CHAP. 1796. cuss with the government there all the measures the ແ most proper to produce so desirable an end." The Danish minister having conveyed to the directory this manifestation of the British intentions, it was replied by the French government, "that the executive government "would not receive or answer, from the enemies of the re"( public, any overture transmitted through an intermediate "channel; but that if England would send persons fur"nished with full powers and official papers, they might, upon the frontier, demand the passports necessary for Britain, proceeding to Paris." The court of London having Malmsbu- applied for passports, nominated lord Malmsbury as an ry is sent. ambassador to Paris, who accordingly set out the beginning of October. France agrees to receive an ambassador from and lord CHAP. LIX. Meeting of the new parliament—the king announces pacific intentions.-Difference of opinion on this subject between ministers and the votaries of Burke.-Burke's publication against a peace with regicides.-Earl Fitzwilliam reprobates negotiation, unless monarchy be restored. Ministers declare security attainable without the restoration of monarchy.-Opposition declare they do not believe the ministers really to desire peace.-Apprehensions of an invasion.-Powerful and extensive preparations for defence.-Law for establishing a militia in Scotland. Army, navy, and pecuniary supplies.—Imposts begin to be severely felt by the lower and middling classes. Negotiation of lord Malmsbury at Paris-basis proposed by Britain, reciprocal restitution-France will not relinquish Belgium.-Abruptly requires the ultimatum of the ambassador-which he is not empowered immediately to deliver-he is ordered to quit France.British manifesto, charging France with the rupture.— Splendid eloquence of Mr. Pitt on this subject.—Mr. Erskine's view of the causes and consequences of the war.-Reasonings of Mr. Fox.-Motions for the removal of ministers-are negatived by great majorities.Gloomy aspect of affairs at the commencement of 1797enormous increase of national debt-advances and state of the bank-correspondence between the bank and ministers-alarms for public credit-fears of an invasionunusual demand for specie-rapid decrease of cash in the bank-public agitation-application to government— order of council to suspend payments in cash—the subject is discussed in parliament-apposition declare the bank to be in a state of insolvency from the infatuation of ministers-ministers allege, and the bank proves, its property far to exceed its engagements-bill to enable the bank to pay in notes instead of cash.-Complaints of the sailors-artifices of disaffected agitators-alarming CHAP. LIX. 1796. the new king an nounces pacific intentions. tween mi nisters and mutiny at Portsmouth—is quieted by lord Howe.-An augmentation of pay is granted by parliament.—More outrageous and dangerous mutiny at the Nore-Parker -the insurgents block up the Thames-alarm in London -the sailors at length return to obedience.-Parker tried and executed.-Law rendering the instigation of mutiny capital felony.-State of Ireland.-Lord Moira's proposed address to his majesty on the subject-negatived.--Motion for parliamentary reform, and inquiries into the state of the nation-negatived.—Marriage of the prince of Wirtemberg to the princess royal of England portion bestowed on her highness.-Parliament rises. THE new parliament met on the 6th of October; and his majesty informed the houses that he had omitted no endeavours for setting on foot negotiations to restore Meeting of peace to Europe, and to secure for the future the general parlia- tranquillity. But nothing (he observed) could contribute ment: the so effectually to this end, as to manifest that we possessed both the determination and resources to oppose, with increased activity and energy, the farther efforts with which Difference we might have to contend.9 On the general propriety of of opinion a negotiation, there was a division of opinion between on this subject be those who had promoted the war and supported its continuance. We have already stated, that Mr. Burke, in inculcating hostility against revolutionary France, chose different grounds from ministers. In the progress of the war he had adhered to his original opinion, that the restoration of monarchy and the ancient orders, under certain modifications, ought to be the sole and avowed purpose of the war; and that no peace could be secure until that obBurke's ject was effected. Under that impression, he wrote his publication against a "Thoughts on a Regicide Peace," intended to prove, that peace with the system of France was impious, enormously wicked, regicides.. and destructive to all who were within its sphere: we must either conquer the revolution, or be destroyed ourselves: peace would enable it to operate rapidly to our ruin let us, therefore, avoid peace. Earl Fitzwilliam, the votaries of Burke. q King's Speech, State