Star.
London, England, 1801-03-21 00:00:00

STATE OF THE NATION.

The order of the day being then moved and read,
The Earl of Da RNLET laid, "My Lords, I am at
lift permitted to fubmit to you the important mo-
tion of which I have fo often given notice.
B:-
fore I proceed to Rate the realous I hope will in-
duce you to accede, I hope you will tOrgive me
if I fliortly allude to the manner in which it has
been delayed. Your Lon:fillips will recoiled that
1 once deferred the moron myfelf without folici-
tation or advice. I thought then, and I Rill think,
that at that period fuch a difeullion would be
highly unfeafonable, and produaive of no pollible
advantage. I am Pure you will allow me to con-
gratulate you that that objedion is now happily
removed. Never had your Lordfliips or the coun-
try more fubitantial ground to rejoice, and never
did any event occafion more general joy. If ever
there was a fcntiment which was univerfal :rough-
out a nation, it was grief throughout the Britifh
nation at the indifpofition of their Sovereign, and
joy at his recovery. It has been completely
proved that he is confidered as the father
of his people; that he reigns in the hearts of his
fubjeas. Whatever difference of opinion there
may prevail upon political fubjeas, all are unani-
mous in admiring his charaaer, and returning
thanks to firavax that he is fill preferved to let
them an example of every virtue. It were fuper-
florins to enlarge upon fuch a fubjea ; but thus
much I could not refrain from laying in jultice to
my own feelings. The other grounds on which I
deferred my motion were of a very different kind.
I yielded to the folicitations of Minißers, and to
the fence of your Lordlhips unequivocally declar-
ed ; but I faw no reafon myfelf why the enquiry
might not have been immediately ;Minuted. A
change had taken place in his Majefty's Councils ;
' but the objeas of my motion were filch that the
complete formation of the new Miniary was not
nectar,' to the difeuffion of it. I withal that an

In Rating the reafons which in my minte, evince
the neceflity of this folenin enquiry, the brit ohjed
which prefents itial is the condud of the war, this
is a wide field, nod it would be impollible fur me
to think of travelling through it ; fortunately,
this is unnecdrary. The events of the war arc tielh
in the recollection of your Lordthips, and I niyfell
more than once have had occafion to draw your
attention to them. Though I approved of the 1
principles on which the war was undertaken, and
long thought it was necellary to perllll in it, yet
I often difapproved of the manner in which it was
conduded, and thought it my duty to exprcfs that
difapprobation in this Houfc. I have had the
honour of fluting my fentiments to your Lordthips
on the expedition to the Weft-Indies,and more par-
ticularly upon the unfortunate attempt made upon
St. Domingo ; an attempt which colt millions of
money, and proved deftruftion to the flower of the
Britith army. Forbearing then to enter upon theft
details, I (hall confine myfelf to the manner in
which the war has been concluded for the lull two
or three years. The period which appears moil
proper feems that when we were told it was ne-
cetrary to break down the old eftablithed contlitu-
tional force of the kingdom ; by a meafure thus
violent and unprecedented, a great difpotable ar-
my was created, and it was hoped that tome great
achievement would be performed. The tirft thing
attempted was the expedition to Holland, the fate
of which is too well known to render it necelfary
for me to go through the painful talk of recount
ing it. It may be recolleded that I refilled a motion
loran inquiry into the cattfts of its failure. I beg,
my Lords. that my motives for doing lo may not
be miltinderllood, or that it may be though that
my oppolition to that motion WAS incontillent with
my propofal of this.—( thought from the argu-
ments that were adduced in favour of this enquiry
that it would have been difereditable to the troops
that were employed, and that it was meant by it
to throw a liar upon their conduit; but at no pe-
riod, my Lords, I will maintain, that the Britilh
troops, or the troops of any other nation, behaved
in a more gallant and fpirited manner ; at no pe-
riod did the charade: of the Brie:,ll arms appear
more reipedable in the eyes of our enemies. I
likewife give credit to the protellations of Minifters.
They fluted that the thiclofure that would thus be
occaltoncd would fruflrate other grand expeditions
which were in contetnplation, and which would
othcrwile certainly lucceed ; I hoped that the
' troops in future would be better equipped and bet-
ter appointed, and that ample amends would be
made for all oar former reveries ; ashen I mention
my hopes need I fay how deeply I was difappoint-
ed ? a long train of diaßer and clifgrace has inc.
ceeded, which exceeds all that the molt diffident
and defponding could poiiibly have apprehended.
