MISTORY (| GPF EUROPE. 
produced, it might have stage effect 
enough to draw 400,000 volunteers 
to join in the procession. Under 
those circumstances, he wished that 
this country should always be ina 
situation to call together speedily a 
strong naval force,to frustrate any at- 
tempts on the part of the enemy. 
Mr. Sturges supported the reso- 
lution, from his idea of the neces- 
sity of a large establishment ; but 
expressed surprize that ministers 
had assigned no reason for this in- 
crease, and earnestly hoped that it 
would be yet possible to continue 
in peace. 
Captain Markham defended the 
conduct of the admiralty board, in 
contradiction of the instances ad- 
duced by sir Sidney Smith. 
Lord Hawkesbury said, it was 
not usual for ministers to preface 
resolutions of this nature with many 
observations; but, in the present 
instance, he thought it more pecu- 
liarly necessary, as it was gene- 
rally understood at the time of dis- 
cussing the address, that our esta- 
blishments were to be considerably 
increased. Ministers had then dis- 
tinctly avowed their intentions of 
proposing such an increase. It was 
uncommon for ministers to give such 
an explanation; it was very uncom- 
mon to demand it from them. As 
to a permanent establisment, that 
was certainly a fit subject for par- 
liamentary discussion; but the esta- 
blishment which ministers might 
think necessary for the year, de- 
pended upon their opinion of the 
situation of affairs, that, they were 
not at liberty to disclose. It was 
therefore absolutely necessary to 
place such confidence in whoever 
were the ministers, as to give them 
#redit, when they declared their 
35 
opinions generally, that such a force 
is immediately necessary for the de- 
fence of the state. He believed, 
that without speaking from any ex- 
clusive information his majesty’s 
ministers might have, there were 
sufficient circumstances known by 
every man in that house and in the 
country, to induce a very general 
opinion, that our military establish- 
ments ought to be increased. He 
wished, however, that the country 
would endeavour to continue the 
peace, in the true spirit of peace ; 
a spirit which was perfectly con- 
sistent with the national honor; 
but free from that degree of irrita- 
tion, which, if pursued, could an- 
swer no one good end, but must 
inevitably lead to hostilities. It 
had been usual for that house, with- 
out much observation, to yote such 
peace establishment for the year, as 
ministers should declare to be ne- 
cessary. It was not, however, mere- 
ly on this ground of confidence, that 
ministers relied for the support of 
the house; there were abundant 
circumstances known to the whole 
world, to make an increased esta= 
blishment a thing of evident and ab- 
solute necessity. 
Mr. Canning professed to be sa- 
tisfied with the explanation of his 
noble friend (lord Hawkesbury), 
and if such an explanation had been 
given before the resolutions were 
brought forward, he thought it 
would have prevented all discussion. 
He allowed that it was always ne- 
cessary to be prepared, not only 
against the hostility, but against 
the perfidy of France. We should 
be prepared against the attack of 
our foreign: possessions, and* the 
possibie event of invasion, not: only 
on the first declaration of war, but 
D2 eveR 
