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take the fenfe of the Houfe upon the Noble Duke's Amendment. The queftion being put, the House divided, Contents

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The question upon the Address, as moved by Lord Grenville, was then put, and carried without a divifion. Adjourned to Monday next.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-Jan. 27. Mr Nepean brought up a variety of accounts from the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty, which were ordered to lie on the table.

The feveral financial papers moved for by Mr Tierney were brought up by Mr Long. Ordered to lie upon the table, and to be printed.

On the motion of Mr Long, the confideration of his Majesty's Meffage was put off till Wednesday next, on account of the indifpofition of Mr Pitt.

28. A Meffenger from the Commiffioners of the Cufioms prefented accounts of prohibited Eaft India Goods, Naval Stores, &c. &c.-Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr Steele prefented an account, fhewing how the 2,500,cool. voted laft year for the Extraordinaries of the Army, had been difpofed of.

A Petition from the Prifoners confined for Debt in the county goal of Derby was prefented by Mr Charles York. Ordered to lie on the table.

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Mr Bragge moved for leave to bring in a Bill to indemnify the Holders of Public Offices who had neglected to qualify themselves according to Act of Parliament.

Mr Abbot complained that feveral accounts, which, from a motion of his laft Seffion, had been laid before the Houfe, were extremely unfatisfactory. He then moved for the production of an account of the total Amount of the Monies which would have been applicable to the Expences of the Civil Lift, from the 5th of January, 1777, to the 5th of January, 1800, had the hereditary revenues of the Crown enjoyed by the late King been enjoyed by his prefent Majefty--the Amount of the Annuities granted by Parliament in lieu of the fame-the Sums voted at different periods to pay the Arrears of the Civil Lift-and the Difference made by this arrangement to the Public.-Ordered.

He then prefaced a motion for the production of various other documents, by faying that it was his intention, in

the prefent Seffion, to move for the adops tion of the method practifed in the reigns of King William and Queen Anne, of making money bear intereft after it had lain in the hands of the Officers of Revenue beyond the legal time. Preparatory to this, he moved that there be laid before the Houfe a Lift of all the Accountants who had, on the 5th of January, 1800, given in their Accounts to the Commiffioners for auditing Public Accounts, specifying their names, fervices, places of abode, the fums paid in, and the balance due: the amount of the arrears due by the Commiffioners of the Cuftoms and Excife, the Distributers of Stamps, the Receivers general of the Land Tax, the General Poft Office, the Penny Poft Office, the Deputy Pofimafters in England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Weft Indies, and the balance due to Government by the Receivers of the Revenues of the Crown Lands. All thefe papers were ordered to be laid before the Houfe.

Lord Sheffield moved for an Account of the quantity of Wheat, Barley, Oats, and Rye, imported into Great Britain from the 1ft of January 1794, to the prefent date, as far as can be made up.Ordered.

29. Petitions were presented from the Debtors confined in the county goals of Kent and York, praying for relief.—Ordered to lie on the table.

The Mafter of the Rolls prefented a petition from the parish of St. John Hampftead, praying for leave to bring in a Bill for empowering the Overfeers, &c. of that parish to build a new workhoufe-Referred to a Committee.

Mr Long moved, that the confideration of the King's Meffage should be further poftponed till Monday next, as Mr Pitt's indifpofition fill continued. He was aware that Mr Sheridan's motion for an Enquiry respecting the Expedi tion to Holland flood for that day; but that Gentleman had agreed to defer his motion to Monday fe'nnight.

After fome remarks from Mr Tierney, Lord Belgrave, Mr Hobhouse, and Mr Percival, Mr Long's Motion was.agreed to.

Feb. 3. Mr M. A. Taylor, after reprobating the indecent conduct of field preachers and certain licenfed religious orators, gave notice that he would avail himself of a future opportunity to bring forward a motion refpecting Proteftant Diffenters. He faid that what fuggefted the neceffity of this mealure to him was,

that

that he found himself, in his capacity as a Magiftrate, lately obliged to licenfe a young man of 17 years of age as a Preach er of the Golpel.

Mr Whitbread wifhed to know whether it was the intention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to bring forward any motion this year for the improvement of the Poor Laws: and, being answered in the negative, he gave notice that he should take an early opportunity of making a motion on that fubject.

His Majefly's Meffage.

Mr Dundas moved the Order of the Day for taking into confideration his Majefty's Meffage, and the communica tions referred to therein, refpecting a Negotiation for Peace, as transmitted from France. The M flage being read, Mr Dundas commented on the several point nearly in the fame manner as Lord Grenville had done in the House of Lords, and concluded by moving an Addreis, which was (as is cuftomary) merely an echo of the Meffage.

