is competent to defend itself, its laws, liberties, and religion, under the general fubjugation of all Europe, is prefumptuous in the extreme," contradictory to the fuppofed motives for our prefent eager folicitations for Peace, and is certainly contrary to the ftanding policy both of State and Commerce, by which Great-Britain has hitherto flourished.

4th, Becaule, while the common enemy exercifes his power over the feveral States of Europe in the way we have feen, it is impoffible long to preferve our trade, or, what cannot exist without it, our naval power. This hoftile fyftem feizes on the keys of the dominions of thefe Powers, without any confideration of their friendhip, their enmity, or their neutrality; pre fcribes laws to them as to conquered provinces; mulets and fines them at pleasure; forces them, without any particular quarrel, into direct hoftility with this kingdom, and expels us from fuch ports and markets as the thinks fit; infomuch that (Europe remaining under its prefent flavery) there is no harbour which we can enter without her permiffion, either in a commercial or a naval character. This general interdict cannot be begged off; we must refit it by our power, or we are already in a state of village.

I

5th, Becaufe, whilft this ufurped Power fhall continue thus constituted, and thus ditpofed, no fecurity whatever can be hoped for in our colonies and plantations, thofe invaluable fources of our national wealth and our naval power. This War has fhewn that the Power prevalent in France, by intentionally disorganizing that plantation fyftem (which France had in common with all other European nations), and by inverting the order and relations therein eltablished, has been able with a naval force altogether contemptible, and with very inconsiderable fuccours from Europe, to baffle in a great measure the moft powerful armaments ever fent from this country into the Welt-Indies, and at an expence hitherto unparalleled, and has, by the force of example, and by the effect of her machinations, produced, at little or no expence to herfelf either of blood or treasure, univerfal defolation and ruin by the general destruction of every thing valuable and neceffary for cultivation throughout feveral of our islands, lately among the molt fourthing and productive. The new fyftem by which these things Have been effected, leave our colonies equally endangered in Peacelasan War. It is therefore with this generiqwtenn (of which the Welt-India fcherests but a

ramification) that all ancient establishments are effentially at war for the fake of felfprefervation.

6th, Because it has been declared from the Throne, and in effect the prin ciple has been adopted by Parliament, that there was no way likely to obtain a Peace, commonly fafe and honourable, but through the antient and legitimate Government long established in France. That Government in its lawful fucceffion has been folemnly rec⚫gnized, and af fiftance and protection as folemnly pro mifed to thafe Frenchmen who should exert themselves in its restoration. The political principle upon which this recognition was made, is very far from being weakened by the conduct of the new-invented Government. Nor are our obligations of good faith, pledged on fuch strong motives of policy to thofe who have been found in their allegi ance, diffolved, nor can they be fo, until fairly directed efforts have been made to fecure this great fundamental point. None have yet been employed with the fmallest degree of vigour and perfeve

rance.

7th, Becaufe the example of the great change made by the ufurpation in the moral and political world (more dan gerous than all her conquefts) is by the prefent procedure confirmed in all its force. It is the first fuccessful example furnithed by hiftory of the fubverfion of the antient Government of a great country, and of all its Laws, Orders, and Religion, by the corruption of mercenary armies, and by the feduction of a multitude, bribed by confifcation to fedition, in defiance of the fenfe, and to the entire deftruction of almost the whole proprietory body of the nation. The fatal effects of this example muft be felt in every country.-New means, new arms, new pretexts are furnished to ambition; and new perfons are intoxicated with that poifon.

8th, Because our eagerness in fuing for Peace may induce the perfons exer cifing power in France crroneously to believe, that we act from neceffity, and are unable to continue the War, a per fuafion, which, in the event of an actual Peace, will operate as a temptation to them to renew that conduct which brought on the prefent War, benher thall we have any of the ufual fecurities In Peace. In their treaties, they do not acknowledge the obligation of that law, which for ages has been common to all Europe. They have not the

fame

fame fentiments nor the fame ideas of their interest in the confervation of Peace, which have hitherto influenced all regular Governments; they do not in the fame manner feel public diftrefs, or the private mifery of their fubjects; they will not find the fame difficulty on the commencement of a new War to call their whole force into fudden action, where, by the law, every Cozen is a foldier, and the perfon and properties of all are able at once to arbitrary requifitions. On the other hand, no attempt has been made to fhew in what manner, whether by alliances, by force mintary or naval, or by the improvement and augmentation of our finances, we thall be better able to refift their hoftile attempts after the Peace than at the prefent hour. If we remain armed, we cannot reap the ordinary advantage of Peace in cenemy; if we difarm, we shall be fubject to be driven into a new War, under every circumstance of difadvantage, unless we now prepare ourfeives to fuffer with patience and fubmiffion whatever infults, indignities, and injuries we may receive from that infolent; domineering, and unjuft Power.

