Star.
London, England, 1804-03-16 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The intendment' made by the Lords, in the Bill for improving
therms of London, west greed to, and Sir j. W. Annaason
was ordered to carry it, thee amended to the Houk of Lords,
When the order of the day was rewl, foe the fassed roam of
the Croydon Canal Bill,
Mr. HOWARD moved, " That the Bill be read a fecond time
on the I xth of April wit "
lOLLIFFF. moved, That it be read a

Mr.]( mt as an amendmcnt,
&Tend time tila day th onoutba."

Mr. HOWARD exprefTed his forprize at the amendment, which
went to throw nut the Bill completely; more particularly as it at-
• tided an oiled of confiderable importance to the inland trade of
the country. The Honourable Gentleman who pofed the
anwodnicut had not thught proper to Rate a finglc reaon In fop-
port of his motion, yet called upon the Houk to arm to a vote
which would deltroy the property already embarked in the under-
taking. and fupprefs the fpirit of laudable enterprise in the internal
commeeee of the country, which had fo effentialiy contriauted to
its profpwity.
Lord W. RUSSELL Rated, that out of Sco,ccoL the eltimated
lam at w:leh the canal was to be Aoimed, the ken of 120,essol.
only had been fabferlbed. •
Mr. SOME= COCKS was decidedly-4*rd the Bill, and be
was feepported by t►e at R refpcdtabk authority in laying, that
the fubferibers were fo very confeious of theft weaknek, that thdr
real intention was not to go farther with the work than to Croy-
don. There did not appear to him any well-grounded Mama of
Its bring carried on to the fubttantial advantage of the country at
krge, Noce, out of the ellimate of Soaped. the fum of tata,aool.,
only had been fubkribed. He wa, ready to encourage every Cyr-
tan which prowled effential benefits, but he was no lets an enemy
to the wild fehemes of bold adventurer, and fantafticalfpeculatora
Mr. HURST (poke in favour of the (ecend reading of the Bill
en the a ith of April, upon the principle, that no evidence was be-
fore the Houfe t 'lnduce them to negative the motion.
Sir J. W. ANDERSON olikrved, that u Treafunir of the 4rft
charitable inilitution In the world, Cheat's lierphal, he had been
biltraded to vote againft the Bill, which, were it agreed to, would
materially injure that property.
Mr. JOLUFPE's amendmait was agreed to, and the Sill was
conkquently thrown out.
The bit Confolidation Duty Bin was read a t►ird time, pared
and ordered to the Lords.
The Exchequer Rik Bill was read a [mond time, and ordered
to be committed to-morrow.

Mr. ?ITT gave notk• of hi• Intention to move, nett Tuefday,
for leave to bring In a Bill, which bad for Its °Wed the better re-
gulation, Improvement, and tuereafe of the Array of iteferve.

NAVAL DAPENCE or THR COUNTRY.

Mr. PITT rote, and addreffed the Route to the
following effed :—" Sir, as I have reafon to believe
that a part, and I muft confefs a very important
part, of the information which it is nvy with the
Honk ()could be in poffelfinn of, with refpeill to the
Rate and means of our naval defence, is not likely to
meet with any oppetition on the part of his Majelly's
Minitiers, I (hall not detain the time of the Houle
with any details or obfervations which do not apply
as clofely as paible, to the papers that conflitute the
chjea of my enquiry. I (hall, therefore, Rate gene-
rally the ground: and ends of the different motions I
have to bring forward ; but I beg leave to add, that
if they are, as it will appear to me, unexpeazdly ob-
idled to, I (hall claim the indulgence of the Hinder
in explaining more foliy, and calling the;r attention
to ti.e importance of the information in detail, which
I conceive effentially neceffary to the falsty at the
country. The objeft of the firfl motion I (hall have
the honour of making, will be, au humble Addrefs
to his Majefly, " That he may be pleated to give di-
reftions to have laid before the Houfe, an account
of the number of (hips of the line, of (hips of fifty
guns, of frigates, Poops of war, of bombs, hired arm-
ed 'eats, &c. &c. &e. in commitrion on the 3111 of
December 1793, on the 3oth of September, 180 t,
and on the Stu of December, 1803, Specifying the
Service in which they were refpe'hvely employed."
Gentlemen will perceive that this motion calls for
the produaion of papers, dillinguithing ss hat is als-
folutely neceffary for their information, the flare of
three different periods in which the naval means of
the country's defence were called into aftion. When
she queflion is properly confideled, with reipee to the
tecttlity of making great preparations, in order to
meet with vigour and efficacy thole carrying on by
the enemy, and openly avowed to be intended againd
slitlence of this nation, I believe it will be

found, that the number of that defcriptirai of oar
naval force, fit to repel the ailoal at:e ropts of the
enemy, is at the preen! moment more immaterial,
and his :adequate to the exigency of the danger,
ilia: at any period in former times. Shall 1, Sir,
detain the Houfe with a tedious recital of the great
and extraoydioary changes whiclshave taken plamand
which call t:,,v increafed activity and exertion ? Such
in appeal is seisdered nonce:ll:try by the atqual Rate
of things, and by calls which cannot be controverted.
.11, on form;:r occali.nns, te have been called umn to
make prepanitions of. Jct.:rice in their magnitude,
inperior to preceding Cdie3; it does not require from
me any arguments to conviNe the Howie, that in
our prefent fituation our mcaN of (malty timid
be much greater in a consparatix e point of view, and
that in proportion as we ate threatened, not only
tits acknowledged determitudion of the enemy,
but with his encrealed power of cffeeting an inv.'.
Son, we fhould redouble our efforts, and be ready to
guard again& every pollible rick whieli may be ha.
,arded againa cur independence and hxispiners.—
Ile next point to wl:ich I 111411 beg leave to call the
!;e: 1 is. Owe ftiectes of ca.. force
. . _

vii:.ch is bc!t calculated t,t tnr:t and &kat that plc

by the cr.:my, to aceomplith the great Anti IA
• ,u,'At ~Neet rf ircali n. 1 believe, that a the
s::.m:n::¢sat 44. the L yc.u, it occutted to the

