
our propetty is gone, but tic reni.tinder is in
gre.o,l- elan%er than b..:fore ; and 11. n.• long it may
remain lath its owners, it is intpoffible to fay. ja-
enbinifin has been eel, ri:med beyond the terrors of
the molt a pprelictiliv,,, it it i.; it lie that Bonaparte
is it; child ..nd its champion. If cur d...ty4er mole
from French aggrantli!emeot, how dt.:.1.11O1 mutt
it be now! Has alas ( onftitution been preterved ?
• The power of the ('rosen Las been inci.:ateti, but
the britiflt Contlitution has fillered in proportion.
This mull have been the can: met Iran the itn-
!, menfe increal- 01. our debt and taxes ; :o:d it was
well laid by a Noble Friend of mine, that in a
country where filch a revenue is cone:led by the
Crown, the people cannot enjoy political freedom.
That. the influence of the Clown is great and
alarming, you may find proris xvitholit going to
any very great dill:ince. The dire'} inci cute has
likessik been inimente. The addition to offices
has been far beyond the reduCiion Arca,..l by Mr.
Burke-. Laws have been palled, which have made
MiMtters Completely abfolute, and they have an-
-1 nihilated the freedom of the profs, that laft and
only guardian of the Contlitution. They pre-
tend an aversion to innovation, but have them-
klycs been the greatell innovators. The cifefts
which the Union will produce, it is at prefent
impoffible to calculate ; but that they will be im-
portant there cannot be a doubt entertained. A
change not left confiderable has taken place in the
other Houfe of Parliament. During the Adntini-
firation of the late Miniller, eighty new Peers have
been added to it, and I am ashamed to fay that, of
the hereditary Peers, thofe who do not hold offices
are a minority in the Houfe The Right Hon.
Gentleman, I will affirm, has afted en Jacobin
principles. He has deftroyed our privileges, he
puts our property in requifition, imprifims our per-
fons, and tries our fellow fubjefts by a military tri-
bunal. The fituation of the Sitter Kingdom is
alarming in the extreme, and more than any thing
elfe calls aloud for inquiry ; for thefe four years
pall, ever fince the recal of Earl Fitmilliam, Ire-
land has been the fcene of tranfaftions the must
flocking to humanity. Is it now in a Rate of tran-
quillity-? A few days ago a Bill palled this Houle,
which we were told was abfolutely nccelary for its
Way. Though rebellion had been put down in
the field, it was !hid, like the atihirm, it Hal lurked
in fccret. The mafs of the population was difal.
fefted, and nothing prevented the feparation of Ire-
land from this country, but the inability of France
to fend a force to the help of the rebels. Prima
fade, wherever a Government complains of con-
Rant plots and cent-piracies, that Government is
bad.—Whatever any libeller may affert, I cannot
perfuade myfelf that there is anyinnate depravity in
the frith nation. I mull believe that, if they were
well governed, they would be (ober, indullrious
and orderly. I appeal to thole Gentlemen who
fupported this oppreffive fyflem on onikkoce, whe-
ther, after a four years experience of its effefts,
they will continue to fupport it Rill ? Will they
not infia upon inquiry, when that meafure is re-
jeCted which was declared by Marquis Cornwallis
to be the only thing which can lave Ireland from
being deluged with blood—when an Adminittra-
tion go out becaufe they cannot carry this meafure,
and another comes in rootedly hoftile to it? This
change is of ktfelf a titfficient ground of inquiry.
The deepett myttery hangs over at.
If the Minifters who have now retired from his
blajelly's Councils had it in contemplation at that
time to retire on the grounds which they now hold
forth, I thould like to know, Sir, why they were
never difclofed in the flightea degree when the
Seffion of Parliament commenced ? Theft things,
I contend, they are hound to explain to the Houk.
I am fir, indeed, from laying, that inability to
bring forward a meafure fuppoted to be conflated
with the bell interelts of the empire would not be
a justifiable caufe of retiring from the direition of
public affairs. On the contrary, I allow that this
would he a fair and juftifiable ground of refigning
any office which involved a degree of refpoalibilt
ty particularly connefted with Inch a 'mature.—
But, Sir, I read with aßonithment in a moll extra-
ordinary publication, that theft very men, who
from their inability to bring forward the meafure
have chofen to retire from refponfible fituations,
should at the fame time give allurances of their
with to bring forward this meafure, while they laid
that at prefent they find innumerable obflacles to
its fuccefs. If the Honourable Gentleman (Mr.
