no ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



in all prosecutions directed by tlie 

 house, was responsible. 



Mr. Slieridan Vrxs of opinion, 

 that the house having come to the re- 

 sohition of adopting a criminal pro- 

 secution, it was a delicate question 

 to think of recalling that resolution, 

 In order to return to another, in 

 preference to which it had been 

 adopted. 



Mr. Canning thought it worthy 

 the consideration of the house, (if 

 opportunity offered) whether it 

 should not rc-consider the great 

 constitutional question, whether a 

 man should be tried by his peers 

 or not. After some further conver- 

 sation, Mr. Bond's notice of an in- 

 struction with respect to Jellico's 

 business, was fixed for Tuesday. 



On the same day, Mr. Grey made 

 his promised motion on the state of 

 public affairs'. He described tlie 

 state of the country, whether in 

 point of commerce, finance, the 

 condition of the army or navy, or 

 the chances of the war, to be ex- 

 tremely critical. It was therefore 

 necessary to investigate, what were 

 the grounds upon which the war 

 was commenced ? What the objects 

 to which it was directed ? What the 

 prospects of success ? and what was 

 the best policy to be pursued in the 

 conduct of it. — At the beginning of 

 the war, it was promised, that it 

 would add no more to the capital of 

 our debt, than what would be ex- 

 tinguished by the operations of the 

 sinking fund ; and y ?t 30,000,000^. 

 at least, had been since added to that 

 capital. He then went into the state 

 of the army and navy, and contend- 

 ed that they wcreboth i n want of great 

 improvement. France, at the same 

 time, was grown more powerful than 

 ever on the continent ; and had made 

 such unexpected advanees in her na- 



vy, as shewed, that the objects of the 

 war, (and they were the limitation 

 of her power) were far from being 

 accomplished. After discussing ail 

 these points, in great detail, he con. 

 eluded by moving, " an humble ad. 

 " dress to his majesty, praying that 

 " tlie parliament might not be pro- 

 " rogued, until he might be enabled 

 " to aiford to that house more full 

 " information with respect to his 

 " relations with foreign powers, 

 " and his views and prospects in the 

 " contest in which the country was 

 '* engaged." 



Lord Castlcreagh controverted 

 the principal points, to which the 

 honourable gentleman adverted, 

 contending that our finances, army, 

 and navy, were never in so flourish- 

 ing a situation hs at present ; and 

 declared, that, as no ])arliamentary 

 ground had been made out for the 

 motion, he should meet it with a 

 negative. 



Mr. W. Windham and lord Tem- 

 ple spoke in favour of the motion, 

 and Mr. Cainiing against it. Alter 

 a debate, into the details of wiiich^ 

 we shall not enter, as all the topics 

 introduced into it had been discuss- 

 ed before, in the course of the ses- 

 sion, at J o'clock in the morning 

 the house divided, — l-r the motion 

 110, — against it 2t>l, — majority 

 151. 



On the next day, the Chancellor 

 of the Exchequer, in a committee of 

 supply, moved, " that a sum not 

 " exceeding 3,.500,000/. be granted 

 " to his majcity, to enable him to 

 " enter into such engagements, and 

 " take such measures, as the exigen- 

 ",cies of affairs demand." 



Mr. Fox opposed the motion, as 

 no explanation had been given of 

 the objects for which it had been 

 intended. If it were meant to en- 

 gag* 