I (hall not recount thele fags, thcy are well',
known to all who hear me, and the melancholy
imprellion which they have made will not be loon
effaced. Our forces were not defending our pof-
fefflons, ail-tiling our allies, or annoying our enc.'
mies, but cooped up in trateports, and tranfport-
ed from place to place without any rational °hied.
Such a cloud hangs over the tranfations at Fer-
ml, and fo much doubt Rill remains with regard
to the manner in which the enterpriii was conduc-
;•...l, that I am liirprifed the Hon. General did not
' himfell infill upon a Court of Enquiry ; I am mor-
tified, my Lords, that he has not. I hoped that ,
though appearances were very much againft us, •
fuch explanations would take place as would prove
to the World that our condnd had been unexcep-
tionable, and that the Britilb name had fuff4red
undefervedly. Part of our troops it was meant to
fend to Italy, and there they might have been of ,
the moil eifential fervice, but they were ton late ;
in being difpatched, and had almoft been taken by ;
the enemy; thus there was nothing like promp- ,
titude in our meafures, and our plans were ill-
conceived or ill-executed. The two armies were
afterwards joined, and made an attempt which
met with the fuccefs it deferved. If I felt deep
grief and ftronF indignation at the refult of our
expedition to lerrol, what mull my feelings be
when I think upon the difgraceful attempt upon
Cadiz?? It affixed an indelible diffiononr upon our
name, and madc us at once the deteltation and
laughing Rock of Europe; yet the authors of dude

trinfaaions. remain unpunifhcd and unknown.—
[Here the Noble Lord referred to fume accounts
of this expedition given by a French General ? he
laid it was painful for him to read them, bui. if
they were true, their contents fhould be known,
and if they were Ellie they ought to be difproved.
He then procedcd to read them; the accounts
contained fome very revere ttrietures upon the
conditet of our Government, and affirm that our
arms were fi;nt every where except where they
could be ufeffil to our allies. Lord Darnley con-
tinued]—l again repeat, my Lords, it is with
grief and fhame I quote fuch documents in a Bri-
tilh Houfc of Lords, but I with they fhould be
thoroughly fcrutinized; if they are not thewn to
be groundlefs, indelible difgrace is intailed upon
our name. It is faid, that our forces are now en-
deavouring to wren Egypt from the French.--
This would be an important conqueft; but, my
Lords, it is impoilible to forget that it might now
have been in our poireflion, if we had not inh inged
a folcmn convention. It is to the immortal ho.
nnur of our commander in thole teas, that he is
the only man that lvis been able for an ioltant to
check the viaorious career of Bonaparte ; but for
the defence of Acre, perhaps, he deferves lefs praife
than for the treaty of El-Arifch; by that, without
farther bloodlliA or expence, the French would
have been deprived of Egypt, and our Ealtein
poireffions would have been placed in fecurity....-
I molt lincerely hope that vitiory will at length
crown our arms, and that with the lofs but of tew
lives this grand objeet will be attained, but when I
look to the means of defence which the French pof-
fen, and the many difulvantages under which we
labour, my hopes are mixed with molt painful
anxieties. Thefe are fome of the prominent Ga.
tures of the condua of the war. A Noble Lord,
whom I now fee in his place, expofed it on a former
occafion, with a force of reafoning, and a brillian-
cy of argument which indignation for the ditraco
of his fellow-foldiers could alone have produced.
But though I do not belong to that refpeetable
profeflion, and cannot hope fo ably to vindicate
its honour, yet I am alive to its interett, and will
exert myfelf to the utmoft to fupport them.
I (hall next confider what hopes this Govern-
ment or the lag, for I muff always confider them
as the fame, holds out to us of a fafe and honour-
able peace.—That the overtures ofßonaparte Were
not hftened to, 1 am not, perhaps, much difpofed
to complain. He was fcarcely warm in his feat
when he made them, and it was highly probable
that he might thare the fate of his predecelfor ;
but, my Lords, Igo no farther. If I were to fay
that I was not furprized at the manner in which
his overtures were related ; that I was not alto-
nifhed at the fpeech of the Noble Secretary of
State, 1 thould utter tentiments completely foreign
to my heart.—Thefe philippics, that grofs and un-
mannerly Aburc, I thought both impolitic and un.
manly. Minifiers (hewed a littlenenefs of mind,
as well as a want of forefight. Becaufe Bonaparte
was fuperior to them, becaufe he had railed him.
fell to an elevated fituation, and undermined all
their fchemes, they commenced againft him a war
of words. In oratory they may have the advantage;
but in fagacity, vigour. and political ability they
arc certainly tar his inferior. From their indif.
cretc behaviour they may have ntailed many mif.
fortunes on their country. Bonaparte, my Lords.
mug polfefs conliderable elevation of mind, if,
when be has it in his power, he does not relent
there infults, and make us repent of the injurious
manner in which we have treated him.

