Star.
London, England, 1801-02-05 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.

The following is a correct account of Earl Fires
Speech in the Houle of Lords on Monday, and.
uhich was mif-Hated in tome of the papers
My Lords, I do very feldom.trouble your Lord-
fhips, and certainly mall nottake up much of your
time at prefent. I had no intention when' I came
into the Houk of offering myfelf to your Lo.dfhips;
but I could not feel myfelf at cafe if I did not ful-
fil my duty in laying my fentiments before your
Lordflips. I fhoula rather incline, that the mo-
tion for an enquiry was not now made, but even if
it fhould at prefent be brought forward, thinking
as I ' do, I moft decidedly give my opinion for it.
I have no defirc to give offence to his Majefty's
Dfinifters, nor to pay court to thofe that oppofe
them. Nothing could be more improper at prefent
than to debate whether the war was juft or unjuft,
• neceffary or hot necefrary? but I can moll pofitively
declare that no war was ever wort.; concluded. My I
Lords, I have read all the hiftory of this country; I.
have feen and been intimate with all thi different
parties,from the death ofMr. Pelham to the prefent
' hour. In this horrid war our blood and treafure has
been (pent in the extravagant folly of fecret expedi-
•• tions ; grievous and heavy taxes have beenlaid on the
people and wafted in expenfive embaflies, and fubfi.
(fixing proud,treacherous and ufelefs foreign princes,
who would have aged much better for themfelves
bad you raved your money and taken no concern
with them. I do not condole with you on your
prefent unfortunate fituation in having no fuch
friends ; X only with you had been in that fituation
in the beginning of the war. The Noble Lord
who pre Ides at the Admiralty, in his fpeech, has,
with much ability, done juftice to the navy. I fin-
cerely with our ill-fpent money hid been laid pat
on our fleets. All thofe, my Lords, that ever heard
me (peak, or ever read a letter from me .on the
fubjea, will do me the juftice to fay, that my fenti.
malts have all along been the fame ; and that this
has hung upon my mind from the day the firft bat.
tallion of the Guards marched from the Parade for
Holland. "I lament the relent fcarcity. But
great as our demerits are, it comes not from the
ALMIGHTY, but from the effects of this ill-con.
dated war ; which I am. ready to prove when-
ever this queftion is brought forward. What
hive we gained by our boafted em:lncas If
a proper regulation for commerce was made, I
with they were all fold, and the money arifing
laid. out to pay the National Debt, and to relieve
the nation of thofe oppreffive taxes which bear
hard on rich and poor, on their income,. their in-
du/try, and, what' is worfe, their fibesty; and till
tome of thofe are repealed, this nation cannot be
called free."

11/EDNEEDAT, FIE. 4.
A meeting at an early hour took place this day,
and a number of Peers attended.
It was ordered, on the Motion of the ARCHES.
SHOP of CANTERZURY, that the LORD BISHOP of
WINCHESTER be defired to preach before their
Lordfhips, on the day appointed by his MAJESTY
for the General Fan, &c.
Several arrangements were made refpeeling the
private bufinefs, particularly Mearing of Appeals.
At two o'clock their Lordfhips proceeded to
St. James's, with their Addrefs to his MAJESTY,
haying previonfly adjourned till Monday next.