Star.
London, England, 1803-05-25 00:00:00

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that, howevey nnjuftifiable the la was that it had
in it any inaredient of hoftility to this Country ?
If every which France takes to advance her
power or coufequence is to be deemed a proof of
hanky towards us, it would lead to a principle
of the moll extravagant kind indeed, tending to
produce alarm upon every improvement that might
take place in her finances, manufaaures, or coon
coerce, in every department of her civil or political
economy. In truth this is the plain tranflation of the
fentiments of fome Gentlemen, and it is a principle
which muff always urge to war, but can never lead us
to peace; it muff pufh on to extermination, for no.
thing fhort of it can allay the fears of thofe who look
at every advancement in the fources and power of
France as intended hoftility towards Great Britain.
But to return to the fubjea of Switzerland, I repeat,
that a war upon the ground of the violence of the
Fiat Conful toward that country, would not prima
facie be juftifiable. I would be very forty that it
fhould have been thought of, under the then peculiarly
unfavourable circumftances of Europe; but even were
thofe circumftances much left unfavourable, I fhould
deprecate a war, though I would have cheerfully
taken any other meafures in the power of the coun-
try to relieve the Swifs. I would not even go to
war to affift the gallant ftruggles for liberty, hecaufe I
,fhould be perfuaded that our efforts could not avail • '
for although you fhouldfucceed in perfuading the Axil:
trians to join you in fuch a war, I would not approve
of it, for this reafon, that I know your prsfifed (+tied
would be to reftore the Swift to their liberties; and
as I would be convinced of the hypocrify of fuch a
profeOon, I could not like it. goodnefs of a
caufe, if that caufe be alledged merely as a pretence,
can have no weight with me. I cannot, therefore,
attend much to the lofty language now held with re-
fpea to Switzerland, and other topics, which appear
to be preffed into the fervice of Minifters for a parti-
cular purpofe. They ferve to fwell the lift of charges
againft France, and to give a colour of popularity to
the objeas of the war; and they alto afford fome
variety to the fubjea of debate. We fhould grow
dull if we were to he always talking of Malta ; it
was not thought of fufficient magnitude to intereft
us or the country, and therefore Switzerland is
called in as an auxiliary; though, had the Minut-
esm prefented by Lord Whitwoi th to the French Go-
vernment been agreed to, the poor Swift would have
been quite forgotten, they would have been left in the
lurch. There is alto another fubjea referred to by
the advocates for the Addrefs, which to this country
is much more a queftion of immediate intereft—l
mean Holland—and the revere injuftice done to that
country by France. was certainly not to be equalled
by any thing, unlefs where the difference of colour
alone has Phut up the hearts of mem The behaviour
of the French Government towards Holland is un-
doubtedly the blackell fpot in itsc.haraiter—to make
that country a depot for its trooptcagainft apofitive
treaty, and Merely for the pitiful purpofe, as I fin.
cerely believe, of having them paid and fupported
by the Dutch, and to five the French Government
that amount of expence. An Honourable Gentle-
man had. called Holland the out-poll 9£ Great Bri-
tain—how far that term is applicable, or of whit
particular confequence that country really ti to Eng-
land, is a queftion which I (hall net now difcufs, nor
!hall I dwell on the fttange reafoning, that the
French had their troops in Holland by way of lira-
tagem, in order to prevent any alarm in this caontry
when they fhould fed it neceffary, for any treache-
'Mos purpofe, to introduce a larger number in that
quarter with any view to location, &c. But I will
fay, that Minifters ought to have taken the higheft
grounds in remonftrating upon this fubjea. What
ought to have been their precife courfe I cannot now
judge. The people of Holland ought at all events to
have been confulted ; but the main thing to attend
to was the time of remonftrating and the manner. It
Mould not have been deferred until after his Majefty's
Melfage was delivered to Parliament, for after that
the French Government muff naturally be prefumed
rather unwilling to concede to it ; and as to the man-
ner, it ought to have been public and open, and it
ought to have been communicated to every Court in
Europe. It would Rill, I admit, be a problem whe-
ther the defired effea would be produced ? but fuch a
• mode of proceeding would at kart promife a more
favourable iffuc than keret or verbal communications.
