126] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1800. 



which, if they were not brought 

 to trial, they should he discharged. 

 His lordship said, that he was the 

 more strenuous in opposing the pre- 

 sent bill, that the power of the 

 crown had been immensely in- 

 creased, and the privileges of the 

 people proportionally diminished by 

 the passing of several strong restric- 

 tive acts. The whole property of 

 the kingdom also was armed and in 

 array, and at the disposal of the 

 crown, for the defence of the coun- 

 try. Vested, therefore, as minis- 

 ters were, with such extraordinary 

 power, he thought it improper to in- 

 crease them at the expense of the 

 liberties of the people. 



The earl of Carlisle paid a com- 

 pliment to lord King for the very 

 handsome and moderate manner in 

 which, at his years, he had con- 

 ducted the whole of his argument ; 

 but, he differed from him in opi- 

 nion, and attributed the tranquil- 

 lity we now possessed to the passing 

 of this very act, now to be conti- 

 nued. The horrid principles which 

 had occasioned the passing of the 

 suspension of habeas corpus had 

 been weakened, but not wholly 

 eradicated. He saw no danger in 

 intrusting such a power as this in 

 the hands of ministers who had al- 

 ways used it so mildly and leniently. 

 That such was the case was evi- 

 dent, from the opinion of the peo- 

 ple, who felt no apprehensions, nor 

 had expressed the smallest discon tent 

 at such a power being so intrusted. 



Lord Holland said, that of the 

 seven years of the war, the habeas 

 corpus act had been suspended 

 five ; and, that of the multitudes 

 who had been imprisoned in virtue 

 of that suspension, few had been 

 brought to trial, and only one con- 

 victed. Neither was that person 

 guilty of treason against this coun- 



trj', or connected with any socie- 

 ties, or any individuals of conse- 

 quence in this kingdom. None of 

 his machinations could ever have 

 brought about a rebellion or insur- 

 rection. What harm would have 

 followed from his going over to 

 the enemy with a paper signed by 

 no body ? Should the constitution 

 be suspended for years, because 

 O'Coigley was condemned ? It 

 was said, that the suspension of the 

 habeas corpus act was used merely 

 as a measure of precaution, to pro- 

 tect the constitution from the evil 

 designs of the many turbulent men 

 who longed for its overthrow. — 

 He confessed it not improbable, 

 that the rational principles on 

 which the French revolution was 

 commenced ; the plausible, though 

 pernicious doctrine which had been 

 professed in its later stages ; and 

 the splendid success which had at- 

 tended the arms of the republic ; 

 might have dazzled many in everj' 

 country in Europe, and made some 

 in this country long to see the vi- 

 sionary theories of freedom reduced 

 to practice. But was it not like- 

 wise probable, that the dreadful 

 atrocities which had been perpe- 

 trated during the revolution, the 

 horrid crimes which had been com- 

 mitted in the name of liberty, and 

 the final subjugation of France to 

 a military government, had made 

 many incline to arbitrary power, 

 and adopt tory and high-church 

 principles, who were formerly ani- 

 mated with a hatred to slavery ? 

 It was one of the great evils of 

 the French revolution, that it had 

 brought the cause of rational free- 

 dom into discredit ; and there 

 could be no doubt that the ancient 

 spirit of Britons had been nearly 

 abandoned, since they had patiently 

 borne the most alarming abridgment 



