264] ANNUAL REGISTER,. 1797. 
in office; with which, the consti- 
tition itself, according to their re- 
presentations, seemed to be, in some 
degree, identified. For his part, 
he was convinced, it did not de- 
pend on any set of men whatever. 
His grace entreated both sides of 
the house, in the most earnest man- 
ner, to proceed calmly in the dis- 
cussion of a question which in- 
volved consequences of the ut- 
most importance. His grace-dis- 
approved of parliamentary reform 
at the present moment, and ex- 
pressed a wish that the previous 
question were moved, but declined 
moving it. 
Lord Grenville admitted, that 
others, perhaps, might be found of 
equal ability with the present minis- 
ters, of whom, however, he did not 
conceive that he could be consider- 
ed as the panegyrist, when he did 
them no more than bare justice. 
The ground of his opposition to 
the present motion, as he had 
stated before, was a serious con- 
viction that it was the object of 
some noble lerds, by overturn- 
ing the present administration, to 
bring about a revolution in the 
country, 
The earl of Moira, for one, was 
not disposed to ascribe to ministers 
that prosperity which arose from 
the progress of affairs, particularly 
of mechanical invention, and the 
energy of British merchants, whose 
genius and enterprizing spirit would 
constantly carry the country for- 
ward from one degree of prosperity 
to another, if administration did 
not put bars in their way. The 
noble secretary of state had op- 
posed the motion lest the consti- 
tution should be overturned. But, 
said lord Moira, ‘‘ I shall ever ob- 
jeet to this mode of argument, as 
it identifies the ptesent ministers 
with the constitution, and tends to 
sink the confidence of the country 
in its own resources, and in the 
frame and form of its government.” 
With regard to Ireland, he hoped 
it was not yet too late to conciliate: 
but this could not.be done by any 
half measures. 
The earl Spencer objected to 
~the motion on the same ground 
with lord Grenville ; namely, that it 
connected its object with a change 
of measures, which, he firmly be- 
lieved, would prove ruinous to the 
country. ne. 
The earl of Darnley said, the 
country dreaded the adoption of 
such a motion, not knowing in 
whom to repose confidence. An 
uniformity of opposition to every 
measure of administration, what- 
ever it might be, with other cir- 
cumstances of a private as well 
as public nature, had induced a 
general suspicion throughout the 
country, that the most. active 
oppositionists had other views 
than the preservation of the con- 
sitution and interests of the coune 
try. 
The duke of Bedford, to the 
main arguments against his moti- 
on, made a short reply. 
The lord chancellor said, the only 
fair construction the motion could 
bear, was, that it aimed-at an in- 
troduction of a new system of go- 
vernment. Having read that part 
of the motion which related to the 
situation of Ireland, he asked, whe- 
ther it was to be imputed as 
a matter of crimination to mi- 
nisters, that they did not attempt 
to interfere with the Trish legisla- 
ture, and to violate a solemn com- 
pact made with the people of that 
country ? From the general tenour 
of 