Lords of the Admiralty, that the kind of force bell
calculated to aft againit the attempts which might
be made to died a defcent was, that snore peculiarly
fitted to difplay itfelf in fhoal water :—and I have
good grounds to believe, that the Lords of the Ad.
mtralty, thinking fo, were of opinion, that it
to be confiderably augmented. But althooskle;'
were of that opinion, in the month of Januttry..lßos,'
yet lean fate to the Houle, without the few ofeon.
tradidtion, that only a• 3 gun veffels were provided
for, as an augmentation to this fpecies of naval
force, five of which were to be completed in three,
and the remainder in fix months. I mean, Sir, that
this provifion againft invafson was undertaken to be
carried into effea in the month of January, 184.
—Yet of all the veils likely to be' employed with
fuceefs, this craft was, of all others, the moft eligi.
We, whether its means of defence and annoyance are
to be confidereJ, or the water on which it is defined
to a& The Lords of the Admiralty, convinced,
however, of the neceffary of empinyiog it, took
femme ineaftwes for an eftablifhotent of that nature t
and I am naturally led to enquire into the Saps,
which they purfued to complete fo defirable an ob-
jea. They determined-to have five gun-boats ready
in three months, and the whole, confituting twenty.
three, finifhea for a*ual fervice in fix months. It is
undoubtedly a very material point to enquire why
this augmentation was not thought of at an earlier
period ? Am I, Sir, to recapitulate the various mo-
tives which fhould have accelerated increafed exer-
tion ? Were I to do fo, I lhould merely rellate
what has been obvious to every man of common fenfe
and common obfervation. In the month of Auguft,
when we law the neceflity of augmented efforts ;
when we raw tranfporta for the conveyance of troops
collecting daily in the port of Boulogne; when we
law them gaining new firength and new additions
during the fine weather, to the months of November
and December, and when we k-sew that they had in
created to upwards of one thoufand in the fame port,
independeat of the armaments in Helvoct, in the
Tetra, in Drell, and other points of attack : what
reafon, let me arse, can he afligned fur the grrti ne-
glee which his taken place in this repo :a ? But
above all, Sir, let me a& what defence can be let up
fee this extraordinary conduit, when we were told by
Government itfelf,That we were eireatened with inva
lion from day to day (a cry ef.6 Hear! Hear!") when
we had, if I am not very much mifinformed. reafon
to believe that one hundred strong gun-boats were
collefted at Boulogne, ready to convoy and protea
the enemy's flotilla affembled in that fame port. In
Rating all thefe circumflances, it is hardly neceffary
for me, I think, to ap: ;y them to the folsieS under
our chicufflon. Having, as I
.have oblerved, all
thefe proofs before u', I with to know, and I troll
I (hall not confidered as :dieing too mach, why
we can :save but n F.sca tr, .seer tl,c email/ in his
own way, a part at whit!. it to be ready only in three
months, art the rcm tloder, the greater part. to be
completed in not I than lit ? If we have been
preparing for a conliierable time, with all the efforts
of which the couatry is capable, an immenfe land
force; if Government be lerious in the notice which
it has given, and in the alarm which it has diffufed
of the attack that menaces our independance and
even our exißence ; if we are now ready to contend
on our native foil with an enemy waiting for a fa-
vourable moment to make a defcent in that dais of
veffels peculiarly adapted to crofs the Channel ; I
hope I thall not be thought unreafonabit in afking,
why the heft and molt effeeiral means of meeting
and triumphing over the danger, have been fo long
lufrended ; and why a part of our counterafling ex-
ertions, in the naval department of our Rrength,has
been deferred for three months, and the more confi•
derable part has been poilpc.ned tar the fpace of fix
month'? This will conflitute the objea of my fe-
cond motion, with which I (hall trouble the Houfe.
I than not, thinking, as I dr., that it would be bn
unprofitable walk of time, tincttrtake to thew, that
the means of our national defence, with refpeft to
the tile of gun boats, have been improperly ufed;
and that when it was found neceffary to refort to
them, they were only attempted too late to be effec-
itual. I have now to (late what has been done in the
i cootie of the war, when the occafion was lefs
' prefling. and the circumflances were, under every
point vitiw, of a left imperious nature; and I
have to affure the Houfe, that if the proper doers-
' meats be granted, I (hall undertake to prove the
! truth of the afferions, which 1 may feel it my duty
to bring forward. Gentlemen will, no doubt, re-
, collea. that in 5794, 5797, and 'Sot, it was found
neceffary to augment the fame fpecies of naval force
to which I h.sve this evening alluded. What was
ithe conc:4l of Government at each of thefe periods?
A couiiderable number of Icon boats was got ready
in the two fit It perimis, within ten weeks only ; and
the fame itaicity of preparation was carried on with
fuccefs in the year tfot, within the fpace of from
twelve to foutteen weeks. Inllead of any exertion
now. fimilar to thofe inflances which I have men-
timid, we are informed, that the greater part of our
means of defence is to be completed within fix months
and that a few gun boats will be ready at the end ofl
three. Thus, Sir, I am warranted in maintaining,
that here we have fufEcient grounds for a motion to
aJdrcfs isis Staidly. that he sti.iy be gracioufly
ed to life additional vigour and expeaition in prepar-
ing and maturing our naval nreansrif defence againa
the enemy's armaments; tor employing redoubled
aftivity againft the danger with which we are threat.
ened ; and for guarding the narrow real with more
frianefs and vigilance. Theft, it will not be deni-
ed, conflitute objeas of true confitutional enquiry,
and they form a moll lati4adory ground for me to
demand the information which I defire may he laid
before this Hdufe. In the t.: manner I allo pro.
'pole, au an humble rrefettcd to his ?via-
kity. for a copy of the c.u...ra..1 made, and the or•
der,. given, by the of l! AJmii ally, in s 793,
5797. and :got, will ro the niiraber of g, n-
vell.ls to be bunt, dittiniiaithirg the time at ial.i.h

