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

was not prepared to refift the etteroachnsents of
France, he hoped a day would come. when Auftria
would be in a ntuation to oppofe the encroachments
of France, which, if (offered to proceed, mull ter-
minate in the utter fubjugation of all Europe. While
Austria, our natural ally, had fo great an intereft in
the prefervation of Switzerland from the dominion
of France, it could not be confidered an objeft foreign
to our concerns to purfue that end. In was at leaft
the duty of his Majefty's Government to try what
effeft might be produced by interfering in favour of
Switzerland. Nor had their interference been nfelefs.
He had the fatisfaftion of raying that fome of the 1,
moll refpeetable perfons in Switzerland'hactexpreffed
their opinion, that to the interference of this country
they were indebted for every thing they had avoided
ofdegradation and ruin ; tothatinterference were they
indebted fora voiding being incorporated with France,
or being, under Come title or denomidation, placed
direaly under the dominion of the perfon who was
Firtt Conful of France, and Prefident of the Ita-
lian Republic. The Right Honourable Gentleman
next adverted to the arrogant demands which had
been brought forward by the Firft Conful refpeaing
the Prefs of this Country—that demand had, howe-
ver, been rejefted with becoming dignity; but, when
fuch a difpofition had been (hewn in an affair of that
nature, it enabled us to anticipate what would be
the temper with which other objeas of difeuffion
would be taken up. He then proceeded to read and
copment upon various paffages of the correfpon-
dence, tending to (hew the (pith of infult with which
the French Government had edited, and the temper-
ance and forbearance with which every objea of com-
plaint had been difcuffed by this country. Alluding
to Malta, he (hewed from the papers the [hong defire
expreffed on different occafipns by this Government,
foon after the ratification of the Definitive Treaty, to
carry into effeft its provifions. Our Minifters at Pe-
terthurgh, Berlin, Vienna, had been inftrufted to ap-
ply for the guarantee of thofe powers, while the French
Government treated it as a matter not worth notice.
He next mentioned Sebaftiani's repent; upon the hof-
tile tendency and dangers which it manifelled,,he
would not enlarge. But not only by that evidence of
hoftile mind. but by other circumftances were Mini-
tiers juftified in diltrufting the views of France, and
in taking meafures of precaution at the time the Mef
Page from the Throne upon the fubjeft was refolved
upon. It appeared upon a comparifon of the ex-
pence: of the French, naval and military, for the laft
three years, that the expence of the prefent year was
confiderably the moll expenfive. The eftimate of
that expence was given out by the French Govern-
ment the 4th Feb. fo that this alone formed a fufficiene
jollification of our arming. In a word, Sebaftiani's re-
poet was a plain, &Rine, barefaced declaration of the
Fait Conful of his contempt for the treaty of Amiens,
and warned us of his intention to break it the firft
opportunity. The language which the Firit Conful
held in the interview which Lord Whitworth had with
him on the 25 ft of February added freffi confirmation
to all former fufpicions. In thefe circumftances it was
obvious that no fatisfaaion was obtained, that if the
Britilh troops fhould evacuate Malta, it would be fafe '
and independent. But nererthelefs, in refuting to
evacuate the ifland, we only anted for additional fe-
curities. We offered to concur in any other fatisfac-
tory arrangement which might have been propnfed.
—lt was the bufinefs of the French Government, by
whole means the treaty relative to Malta could not
be executed, to make fome offer in which we could
have agreed to withdraw our forces. Nay, he was
fore that there was not a fingle individual in his Ma
jetty's Councils who would not be ready Hill to ac
cept any propofal which could fatisfy the national
ht Hour, fecure our juft interefts, and afford a rea-
fonable profpea, not of permanent, but of solid peace.
Bnt fence no (itch propofal had been made, we ought
to prepare for the only alternative that remained.—
We ought to fortify and firengthen our minds for the
arduous contefk; and if the Houfe (offered themfelves
to be unnerved by fuch topics as thole on which the
Hon. Gentleman had expatiated, and to be deluded
by the hopes of peace to which he Rill direfted them,
they would not decide wifely for the public cattle, nor
difcharge the duty with which they were entrulled.
He was defirous at the fame time of irnpreffing
upon the Houfe that he could afic for the fuppott
of no man who was not prepared for great ef
forts.—As it had yefterday been fo eloquently en-
forced, we mull make provifion for our domeftic
fecurity. Many would be obliged to (ohmic to great
facrifices, and perhaps to contribute their perfonal
exertions, in order that they might at laft obtain
fecurity for the bleffings we enjoyed and a chance
of obtaining the advantages of unditlurbed peace.—
For this purpofe it was necetfary to look our fituation
fairly in the face. As a means of railing the country
to that temper and fpirit fo effential to the fupport of
the caufe, he eras extremely anxious that the vote
fhould be unanimous. He (till indulged a hope that
the Hon. Gentleman who made, and thole who fup-
ported the Amendment, would Rill make a facrifice
for the ca untry The difference between the Addrefs
and the Amed Intent was fo flight, that to read them
to ten intcllig lit perfons out of doors, they could
fcarce find ou where they dilligrced. At any rate
the difference was nothing, compared with the im•
portance of unanimity. There was nothing that
implied approbation of Nlinitiers. Then what could
be the motive for depriving the country of the bene-
fit of a unanimous vote when enteting upon fo ardu-
ous a struggle.
Sir Last/Ai NCI. PARSONS cenfitred the conduit of
the Fitts Conful in vet y ftrong terms, and approved
of the motion fur the Addtefs.
Thc ATTORNEY GENERAL followed in a very ani-
mated and able fpeech.
Mr. WINDHAM (poke at confiderable length in fa-
vour of the motion. He took occafion in the cootie
of his fpeech to make a variety of intemperate rake-
Lions on the fpeech of the Honourable Gentleman
(Mr. Fox) which he condemned as one of the moll
mirchievous ever delivered within the walls of this
Houfe. The allufions which the Right Honourable
Member made were confidered of fo perfonal a na-
ture that they called up
Mr. W. Sutra. who vindicated the charaaer of
his Honourable Friend from the foul afperGons of the
Right Honourable Gentleman. This produced an
acknowledgment from Mr. Willows' of his error.
who attributed it to the heat of debate, and *lured
Mr. Fox he meant nothing perfonal.
Mr. Fox. with great candour, expelled his mug-
Ws to accept of the apology.