HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
ject to no responsibility to any pow- 
er established by Britain in this dis- 
tant part of the globe. However 
excellent and irreproachable such a 
~ might be, it was a direct in- 
ringement of British freedom to 
constitutesucha system; which was 
in every respect absolute and arbi- 
trary. 
In reply to these arguments, it 
was maintained by Mr. Pitt, that 
the motions and reasonings of his 
opponents tended to hurt the cha- 
racter of Lord Cornwallis. Terms 
of peace, it was said, had been pro- 
posed to him by Tippoo: but the 
fact was, that none had ever been 
specified by that prince, who had 
merely informed him of an inclina- 
tion to treat; and intended only, 
by such appearance, to raise sus- 
picions and jealousies in our allies; 
and by weakening their confidence 
in our good faith, to effect a sepa- 
ration from them, and leave us 
alone to contend with him. Had 
honourable terms been offered, the 
disposition of Lord Cornwallis was 
too well known to doubt of his rea- 
diness to listen to them, as well as 
his determination to accept no 
others ;—for these reasons he se- 
conded the motion; which was car- 
tied accordingly. 
-Inthis manner parliament disposed 
of the businessof India; which, tho’ 
it gave rise to some warm discus- 
sions, could not, from the distance of 
tlie scenes alluded to by the respec- 
tive disputants, command much of 
ooo and anxiety of the 
lic. 
Aw object of far higher and more 
immediate attention took place 
_ session, and employed, 
active degree, the political 
talents and eloquence of the most 
"eminent speakers. 
[isl 
This was the interference of mi- 
nisters, followed by the hostile pre- 
parations against Russia. The do- 
cuments relating to the apprehend- 
ed rupture between Great Britain 
andthat power, had been laid before 
the House on the 6th of February. 
As soon as they had undergone a 
proper examination, the contents 
were brought forward by oppo+ 
sition, 
On the 33th of February the 
business was opened by Mr. Gray: 
he began by observing, that the 
papers were incomplete, and did 
‘not sufficiently enable the House to 
examine particulars with regularity 
and precision. He stated several 
instances to prove what he had ad- 
vanced : he specified the want of 
the preliminaries between the Rus- 
sian and Turkish ministry, without 
which no adequate opinion could 
be formed of the benefits arising 
from the interference of the British 
court, supported by an armament, 
and accompanied by an apparent 
determination to enforce the mea- 
sures it held forth. These had 
nearly involved the realm in a quar- 
rel of a most serious and dangerous 
nature, without any manifest and 
unavoidable necessity. The con- 
duct of the court of Berlin ought 
no less to be laid open on so im- 
portant an occasion: but, above all, 
the expences attending the formid- 
able armament that had been equip- 
ped, ought to be brought before 
the House with all expedition. 
Mr. Pitt replied, that every pro- 
per paper had been produced ; and 
none had been withheld that did 
not, according to the clearest dis- 
cernment, require it. The expence 
of the armament he was no less de- 
sirous to lay before the House, than 
[K 2] those 