Think next, my Lords, on the manner in which
our refourccs have been lavilhed, and lavithed to
reduce the Emperor to a much more deplorable
fituation than he would have been without our
attflance. I Alert it as a fad, that our fubfidies
have been ruinous to him ; and let any one dif.
prove it if he can. The folly of making hint
recommence hollilities it is not cafy to conceive.
My Lords, I alk any one of common underftand-
ing, if, taking into confideration the fuperior num-
bers of the l'rench, that they were flufhed with
viaory, and that they were guided by the coun-
fels of Bonaparte, and dire confidered the broken
and difhcartcncd 'late of the Auflrian army, the
diftraßed Rate of the Auftrian Cabinet, and the
e Aran fled Rate of the Au ft ri an Monarchy, he would
not have raid that it was madnefs in the Emperor
again to try the fate of war ? Yet we are told that
he received this advice from the Brian; Minifters ;
and we know that he was encouraged to this at-
tempt by Britifh gold. h there not here, my Lords,
a ferrous fubjea of enquiry, and to inveftigate this
matter alone, are you not bound to go into a
Committee ? I now come to the important point,
the conduci of Government to the Powers of the
North. I (hall not, my Lords, difcufs the matter
of right—what the nature of that right is, whe-
ther it be divine and inherent, or conferred by
pofitive inftitution ? For the fake of argument I
shall admit that all our claims are well founded,
and that the privileges now in difpute certainly
belong to us. How, my Lords, have there our
rights been ezercifed ? in a mild and lenient man-
ner, or rigoroully, haughtily, and opprefflvely ?
It is impogible not to obferve the different methods
in which the Governments of the North have been ,
treated according to their refpeetive power. We
continued long to bear the infults of Rullia with.
tamenefs. She indignantly difmiffed our Ambat-
fador—fhe feized on our (hips, contifcated our pp•
petty, and infolently raided ;n make us fatistac-
tion for theft aggravated injuries ; but we tamper-
ed with her, and our behaviour was mean, fub-
mare, and daftardly. Had we behaved in a
fpirited and manly manner—hadwe fent a fquadron
to the Baltic, we not only would have faved our
rpotation, but might have revolted all the ca-

‘kl,icti were ready to hurt upon
do n.,t 11:.• tit, lamoia!n: of dc:pondencc. I
toast ti,at the bravery of our lailors and
the 11,1!: eon- Adinir:,ls Ix in be IMllcient
enalik Its 1,, ;he cfi, its if all our enemies,
and ,tr cuirire the flux. But I
tilt{ tti : c, v
e w,re precipitated into thefe dan-
ger,. and tiithenkies ? If it was poiiible to have
avoided them, how much have Minitters to anfwer
for ? I obje.Ste t:;e purillaninions manner in which
Minitters have bthaved. Why, during the Lift
teflon of Parliament, did they put fuels language
• into the mouth of the Sovereign ? They mull
then have known well the hoftile difpolitions of
Prolix. From the notes of Count Bernllorif and
Count Haugwitz, it was long before notorious that
the King of Pruflia was a party to the Northern
CorCederacy. But Pruflia, like Ruflia, is a power-
ful Rate, and capable of doing us much mifchief
—it would not have been quite convenient to go
to war with him who is real Sovereign of Ham-
burgh, and to him too, therefore, Minillers have.,
meanly truckled. Upon their own principles they
ought to have declared war againft him long ago.
