138] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
der the prince of Condé,* have 
acted contrary to their duty, and to 
the trust reposed in them, and have 
therefore violated the constitutional 
privileges of this house.” 
The former debates, on this sub- 
ject, were now resumed, and con- 
tinved to a very late hour. It was 
one of the gravest and most serious, 
as well as copious and protracted de- 
bates, that took placein the present 
session of parliament. Nota few 
members, who usually followed the 
minister with undeviating uniformi- 
ty, appeared to be seriously a arm~- 
ed at the neglect, or rather con- 
tempt, he had shewn of the house 
of commons, in giving away the 
public money, without so much as 
apprizing them of it, and even in 
cautiously concealing it from them. 
The same topics of reasoning a- 
gainst, and in defence of the minis- 
ter, were handled in various man- 
ners, and placed in various lights, 
according to the genius, and habi- 
tual modes of thinking, of the dif- 
ferent speakers. We do not con- 
ccive it to be any essential part of 
this historical sketch to enter into 
the speeches of senators, any far- 
ther than may be necessary tostate, 
the most solid arguments that were 
addressed to the understanding, and 
on which the convictions or impres- 
sions made on the house appear to 
have chiefly turned. To follow 
mien of various» knowledge and 
lively fancies through all the com- 
binations, and sportiye excursions 
of their imagination, » would be 
endless, and to trace all the com- 
mon-place observations of every 
speaker an irksome task, both tothe 
writers and the readers of this narra- 
tive. Nevertheless, on this impor 
tant business, we shall set forth the 
ideas that appear to have been upe 
permost in the minds of most of 
the different speakers. 
Mr. alderman Combe, in obedi- 
ence to the instructions of his cons 
stituents, seconded the motion made 
by Mr. Fox. The discounting of 
the bills, drawn for the purpose of 
remitting money to the Imperial 
troops, had swallowed up so much 
of the money of the bank, as to 
compel that great body to narrow 
their discounts, and the British 
merchants were made to suffer, that 
the German troops might be sup- 
plied. 
Mr. Pitt, after a great deal of 
prefatory matter, respecting thecon- 
cession which Mr. Fox had been 
obliged to make, in admitting, that 
the right of the house, to dispose of 
the public money, was subject to 
some limitations, shewed, from par- 
liamentary history, that the measure 
now attacked was not unprece- 
dented, nor unconstitutional. In 
the present case, he contended still, 
as he had done before, that it was 
expedient and necessary. 
Mr. Bragge asked the gentlemen 
‘of the opposition, whether they 
would be content to have this mo= 
ney that had been sent to the eme 
peror, restored te the treasury, and 
would rather see the Frenchmarch- 
ing up to Vienna? ‘Uponthe whole, 
his opinion was, that the conduct 
of the minister, so far from meriting 
censure, washighly deserving of the 
gratitude of the nation; but, at the 
same time, he was desirous that the 
proceeding, dictated by necessity, 
should not be drawn into precedent 
*To whom a remittance of 200,000!. of which parliament knew nothing, had been 
sent in December, 1796, 
in 
