186] ANNUAL ‘REGISTER, 
gagements. was to be measured 
by heroic qualities, there. are’ none 
to whom we should be more ready 
to lend our money; for, of their 
valour, they. have given abundant 
roofs.” 
Mr. Fox then proceeded to state 
the situation of the emperor and the 
¥French-at this moment, in which 
he maintained, that, with all: the 
successes of the Austrians in the lat- 
ter part of the present campaign, 
another could not be opened under 
circumstances of more, advantage 
to the emperor, than those in which 
he had been placed at the com- 
mencement of the last. -He here 
took notice of the recent successes 
of the French in Italy; and, by way 
of answering the praises bestowed 
on the good qualities of the: house 
of Austria, he instauced the cruel- 
ties that had been exercised on the 
_ unfortunate M. La Fayette, which 
had excited horror all over Eu- 
rope. He was afraid, he said, that 
there was no question to be stated, 
in the resolutions of this night, that 
would bring the propriety or impro- 
priety of sending money to the em- 
peror, without the consent of pare 
liament, with propriety- under dis- 
cussion. ~However, when it should 
come ‘before the house, he should’ 
certainly meet it with his direct ne- 
gative; forit was a direct and daring 
attack on the British constitution.. 
The resolutions, for raising the 
supplies, were then put, and car- 
ried. 
On the report of these resolutions 
on the day thereafter, Mr. Fox 
took occasion to enter again into- 
the subject of the money that had 
been granted, or promised, by mi- 
nistry, on theirown authority, to the 
emperor. In conclusion of a tong 
and animated speech, he said, if, 
= 
1797. 
after what we have lost in money, 
in reputation, and blood, we.are 
also to submit to this oppression, the 
house of commons is no longer to be 
considered as a branch of the con- 
stitution ; and there will be little in 
our government to. distinguish it 
from absolute monarchies. . 
Mr. Pitt contended, that although 
a controul over the public; expendi- 
ture was essential to the freedom of 
the constitution,” yet the general 
principle was ‘subject to limitations. 
In:the best and most glorious: zevas 
in the history of our.government, 
the principle of extraordinaries |had 
been received not only for individual 
expences, but recognized upon ge- 
neral views. * Parliament had some- 
times committed to his majesty not 
new; but» special: powers, . which 
superseded all general questions. ‘In 
reality, he observed; the discretionary 
power, relating to the subject ‘in 
question, had been committed to his 
majesty. From his majesty’s message 
of the eighth of last year, and the 
act by which it was followed, grants 
ing a vote of credit, » »which ‘were 
read at the table, it appeared, that 
a power was’ granted to his majesty 
to apply the sum contained in the 
vote of credit, as the exigencies of 
the state might require. . 
Sir William Pultney, after as 
serving that the control of the house 
of commons, over the public purse 
of-the conntry, was the main pillar 
of the British constitution, said, that 
it unfortunately happened, that ex- 
traordinaries, ‘and a vote of credit, 
must be granted every year. But, 
surely it never was- intended, that 
subsidies to foreign powers should 
be supplied by a vote of eredit. 
New circumstances might occur to 
render it proper for ministers to ex- 
ercise their discretion ; but here the 
circum 