It would, at all events, intereft by its magnanimity,
sad probably conciliate the co-operation of fome of
the other powers of Europe ; it would alto gratify the
feelings of the Dutch people, and would, in cafe a war
fhoold ante, thew to the people of France that the un-
jolt perfeverance of its Government in keeping troops
in Holland, was the cattle. Thofe material conk-
quenees might have been produced had Minifters not
miffed the proper opportunity for the attempt to pafs
by. The detention of the French troops in Holland
was not left unjuft, than the attempt to reduce the
Viand of St. Domingo to its former Rate of fish-
jugation was abfurd. Sending out troops on that
expedition was not left an imputation upon the pru•
dance of the French Government than keeping troops
In Holland was a Rigma on its character and claims to
rept*. He agreed with Miniften, and of courfe dif-
fered with the Right Hon. Gentleman on the lower
bench (Mr. Windham) that looking only to objeas
of pulley, this Country had no reafon to murmur at
that expedition. It was indeed on the whole a very
indifereet and culpable projea for France, and their
conduit to the man who once commanded them, I
mean Teufaiot, was the deepen charge upon the re-
putation of the French Government. That expedi-
tion, when the French and Britith Governments were
on good terms, afforded to Minifters a fine opportu-
sky, of which, had the bah habits, had the habitual
wickedoefs of Europe permitted, they might have
availed themfelves to ure the complete exter•
urination of that dreadrr evil the Have trade, but
it does sot teem that Minifters have been in gene-
ral very judicious in the choice of their time and
objeas. All the complaints which Gentlemen now
dwell on, including the occupation of Parma and
Placentia, are of little comparative weight, in my
judgment, with the condua I have alluded to relative
to Holland. Now' as to the intuits to this country,
raid to have been offered by France, I (hall fire
notice that with refpea to the Liberty of the Pres.—
Iltis is a privilege I cannot be fufpeacd of a willing-
Deft to furrender. Far from giving it up to a foreign
Government. I would not content to give it up to our
own. The propofition of France upon this point, no
doubt, betrayed a complete ignorance of the principle
of our oonbtotion, butt the propoGuon was tcf et,'

and France acquierced in the reilifal. This propori-P
tion, therefore, is not now to be mentioned for an in-
fult, or evidence of hoftile mind. France, however, I
mutt fay, has much reafon to complain of the liberty
or rather licentioufnefs of the Prefs, in this country,
and fc, perhaps, has this country too—yet, I would
endure a partial evil rather than fuller this invaluable
privilege to be curtailed. But the Prefs certainly
has, for fome time back, contributed its utmoft in-
duftry to excite difgult and irritation in the public
mind of both countries, and produced a bitternefs, a
feeling that tended to do away, in a great meafure,
the effeets of peace, and prepared the people for war.
I Lhould be glad, however, if hoftilities were con-
fined to this reciprocity of abufe among the papers of
both countries. In the belt poems of the belt poets,
there is a portage which defcribes two combatants
engaged, and the Goddefs of Wifdom interfered,
advifing them ftrongly to lay abide their fwords, to
ceafe that kind of conteft, but that they might go
on in ahufing each other as much as they pleafed.—
Such was the advice of the Goddefs of Reafott herelf,
[A laugh], and fuch was that which I gave fome time
fence in this Houfe to both countries, and I would to
GOD my advice had been followed. That abufe had
been the only warfare between them; and they might,
to site a phrafe from the Poet I have already referred
to, interchange as many fhip loads of abufe as they
pleated. Here the Hon. Gentleman took notice of
the retaliation of the French Newfpapers on the abufe
contained in the journal., of this country. As to
the demand, to fend the French refugees out of this
country, he reprobated in the molt forcible terms
the idea of acceding to any fuch requeft t it would
lead, probably, to a dreadful reciprocity of expul- i
lion, including every man in each country who WAS an
exile for his principles. If the French were fo fent
from this country, the Irifh fugitives would, no doubt, ,
from gratitude on the part of the French Govern-I
ment, be fent from France, and perhaps both thole
Governments, uniting their influence, would be able
to hunt both thefe unfortunate claffes of men from
every flate in Europe, and to render it impollible for
them to procure an afylum any where. It could not
be fuppofed that he had any very great refpekt for
the family of the Bourbons ; but yet he would rather
engage in aftual war, than confent to refute the rights
of hofpitality to the worft man of that family, if
there was a bad man among them. Yet however !
