196 ANNUx\L REGISTER, 1794. 



Another advantage would result 

 from a willingness on oar side to 

 treat for a peace with France : it 

 would convince the French that 

 we were not inveterately deter- 

 mined to continue their enemies. 

 This would naturally lessen their 

 enmity to this nation^ and dispose 

 tliem to be less subservient to that 

 violent party among them which 

 refused amity to all but those who 

 embraced its opinions. It would 

 do still more : it would reconcile 

 the discordant in this country, by 

 shewing those who disapproved of 

 the war, that it was a measure of 

 necessity and defence. A cordial 

 union of all parties would instantly 

 be produced by such a conviction ; 

 and the ministry would meet v, ith 

 none but approvers of tlie most 

 vigorous prosecution of the war. 

 All these things duly considered, it 

 v'as time to depose that wrathful 

 and malevolent spirit which led to 

 so n'luch useless crimination and 

 abuse. Instead bf contemplating 

 with indignation the guilt of a peo- 

 ple so studiously represented as the 

 most infamous of mankind, we 

 should coolly reflect what mode of 

 acting towards them would he most 

 conducive to our. o\yn .welfare. 

 True policy in a commercial peo- 

 ple, consisted in avoiding cautes of 

 discontent, especially to poient 

 states, more jealous of their honour, 

 and more inclined to resent real or 

 imaginary affronts than many in- 

 ferior powers, who think them- 

 selves aggrieved. T he letlings of 

 neither of them could v,-ilh safely 

 be slighted ; bu* far greater was 

 the facility as well as the d;ui»Tr 

 of offending a mighty neighbour : 

 deeds and words ought to be care- 

 . folly weighed : the latter some- 

 times were apt to create as high, if 



not hinber resentment than the f(ir- 

 mer. For these reasons, drnppuig 

 censorious language, and all inan- 

 nrr of invective, it became a British 

 parliament to occupy itself solely 

 with the concerns of its constitu- 

 ents. Whatever was irrelevant to 

 those objects wherein they were 

 infere.slcd, did not belong to par- 

 liamentary discussions. The real 

 question before them was, W hether 

 par]iame:it was bound to counte- 

 nance those assertions in the royal, 

 or rather as notoriously understood, 

 the ministerial speech, which repre- 

 sented the affairs of this country in 

 a flourishing state. 



From V hat had been stated on 

 both sides in the course of the de- 

 bate, ii clearly appeared that tha 

 general success of the war was in 

 favour of France. No impression 

 of any consequence had been mad« 

 ujion that country and people, not- 

 withstanding thenumerousand well 

 disciplined armies that bad been 

 unremittingly employed against 

 them, and the prodigious sums ex- 

 pended to maintain the vast num- 

 ber oF their enemies, and to create 

 f resli ones in every quarter ; hence 

 it would be the meanest adulation 

 to c(jincide with the ministerial as- 

 sertions, which were so glaringly 

 contradicted by facts, obvious to 

 all. men. It were more consistent 

 with the situation of public affairs 

 to address the Tjirone for peace, 

 instead of pledging themselves to 

 sujipoi^t tlie continuance of war : 

 watr even such a measure advisea- 

 l)Ie., those under whose auspices it 

 had been conducfed, had proved 

 themselves so deficient in talents 

 and aptitude for its prosecution, 

 that tli,ey weje no longer lit to be 

 ,tnibteid with so arduous a charge. 

 They had talleii into errors and 

 ii»proprietics 