Pitt) whole name is attached to this publication,
chutes to deny its authenticity, then indeed my
conclufion may be affe&ed • but unlefs he does
this, I have a sight to hold asat it is the real pro-
dation of thole whole name it bears. On the Ilip-
polition then that it is authentic, I Mould with to
know what the obaacles ace which now exill to
the bringing !inward of this meafure ? They mutt
either, sir, have originated from the decifion of
! a majority of the Cabinet, or from the immediate
influence of the Crown. That they were not found-
ed in the oppolition of a majority of the Cabinet,
i. fufficiently apparent from the flightea attention
to the number of whom that Cabinet was cons-
poled. The point then refolves itfelf into this, that
the meafure to be propofed was perfonally objec-
tionable to the tiovereign. This, Sir, is a delicate
(Utica, on which.l am extremely unwilling to en-
large on the prefent occafion. I can Jure the Houk
that I an; at all times unwilling to introduce the
name of the Sovereign into a debate, and that
it is not now introduced for any unparliamcn-
tary reafon. If asty bad &efts should now rcfult
from it, to his %jetty's late hlinitlers and not to
nit is it now to be imputed. I do not deny, Sir,
dint on finis a fuppnfition as this, which I have
none Itated, it was pertiftly juttiffable for Miniftets
to retire horn their fititations ; but this I will fay,
that their minds tos:;lit to have been impreffed with
the ftrougell convi‘tion of the neceffity of :lc zn:a,-

fure, before they endeavoured to force it on the
aecept.tnee of a Sovereign v..1:61e pure mind
have been influenced by let urtles concernia:..
propriety. If this was the duty of ally Minitters,
much more was it the duty of t fit& who, durita,
long Adminillration, ox rd every thing to a SoYe-
reign% ..lenerofity, and k•Ito ot:;:tt to haveli
attached to him by every tic of obligation, lay
every feeling of gratitude. What then were tic
reafons which now convinced them of the neceff.re
and propriety of bringing forward the meafure
It has been laid, Sir, that Minifters were ent,a.c
to the Catholic.; to bring forward the meaft,rc.
and that their fupport to the linitts was let:tired b-
the prof ?e& of emancipation. T. this enlogenterr.
really founded in Ina? If lit, it is t of the
crimes of which any Miniller. :yet f ood tr,nsiC.eti
But, Sir, I will aik, if they ever entered into alt
filch engagements, had they authority from th
Crown that they would be :Crdly ratified? 1 di
not believe they ever had any ft:eh anthority tc
cotara& tlefe engagements. I cannot for a mo-
ta.rnt feppote that, if any ft:::11 authority had been
given. :he benevolent nature of his Majelly
%raids have raftrfed it ratification. Mneit
Sir, can I flippole this to be the eak, v.lien it ten
a ineafttre of beneficence, 1 ineafttre calcultated
the comfort :Led harpinefi or a great proc7,-rtit a
of his people. I cannot help confider ing it, there-
fore, as an a& of the greaten ci iminality, to pluee
the opinion of his Malay thus .is it wc:a: dirat
oppolition to the wither of his Min:Thers, or the
welfare of his robjeas. I with fardier to afit the
Noble Lord who had fe principal a fharc in the
manoeuvres by which the Unit :n accompliihtd,
if this engagement was made widi the Catholics,
whether Lord Clare was acquainted with the
agreement ? No man dilfents more than I do from
the principles of Lord Clare, and what is called
the High Proteflant party in Ireland ; but Ilia,
Sir, I will maintain that in a meafure of a general
nature like this, in which all parties were ro
materially concerned, they were entitled at lean
to the obfervance of good faith. If filch an en-
gagement as this was entered into without their
knowledge and concurrence, this was an act of
criminality not much inferior to that by which they
agreed to it without the conc.:tit of 'the Crown.
