HISTORY OF EUROPE. 281 



the treaty by which he had been 

 entrusted with so much money ? It 

 were ij^nominious, and past for- 

 j^iveness in a minister, to tell par- 

 liament that he had not imagined 

 tliat prince would have deceived 

 him ; it was the minister's busi- 

 ness never to have thought other- 

 wise of a prince of this character : 

 he was forewarned what to tliinlc 

 both of him and of other princely 

 membersof the confederacy. After 

 dwelling on variour.otherparticulars 

 with great animation, Mr. Sheridan 

 delivered it as his opinion, that the 

 magr.itude of the objects now press- 

 ing on the attention of the pul)lic, 

 and the dutv of ministers to come 

 forward v/ith every information m 

 their power for the satisfaction of 

 parliament, ought to induce them 

 at this critical season to advise 

 against its prorogation. 



It was replied by Mr. Pitt, that 

 the conduct of so powerful and im- 

 portant an ally as the King of Prus- 

 sia ouglit not to be scrutinized or 

 reprehended in a public manner, 

 in the midst of a campaign so event- 

 ful ar.d decisive. 



The usual period of prorogation 

 being arrived, it would argue un- 

 necessary apprehensions to prolong 

 the sitting of the two Houses: mi- 

 nisters v%ere still an>;vx-<"rable to 

 them, without the necessity that 

 tiiey should remain on the spot to 

 watch th.^ir condiict. 



Mr. Grey ad\erted with great 

 pointedncss to the reluctancj of 

 ininiatry, when called upon to ex- 

 plain the conduct of Prussia. That 

 business, he observed, was wrapped 

 Up in secrecy; it was a secret why 

 any treaty was made; a secret wliy 

 purchased at so enormous a price ; 

 a secret v/liy the tj-oops were 

 paid foreu lavishiiigly. Oae thing 



only was no secret, — that the King 

 of Prussia had received the mofley. 



This debate was accompanied byV 

 many personal charges on both 

 sides, urged with great vehemence 

 and p.crimonv, 



Mr. Sheridan concluded it at last 

 by withdrawing his motion, in 

 consequence, he alleged, of mini- 

 stry's refusal to give the informa- 

 tion for which he had apphed. 



On the 11th of July, the sessions 

 of this year, after having lasted 

 nearly six months, v/ere closed by 

 a speech from the throne; where- 

 in, after thanking Parliament for its 

 assiduity and zeal in the public ser- 

 vice, the King congratulated them 

 on the victory over the French at 

 sea, on the 1st of June, and the ac- 

 quisitions in the East and West In- 

 dies; exhorting them to firmness 

 and perseverance, notwithstanding 

 the successes of the French in the 

 Netiierlands. He commended their 

 diligence in the investigation of the 

 designs formed against the govern- 

 ment and constitution, thankfully 

 acknowledging the trust reposed in 

 him, and promising a vigorous but 

 prudent use of the powers he liad 

 been additionally invested with forthe 

 preservation of public tranquiliity. 

 Reiving on the affection of his peo- 

 ple, he doubted not effectually to 

 repress everyattempt to disturb the 

 peace of the community. He re- 

 minded them that the inimical de- 

 signs against government were con- 

 nected with the system prevailing 

 in France, the principles of whicli 

 wi're irreconcileable with those of 

 every other government. It was 

 therefore incumbent on them, from 

 every consideration of domestic 

 safety, faithfully to co-operate with 

 the allies of this Icingdom in the 

 contest wherein they were united 



for 



