174] 
tually protected, and that the united 
provinces would, of consequence, 
have been preserved. Such a breach 
of faith, after receiving. twelve 
hundred thousand pounds for ser- 
vices promised and not performed, 
merited, Mr. Sheridan observed, to 
be duly noticed by parliament ; and 
he concluded, by making a motion 
to that purpose. 
Mr. Jeky!! supported the motion ; 
but Mr, Pitt opposed it, admitting 
however, tHat the conduct of Prussia 
was highly censurable, though it 
had contributed, in some measure 
to arrest the career of the French in 
other parts. Sir William Pulteney 
declared himself of the same opinion, 
They were vigorously opposed by 
Mr. Whitbread, and Mr. Francis, 
who considered the question before 
the house, as requiring the severest 
investigation. Great Britain was 
not thus to be sported with by Ger. 
man despots, who took its money 
on false pretences, and expended it 
in prosecuting measures not only fo- 
reign to their engagements, but 
‘odious to the British nation itself. 
Mr. Fox, and general Tarleton, se- 
conded the two last speakers; but 
Mr. Pitt’s motion for the previous 
question was carried, and put an end 
to the debate. 
The minister then considered the 
ropriety of the imperialloan, which, 
he said, would enable the emperor to 
make the most formidable Seren: 
against France by land, and thereby 
empower the navy of Britain to aét 
with the greater vigour and success. 
Austria was the power to which he 
could look with just expectation for 
the most effectual assistance in the 
resent contest ; ‘the cause at issue 
was peculiarly its own: the house 
of Austria was’ the ancient and na- 
tural ally of England, and the peo. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1795. 
ple under his dominion were brave 
and warlike, and remarkably hostile . 
to the French. Now was the time 
to exert the united strength of both 
powers against France, The inter- 
nal pressures of that country were so 
heavily felt, that the principal heads 
of the convention had unequivocally 
acknowledged the indispensable ne-. 
cessity of diminishing them ; which 
could, be done only by a reduction, 
of the immense quantity of paper. 
currency that deluged the country, 
and banished all confidence from 
the common transaétions of society, 
But this step, however necessary, 
could not be taken without a con- 
siderable, or rather a prodigious di- 
minution of the French armies, 
which must, at once, debilitate the 
republic to an alarming degree, 
and evidently deprive it of the 
power of resisting its numerous 
enemies. Would it therefore be 
policy in England, to withdraw it- 
self froma connexion with Austria, 
ata time when so much wanted for 
our own purposes ? It was the sin. 
cere wish of France to disunite us 
from that powerful ally, as well as 
from all others, by concluding trea- 
ties of peace with them, that would 
leave us alone to contend with the 
whole strengh of France. Every 
motive ought therefore to induce 
Great Britain to come forwards with 
her treasures tor the support of the 
Austrian interest, which was in faét 
become our own. It were even 
more prudent to maintain, at our 
expence, the whole military force. 
of Austria, than to suferit to remain 
inactive, at a time when we stood. 
in so much need of the powerfullest 
diversions in our favour on the con- 
tinent, But this, happily, was not: 
the case. The loan required by the 
emperor was perfectly yeasonabley 
) an 