—Having thus conlidcred the conduft of the War
—the manner in which the feveral pall Negncia-
tions have been concluded—our relation with Fo-
reign Powers—the internal lunation of the Country
-the Rate of the Sifter Kingdom, the fituation of
which may, from ciretimllances to which I have
adverted, become loon a more fcrious fubjea of
confederation, and pointed them out feverally as
fubjeas of inquiry, I have now little further to
urge to the Houfe before I tit down. However,
1 think it neeeffary to make a few obfervations on
the fubjea of the new Adminißration :—We have
been called upon, Sir, not to prejudge their me-
rits, and, before we pretend to form a decifive
opinion, wait for the exhibition till their aaions
!hall difclofe their principles and their conduel.—
I would Mk, however, what would he the eon-
dal of an individual if he were looking out for a
pet/on to take on him the direaion of his private
affairs ? Would he take for this purpofe a patois
of whom he had no knowledge ? or, waddle not,
rather raY, you may be a perton fully qualified for
the fituation which you offer purred to fill, but
at prefent my eftate is embarratred, and it is ne-
ceffary that I fhould be ferved by a fiction of tried
abilities and unquetlionable knowledge, the refult
of experience. On this principle, the new Mini-
tiers are hitherto entitled to no port from their
talents, to no confidence from their knowledge,
to no attachment from their erperience. But, ST,
is there no experience which we have already had,
by which we may be enabled to judße of the cha-
raaers of chore Minifters now entering on the Ad-
miniftration of public affairs? The part they have
previoutly taken in public life I thould conceive to
be a pretty fair means of jadging of their abilities
and charaaer. Molt of them, Sir, have bees
known in this way to the Home. Many of them
have been in fubordinate lituations under aide
Minifters who have retired from official
and the reR hare been kaown for the rapport of
heir rneafurcs. Allowing all that la fairly
due to want of praaice in the particular lamp-
tions which they are now to fill, I do not think
they are fuch Minifters as the country requires,
under its prefent perilous circtimitances. We
are told, Sir, not to prejudge their principles
but has it not been already declared that their
principles and fyßem are fienilar to thole of their
predeceffors ? Is it conceived then that thefe prin-
ciples and this fyftem will be carried on Viith Ilia
fuller effeet than under the former Adminiltras-
tion ? If I were to alk any of thofe who lupported
the old Minifters, whether they fuppoled that this:
would be the cafe, I do not believe that a tingle
Member in the Houle would be boid enough to
make fuch an affertion. What then is it that we
arc to look for under their meafures ? Is it the
profecution of the war with the fame maliguant
4)44, or the rejection of all ofters of negociatiae
with the fame infolence, as dithinguilbed thofe
whom they have rucceedeat ? We have already
leen that they fully approved of the condua of
the war, fo pregnant with dila-tiers ; that the re-
jeaion of the tevernl negotiations entered into
met with their warm concurrence ; that they ap-
plauded the f.ntimcnts of joy whi. h the late
Minitlers exprelfed at the failure of loch uegoeia-
tions. We cannot, then, feel much confi-dence
from the principles of their Adrrinittration.
there is, indeed, any difference in their princi-
' pies—if there is any improvement in their vii.ws,
this night will give them the meanrof difrovering
them to the liunfe. They hnow that the former
Miniticts were accufed of alnifing their influence
in the Houk Int- the molt dangerous purpofe—fiv
avoiding =oration and Rifting inquiry. It they
then are to aft on other ptinciples, let them come
forward to give their fupport to the prefent MOD
,tion, whole objeft is to alcertain the real State of
the Nation. Here, sir, I than leave the fubjeti in
the hands of the Houle, conjuring them to give it
all that confederation which its extreme importasix
demands. If they are perfnaded, by tire reprecte-
cations of Gentlemen on the other fide, that the
Country is in a gate of prufperity ; 'tither are fa-

i::

I

he
;1,•

I

fsred that the War has been Iliad:Sul if they,
:ire convinced that the fyftem pnrfucd by the old
aiinifters has been beneficial, and that the new ones
vrofeffing to at on the fame principles are entitled
o confidence, they will of confequence feel it their
duty to accede to the prefent Motion: But if,
on the contrary, they think that the War ha: been
impolitic in its ccmditel and difaftrous in its con•
aqucnces—that the Country, inftead of being in a
hate of profpci ity, is now labouring tinder the
extremity of dill:els—that the fyftem purfued by
the n!d knitters, :Ltd to he adopted by the new,
naiverfire of all that i s venerable in the Britilh
c,•:::tittitiun, they v ill this night rennunce a f)1
ten; of blind confidence, and accede to a Motion,
v.! arc ()Neat is Conftitutional Inquiry.
;'he Right lion. Hs Nita Dv an tr —a Sir, the
I.!anourable Gentleman, who jute fat down, Las
!istted a variety of ciretunftances upon which he'
thinks this Houfc ought to enter into an enquiry.
'-ii s, he conceives, that the conduel oldie war
Irani its commencement—the meafures purfued by
!•'s Majeftv's government in Ireland—the late
,l; ;age of 'Adminiftration, together with various
a:lier topics, are all of them fuffiCient grounds for I
,:aaniry. My motive for riling at this early part
the debate is to anfwer the call he has made
aaon me, when alluding to the conduft of the late
Adminiftration, with regard to the war. lam
obliged to him for that call : I Rated 011 former
occafions that Iliad no °Nation to have the whole
.+f this war conlidered in a detailed point of view,
in order that it might be feen what our real Ate-
adfes were, and how great they were when com-
pared to the fuccelfes of other wars. I feel no de-1
gree of anxiety with regard to the number of to-
s introduced by the Honourable Gentleman : the
greater part of them will be difeuffed by others
before the conclution of this debate, and therefore
I !ball confine myli:lf to the fpecific charge that has
been made againft myfelf, fo far as I have been
concerned in conducing this war. I will Ihewl
what was the invariable principle which this coon-
try always acted upon in every war in which the has
happened to be engaged. Whether that principle
has been oblerved in the prefent war, and whether
the Hon. Gentleman ought to apply to it the epi-
thets difgraceful and difaftrous? In the firft place,
Sir, I thalllay this down as agcneral principle—that
thiscounrry will always err in every war the may be
engaged i ii, if fhe doe snot c teat her earlieft attention
in deftroying the colonial and commercial fyftem of
the enemy ; I mean the maritime ftrength of the
enemy. This country can never carry on a war
with efficacy againft an enemy if our firft attack is
notdired:d agamfttheir commerce and navigation,
which coaftitutt the ftrength and refources of that
enemy. if we deprive the enemy of thefe refources,
we difyalify them from pui ruing the means of
carryins on an offenfive war aga Mil us. No man can
entertain any doubt as to the truth of this princi-
ple. No man will doubt but that it is as efficaci•
mil to deltroy twit refources, as it would be for
one of our Generals to deftroy the enemy's maga.