much he regarded the rights of isofpitality, he would I
obferve, that it would be very correct in Government
to afk borne explanation of any foreigners of creep-
tionable charaEler who might be found in the country.
And he underltood it to be generally (toted among
the people at Paris, that there were three perfons refl.
dent in this country who were concerned in the at-
tempt on the Firft Conful, by meansof the infernal ma-
chine.- —There is a circumftance which appears to me
throughout the whole of the dikulllons to have been
totally overlooked. It is not now my intention to
dwell on it ; but it may not be unimportant to recall
it to the Tecate:ion of the Houfe. I mean to allude
to a fpeech of the Firft Conful to the Swifs Deputies,
in which he tells them that there is to exult no fort of
connexion betwixt this Country and England. I do
not affirm pofitively that fuch language was eniployed.
I have read it in an Engliflt newfpaper ; and all that
',have to remark on fuch language is, that I think it
prefented a very fair ground of more remonhance.—
I mention the circumllance incidentally, and do not
with at prefent to prefs it. Minifters, by prefenting
Weft a remonarance, would have taught the Firft
Conful the propriety of henceforth abftaining from
language of fuch an offeofive defcription. There are
two other incidental points on which I with to offer a
very few obfervations. The one of thofe is the paffage
in the expole of the Elate of the Republic, prefented by
order of the Government to the Legiflative Body, in
which an opinion is expreffed, that England fingle-
handed is unable to contend with France. I confefs
that I ftrongly condemn all expreffions of this kind.
They only encourage and keep alive a mutual fpirit
of afperity and recrimination. In his opinion it was
much more wife and dignified to pafs them over
with the contempt which they merited. 3ut if they
were at all to be taken notice of, it difcovered much
greater magnanimity to make them the ground of
an immediate demand for fatisfaltion, than to buffer
them to be rankling in the minds of the people, and
allow them to be brought forward from time to time
as a fource of irritation. In the one cafe, there is at
lea(' a difplay of keen fenfibility of anger again(' in-
built. In the other there is the expreffion of no
manly feeling. The other point to which I allude,
is a part of the Report of Colonel Sebaltiani. In
one paffage of this report there is brought forward
a charge, conveying a direEt accufation again(' Ge-
neral Stuart for incapacity. Such an accufation I
cannot but confider highly unmanly on the part of
the individual by whom it was adduced, as it is a
charge of that kind which, while it cannot but deep.
ly wound the feelings of him to whom it is applied,
it may not admit of any precife anfwer. Fortunately,
in the prefent cafe, the charge is one which admits
an eafy refutation, for the charaBer of General
Stuart, as an able and experienced officer, was inch,
1 that he could not buffer from any malignant infirm-
tions thrown out with the molt finifler purpofes.—
I The other charge brought again(' General Stuart,
for giving encouragement to affiaffination, is one of
ra more ferious mum% and one which affuredly de-
manded, on the part of Minifters, a fatisfaCtory ex-
planation from the French Government. Whether
Miniflers demanded or obtained this explanation, I
have not the means of afcertainiag ; but I have no
fort of difficulty in baying, that the charge was of
that ferious kind which made a remonffiance highly
lexpedient. I have thus briefly gone through the
review of the conduit of the French Government, to
far as foreign States are concerned, and the inftances
of peculiar infults which are alledged to have been
offered to this country by the ufe of reprehenfible
language. I have now to advert to two others of a
very different nature. Now, Sir, fir& as to the in-
juries offered to our (hips, and the refufal to grant
adequate redrefs : In judging of the extent of thofe
pretended infults and injuries, it is neeeffiary to al:
certain how far they arofe nut of the operation of
inimical laws, or from the feverity of their applica-
tion. In the firft place, I contend, if the exiftence
of inch law is made a ground of complaints, thofe
complaints are unwife and impolitic. I Hand up for
the rights of all independent nations to eftablifis fuch
excluffwe laws for the potation of their commerce,
as may appear to them to be molt calculated to in.