each contraa was made, the period in which it was
to be brought to a cooclulion, and the amount of the '
turn to be paid fur the performance of it. Theft
accounts are the more important and materiallas they
will give to the Houfe the opportunity of net only
being the opinion of the Lords of the Admiralty on
the fubjee, but they will alfo afford the means of com-
paring our naval ftrength in this refpee't, as it actually
*sifts, with what it was in former inftances, and tend
Molt effentially to promote that end for which we
cannot be too zealous in our willies—the fecurity of
the country. It is not for me to anticipate the opinion
of Gentlemen upon there quellions, but molt cer-
tainly no man will undertake to tell me that this is
not a proper mode for fatisfying the Houle, whether
the preparations which have been made by his Ma-
Minifters, in the direCtion of naval affairs, have
been commenfurate to the magnitude of the crifis in
which we are placed? As the meafures I have thought
proper to touch upon are decifively neeeffary for the
defame of the country, I will nut fatigue the Honk
wltllddwellieg oh them at a length- thiermalt be Dui n-
Rinetive aid tedious. There is, I am confident, no
man who hears me that is not convinced of the vall
importance of theft objects, which are fuperior in
magnitude to any that can occupy our attention.—
They can receive no embellifhment or illultration
from any words which it is in my power to ufe, for
they prefs themfelves irrefiflibly on the minds of all.
Another objeft to which I (hall call the attention of
the Houfe is, however remote it may appear to fome,
not leis elTential to the permanent lecurity and hap-
pinefs of the country. I mean, Sir, not what relates
to our prefent danger, and our actual exertions, but
to what Ihould be our &Item of condo& even were
peace to be concluded, with refpeift to any farther
war. It is a confideration, let me fay, in which not
only our own deareft interefts, but the interelks and
defiiny of Europe are involved. Next to the two
first points which I have noticed it remains with the
Houfe to determine whether the nate of our navy,
at the commencement of the war, was Inch as to call
for augmentation, or diminution. In the year 18ot,
it was impoffible to fuppofe that the navy did not re-
quire more exertion than in 5793, fur every thing
indicated that it was not To promifing as in the be-
ginning of the former war. I have no defire to dif-
clole the preeife condition of our prefent force, but the
truth is, that you were bound to make every prattle
exertion, and even efforts altogether unprecedented,
to augment and repair your navy at the beginning
of the prefent war, from motives and *antes which
Jid not exit} in the commencement of the former war:
It is almoft needkfs for me, Sir, to remark, that
there are two modes of increafing our naval ftrength
with refped to our (hipping ; the one by building
veffels in the King's yards, the other by building
them in confequenee of private contrai9s in the mer-
chants' yawls- If wo look to di* pmgrefs of our
naval improvement for a very long time, we (hall
find that no lets than two-thirds of it have been built
in the merchants' yards ; and. undoubtedly. it is
not neceffary for me to Rate to the Houk, that which
mull be known to every perfor converfant with the
fubjet, that building in the King's yards, in time
of war, is nearly fufpended altogether. I have alto
to remark, what I am convinced will not efcape the
attention of Gentlemen, that the great augmentation
of our Navy does not arife from (hips begun.in a pe-
riod of war, but from (hips which have been raid
upon the flocks for feveral years antecedent. During
the lalt war, I can (late, without the poffibility of
contradiftion, that out of twenty.four (hips of the
line, prepared and finifhed for aerial fervice, two
alone were fupplied from his Majetty's yards.—
What conclufion then, it may be laid, do I intend
to draw from there lifts ? I with to eflablifti it as a
fyflem that Ihould be afted upon, that when the cir-
cumltances of the times require extraordinary effort,.
you Ihould look to the building of (hips by contraft,
and that you (hould :No look to the augmentation
of your navy, not in the pectic moment when ne-
cellity calls for exertion, but many years antecedent
to the prelfure of any unforefeen exigency. As to
the difference of building between the King's and the
Merchants' yards, it was evident that no material
difference arofe in point of expence, fince, in the
latter, the amount of the expence was regulated by
public advertifement, and the work was to he exe-
cuted in the belt manner. Now, Sir, if I am not
very much millaken, I am enabled to !late, that fince
the prefent Lords of the Admiralty have come into
°Sze. only two (hips of the line have been contraaed
for to be built of in the merchants' yards. I mean to
(hew that, entering on the prefent war,v-hen our navy
could not be in fo good a condition as at the begin-
ning of the former war, every pollible means mould
have been taken to augment and Itrergthen it; that
it was a period which requited greater exertion ; and
that only two (hips of the line have been controlled
for. while. during the 101 l war, out of ay (hips of
the line, the King's yards furnithed but two. But if
the Admiralty be liable to cenftii e for thefc
it will be found dill more fo from details which I can
pledge myfelf to prove, in the moil latistaftory way.
I have explicitly to ;tate. that there arc at this reumci.t ,
docks and flips in the River unoccupied, which are
calculated for building fourteen r, fifteen MO t I
the line. When, therefore, all circiimilances
are put together, and lairly coo', la ...Ai, 1 htlie I dull
not be told that they do not et,' gr,,unds for
an Addrefs to his Maj.ily. 'n. • ; have
to make is, That there be laid hTt-,,re the }lonic a
Lift of fuch Ships as have 'sten built in the King's
Yards in 1793 and t Rut if Gentioncn Ihould
think any isitorn,ariou on ll;•;, 11:.i.11111;giat be the
channel of irr.prortr ce to the enemy, I (hall
feel it my duty to ahßain I; .17111.:Tirg the moth n on
the Houk; fur I am ,ix% 'Tr list 11.11 be ;
gr. mods fulficieotiy It: r • to i•••• he I 1 ,de,that
the costa/111E0n %.-;1 ;ti ;. 4101, is
ptchMilhit to that oh rh un•ss • 1 tad: of
his Majclly's. I .!• • a.c ! I :•n.it s motion 1,4
the produmion rf : ••. tot. Idrct and t•me.
of the mid, p;ivate yards ;

