HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
conduct of his majesty’s ministers, 
but freely confessed that the state of 
Europe was much more unsatisfac- 
tory now than it was at the time of 
the signing of the peace at Amiens. 
Great adyantages, however, had 
been derived from that peace. 
“ Had we continued the war on the 
reasoning of the right hon. gentle- 
man and his friends, we should 
have lost our energy, and the coun- 
try would not have been with us.” 
Another advantage had been de- 
rived from the peace: the country 
sees that its resources are firmly 
' fixed, and do not depend upon the 
’ 
circumstance of peace or war. His 
noble friend (lord Hawkesbury) had 
been misunderstood by those who 
supposed him to have stated that 
all continental alliance was at an 
end; he certainly had never meant 
_to express the dispiriting idea, that 
no circumstances or time could re- 
vive the vigour and energy of the 
continent. The determination of 
his majesty’s ministers was to place 
the peace establishment, on the 
mostefficient and permanent footing; 
and should war become necessary, 
he felt no doubt but the spirit and 
resources of the nation would 
enable us to repel every danger 
with which we might be threaten- 
ed. 
Mr. Whitbread said, he should 
yote for the address, although he 
could not deny but that he was 
alarmed at what had fallen from his 
19 
majesty’s ministers. Those who 
disapproved the peace, acted con- 
sistently in now wishing for war; 
but thos..who had made the peace, 
while France was in possession of 
Piedmontand Switzerland, and who 
had not then made the slightest sti- 
pulation, in regard either to Swit- 
zerland or Sardinia, would act in- 
consistently if they were to break 
the treaty on such grounds. How- 
ever he admired the abilities and 
lively imagination of a right hon. 
gentleman (Mr. Windham), he 
could not agree with him in his 
reasoning, when he supposed France 
would increase much faster in power 
during peace than in time of war. 
The fact was otherwise: at the first 
effort at negociation, France was 
content to cede Belgium; at the 
second she refused to give it up; at 
the third her pretensions were still 
higher; the fourth attempt was, 
when Bonaparte sent overtures of 
peace, which, in an evil hour, were 
rejected; and during the warI'rance 
had enormously increased in power. 
She had not made an equal pro- 
gress in peace. He hoped peace 
was not likely to be soon broken, 
and he lamented that language 
tending to inspire such a belief 
should have been so inconsiderately 
used, 
After some explanations between 
the chancellor of the exchequer 
and Mr. Whitbread, the address 
was carried unanimously. 
C2 CHAP. 