nines of floret and ammunition. No war can be
concluded with propriety, or fuecefs, milers the
diftant colonial poifellions of the enemy are not firft
feiaed upon. Now laying dawn there principles as
a balls, I Shall Rate how fat they apply to the con-
duet of the prefent war; and biiefly run over its
progrefs in each facceftive year. The war began
in the month of February, 1793. In the courfe
of that year we took Tobago, and other poliet
lions belonging to the French in the Weft Indies,
together with the fleet at Toalon in the year 1794,1
the Minds of Martinique and Cornea' eec. were
taken ; in 1795, we got poffeffion of Malacca,
Trin-
comale, together with a confiderable part of Cey-
lon, and the Cape of Good Hope; in 1796 the
French lettlements in the island of Madagalear were
dAroyed, we alto have got peffeffion of Trinidad,
Minorca, Pondicherry, Curacoa, Surinam, and
fcveral other colonial poffellions belonging to the
enemy. There has not been any one ad of this War,
to which the principles I have Already laid down
do not apply. As I hare mentioned cam fucceffes
in this war, it is tight that I Should Slate our fai-
lures: and I am ready to admit, that we have
made unfuecefaful attempts on Ferrol, and on
Cadiz. Our attempt on Holland was not indeed
attended with as Much fuccefs as had been expeet-
ad ; but we gained confiderable fuccefs in that ex-
pedition (a cry of bear ! bear!) The Gentlemen of
the Opportoon Bench may cry out bear! if they
pleafe, but they ought to recoiled, that what I
fay now I alerted before in this Houle, when the
fubjet of the Dutch Expedition was difeuffed ;
when complete fatisfaltion was given to the Houfe
with regard to its fuecefs. 1 Slated that it had
three objelts in view, and two of thefeobjeds were
fucceAful. The first °bled in undertaking that
Expedition was, to caufe :t di verfion of the enemy's
force, which was then either collated upon the
Rhine or about to be fent thither; the next was, to
afford affiftance and fupport to our ancient Allies
the Dutch. fo as to enable them to (hake off the
yoke of France k and the third object was, to take
away the Dutch fleet, and thus prevent it from
being the means of our dettatth!on in the hands of
an hoftile and inveterate enemy. • In the first
and laft of there objects I maintain we have been
campletely fuccefsful. With milled to the failure
of the Second, I believe this Houte has already
t,iven it as their opinion, that it could not be int-
al:table to Miaillets. If Sir Ralph Aberctemby
td mado good his landing in Holland at the time
was intended he Should, he would have reached
:.rniterdam before any effedive force could have
ken brought againft him by the French; but it
%...s not owing to Minifters that that had not hap.
lancd. The armament under his command had
in proper time to accamplith every rairpofc,
hnt it is well known that as Coon as it got out to fea.
