Before he proceeded to offer a few observations on the question immediately before the house, he was anxious to make one or two remarks on those topics with which the hon. member who introduced the business had prefaced his motion. These topics had been so ably commented on by his noble friend near him (Lord Castlereagh) that he should not have thought it necessary to refer to them, if the last speaker had not revived and enforced them. Another reason that rendered it the less requisite for him to enlarge on them was, that they were not practically connected with the question submitted to the consideration of the house. The house heard in succession of the situation of the finances, of the state of the army, of the extent of our navy, of the present state of the public mind in Ireland. All these points were urged, and in that way too, which gave rise to an idea that the hon. member wished to have them all made the subject of separate discussions, with the view of removing what is defective, and placing every thing on a different establishment; this idea, however, turned out to be erroneous, for the hon. member would be satisfied with a simple adjournment from week to week, or from fortnight to fortnight, not with the purpose of enabling the house to renew any discussions on the general state of our relations, foreign and domestic, but merely for receiving that communication which could not be brought forward under the present circumstances. Such being the state of the case, he was relieved from the necessity of going into any minuteness of detail. Of the state of our finances, he could by no means entertain those gloomy ideas. which the hon. gentleman entertained. He thought, on the contrary, the prospect they afforded was highly consolatory. As to the promise on which the hon. gentleman had insisted, he had to say, that he was not in office at the time it was made, but he was satisfied that if great and unexampled burdens had not been rendered necessary, the pledge would have been amply fulfilled. Even if a sum of seven or eight millions had been sufficient, the sinking fund would have covered it without accumulating more debt. It was consoling and encouraging that, instead of adding to our loans, we could raise by the sinking fund, and the taxes raised within the year, no less a sum than twenty millions this year. This was a most flattering picture of the state of our resources, and the regular payment of near eight millions a year by the sinking fund, in spite of our accumulated difficulties, was the best testimony in favour of public credit. The beneficial ef 3 F2 fects fects of this system it was needless for him to insist upon, for they were felt in the general prosperity, industry and comfort of the people. He would not go into details on this part of the subject, as another opportunity would be afforded him, when an hon. gentleman, whose ability and accuracy well fitted him for the task, should submit his resolutions to the house. When these resolutions were introduced, he should, he trusted be able to shew the house that the view which he gave of the financial state of the country was by no means delusive. As to the present state of our army, he declined saying much at present, reserving himself for the day when the subject would be fully discussed. He begged leave, however, to allude to what had been said about his promises to place the army on a proper footing, and the disappointment, of these promises. He had to complain that his sentiments and language had on this subject been either misunderstood or misrepresented. As to the actual amount of our military force, he had long since declared that it appeared to him nearly adequate to the circumstances of the country. What he objected to was, principally, the manner in which it was distributed. He had complained too of our deficiency in disposable force, and to supply this deficiency, his most active exertions had been directed. He did not see then any ground for supposing that, for the accomplishment of so desirable an end, temporary expedients should not be resorted to, and ministers had accordingly combined these with a plan for the regular recruiting of the army. If from this period last year, down to the present day, twenty or thirty thousand men had been added to our disposable force, he did not see with what justice ministers could be accused of neglecting our military resources. He begged gentlemen to reflect on the difficulties attending the recruiting for the army in this commercial country, and yet with all these difficulties, we had now a disposable force of a hundred and forty thousand well disciplined troops, besides a hundred thousand that were stationary. To these were to be added about four hundred thousand volunteers, forming all together a force which at once shewed the activity of the government, and the zeal and spirit of our general population. The state of our military strength was indeed such as to remove all diffidence or anxiety. The right hon. member next adverted to the state of the navy. It was true that there was in ships of the line a very trifling increase, but when it was considered how anany had been necessarily laid up in the docks to be repair ed, ed, he was sure that the exertions of the noble lord lately at the head of the admiralty, to expedite this important branch · of the public service, were entitled to the gratitude of the country. Equally entitled to approbation was his zealous activity in providing stores of every description, and his diligence in hastening the fitting out of that inferior species of naval force which the peculiar circumstances of the country required. He denied that the escape of the French squadrons at all evinced want of knowledge or activity on the part of the admiralty. On every one of the stations where the squadrons of the enemy were, they had been blockaded, and if by accident the blockade was raised, there was no proof of the least blame attached to any one individual. It was quite impossible, great as was the amount of our naval force, to have squadrons in all parts of the world to which a hostile fleet might by accident direct its course. He vindicated the conduct of the admiralty as to the first