Corfica and St. Domingo, and let us only think of cheap and economical defence. Let us refufe our affent to all continental intrigues, in which it is likely that the French. will out-manœuvre us: for it is clear, that in all the progrefs of their fyftem, they have gained full as much by intrigue as they have by

arms.

Lord Romney perfectly coincided in opinion with the noble lords who moved and feconded the addrefs. The negociation, he thought had been well conducted, and produced the happy effect of convincing the people of England that his majefty's minifters were fincere.There were fome who conftantly called the prefent "an unfortunate war." It was unfortunate indeed, he faid, on account of the expenfe with which it was attended; but, in all other respects, this country had never carried on any war that had been more fuccessful than the prefent. He augured better than the noble marquis from our alliance with the Turks, on whom he beftowed not a little praife, for opening their eyes to the errors of their conduct towards France, and determining to oppofe the French with the utmoft vigour. As to the emperor Paul, taken notice of in the Ipeech from the throne, his character, he believed, deferved praife. The fyftem of his internal policy was moderation. He had no doubt but a prince, fo remarkable for virtue, would be faithful to his engagements. He had heard a rumour that Denmark and Sweden were arming, and that the other powers were making great preparations. -He hoped the rumour was true. If Europe had made a common caufe against the French, they

would have long ago been fuccefsful, and the great nation must have given way to them. With regard to conquefis, St. Domingo and Corfica were not only acquifitions we had made: witnefs St. Lucia, Martinico, and the Cape of Good Hope.

Lord Holland confeffed, that, with all the advantages we had gained, it appeared to him, that the noble lords, who had moved and feconded the addrefs, failed to prove that which it was their great object to eftablifh, namely, that the next combination of the powers of Europe, would procure for this country an advantageous peace. We had heard indeed of the powerful effects of a new confederacy. It was held out in the fpcech from the throne. But this was not the first time they had heard from the throne of the probable effect of a powerful confederacy against France. And he wished to know what there was new in their fituation, that fhould induce them to think that the confederacy, now about to be formed, would be of a firmer texture, and more durable and efficacious than thofe that had been tried already. Compare, faid his lordship, the fituation of this country, at this moment, with its condition at the commencement of hoftilities, and then afk yourfelves, my lords, what is likely to be the refult of your proceeding? If fo many victories cannot gain you peace, what is a new confederacy to produce? His lordfhip proceeded to fhew, that to manifeft a difpofition to peace was not a bumiliation, but equal magnanimity and wildom.

Lord Mulgrave, having warmly joined in the general expreflions of [ M 3 ]

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joy and congratulation on the glorious atchievements of Lord Nellon, afked whether the prefent moment was a time for a display of unmerited and injudicious moderation? Was it a time to crouch to the intemperate views of inordinate ambition, and to feek for precarious fecurity? No! It was on the contrary, a time for infpiring unanimity and vigour, for infufing conftancy and courage into the powers which were threatened with diffolution, and for refcuing from oppreffion and every fpecies of mifery, the countries which had unfortunately fallen victims to the arbitrary meafures, and boundlefs tyranny of the French republic. However he might lament the private diftreffes of many, and that the tears of individuals were fhed on various occafions, the general exultation was complete and fatisfactory, for it was founded on the general good, the prefervation, the happinefs, and the glory of the country. The noble marquis had afferted that no concert, no fyftematic plan of co-operation could exift between nations jealous of one another. That Aufiria and Pruffia were jealous of one another when they entered into the war, and became parties in the coalition, he was ready to admit. Eut was not the fituation of thefe powers moft materially altered fince that period? Had they feen no example of ruin, produced by improvidently and rafhly indulging in fentiments of jealoufy? He would undertake to fay, that, under the falutary impreffion of their paft expenfe, he fhould have more juft confidence in any alliance that fhould be formed between them now, than in that of the most amicable nations in any former war. As

to the unexpected co-operation be tween Ruffia and the Ottoman Porte, what could have induced the grand feignior, with all the preju dices with which he was fuppofed to be tainted against his new ally, to fuffer the Ruffian fleet to pafs the Dardanelles, but the dreadful example of the defolations and horrors held out to him by the ambition and rapacity of the French in Europe? The very idea of entering into any negociation at prefent with fuch a government as that of France, and confequently of checking the reviving fpirit of Europe, would, in his mind, not only militate against the true and fubftantial interefts of this country, but afford an unqueftionable proof of pufillanimity and meanness.