and to this I conceive no
made. A Noble Friend
me (Lord Call!creep) has,
ed into a comparative view
force in different years,
couched, as to be very In
enquiries, which form the;
is material for the Houle
met war we let out with 1,
after augmented with sow
of the year were increafed t
five or feventy-fix thoufand _
In the prefent war we Ratted
men, and it mould not pafi
engaged in it when our
creafed in a material proporti,
done Why, although we began
men, and bad all the great ai
an unprecedented profperity
our naval force did not •
I use% eighlikfis abonfand
Thus in the firit year of the
increafe of 4r.ty tbonfand
' year of the prefent war et
' fix thoofand only. In tl
have made, the Honk wil
tioully abilained from all
I have carefully confined
I have thought fufficieni
have to bring forward.
lured, I troll, however,
the Houfe in soy further t.
which I may be called upon
they be granted, I shall refer
remarks and illufirations •
naturally lead me. The cont._
involve are of the firil importance,
my mind, the indifpenfible
agree in an addrefs to his
chided with his fira motir
drefs be prefented to his
Majefiy may be gracical
that an account of the ni
of Chips of so guns, friga,
hired armed wails, Etc.
with the diftriOntion of their
3 t it of December, 1793,
1801, and on the 31(1 of
before the Houle."
Mr. TIERNEY (poke i
" Sir, the Houle will, I hi
fmall portion of their at
after the fpeech which
has delivered. In whate‘
fent motions, the more .
condud of the Right Hon,
moll extraordinary procr
I I agree with the Right
vernment did think the
alarming crifis, and I wai
thole who were of that of
queßions more calculated
create fears, and to diffut
1 to be of the flighteft advai
I have moil particularly
Right Honourable Gent
motions without any grout
fits up his own opinion
ralty ; and. if this criterit
be tinder no apprehenfion
of his enquiries, fince the condud of the Admiralty
is fanutioned by the general approbation of the
country. (A cry of Hear 1 Hear! from! she *pito
bench )—I feel, Sir, that clamour is no proof of
the contrary of what I have Rated, and that I fpeak
from what I know, not like route Gentlemen, from
what is rumored to be known. I merely (peak from
the knowledge which has reached me periOnally, and
I cannot help expreffing fume furprife ar finding my.
Pelf in fo noisy a place in in quiet a conniry. I civil
I cannot be acctifed of inconfifiency in c•iling this a
very extraordinary proceeding, since, while an en-
quiry is propofed to be inffituted, which has for its
objed the cenffire of the Admiralty, we find all this
enemy's ports fealed up, our commerce prmeded in
every diredion, and our trade prrfperom► in an an.
exatnpled de.tzree. If T recollect right. there was a
time when the Right Hon. Gentleman was unbound..
ed in his expreffiiins of actin 14 the capacity and
talents of the Fira Lord of the Admiralty. and I
mould with to know how long it is time be has
changed his mind 'elite:ling that Noble Lind ? It
cannot be out of the recolledion of the Houle. that
the Right Hon. Gentleman (poke in terms of the
higheß panegyric of Lord St. Vincent. and that when
he recommended others to fill fituattons older Go-
vernment. as likely to execute the Jilt 41 of their office
with credit, he mentioned the Noble Earl as one fo
admirably qualified to prefide over the naval ,repart-
ment, that the whole country looked up to him as
the only perfon fitted for the Fiat Lord of the Ad-
miralty. The only difference then be;weeet me and
the Right Hon. Gentleman is, that he has changed
an opinion, which he folernnly delivered in In,.
Honk, and that I have adhered to the rudiments
which he Rated. Rridly coinciding as they eli.l with
my own feelings. With refped to the great talents of
the Earl cf St. Vincent. let me fay. although they
can derive no ((ippon from Mt' feeble ;.raise, that I
believe no man is Itiperi, r to him as au Admiral ;
and I am confident that I (hall be but tte out by the
unanimous voice of the public, when 1 date that his
fervices have been no lets fplendid, that. produdise
of the moll fulid and permanent advantage% I Wt.)
know, that filth i< hn patriotitm and Lis 'cif.: of ho-
nour. that the Noblz Lord would ra•her tier every
thing, than lole what he values be) ord all other
cnnfOrrationsi the ciintidence of his c..it.t.ti ymen.—
The Right Honourable Gentleman, .1: ogeiher
rt.:n.l(ol it tle compliments winch he bttcre paded
on Loud Si. Vincent, row (.rings forward • charge
inc yawy against him ; fur, ny vui hi, rnnriuns,
nothing left i. meant ; and at are e riled upon to 4e.
diet there is a giving want of (kill in the rid'
Ltd cf ;:lt Admiralty, for which the Len (Ito.

•
--t. - • ,
••••_, " : • .
• • - ir
•
[paws scams.
m material °hyaline .om be. ,
of mine on the bench below •
las, on a former night. ewer-
iew of the Rate of oar naval .;
but it was fo generally •
little Inked to the prefect
e objeds of my motions. It
e to remark, that in the foi-
-1 16,000 men, who were form
soo more, and in the condo
rd to the number of &vasty.-
tnd men, including marines.
Rarted with fifty thoufand
safe unnoticed that we alto
r tnercantile marina was in.
proportion. Yet. what was
we
began with fifty tboufand
eat advantages smiting from
:city of trade and commerce.
it exceed in the annalasr of
Id at the mad of the yon.
the former oars we had as -
ad (camera, and on the fir&
an augmentation of thirty-
the few plain flatenseats
rill perceivi that I have cau-
-1 general reatoniag, and that
I myfelf to fuch grounds as
nt to juitify the orations I
Shonld the motions be re-
that I Sall be indulged by
r reafoning and explanation
nom to employ, and Ihould
referve, for a future day, the
s to which their objeas malt
e conaderations which they
nportance, and render it. in
able duty of Parliament to
its hlajefiy.". -Mr. Pitt cost.
Lion, " That an humble ad-
s Welly, praying, that ld
may pleafed to give orders,
number of (hips of the line,
ate', (loops of war. bombs,
as have been in commit ion,
heir refpettive Cervices on the
on the 3oth of September,
1 December, 1243, be laid
e in fubflanee as follows
hope, indulge me with Tome
attention, more particularly
the Right Hon. Gentleman
ever light I confider the pre-
I am inclined to think the
an. Gentleman as one of the
reeding' I ever witnelled.—
Hon. Gentleman that Go-
: country placed in a molt
ras therefore led to hope that
opinion would abßain from
▪ to engender dikontent. to
ale difrati.faaion. than likely
rantage to the Public. What
•
y to complain of is, that the
nticman brings !nward his
ounds whatever. He merely
againft that of the Adoei.
•ion is to be admitted, I eaa
on with refpea to the event
• conduit of the Admiralty
general approbation of the
(ear I Hear ! frown she weft's
it clamour is no proof of
lave dated, and that I iamb
like Torre Gentlemen, from
mown. I merely (p•Nik from
is reached me perfinally, and
fome forprife ar finding my-
-lln quiet a cranny. I trult
nconfifiency in cAing this a
:ceding, fince, while an en-
naittned, which has for its
Admiralty, we find all the
, our commerce protaged is
trade prrfperon► in an tin-
recoil:ft right. there was
rm. Gentleman was unbound.
etleem for the capacity and
d of the Admiralty, and I
ow long it is tince he has
Ring that NoS:e 1. rd It
slleftion of the Hvufe, that
man (poke in terms of the
.st St. Vincent. and that when
to fill fit:laws' u :der Go-
ecute the dutitiol their office
Id the Noble Earl as One fo
refide over the naval ..rvpart-
pantry looked up to him as
it the Fail Lord of the Ad-
:rence then betwessi me and
man is, that he has changed
folenenly delivered 111 this
• adhered to the fentinnots
coinciding as they did with
refire& to the great talents of
let me fay, although they
om mv feeble i•raite, that I
icr to him as an Atinlll4l 1
f A.-11 t