But Denmark and Sweden, and particularly the
former, are the objefts of their refentmcnt. To
thefe powers their language is bold and menacing
—becaufe, my Lords, they confider their as weak
and defencelefs. It is never my praCtice to defpond,
but I deprecate every fufpicion that I am fo in- .
clined. I Rill glory in my country, and think of
its refources with joy and exultation. If they are I
properly applied, we have nothing to fear. But 1
I confefi I begin to doubt of the fafety of confid-
ing. longer in a Government which has brought ;
u. into this fittration. Let us put our affairs in I
able hands, if we with for a fuccefsful Mite to the I
(omen. LordDarnley then:alluding trithe fcarcity,
feverely cultured the meafures ushich had been
taken to alleviate it, and maintained that they had
tendered the fufferings of the people. threefold fc- i
vere. Since ever his opinion had been rejected,
we had been doing on from bad to worfe, and he
had stow experience and the evidence of Las, that
his opinion was well grounded. Parliament mot
Certainly ought never to have interfered. The 1
Committees had trufted to ignorant fell-fufficient ;
men, who had completely mined them. In Ire-
land
he underftooci the fcarcity was Rill more fc-
vett. An enquiry should certainly take place, 1
and Tome meafures deviled to make the life of an 4
tax peafant not worfe than an Englilh horfe.— 4
His Lordfhip afterwards adverted to the Catholic '
queftion. He feemed to think that it had been I
prematurely agitated. The Irifh Government he I
Condemned in the ferereft terms, and alferted that
from the meafures of Government had fprung all
the (edition and treafon which had appeared in that
country. He feemed to allude more particularly
to one Member of the Ira Government who fat
oppofite to him, and after arraigning him as the
author of the mifchief, to call upon him to dif-
prove thefe affertions. The next fubjed lie touched
upon, was the change in the Cabinet. He dif-
approved of the conduet of the Ex•Minifiers, what-
ever might be the nature and the caufes of that
Osange. It was, molt probably, nothing but a
juggle, and if it was not, they had criminally
rrelliquifhed their pofts in the moment of danger.
—From what I have Paid, my Lords, continued
big Lordfhip, I mitt you are firmly convinced
"of the necefllty of going into a Committee of en-
quiry. The ()liens of unbounded confidence can
Ito longer be afied upon. A Md. fcrutiny mull
Be made into the pail, or the future will refemble it.
The prefent pollute of affairs isawful and alarming.
Our very exigence as a nation is at Rake. Let us
then,my Lords,meet the exigency in a manly man.
tier. I call upon that Right Reverend Bench to fup-
port me. When year after year they fee the human
race wafted by the ravages of war, and no prof-
peel held out of a termination to thofe horrors;
et them take pity upon their brethren and thew
themfelves animated by the benevolent fpirit of
religion which they profets. I appeal to thole who
have been introduced into this Houfe.by the in-
fluence of the Minifter. When ruin is impending,
they mat forget private confederations, nor temple
to vote for enquiry. Without a change of fyflent
they may not continue long to enjoy their honours.
I call upon thole who have lately takca their feats
among us from the Sifter Kingdom. I honour
them highly, and know that they are animated by
the trueft love to their country.—A s teeing then in a
peculiar manner the bad effects of blind confidence,
let them be the foremoll on thisoccalion in the cattle
of Parliamentary interference. But with the great-
en confidence I look to the ancient hereditary No-
bles of England, whole anceilors have for ages flip-
ported the caufe of liberty in the fenate and bled for
the field. 1 cannot doubt for a moment that
they will maintain the rights of Parliament, and
Phew a jull jealoufy of the Executive Power. They
know that though Minifters midi be trufted, they
are to be called to give an account of their tnsft,
and to be punithed if they have abufed it. That
illations ftatefman, Lord Chatham, Paid in ftrong
energetic language, on-an occafion much lets im-
portant than the prefent, " This is a fearful time ;
the fmoothnefs of flattery mull be difcarded, and
the rough language of truth mull be carried to the
foot of the throne." My Lords, I conjure you by
every thing you hold dear, to look narrowly into
your circumstances ; I implore you to agree to this
motion as you value the fecurity of your property,
the happinefs of your families, the glory of your
country.—" Awake, awake, or be for ever fallen !"
—Lord Darnley concluded by moving, that the
Houfe do now refolve itfelf into a Committee
of the whole Houle to confider the -State of the
Nation.
The Duke of Mo X TROS I admitted that it was not
only a right belonging to, but a duty incumbent
onaboth Ifoufes of Parliament to inliituteanenquiry
on any fubjett they might think proper; but while
he made that adiniffion, he would fay that the right
of enquiry oughtuever to be exercifed, except with
due diferetion, and upon a conviction of its necef-
fay. If motions for enquiry were agreed to every
time they were made, their Lord/lips mull fee the
great inconvenience that would follow : for in-
Rance, an enquiry into any expedition would make
it neceffary to fend for all the offiters who had been
entployed on it, in order to engine them at the

Ilar of that Fionfe. The injury which the public
service mall filler from fuch a Ilep was obvious to
every body.—An enquiry at the prefent moment
seas particularly objectionable. At a moment like
the preterit, it delirable that the courage of
the country fliculd be kept up, but by thefe means
the country would be completely difleartened.