Lord Grenville put the queftion; what had threatened the fubverfion of civilized fociety, and the overthrow of the fyftem of Europe, but paltry and fhameful dif-union? but thofe fhifting, felfifh politics, which had to night been applauded, and through which France had for years been ftrengthened, by the refources of plunder, till at laft the mifery of republican dominion had driven thofe countries to that refiftance which they were afraid to exert, when their frength and their means were entire. "" It is with pride and fatisfaction I acknow- ` ledge," faid his lordship, "that I have never fubmitted to you the neceffity of different policy. I have valued too much the teftimony of my own confcience, the feelings of national honour, the dictates of public duty, and, perhaps, those frail memorials which may remain of me, should men take the trouble to inquire how William lord Grenville thought and afted in this great

arifis, ever to advise any other than a vigorous manly line of conduct, or to recommend any refource but our own conftancy and perfeverance. It has ever been the opinion, which I have entertained and avowed, that if France remained mifirefs of the continent, we could have no fafety. Difunion, mean and fhifting policy, have occafioned all the calamities under which a confiderable part of Europe now groans. Now, however, there is fomething more then mere fymptoms of the return of other fentiments, and the prevalence of other views. This then is not the moment for England to fhew that the is guided only by little felfifh politics. Inftead of refigning Europe to its fate, and abandoning the victims of French domination to their mifery, it ought to be the business of England to animate their efforts, and contribute to their deliverance. It is rather the duty of the minifters of this country, fupported by king and parliament, to fay that we are ready to take them under our fhield, which is raifed for their defence and fecurity; that we are willing to aid them by our counfels, to fupport them with our refources, to conciliate differences, to allay jealoufies, and unite their efforts.

What is the fituation of thofe powers which yet ftand in a trembling, degraded, precarious, exiftence, purchased by difhonour Look at thofe who have followed that course in which it has been recommended to us to feek our fafety. What impartial man will deny that the comparison juftifies an honeft pride, that the furvey approves the fyftem on which his majefty's minifters have acted?We have endeavoured, in a mo

ment of difficulty and danger, to maintain the honour and indepen dence of our country, and to fupport the liberties of Europe, and the proud fuperiority which we now enjoy, through the national conftancy, energy, and virtue.".

The marquis of Lanfdown ob- . ferved, that in what he had faid to night, he had abftained from agitating any topics that did not feem to be immediately connected with the difcuffion before the house.Since, however, the noble lord who had juft fat down, had brought forward old queftions, he would frankly own that, in his opinion, opportunities for concluding a fafe and honourable peace had been loft, and that, for the omiflion, minifters were feverely refponfible. When the noble lord talked fo exultingly of the fchemes entertained for new coalitions, and told us that we were to take the lead in Europe, he thought it a foolish idle plan, which could terminate in nothing but confufion and difafter. He begged their lordships to read the collections, which had recently been publifhed, of the correspondence of our statesmen fince the revolution, and they would find how much our wifest politicians difapproved of continental connections, the fyftem of fubfidies. In his own time he recollected to have heard lord Grenville's father fearch the English language for epithets, by which to exprefs his dilapprobation of fuch views and politics. The duke of Marlborough, who poffefled conciliatory talents in as eminent a degree as any man ever did, faid, with that grace which was fo peculiar to him, that it was fome merit to have made eight nations act as But, great as the duke

one man.

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of Marlborough's talents were, he would venture to fay, that were he alive now, it would be above his talents to form fuch a confederacy, or to make four nations act as one man as little would the noble lord find it eafy to make even four nations act with concert and effect. Now that experiments were to be made, at the expense of fo many millions, and of fo many thoufand lives, he would fay to the noble lord, you tried one experiment and failed, and we do not choose that you fhould try it over again. The noble lord has been deceived once, and I am afraid he will be deceived a fecond time. "If, faid the marquis, I have any credit with the country, I ftake it upon this fentiment. For several years I oppofed the former attempt to take the lead in continental coalitions, and I now oppose the attempt to renew them."