9th, Because the inability of humbling ourselves again to folicit Peace in a manner, which is a recognition of the French Republic, contrary to all the principles of the War, the danger of Peace, if obtained, the improbability of cits duration, and the perfeverance of the enemy throughout the interval of Peace in their mitchievous fyftem, is not conjecture, but certainty. It has been avowed by the actual Governors of France at the very moment when they had before them our application for a Paffport. They chofe that moment for publishing a State Paper, breathing the most hoftile mind. In Birthey fimulate and goad us, by lan-guage the moft opprobrious and offenfive. They frankly tell us, that it is not our interest to delire Peace, for that they regard Peace only as the opportunity of preparing freth means for the annihilation of our naval power. By -making Peace they do not conceal that it will be their object to wreft from us enr maritime preponderancy-to reeftablish what they invidiously call the freedom of the feas-to give a new im⚫pulfe to the Spanish, Dutch, and French Marines and to carry to the highest degree of profperity the industry and a commerce of thofe nations," which they fate to be bur rivals, which they charge

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and.

us with "unjustly attacking, when we can no longer dupe," and which they throughout contemplate as their own dependencies, united in furnishing refources from our f future humiliation and deftruction, They refort to that well known and conftant allufion of theirs to antient history, by which reprefenting" France as modern Rome, and England as modern Carthage," they accufe us of National per fidy, and hold England up" as an object to be blotted out from the face of the earth." They falfely affert, that the English nation fupports with inpatience the continuance of the War, and has extorted all his MAJESTY'S overtures for Peace," by complaints and reproaches," and above all, not only in that paffage, but throughout their official Note, they fhew the most marked adherence to that infidious and intolerable policy of their fyftem, by which they, from the commencement of the Revolution, fought to trouble and fubvert all the Governments in Europe. They Audiously disjoin the English na tion from its Sovereign.

10th, Becaufe, having acted throughout the course of this awful and momentous crifis upon the principles herein expreffed, and after having, on the prefent occafion, not only fully reconfidered, and jealously examined their foundness and validity, but gravely attended to, and fcrupulously weighed the merits of all thofe arguments which have been offered to induce a dereliction of them, confcientiously adhering to, and firmly abiding by them, I thus folemnly record them, in juftification of my own conduct, and in difcharge of the duty I owe to my King, my Country, and the general Interefts of Civil Society.

WENTWORTH FITZWILLIAM.

FRIDAY, OCT. 7..

The Houfe went up with their Addrefs to St. James's, to which his Majefly was pleafed to return the following anfwer:

"MY LORDS,

HOUSE

TUESDAY, SEPT. 27.

A Sfoon as the Members were feated, Lord Frederick Campbell addreTed Mr. Hatfel, caling upon the House to exercile their privilege of electing a Speaker, a privilege at all times necef. fary for the protection of good order, but particularly material when the wellbeing of this country, and the quiet of al Europe, depend on the proceedings of the Brith House of Commons, There were, he oblerved, many Gentle men in the Houfe of unqseftionable ability, who were fitted for the office; but, in the prefent inftance, it was not neet fary, with the advantage of experience, to have recourfe to their talents. Fortunately both for the country and its Reprefentatives, a Gentleman had been returned to the prefent Parliament who was as able to inftruct the wife as he was willing to aflift the weak; who during feveral years had watched over the privileges of the Commons of England, and who had proved his attachment to this free Conftitution, where men might be the friends of free dom, and at the fame time the friends of Monarchy. He concluded with moving, "That the Right Hon. Henry Addington, Efq. be called to the chair." Mr. Powys feconded the motion, and in a firain equally complimentary to the fate Speaker. Indeed, he confidered himfelf and the Hon. Mover merely inftruments, to bring forward in a regelar hape a propofal already anticipated by every Member, and which the wifhes of all combined to fupport.

General Tarleton believed that the Houfe could not find a more proper perfon for a Speaker than the Right Hon. Gentleman who had been propofed, nor one more gifted by nature and by education. He had another reason for fupporting the prefent motion, the copiidence he entertained that the Impar. tiality of the Hon. Gentleman would but fecure those who fat en his fide of the Houfe against the pride of office, and infolest majorities.

Mr. Adlington expreffed his high fenfe of the honourable diftinchon no? proffered him; how infinitely indebted he had been to the indulgence of the Members of the late Pariament, and h's defermiiation herer to were from a firm attachment to the Curation of the country, with her which no man was worthy to be a Miber of that Home.

Mr. Addinghetskhen: "by 188 linanimous voice of the House, called to he chair, and after being congratulated

in a fhort fpeech from Mr. Dundas, the Houfe adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28.