it wasatailed by a violent liorm. which caufed it to
be beaten about the comas of Holland. fo as to give
til:;tehaeatinmyenaontc
site where
hev he i
had wl.i.noniengile toad and
toed
cnnelanl;
eon
fiderable force near that part of the emill• Yet
*flee all this. the armament effeeted its landing,
and we were able to take ten ails, of the line and
tlaiteen frigates; which, if they were not then
• taken, would now folio a part of that armed Con-
- taleracy that is firmed agouti ns in the North of
ietelae• It Inelb appear. therefore. as I bar"

(hewn on a former ace:a-ion, that iri two off' its
Objeets, namely, in the diversion of the enemy's
force, and the capture of the fltips, the expedition
:o Holland was fuccefsful ; and that nu WilaoM
could have prevented the ill fticcefs of the other
()Neff. With regard to the unlitccef.ful attack
againft Ferrol, when thatiubje& was lately dM:tiff):d
in this Houk, it clearly appeared that no blame
could attach upon his Majefty's Minißers ;
therefore, I will not enter upon a ful).lca on which
:he Houle, after a full hearing, has fi) recently
given its opinion. But the great charge of mil-
condua which the Honourable Gentleman brings
forward against Adminiflratian, is that of the
manner in which the force which returned (tom
Holland was afterwards difpofed of. I think this
charge is perfealy capable of being anfwered
and when I Rate the &els as they happened, I
trait it will appear, that Mininers will, in this
inn:ince, be wholly free from blame. Gen:!:inen
will month that the Army returned from liol-
land in the month of Novtmher 1799, before that
armament failed to Holland, the nature of the ex- I
pedition left no room for delay : it was abUtuely
neceffary that aid Ihould be given to the po.a
ple of Holland is fpeedily as poilible ; and there-,
fore the troops were fent off in a hurry without '
the neceffary requitites or preparation ; the men
and the officers hardly knew each er ; there
was neither that experience or &kit:line Qmang !
them which an army going on a foreign expedt-1
Lion ought to polfeA ; lo that when they came back !
from Holland, they wanted every thing that was!
neceffary to render them fit fin. adive fervice. It
is well known that from the time of the arrival of I
the troops Lima the middle of March the weather
continued to be remarkably fevere. Every officer
of experience laid it down that it would be highly
improper to fend thefe troops on any further fer-
vice until they were properly and regularly train-
ed under their new Officers : end during a cold
and fevere winter it was imputlible for them to
carry on their exercife with any regularity as a
body of men in the field. In the month of Fe-
bruary his M..jefiy was advifed by his Cabinet Mi.
nifters to fend a body of zo,ooo troops to the Me-
diterranean, to co-operate with our Allies in that
quarter. After his Majeßy had been pleafed to
Wien to this advice, and to
.give his approbation
to the plan, a communication upon the fubjefl
was made to the Commander in Chief, who was
pleafed to give his opinion in a letter to me on
the fohjeft ; his words were thefe—" It mutt
be evident that, although the number of men
required may be contributed, yet they are not
at this time in fuch a Rate as to he fit for afloat
fervice ; no lets than two months will be necefd
fary for their inftruftion and equipment. There
fare I hope it will fuit your arrangements nut
to call on thole troops till the expiration of
that period ; at which time they will be in
a Rate to aft in whatever manner his Majefl)
may direft." Now the Houle will judge how
far the charges made by Gentlemen on the other
fide are well founded. I Rated at that time to the
Contmander in Chief the great anxiety I felt that
the troops lhould be fent off as fpeedily as poffible.
Hi; Royal Highnefs made objections that could not
be got over. What impropriety was there in all
this? It was found impoffible to fend the troops
away fooner than the afith of April to the Medi.
terranean. A fecond reprefeittation was made to
the Commander in Chief, Rating that if soon of
thofe troops were fent out they might be improved
and difciplined in the Maud of Minorca • and that
fending filch a number at that time would prevent
the whole of the armament from being too un-
wieldy. Six thoufand men were accordingly fent
out; and thole, with the addition of more troops
from Gibraltar and other places, made up a force
of about goon men in the Mediterranean. I think
it neceffary here to Rate fome fags relative to the
refignation of a gallant officer ( Sir Charles Stuart)
who commanded in the Mediterranean, becaufc
rumours have gone abroad that borne difagreement
in opinion had taken place between the Comman-
der in Chief and this Officer, which made it need:
fary that another fhotild be appointed in his Read.
On what authority thefe rumours have originated,
I know not; but! with to Goo I could now have the
only authority that could fatisfy Gentlemen's
minds on this fubjeft, but that brave and merito-
rious officer is now unfbrtunately languifhing on the
bed of ficknefs, perhaps indeed he is now no more; '
and from that melancholy circumflance, L am de-
prived of the benefit of his teßimony. But he has
hint elf thited in a letter, that his rcafon for declin-
' ing the command in the Mediterranean was, that
he was unable to comply with the inftruftions that
were given, regarding the adtnillion of a Ruffian
force into the 'Rand of Malta. Thus at the very
time when Minifters were arraigned for a breach
of faith towards Raffia, tHey manifefted the molt
anxious de ire to co-operate with that country:
and that anxiety was the saute of lofing.the cervices
of a molt able and gallant General. The troops
' fent to Minorca failed from this country as loon as
it was poffible to prepare them, but they did not
arrive there till the month of June. The Honour.. '
able Gentleman has charged 114 Majefly's Mini-
tiers with being ateeffary to the loft of Genoa, by
11,,L fending fuccuins to the Aultrians in time. I
n.ide inform the Hon. Gentleman that Genoa was
no part of our ohjeft. Thofe who knew the jea-
loitfy that has ale.ays prevailed among the Conti-
nental Powers will not be furprized when I tell
them, it was not confidered wife or prudent to
fend Britiffi troops to aft in concert with foreign
trnopi. A requitition was emend e made forlome
tours which might atlill the Anftriaits in Italy, but
the force did not arrive until after the battle of
Marengo. It i. impotlible to blame Minifters for
no: co-operating with Auntie, when it. i. known
tli it the troops were not ready to be fent ; and that
at terward% ahnolt all communication WA , fhut up
between as and Austria. In fhort all co-operation,
after the hank of Marengo, was untiecelfary ;
and as the eoortili of Anita.; weft: then changed,
it might Jena been improper. After this !Lae-
mem of facts, I still lease it to the candour of the
Houle tuff far there are grounds to charge us'
with mircondna ch‘tihg the early part of the lalt
.-ampaiga. It will be oliferired, that in giving
a dCiall of the rihcipal of etations of the war,

}lave omitted taking notice of our naval fnceeffes.
