mons, that his earnest endeavours to effect the restoration of Peace have been unhappily frustrated, and that the nogotiation in which he was engaged has been abruptly broken off, by the pe remptory refufal of the French Govern ment to treat, except upon a bafis evi⚫ dently inadmiffible, and by their having, in confequence, required his Majefty's Plenipotentiary to quit Paris within 48 hours.

His Majesty has directed the feve ral Memorials and Papers which have been exchanged in the course of the late difcuffion, and the account tranfmitted to his Majefty of its final refult, to be hid before the House.

"From thefe Papers his Majefty trufts it will be proved to the whole world, that his conduct has been guided by a fincere defire to effect the restoration of Peace on principles fuited to the relative fituation of the belligerent Powers, and effential for the permanent interefts of his Kingdoms, and the general fecurity of Europe, whilft his enemies have advanced pretenfions at once inconfiftent with those objects, unfupported even on the grounds on which they were profeffed to reft, and repugnant to the fyftem eftablished by repeated Treaties, and to the principles and practice which have hitherto regulated the intercourfe of independent nations.

"In this fituation his Majefty has the confolation of reflecting, that the continuance of the calamities of war can be imputed only to the unjust and exorbitant views of his enemies. And his Majefty, looking forward with anxiety to the moment when they may be dif pofed to act on different principles, places, in the mean time, the fulleft reliance, under the protection of Providence, on the wifdom and firmnefs of his Parliament; on the tried valour of his forces by fea and land; and on the zeal, public fpirit, and refources of his Kingdoms, for vigorous and effectual fupport in the profecution of a conteft which does not depend on his Majefty to terminate, and which involves in it the fecurity and permanent interests of this Country, and of Europe.

G. R

for the town of Derby,vice Lord George Henry Cavendish, who has accepted of the Chiltern Hundreds.

The Order of the Day was moved by Mr. William Dundas, for calling to the Bar Alexander Morris, who was held in cuftody for having difobeyed the fummons of the Southwark Committee.

The Speaker, when Morris was brought to the bar, very feverely repri manded his conduct, as an infraction of the privileges of that House, it have ing greatly embarraffed the course of juftice. He, and the perfons implicated with him, muft now have learned that the energy of the Houfe was fully equal to the fupport of its dignity. He had, however, it was thought, experienced enough of its rigour for the purpose of example, and was now to partake of its lenity.

He was ordered, on motion, to be difcharged on paying his fees.

Mr. Canning brought up a Declaration from his Majefty, dated 27th December 1796, and moved that the fame be laid on the table. (See p. 50.)

Mr. Grey obferved, that as the title, of this Declaration did not in the (mai left degree intimate any part of its contents, it was neceflary that it should be read by the Clerk at the table.

The Declaration was accordingly read.

Mr. Canning moved, That the Order for taking his Majefty's Meffage into confideration, which flood for Thursday next, fhould be discharged, and “that the Meffage be taken into confideration on Friday."

After a few words from Mr. Grey,' General Tarleton, &c. the Order of the Day for taking his Majefty's Mel fage into confideration was fixed for Fri." day.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28.

Printed copies of the Memorials and Papers exchanged between Lord Malmebury and Delacroix, on the subjec of the late Negociation, were prefented," and ordered to lie on the table. (See page 41.)

THURSDAY, DEC. 29.

Mr. Long brought up the Bill for the Relief, Inftruction, and Emploviment of the Poor. He faid, that his Right' Hon. Friend, who had propofed the Bill, was prevented by indifpofition from attending the Houfe. Gentlemen were already apprized, that it was his` Right Hon. Friend's with that the Bill' fhould go through a Con mittee previ

ous to the recefs, in order that the blanks might be filled up, and that it fhould be printed for the perufal and confideration of the Members, intending that it should be recommitted after the holidays. He fhould therefore move, that the Bill be read a first time.

It was read a first and fecond time.

"

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30. The Order of the Day being read for taking his Majefty's Meffage into confideration,

Mr. Pitt began by ftating, that various and important confiderations would arife from the difcuffion of this fubject, and a variety of opinions would, no doubt, prevail but all muft concur in fentiments of regret at the abrupt failure of the negociation, and the neceffity of perfevering in a conteft undertaken, how ever, in confequence of complicated aggreffions on the part of the enemy, for the independence of Great Britain, and the general fecurity of Europe. These feelings of regret and difappointment were, however, he trufted, unaccompanied by defpondency.

If it should appear that Minifters were fincere and defirous for peace, on principles which ought to render it adequate and permanent, the attempt, though unfucccfsful, would not be lof. It would convince Europe, that the enemy was the fle caufe of the prolongation of the war; it would tend to unite England and to divide France.

After the propofals had been made, and terms founded on equitable grounds had been offered; after refufing to fuffer thofe terms to be difcuffed; after the infulting order for his Majefty's Minifter to quit Paris; and after (he would not call it the femblance, but the mockery of negociation on the part of the Enemy) this country had no option or alternative as to the ultimate line of Conduct it ought to adopt.