aourable Gentleman is to find an adequate remedy:ll
We all know the pre eminent met its of the Right
Honourable Gentlman as a Volunteer. We know I
bow very much the e•uiriti y indebted to him fort 1
his exertions in that line ; but Bill, I trail, he will 11
excufe me, when I allure him that I think the land
fervice quite enough ftr him, ai.hout takii:g any 1
part in the lea fervice. (A ,7rwral laki). But the I
Right.Honourable Gentleman lays, • Agree to my I
motions; grant me the papers which I demand, and
I (hall undertake to prove all my effertions.' I lay,
no we muff, in that cafe, neceirarily have an en-
quiry ; and upon what grounds am I to underhand
that an enquiry is admitted by the country to be pro
per at this moment ? The details which mutt take
place would be long and implicated, and they mull
go to criminate Lord St. Vincent, or give to the
Right Honourable Gentleman a hold to move for
more papers. I am at a loft to conceive how the
internee can, for a tingle indent, be entertained by
the Houk, when no caufe, no fat, is brought for-
ward in rapport of it ; when every poflible energy
pervades the whole branch of the public fervice over
which the Noble Lord prefides I when naval (kill,
vigilance, and adivity are difplayed in every quar-
ter. and the bell officers are employed in every direc-
tion, with the highea honour to themfelves, and the
greateß advantages to their country. But Lord St.
Vincent, we are told, has prepared, or is preparing,
only twenty-three gun boats, to oppafe the enemy's
attempt at invafion. This aecufation. which feems
calculated to difpirit the country, comes, let me ob.
&rve, rather oddly from the Right Honourable Gen.
tleman. who has called loudly for every confidence
which could be repofed in Government. and has de-
precated in the molt earneh language, every appear-
ance of party fpirit.• The fat, however, is, that
there is a greater proportion of force, and of that pe-
culiar kind of naval farce adapted to meet the ene-
my's alinement on the coat!. to which the Right
Honourable Gentleman bas alluded, than Gentlemen
*epee. They will bear, not perhaps without Tome
farprife, yet I have,no'doubt with real fatisfadion,
that our naval firength is not only irnmenfe. but ad-
mirably compofed for a great variety of fervice.--1
The particulars of a fhort flatement, which I have
the honour to fohmit to the Houfe, can be juftified
by the molt authentic documents. The flips of the
lice, frigates, !loops of war, bombs, and other ref-
rels, amount to si t ; block Ihips fupplied by the Tri-
nity Hoare are 9; the lighters and fmall craft fitted
is the King's yards, are, according to the lab returns,
.973; the thips furnifhed by the Eat! India Company.
19; and the flotilla completely equipped and ready
for itemediate crevice amounts to 624. If Gentle-
ms* will take the trouble to recapitulate thole dif.
ferent branches of fervice, they will find that they
*end in the following order :
Mgt of tee We, kr. . sit
10( the Trinity Houk 9
Nos the ICal: Yards . 3,3
llytbe Cempsny :9
Mina 654

•
Making all together 1536
lind yet, Sir, this force of 1536 vetch, hasbeen pre-
pared and completed by the unworthy Full Lord of
the Admiralty. But unfortunately for the (they of
the country, the Right Hon. Gentleman bras difco.
"grid, that only twentrthree gun-brigs have been
oantratled for. Will the Houfe agree upon the bare
martian of the Right Hon. Gentleman, that Lord
Bt. Vincent is to blame, and requires a great deal of
booking after ? or rather, will they not agree, that
the opinion of the Right Hon. Gentleman has lets
weight with the country than that of the Earl of St.
Vincent ? With refpea to the building of Blips by
contuse, which the Right Hon. Gentleman In are-
away recommends, be lays, it is nearly impoffible
to build Teals in the King's Yards in time of war ;
but although this affertion may be admitted to a
certain extent, it will not, I trull, be denied, that
Blips may he completed and repaired there. How.
over we confider the queßion, it is evident, that we
have no cafe made out by the Right Hon. Gentle.
man, and that we require fume proof befides his bare
affertion. I have alfo to obferve, that the mer-
chants' yards have been tried, and have been found
not altogether In well hatted to the building of (hips
as force perfons feem to think. Are contrators to
fully to be relied or., that the Right Hon. Gentle-
man has had no caufe to be diffatisfied with theM,
after an experience of feventeen years ? Derides, Sir,
Earl St. Vincent may be fo Farfimonious of the pub.
lie money as to be inimical to all idle ctpenditurc.—
I content myfelf wi giving an hillance of
building in the merchant.' yards. The Ajax was
built for 41,0001. and the bargain was thought a
very goad one, yet in the coolie of duce years. a
further (um of 17.0001. was wanted to complete her
for fervice. In limn, Sir, we are called upon to de.
Bide, without proper documents, that Lord St. Vin-
cent is to blame, and that the naval law laid down
by the Right Honourable Shipwright behind me, is
to he confide, ed as undeniable. Are we then to pats
an opiaion. that the Navy of Erp,land is hafteuing
to its ruin, and this on the foggettion of one who
galls for general exertion awl cordial co operation
againft the enemy ; but who new kenos to he affed-
ed by a panic which he l.irmerly treated with con-
tempt? I will% to al( tic IC6',t Hon. Gentleman,
and I will put it to the t1i.,.1e, whether he ht3ieves
tlAt the attack he Ills made this night n the la'mi•
ralry, is lik,Fly to du gio..!, titer it' this Cpuotry, or
abroad ? With refpeit to the n:in,ber of leamen, I
have no objenion to agree to the [nonunion of that
account; tot the Right lice. s.;entiegrion has not
tiken a lair comparative view of the !limber railed
within the firtt year of the all war, and the year
tFloy. At the former period, after a peace of ten
years, the nsvy derived a very ctuf.des able inereafe
of men frown the Ifni: of enterprise, Inc profpett of
prise money, and the great of the naercantal:
nsteeell. I'here. w t• "l in at that time uoSupplenien.
tape Alilili.t. no Army of kelcrcr, not a vatory of
collateral circumnatices which, in the aetual c•.njunc•
lure of affairs, prevent the rUpplies of men for the
fee Crevice. The luccils which has Attended the levy
ed men in the prevent VW' Is 1111: V i..ELLiet..,,y, when
confuler that the brit itis ice i.a. t..paieed great
efforts, Ausi that the v. ;:iiitecr ruice a:c ne amounts
to 4“..- • emit ; and 1., tat we be !ions
1.6 mull; I..•rt! .t. V lOC CI., that his ciassital in this
tripes ~ r.,•,!1;,1 ti. haN.hcst pr.sife. It appears,
ohm of the , %..ttJ I.v l'etlierbeet. their
At..JO Sisies.4o4 for, by the Moms

