with fubfidies for our allies, who might nevertheless, from motives of conveniency, be extremely apt to abandon the confederacy.

The Earl of Mansfield maintained, on the other fide, the need we stood in of allies, to accomplish the objects which the intereft of this country evidently required. The mafs of the French, though filent through fear, heartily defired the return of monarchy; and if duly fupported, could more effectually reftore it by their own exertions, than by the intervention of a foreign force.

The expenfiveness of the treaties was feverely condemned by the Marquis of Lanfdowne. It was furprifing, he faid, that a people circumftanced like that of Great Britain, could fo readily be reconciled to facrifice fo much of their fubftance for the prosecution of a quarrel in which fuch numbers of them must neceffarily perifh. The principle of trufting to the attachment and fidelity of the people in their defence, was manifeftly reprobated by the coalefced princes. The King of Pruitia had frongly objected to it from the danger, left when in arms, they might indulge the more freedom in political ideas, and imbibe fome of thofe adopted by the French. This was a proof how confcious thofe princes were of the hard ufage experienced by their fubjects; and how little they merited their affection. Was the grandeur of fuch princes deferving of the efforts of this country to fupport it? and could its prefervation redcund to the benefit or honour of the British nation?

Lord Stanhope, one of the most ftrenuous oppofers of a war which he deemed entirely minifterial, on

the 25th of March, made a mo tion in the Upper Houfe against any further interference in the domeftic concerns of France. He feverely reprehended Lord Manffield's opinion, that no expence ought to be fpared by this country to procure as extensive an infurrection against the prefent government of France as money could effect in that country. He condemned it as contrary both to religious and political principles, and particularly to that fyftem of civilized fociety which had fo much contributed to foften the ferocious nature of war.

He expatiated largely on the confequences of fuch an opinion, and on its tendency to kindle internal flames of difcord in all countries. He reminded the House of the sufferings to which the continuation of the war muft neceffarily fubject the people of this country, and of the injuries already fuftained during the fhort space it had lafted. The fpeech and motion of Lord Stanhope were vehemently cenfured by Lord Mansfield and Lord Grenville, who moved that, in order to prevent the refolution propofed by Lord Stanhope from appearing on the journals of the Houfe, it fhould be expunged.

The Lord Chancellor feconded Lord Grenville, by refufing to read the preamble to the refolution; which was negatived, and the mo tion for expunging it carried.

This method of preventing a difagreeable refolution from being recorded, gave great offence to oppofition, and to others, who, though difapproving of Lord Stanhope's opinion, thought him entitled to infift on its infertion in the journals of the House.

Lord Lauderdale denied the right

in the speaker of either House to mutilate or alter any motion; otherwife freedom of expreffion would gradually be obliterated. He moved in confequence, that motions fhould be put in the words they were made.

Lord Thurlow contended, that the proceeding complained of was orderly, and ufed with the fole view of obviating a more difagree able manner of rejecting the motion.-A warm difcuffion followed, which was terminated by an adjournment, and the question itself left undecided.

In the midst of thefe parliamentary altercations, the public faw with much fatisfaction a bill brought into the Houfe of Commons, of fuch national utility, as to claim and command at once the concurrence of all parties. This was a bill introduced by Lord Hawkefbury, to take place at the end of the war, and by which a great number of feamer. that muft in confequence be difcharged, would immediately be provided with employment. The principal intenThe principal intention of the bill was to oblige all British merchantmen to be manned with three-fourths of British failors; and coafting veffels to admit of no foreign feamen during peace. This latter regulation would prevent foreigners from becoming acquainted with our feaports: a knowledge often attended with danger in time of war. By another provifion of this bill, no fhip, without being duly registered as belonging to this country, fhould have the freedom of British ports. This would exclude veffels belonging to foreigners from the enjoyment of this privilege, and tend to augment the number of our own merchant

He ftated the quantity of fhipping in Great Britain at fixteen thoufand veffels, meafuring more than one million of tons, and man. ned with one hundred and eighteen thoufand British mariners: twelve thousand of thefe veffels belonged to England alone, and employed one hundred and feven thousand of those mariners. To fuch a summit of profperity had the naval power of Great Britain rifen within the laft hundred years, that during the American war, Liverpool alone had fitted out privateers exceeding in tonnage and number of feamen the whole of the grand fleet employed by England against the Spanish Armada in 1588. At the Restoration, in the year 1660, the shipping of England amounted to 95,000 tons; at the Revolution, twenty years after, 190,000; at the acceffion of the prefent Royal Family, in the year 1714, to 421,000; in the year 1750, to 609,000; in the. year 1774, the year before the American war, to 796,000; and in 1792, the year preceding the present war with France, to 1.330,000.

