HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
their internal regulations, In fact, 
-he said, in conclusion of along and 
animated speech, the main tendency 
of which was, to rouze an indigna- 
tion against the present government 
of France, ‘‘ The question is not, 
~ how much you will give for peace ? 
but‘ how much disgrace you will 
suffer at the outset, how much de- 
gradation you will submit to as a 
preliminary? In these circum- 
stances, then, are we to persevere 
in the war with a spirit and energy 
worthy of the British name, and of 
the British character ? or, are we, 
by sending couriers to Paris, to 
prostrate ourselves at the feet of a 
stubborn and supercilious govern- 
ment, todo what they require, and 
to submit to whatever they may 
impose ? I hope there is not a hand 
in his majesty’s councils whichwould 
sign the proposals, that there is aot 
a heart in this house who would 
- sanction the measure, and that there 
_ Is not an individual in the British 
dominions who would act as the 
courier.” Having said this, he 
moved an address to his majesty, 
re-echoing, as usual, the sentiments 
‘expressed in his message to the 
house. 
The honourable Mr. Erskine, af- 
tersome prefatory matter,respecting 
his own situation and feelings, made 
many remarks, of a personal nature, 
on the skill, eloquence, and general 
management of Mr. Pitt ; and after 
some forensic maxims respecting the 
proper manner of inquiring into 
disputes between individuals, said, 
Jet us look back to the particular 
circumstances which were the ori- 
ginal cause of the war between 
Great Britain and the French re« 
public. On the twelfth of Decem- 
_ per, 1792, his majesty met the par- 
Wiament : at that time, M. Chauve- 
7 
fis3 
lin, the ambassador of the French 
government, was then in England. 
His majesty, in his speech from the 
throne to both houses of parliament, 
complained of three things : first, 
« that the French had sent seditious 
missionaries into this country ; se- 
condly, they had meditated an in- 
vasion to Holland; and, thirdly, 
that they had interfered in opening 
the Scheldt.” He begged the house 
to recollect, that, at that particular 
period of time, Belgium was in the 
possession of the French, though 
not as now; it was not then en- 
grafted into the territory of France 
as an integral. At that time, all 
the correspondence between lord 
Grenville and the French ambassa- 
dor was concealed from the honse, 
though M. Chauvelin had given 
separate and satisfactory answers te 
all the complaints entertained. by 
this court. He entreated that the 
king would bring to condign pu- 
nishment those who disseminated 
seditions in his dominions, announ= 
ced the determination of France to 
keep within her own limits, and to 
respect the rights of other nations. 
Notwithstanding this’ plain and spe- 
cific disavowal, however, of all the 
grounds of hostility, war was de 
clared upon France. | At that time 
Belgium was not in her possession. 
He asked, then, whether. lranc¢ 
could be considered as the aggres~ 
sor, who offered peace to thiscoun- 
try, on terms, which the right ho~ 
nourable gentleman would be wor- 
shipped, as a god, if he could now’ 
procure? * ; 
* Mr: Fox said, after a war of four 
years, which was stated to -have 
been attended with many eircum- 
stances highly honourable and ad- 
vantageous to the British arms; after 
an addition of no less than two hun~ 
dred 