When the Speaker and the Members had returned from the Haufe of Lords, the Speaker addreffed himself to the Houfe from the chair, in nearly the following words:

It is my duty to acquaint you, that this Houfe has been in the, Huufe. of Peurs, where his Majesty, by Come; miffion, has been gracioutly pleased to approve of your choice in the appointe ment you have made of a Speaker, and to grant and allow the Members of tuis. Honourable Houfe their petition and claim of all their ancient rights and pri vileges, in as full and ample a manger as they have been heretofore enjoyed by their predeceffors. It is farther his Majefty's graci us pleafure that the perfons, eftates, and fervants of Members of this Houfe, fhall be free from any. arrest or moleftation whatever, and that they thall be allowed freedom of fpeech in their debates, as well as uncontrolled access to his Majefty's perfon, It is now my duty to repeat to this. Houfe my moft grateful and humbje acknowledgements for the proof they have given me of their eftcem : in the choice they have made it became me to s acquiefce; and I have now only to exprefs my carnet hope, that my conduct. may always be fuch as fhall prove the high fenfe I entertain of the obligation conferred on ime. There may be many occafions when it will undoubtedly be recellary for me to rely on the indulsv gence of this House. That, I shall ne. 1 ceive that indulgence Lhave not a doubt. “ I rely on the exertions of the. House in: fupporting its own dignity and privi leges, by rendering me their uniform, aftance in enforcing the strictest ob fervance of the rules and orders of the Houfe, on the due obfervance of which....” depends its very existence. This lup port I have heretofore amply received, it and I trust I ball receive it in fature, 4 It is now my duty to state, that the folt proceedings of this Houle will be, to ad minifter the paths required by A& đi Parliament, to fuch of the Memberseas i have not yet taken them, how oil The oaths were then administered se fuch Members as attended. Adjourned.

THURSDAY, SEPT, 49dyJoud, The Specker took the chair at two I o'clock, and administered the oaths to Member's till four, when the House adjourned. FRIDAY,

FRIDAY, SEPT. 30. *.. The Speaker came down at two, and proceeded to fwear in the Members until four o'clock, when the Houfe adjourned till.

THURSDAY, OCT. 6.

Upon retuining from the Peers Houle, Lord Morpeth moved an Ad. drefs fimilar to that of the Lords. He congratulated the Houfe on the profpect that was now held out of peace, the prefent Government of France, poffef ing Aability and power, being a Go.vernment with which we might fafely and politically treat. If, however, ow. ing to the obftinacy or arrogance of the enemy, the negociation fhould have an unfavourable iffue, we had this comfort, that our refources were fuch, that we could redouble our efforts, and purfue the contest until they were taught a leffon of moderation.

Sir William Lowther feconded the motion for the Address, which as foon as the Speaker had read,

Mr. Fox rofe. He congratulated the Houfe that his Majefty had at length been advifed to do what it had fallen to his lot to advife his Majefty's Ministers to do for three years to open a negociation for peace. This being the lead. ing feature of the Speech, fome might think he fhould give his unqualified affent to the whole of it. But this he could not do. When Minifters made his Majesty fay, they bad omitted no endeavours to open negociation-if they meant the expreffion to apply till very lately to before half a year back-he would deny it; they had for feveral years thewn the moft hoftile difpofition to negociation. Of the profperous and flourishing ftate of the manufactures and commerce of the country, he could not fpeak, not having fufficient proofs before him; but when he looked at the price of the funds, heard of the enor. mous discounts of paper, and general fcarcity of fpecie, he was afraid our commercial affairs were lefs flourishing than Minifters wifhed us to believe. He could, however, moft pofitively deby, that our internal tranquillity was owing to the late abominable A&sActs which we ought to view with terror and abhorrence; and, by paffing them, he would fay, the late Parliament had done more to maim and disfigure the ancient Conftitution of England, than any former Parliaments whatever; and though Peace is moft truly our árst object, Reform ought to follow

clofely in her fteps. Tranquility had been owing to the obedience and good fenfe of a rational people, and not to laws which ftitled difcuffion, and prevented the communications of freedom. He blamed Minifters for not naming either the French Republic or the Di rectory in the Speech. They might' take just offence at this, and they were known to be fufficiently jealous. If they had been named, it would have been fome proof that we were fincerely inclined to a cordial negociation. Now they might doubt it, He, however, moft earncftly prayed we might have peace, and that no immoderate, improm per, or fqueamish conduct of Adaxinif, 1 tration would stand in the way of it. "As to the terms of peace," faid Mr. Fox, "this is not a time to difcufs them. They must be left to Minifters, as not only cur own, but the relative interefts of other Powers are to be ad jufted by it."