Mr Whitbread replied to Mr Dundas, and, amongst other arguments, faid, that in the ftyle and manner of the Note tranfmitted to this country from Buonaparte, there was nothing offenfive or derogatory to the rights of nations, nor any thing incompatible with the language of one Crowned Head to another. (A loud laugh.) The termination of this Negotiation, he continued, would fhew France and the world that there was a decided negative to any Negocia tion for Peace on the part of this country. As to the reftoration of the Houfe of Bourbon, it was an object for which not a fhilling of British Money ought to be expended; for with respect to this country, that Family ever fhewed an ambitious perfidioufnefs that involved us in repeated Wars, and finally loft us A merica. He concluded by quoting the words of Mr Fox, "That rather than not treat for Peace with France, he would treat with any Government.' Mr Canning fpoke in favour of the Addrefs.

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Mr Erskine next fpoke. He took a general view of the fubjects of both Notes, with their respective answers, and difcuffing each, paragraph by paragraph, commented and animadverted on each; from which he drew this conclufive interrogatory, viz. Was the final anfwer of his Majefty's Minifters wife, prudent, or juft?-On each of thefe at

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Mr Pitt then rofe. The French Revolution, he said, he had ever confidered as a phenomenon which had arisen for the purpose of putting the piety and patriotism of every man to a trial. It was one which by its blighting influence, required the utmoft efforts to replace the hopes and the happiness of man. After making fome fevere remarks on Mr Erfkine's speech, he took a comprehensive view of the origin and progress of the War, and obferved that the conduct of Great Britain had been marked throughout by moderation and precaution. When Italy was overrun by the French in 1796, we were so far from being engaged in unrelenting hoftility that we were actually treating with France. We had at that time obtained three of our great naval victories. We had deftroyed the commerce of the enemy, and doubled our own. We had taken his colonies, without fuffering any dif memberment on our part; yet we offered to furrender a part of our conquefts in order to obtain fome restoration to our Allies. But this treaty was broken off with insult! An Hon. Gentleman faid, it was broken off on account of Belgium; but it was, in fact, on account of a monftrous principle laid down by the enemy-that no part of their conquefts fhould by any negotiation be feparated from the Republic, One and Indivisible. In 1797, when Auftria made Peace, we were told that we could no longer refift, and that another effort fhould be made. In this inftance, we did not require any ceffion of territory from France. All we afked was, that we might retain thofe conquests which we had made from Spain and from Holland, then fubjected to the French Republic, whofe colonies we at the fame time offered to restore. It was at this very crisis that France, liftening to nothing but her ambition, carried her arms into Switzerland, where an armiftice was, as ufual, the prelude to her treachery. That country, the Ally of France, whofe innocent manners had conciliated the affection of Europe, and which was regarded as the facred Afylum of Freedom, was expofed to the fevereft afflictions, and added to the catalogue of her victims. This fhewed the danger of French friendship, and how strong a barrier was

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required against her devaftating ambi tion. The attack made upon America was of a different kind; it was fordid, mercenary, and degrading. The invafion of Egypt was covered by the fame perfidy and hypocrify; as they used the names of their dead King, and of the Grand Seignior, to cover their treacher ous purposes. This country was not only to form their road to India, but to be seized on as the territory of one which they confidered as a fallen Power. In India their agents were already bufy. They, had declared war against all the Monarchs of Europe; but Citizen Tippoo, it appears, was to be admitted into their fraternity. In all these movements was to be seen their infatiate love of aggrandifement, and the reftlefs fpirit of their ambition-a fpirit which had 66 grown with their growth," and did not decline even with their misfortunes. This fpirit belonged to all the nation, but in particular to Bonaparte, who with ed to obtain the title of a general Pacificator, though he had formerly made only a feparate treaty with Auftria, and his fecond attempt was to make a feparate Peace with England. On the former occafion, when announcing the Treaty of Campo Formio, his Meffengers were ordered to ftate to the Directory, "that the French Republic and the English Government could not exift together!" How did this man keep his faith with his own country? He had fworn fidelity to the Conftitution of the third year, which he himself had lately deftroyed at the head of his grenadiers. After dwelling a confiderable time on these points, Mr Pitt concluded by declaring it to be his decided opinion, that no Peace which could now be made would prove either folid or durable.