made, there were in aEtual fervice, to the 3 tit of
December, 76,000 men ; according to the returns
made to the Admiralty by the regulating Captains,
6441 ; and the marines amounted, on the loth of
M irch, to 15,673 then; giving a total of 99,174
li.amen and marines. I will now, Sir, put it to the
Houle, whether a more fuccefsful exertion could
have been made in the teeth of the Volunteers, of
the Army of Referee, and of the Supplementary Mi-
litia, where only 1700 men were wanting to complete
the whole of the ellimate ? But, Sir, this is not all ;
we have al.co a force of zs,ooo Sea rencibles for
Great Britain, putting Ireland out of the queflion.
In all thefe inflancei I may fafely afk, whether the
Noble Lord at the head of the Admiralty is a fit
object for diftruft and fufpicion ? But lam entitled
' alfo to enquire. where the Right Hon. Gentleman
has had his information ? If he has obtained it from
fome great naval officer, it certainly may be worth
attending to; but until I am fatisfied of this, all I
beg of the Right Hon. Gentlerpan is, not to attack,
by a fide wind, that high character, and thole pre.
eminent talents which have fo effentially contributed
to the glory and interetts of the Britifh Empire."—
Mr. 'Tierney, after alluding to the mifchievous con-
fequences which the motion might lead to abroad,
particularly in France, with refpat to the fuppofed
inadequacy of our naval means of defeace,...conclu-
ded with calling. on the good fenfe of the Houfe to
negative the motion, which, if agreed to, would fet
afide the whole experience acquired by the Noble
Earl at the head of the Admiralty. He had no ob.
jeaion to the prodation of two of the papers moved
for, but the others, if laid on the table, could be
produltive of no poflible benefit.
Sir CHARLES POLE role, not for the purple
pf affenting or diffenting from the motion of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, but to give an opinion, in
the way of his profeffion, as to the merits and aai-
vity of the Noble Lord at the head of the Admiralty.
Of that aaivity he could not think too highly, when
he confidered that within 48 hours after it was known
that hoftilities were' to commence, Admiral Corn-
wallis failed for Brat, and from that moment to this,
with Comely any interruption, has held that port in
a Rate of the firidell blockade. The energy, affi-
deity, and enterprite of every officer, and of every
man in that Beet, from the gallant Admiral who
commanded it, down to the cook's boy, was never
I paralleled in the naval hiltory of this or any other
I country—(-Hear/ hear!)—But it was not only the
ports of the enemy, of that power who particularly
deferred that name, but even thofe of their allies,
from, he might almat fay, Toulon to the Tad,'
that were kept blockaded by the extraordinary perfe-
verance and enterprise of the navy of Great Britain.
As to the oblations that had been urged again!' the
Earl of St. Vincent, for not employing a greater
number of gon-boats, that was a difference between
that Noble -Lord and the Right Hon. Gentleman
ow a profeffional queilion, on which, although he
was not without an opinion, yet he would not then
trouble the Houfe with it. But with regard to the'
employment of armed cotters, he had no motives of
delicacy, and be would not befitate to declare, that
the taking of them into the fervice was an arrant job,
a job, bezaufe the men were rarely muttered, and
the veal. were miniy in port 14. had his ideas.
with refpea to the proper mode of defending the
country; and thofe were diretly againft the ufe of
filch ci aft as had been recommended ; for our fhores,
he was confidentorould be much better fecured by the
fervice of so gumfilips and frigates. There was one
remaining point on which he witted to trouble the
Houk, and that was, the very confiderable number
of men that the admirable arrangement and indefa-
•

tigable exertions of the Board of Admiralty had pro.
cured for the Navy, and for which, in his opinion,
they, and the Noble Lord who prelided there, were
entitled to the thanks and gratitude of the country.
As he confidered the promoted enquiry unnecelfary,
he would vote againft the produition of the papers
that had been moved for by the Right Hon. Gen
tleman.
Admiral BERKELEY repelled the affertion, that
the gun boats which made part of our naval defence,
during the left war, were to be conlidered as jobs.
The Hots. Gentleman who (poke fecund in the de-
bate had dated, that nothing had been alledged, that
no cafe had been made out, to warrant the propoted
enquiry ' • and, in a tone of triumph, demanded what
convoys had been cut off, or what great naval dig.-
alter had been experienced? That Honourable Gen-
demon had alto fisted, the deficiency between the
number of feamen voted, and the number employed,
amounted only to 1700 men; but this was by a mode
of arithmetic peculiar to himfclf, in which he rec-
koned the marines twice over. He fisted the number
of learners at 76,000 ; hut were not the marines
afloat included in that lumber ? molt certainly they
were t and were to mentioned in the ordinary re-
turns to die Admiralty. He had no perfonal difre.
frit to the Noble Earl, whom be had long known,
but his objett was to provide, as effeenally as pont-
ble, tor the defence of the country. In this he was
net fo much guided by his own judgment as by the
opinion of abler men, who unanimoufly concurred,
that if a fuificient number of gun boats had been
employed on the coaa of France, the flotilla now at-
, Lembled at Boulogne would have never reached that
, port. Haw did they accomplifli that, but by getting
nom On-al water, where no (hip could follow them.
As to the fire hundied which, accord-
- ing to the triumphant Itatement of the Right Hon.
Gentleman, they were not fulficiently tea-worthy to
gn from Portfinouth harbour to Spithead ; be had
fulamitekd a plan to the Board of Admiralty, for the
defirnetion of the French flotilla, which confilled in
the void:in:lion of a particular fort of verels, which,
without any detriment to our navy, might have been
mane:: in one month, and were every way compe-
tent to the potation of our own (bores, and for an-
:,nying the enemy's cook and which would have left
Coe light ye rcls, at prefent employed, at liberty to
go al. rood no other duty. Had his plan been adopted,
tne G.-vernment would have in pi-414'nm et this nin-
e, :to a force equal to the difeomfiture of the enemy's
rhaiila, and a dirpnfable ligh: marine, that could
I •. e protefted oar trade, and prevented the capture
f ty treads out 't one convoy, and a rich Weft
Nauman, between Portimonsh arid the Downs,
which, tt. tt:c ditgrace of our naval exertion., was
fairly cat lied into Prance. lie would vote for the
mutton. althottgb. in ins opinion, it (lid not go far
enough. It IL ,old have extended to the nate of our
wind asfipale. awl to slag ItswoLitsta of nasal Rotes