—There is no riccanon to, trouble the Honk with a
repetition of thole great and briiliant :achieve-
ments that have added new hillre to the Britifii
name. They nand unrivalled in the annals of lie
world ; and it would be impaftihle for any th:ng
that I ihuaid now fay in their pi ai!e. to faille that
admiration in which they ate already
therefore, content my Celt with a thort it:cement of
faAas. The number of (hips of the tin: v.ilich
have taken from the enemy the courfe of the
prefent war, amour: s to no lets than eighty ;
we have taken 18, f: igates, 224 finaller Ships of
war, betides 743 vela. of different kind, all of
II v. Inch were in a Rate of preparation to attack 'is.
Let Gentlemen compare thefc numbers v: i:'.l whit
the enemy took fi orn us. In the fir( place they
smok three line of battle Ships, two of which were
afterwards retaken; they took a Sc gun Ship, which
was afterwards retaken ; the fr; ,tat es they took
,?
were very few, and moll of theft were retaken
alk . I am fully warranted in Itating, that at no
period in the annals of our Lillory were our naval I
fuccelfes In g-eat ot fo brilliant as elnrintt the pre-
fent war. But an attempt has been made by Gcn-
denten on the other fideot tint-lode tnfeparatc our
nasal from our military fuccelfes : on what ground I
know not. I will a& whether they were not the fame
men who planned both naval and military opera-
tions. Every pi idle was lavithed on the navy by thofe
Gentlemeu,and all manner of blame thrown on the
army. Whatever has been direded by his Majefty's
fervants, on one element, is all wifdom. What-
ever they have done on land is all folly. Yet the
fame wifilom and the fame councils that direacd '
the one, has guided the other. Far be it from me
to attempt to depreciate the merits of that Noble
Lord, who with Inch diftinguitheil and unrivalled
abilities has for lome years prcfided at the head of
the Naval Department of the country. I (hall not
attempt to deprive him of a particle of that well
merited fame and glory vida:::h he has acq!tired.
But I believe that Noble Lord would not like to
be told that in his mana,,, eine. t „(.the naval de-
partment, lie had not Are in unif m wall the
other fervants of the Crown—that his ads were
not theirs—that tleeir councils hal no fn ire in di.
reeling them. What h :longs to that Lord
belongs to the relit of his Majetly's Mibifters ; what-
ever has been dote in ih: military department be-
longs to me ; and I take the relponfibility of it
upon myieil. A great part of our fucceffes is ow-
ing to the means that have been ufcd to cripple
the operations of the enemy by land and tea.
The army has had its (hare in accomplithing this
ohjed ; and it is impoflible to leparate the merits
of the one from the other. Betides the deftrue-
tian of the navy of our enemies, the belt policy we
could have adopted was that of feizing upon their
colonial poffeilions, in older to prevent their hav-
ing any markets for felling the produce of them en
the Continent of Europe. I cannot flare this bet•
ter than by (hewing what an eired the increafe of
colonial polfefEons has had on our manufietures ;
before the war began the value of our manufac-
tures exported to the Weft Indies did not amount
to one million; laSt year it amounte,l • - t dico,oool.
The exports from this country to
to all parts of the country of Europe tltrougla
Hamburgh, were much greater (Ince the war than
during the time of peace, notwithftanding all the
endeavours of our enemies to prohibit the impor-
tation of Britifh goods into the countries fuhjeel to
them. I Rate there fads in anfwer to the alfcr-
dons of thole who fay, that under the late Ail-
miniftration the manufadures of this country were
'ding
.ground. Some partLular kinds of ma-
nufaaytres may have failed : but upon the whole
our manufadures have been in a mrd Rourifhing
Slate (ince the war began ; and let who will carry
on the war, they will continue to be fought af-
ter on the Continent. I will fly it again as
broadly as poffible, that his Majelty's Miniffers
never let any bounds to the exertions they made in
hiring the Colonies of our enemies : in this we
have been eminently fuccefsful ; and this has been
one great caufe of the prefent profperity of the coun-
try. With refped to the Rats of defence which
this country is in at prefent, I !hall juft compare
the military force by which it is now defended with
that of the year 1796, which will prove that Mi-
nifters had paid a particular attention to this fubjed.