Mr Fox replied at great length to Mr Pitt. He argued very much againft this country expending its treafure to reftore the Houfe of Bourbon, and concluded in nearly the following words: However contrary to the wishes of fome Gentlemen, I'moft earneftly implore the House to paufe before it gives a fanction to the profecution of a War upon the grounds now offered. If it were infifted by the Minifter that it would be wife to purfue the conteft until what he called military defpotifm should be overturned, and fuch he contended was tantamount to the language he had ufed this night, I beg the House to recollect the military defpotifm of Auguftus Cæfar-a power which originally was an ufurpation,

but lafted 7 or 800 years! Much had been urged relative to the character and difpofition of Bonaparte. He was charged with inordinate ambition, an inordinate love of fame and glory; perhaps, however, he had a right conception of glory, and thought the trueft glory confifted in giving peace to mankind. This General was faid to have afferted in his dispatches to the French Directory, when nego ciating the Treaty of Campo Formio, that the Government of England and the French Republic could not exist together. If fuch an abfurd opinion had appeared in his writings, or if he really entertained this monftrous doctrine, I am inclined to think that no other man will be found to fecond that opinion-the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr Pitt) alone excepted. It was confined, he ventured to affirm, to these two illuftrious perfonages. When talking of Generals and great men, he could not help lamenting the virulent abuse which that Houfe had frequently poured forth on the best and moft worthy characters, whofe praises were afterwards readily acknowledged by the very fame perfons who had fo erroneously and wantonly calumniated them. I am no advocate for Bonaparte; but fuch a change of opinion may, perhaps, in future operate in his favour. To illuftrate, however, this obfervation, I believe I may inflance the cafe of Gen. Washington, one of the greatest and best men of the age in which he lived. That Illuftrious Perfonage is now no morehe lives, however, in the heart of every good man, and my humble panegyric can add nothing to his immortal fame.Gen. Washington, it may be well remembered, particularly by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr Dundas) was at one time branded with every harsh and infamous epithet for his perfeverance in the caufe of Liberty and his Country and yet, after fuccefs had crowned his efforts, he was hailed as the Saviour of America, and the Pacificator of Mankind. The Right Hon. Secretary may imagine, that American Liberty is not a bleffing-I differ from him very widely. Had a Negotiation been then proposed to Washington, it would have immediately been afked-" What! Treat with an American Rebel !" No. But Fortune had completely operated a different opinion, and his memory was now the fubject of univerfal praife.Much emphafis had been laid on the conduct and zeal of the Chouans, and on the propriety of fupporting them.

I believe that in the heart of France, where thefe people appear, there exifts a confiderable attachment to Royalty how the Government of France could contrive to compromife with that fpirit, I cannot pretend to conjecture; but I beg leave to call to the memory of the Houfe the once formidable infurrection of the Hugunots, and the policy of Hen ry the Fourth, by which they were conciliated. If Bonaparte fhould attempt fome fimilar arrangement with the Chouans, he can meet no great obftacle to fuccefs in their attachment to this country, for what has our Government told them? We will affift you whilft you can contrive to annoy the French Government, but we will not make a common cause with you." Such is the language held to them, and what reliance can fuch profeffions of interefted, temporary, and precarious_affiftanee induce them to place on us? Let me ftate what has been reprefented to me as a fact, and the truth of which I hope Miniftry will inveftigate, that a ftain may be removed from our national character. It is ftated, that a party of Neapolitans who had joined the French, were befieged in Caftel de Nuova by a detachment from the Royal Army of Naples, to whom they refused to furrender, but demanded that a British Officer fhould be brought forward, and to him they capitulated inftantly; with him they did make terms, he promising them their perfonal fafety and property. But, dreadful to relate! this property was fold, the prifoners murdered, and the cruel and diabolical monflers who had captured them, eat the very flesh of their miferable victims!!! -When were thefe horrors to ceafe? Why not Peace now?-Are the bowels and property of Englishmen nothing --Are we, to pleafe the Members of the prefent Adminiftration, to wage a perpetual War? I am forry that they are inftigated by hatred and animofity, by rancour and revenge, and, indeed, by every paffion that leads to the ex

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tinction of civilization and humanity. But they are no, they fay, to be checked in their defolating progrefs till the Bourbons are reftored. We had before boafted of fuccefsful campaigns-we were repeatedly told of the capture of Valenciennes, Quelnoy, Gonde, &c. which prepared tome Gentlemen for a march to Paris, but ftill more fanguine hopes of fuccels are now conceived than at that period: where then was the expectation of Peace? Since fuccefs leads only to War, that War may now be ad infinitum. Good God! what a lamentable profpect was this for the country

for a mere fpeculation, or a rash experiment, we are to perfift in spilling of blood, in exhaufting our treasure, in fwelling the black catalogue of human miferies. Let Gentlemen suppose themfelves in the heat of battle, and contemplate the horrid confequences of implacable warfare. Had they been at the Battle of Blenheim, and afked the foldier what he fought for, he would anfwer it was to refrain the ambitious projects of Louis XIV.; but if at one of the defperate contefts which may enfue from the decifion of this night, the foldiers would anfwer fuch a queftion that they were wading through blood to fee if the people of France would give Bonaparte a better character, that we may negotiate with him. Why not tell Bonaparte at once, in a bold and manly manner, that you cannot make peace without including your Allies-I appeal to the feelings of every man who hears meI moft earneftly implore him to aid me in checking the calamities of War. I hope that thofe who would have voted for the Addrefs had the Overtures of the Enemy been accepted, will aid me in oppofing that of this evening, which pledges the Houfe for profecuting the war. The question being called for, a divifion took place,

For the Addrefs, 265
Against it,
64
Majority in favour of Miniftry, 201

MONTHLY REGISTER
FOR MARCH 1800.