The nation would tl.ink even that there was fome-
thing with 'which they were not much acquainted,
and that the State was in immediate danger. They.
could fee no apparent reafon for a Committee of
this nature, and they mutt think that there was
loniething dreadful of which they w .-c carefully
kept ignorant. He did not fay that there was no
ground for enquiry into the (late of Ireland, but a
iPecifie motion was about to be made, and then it
would be fully confidered. Nirould yon for this rea-
fon alarm the whole country, and create univerfal I
delpondence ? Our difputes with the Northern
Powers had been Dated as a ground for enquiry.
That queftion had formerly been agitated, and he
thought it ought nosy to be let to ref. If any thing
had ever been clearly made out, it had been de-
monitrated by the Noble and Learned Lord who
fat near him, (Lord Eldon), that every belligerent
power has the rights which we claim. The Noble
Lord, in eflablifhing this point, had difplayed a
depth of learning and brilliance of eloquence which
commanded the admiration of the whole Houle.
His fpecch mutt he frefh in the recolldlion of every
Noble Lord who heard it—he (the Duke of Mon-
trofe) therefore fhould nut weaken thatimpreffion
by recapitulating his arguments. If the matter in
difpute were of imall confequence, that would be
a complete proof that the Northern Powers are de-
termined to quarrel with us, and that we ought
to relent the fall intuit they offer us, Pure that if
we fubmit to it, it will be followed up by another.
But it was eflential in the laft degree, and our
very exiftence depended upon manfully alerting
it. It would now be feen whether we had dege-
nerated from the valour and magnanimity of our
anceftors ? There were occahons always recurring
when the charafter of a nation Was put to the
proof. The Noble Duke then alluded to the be-
haYiour of the Romans after the tattle of Canna,
and that of Frederic the Great, when his capital
was in the hands of his enemies. But under the
Emperors, the Noble Duke faid, when public vir-
tue was extinguilhed, the Romans were accuftorn•
ed to agree to the molt difgraceful treaties, and
even to purchafe peace with gold. Pruflia like-
wife had changed: fhe now cherifhed habits of
friendfbip with her natural enemies, and law del-
tration approaching her unconcerned. Let us
not follow, faid the Noble Duke, fuch a vile
example : let us rather look to the walls of this
Hqufe, and feting how our anceftors triumphed,
learn, like them, to be refolute in the mielft of
danger. He denied that our military expedi-
tions had been unwifely conceived or unwifely
executed, and he hoped they would continue to
deferve luceefs as well, and that they would be
more fuccefsful. We had nothing to fear from
Ruftia, Denmark, or Sweden, and if Pruflia fhould
be hoftile to us, we might enter the conteft with
her too without alarm. Into the lubjefft of fear-
city an enquiry had already taken place. He
thanked the Noble Lord for the many handfome
compliments he had paid the Committee, of which
he himfelf had the honour to be a Member. Had
they been favoured, however, with the propo-
&ions of the Noble Lord and his friends, he did
not think the public would have been very much
the better. The cavalry might have been haraffed,
but the country would not have been much better
fu plied with fifh. The war on the part of our
Allies had been unfuccefsful, but could they rum-
mon General Bcllcgarde and General Kray tc the
Bar ? He would be very happy to have an op-
portunity of afking a few queftions of theft cele.
braced men, but he was rather afraid that the)
would not very punCtually obey the order of tht
Lords for their attendance. It was cafe to tall
againft fublidizing the German Princes, but tha•
fyitem had been acted upon invariably by even
Oppolition as loon as it had got into power. In
deed could it be doubted that we were in a much
better lunation to contend with Prance when Ihs
had to employ 200,000 men in Germany, than
the could dire& her whole efforts at,ainft our poi
fellions in the Eat and Weft Indies ? The Nobl.