fuze their property, if no treaties of commerce are is

eaißeace. This country, Sir, has always atled on*
this principle. Will it be Paid, Sir, that we, at no
period, have abufed this right to a degree equal, if
not greater than any other power ? Is not the whole
of our Navigation Act, eftablifhed by Cromwell, and
ailed on by the Kings who were his fueceffors, i
founded on this principle, and had it not been under
the provifionsi of this aft that our commerce has con-
tinned to maintain its afcendancy ? On the general I
principle we have therefore no right to complain. If, ,
on the other hand, the rights and property of indivi- 1
duals have been violently and unju Illy inveded, it was t
the duty of Ministers to have alked and obtained im-
mediate reparation. If this reparation has been afked i
and obtained, I fee no reafon why thefe complaints :
fhould make their appearance in the Declaration.—
If the reparation has been afleed and refufed, I afk
why Minifters have not made a feparate and dillind
communication to the Houle on the fubjeft ? Of all I
the grounds of remonftrance which could exit, any
infult offered to a Britifh fubjed is one on which they
might above all others reckon on fupport. As to
the appearance of a number of French officers in this
country, under the oftenfible name of commercial
commiffioners, but under the real character of military
(pies, I have no difficulty whatever in declaring
that, the moment the fad was known, they ought to
have been inflantly difmiffed, and their difmiffal
ought to have been accompanied with a remon-
ftrance to the French Government, demanding a fa
tiZadory explanation of the grounds of their mil-
lion. It may be laid by Tome perfons that it is rather
extraordinary that in profeffing myfelf to be warmly
the friend of peace, and who made it a point to be
regular in my attendance in my duty on Parliament,
with the view of contributing all in my power to its
prefervation, I Mould, entertaining filch an opinion,
never once bring the fubjed under conftderation.—
To this, Sir, my anfwer is extremely Pimple, and it
is neither more nor lefs than this—that I knew no-
thing at all of the circumftance, and Miniflers, by
never bringing it before the Houle, gave a tacit con-
feflion that they did not think it a matter worthy of
Parliamentary dircuilion. A good deal had been
fial about the Manifeßo againft this country which
appeared in one of the Hamburgh papers. I think
it the lefs neceffary to take up the time of the Houle
with many obfervations on this point, becaufe when
our Ambaffador remonftrared on the fubjed, an af-
furance was given that the French Government had
not countenanced the publication, and had not au-
thorized the Reps which the French Minifter had
taken in the buftnefs. A further affarance was alfo
given that his conduit fhould be ftridly inquired into,
and full reparation given for the Injury received.—
Now. Sir, as I have no realon for thinking that this
proniife would not have been carried into died, if
the Atte of the Negotiation had been favourable, I
fee no ground of complaint on this part of the con-
duet of the French Government. The language em-
ployed by the Firlt Cainful in his interview with
our Ambaffador, has been the fubjeft of much dil-
cuflion. Gentlemen teem to confider if as decifive
of a fpirit of hoftility, which completely juflifies
the renewal of hollilities to counteraft his ambi.
tious views. There is one converfation at a pub.
lie audience at the Thuilleries, which is trium•
phantly held np in fupport of this opinion. This
converfation has been very varioufly Rated. and
certainly the accounts of feveral perfons prefent at
the time when it took place, reprefent the language
employed in terms confiderably different from thole
in which it is defcribed in the papers on the table.