Mr. Pitt then entered into a general review of all the circumftances attend ing the overtures that had been made in order to a pacification; beginning with Mr. Wickham's correspondence with Monf. Barthelemi, at Bale, and going through the whole of the State Papers. This he did in a most able, candid, and manly manner; and from them he fhewed that the conduct of the French Directory was inconfiftent not only with their own profeffions, but with the very Conftitution on which they pretended

to relv: that at all events their demand of an Ultimatum was as improper, as it was unprecedented, and calculated for no purpose but to put an end to the Negociation. As to the great point, the fine qua non of the reftitution of the Netherlands, he remarked that lefs we could not ask for, at the commencement of a negociation, for our Allies, without the confent of the Emperor, and no fuch confent had been obtained. In the fubfequent ftages, however, even this ftipulation might bave undergone certain modifications by conceffions elfe. where. We likewife infifted upon the evacuation of Italy by the French troops; but Savoy, Nice, and Avignon did not come within the scope of this defcription.

Upon the whole, he contended, that the offer to France was fair, juft, and liberal; an offer, which thewed our anxiety for a speedy restoration of peace, and merited a fair and candid difcuffion from the enemy.

He commented at great length on the Confidential Memorial delivered on the peace with Spain and Holland, and also on Lord Malmesbury's conversation with the French Minifter for Foreign Affairs on this subject.

Holland, confidered with a reference to its former connection with this country, and its transfer to the fcale of France, muft render the restoration of any of the Colonies conquered by Great Britain from her gratuitous. What France had extorted from Holland (the Dutch Netherlands), if restored, might be the means of fecuring the Netherlands, and might form a useful barrier to Holland itfelf; but Holland being connected with France, France had ne right to demand any of thofe conquests in behalf of Holland.

Whether there was any thing so intemperate in the deportment of Lord Malmesbury, or fo very extravagant and unreasonable in his demands, as to warrant the ftrong and infuiting meafures adopted by the Directory, he would leave to the common justice, even of the greatest advocates of France to decide. Yet on the moment of our Mi. nifter's withdrawing, they propose a new bafis of their own, refusing to treat on our projet, or to give one of their own; and after rejecting Negociation with our authorised Minister, defire to negociate by means of couriers. And here again was a Audious refinement

upea

upen infult, in which the Houfe would mark a perverfenefs new and unexampled.

Alluding to the propofition of annexing to France all her conquefts by an internal law, Mr. Pitt faid, that it was teo abfurd for even the most infatuated friends of France and French conduct to fupport. No one would be fo infane as to contend that all the treaties, laws, and relations, which bound together the various nations of Europe, were to be preliminarily furrendered at the feet of that country.

In the phrenfy arifing from fome idle report of a defcent upon Ireland, it was fortunate they did not think of annexing that country as a department to France; it was happy they did not think of annexing the City and Liberties of Westafter to indivifible France.

He believed, and indeed he was fure, that there was not a man in his Majefty's Councils who would ever yield to fuch dygraceful bumiliation as fuing for peace in the mode preferibed. He hoped there were but few in the British Parliament who would agree to it; and be trufted, that there was not one Subject in his Majelly's dominions, who, knowing the difgrace of fuch a measure, would agree to be the Courier of it.

Impreffed with these feelings and conviction, he would move an addrefs to his Majefty, which he did to the ufual effect-that is, echoing the Meffage.

Mr. Erikine rofe to oppofe the Addrefs, and was entering into a detail of the hiftory of the war, when he was taken fuddenly ill, and fat down, unable to proceed.

Mr. Fox lamented that after a war of four years, in which 200 millions of money had been expended, 6,000,000l. added to the annual taxes, and more blood fhed than at any period on record, Minifters were come to this point, to complain of the haughty and inadmiffible demands of the French government. He entered into an examination of the papers before the Houfe, of the argu ments adduced by the Minifter, ridiculed the renewed affertion of France being again on the verge of bankruptcy, and cenfured a principle of anticipation hitherto fo fallacious and fatal to the country. The Directory, he contend. ed, had in every measure of this Government inconteftible proofs of the infincerity of its proffered amity, and without fome grounds of mutual confidence, no negociation could prove fuc VOL. XXXI. JAN. 1797.

cessful; there could be none between the French Government and his Majefty's Minifters; and if Gentlemen had perfonal motives for preferring the Minitter, and fhould think every hazard of war ought to be incurred to deftroy French principles, they must choose be tween the Minifter and peace, for they were incompatible. Could the French Directory believe perfons to be in carneft to conclude peace with them, who had declared the country was in danger the moment peace arrived from the influx of French principles? Unless Mi nifters difavowed the principles of the war, there could be no hopes of peace. Mr. Fox, after difcuffing a variety of fubjects introduced in Mr. Pitt's fpeech,

entered into a full examination and hiftory of the negociation. He infifted upon the abfurdity and imbecility of Lord Malmesbury's miffion; who was fent to treat on fubjects on which he had no power to conclude any terms, and with powers to come to a definitive conclufion on fubjects of which he was not empowered to treat. The terms propofed to France left her nothing, and were not fuch as the Allies were juftified by their comparative circumstances in demanding. The Minifter excelled in artifice and fophiftry; but thefe were not the qualities now wanted to give repofe to Europe. The Houfe, by affenting to the Addrefs, affented to the profecution of the war till Belgium was reftored to the Emperor. He called on Gentlemen, if convinced of the propriety of fuch a principle, to avow it, and act openly, and not go into the country with falfe pretences of having voted for peace: Parliament were not in that credit with the country, and they did not deferve to be in that credit.

