2 Europe, ajid Ihe English Parliament. [JuLV, 



was withheld, compelled me at last to order a squadron of my fleet to appear 

 before Lisbon, with a peremptory demand of satisfaction. A prompt com- 

 pliance with that demand, prevented the necessity of further measures, but I 

 have not yet been enabled to re-establish my diplomatic relations with the 

 Portuguese government." 



The only facts to be gleaned from this part of the speech are, that 

 his JMajesty hopes that general peace will be preserved, though universal 

 war is preparing, and that the continent will be undisturbed, though 

 every power is increasing its army, and though Russia and Poland 

 are tearing each other in pieces. 



That his IMajesty relies on the co-operation of the five great powers, 

 though Belffium is as disturbed as ever and much more intractable. 



And that, though Portugal, by the presence of a fleet, has been 

 compelled to comply with the demands of satisfaction ; yet, that she is 

 stubborn as ever, and has made no advance to an intercourse with 

 England. 



The paragraph addressed exclusively to the House of Commons, 

 merely recommends economy ; while the paragraph to the two Houses, 

 announces that new taxes will be necessary : — 



" I trust that such additional means as may be required to supply a part 

 of the deficiency occasioned by these reductions, may be found without any 

 material abridgment of the comforts of my people. To assist the industry, to 

 improve the resources, and to maintain the credit of the country on sound 

 principles, and on a safe and lasting foundation, will be at all times the 

 object of my solicitude." 



On this point we must wait for the ministers' explanation of that 

 phrase of many meanings, " sound principles," before we can venture 

 to congratulate the country on the national credit. The matter is one 

 which least bears being tampered with of anything in the whole range 

 of ministerial responsibility ; and let what will come, we must protest 

 against the sponge. 



But in touching on the affairs of Ireland, we have the open and 

 formidable admission, that the disturbances there are of a kind to 

 demand the full vigilance of the laws, nay of more, to demand a declara- 

 tion from the King, that if the punishments held out already by the 

 laws, are not sufficient to crush the spirit of insubordination, the Irish 

 shall have more laws, that is more punishments. Yet while the present 

 punishments are the dungeon, transportation, and hanging, we can 

 discover nothing beyond them, but, perhaps, the milraillade and 

 massacre. 



We are inclined to find no fiult with this document. It has evidently 

 been framed to avoid all collision of opinion, and by adhering to a few 

 simple points, which nobody could contradict, and avoiding principles 

 which all men might dispute, pass over in tranquillity at least one 

 night of the session. Nor can Ave feel any hostility to the cabinet over 

 which Lord Grey presides. Whatever we may think of his rashness, 

 ho man can charge him with dishonesty. His theories may be fantastic 

 but his hands are clean ; and if the constitution is to be assailed, we 

 sTiould rather see it assailed by the straight-forward and declared inno- 

 vation of Lord Grey, than defended by the hollow-heartedness, the 

 loathsome hypocrisy, the petty-larceny shifts and subtleties of the band 

 over whom he triumphed, after they themselves had exhausted the 

 patience, the feeling, and the force, all but the contempt, of Toryism. If 

 we must fall, let it be by some hand that dignifies our fall f by the assault 