The question being put, the addrefs was carried nemine contradicente. On the fame day, his majefty's fpeech having been read in the houfe of commons,

Lord Grenville Levifon Gower, rofe to move an addrefs in reply. The houfe, he faid, would recollect, that his majesty had been induced to make two attempts to negociate with France. It was conceived that a dawn of reafon had at laft broke forth in France, and it was hoped that the directory would fee that it was their intereft to make fuch a peace as this country could with honour agree to. The event, however, had fhewn how vain were all thefe expectations. It was poffible, indeed, for a country to be fo much embarraffed, as to render it prudent in them to make peace almoft on any terms.

Great difficulties we had certainy experienced: but we had happily furmounted them. The national credit, which at one time was greatly diftreffed, and on the fall of which the enemy had placed their expectations, was confirmed. The fpirit of the country was rouzed, and its ardour feemed to have increased in proportion to the difficulties it had to combat. The British people proceeded in willing concert with the government. In addition to the burthens upon them, they had come forward with voluntary aids to an amount which exceeded the most fanguine expecta tions; and, from a people unaccuf tomed to arms, they had fuddenly become a nation of foldiers. The French government were intimidated; and all their mighty preparations, for the invafion of this country, terminated in mere gafconnade. The few troops, whom the French government had, by a favourable chance, fucceeded in throwing on the Irifh fhore, were foon compelled to furrender to his majesty's forces. This fortunate event was fucceeded by the defeat of the Brest fleet. The Dutch fhips, which had the fame deftination, were alfo intercepted; and, in fhort, every armament they had ventured to fea was either captu red or difperfed. From thefe inflances of British valour and difcipline, his lordship turned to the glorious firft of Auguft: that fplen did atchievement, which, in its bril liancy and utility, was unequalled. in the annals of this or any other nation. That expedition, which had been planned against our Eaft India poffeffions, had been render ed incapable of hurting them. It was cut off from all communication with

France,

France, and must be left to its own means, as they were at prefent, for no reinforcement could be fent from Egypt. Not only had the deftruction of the French fleet in the bay of Aboukir given fpirit and energy to the Turkish government, but it had infpired all Europe with hope and joy. When the news of that great event reached Raftadt, the deputies of the empire for the first time ventured to refift the ambitious projects of the French plenipotentiaries. It had alfo encouraged the king of Naples to oppofe the common enemy, and it was to be hoped that the time was not far diftant when he would be capable of crushing the infant republics, which had been erected in his neighbourhood. It was from the conduct of the French to other powers that we ought to estimate the practicability of negociating in fafety with France. Witnefs Switzerland, Spain, Auftria, and Italy. When Ruffia and the Ottoman Porte had to magnanimoufly stepped forward in the caufe of virtue and focial order, when thofe powers that had, by force or fraud, been fubjected to French domination, manifefted a returning fenfe of indignant pride, and a determination to throw off the galling yoke of republican tyranny, ought that houfe, by talking of an unattainable peace, to chill the ardour and paralyze the efforts of the people of England in the common caufe, and at the fame time to blaft the hopes of every civilized state of Europe, whofe fole profpect of relief centered on this country? Lord Levifon did not forget in this animating retrofpect to advert to the increale of our commerce and the flourish ing ftate of our finances.

Sir H. P. St. John Mildmay,

who feconded the motion for the addrefs, went over the fame ground, with equal eloquence. Offers of pacification rejected by the enemy; the neceffity we were under of perfuing to a conclufion the advantages we had gained, not only for the lake of our own country alone, but that of all civilized fociety; a progreflive and uninterrupted chain of fplendid fuccefs; Ireland faved; public credit not fubverted, but propped and ftrengthened. From the mutilated and almoft annihilated fate of the French marine, many years must elope before the enemy could again become formidable to this country; by vigour, and perfeverance, therefore, at the prefent moment, we were not only preparing a permanent and fubftantial treaty for ourfelves, but laying the foundations of peace, profperity, and happi-' nefs, to a generation yet to come.

Sir John Sinclair, who had mi, nutely examined the particulars of the various brilliant-actions which decorated the maritime hiftory of this country, declared, that, amongst them all, he did not find one that could ftand a comparifon with lord Nelfon's victory: which placed the hero, under whole banners it was atchieved, and the fleet that had the honour of ferving under him, at the fummit of naval glory. But, by the mifconduct of minifters their laurels had been well nigh blafted. orders for the failing of the fleet had been fhamefully delayed, in confes quence of which lord Nelfon had not been able to attack the French armament at Malta: in which cafe, both the fleet and army of Buonaparte muft have furrendered. The British fleet was unaccompanied with fri gates, which had rendered it neceflary

The