thing more muft frequently be done, to render what is already done effectual. Where medicine has been administered, it must be frequently continued. The numerous regulations established in this country with regard to agriculture and commerce, required the frequent attention of the legislature, either to enforce thofe regulations, or to refcind, amend, and alter them, as a change of circumftances and different ftates of fociety might require. With regard to the riots, the pretence for which had been the extreme fcarcity, the duke obferved, that the folly of fuch proceedings, on fuch grounds, might excite pity rather than indignation; but yet that it was for the intereft of fociety, that, if perfevered in, the authors of them fhould not efcape. It might perhaps be neceffary for their lordships in the courfe of the feffion to confider of some means for the conviction, or the more eafy fuppreffion of popular tumults. He was confident that the farming capital of the kingdom might be increased, agriculture improved, and provifions brought cheaper to market, if the property of the farmer were rendered more fecure, by the more effectual prevention of riot, theft, and conflagration; but of thefe mifchiefs he confidered theft, though the leaft confpicuous, as the most prejudicial. The duke, after going over all the topics touched on in the fpeech from the throne, propofed, or, in parliamentary phrafeology, moved an addrefs, containing affurances, correfponding to the obfervations and fentiments expreffed.-The motion for an addrefs to his majefty was feconded by

Lord Hobart. With refpect to the leading topic of the fpeech, the

high price of provifions, his lordfhip obferved, that fuch was the defi ciency of the harveft in 1779, that, if the alarm of fcarcity had not been rung in the last feffion, and a motion of a right reverend prelate for leffening the confumption of private families acceded to, the evil felt at that hour would have been confiderably aggravated: for, although the agreement propofed in that motion was not figned by all of their lordships, the fpirit of it was followed by many who did not fign it, and was attended by the very best effects throughout the country. To that alarm, to the voluntary economy produced by it, and to the compulfory reduction by the increase of price, he afcribed our elcape from the fevereft diflrefs: for it was now known, that had not the harvest of the current year, 1780, been much earlier than ufual, the granáries were fo completely exhaufted, that, in many parts of England, the condition of the people would have been moft dreadful. From the extenfion of agriculture, recommended from the throne, much was to be expected; but this was a diftant remedy. Prefent relief was the object to which their lordships attention was more particularly directed; and the moft immediate relief that occurred was importation, invited by encouragement: but that alfo, he obferved, was precarious; and, therefore, what he fhould rely upon, was, economy at home, and the fubftitution of other grains to make up the deficiency of wheat. Lord Hobart had feen with concern, in the public prints, and particularly in refolutions of the county of Middlefex, that the high price of corn had been attributed to the war. This he confidered as an un

founded

founded and pernicious doctrine. He fhewed, that, from the experience of the prefent war, no man could be justified in maintaining this doctrine: that, if we examined into the periods of former wars and times of peace, we should find the balance of price against the latter; and that, in fact, the fluctuation had always depended on the course of the feafen. With regard to the latter part of the fpeech from the throne, he expreffed his fatisfaction that a period had now arrived, when a government had been established in France, with which his majefty's minifters could enter into negotiations for peace. Though he had voted against treating with Buonaparte, when he made overtures of peace last year, it might not be impolitic to negotiate al prefent. As to the probable permanency of his government, he was not competent to fay much; but he could forefee none, on the permanency of which, all circumftances confidered, we fhould be fo well juftified in found ing our fpeculations. As far as an opinion could be formed from the public prints, it appear to be quietly fubmitted to by the people of France; and that country had now arrived at the fituation, in which all others, after fimilar convulfions, had been placed. He il luftrated the truth of this pofition, by a remark of Mr. Hume's on the fuccefsful ufurpation of Cromwell. "By recent as well as ancient example, it was become evident, that illegal violence, with whatever pretences it might be covered, and whatever objects it may purfue, muft inevitably end, at laft, in the arbitrary and defpotic government of a fingle perfon." Whether the houfe of Bourbon was ever likely to be

reftored, was a queftion he would not undertake to difcufs. It would be wife to treat with the cxifting government, and to conclude a peace, whenever it could be effected, confiftently with good faith to our allies, and a due regard to the honour and fecurity of this country.

Lord Holland contended that the war was one, though not perhaps the principal caufe of fearcity. Notwithstanding what had been stated by lord Hobart, he feared that fearcity and war were almost necessary companions. He concurred in opinion with the duke of Portland, who, in a letter communicated to the public, condemned the clamour which had been excited againft fuppofed monopolifts, and deprecated all attempts to interfere in the operations of the dealers in grain; but with the general conduct of minifters he continued to be exceedingly difgufted. Whether Buonaparte's defign be peace or war, he said, the conduct of our minifters gives him uncommon advantages. If his wishes be really for peace, he may be entitled to demand from them greater fecurities as a teft of their fincerity; and, if his fecret defire be war, while he profeffes peace, then, by their former conduct, he may obtain his object, and throw all the odium on them. Look back, faid he, to the whole hiftory of the war, and it will be feen, that every point which he had to accomplifi, he has been affifted in obtaining by the impolicy of our minifters. Lord Holland moved an amendment to the addrefs, in which there appears to be greater afperity than is ufually difcovered on fimilar occafions in the houfe of peers, or, indeed, in that of the commons. We fhould receive with peculiar fatisfaction any [B 3] proof

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proof of his majefty's anxiety to reftore the bleffings of peace to thefe kingdoms; but we cannot conceal from ourselves, nor will we, by any ill-timed flattery, diffemble from his majesty, that a total change of councils appears to us neceflary for the accomplishment of that defirable end, and the re-establishment of peace on any fure or folid foundation." This amendment was feconded by the earl of Suffolk.