Interesting Intelligence from the London Gazettes.
Downing-Street, Nov. 23.
Letter, of which the following is a
copy, has been received by Lieute-

nant-Colonel the Honourable Alexander
Hope, Deputy Adjutant General to the
Army lately ferving in Holland, from

Lieut. Gen. Sir James Pulteney, Bart. and, by order of his Royal Highnefs the Commander in Chief, tranfmitted by him to the Right Hon. Henry Dundas, one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State.

SIR,

Swan Cutter, at Sea, Nov. 20.

I have from time to time reported to you, for the information of his Royal Highness the Commander in Chief, the progrefs which had been made in the embarkation and departure of the British and Ruffian troops which were left under my command, in the province of North Holland; and I am now happy to acquaint you, that the laft of them embarked yesterday morning; when the wind being fair, the whole of the hips of war and transports remaining in the Texel left that port.

and I was happy to find that very few claims were brought forward beyond thofe which it was in my power to fa tisfy.

The embarkation of the troops, difficult from the multiplicity of the ar duous from the ftate of the weather rangements required, and fometimes ar

was carried on with the utmost zeal and activity by Vice-Admiral Dickson, and the Officers and feamen under his comTM mand. I feel particularly indebted to Captain Lawford, of his Majefty's fhip Romney, who was left on shore, and had the immediate direction of the embarkation, for his exertions and his attention to every branch of his Majefty's fervice, and to Captain Woodriffe, princicipal Agent of the Tranfport Service, for his great zeal in the execution of the du ties of that fituation.

I have the honour to be, &c.

P.S. Three armed veffels have been left to cruize off the Texel, to give warning to any British fhips of our haying evacuated the port.

Every thing belonging to the army was brought off, excepting a fmall proJames Pulteney. portion of damaged provifions, a few The Hon. Col. Hope, Adj. General, Sc. waggons, and about 300 draught horfes of little value, for which there was no tonnage; of these the latter alone were faleable; but they bore fo fmall a price, that I thought it better to diftribute the whole to the Magistrates of the different villages in and near which the army had been cantoned, to be delivered to any of the inhabitants who might have fuffered from the inevitable confequences of

war.

Several large Dutch Indiamen and other fhips, which it was impoffible for us to remove in their prefent ftate, but which might have been fitted out as ships . of war by the enemy, were completely difabled and rendered useless for any further purpofe, through the exertions of a detachment of feamen, under the direction of Capt. Bovar. The defire of complying moft ftrictly with the articles of the agreement entered into between his Royal Highness and General Brune, prevented their being blown up, which could not have been done without endangering the navigation of the Nieuwe Disp.

Vice-Admiral Dickfon, as well as myfelf, made it our study to comply in this, as in every other inftance, with the articles of the agreement, and I must do the French General the juftice to say, that he feemed actuated by the fame spirit.

It was agreed by the French General, that if any fhould arrive previous to the expiration of the month, they should, as a matter of course, be allowed to de part.

Supplement to the Account of the Armif. tice concluded between his Royal High nefs the Duke of York, and Gen. Brune, publifhed in the Gazette of the 26th ult. Head quarters, Schagen-Brug, Oct. 15. GENERAL,

The late hour at which your letter reached me last night prevented my fending fooner to Alkmaar Major-General Knox, the Officer alluded to in my letter of yesterday's date. He is entirely in my confidence, and is fully authorized to treat and conclude with you on the fubject refpecting which he has received my inftructions.

(Signed) Frederick, Duke of York, Commander in Chief of the combined English and Russian Army. To Gen. Brune, Commander in Chief, Sc.

Head quarters, Schagen-Brug, Oct. 15.

By virtue of the authority, and in obedience to the order of his Royal Highnefs the Duke of York, Commander in Chief of the combined English and Ruf fian army, Major General Knox will G&

Previous to quitting the Helder, I bad, in obedience to his Royal Highness's inftructions, difcharged every juft demand of the inhabitants of the country which has been occupied by the army; Ed. Mag. March 1800.

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