[Here Mr. Fox was interrupted by Mr. Yorke, who called to order. After fome obfervations from Mr. Yorke, Mr. Serjeant Adair, and the Speaker, Mr. Fox refumed his fpeech.] He declared he did not mean to fcreen himself be hind explanations; he wished to speak plainly; he was ftating, that the Houfe had not fuch credit with the country, and did not deferve to have it, as to make it poffible that the country should fuppofe this Addrefs was not a vote for continuing the war; that the country was no longer to be impofed upon. He would fay the Parliament did not enjoy that credit with the nation which former Parliaments had done. He knew this was not respectful to the House; he always Κ

defired

defired to be fo; but there were times that did not admit of the ordinary modes of conduct. He concluded by moving an amendment in oppofition to the Addrefs, in fubftance as follows:

"Your Majefty's faithful Commons have learned, with inexpreffible concern, that the Negociation lately commenced for the restoration of peace, has been unhappily frustrated.

"In fo awful and momentous a crifis, we feel it our duty to speak to your Majefty, with that freedom and earneftnefs which becomes men anxious to preferve the honour of your Majefty's crown, and to fecure the interefts of your people.

"In doing this we fincerely deplore the neceffity we feel of declaring that, as well from the manner in which the late negociation had been conducted, as from the fubftance of the memorial, which appears to have produced the abrupt termination of it, we have reason to think your Majefty's Minifters were not fincere, in their endeavours to procure the bleffings of peace, so neceffary for this diftreffed country.

"The profpe& of peace, fo anxiously looked for by all defcriptions of your Majefty's fubjects, is at once removed from our view; on the one hand, your Majefty's Minifters infift upon the ref toration of the Netherlands to the Emperor, as a fine qua non from which they have pledged your Majefty not to recede; while on the other hand, the Executive Directory of the French Republic, with equal pertinacity, claim the prefervation of that part of their own conquefts as a condition from which they cannot depart.

"Under thefe circumstances, we cannot help lamenting to your Majefty, the rafhnefs and injuftice of your Majefty's Minifters, whofe long continued mifconduct has produced this embarraffing fituation; by advifing your Majefty, before the bleffings of peace had been unfortunately interrupted, to refufe all Negociation for the adjustment of the then fubfifting differences, although the Netherlands, now the main obftacle to the return of tranquillity, far from being considered as an object of conteft, were not only not then confidered by the French Republic as a part of their territory, but the annexation of wubich was folemnly renounced, and the peace of Europe offered into your Majefty's hands upon the bafis of that renuncia. tion, and upon the fecurity and independence of Holland, whilst the pre

ferved her neutrality towards France.

"Your Majefty's faithful Commons have further deeply to lament, that foon after the commencement of the War, when, by the vigilance of your Majefty's arins, with the affiftance of your Allies, the Republic of Holland had been rescued from invafion, and the greatest part of the Netherlands had been recovered by the Emperor, at a time too when most of the Princes of Europe, with refources yet unexhausted, continued firm in their alliance with Great Britain, your Majefty's Ministers did not only not avail themselves of this high and commanding pofition for the Negociation of an honourable Peace, and the establishment of the political balance of Europe, but, on the contrary, without any example in the principles and practice of this or any other nation, refufed to fet on foot any Negociation whatsoever with the French Republic; not upon a real or even alledged refusal on her part to liften to the propofitions now rejected by her, not to any specific propofal of indemnity or political fecu rity, but upon the arrogant and infulting pretence that her Government was incapable of maintaining the accuftomed relations of peace and amity amongst nations; and upon that unfounded and merely fpeculative affumption, advised your Majefty to continue the War to a period when the difficulties in the way of Peace have been fo much increased by the defection of most of the Powers engaged in the Confederacy, and by the conquefts and confequent pretenfions of the French Republic.

"Your Majefty's faithful Commons having thus humbly fubmitted to your Majefty the reflections which your Ma"jefty's gracious communications immediately fuggeft, will proceed with unremitting diligence to inveftigate the caufes which have produced our prefent calamities, and to offer fuch advice as the critical and alarming circumftances of the nation may require."

Mr. Secretary Dundas faid, the propofed Amendment went to record a propofition tending to ftrengthen the hands of the enemy, and to weaken our own country. He made many fevere animadverfions on Mr. Fox, as the advocate of France, rather than of Great Britain.

The Houfe divided on Mr. Fox's

Amendment, when the numbers were, for the Amendment, Ayes 37, Noes 212.

On the following day the Houfe met, and after tranfacting fome unimportant business, adjourned to Feb. 14.

FOREIGN