Duke then entered into a laboured vindication o.
the laft campaign. He maintained, that tholl
who had planned it, and thole who had been en-
trufted with the execution of it, deferved the great-
eft praile. By a difpofeable force king kept in
the channel ready to ftrike a blow in any quarter,

Franc!: Holland, and Spain, were oitlitra .:(.1 to
have all their ports and arfenals in a 4atz of
defence, and the whole coati, from the Helder ,
to Carthageua, to be lined with troops. We
had thus lent our Allies the moll fubflantial
afliflance, and if the battle of Marengo had
had a ditfLrent Ale, we might have (truck at the
very vitals of our enemies. The expedition to
Ferrol wac by no means a principal part of the
plan. If it was fuccefsful a great objed was
gained; but if it failed, nothing was loft. The
General who commanded there had behaved with
the greatell magnanimity and true heroifm, and
he only wanted the glory he gathered there to
complete his fame. His gallantry and enterprise
were known before, but it was not till then proved
that he would prefer the good of 'the fervice to
his own reputation. He would have deferved the
heavieft eenfure had he hazarded the fafety of the
army, and refufed to take the refponfibility upon
his own fhoulders. Our failure at Cadiz his
Grace attributed to the diftemper which raged
there at the time. He paired an culogium on the
manner in which things had been concluded fine,
and faid we Rill continued to make demonllrations
and divert-ions. Neither upon this, nor upon any
other ground, did he think that the motion could
be fupported. It therefore had his decided nega-
tive. .

Lord DARNLty rofe to explain. He never meant
that the Britifh fleet was to go to Ruflia while the
Baltic was frozen, but before that time, while a
fleet was lying near Copenhagen.
Lord HOLLAND. I rife, my Lords, to fubmit
to jpou a few obfervations•upon what has been ad-
vanced by the Nobk Duke. I feel at the Came

time how inadequate I am to follow the Noble
Duke through that vein of pleafantry in'which he
indulged in anfwering the fpeech of my Noble
Friend ; and I hope I fhall be excufed if in what
I am about to fay, I ihould unfr,rtunately miltake
pleafantry for argument. The noble Duke, in-
deed, was fo happy in the ftrain of irony, that
common minds might confound what was meant
as joke, and what was intended in carneft. 1 am
half afraid therefore, that Gillen I am anfwering
fome of the points which were urged in roy under-
(landing gravely by the Noble Duke, I may after-
wards be told that I am taking the trouble to
make a ferious reply to whatwas brought forward
in jell. Much has been laid in dißinCtion between
the right, which is admitted. of the Houfe to en-
ter ipso the enquiry moved for, and the propriety
of curetting that right. I hope that Inch a dif-
tinCtion may be allowed to have fome application
to the queftion in difpute with the Northern
Powers. But of that more at large by and by. The
Right of the Houfe to enquire is acknowledged,
but we are told that its exercife would be unwife
in the prefent circum ftancesof the country. Strange
indeed, to cell us that when the circumftances in
which we are placed are fo critical, we ought to
forbear to enquire into the caufes by which our
danger has been produced, that we may be able
to chute the heft means by which it may be avoid-
ed! Strange that we fhould be told that it is ne-
celfary to defend the country, while the Houfe is
forbidden to employ its wifdom to devife how
danger may be belt repelled, and defence belt
conduCted 1 Thole arguments remind me of a
Rory I have heard of a gallant naval Officer now
no more. An Officer of rank had introduced into
the fleet under his command a fpecies of fignals
that were much admired, and the (hips were much
exercifed in manoeuvring purfuant to them. An
Admiral who did not think that the new fignals
were calculated for a time of danger, one day,
when the French fleet came in fight, went down
and faid to his Captain, " I hope we than have no
fignals to day : they are very good for amufe-
ment when there is nothing to do, but they are
not for the moment of aftion." In the fame
manner the Noble Duke thinks that when the dif-
ficulties and dangers of the country are very great,
we out to avoid meddling with enquiry. So
that nhin every thing is profperous, when no dan-
gers threaten, and no difficulties embarrafs, it
would be wife and proper to Wien to a motion for
examining into the State of the Nation. It is faid
too that the form of the motion is liable to objec-
tion. Were the purpofe of it in other refpeds de.
