164] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1797. 
dred millions to the national debt, 
and of nine millions to the perma- 
nent taxes of the country 3 after an 
enormous effusion of human blood, 
and an incalculable'addition to hu- 
man wretchedness, so far were we 
from having gained any object’ for 
which we had set out in the war, 
that the minister had, this night, 
come forward, ina long and elabo- 
rate speecli, to shew that the only 
effect of all our efforts had been, 
that the enemy were become more 
unreasonable than ever in their pre- 
tensions, and that all hopes of peace 
were removed to a gréater distance 
than ever.—It had been found, from 
experience, that, in proportion as 
the finances of the French had been: 
- acknowledged, even by themselves, 
to be reduced to the lowest ebb, in, 
that proportion had their exertions 
been unparalleled, Numbers of ve- 
nal writers had been employed to 
prove the exhausted state of France, 
and how soon its present debility 
must infallibly terminate in total 
dissolution. But while all this was 
demonstrated, year after year, upon 
paper, the French, like Anteus, 
thrown down upon his native earth, 
rose stronger from every fall. Only 
wait, those calculators tell us, let 
Europe have the patience to wait 
but a little longer in arms. Soon 
the mine of paper-money being 
exhausted, the charm will disap- 
pear, and the French republic, 
destitute of every thing, will have 
no other resource than to disband. 
their armies, before they revolt, 
and to restore their conquests be- 
fore they are compelled to evacuate 
them. ‘The failure of such predic 
tions did not discourage their au-— 
thors. They repeated theirassertions 
with encreased presumption, and 
boldly appealed stillto future events, 
By such fallacious and impudent 
statements did the encouragers and 
abettors of them endeavour to mis- 
lead and impose upon the people 
of England ; and such is the weak- 
ness of human nature, under the in- 
fluence of strong prejudices, by 
such fallacious reasonings, perhapss 
they endeavoured to fortify their 
own faith, staggering under the 
evidence of sense, i 
Whilst we, in every quarterwhich 
it was deemed most important to 
defend, had been losing city after 
city: whilst we had been aetually 
driven from our possessions, which 
We conceived to be necessary to the 
security of our commerce, orto the 
balance of power, France, resource~ 
less and dispirited, all the while 
avowing its own distressed situation, 
and speaking in the most respectful 
terms of our wealth and resources, 
had been constantly adding to its 
acquisitions, and aggrandizing its 
empire. France, at the prescnt mo- 
ment, appeared as the conqueror 
of most important and extensive 
territories! Belgium was annexed 
to her empire !. Great part of Italy 
had yielded to the force of arms, 
and Holland was now united to the 
republic by ties of the strictest alli- 
ance! If, indeed, these acquisitions 
were to be regained to the cause of 
Great Britain, and her allies, by 
alofty tone of argument ; if the 
tide of victory was to be turned 
by the dexterity of debate, and 
the efficacy of our exertions bore 
any proportion to. the insolence 
of our boasting, we need not yet 
be afraid to claim a decided supes 
riority. , 
. Mr. Fox, from a review of the 
history of the negociation, con- 
cluded that neither the French re- 
luctance to treat, nor the failure of 
the 
— ee 
te 
. 
i 
