58] 
ing deceived in their allies in the 
most material points, and still ex- 
pressing a torwardness to depend 
on promises so frequently reiterated 
and so repeatedly broken, when- 
ever induced by the slightest inte- 
rest to falsify their word. The 
French, it was now acknowledged, 
were in a situation to be treated 
with; we ought, therefore, no 
longer to stand aloof. He would 
consequently move for an address 
to the king, requesting him to com- 
municate to the executive govern- 
ment in France his readiness to em- 
brace any opportunity of coinciding 
with them in mutual endeavours for 
the re-establishment of peace. 
The situation of affairs, it was 
replied by Mr. Pitt, was such, that 
it could be no humiliation to this 
country to be the first in profering 
peace ; but the conducting of a ne- 
gociation, and when to time it, be- 
longed solely to ministers. If they 
were deemed unworthy of such a 
trust, their opponents ought to pe- 
tition for their removal; but while 
they continued in office, they alone 
could be the proper agents in such 
a transaétion; they ought, on this 
principle, to act unitedly, not only 
among themselves, but with the 
allies of this country, to whom. no 
cause should be given to suspeét us 
of duplicity, and of not aéting in 
the sincerest conjunétion with them. 
If they remained entire, so power- 
ful a confederacy could not, in the 
nature of things, fail, by perseve- 
rance and unanimity, to obtain, 
finally, an advantageous peace ; 
but this desirable objeét depended 
on the moderation of the enemy. 
All had beendone, consistently with 
honour and interest, to bring him 
to this issue; but neither of these 
would be sacrificed. Considering 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
. perous for the coalition ? But it did 
1796 
the temper of our enemies, and 
how much they were inflamed by 
the pressure of circumstances, to 
give up their inordinate pretensions, 
peace would probably depend on 
the difficulty they would find to 
prosecute the war, and the prospeét 
of it might not, of course, be so. 
near as wished or expected. 
Whatever success our arms might 
have in future, still we ought not, 
said Mr. Fox,to presume thata better 
season for treating than the present 
would occur. There was a time 
when the enemy could not stand 
before the confederacy, and was 
driven from every place he had oc- 
cupied abroad, and forced to retire 
for shelter into his own country. 
What situation could be more pros~ 
not think the French sufficiently 
humbled and depressed, and lost an 
opportunity that would never return. 
We complained of that decree of the 
convention, by which they threat- 
ened interference in the affairs of 
other countries; but as they had 
solemnly rescinded it as offensive 
to us, why did not we disclaim all 
interference in their own concerns ? 
why had no steps been taken to- 
wards a pacification, as the publie 
had been given to hope? they would 
certainly be popular in this country, 
and not displeasing to our allies, nor 
to all Europe, which looked anxi- 
ously for such an event. The 
great obstacle to peace was the ani- 
mosity between the French and 
their enemies. This should be re- 
moved preferably to all other ob- 
structions. This might be done by 
offering them reasonable conditions, 
which would disarm an enemy muc 
sooner than violence and obstinacy. 
It was not ‘surprising the Frenc 
should be exasperated, when we 
spoke 