ferving of encouragement, what there is praaica-
bly inconvenient in the form of the motion, I am
at a lots to conceive. Motions of a limilar kind
and form. have been entertained by this Houle,
and the molt beneficial confequences have relished
from them. In thoferiods of glory to which
the Noble Duke has referred, in wars which have
been concluded by this country with fuccefs, en-
quiries like that now propofed have been profecut-
ed with advantage to the public. Yet in this dif-
attrous and expeqfive war—a war which after a
feries of difgrace and mortification, lies embroil-
ed us with all Europe, no enquiry is to be grant-
ed. But to enquire would be to create alarm in
the nation. For my part, I entertain no appre•
benison of any fuch effed. I fee no inconvenience
in (hewing the nation what is their real fituation,
and if Parliament does its duty in expoling and in
cenfuring mifmanagement wherever, on enquiry,
it is to be found, the people, I am convinced, will
exert every effort, and fubmit to every facrifice
which their Laity and their profperity may de-
mand. But granting that any of the topics of en-
y which the general motion includes, were
either alreadv under conftderatiun or unlit to be
taken up, the •Houfe is competent to determine !Ton
what fubjeds enquiry lhait take FL:cc. To enter
nto the ,nquiry would have this happy arca : that
‘`.otald thew the country that the Oen: of con-
i knee which bad produced fo much calamity Was
t an end, and that l'arlia.,nzot was returning to •
tat fiction in the Confliti.tion which it ought to
:end to the exerciti: of aloft lune:inns sthich
t het er ends :br any lerz pc: rod without com-
romitlng ti e public cau:e.
With refrefi to the n ?them Confederacy, it
night to be confidcred, both whether the principle
ma;ntained 'by this country is in itklf pia, and
whether it has been exercifccl in filch a manner as
a be f cc from all reproach ? It ought to be con-
littered too, whether we ought to maintain it in
the boll) ing manner we have done ? It mull he
recolledtd that for more than a century part it has
been the policy of England to raife up confederacies
againft France for the general defence of thelibert ies
of Europe. Now this queftion of the Northern con-
federacy has given to the war a popular and plan-
fible pretence, and afforded an opportunity to fir
up againft us a confederacy of powers never be.
fore found in the fcale of our enemies. In deli-
berating upon this delicate fubjea it is peculiarly
neceffary to proceed coolly, and to avoid any.ap-
peal to the paffions, more particularly, the popu-
lar topics of the national dignity and the honour
of our flag may be ufed with uncommon effea.—
There addreffes however fhould be received with
caution. While juftly jealous of the real honour
and dignity of the nation, we fhould remember
that under the falfe colours of thefe pleating names,
every thing rafb, abfurd, and violent may be in-
troduced and defended. It is obierved by Machi-
avel as one of the defeas of popular Governments,
that they are fo apt to be hurried into intempe-
rate courfes by a fpirit too jealoys and too much
alive to any fubjea that teems to involve the na-
tional honour. We fhould be careful therefore to
confider impartially as well what the public honour
as the national charaaer erfjallice and moderation
demand. The Noble Duke dwelt upon tome parts
of what my noble Friend urged on this point, as if
be had fallen into a contratheion, and blamed Mi.
niacrs for going to war with tome nations, and for
not going to war with all. But my noble Friend
complained, not that Minifters did not go to war
with more nations, but that they dirated all their
vengeance againa the weak. It is indeed matter
of reproach, that while all Europe is confpiring
againft us on the pretence that our policy is to
narrow, and confine the commerce of other Mi.

eons, we Mould have fallen upon timfe only that
had moll commerce, though the wcai.eft in rc-
fource. This was to give countea, ty:e to the fulpi.
cion entertained, 'and to inflame that -iimolity in
which the difpute originates. The noi.le Doke re-
! ferrcd us back to antient times to find a parallel to
the prefent. In looking back to the wars between Car-
thage and Rome, we find Carthage animated by t hat
tpirit of commerce which eyes any competition w;th
jealousy. We mutt recollea that the high tone
which that commerce was maintained was eil;:ntial
to the fafety and the prof-perk: of Carthage. It
was faid that the Romans thoilli not even wrath tbei
hands in the Sicilian fca. Other nations 0.o.• our
pretenfions as in tome degree partaking of th:s Ipi.
rat. We ought to be careful to afeeitain the jut.
tice of our claims, and IEII more lb to fa that they
are exercifed without hartlinefs and rigour. Ira
the manner in which our pietenfions have been al-
iened, it will be found that there has been little
prudence and conciliation. Datrines have been
held in this Houfe by a Noble Lord, fortunately
for the country no longer in office, the tendency of
which was to thew to Europe that, during every
war between this country and France, there could
be no neutral nations at all. Was it wife,luft, and
feafonable to hold forth fuch doctrines ? Let the
juftice of the queftion be as it may, let the policy
of maintaining what is confidered our naval rights
be what it will, there is ample ground of enquiry,
were it only to afcertain this, how at this critical
rnomentihis point was drawn into the prefent hot-
tile difcuffion ?—The Noble Duke next indulged
himfelf in a (train of mirth about the difficulty of
bringing the Auftrian Generals to the bar of the
Houle to give an account of the caufes of their
defeats. My Noble Friend, however, only objeEt.
