GENERAL HISTORY. 



[209 



200,000 men ; and at no period 

 even in the reign of the Great 

 Frederic had the Prussian armies 

 been more numerous, better dis- 

 ciplined, or more capable of mili- 

 tary operations. 



It was now proper for him to state 

 what had been the transactions of 

 his majesty's ministers with the 

 court of Austria. Much as Austria 

 had at stake, he was convinced she 

 ^ would never have joined the com- 

 W' bination, but from the persuasion 

 that France was indisposed towards 

 a pacific settlement of Europe. 

 Here his lordship said he was desir- 

 ous to correct an apparent miscon- 

 ception of the hon. member for 

 Bedford, who had said that what- 

 ever conditions had in a former 

 stage been proposed to France, they 

 should now be adopted. In point 

 of fact, no plan had been offered. 

 Austria never went further than 

 an attempt to mediate, which was 

 met by France with a variety of 

 evasions, leaving that power no al- 

 ternative but either at once to take 

 arms, or to state the grounds on 

 which she was disposed to mediate. 

 These grounds did not pledge the 

 continental allies, or this country ; 

 they were merely a basis by which 

 Austria wished to ascertain whe- 

 ther lier attempts for peace were 

 likely to have a chance for success, 

 and the reply of France at once 

 showed her that these endeavour^ 

 were fruitless. After some fur- 

 ther explanations on this head. 

 Lord Castlereagh mentioned the 

 sum to be advanced to Austria : it 

 was one million, and 100,000 stand 

 of arms, with military stores; and 

 if the war should continue after 

 the Ist of March next, a new ar- 

 rangement was to be entered on. 

 It appeared then that the subsidies 

 Vol. LV. 



amounted to 10 millions, four of 

 which were devoted to the Penin- 

 sula, and six to the continental 

 system. In calling upon the house 

 to make provision for these engage- 

 ments, he should move, first, that 

 3 millions be voted to his majesty 

 on account ; secondly, that leave 

 be given to bring in a bill to re- 

 cognize the engagements of 2 mil- 

 lions and a half already entered in- 

 to in the subsidiary treaties. 



As no shadow of an opposition 

 appeared against the motions, it is 

 unnecessary to notice the eloquence, 

 or the personalities of the succeed- 

 ing speeches. 



The two resolutions proposed 

 were then put and carried. 



It may here be observed, that 

 the amazing successes of the allies, 

 the expulsion of the French from 

 the greatest part of their usurpa- 

 tions, and the unprecedented cir- 

 cumstance of three hostile armies 

 invading France at different points, 

 put an end to all difference of opi- 

 nion relative to the vigorous pro- 

 secution of the war ; the advocates 

 for peace seeing in it the readiest 

 way to attain their object — an ob- 

 ject constantly placed in view by 

 the declarations of the allies ; 

 while those who indulged feelings 

 of martial glory and revenge were 

 gratified by prospects of the com- 

 plete humiliation of a hated and 

 dreaded foe. Never, therefore, 

 was there a session of parliament 

 in which more unanimity prevailed 

 as to public measures, the enor- 

 mous and increasing burthens on 

 the nation being patiently ac- 

 quiesced in both by that body and 

 the people at large, as necessary 

 for accelerating that termination 

 which was the general wish. 



