emitted. 
\ the French, from the commence- 
HISTORY JO'F} EUROPE. 
answer, come and take Belgium. 
‘These are not.times for entrusting 
the most important interests of the 
country to plenipotentiaries who 
entrench themselves behind the 
‘ramparts of etiquette, and stalk on 
the stilts of ambassadorial mighti- 
ness. Undoubtedly, every returning 
sentiment of mutual forbearance 
and amity ought, by every practica- 
ble mode, to be encouraged. Per- 
haps, with this view, no better 
beacon or-directory can be fouad, 
in the annals of negociation, than 
the conduct of our Indian govern- 
ment, in the year 1781, when 
French, Dutch, Mysoreans.and all, 
were in arms against the English ; 
and our interests in the east were, 
if possible, more unprosperous than 
they are at present on tine conti~ 
nent of Europe. An honourable 
baronet, now 2 member of this 
house, then second in council, and 
afterwards governor-general in In- . 
dia, in conjunction with lord Ma- 
cartney and sir Eyre Coote, inti- 
mated tothe Mahrattas, that, unless 
inso far as might be necessary to 
support existing engagements with 
allies, the English government was 
determined, that their operations 
against the Mahrattas should be na- 
val, ‘and defensive merely. This 
they intimated to the Poonah go- 
- yernment, and, from that moment, 
not a shot was fired between the 
Mahrattas and the English. There 
is one point, which must not be 
It is well known, that 
ment of the war, have resisted all 
ideas of treating collectively with 
the confederated powers: in so 
doing, they have proved their wis- 
dom; for, by treating individually, 
they have detached every power 
from the confederacy excepting 
17s 
Austria and England. Ifthe French 
lose all hope of detaching these 
powers from each other, they can 
no longer have the same object left 
for persisting in that ‘policy ; at 
least, it may no longer be imprac- 
ticable to devise means for bringiag 
them to treat on general principles, 
and collective arrangements. ‘This 
can hardly be effected without a 
congress, in some form or other. 
Under this impression, he would 
take the liberty of reading such a - 
form of resolutions as he conceived 
would meet the object in view, not 
eaning, however, at all, to press 
them on the houseat present : 
Resolved, “ That it is the opi- 
nion of this house, that, whenever 
a proper opportunity occurs, the 
most eligible mode of establishing 
the tranquillity of Europe, on a se- 
cure foundation, will be, by assem- 
bling a general congress, such as 
took place last century, previous to 
the peace of, Munster. That the 
object of this congress ought to be, 
to specify and declare to all man- 
kind the principles of right and 
wrong, which ought to govern the 
relations between independent 
states ; to specify and declare to all 
mankind the principles of security, 
property, and public credit, which 
it is necessary to recognize, and 
render effectual, before any paciti- 
cation can be negociated with sta- 
bility or honour. 
“ In the event of the belligerent 
powers not acceding to this opinion, 
it will become this house to make 
known the grounds on which the 
war is continued, to ascertain the 
form on which it is to be conducted, 
and to declare the principles on 
whicha cessation of hostilities ought 
to be concluded, on the part of bis 
Britannic majesty.” 
Sir 
