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

difplaYed in the introduction of this Motion for a'
Committee, the charaderiltic of the Houfe is fuch as
to afford no encouragement to the Hon. Member—
. pledge which the Houfe has advanced, it will
not renounce. Faithful to its folemn engage-
ments, it is not likely that it will rescind its former
vote, to gratify the inordinate ambition of thofe
who would grafp the reins of Government. From a
Noble Lord with whom I have the honour of being
conneded, I differ this night in fome effential points.
I with it to be clearly undeeftood, that thofe who
fupported the late Adminiftration, and who now
propofe voting this night for the inquiry, without
intending any prejudice, are by their kindlier's in
favour of the Committee, ailing the moll unkind
and unfair part, without, perhaps, meaning to
produce the cenfurable effed. Our opponents may
on this occafion jocofely fay,that they Shall have the
benefit of the vote, while I fhall have the benefit of
the fpeech only! It may be thus inlinuated that they
with to bury me, by paffing me to condemnation.
But I and my colleagues, notwithstanding our
retirement from office, will, we hope, triumph
over the mantruvres of our opponents. In the
grand catalogue of bitter invedive, the New Mi-
niltry have not been forgotten. I remember a
fimilar occafion, when the Right I lon. Gentleman
(Mr. Fox) refigned, and when I had the honour
of being called into office. Thofc who condemned
the New Miniitry for the want of confidence, and
for the want of true conftitutional principles, aded
very unfairly. As far as the queition of confidence
went, they were men who could reconcile their
conduit to thofe who fupported the Lift Admini-
ftration. But why fo precipitately detrad from
the merits of our fucceffors? What would the world
fay, if at the head of that Adminittration—they
ffinuld find a Man (Mr. Addington) who could
conciliate efteem and command refped? A Man
who, accompanied by many other virtues, poffef-
fed the affedions of the mind in an eminent degree
—a man now, by his abilities, the Firft Lord of
the Treafury, and formerly by his virtues the Firit
Commoner in the Houfe—Such is the diftinguiffied
charader to whom fome Gentlemen refute their
confidence. If you will not try him by thefe rare
qualities—if you fill continue to deny him that
confidence to which his head and his heart are en-
titled—recolled that he quitted a fituation of the
&II public truft and confidence—recolleet that he
accepted his new honours from the moll pure and
difinterefted motives.—Another Member of the
New Adminiftration would not fuller by compa-
rifon—his Noble Friend (Lord Hawkelbury) who
now fat on the Bench under him, was well
known to the Houfe and the Country for a pre-
eminence of talents and virtues. With the moll
unremitting attention to bufinefs, he poffeffcd a
great and unbounded underflanding. With the ex-
ception of the Right Hon. Gent. (Mr. Fox) who,
from his feceffion is almoft a new Member, and
whole great and comprehenfive powers all mull
highly refpeet and admire—with the exception of
that Right Hon. Gentleman, who is there in the
oppofite ranks to whom my Noble Friend ought
to yield ? There is not a man among them who
fs his fuperior, and, whether in or out of the Houfe,
his abilities and his virtues may challenge a corn-
pat ifon. If another pledge be wanted for public
confidence, let he who is regulated by tke niceft
ferife of honour, and moll fcrupulous integrity, turn
his eyes to the Noble Lord who now holds the
Seals. He is well known not only to the Courts
, and to both Houfes of Parliament, but defervedly
high in the effimation of the country. If, therefore,
he he new to his prefent great elevation, he is
neither new nor ftrange to his fellow fubjefts.—
In the enumeration of the molt unexceptionable
charaBers,who formed the prefent Adminiftration,
he would, were he to proceed, tire the Houfe;
but, although lall, yet not leaf, he begged to
call the attention of thofe who attempted to de-
preciate the men now in quellion, to the Noble
Lord now at the head of the Admiralty. With all
his refpclt for the other Noble Lord who had jolt
retired from that department—and no man could
entertain a higher—he would afk, Was Lord
St. Vincent's name unknown to Parliament or to
the public ? No. Renowned in the annals of his
country for courage, capacity, and fuccefs againft
the common enemy, his Lordfhip is equally dd.
tinguilled for his (kill, vigilance, and adivity,
in the department now entrulted to his care. In
him there is a combination of talents very aufpi-
Cioll6 to the great ftruggle in which they are now
engaged. Ought not, therefore, the name of that
Noble Lord to be a shield and a bulwark to thofe
with whom he now alts, as no plan will be Ilene-
tinned by his Lordfhip that is not founded in
pan-it-4;lin, no meafure that is not fortified by the
rule of reditude ?—ln the contemplation of thele
mcn and thefe virtues—equal at lean to any fet of
men in or out of parliament, why refufe the pre-
terit Adminiftration the confidence.which they fo
pally dcfcrve ? Thofe who fupported the lall
Adminilliation cannot deny their cordial concur
renee to their fucceffors. They were aduated by
the very fame principles, and had the very fame
objefts in view. The caufe, however, was obvious.
The Gentlemen on the oppofite fide of the Houfe,
and who endeavoured to fcize the reins of Govern-
ment, were induced to their ftruggle for power by
principles of a very different defcription. They
were led to the combat by the promife of vidory ;
but their defired atchievements would not be fo
eafily accomplifhed—thofc who commanded the
eminence knew how to guard the pafs.—Having
laid thus much for others, may I be permitted to
deliver a few words about myfelf? the tante of my
refignation has been varioully defcribcd, candour
and prejudice operating in different extremes. I
limit not enter into a minute detail—Suffice it to
fay, that every man of real pride and dignity,
who feels he can do no important fervice to the
State, without the facrifice of effentialobjeds, fhould
withdraw from office. Unlefs he finds that he can
maintain his Situation without a defcrtinn of prir.-
ciplc, why MAU he continue to make efforts with-
out effeds ? Why (tmid he remain to he refitonfi-
ble for fyilems totally derogatory to his political
fertiments ? I therefore, reconciling my confcicnce
to the cci.olution which I was about to take, re-
C' ded as 1 advanced, on motives of true honour
silt lot d autbision. lam Oct afraid ofa fern-
ni: y ;lasi n.y 4-t-nd.i.!t. Were ter:t•iis charges made