76 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



spirit, had full as good a right 

 as the ministers to hear the state- 

 ment Tcith exultation. Ministers 

 had no right to l)oa;;t much of what 

 others had suggested, or of wliat 

 public zcaj had elfccied. Enough 

 had not been done for the defence 

 of the country, unless such prepara- 

 tions had been made as would en- 

 tirely defeat the invader, and in 

 such a manner as would for ever 

 deter him from renewing the at- 

 tempt. He thought ministers were 

 much to blame, in having prepared 

 so small a peace establishment, jjind 

 in having made no preparations for 

 the renewal of a war, when, as 

 they have since published in a mani- 

 festo, they had every reason to sup- 

 pose the renewal of war unavoid- 

 able.. They should have availed 

 themselves of the period of peace to 

 ballot for the militia, and to make 

 such other preparations as would 

 have enabled them to recommence 

 the war with effect. Mr. Pitt con- 

 cluded by pressing yery strongly 

 the diflercnt measures he had often 

 proposed for the intprovement of 

 the volunteers, and the increase of 

 the regular army. He thought mi- 

 nisters had been much to blame in 

 not adopting his suggestions, and 

 that he had, therefore, abundant 

 right to complain of their conduct. 

 He should, upon these grounds, 

 support the motion for a committee. 

 Mr. secretary Yorkc, opposed 

 the motion, as one which was by 

 no means called for by the present 

 circumstances. No misfortunes had 

 happened to the country, nor had 

 any advantage been gained by the 

 enemj', in consequence of the ina- 

 dequacy of our preparations. As 

 to the voluntcersj he would insist 

 that their progress in discipline had 

 been the astonishment of all Europe, 



as well as of this country, which 

 had never before known the strength 

 of which it was possessed. As to 

 an armed peasantry, which had 

 been suggested, although it might 

 be useful in some other countries, 

 he thought it by no means appli- 

 cable to this country, when the 

 majority of the peasants did not 

 know the butt end of a gun from 

 the muzzle 1 He concluded by en- 

 tering into a general defence of the 

 system atioptcd by ministers. 



The Attorney General, said, 

 that, it was evident that if the mo- 

 tion should be carried upon the 

 principles advanced by Mr. Pitt, 

 ministers must resign their situa- 

 tions ; although no direct charge 

 had been made against them. — 

 Gentlemen had been brought to 

 the house this night from the most 

 distant parts of the country, with 

 singular industry, and management. 

 There was at present a most extra- 

 ordinary coalition against ministers. 

 An honourable gentleman (Mr. 

 Fox) had a])proved of the peace of 

 Amiens, as the best which, under 

 the then existing circumstances, the 

 country had a right to expect. — 

 Another honourable gentleman (Mr. 

 Windham) perpetually abused that 

 peace. How these two gentlemen 

 would reconcile their opposite opi- i 

 nions at a council board, was be- J 

 yond his comprehension. He 

 thought it would be most rash and 

 imprudent to address his majesty 

 for the removii! of the present mi- 

 nisters, without considering who 

 were likely to be their successors. 

 One (Mr. Fox) would probably 

 propose immediately a pt'ace with 

 France, through the mediation of 

 Russia : but, could it be agreed 

 to by his right honourable ally ? 

 (Mr. WiudhamJ. Was it possible 



that 



