difpofed to flatter and compliment the perfon who is now at the head of the French Government, but ftill I must say, that I could fee nothing in his conduct which led me to believe that it was bis policy to renew hoftilities. In this, Si, 1 am will ng to allow that I may have been deceived; but his tending at the time the remaining navy of France to St. Domingo, his expofing to large a portion both of his naval and military force, were furely pretty reafonable indications of a pacific fyftem; nor can it well be accounted for, but on a principle of peace. It has alfo been afferted, that in the difcuffion on his Majefty's fpcech, on the 2nd of November, an afiurance was expreffed by me, that there was no probability of a rupture What I then faid, Sir, was in answer to an hon. Gentleman, who obferved that he was concerned to fee that it was likely hoftilities would be renewed. All I affected on the occafion was, that I faw no probability of an immediate rupture at that time. Similar language is faid alfo to have been used by me when the question refpecting the income of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was under difenfion. I am fuppofed then to have obferved that we were in profound peace. That I mentioned our being at peace, I readily agree, Sir, but I do not think that I made ule of the word profound. The cir cumftance which led me to make ufe of the expreffion was an allufion to the language that was used in 1796, when the fame fubje&t was under the confideration of Parliament. It was then obferved that it was right to continue the reftrictions on the expenditure of his Royal Highnefs, on account of the extreme difficulties of the times. But I observed, on the occafion alluded to, that the reftrictions that might be proper in time of war, might as properly be done away in time of peace, and if I added the word profound, it was probably only from the ufual combination of the two words. No other expreffion of the nature hinted at has escaped my lips. Another converfation has alfo been referred to, which took place in a difcuffion on the Confolidated Fund. In that converfation 1 am again fuppofed to have faid, that I had no expectation that the war would be renewed What I faid then, Sir, merely referred to the ftate of our national and military ftrength, which I afferted was not intended to anfwer any views of ambition and aggrandizement, but had only in contemplation the affertion of our juft rights and the maintenance of the bleffings of peace. But I am cager, Sir, now to releafe the Houfe from any further reference to any language used by me. I with theni to reft their opinion

on

on better authority; let the Houfe, therefore, confult the records of Parliament, and they will there find what were the real fentiments of his Majefty's Minifters. Let them confult the fpeech of his Majefty at the beginning of the feffion, the addrefs, and even the amendment to the addrefs, which were moved on that occafion. Do they imply any thing like the opinion which I am afferted to have uttered? On the contrary, did not the fentiments there expreffed Create great anxiety in the minds of fome Gentlemen? Is it to be fuppofed that I fhould have expressed a perfect conviction that no renewal of hoftilities would take place, at a time when I was agreeing to a large naval and military establishment? Why then fhould thofe who propofed fuch precautions, be imagined to be wholly without any apprehenfion of war? This furely would argue a frange and unaccountable inconfiftency between their opinions and their meafures. The preparations then advifed and purfued, are therefore the best proof of what were the real fentiments of Minifters-and if that proof were not fufficient, an additional one might be found, Sir, in the obfervations which I made at the time it was propofed to renew the restriction on the cash payments of the bank, viz. that the state of Europe was the best argument that could be urged in favour of its adoption. Ministers were alfo accufed of not making formal communications to Parliament of the matters that gave rife to the difcuffions. Such communications might be attended with the worst effects, and therefore it was prudent to withhold them until the time came for making them with fafety. As to the application from Switzerland, it is true, Sir, that it took place before the meeting of Parliament, but it was then earnestly wished that no refiftance fhould be made on their part. Nor was there then any combination that could give any effect to a temonftrance in their behalf. When that combination afterwards took place, it was too late to make any fuccefsful remonstrance. It is not now my intention to enter into the difcuffion of all the points that have been referred to in his Majefty's declaration, and which have been confidered as juft cables of war. With regard to Holland, the right hon. Gentleman complained that ftrong and vigorous remonfrances had not been made for the removal of the French troops from that country. The contrary would appear from the inftructions given to Lord Whitworth. Hopes were given by Mr. Lifton, on the 5th November, that the French

troops

troops would evacuate Holland; but on the 12th that expec tation was difcouraged. The French Government expreffed a with that the troops deftined for Louifiana might continue fome time longer in the Batavian territories; with which with the Batavian Government feemed difpofed to comply; for they hinted a defire that we should forbear to interpofe in their behalf. On the fubject of the Cape of Good Hope, much, Sir, had been faid, and more value has been attached to that poffeffion than, perhaps, it deferves. In my opinion it is of much lefs value than other poffeffions which his Majefty's Minifters were anxious to retain; and in this opinion I have been confirmed by the concurrence of those who are best qualified to decide upon that question. Befides, the retaining of it would involve a large expence; for during the time we were in poffeffion of it, that expence amounted to no less than two million. Whatever its value might be eftie. mated at by others, I could never bring myfelf to imagine that we fhould forego for its fake the chance of retaining more valuable poffeflions. The right hon. Gentleman, in fpeaking of Malta, feemed to fuppofe that an engagement refpecting it had been entered into with Ruffia; no fuch engagement had taken place, nor any thing approaching to it, Previous to the conclufion of the preliminaries, a communication had been made to the Ruflian Government of the heads of the arrangement refpecting Malta: and then no objection was made to the arrangement, except to that part which related to a Maltefe Langue. We afterwards, indeed, agreed to adopt the Ruffian mode of electing the grand maf ter, and hopes were given by Lord St. Helen's that Ruffia would on her part confent to grant her guarantee, but these hopes were afterwards difappointed. But with respect to any other engagement, I may again repeat it, that there was none, and confequently there was no breach of faith on our part with respect to Ruffia. The right hon. Gentleman is also pleased to complain of the infults and indignities of fered to this country by the French Government; and of their difregard of our remonstrances against them, which, in his mind, is a fufficient ground for war. Whether they. have properly remonftrated against it or not, is amply fhewn by the papers now on the table: but that the difregard of fuch remonstrances is an adequate caufe of war, I cannot bring myself to agree with the right hon. Gentleman: Such difregard may indeed afford juft ground of jealoufy, of complaint and remonstrance, but not of war, as a variety of ex

