HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



15 



side, it afforded matter of satisfac- 

 tion, to reflect that we begau this 

 unavoidtble '.sar with the treasures 

 of Spam in our own ports, instead 

 of beiai,^ employed to support the 

 contest against us. After having 

 strained every possible nerve for 

 conciliation, and exhibited every 

 proof of ioil)earancc and modera- 

 tion throughout the whole of these 

 transactions, he thought himself jus- 

 tified in calling for the unanimous 

 concurrence of tlieir lordships in 

 the address he had to propose ; the 

 substance of which was to applaud 

 the wisdom and justice of his ma- 

 jesty's government in the recent 

 transactions with Spain, and more 

 especially the moderation and for- 



I bearance Avhich characterized the 

 conduct of his majesty's government, 



i and which was persevered in so 

 long as the same could be done, 

 ■with regard to the honour of his nia- 



' jcsty's crown, and (he interests and 

 welfare of his suljjects. The address 

 being read. 



Earl Spencer, in the view which 

 he meant to take of the subject, dis- 

 claimed the idea of being actuated 

 by motives of opposition, and was 

 ready to adroit that justifiable 

 grounds for going to Avar with Spain, 

 existed since the first moment of 

 hostilities with France. With this 

 admission, he must also say, that if 

 pur government thought proper to 

 wave that right, and connive at 

 Spain's furnishing a pLCiiniary con- 

 tingent to France, instead of a sup- 

 ply in kind, it should strictly have 

 defined the extent to which it would 

 have admitted it. Instead, however, 

 of firmness, moderation, and can- 

 dour, in these transactions, he 

 thought he perceived in them inanity 

 apd indtjcisipn, and duplicity and 



want of candour in the instrnctions 

 given to our minister at Madrid, 

 that he should get all the explana- 

 tion he could from the Spanish mi- 

 nister, and give none himself. His 

 lordsliip thcw moved a very long 

 amendment to the address, assuring 

 his majesty of their readiness tosup. 

 port him to the utmost in every 

 measure to assert the rights, and 

 vindicate the honour of his crown, 

 but at the same time conveying the 

 strongest censure on the negligent 

 and undecided councils which direct- 

 ed the whole of these proceedings. 

 Lord Sidmouth, in support of the 

 original address, observed, that one 

 of the greatest ad vantages this coun- 

 try gained by its moderation in re- 

 gard to Spain, was that it thereby 

 provided for the safety of our an- 

 cient and faithful ally Portugal, at 

 the same time that it was watchful 

 of our national honour, and tri- 

 umphed in the result of both. Our 

 tardiness was of iNelf a sufficient 

 proof of our unwillingness to force 

 the Spanish government into a war, 

 and Spain, which must itself be sen- 

 sible of our patience and forbear- 

 ance, must be an unwilling coad- 

 jutor in a war, though the time was 

 at length arrived when France 

 thought proper to make her bi-eak. 

 off her neutrality, and compel her to 

 reluctant hostilities with this coun- 

 try. Indeed, so generaus was the 

 conduct of this country, that it al- 

 lowed Spain to assume an unfriendly 

 appearance, without availing itself 

 of it as an immediate cause of war. 

 Having referred to various docu- 

 ments in justification both of his own 

 administration and that of the pre- 

 sent ministers, he adverted to the 

 detention of the Spanish frigates, 

 and reminded the noble carl (Spen- 

 cer).. 



