0] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
To defeat all the desigus of our 
enemies, to restore to my people 
the blessings of a ‘secure and ho- 
nourable peace, to maintain invio- 
late their religion, laws, and liber- 
ty, and to deliver down unimpaired 
to the latest posterity, the glory 
and happiness of these kingdoms, 
is the constant wish of my heart, 
and the uniform end of all my ac- 
tions. In every measure that can 
conduce to these objects, I am 
confident of receiving the firm, 
gealous and affectionate support of 
my parliament. 
Protest of Earl Fitzwilliam against 
the Address of the House of Lords 
to the Throne on his Majesty's 
Speech announcing the opening of a 
Negotiation for Peace with the 
French Republic. 
Dissentient, 
Ist. Because, by this address, 
amended as it stands, the sanction: 
of the lords is given to.a series of 
measures, as ill judged, with re 
gard to their object,’ as they are 
derogatory from the dignity of his 
majesty’s crown, and from the ho- 
nour of this kingdom. The reite- 
ration of solicitations for peace to a 
species of power, with whose very 
existence all fair and equitable ac- 
commodation is incompatible, can 
have no other effect than that 
which it is notorious all our soli- 
~citations have hitherto had. They 
must increase the arrogance and 
ferocity of the common enemy of 
all nations; they must fortify the 
eredit, and fix the authority of an 
odious government over an enslaved 
people; they must impair the con- 
fidence of all, other powers in the 
egnanimity,.! consiancy, and fi. 
delity .of the British eauncils ; and 
ig is much to be epprehended it will 
: 
1 
inevitably tend to break the spring 
of that energy, and to lower that 
spirit which has charaGierised in- 
former times this high-minded na- 
tion, and which, far from sinking 
under misfortune, bas even risen’ 
with the difficulties and dangers 
in which our country has been in- 
volved. 
2d. Because no peace, such .as 
may be capable of recruiting the 
Strength, cconomising the means, — 
augmenting the resources, and pros 
viding for the safety of this king~ 
dom, and its inseparable con. 
nections and dependencies, can be 
had with the usurped. power now 
exercising authority in France, 
covsideripg the description, the 
charaéter, and the conduét, of 
those who compose that govern 
ment; the methods by which they 
have obtained their power, the po 
licy by which they hold it, and the 
maxims they have adopted, openly 
professed, and uniformly aéted ‘on, 
towards the destruétion of ‘all go- 
vernments not formed on their 
model, and subservient to their 
domination. 
3d. Because the idea that this 
kingdom is competent to defend 
itself, its laws, liberties, and relie 
gion, under the general subjuga~ 
tion of all Europe, is presumptuous 
in the extreme, contradiétory to 
the supposed motives for our pre- 
sent eager solicilations for peace, 
and is certainly contrary to the 
standing policy both of state and 
commerce, by which Great Britain 
has bitherto flourished. 
Ath. Because, while: the, come 
mon enemy exercises jhis«power 
over the several. states of, Europe 
in the way we have seen, . itis, im- 
possible long to preserve our trade, 
ory what cannot exist without it, 
our 
