254 | 
The earl of Moira considered the 
real point in question to be, why ad- 
miral Colpoys had not received or- 
ders to proceed to: Ireland, as soon 
as he received information that the 
Freneh fleet had sailed. A noble 
earl (Spencer) had contended that, 
from the mass of intelligence which 
ministers received, it was impossible 
to decide on the real object of the 
enemy's expedition. But did not 
the noble earl know, that it was the 
province of talents and ability to de- 
duce causes and consequences from 
the materials with which they might 
be furnished, and that on such occa- 
sions only true sagacity was to be 
discovered? He had been at Dublin 
when the preparations of the enemy 
were going on, and the arms, stores, 
and other articles with which they 
_ were provided, demonstrated the 
Feal point of their destination. That 
their design was to furnish the dis- 
contented in Ireland with arms was 
evident... But if the best means 
of securing Ireland had not been 
taken, this did not affect the admi- 
ralty exclusively, but the administra- 
tion in general. He should vote for 
the enquiry in thehope that the house 
would proceed farther, shew to 
whom the disasters of the war were 
to be attributed, and why ministers 
did not seize and improve the fa- 
vourable opportunities w hich were 
presented. 
The earl of Liverpool maintained 
that a channel fleet, equal to that of 
the enemy, hadia!ways been deemed 
sufficient for our defence. Sveh 
“was the understanding in thelastand 
all our former wars. ‘Lhat the fleet 
under admiral Colpoys was fitted to 
face the enemy's: was a point that 
did not seem to be much disputed. 
As to the place to which’ he was to 
divect his force, he begged leave to 
ANNUAL REGISTER,‘ 179%. 
say, that it was not intended for the 
defence of Ireland exclusively, but 
for every part of his majesty’s Euro- 
pean dominions. ~ With revard to 
the question, where the fieet'could be 
best stationed for general defence, he 
maintained that it had actually been 
stationed ina place and situation 
where it could operate to the best 
advantage for the defence of this 
nation, and was in readiness to come 
to the defence of Ireland, as soon as 
that of any other part. © Admiral 
Colpoy s had orders to intercept the 
enemy’s flect going to any part of 
the world, and although it appeared 
doubtful, at that time, whether 
they were intended for Ireland or 
Portugal, was it possible“to imagine, 
that if admiral Colpoys thought they 
were going'to Freland, he had such 
orders as didnot Jeave him at liberty 
to follow them to Ireland? The ad- 
miral, viewing all circumstances, 
formed the resolution of remaining 
on his station. From all the infor- 
mation he had, the admiral was 
right in so doing: and all that hap- 
pened to disappoint his hopes and 
expectations was owing to the’ 
wind. ; 
The duke of Bedford confessed 
that he was but little satisfied -with 
the consolation held out by the no= 
ble earl, who spoke last, that it was 
always held sufficient in former wars 
for us to equal the enemy with a 
channel fleet; thereby insinuating. 
that it would be suffcient for us to. 
do so in this. Sueh doct ine ap- 
peared to him to be but frigid conso- 
lation, after the repeated “assertions 
which had been made, that we had 
almost’ annihilated. the maritime 
power of France. It had been said 
that at the time the armament was. 
preparing at Brest, it was uncertain 
whether it was intended for Ireland 
or 