amples

amples might abundantly prove; at leaft prudence and expe diency would not advife it to be held in that light. With regard to the commercial commiffioners, and the intention with which it appeared that they were fent into the British dominions, my noble Friend has remonstrated in the most fpirited terms, and he received a difavowal of the purpose for which they were supposed to be intended. But my noble. Friend did not ftop here; as foon as all hopes had vanished of concluding a commercial treaty, Government refufed to recognize them, and they were inftructed to remove from the country. The only one of them who attempted to remain, was fent away from Jerfey, by virtue of an order from the Secretary of State's office; and an intimation was fent to General Andreoli, that unlefs they all withdrew, force would be employed to compel them. Will it now be contended that no remonftrances have been made against the infults and injuries offered to the country by the French Government, or that they have been all difregarded? I venture indeed to hope, that if more energetic meafures have not been purfued, the Houfe will make due allowance for the difficulties in which Minifters were placed. Minifters anxi oufly wished to preferve peace, but notwithstanding that anxiety, the honour of the country was never committed, as the documents on the table will abundantly prove. They will exhibit, indeed, ftrong marks of forbearance, but not one of unbecoming weakness. While there remained a hope t of peace no communication was made to Parliament, becaufe it was thought, and I think juftly, that fuch communications would fruftrate rather than promote the attainment of the defirable object. What the condu&t of Minifters has been throughout, I hope, Sir, that the Houfe have now before them full and ample communications, and if a fingle document be wanting, by the help of which the condu&t of Minifters may be better elucidated, they hall feel it their duty to: the House to furnith it without delay. In my own and their. name I am now ready to fay, Sir, that in whatever light. they may be induced to behold their conduct, Minifters are ready to meet their decifion. We only call for a decision ; we do not venture to afk for approbation: we are anxious, however, to escape cenfure-if it be merited, we fubmiffively acquiefce in the fentence of the Houfe but if it be unme rited, let our minds be relieved from the charges which the refolutions now propofed hang over us, and let them go un-`/ fettered to the difcharge of thofe arduous duties of which

they

they are defirous to acquit themselves with zeal, dillgencej and fidelity. Let us know that we do not go forth in the eyes of the country branded with the stigma of the displea fure of the Houfe; or, if we have unfortunately incurred their difapprobation, let it be proved by a direct charge; if the Houfe fay the charge is not founded, our gratitude will be unbounded if they fay it is, we thall bow to the decifion with the confcioufnefs of having exerted our best endeavours to deferve a better fate.

Mr Pift then rofe, and spoke to the following effect:With the view, Sir, that entertain of the prefent question, I feel a confiderable difficulty to give a decided opinion, and the more efpecially fo, after the manly appeal of the right hon. Gentleman who has juft fat down, to the pofitive deci fion of the Houfe. If, Sir, I was prepared to give it in the ample manner called for, al (hould certainly do for according to the direction of my confcience. If, on the contrary, I was to give it according to the opinion of the right hon. Gentleman who spoke laft but one, and that I fhould be induced to addrefs his Majefty for the removal of his prefent Minifters, I hope I fhould be as ready to make a facritice of my perfonal eelings as any other Member of this Houfe. If, on the other hand. could feel as the light hon. Gen tleman on the floor (Mr. Addington feels, that the declaras tion made by his Majefty's Ministers is, throughout all its beatings, fo clear and decifive, as to draw forth that unquali fied approbation they feem to demand, "I fhould not hesitate to deliver that fentiment with all the freedom which the pel culiar nature of the cafe requires. If in a cafe of fuch diffia calty, I could fee the matter fo clearly as to have no doubt, I thould then fay it is a title to approbation. But to that extent, Sir, I cannot concur with the propofitions; nor am I prepared to agree with the exprefs negative propofed to be put on them. The reafon, Sir, for my prefent difficulty) in the choice of Ne courfe I am to purfue on the present occafion, is founded in the broad and general objection I have ever entertained to the very nature and extehr of fuch motions. I am one of thofe, Sir, who do not with, without fome very strong and urgent reafon, to interfere with the juft prerogative of the Crown; and I cannot conceive a cafe that is more pregnant with mischievous confequences than to adopt any measure that may render it unavoidable to difplace thofe whom his Majefty wishes to employ and to retain VOL. IV. 1802-3.

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