ed to the fyftem of fublidies, as it had been em-
ployed by Minifters, and to the obftinacy with
which they inftigated the Emperor to maintain a
hopeles contelt. The queftion is not, whether in
all cafes whatever fubfidies to foreign powers are
impolitic, but whether, in the prelim inftance,
they had been wifely applied ? He propofed to en-
quire into thefe particulars, and Rich enquiry oa
the face of it is the more neceffitry, as thole fob.
tidies have been iarge in their amount, have been
unfuccefsful in their application, and have even
been attended with unexampled calamity to thole
whom they profelfed to aid. If we look hack to
the relation of the overtures of Bonaparte, we !hail
find more grounds of enquiry and =fore. I re.
member when the correfpondence on this fubjeCt
was firft under difcuffion in this Houle, fey ..t1
Noble Lords declared that they jullitied by their
votes the conduCt of Minifters on that occation,
upon the general confidence they repofed in them,
though they regretted that the queftion had at all
been fuhmitted to the confideration of Parliament.
That rejeaion having been attended with to much
calamity, every arument on which it was juttified
having been confuted by experience, it becomes
the duty of thofe Noble Lords to enquire into the
merits of a meafure which they allowed to pats
unqueftioned on grounds of confidence. The No-
ble Duke, however, comes to the battle of Ma-
rengo, and infers that if the Auftrians had but
gained that battle, every thing would have gone
well •, the Throne France would have been re-
eftablithed. But fuppoting, though not atimiuiej
dick conclufions, will it be faid that it was pru.
dent, after the battle of Marengo, to inftigate the
Aultrians to perfevere in the contelt f After their
defeats in Germany, and the difafters of the•whole
campaign, was it juftifiable in Minifters to drive
Auftria to the hazard of new difgrace and ditafter ?
Is it not worth while to ateertana whether, on the
Litt propofals of the French Government for peace,
Auftria called upon us to refute to negociate ? It
is important to know whether, at the tame time
when we refuted Meiling to the overtures of Bo-
naparte on pretence of good faith to our ally, we
were not employing every intrigue to prevail on
the Emperor to pertivere in the contelt, and to
give us rut excufe for declining- negociation : If
melt was the fait, the 'dotal nr the feparate
overture in Clacber !aft can be imputed to Tr?.
C.:ins but the determir.ation of Minifters to that
the door againd all attempts of accomrnoda.
tion. Is it not fit to enquire, likewite adictiar
it was not for the advantage of Auftria that we
Mould have accompanied her in a feparate ne-
, gociation, and whether, if that courfe had beta
purfued, Europe might not have enjoyed the
mg, of peace? Betides, was not the Northern Cor.-
fee'leracy known by Minifters to be then under slit-
cutlion ? Did they not know that Prudia was en-
pg.:A in that transaction ? Were not all there 6.--
cumfiances fo many additional reafons why it Neu
the more defirable to conclude peace before the
enemy was firengthened by to many new allies;
be-
fore accommodation was rendered more difficult
by the introduaion of fo many new points of du:
pute ? The Noble Duke contended next, that the •
various expeditions which undertook,have
been advantageous to the country. This we know,
that to form the armies which were employed :a
thefe enterprizes, the ()Item of the Militia, the
conllitutional defence of the country, was brok,:t
down. It' the meafures alluded to were conceived
with judgment and executed with (kill, it is to be
lamented- that the refult was not attended with
greater ludre to our armies and greater ben* to
the country. The Noble Duke, in allufion to the
attack on Ferrol, gives a fingular instance of tare
benefits of our diverfion. He fay% we went there
to make a defcent, and found an army ready to
receive us. This indeed affords a curious illuflra-
don of the wifdom and information ender which
the expedition was planned. The Noble Duke de-
fends likratife the conduit of the officer by whom
the expedition was conduced. lam not &loafed
to throw the blame on that gallant officer; but if
I were anxious to Pave his reputation, I &mild de-
precate that fort of defence which the Nobk Duke
has employed. The great point for enquiry it,
whetherthe expedition was wifely planned, whe-
ther it was not formed on bad trmatican, and
that which was not likely to fucceod ? It isnot the
objea of my Noble Friend's motion to du:
credit upon the officers of this conntry, =
amine into the condutt of its affairs, and to fix tt:
blame where it may be due. But the Noble Doke
rays, the expedition had a farther deBiaatiots. We'