The ftrong probability that the war would continue longer than had been confidentially predicted by its approvers, began at this time to excite great alarm in the public mind. The majority had flattered themfelves, that if the coalition were not able to compafs all the defigns it had originally propofed, ftill it would fucceed in accomplish ing many; and at all events, that France would be compelled to accede to fuch terms as might affect the tranquillity of Europe, and leave the French themfelves in poffeffion of an internal fyftem of government,which, tho' not repugnant to the general fentiments of that na

tion, might prove not inconfifient with the views of the coalition.

But thefe expectations having totally failed, and the duration of the war appearing now uncertain, a determination to profecute it until the coalition had obtained its ends, seemed to have been adopted as a principle never to be relinquifhed. Those who were averfe to the war itfelf, profeffing great zeal for the reputation of the British arms and councils, refolved to exert their abilities in the investigation of those caufes to which the late failures were due. In pursuance of this refolution, the documents relating to the tranfactions of the last campaign were moved for by Mr. Gray and Major Maitland; but on being refufed the infpection of thofe, Major Maitland, on the 10th of April, proceeded in the Houfe of Commons to a retrospect of the occurrences of 1793. The tranfactions at Dunkirk and at Toulon were the objects of his animadverfions, together with the projected expedition under Lord Moira. He entered circumftantially into the particulars of thefe matters, by moving for a committee of the Houfe, to enquire into the caufes which led to the failure of the army under the Duke of York at Dunkirk, and to those which occafioned the evacuation of Toulon under Lord Hood and General Dundas.

In oppofition to Major Maitland, it was afferted by Mr. Jenkinfon, that no exertions had been wanting on the part of miniftry. The bravery of the British troops, and the prudence of those who guided our affairs, were alike unimpeachable. The attempt upon Dunkirk was defeated by the prodigious ftrength employed by the French in its defence.

No violation of agreement could be imputed to this country in the affair at Toulon. When the people in that place ftipulated for the conftitution of 1789, they could not certainly mean that of 1791. Due care had been taken, when that place was evacuated, to provide the means of fafety to all who would accept of them. The fuccefs of the expedition commanded by Lord Moira, depended entirely on the junction of the Royalifts. Had they poffeffed a harbour for his landing, he doubtless would have landed, and done his utmost in their caufe. The object in the view of government, was not to compel the French to embrace any parti cular form of government, but toput an end to thofe ambitious projects which the French republicans had formed and purfued ever fince the extinction of monarchy. The Jacobin fyftem had generated this reftlefs fpirit, and till that iniquitous fcheme was deftroyed, France would neither enjoy peace itself, nor futfer its neighbours to enjoy it. Notwithftanding the pretended impracticability of marching to Paris, this was the best plan that could be adopted. France was full of enemies to the Convention: were the allies refolutely to move forward, numbers would infallibly join them on their way.

Mr. Jenkinson was feconded by Lord Mulgrave and Sir James Murray. The firft fpoke in juftification of the proceedings at Toulon, where he was prefent. The fecond, in vindication of the British commanders before Dunkirk, where the failure was attributed merely to the immenfe force brought to its refcue by the French, whofe numbers were irrefiftible. The retreat

was

was made with order and spirit, and the lofs not confiderable.

Mr. Grey's motion was negatived by 168 to 35.

The affairs of India, after the difpatch of other business of lefs importance, were brought before the Houfe by Mr. Dundas on the 4th of April. From the averages of three years preceding the war in India, and at the three years fucceeding, he formed an eftimate, by which it appeared, that the net improvement in the Company's affairs by reduction of debts and by increafe of affets, amounted to 1,669,7001. The refources of the Company hereby, were equal to the demands they had to answer. The British poffeffions in that part of the world he ftated as in the moft flourishing fituation. The only European power that we apprehended, was no longer in exiftence; and the most dangerous of the native powers was completely difabled. Notwithstanding fome of the domestic sales had been deficient, from the quantity of goods for fale being lefs than expected, the home debt had been decreased by payment of 500,000l. and there was no doubt that, the commercial difficulties of last year being removed, the demands for India goods would bring them to a good market, and compenfate for all paft deficiencies. It would however be expedient, to permit the Company to increafe their capital, by enabling them to continue their bonded debt at 2,000,000, and to iffue new bonds for 1,000,000 more. This, on Mr. Dundas's motion, was agreed to accordingly.

