HISTORY OF EUROPE; 



to cope, *^ single-handed," with 

 France, was now given up, and that 

 after the enemy had brought his 

 preparations for invasion to th« 

 highest state, he now seemed con- 

 scious of the vanity of his hopes ; 

 ^n effect for which he considered the 

 country indebted to the excellent 

 measures adopted for our defence, 

 to the skill and gallantry of our 

 pfliccrs and seamen, to the admira- 

 ble discipline of our army and mili- 

 tia, and to the patriotism and valour 

 of a new description of force, in 

 the order of our brave and patriotic 

 Tolunteers. His lordship intimated 

 a doubt, whether, considering the 

 animosity heretofore shewn by the 

 enemy, his motives, in making the 

 late overtures, might not have been 

 to embarrass the government, to 

 create divisions in parliament, or 

 discontent in the country, by excit- 

 ing too eager a desire for peace ; in 

 any of which cases he tiioight our 

 best resource was in that firmness 

 and unanimity, which he strongly 

 recommended. 



The address, which, as usual, 

 contained sentiments in unison with 

 those of his majesty's speech, was 

 seconded by lordGwydir, who con- 

 gratulated the house on the exalted 

 situation to which the coRutry had 

 attained, and tiie inability which 

 the enemy, after all his gasconad- 

 ing, experienced of hazarding his 

 boasted fleets and his tiolilla from 

 under the protection of the cannon 

 of his shores. The rupture with 

 Spain, he observed, had been long 

 expected, and the only surprise was, 

 how it could have been so long de- 

 layed. The councils, the treasures, 

 the fleets and the armies of Spain, 

 had long Ixn-n under the control 

 of French despotism, nor could that 

 •dcTOted country maintain peace one 



hour after the interests of France 

 required that it should go to war. 

 Self-prese-rvation even required of 

 us to seize upon the treasures of 

 Spain, and employ them for our own 

 defence, rather than suffer tflem to 

 go, as had been the case through the 

 war, to the payment and support of 

 those armies, which France was col- 

 lecting within sight of our coasts, 

 and with which it was threatening 

 our ruin. With respect to the com- 

 munications lately sent from France, 

 the house would be better able to 

 form an opinion on them when it 

 should be acquainted with their na-. 

 turc and extent ; but, at all events, 

 nothing could be lost by our perse- 

 verance in those strenuous exertions, 

 which alone were likely to bring 

 about, not a false and hollow secu- 

 rity, like the last peace, not peace in 

 words, and malignant hostility in 

 actions, but a peace that would af- 

 ford amoral and well-founded assu- 

 rance of lasting and mutual benefit. 

 Lord Carlisle said, that though he 

 cordially agreed in every sentiment 

 expressed in the speech, there were 

 some topics connected with, and ad- 

 verted to, by the two noble lords, 

 which would require future explana- 

 tion. What he aiiuded to Avas the 

 mode of commenciug the war with 

 Spain, by the detention of some of 

 her shijis, and the representatioa 

 made of the present respectable 

 and formidable state of the army. 

 In agreeing to the address, he wished 

 to be understood as pledged (o no 

 opinion, on cither of those subjects. 

 Lord Hawkesbury, (secretary of 

 state,) admitted that the two points 

 alluded to by the noble lord would 

 be fit subjects for separate dis- 

 cussion, and said that, when the 

 proper occasion came, he should ha 

 ready to maintaia that our conduct 

 B 2 towards 