In 1796, the number of Cavalry in Great Britain
amounted to 14,333 ; that or Infantry to 53,701.
In Ireland, the Cavalry amounted to 4000, the In-
fantry to 31,639. Gentlemen will fee how much
the Slate of the country has improved (ince
that time, when I inform them that there are at
this time 20,500 Cavalry in this country, together
with 84,000 Infantry, lodides what have been
fent on foreign finance. In Ireland there are
now 43,000 Infantry, with a proportionable
number of Cavalry. Thefe troops confift only
of the Army and Militia, for I do not include
among the numbers I have Rated the different
corps of Marines, nor the Volunteers of the king-
dom, who amount to one hundred and thirty thou-
land. am now ready upon this Statement of
If.a, to be judged, whether I have not paid every
Ipollible and neceffary attention to the defence of
the country ? I (hall put it to the Honourable
!Gentlemen on the Oppofition Bench, that with a
body of one hundred and thirty thoufand men,
with Britifh hearts, panting with loyalty towards
the King, and lice for the ConStitution of this
country, if we (hall not be in a (late of prepara-
tion to meet an invading enemy ? 1 know it has
been laid, that forne.of the Volunteer Corps flew-
ed lonic reludanee in obeying the orders they had
received for the fupprellion of riats. Some of
' them certainly Jid Io ; bra they were very few ;
' and I hope his Majcfly's fen:tilts m ill take care
chat arms (hall not he Coffered to remain in the
hands of thole jx•rfons who on occalions of inlet
tumult, refuli:d to employ them in the man-
ner they were directed. The great body, how-
ever, of the Voltintiers arc ready to ad in a dif
ferent manner; and, whenever they are called
upon, to 'land form: mil to prefi.rve the internal
peace of the (-norm y. With a force of between
three and fonr hundred thoufand men, Inch as this
Empire now pore des, I (ball not feel much inclina-
tion to give way to the panics of thole who may
think that the country is nut in a Rate of fccurity

• .
a:;ainft foreign inviron. I think We may relt
quiet, with n conaticlicia that we (hail be fectire
tgainft the attempts of :la itivadTtig enemy. This
:s my 0p:M.,1 ; hut if there are th-fi: who enta-
ta:n .t di-Teri:tit o2ininn, I :aim it help it ; it is not
in niv power to a .:::liiii:ter comfort to minds al-
ready difeaf,:d. I have .11:•catiy tic.;:•.: :h.: priaci-
pl:s On whi.:l this war La, been- cm: bi ' . I; ani
'hewn the manner in whi.::. thol:.: pr::.ei;:lea !rave
been ailp:icsi ansi .....t.•.: tii.ci..--I Call :-..w itate„
I and prove what I Slate, that the peeler:: war, s.o
' far from behig filch as 1:,.. Tiono:trable Gemlena in
defcribed, has on the NV:...ie been attella.: with
more fueccf: than ever vat e4.trienccd ill any of
the molt brilliant periods ;hat eve:. .i10:e.1 thc an-
nals °lna:- country ; and I am toad, to conipare its
fnc:effes with thrfe of any war I.h:et may he a...ii-
cd; but as Gentlemen on t:::: other tide nave been
io the habit of applauding tire crndat of the
fzven ycar:, war, conduCted as it was by the great
Earl of Chatham, I will ta'ke that war, rti,d
compare it with dr': one we: are row engag-
ed in ; and the ilt,:taft: wail draw their own con-
ch:Con t:om the cutup: In the year 1755,
ho;tilizies began 111 A:TIC. iCa : VIC refuit was,
the furrender of a fort in New Mt:l:Aland. In the
year 1756, Surir.un w.o. taken ; iti 1737, Cal-
cutta was rC-taken; in 173 E, Senegal and *jure:
were taken ; in ,-,y, Gtiadalempe was taken. the
battle of Mind= s.-ac won ;in t Vic:, the liava.-
nah was taken; in .7Ot, Pondicherry furrender=.
During that sv.tr, thirty-two line-of-battle flaps
were taken, with fl:1)-tire frigates. Tilde were
all the luccefres of die fey= years' scar. Cut se:tat
is the fits:eels of the prefent ? We are at this mo-
ment in poll'effion of every conquelt we made elnr-
ing that war, except Gt::::lalotipe, and the Ha-
vannall. Betides this we have taken alrnoft- the
whole of the Dutch potreilions: we have dellriraaid
a great Empire in the Eaft-Indies, which had AI-
WA) • been hoftile to our intereits, and ready to
disturb the peace of the Englith in the =ant: y.