On the 29th of April a meffage was delivered from the King, informing the House of Commons

of the treaty concluded with the King of Pruffia; by which Great Britain and the States General had jointly ftipulated to grant that monarch a larger fubfidy for the profecution of the war. When the terms were laid before the House, it appeared that 1,800,0001. were to be paid him for the services of a twelvemonth; of which Holland was to furnish 400,000l. The immenfity of fuch a fum, advanced to a prince in whom little or rather no confidence was repofed, awakened the fears of thofe who dreaded his duplicity; and that being once in poffeffion of this treasure, he would feel little concern for those from whom he had received it. This apprehenfion was the more juftly founded, that he was privately negociating with the French government at this very time, and preparing for that feceffion from the confederacy which he had already refolved on.

On a comparison of these enormous terms with the uncertainty of the fervices they were given to purchafe, it was not furprizing that the moft forward in the oppofition fhould imagine that many would hefitate whether they ought in prudence to be granted.

On the very next day, Mr. Curwan moved the Houfe to put off the conclufion of a bufinefs of fuch magnitude, for at least a fortnight, that the members might have full leifure for confideration. This motion gave birth to a warm difcuffion on its propriety, at a juncture when miniftry infifted that the most expeditious decifion was neceffary and its oppofers contended, with no lefs obftinacy, that due time fhould be taken to weigh the reasons that might be adduced

:

on

on both fides of the question. Mr. Curwan was warmly feconded on this occafion by Mr. Whitbread, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Harrifon, and Mr. Francis; but the motion was negatived, and the following day appointed for a conclufive determination.

This was the 30th of April. Mr. Pitt entered on the fubject by reprefenting the inadequacy of the Pruffian finances to the profecution of the war, unless they were further fupported by our own, to which only refort could be made on the prefent emergency. The main point to be confidered was, the proportion of the expence incurred to the fuccours that were to be furnished: and this, he afferted, was wery equitable. In this country, befides the difburíements for arms, clothing, and accoutrements, the levy-money amounted to fifteen pounds a man: whereas, all requifites included, we paid only thirteen pounds for a Pruffian foldier; which was a more moderate price than that either we gave the Hanoverians or the Heffians, or indeed for any continental troops. He then moved, that 2,500,000l. should be voted, to enable the King to fulfil his engagements with Pruffia.

In anfwer to this motion, Mr. Fox obferved, that it appeared from the minifter's fpeech, that the King of Pruffia was no longer to act in the original character of a principal in this war, but as a fubfidiary. ally; while the real fact was, that he firft took up arms in this conteft, and that we were only acceflaries; though, by artifice and contrivance, we had been brought fo much forward as to become the very heads of the confederacy. It was by aflumming this imprudent fituation, that we were called upon

to fupport all the members. The conduct of Pruffia on this occafion, he afferted, was equally perfidious and mean. After involving this country in a quarrel which, but for the intrigues of that court, would have been avoided, it threw the burden upon us, and threatened to abandon the conteft, unless we fupplied the means of continuing it. With what face could the Pruffian miniftry require any confidence from this country, after be traying it into difficulties of their own creating, and leaving us to extricate ourfelves without any aid from them, unless we paid for it? But what reafon would our own miniftry affign for entrufting the command of mercenaries to their mafter, after fuch proofs that no faith could be put in him, and that he was averfe to any rifk in this expenfive and dangerous quarrel? Nor had miniftry difplayed much fagacity in trufting to the Dutch themfelves for their fhare of the expence. They were known to be not zealous in the bufinefs, and providently determined to limit their concurrence therein to a twelvemonth. He concluded by moving, that no larger fum fhould be voted for the purpofe in question than 1,500,000l.-Thefe arguments were combated by Mr. Wyndham, who added, that whatever the conduct of Prufia might have been, wanting men for the prosecution of the war, we could not procure them on more advantageous terms; and ought gladly to fecure them. The amendment propofed by Mr. Fox was rejected by 134 against 33.

In the Houfe of Lords, a mef fage to the fame effect was taken into confideration. Lord Grenvill obferved, that when this country