: HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
time strength: though it had not 
proceeded to actual hostilities, still 
it had not been beheld without ter- 
ror. “The court of Petersburgh was 
not ignorant cf our naval superio- 
rity, and felt nowise inclined ‘to 
a trial of skill: the confidence dis- 
played by:that court in the bravery 
and discipline of the Russian ma- 
rine, was more “affected than real; 
and whatever boldness is assumed, 
was intended for the purpese of 
keeping the people in spirits, and 
not from ‘any substantial hope of 
being able to cope with the navy 
of Great Britain: it was therefore 
a well-founded interference, that 
the court of Petersburgh continued 
her primitive offers, not from mo- 
deration, but from a sense of the 
danger she must incur by departing 
from them, and insisting upon more 
rigorous conditions. In this light 
it was unjust to represent the ar- 
mainent as a needless expedient, 
and as having effected nothing: it 
had, in fact, produced the most ad- 
vantagcous consequences to the 
Turks, by preserving them from 
greater concessionsto Russia; which 
would inevitably have happened, 
had not the dread of our prepara- 
tions operated against its well- 
known ambition. ‘Thus, on ma- 
ture consideration, our interference 
had frustrated many hostile designs 
to Turkey; and the expence in- 
curred by the nation had in no 
sense been wantonly lavished. On 
the other hand, the continuation of 
the war by Russia had put her to 
immense charges, and she had reap- 
ed no other benefit, if such it could 
be called, than the acquisition of a 
natrow and barren territory, pur- 
chased by a deluge of blood, shed 
in the course of many destructive 
[13s 
campaigns; during which the flow- 
er of her military youth, and the 
most valiant and experienced of 
her'veteran officers and soldiers kad 
perished. 
Such were the principal arge- 
ments urged in defence of the mi- 
nistry during this debate; whick 
terminated with the rejection of the 
motion made by‘Lord Fitzwilliam 
Not discouraged by this fatiure, 
the opposition-in the upper House 
re-assumed this business on the 
27th of February ; but with no ad- 
ditional strength or variety of rea- 
soning on either side. The mast 
remarkable observations on this oc- 
casion were those made by Lord 
Stanhope :—He particularly com- 
mended ministry for having com- 
plied with the desire of the nation, 
and in consequence, dropped aif 
inimical designs to Russia. This 
was truly a constitutional behavwi- 
our, and entitled them to appreba- 
tion from all who knew how to set 
a proper value on it:—this laud- 
able conduct induced him to hope 
it would not any more be pretend- 
ed that the voice of the people 
could only be expressed in_partia- 
ment ;—daily experience made it 
apparent that the sense of the na- 
tion ought not to ke restricted te 
any privileged spot. He ani- 
madverted on the necessity whiels 
ministers had urged in vindication 
of their measures, to maintain the 
balance of Europe, and to prevent 
the overgrowth of any ambitious 
power. He recommended, in pur- 
suance of so just a design, an alli- 
ance with France; which had, ia 
the formation of its present system, 
solemnly foresworn all projects of 
aggrandizement, and determined te 
draw the sword butiin a defensive 
“"(K] 4 war. 
