HISTORY OF EUROPE. [13 
Walsingham, who dwelt particular- lay these grievances before the so- 
ly on the dangerous consequences vereign, and to supplicate him to 
of a precipitate peace, which would relieve the sufferings of the nation, 
be throwing away the advantages by consenting toa negociation for 
we had gained by our perseverance peace, which was the only effectual 
in this arduous contest, and yielding. remedy for the many calamities 
to despondence, at a time when we under which the people laboured, 
ought to make the most of the dif- in consequence of this unfortunate 
ficulties ourenemies had to contend war. 
with, and were not likely to sur- The observations of the duke of 
mount, if we continued to act with Bedford were warmly controyerted 
the resolution that had hitherto by lord Grenville, who insisted 
characterised our measures. 
In reply to these assertions, it 
was observed by the duke of Bed- 
ford, that it was more consistent 
with the dignity ofa British par- 
liament, to frame an address of its 
own, than to copy the speech of 
the minister, though delivered from 
the throne. His sentiments differed 
materially from the ministerial lan- 
guage he had heard. It represented 
the French as on the verge of ruin; 
but the truth of facts, opposed to 
the illusion of words, was that they 
were hitherto superior in the con- 
test, notwithstanding the constant 
predictions of the minister and his 
that the situation of this country 
was evidently superior to that of 
France in every point of view. Our 
successes at sea were far more con- 
ducive to the internal prosperity of 
the kingdom, than. the dear-bought 
victories of the French had, or could 
ever prove to the people of France. 
The depreciation of the paper cur- 
rency inthat country, was, in his opi- 
nion,acircumstance to its detriment, 
and inour favour, that fully deserved 
the reiterated notice that had been 
taken of it. The most judicious of 
the French financiers were deeply 
sensible of the effects it would ulti- 
mately produce, and strongly de- 
partisans, during the three preced- precated the farther issue of any 
ing years, that they had not suffi- notes, and the withdrawing of no 
cient resources to prolong it another less than ten parts out of thirteen 
campaign. The duke adverted from circulation. With such glaring 
with great severity to the reiterated proofs of the pecuniary distresses of 
allegation, that the French go- the enemy, was it prudent or rea- 
vernment was incapable of fulfilling sonable to advise pacific measures, 
the customary duties and relations when, with a moderate degree of: 
of amity and good understanding patience on our side, he would pro- 
with other states. He reprobated bably be soon compelled to listen to 
with equal asperity the fruitless de- 
struction of menin the West Indies, 
and the ill-fated expedition to the 
coast of France. These, and the 
other evils of the war, particularly 
the scarcity that afflicted the na- 
tion, he imputed to the misconduct 
and incapacity of ministers. [twas 
therefore the duty of parliamcnt to 
more reasonable terms of peace, 
than the pride resulting from his 
late successes would now permit 
him to accept. He concluded, by 
representing the failure of the exe 
pedition to the coast of France as 
occasioned by the treachery of those 
French. corps, that had been too 
confidently relied upon. 
He 