But, Sir, admitting the language employed to be pre-
cifely what is defcribed, I do contend that it does
not at all warrant the inference drawn from it. Whe-
ther it is really a fubjeCt of dread, that a rival whore
ambitious views we contemplated with jealoufy,
fhould take no pains to difclole thole views, appears
to me very doubtful. But if Minifters really think
that fine the Treaty of Amiens the ambitious views
and infolent pretenfions have rendered the continu-
ation of Peace impolfible, I really am at a lots to ac-
count for the language which they have ufed on more
than one occalion. The Houfe cannot have forgot.
ten the language employed by a Right Honourable
Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer). when,
at the dale of the IA year, he laid before the Houfe
fo flourifffing a piiture of the financial profperity of
the country. It was impoffible, from any part of his
' language on that oceafion, to draw any other infe-
rence than that he withed the Houfe to. believe—
that there was not the kali room to apprehend the
rupture of the Peace. This opinion, Sir, was proved
by fans much Itronger than the recollation of any
individual Member of the Houfe. The general ex-
peflation excited throughout the country was, that
we were in a Rate of profound Peace; that there was
no reafon to fear the renewal of hollilities. In addi-
tion to the evidence drawn from this fpeech, I might
call the attention of the Houfe to the orders at that
period fent out for the fecond time for the evacuation
of the Cape, and the difpofition then manifefted
to give up Malta in terms of the Treaty. I will
not take upon myfelf to fuppore, that Minißers
gave thefe orders, or difplayed this difoofition at the
time when they had any real apprehenfion that the
peace between the two countries thould be dilturbed.
The natural queßion here preffes itfclf on our atten-
tion, therefore, what were the circumftances which
on the Bth of March led to a Meffage preparatory to
the renewal of hoftilities t I know, Sir, in anfwer to
this queftion, it will be Paid, that a number of aft'
which taken tingly would be infrifficient to jullify the
renewal of hoßility, may form an accumulated mars
of infult and injury, which will be confidered a very
legitimate ground of war. This principle, in certain
cafes, I am not unwilling to admit. I do not mean
to deny that the left ground of complaint on which
the Rand is made, may frequently not be in itfelf fo
ftrong as many others which preceded it. I have not
forgot the old adage—that the left ounce often breaks
the horfe's back, and that a fingle feather may turn
the balance. I do not fee, however. how Minitters
are to bring this principle to their aid. They have
not held any loch language. If the French have col-
lated a mail of infult, and outrages which Minifters
forefaw would lead to war, the queftion cootlantly
recurs—why, on to many octagons, fusee the figna
ture of the Treaty, they have flattered the nation
with the profpeet of continued peace, and thus pro-
duced confequeaces of the moll dilations kind ?
But now we come to the direa ground of war as laid
down by Minifters. Before I proceed particularly to
advert to this fubjeft, I think it neceffary to advert
to ons or two things wlf.:11 have been introduced into

rthe &reunion. Opinions, Sir, hive on more than
one occafion during the dircutlion of this evening,
been fluted relative to the importance of retaining
Malta in our poffellion. I cannot help thinking that
a great deal of the language employed on this fubjett
is perfectly extravagant, and nut at all founded on
a fober and confiderate view of the fubjeft. An
Hon. and Learned Gentleman oppofite (Mr. Dallas).
has spoken on this fubjeft with a degree of eloquence
which delighted, lout did not ftsrprize me, who have
had fuch numerous opportunities of knowing the ex-
celience of his powers. He concluded his fpeech by
recalling to the attention of the Houfe, that in fight-
ing for Malta we fhnuld fight for it as the key of
Egypt ; we should fight for Egypt as the key, of In-
di A—we should fight for India as the grand source of
the riches, the commerce, and the profperity of the
country. Now, Sir, I mull take the liberty of dif-
fering with the Hon.and Learned Gentleman on each
of there pofitions. Ido not admit that Malta is the key
of Egypt, that Egypt is the key of India, or that our
Indian pofreflions were the vital fources of the prof-
perity of the Empire. On the petition of the Hon.