.and !implies of all kinds, He wffhed it had iticiaded
alfu the date of our duels, in which, as he was ere.
dibly informed, there were at prefent ftc.) fbipwrights
(hurt of the ufual number. However, imperfea and
npfatisfaaory as it was, it had his hearty concurrence.
Sir C. POLE faid a few words is explanation.
Sir EDWARD PELLEW.-44 As I very feldom
tremble the Hoare, I hope I may be permitted to
make a few obfervations on a fubjeet of which, from
the profeffional experience I have had, I may be
prefumed to have Come knowledge. From the de.
bate of this night, there is one piece of information
I have acquired, that the French have got upwards
of a thouland veffels at Boulogne. I am glad to
find that they are (hut up the:e ; we have one ad-
we {mow where they are ; with we
vantage in it,
had any means of knowing when they intended to
come out. I know this much, however, that they
cannot all get out in one day, or in one 'light either;
and when they do come out, I craft that our cockle-
fhells alone, as an Honourable Admiral has called a
very manageable and very alive part of our force,
will be able to give a good account of them. Sir, I
do not really fee, in the arrangement of our naval
defence, any thing to excite the apprehenfions of even
the molt timid among us ; on the contrary, I fee
every thing that may be expetted from activity and
perfeverance, to infpire us with confidence. I fee a
triple naval bulwark, compofed of one fleet adios
on the enemy's coat, of another confiding of heavier
(hips Rationed in the Downs, ready to ad at a ma
ment's notice, and a third dole to the beach, capable
of deftroying any part of the enemy's flotilla that
fhould efcape the vigilance of the other two branches
of our defence. I beg pardon for troubling the Houfe
(An oniverfal cry of Hear, Hear !)—but accident
brought me here, and I intend that my flay &could be
as (bort as poffible—(A great laugh.) In rsfped
to whit has been faid of building Zips by contrait,
I mud confefs that I do not much admire that mode
of keeping up our navy. I have ken tome of them,
I partied irly allude to the Ajax and Achille, that I
took for Frenchmen. As to gun boats, they are the
molt contemptible force that Call be employed; gun-
brigs, indeed, are of fome ufe ; but between a gun.
brig and a gun boat there is alma as much differ.
ence as between a man of war and a frigate. I have
lately feen half a dozen of them lying wrecked upon
the rocks. As to the poffibility of the enemy being
Able, in a narrow lea, to pals through our blockading
and proteding fquadrons, with all that fecrecy and
dexterity, and by thofe hidden means that Come wor-
thy people gaped, I really, fromany thing that I have
feen in the cootie of my profeffional experience, am
not much difpofed to concur in it. I know, Sir, and
can affert with confidence, that our navy was never
better found, that it was never better fupplied, and
that our men were never better fed or better clothed.
Have we not all the enemy's ports blockaded, from
Toulon to Flufhing ? Are we not able to cope, any
where, with any force the enemy dare to fend out
agaioft us ? and do we not even out-number them
at every one of thofe ports we have blockaded ? It
would finack a little of egotifm, I fear, were I to
fpcak of myfelf (Hear! Hear!); but as a perfon
lately having the command of fix (hips, I hope I
may be allowed to Rate to the Houfe how I have
been fintosted in that c•ontrnami. Sir, daring the
time that I was Rationed off Ferrol, I had (hips
palling from the fleet to me every three weeks or
a month ; and Co much was the French commander
(but up in that port deceived by there appearances,
that he was perfuaded, and I believe is to this very
hour, that I had twelve flips under my command;
and that I had two fquadrons to relieve each other,
one of fix.infide, and another of fix outfide."
Admiral BERKELEY explained. He could not
poffibly fuppofe that our naval force was inadequate
to the talk of totally difcomfiting the whole force of
the enemy if they came fairly out to them : but he
meant to fay that they never could pointy have col.
lefied in the force in w;.'ch they now are, if we had
had a Aifficient number t gun bats to run in (bore,
and attack them in fhoal water, where they frequent.
ly efcaped from our large vellels, on account of their
drawing too much water to be able to purfue them
in (bore.

Mr. WILBERFORCE laid, that he thought it
was his duty, as a Reprefentative of the people, to
Hate his opinion with freedom, on the quellion at
due. He approved of the prefent motion for inquiry ;
otherwile the fecurity of the country could not be
Paid to have derived thole advantages which it ought
to have done, from the experience of all. We were
now in a fituation of difficulty and danger, when the
'moll efforts. as to the defence of the country, were
abfolutely neceffiary. He thought the Houle much
indebted to the Right Hon. Gentleman who had
brought forward this matter, and who thus difplayed
his althorn, had given his cotinfel, and proved, by the
exertions of his eloquence, how the power and fecu-
rity of the country could be bell provided. The
Honk had been indebted to that fame Right Hon
Gentleman on former occarions, for his ufelul tugger
lion as to Volunteers. It was certainly incumbent
on every one to enforce, and to carry into aelion, all
propofitions by which the fafety of the country would
be moil amply provided for. It was. he thought,
owing, in an efpecial manner, to that antient fyi:em
of defence, the Navy, to which every heart was,
the firft place, to look. He could not fee how it
was poll-Me, at relent, to draw a line as to the pro.
priety or impropriety of asking queitions on fuch an
important lubjea ; but he thought it was abfolutely
proper to inveßigate whether he had ailed in fuch a
manner as to place the country in the utmoß poffible
(murky, by fee as well as by land. There was no
man more ready than he was to acknowledge the
high merits of the Fiat Lord of the Admiralty ; but
fuch an inquiry was neceffiary, in his opini in order
to
—He
that Noble Lord's condo& to the world.
—He could not agree with the Right Honourable
Gentleman who fiat Rafted objeetions to the pro-
poled invefligation ; nor could he difenver that any
difadvantage or inconvenience were likely to arile
from it. Ii that Right Hon. Gentleman conceived
that the fault would be in favour of the Noble Lord
alluded ri., he was furprifad that Lc could throw any
obtlack in the way to a *jollification, which would
tend to remove all fi.fpicions of regligence from that
quarter. lie would At, were theuc fin Wails by
which fuch an enquiry might be carried on, without
th rr extreme degree of ...Lich feeroc.: to Le
in much feared ? That I ioufe, he trotted, vas not ft,
entirdv dritituitc of mr ins of liookii.g imp thi. public
lei rick of the cuuktr , %Inn it is fulioctlgd dot any