And now, added he, I make no he fitation in laying, that if after manifeft. ing a difpofition of candour, fimplicity," and opennefs, in negociating the terms of a peace, it should fill appear that they refufe to accede to a jult and rea-. fonable peace, we not only should find ample refources in this country for? profecuting the war with vigour,.but we fhould profecute it with fuch an unanimity of heart as would draw forth all the energy and all the vigour of the nation. I tay thus much in the contemplation of a clear, candid, and manly procedure on the part of our Minifters, and I have no doubt but I fhall be cordially joined by every part of the country, in this declaration, that if they do. fo conduct themselves, they will meet with univerfal support. But on the other fide, we ought to nego ciate in the fpirit of great, moderation. I have no difficulty in faving, for one, that I fhould find much lets fault if the terms of peace were faulty on the side, of. moderation, than I thould be inclined to do if faulty in the contrary extreme. To ignominious terms of peace I know, and believe that this country would never be made to fubmit. But I wish it clearly to be underflood, that, rather than fupport any Minitiers in extrava gant pretenfions, arifing either from the 17 pride of tranfient fortune, or from na-> tural arrogance, I would be much more difpofed to give my affent to terms that, us on a due investigation of our claims, w might be confidered as rather below than/

above our right. I have no difficulty in faying, in cafe of fuch a balance, on which fide I think the seale ought to turn. Mr. Fox then concluded by obferving, that he should give his affent to the prefent Addrefs-but that fhould not preclude him on a future day from instituting an enquiry into all the caufes which have brought the nation to its prefent condision, and produced the calamities of the war and for the further purpose of advising his Majefty to make a fundamental change in the fyftem upon which we have lately acted, both with regard 20 foreign and domestic policy. His duty to his King and Country he felt powerfully call upon him to do this.

Mr. Pitt expreffed the greateft fatisfaction at the unanimity which, at a juncture fo critical, would mark the deliberations of that Houfe on the important fubject under their confideration; and however he might differ from the laft fpeaker on certain topics, he was happy to find that with refpect to the great and fubftantial object of the Addrefs, the propriety of the conduct employed to bring about a folid and durable peace-fuch a peace as may be confiftent with the permanent fecurity and the just pretenfions of the country, there did not fubfift even the lightest fhade of difference; and fuch a circum ftance he confidered as a matter of juft pride and of honeft fatisfaction. He was now certain a glorious pledge was given of general unanimity in a folid and honourable peace, or, if unfortunately that could not be obtained, we now had an omen of great and general exertion.

With refpect to the other parts of the Right Hon. Gentleman's fpeech (faid Mr. Pitt), they have been too often difcuffed to be now forgotten. I fhall therefore content myfelf with faying, that with regard to the Bills he fo violently execrates, 1 am firmly of opinion, that the peace of the country could not have been fo fuccefsfully maintained without them. The Right Hon. Gentleman triumphs at his always having recommended what we are come to Negociation. But does it follow, that the measure was right formerly, becaufe it is right now? May not a period of four years produce many even to juftify a change of policy, and to render mcafures wife and expedient, which at a certain time would neither have been prudent nor reasonable? Becaufe you do not choose to make peace the day

after an unprovoked aggreffion, may you not be justified in holding out pacific overtures after a lapic of four years? The argument amounts to this, that either you must make peace the day after the aggreffion, of not make it

at all.

With refpe&t to our refources, he faid, we had the beft affurance of the increafe and continuance of them. The exports of the laft fix months had been nearly equal to what they have been in the moft flourishing years of peace, and we had finews of war yet untouched.

With regard to the terms of peace, continued he, it has been afked, what was the reafon why peace was likely rather to be folid than brilliant! Be caufe we will not feparate our own greatnefs, and our own commerce, from the intereft and from the fate of our allies; because we refufe to purchase peace for ourselves, on any other terms than thofe which will fecure the tran. quillity of Europe, and confider the fituation of Great Britain as chained to that of the Continent by the bands of a liberal and comprehensive policy.

After a very fplendid and juft eulogy on the late fucceffes of the Imperial arms in Germany, and of the proof they had afforded of the fuperiority of difciplined valour over the brutal force which hoped to overwhelm it, Mr. Pitt concluded by obferving, that the recent example of Germany had furnithed an illuftrious inftance of forttude and perfeverance, and their forti tude and perfeverance have had their merited reward. Thefe were lcffons which this country has not to learn. England has never thewn itself deficient in firmness and magnanimity; it is un rivalled in refource; it has always been foremost in the career of honourable exertion; and it has only to maintain its accustomed vigour and perfeverance, to effect the refloration of general tranquillity, upon terms confiftent with the dignity of its own character, and the fecurity and intereft of Europe.

After a few words from Mr. Fox, in explanation, the Addrels was voted nemine contradicente.