| - 
tegen to foreign and . domestic 
policy. When this day shall come, 
and I shall move the house upon this 
_ Should not like to be told that I have 
precluded myself from the discussion 
_ ofthese topics, and shut myself up 
_ from inquiring not merely into the 
_ causes, but the conduct of the war, 
_ as well as into the nature of our do- 
mestic misfortunes, by the assent 
} which Ihad given to the address 
_ of this day. For this reason, sir, I 
have thought it necessary to say so 
r much, and with this reserve fora 
future day of discussion, I do not 
oppose the address to his majesty 
upon his speech from the throne. 
By this speech of Mr. Fox, which 
appeared to have made some im- 
pression on the house, the chancellor 
of the exchequer, 
__ Mz. Pitt, was called up to reply : 
' but he confined his remarks chiefly 
_ to the only great and substantial 
question, on which the address ex- 
- pressed an opinion, and on which, 
_ it was matter of pride and satisfac- 
_ tion, that, at so critical a moment, 
_ there should be no difference of 
- opinion in that house. The steps, 
- indeed, which his majesty had taken 
| for negociation, were in themselves 
$0 unexceptionable, and so well cal- 
culated for the end ia view, that 
| they mnst command assent and ap- 
* plause from every man, whio re- 
tained the smallest regard for the 
‘try. What had hitherto been done 
_ amounted only, as had been fairly 
" stated by the hon, gentleman, to an 
_ Overture for peace. This, however, 
held out a chance of peace, if the 
"enemy were. disposed to accede 
 t> it on just and honourable terms ; 
it not, we should unmask them in 
the eyes of Europe; expose the 
HISTORY OF EUROPE, 
_ great and constitutional subject, T 
interests and honour of his coun- ' 
[117 
injustice of their policy, with their 
insatiable thirst for aggrandisement ; 
and, if no other advantage were 
gained, at least be able to put to 
the proof the sincerity of the pledge 
which, had that day been given, 
that if the enemy were not disposed 
to accede to peace, on just and rea- 
sonable terms, the war would he 
supported by the unanimous voice, 
and the collected force of the na- 
tion. If this unanimity were not 
founded merely on the pleasing 
sound of peace, but were the re- 
sult of national reflection, founded 
on a careful consideration of the 
situation of the country, and pre- 
pared to meet every conjuncture, 
it could not be too highly prized. 
We ought not to lose sight of those 
means of exertion, which we yet 
possessed. We ought to compare 
our condition with that of the ene- 
my ; and the amount of our acquie 
sitions, with the losses of ourallies : 
and ought to estimate the extent 
of those sacrifices, which, under 
all these circumstances, it might 
be fitting for us to make, for the res 
storation of peace. The hon. gene 
tleman had reprobated: the two pre- 
ventive Jaws that had been passed 
in the last parliament, and had ree 
fused to subscribe to any construc- 
tion of that part of the speech, 
should include these, amongst the 
means which had secured tranquil. 
lity. He, on the contrary, was of 
opinion, that exclusively of the 
influence of these laws, the peace 
of the country could not have been 
maintained: nor could he suffer re- 
proach to fall on the last parliament, 
who displayed their wisdom and 
energy in providing a remedy suited 
to the alarming crisis. If theré 
should be dny ambiguity in the «d+ 
dress respecting them, it was, be- 
(i3] cause 