Gentleman I (hall jug make a very few observations.
—What I (hall advance ref-peeling the importance
of Malta I (ball not afk the Houle to take tm my au-
thority. I (ball advance it on the authority of thole
whofe opinion muff ever have great weight in the
Houfe and the country. I will not now examine in
detail the opinion this day delivered on the fubjed by
an Honourable General (General Maitland), a friend
of mine, but I will refer to authorities higher than
any thing which relis solely on his opinion. Ido
remember, at the time when the Definitive Treaty
was direutred, that no lel; an authority than that of
Earl St. Vincent and Lord Neli;nl were produced, to
prove that the poffertim of Malta was not a confider-
ation worth continuing the war with a view of com-
manding influence in the Mediterranean, or watching
the defigns of the French with retpeet to Egypt. I
do alt.() recolleft that a very eminent defender of the
treaty (Mr. Pitt), while he filmed that ceffions were
neceffary for the purpofe of procuring peace, argued
that it was better that there cenions Mould take place
in the Mediterranean, and that the poffeflion of Trini-
dad would promote Brittfh intet efts and Britith views
much more effectually than the retention of Malta.
I have Paid, Sir, that I did not admit that Egypt
was neceltarily the key to our Indian pofreffions ; and
1 cannot but think that a degree of importance has,
from national and laudable sentiments, been attach-
ed to it which it does not in reality pates. The
invafion of Egypt by the French I always confider-
ed as a Sep, in every point of view, unwife and im-
politic. How far it was an object of importance to
expel them from the country, I than not now exa-
mine ; but certainly there is no man who can think
of the glory acquired by our troops in Egypt with
greater exultation than I do, and who is at all times
more convinced of the courage of our foldiers when
fairly led to the field. The memory of their ex-
ploits in Egypt has attached to that country ideas
romantic and fuperilitious, as a fpot where Bri-
tilh valour had been signally manifefted ; it has ac-
quired a value in the opinion of the public which
it never in any former period poffefred. It will
not be gravely afferted, that becaufe a Britith army
gained an illuttrious triumph over French veterans,
therefore Egypt was to be retained in our poffeffion,
or religioufly protested from invafion. The battle of
Blenheim is an event, the remembrance of which I
need not imprefs on the Houle, yet what would be
thought of a propolition for putting the field of
Blenheim into our peffeflion, becaufe it was formerly
the theatre of Britith glory? Aggrandizement was
certainly out of the quetlion, for if France had ag-
grandized herfelf in Europe, Great Britain, either by
death or conquest, had done the fame in India. Our
defence againft the charge of ambition mutt, there-
fore, be of the humorous kind defci ibed in one of
Foote's plays, where a Lady, whole challity was
more than fufpetted, declares, u that file had never
finned on this fide the Cape of Good Hope." If we
were prefted by the French Government, he was
afraid that we mutt recur to this geographical dlt
tinalon. But it teemed, that if France ever thought
of Egypt, this was a fufficient ground for War. It
was not fo in 1787, when M. de Vergennes openly
avowed his deligns on that country, and yet, inflead
1 of going to war, we concluded a Commercial Treaty
with that Minifter. We were bound by treaty, he mua
further obferve,to give up Malta. Out of three con-•
ditions two had been fulfilled. A Grand Mailer had
been eleEted, and a Neapolitan garrifon had been
landed. There remained only the point of the gut •
rantee, which certain Powers had refuted; but why
not comply with the terms of the Emperor of Ruffin?
