10] 
The speech from the throne was, 
in the mean time, allowed to be 
as well appropriated to the cir- 
cumstances of the times, as any that 
had been delivered since the com- 
mencement of the war. It men- 
tioned the disappointment of the 
Fiench in their attempts in Ger- 
many, and the internal difficulties 
under which they continued to la- 
bour. Their present situation af- 
forded a well-founded presumption, 
that they would listen to equitable 
and moderate terms of peace. In 
order to obtain such terms, it would 
be necessary to shew that Great 
Britain was able to maintain the 
contest, till such a peace ensued, as 
accorded with its dignity and in- 
terest. The other particulars of the 
speech referred to the preparations 
for a vigorous continuance of the 
war, the treaties concluded with 
foreign powers, the prosperous state 
of commerce, and the means of pro- 
viding against the present scarcity. 
Lord Dalkeith meved the ad- 
dress, and was seconded by Mr. 
Stuart: the latter gentleman dwelt 
chiefly on the exhausted situation of 
France, and the oppressive methods 
it was reduced to adopt for the 
raising of supplies. The situation 
of this country was the reverse : 
whatever money was demanded was 
instantly found, without oppressing 
the subject; the confidence of mo- 
nied men in government: keeping 
pace with all its exigencies. Much 
had been said of the conquest of 
Holland by the French, but they 
were obviously indebted much more 
to fortunate casualties, than to their 
own prowess, and could place little 
reliance on the attachment of the 
natives, who were now convinced 
of their imprudence, in trusting to 
the friendship of the French. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
Mr. Sheridan was extremely se- 
vere inthe reply which he made 
on this occasion. Among other in- 
vectives, he reproached ministers 
for their unskilful management in 
the West Indies, where the force 
employed was totally inadequate to 
the objects proposed, and numbers 
of the men had been lost through 
negligence, and want of medical 
assistance, in that unwholesome Cli» 
mate. He accused ministers of 
designing to restore despotism in 
France. He called upon them to 
act as Spain and Prussia had done, 
by treating with those persons wh6m 
the republican armies looked upon 
as entitled to their obedience. He 
advised ministers to beware of a 
connection with the house of Bour- 
bon. It was through such con- 
nections that the Stuart’s had been 
expelled. The Bourbons had invari- 
ably proved the enemies to Great 
Britain ; and this enmity would re- 
vive, were they to be re-established 
on the throne of France. The rash 
and fruitless attempts,to restore that 
family, ought therefore to be totally 
relinquished, and government should 
declare itself willing to treat with 
the French republic. 
He was replied to by Mr. Jenkin- 
son, with the many arguments, so 
frequently repeated, .in justification 
of ministerial measures, He added, 
that theretention of the United Pro- 
vinces, by the French, rendered all 
treating with them inadmissible. It 
was necessary, therefore, to com- 
pel them to abandon this new con- 
quest, or to make such acquisi- 
tions as might counter-balance it, 
and induce them to give up the 
possession of that country. Had 
the members of the coalition acted 
with fidelity to the cause they had 
espoused, the French would, by this 
times 