I

(yttem was going on which night prove ;olio-lons tth
its defence. He lbws convinced that Mean. might be
fallen upons without incurring any danger from that
publicity complained of He willed that Gentle.
men would retie& what the confermencee might be
to the kingdom at large, if every degree of exertind
was not ufed at the prefent moment. If any defi-
ciencies were dircovered, it was neeefrary to _correct
them. He could not fee prima fait, a preftimptive
ground which had been, or could he, darted ageinft
fuch an inveffigation. The prefent motion could
only be called a requeft Sot the produCtion of papers;
and not an enquiry, altbo' that too might become ne-
teary after Such pnscludion. As to the argument
which had been Set up in oppofitinn to the Ulouonoth#
this was a time when the mod univerfal content pre-
vailed throughout the country, be Should only Faye.
that were the Cubit& lefs feriae' nr intereding,
would not fay a weed upon it. It behoved *evert
man, however, to (peak according to hi. own degree
of experience : for his part, he was prepared to
fay, that he never yet had known, to the bed of
his recolleetion, one tingle profeffional man wbd
nr.t expreffed himfelt dilratisfied with the coel7
duet of the Admiralty. He had pet queftions to
profeflional Gentlemen, who had rifen to high and
refpeelable fituatiuns, as to the Admiralty. and be
bad uniformly received the fame anfwers as to the
inadequate (tate of our naval defence. Another ob.
je&ion was, that if there really were no more than•
too,ooo feamen in his Majeßy's navy, that Perlis-
' ment had not granted the Noble Lord any more,
than that particular number, in which the marines
were probably included; but, at all events it was.
no defence whatever in the Admiralty to fay, that
no greater number was voted, becaufe, if they had
affied a greater number, they woolti undoubtedly.
have been granted. It was always, however, us.
derdood, that as many feamen were to be employed
as could be procured ; fo that if I =moo, or even
teo,ooo had been required, Parliament would have
complied. He thought, that the old-eftablilbed
mode of obtaining the line-olbattle-thips had been.
much deviated from by the Admiralty. He wicked
to hear a dronger ground of objedion againtt the
motion than to (uppofe that the Right Honourable.
Gentleman had been urged on by forte difappointed
Contraftors. He knew that only one or two Skips
had been built in that way lately, while no lets than
twenty-nine Ships of the line had been built in tner•
chants' yards during the laft war. It appeared to
him. that there was no objetiun listed to granting
that part of the motion, with regard to gun boats.
but only as to !hips of the line (4 ety No INo 1)
—He did not, indeed, rightly underhand what part
of the motions was intended to be granted, bet if he
was not millaken, it was the comparative view of the
Navy, including both great and (mall vefcls *dually
exiling, and that all the other papers were to be
denied t was this a time to depart from the racket
praftice. and to allow a deficiency of eight hundred
fbipwrights in the King's yards ? Although the No-
ble Lord at the head of the Admiralty bad fignafifed
hinsfelf in the active defence of his country ; yet he
begged the Houfe to recoiled, that there was a greet
11 difference betwixt his prefent and his former employ.
ment. It ought to be (hewn fatisfaaorily to the
Houle, that afufficient naval fore: had been provided;
for the Rake was too large to hazard Such a game.
If it Should be found that we had a greater number
of veffels than was neceffary, there was certainly no
danger in divulg:ng it ; and if, on the conteary. it
Mould be found there was not enough, it would caw
tainly not be thought diffidvantageous to mum%
their number.
Mr. SHERIDAN.—" On a motion of fuch im-
iportance as that which has been fubmitted to as, it
was my intention to have abitained from obtruding
myfelf on the notice of Gen :tenter, until I had
heard the opinions of perfona beaer enalified from
profeffional habits and experience than I am, to judge
of the concha.% of the Noble Lord, againd whom
this motion, as it Should Seem. is more particularly
direfted. But, Sir, the extraordinary fentimeuts
which have fallen from the Hon. Gentleman who
(poke lad, have compelled me to break through the
refolution I had formed. A more unwarranted, s
more unparliamentary, and a more unfair argument.
I will venture to fay, has never been urged in this
Houfe, or in any other, than that of the Hon. Gen-
tleman ; that you are to judge, from what; not from
any official papers, not from any regular documents.
but from the mere perfonal aflertions of men who are
Sauntering on more, and unemployed. I Should be
glad to know the names and the profeffional reputa-
tions of thole men with whom theiHon. Gentleman
has held thole collect:rations, the refult of which he
has detailed to us. Are they made of fuch materials
as either of the Hon. Baronet., who preceded them in
the debate ? or are they perfons who are not employ-
ed, who pnfTibly clzferve not to be employed, and
whole opinions take a colour from what pities in their
minds, and are influenced by their difappointment.
Why does not the Hon. Gentleman produce thole
worthy and well informed perfons on whole opinions
he fo moch relies, inßead of coming forward in this
covert and unmanly way, with his fecondhand in.
formation ? The confcientious Gentleman, conlcien-
tious as he himfelf fags, is ready to affirm what he
has declared to you, in a Court of Judie:. Who
doubts him ? but this 1 can tell him, that his tetli.
mony in fuel) a cafe is not with a farthing, aadth.at
the Court neitlar could or would receive it. No, the
Court would fay to him, we cannot take your scald
for it; we cannot hear from you, what you lay you
' have heard from others ; produce your evid:ncw
let them al pear belae us, and then we (hall have
Something on which it will be poffibie for us to decide.
The Honourable Gentleman, however, has ,told use
that he entewins a very sincere reifita for this Noble
Lord ; and really here 1 mud remark. that I never
heard of any pn'ilic charaaer for whom men are more
forward to proofs reirea—nor one that is to much
relpeaed, and yet to much afperf:d. The grounds
of the ref ft are. however, tunoriocs, while thole of
the arm lion are not even pretended to red upon any
thing mere r!..n hearfay evidence, which is duel,
nut fiffitient to induce this Houle to acqu'eice in a
motion that has nn other oh;;:t in sizse, than to eon-
sey an imputation 'Ton moll gallant an.liai
m::itotious ch tracers this toll ntry has es... oroducci
—For fuch a purpose I wi.l pre tote.
will not therefore confers. a •)if g•ant • fq) of
paper, l.,:sezver rtatiftht: tht: , r-:. f : •
it, that may lead an ci )
no.ctroi whatever ; to elated tutu

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