Of what importance was the Maltefe Langue, what
rightly confidered, to this country, when to preferve
our faith clear and unblemifhed,itwas put into the op-
pofite scale? There confederations, it appeared, were
an deranged by the hollile rniffion of Sebaitiani to
Egypt and to Syria. That the publication of that
Report was politically indifcreet, he would readily
allow; but he mutt diflinguins between the defire and
the dears of Bonaparte to take poffe&on of that con&
try. During the reign of the Bourbons, there military
furveys were molt frequent; and neither in 49,
1763, nor 1783, could we have concluded aPeace with
that country, tf filch proceedings were to be confider.
ed as a fufficient came for War. Bonaparte had ez-
preffed his defire to petrels Egypt as a Colony, but
at the fame.time had exprefsly Dated, that it would
not be for his intereß to go to War for that objet.
He Paid that he could have taken it, but the fleet by
which this purpofe was to be accomplifhed had failed
at the time for St. Domingo. This was a proof that
the design, if ever tenon fl y entertained, was complete-
ly relinquifhed. The late Emprefs Catherine of Raf-
fia had avowed her &tiros upon Turkey; but if any
Minificr had propoted to make war upon her on that
account,firch a propofition would bethought to favour
of romantic niadnefs. liad we interfered for HA.
land, we fbould have flood on the generous fide, and an
Europe would have been intereiled in our behalf.
But it now appeared that we were playing a sordid
and fclfith game for Malta, and we were in con-
fequence as much intolated in our politics, as in
our topical &nation. Why not, he would A, fur-
render the yoke of Malta to Rufua :—Such a re-
quell could (cutely be refuted, and we &mid in
conkquence have the guarantee of that molt ref -
bie Potentate, not only for Malta, but Vly
for the peace of Europe. It might be that
=s
inch an application would be produ3ive of delay k
but what conic* we gain by prce:pitation ? If Fame

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tai commerce. her veirels would be as tangible at
ur t:h•mths hence as at the prefent moment. Why
. .

.I.,refit we bully for the purpofe of gaining a prornite
:hat we should retain that which we already pollef-
r,d ? In all the instances which he had quoted. he
law nothing like a fufficient cattle for War. But
it was laid that donap.ute had ufed infolent tan-
go .ge : he knew not nhere this was to be found.
Wh:n talking to Lnid Whitworth, and hinting at an
invafion, he raid," 'fliat the chances were too to one
against him, and that molt probably he and his troops
Mould be tent to the bottom of the lea." This corn-
ilaitit on our part reminded him of the language of
Dryden, who makes his extravagant Hero Almanza,
o,' r Drav,-canfrr, lay to his rival, when fpeaking of
'' hlittrefs,
Thou (halt not have her. Nay, thou auk not dare
To be fo impudent as to delpair
Ile would now fuppofe for the moment all danger to
his Wand and its dependencies entirely out of the
location in cafe of war, but he mull at the fame time
• equeft that Gentlemen would look back on what was
I,e internal flotation of this country during the latter
period of the late war, when every man, from the
villager up to the man of landed elate, felt the bur-
-lens of inexorable taxation. The prefent, we were
old from higb authority (Mr. Pitt) was to be a war
exertion beyond all precedent, and its burdens
null of courfe be proportionately great. This was
:he language not of a novice, but of an mail ; of one
who, having drawn the teeth and bled the veins of
its country, now confoled it by the affurance that it
. mull be put under the hands of a Rurdier praaitioner,
o undergo a more fevere operation. A fum equal
" :o the expences of the war was to be direly railed ;
he Income Tax was to be immediately railed, from
s tenth to a fifth probably of each man's gains or
eceipts. Every guinea was to be divided, and every
!rawer infpeited for this purpofe. And what were
he people to expels in return for this puristic ? Only
a number of fine fpeeches in that Houfe. There things
were fine, indeed, but he feared that they were To
dearly purchafed as to have loft all their relifh. This
fplendid difplay was limiter to that of the Emperor
of Morocco, who never put on his fine clothes but
when be was going to an execution ! And for what
was all this hazard to be incurred—for Malta ? What
imprefflon could we hope to make on France without
the aid of Continental Alliances ? The more we dif-,
trefied her finances, the more we diverted her im-1
menfe population from internal concerns, the more
dangerous we rendered her as a military power. He
hoped that the Houle, by adopting the Amendment,
and leaving open the door to Mediation and Negoti-
ation, would avoid the miferable alternative of War,
with all the calamities which it entailed upon mankind.