Here then is a comparifort depending merely
on a tiatittent of fans. C0...50 Irmen fhould not
target, that in the feven yeas . war there wine three
Expeditions which fa:I:.: ; xad t:Mfe failure,
brought no (lain on the charaCter of this connt.-,
nor of hcr Allies. 'rhey flie.:ll.l :tiro recollen, that
cur naval operation:, were r.c:t free from circaiti-
aances, of Jicgr..ce : a:. that ;iini:',we Ica Mian:•:.i.
and although I du not will, to di:lull) the ache, in
the dead, 1 mutt fay that there were circurnflax-
ces attending that lois which brought fome dif-
grace on the naval fervice of thi, country. Yet
this is the war which has been held up to fo much
admiration. liiitavotiral,le circuniftances at that
• time were not imputed to ntifmanagement ; but
a tingle difatter is now fliflicient to blaft the cha-
rac'ter of this wit% I will not drop my eomparifon
here. We have in the cuticle of this war laboured
under many diladvantages which did not belong
to the turn years war. We have been the &it
Nliiiiilers v: nn v,•ere ever recitte.d I', the necelTity of
combating with a Itevolutionary Government:—
In this country, where WAr has becn carried on,
even at this time, in that regular and Contii:u-
tional mode in which it was always carried on,
we have not had recoutfe to levies in mafs or re-

• -.- to fill up our troops. Such pra:Ftices,
however, .s thefe were powerful engines in the
hands of our enemies, and in that refire& they had
a great advantage over us : they had all the be.
nest which they could de: ive from violence and
terror, from contifcation and plunder. But we
lhould hay; had le;'s reafon to complain of this un-
equal contea, if the revolutionary principles had
Lcen confined to Prance ale..ne: but they found their
way into Great Britain and Treland. I do not
now mean to enter into a hillery cry feafon and feeli•
fon ; I allude to them no farther than they ()roved
difi,elvanta7,cous to us in a military point of view,
by rearaining the exertions we fhould otherwile
have madeAgaina the foreign enemy. We have had
to contend with large bodies of men who had con-
federated and alfoch,tcd to,getlici for the purpr)fe of
overturning the govcromeut, in concert wah cur
foreign enemic7. V:ealSo found in our own coun-
try large bodies of eenfpicators lcd ru by pc:121);
wino rinrie a prat'aice of Ilan:- y)::)-• them • telling
them :I) it they mita:: epea too',:iontroni the e:..eray
alone that freedom which the C naitotion
land cculd never give. None there great
colt ies occur red dating the reven year War. Nor
were the ..t• that el.r; to the diffi-
culties arilng from breach..., of faith, and of
as we were at the time of the invaron ui
Egypt, by the French. Sach aas cfperf.cle were
riner ved for the times in w hich we now live. Nor
was this all, there &Red at that time left party-
fpirit than during the prefent scar; the country
was then fuppofed to be is danger, all parties bu-
ried their animofities in oblivion, and united for
the defence of their common country. Does fuch
a fpirit of concord exilt among us now ? Have
we this advantage here ? (A loud cry of bear!
bear! from the Opporition Bench;. I do not
thank thofe Gentlemen who eLclined
.giving us
their oppofition, by retiring front their duty in
this Houri; particularly in, ,rehen I recolleet
the opportunities they took of diffusing their
principles out of the HOLIfe: I have much more
reafon to thank thofe Gentlemen of Opporition who
haye attended their duty, and continued
pole my coodua. The Gentlemen of Oppon-
non might, however, by a different line .f eon-
dua, have animated the fpirit, and united the ex-
ertions of the country : inlicad to the
pangs and I)l:i:ries of the peafan:s, the manufac-
turers, and almoil all chilies of people, they might
have co:ill:led and encouraged :horn they niipt
have aiked them xvliat !•tuatioa was ei;m•
pared to that of the People of France There
things were not done; and toniequently ear diai-
citifies were the greater: by dies p.limin4 o-:: the
evils of a Revolutionary Uovernmeut wit,.h I ;lad
to contend with, I concelve 1 (hall have •aitlifully
di;Charged the dole of my politic il lif.. With
refieca to the charge of my having broke the Mi-
litia, I (hall never ditelaina the than I had in con-
verting a great part of that body into an oQolive
force; I had an army of 30,0c50 men formed out
of it. Fifteen thJefand of thole ate now in tag.
land and Ireland. and t!lic fcFc: is as for
the fecurity of both cost:tale: as if it u•ab