sailing of the Toulon fleet. It was not then ascertained that they had gone out of the Mediterranean. On the contrary, there was then reason to suppose that they had in view an object much nearer than any attempt either on our West India islands or the Brazils, though he was not at liberty to speak with greater freedom on the subject. He denied that the number of troops on board the Toulon fleet had ever been ascertained. On the contrary, the most contradictory accounts had at different times come into the possession of ministers. Every reasonable precaution had been taken on the part of government, but no vigilance, however active, could at all times prevent the escape of an enemy, continually on the watch to elude us. He next touched on the state of Ireland, which he allowed was ground of not a little anxiety. A great improvement had taken place, but much yet remained to be done to perfect the advantages of the union. He trusted that every thing inflammatory would be studiously avoided. on a subject so delicate, and at the same time so interesting; as it had only been incidentally alluded to, he should not insist on it on the present occasion. After going through these points, the right hon. gentleman proceeded to state what had been his original views of the renewal of hostilities, views from which he had never for a moment departed. He had never supposed or maintained that the military force of this country was adequate to reduce the inordinate ambition, or curtail the overgrown power of France. He had maintained, however, that this country could not, consistently with its safety, main tain the relations of peace and amity with a government whose hostile views were so unequivocally manifested. He had thought that the spirit and energy of this nation, properly displayed, might rouse the spirit of the powers of the continent, and that an opportunity might be found of making a common cause with them against the ambition of an individual restrained by none of those laws which regulate the intercourse of civilized kingdoms. Of the power of this country to repel the invasion he never entertained a doubt, and he trusted that the attempt, if made, would be so repelled as to hold out encouragement to those whom fear had bound in slavish obedience, to rise up and shake off their ignominious chains. Such were the views which he had laid down, and such had been the principles on which the confidential communications alluded to in his majesty's message had been conducted. The principle of joint peace or joint war formed the basis of the negotiations, and he was glad to find his right hon. friend (Mr. Windham) fully entered into the system. To obtain such a co-operation from Russia was what ministers were desirous of effecting, and what true policy clearly demanded. He allowed, indeed, that Russia alone, independent of other continental powers, was not efficient for effectually reducing the power of France. To interest other powers in the same cause became therefore a matter of the utmost consequence, but to accomplish this, he needed not to apprize the house, was a matter of extreme difficulty. The secrecy which such negotiations required, the discussion of all the circumstances connected with such a close urion of interests, and the arrangement of the means by which the different members of the confederacy could be brought to act together, were all reasons why the communication alluded to in the message could not now, after so long an interval, be satisfactorily explained. He trusted, then, the house would not refuse to give, on this occasion, the same credit to the message, which other messages, under similar circumstances, had obtained. His majesty stated, that no more distinct communication could be made with safety, and therefore he hoped that no unnecessary obstacle might be thrown in the way of connexions. capable of producing the most satisfactory results. The right hon. gentleman concluded by giving his negative to the mo tion. Mr. Grey then rose and took a view of the various arguments that had been offered against him, and concluded by deprecating the weakness of the present administration, with the the bare exception only of the talent for debate that distinguished the right hon. gentleman-a weakness and inefficiency that were greatly augmented by the division and discord that at present reigned in the cabinet. A division then took place, For Mr. Grey's motion Against it Majority against the motion At three o'clock in the morning the house adjourned. HOUSE OF LORDS. FRIDAY, JUNE 21. The house was for some time occupied in a committee of privileges on the Rous peerage. Some progress was also made in two divorce bills, one of which was deferred till Tuesday, the other till Wednesday next. Several bills were brought up from the commons and read a first time, among others Mr. Pitt's indemnity bill, respecting the advances made to the house of Boyd and Benfield. Lord Suffolk presented a petition against the Pancras vestry bill; but, on account of some informality in the wording the petition, it was withdrawn, in order to be presented again on Thursday next, when the bill was further to be considered. Lord Walsingham presented a petition from Judge Fox, stating the hardships to which he should be exposed were his case to be further pursued during the remainder of the session. It was improbable they would witness any thing like a full attendance at such a period of the year, and there could therefore be scarcely any hope of bringing the business to any termination this session. Besides it was well known that the petitioners who attended to give evidence against him were paid by the public, while all the expences upon his side fell immediately upon him. These considerations, he trusted, would be enough to induce their lordships to entertain the prayer of the petition. The Lord Chancellor conceived that the petition rested upon grounds that well deserved the serious attention of the house; and, on the motion of Lord Walsingham, it was ordered to be taken into consideration on Thursday next. The house afterwards made some progress in the stipendiary curates' bill, which is to be recommitted on Thursday, after which the house adjourned. HOUSE |