TheCo AN ceLLot ofthe Excntiayae raid thatmuch
as he admired the talents of the Hon. Gentleman, it
filled him with the utmoß regret to find that at fo
momentous I crifis the powers of his exalted mind
were employed to unhinge the country, and to excite
feelings in the people inconfiftent with their fituation
and the difficulties they had to encounter. It filled
him with regret to find that the elicit of the Hon.
Gentleman's exertions mutt be to deprefs that fpirit
and to difappoint that unanimity which were fo much
required. What elfe could be the effea of the Hon.
Gentleman's fpeech which had jug been delivered ?
What could be the confequence of direaing the at•
tention of the nation to thofe fufferings which operate
on the infinitive feelings of mankind, but to deaden 1,
their fenfe of national wrongs, and to difincline them
from the facrifices which a great Itruggle mutt in-
volve?
But he relied upon the good fenfe and forti-
tude
of the people of this country, that they would
not be car vied away by fuch delnfive arguments and
reprefentations. Hearn tied that they would feel the
injuries, the provocations they had fuffered, and the.
dangers, to which they were expofed ; that they would
tinderland the real caufes and the real objea of the
war. Although Minifters were not difpofed to fhrink
from any iaveßigation of their conduit, they had
framed the Addrefs in fuels a manner as they hoped
would procure an unanimous vote, becaufe the Ad-
drefs pledged the Houfe to fitpport his Majefty, with-
out betraying them in the molt dittant manner to ap-
prove the conduit of Minilters and their management
of the Negotiation. All they wifhed was,that a una-
nimous declaration might be obtained that the coun-
try at teal was right. In this hope, fo well founded,
he was lorry to find himfelf difappointed. He was
furprifed to hear tome of the reafons which were
given for preventing that unanimity. Lail night and
to-night lie found that Minifters were accufed of in-
fincerity in their endeavours to accommodate the dif-
ferences which had arifen with the French Govern-
ment. He was, indeed, much furprifed at this accu-
cation, becaufe it was altogether tine:paled. Unfor-
tunate!y there was a dais osf men, and among thefe
unfortunately fome for whom he entertained the h ighe ft
refpea, who thought Minilters were more fincere than
wife in their endeavours to maintain peace,confidering
how much they had endured with the hope of pre-
(crying and firengthening the peace which had been
concluded. Aware that this charge would be made,
te little thought, on the other hand, that any charge
could he made that Minifters had not been fincere
and uniform in their efforts to avoid the extremity of
war. The Right Honourable Gentleman then pro-
ceeded to comment at fome length on the different
joints which had been touched upon in the courfe
rf the Negotiation. He laid he was furprifed to
hear it laid, that Knitters had not taken tiers to
affil Holland, which was fit milerably oppreffed by
France, and that no remonttrances had been made
againft the treatment inthaed by the French Go.
vet nment. It was true, that in the correfpondence
with the French Government, in the first instance,
the behaviour of the latter to Holland was not fo
much infilted upon. But, Miniflers were not infen-
fbie to what rated in Holland. They had com-
munications on the fuhjea with Mr. Litton, and
the reafon of their forbeating to remonitrare poi
fibly was, that it a as the opinion of Mr. Litton, as
well as the pet tens in high hit:anons in that country,
that in the circuriftances in which Holland was
placed, any remontlrance to the French Government
would rather tend to render the opprellions of the
Dutch more fevere, inftead of obtaining them any
relief. With refire& to Switzerland, he contended,
that we had a flrong interelt in preventing the Swifs
. doted under the power of France. Switzer-
, • . Jilfgthjelt, in which Auftria was materially
, 414i)ke of that country mutt, in
• a 7 • 4--
greatea influence on the
tlhaag~a prcicr.: Aufbia
.p-•