174] ANNUAL REGISTER, 
Sir William Pulteney said, that 
what the parliament and the nation 
should require was not so much an 
immediate peace, as a secure one : 
and this object wovld be accom- 
plished by patience under our suf- 
ferings, aud perseverance in the 
contest. As long as the eneny re- 
tained Belgium and Holland there 
could be no security for England. 
Now wasthe moment tostrain every 
nerve in the struggle; and he was 
more fearful that ministers would be 
too forward than too tardy in bring- 
ing matters to a termination. His 
complaint against them was that, on 
hearing the disasters that had be- 
fallen the Imperial arms, they had 
not immediarely comedown to the 
house, and called fora loan to invi- 
gorate the brave exertions of our 
illustrious ally. 
Sir John Macpherson spoke to 
the following effect. He thought that 
it would not be a greater proof of 
moderation and justice, than of 
sound political wisdom, to declare 
that we stood uponly in defence of 
our ownrights and liberties,and not 
for the purpose of encroaching on 
those of other nations. He wasanx- 
ious that such a declaration should 
be made, not only because it would 
contribute to give peace tothiscoun- 
try, but to al] Europe, and among 
other nations, even to our enemies, 
The interests of Britain would be 
best promoted by consultingnot only 
our own advantage, but that of all 
the civilized world: by endeavour- 
ing not only to obtain from, but to 
extend to France, a just, honoura- 
ble, and solid peace. The French 
government has ceased to be an in- 
cendiary assembly, s senguinary dic- 
tators, anda club of plunderers. It 
has assumed the form and the tone 
of regular governments. It has offi- 
1797. 
cially declared its respect for per- 
sonal safety, property, and morals, 
and has denouncedvengeance against 
the anarchists. It has likewise ma- 
nifested an appearance of a wish for 
peace. It is for the French nation 
to realize the peace, of which their 
new government speaks to them 
with cautious reserve. And this ob- 
ject, a frank declaration on the part 
of the people of England, through 
their representatives, of a sincere 
disposition to peace, on a fair moral 
basis, equally conduciveto the secu- 
rity and welfare of both nations, by 
awakening the sensibility, and gain- 
ing the confidence of the French 
nation, would materially tend to for- 
ward. The basis to which he alluded 
was a due regard to justice,»private 
property, public credit, and the 
rights of nations. It was time for the 
English nation to open their eyes on 
the true object of the war: an ob- 
ject which ought to be as remote 
from the spirit of vengeance, as 
that of conquest. It points, on the 
contrary, toa reasonable agreement 
between the belligerent states; an 
agreement dictated by the force of 
their wants,and founded on the in- 
dispensable protection of the right 
of property, without which no — 
state can be cettain of providing 
for the subsistence of its subjects, 
nor of maintaining the security of 
its civil order.. Commerce and 
modern finance having intermingled 
all spdaate even that of nations, 
it follows that public credit has be- 
come the universal depositary of 
civilized society, There isonly one 
property, and one real finanee in 
Europe, the circulation of which 
is as essential to the political body, 
as that of the blood to the human 
body : it was a violation. of the 
tight of property that produced the 
assignats, 
