The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-04-10

There could be no such hope nationally en-
tertained and all that was circulated ON
the subject was complete deluson prac-
tised, hope not by, but Upon. those who
entertained it. France. in her old situation
before the>revolution, as every man acquaint.
ed with the history of that country knows,
was sufficiently strong to make head against
any confederacy that could be entered into
in opposition TO her. If she was thus strong
before the revolution, she was by the peace
at Amiens, in situation which nothing but
some great change i'm the continental af
fairs. or the state of France herself, could
afford to any man we'll grounded hope that
resistance could be effectually opposed to
her.
Under these circumstances, what was the
probable mischief of renewing the contest (?
You was anticipating your own harvests-
you was urging powers to recommence
war which they were by no means capable
OF carrying ou-you was hindering pow
ers who were friendly to you. and who, if
you had suffered them to enjoy a little re.
pose. might, probably. have effectuatcd a
change in the situation OF Europe, and of
making an opening, Of which this country
might have availed herself, for vigorous and
successful CO operation. If it was your poll
cy that the powers Of the continent should
recruit themselves, what was it with res
pect to your own situation You had been
relieved by a short truce from war, the
pressure of which had borne harder on your
finances than any former war. i speak not
with reference to numerical accounts, but
speak of ostensibie effects; and say. that.
as to ostensi5le effects, the last war pressed
harder upon the country than any war in
which it had ever been engaged before
linen what was the obvious policy you ought
to have pursued : You ought to have "a
vailed yourselves of the advantages which
God and nature had given you and to
which under the circumstances you were pia-
ced in, the dictates of wisdom & common pru-
dence suggested you ought to have confined
yourselves with the most scrupulous CARE
BY So doing, and by adopting that system in
the first year of the present war. your ex
pences were brought within limits which
the country might have endured. Since
you have departed from it. your expences
have ehcreased to an amount which it is la
sncntab'e TO contemplate In the first year
OF the war, an attempt was made to adopt
system of husbandry and nconomy-it
succeeded completely and if it had been
perseyered in, you might have gone on with
out additional pressure on your finances, &
you were still alive to the moment which
would give the enemy the most formidable
resistance. You were alive TO the moment
40 say. the state of my naval force enables
the country to withstand all the attempts of
she enemy, and its financial state is adequate
TO defensive war, as long as it may be
protracted, NOT only without any addition to,
Dat gradual alienation of, its burdens. So
With respect to that system, yoar lordships
read the gloomy libeiS which are issued
from the press. Those who established that
system were succeeded by his majesty's pre-
sent ministers, who took care to tell you that
the course of their predecessors was to be
looked at, not to induce them to labor to
the same salutary end, &c to keep within the
bounds OF peace, but as beacon and land :
mark by which to steer directly opposite. =
That by their efforts on the continent of Eu-
rope, they were to rescue the nations from
slavery, and the oppression and power of
the enemy. We have now been brought to
the test of expericncs-we have had three
years of vigor and enterprise; aud for three
years these men have had the unlimited
com nand of the councils and treasures of
the country, and. grieve to say, the unli.
mited disposal Of the lives of the army and
navy. What 4 terrible account have they
TO render-what dreadful account have
you to demand of them? and what dread
full account have you, in your turn, to rem
. der to the country
Then, say, not by our system, but heir
own, against the experience of three years,
against all reason, against all knowledge of
the state OF Europe, against every argument
drawn from the past, they embark large
expedition on the continent, with the hope
of afording support to our allies-with a
hope, which, in the last debate, we were told
by noble lord using phrase no less mag
nihcent than the expedition was, to effect
:" the deliverance of Europe"-Now, see
what this dcliverance of Europe has come to
See what his majesty's ministers have eff
fected. BE not satisfied with superficial in.
formation alone: but be satisfied what has
been the waste of treasure and the sacrifice
of lives by which his majesty's ministers
have contrived to render the British nation
the derision and scorn of all the surround
ing Countries. ! must remind YOU, tn at this
address contains a distinct pledge to pursue
a continental warfare. Do not take my as
sertio1--lpok at the words of the address
8: you will perceive, that, after al the dsgra
ces you have suffered. these men have the
conscience to say, not only that you shall not
enquire into the past, but that you shall sup
pnrt the kings minister's in the prosecution
O! this war, Of the miseries of which this
Country never before had an exarnple. You
are to believe, that what they failed to do
under better auspices, that which they fail
ed to do when Austria was at war and when
the other countries Of the continent were
unsubdued, is to be Effected now, when Aus
tria and those Countries have ceased 10 be in
dependent powers--rou are to hazard
your armies--.o hazard the lives of {. GOO
men---ind for what purpose !---n the
vain, delusive expectation of being able to
contend against the military power Of France
Unless your minds are intoxicated by fail
mr. her urp tNsy