Ld. Romney faid, that the noble lord (Holland) muft excufe him, when he declared that he thould have thought much of what had fallen from him would have better become the mouth of Lucian Buonaparte in an addrefs to the French convention, than that of a British peer to a British parliament. He had afferted that the prefent war, and the conduct of it, formed one continued feries of illfuccefs and difgrace. Was there ever any war, in which Britain had ever been engaged, that was more glorious to the British name, more honourable to our flag, or that had afforded fo frequent an opportunity for British feamen and their brave commanders to fignalize themfelves by brilliant exploits? As to negotiation for peace, he faw no reafon to think that Buonaparte would not as willingly treat with the prefent minifters as with others. With regard to the high price of provifions, being a confiderable farmer himself, and living in a corn country, it had occurred to him, as a matter of great doubt, whether thofe purchafers of corn, who bought great quantities, did not do more harm than good? He begged leave alfo to fuggeft another regulation in the corn bufinefs, which was, that all corn fhould be brought into the market, and pitched, as in former

times: by that means every perfon would be able to judge for himself, whether there was much corn in the market or not; whereas now, while corn was fold by fample, a few growers met in a private room, and nobody knew whether there was much or little at market. In cafe all the corn fo brought into towns, fhould not be all of it fold on the market day, there should be in each town finall granaries or warehoufes let at eafy rents, in which the unfold corn might be depofited till the next market day.Thefe hints of lord Romney's undoubtedly were of folid utility, and merited the ready and warm approbation which was beftowed on them by another patriotic nobleman, and friend to the poor. This was

The earl of Suffolk. His lordfhip entirely concurred in opinion with lord Romney, in what he had propofed for confideration on the fubject of the fearcity. He also concurred with him in opinion, that the greatest praise was due to our naval officers and feamen. They had, during the war, behaved moft gloriously. But here he muft ftop: he could go no farther. On the contrary, he joined with the noble lord who moved the amendment, in thinking that our military operations had been, on the whole, ill conducted. His majefty's minifters, he maintained, were highly to blame, for not having inftituted an inquiry into feveral of the military expeditions of the war, which he fpecified.

Lord Grenville having followed lord Holland over the beaten ground of fincerity or infincerity in negotiation, the alleged connexion between war and carcity, which he faid had been clearly disproved,

the

the convention of El-Arish, and other particulars, came to the important point of the difference between treat ing with Buonaparte now and before the battle of Maringo. If Buonaparte were in that house, faid his lordflip, and would speak truth, he muft acknowledge that the battle of Maringo was the fixing of his power. If he had not fucceeded on those plains, he had not now been chief conful of France. If he had not fucceeded, he must have been involved in total ruin. If the noble lord would minutely contemplate the pofture of affairs at that period, he would find that the power of Buonaparte was fufpended by a fine thread, and that his propofition for a negotiation arofe not fo much from a defire of peace, as to confirm him in his precarious power. Since that time, a fucceflion of events had confolidated his power, and he was now de facto ruler of France. On former occafions, his majesty's ferwants had been embarralled by their duty, which prevented them from ftating to the house all they knew refpecting France. At the prefent moment they felt no fuch difficulty: and he diftinctly declared, that, if the French government were fincerely defirous of peace, it might be concluded on fair and honourable terms. With refpect to our ally, it would not be right to lay that he had acted inconfiftently with his alliance, especially as he had given his affurance that he would not; but if, contrary to good faith, other councils fhould influence his conduct, then there would be no difficulty in negotiating feparately, including, however, thofe allies who remain with us. Though peace be a great object, though commerce be a great object, yet it was of im

portance that we should fhew to the world, that any nation entering into alliance with us, was fure never to be deferted.

The earl of Suffolk afked minif ters what steps and proceedings they meant to take to diminish the high price of provifions? He allo begged leave to remark, that the number of dragoons was too great, and more than fufficient, as it was not poffible to employ them in any other than times of tumult and riot. He recommended the abftaining from brewing, and letting the barley grow folely for the ufe of the poor. He allo reminded the house, of a fuggeftion" which he had offered in a former feffion, namely, to concentrate all the force in the kingdom, as nearly in the middle of it as poffible, and to build vehicles that would hold ten men each, fo as to convey 10,000 troops, with little delay, wherever their exertions might be called for. Thefe vehicles, when not otherwife employed, might be fent to fetch fish from the coafts, which would be a confiderable relief to the poor and indigent.-On a divifion of the house, there appeared to be five voices for the amendment; and against it fifty: so that the addrefs was carried by a great majority.A question was now put to minifters by the duke of Norfolk, of the fame purport with the carl of Suffolk's, to which no answer had been given. His grace wifhed to know on what days the fubjects contained in his majesty's fpeech were to be difcuffed? Lord Grenville faid, he could not exact. ly tell, because it partly depended on the communications that were to be made to the houfe on the fubject of fcarcity, and partly on the bufinefs before the other houfe.[B 4]

The