Papers, October 6th, 1796. LIX. william rer tion, unless be restor declare se curity at without the of monar.. the intimate friend of Mr. Burke, in a considerable degree CHAP. adopted these opinions, and reprobated negotiation. To restore order (he said); to defend the civilized states of 1796. Europe against the danger that threatened them; to pro- Earl Fitztect persons and property from a fatal devastation, and probates suppress the tendency of innovating and pernicious doc- negotiatrines; were the ostensible objects of the war, and upon monarchy these principles they had supported its continuance. If ed. it were wise to negotiate now, the same wisdom ought to have been manifested four years ago; for the causes of war, which then existed, still operated with equal force, and proved the necessity of perseverance in hostility to the French system. Ministers declared they had never stated, Ministers that the existence of a republic in France was an insurmountable bar to peace: they had expressed what they tainable still believed, that the best issue to the contest would be, restoration the reestablishment of monarchy in France; yet they had chy. never pledged themselves, much less the parliament, to an opinion so extravagant, as that without the attainment of this object there was no hope or possibility of peace. They were always resolved to seek peace with France, whenever it was attainable with SECURITY. The French government now appeared to have some tendency to moderation; our own country was very much improved in point of tranquillity, which might be chiefly imputed to the wise laws against sedition and treason that had been enacted in the last session. Those who had always reprobated the war, expressed their hearty approbation of the declared intention to negotiate. Judging however Opposition (they said) from the conduct, and not from the profession they do not of ministers, they did not give them full credit for sincer- ministers ity." Mr. Pitt strongly represented, that the surest way really to of obtaining favourable conditions of peace, was to be pre- peace. pared for war; and exhibited a very flattering account of the flourishing condition of the country, and the extent of her resources, which were increased beyond all former calculations or hopes. A CLAUSE in his majesty's speech had declared the king's apprehension that the enemy were preparing an in r See speeches of Messrs. Fox and Sheridan, Parliamentary Debates, October 1796. declare believe the desire CHAP. LIX. 1796. sions of in and exten defence. For vasion upon this island. Mr. Pitt very early in the ses. sion recommended adoption of measures for repelling the designed, as well as future attempts. For this purpose Apprehen- he formed a plan for levying fifty thousand men from the vasion. different parishes for the sea service, and another for recruiting the regular regiments. In the projected levies for the land service, he considered two objects; first, the means of calling together a land force sufficient of itself to repel an invasion, even independently of our naval armaments; and, secondly, to adopt such measures in the levies as should not materially interfere with the agriculture, commerce, and general industry of this kingdom. Powerful The primary object was to raise, and gradually train, such sive prepa- a force as might in a short time be fit for service. rations for this purpose he proposed a supplementary levy of militia, to be grafted on the old establishment, of the number of sixty thousand men; not to be immediately called out, but to be enrolled, officered, and completely trained, so as to be fit for service at a moment of danger. He also proposed to provide a considerable force of irregular cavalry, to be levied in the following manner: every person who kept ten horses, should be obliged to provide one horse, and one horseman, to serve in a corps of militia; and those who kept more than ten, should provide in the same proportion; and that those that kept fewer than ten, were to form themselves into classes, in which it should be decided by ballot, who, at the common expense, should provide the horse and the horseman : these troops were to be furnished with uniform and accoutrements, arranged into corps, and put under proper officers. The whole number of cavalry proposed to be raised by this mode was twenty thousand the other ing a mili- supplemental troops amounted to seventy-five thousand men. Among the means proposed for internal defence, a Army, na- bill was introduced by Mr. Dundas, for raising and empecuniary bodying a militia in Scotland, and an act for that purpose supplies. was passed without opposition. The whole land forces of the country, intended for the year 1797, were to consist of one hundred and ninety-five thousand, six hundred and ninety-four; and the navy was to amount to a hundred and twenty thousand men. The pecuniary supplies of the Law for establish tia in Scotland. vy, and |