36 
even before such declaration should 
have been made. As to the affairs 
of Switzerland, he wished to know 
whether the honor and character of 
this country had been at all com- 
mitted; and if so, how that pledge 
had been redeemed? He considered 
that underthe present circumstances 
of Europe, a considerable augment- 
ation of our military establishments 
were necessary; and yet he could 
hot vote for that proposed, without 
some farther explanation. 
The attorney general (Mr. 
Percival) thought it somewhat cu- 
rious, that those objections should 
come from persons who had al- 
ready recommended an increase of 
our establishments ; had they come 
from a right hon. gentleman (Mr, 
Fox) who always recommended 
small establishments, it would not 
have been so surprizing. Ministers, 
however, were determined to steer 
a middle course, and if it was not 
in their powér to reconcile the jar 
of parties, he trusted they would 
be able to reconcile themselves to 
the public. As it was not to the 
principle of an increased establish- 
ment or an increased supply, but 
merely on the quantum that they now 
areued, it might be supposed that 
it was men and not measures which 
were the objects of their attacks, 
Opposition speeches often ended in 
good government votes, and per- 
haps those who were so violent in 
their philippics against ministers, 
were actuated by a violent desire for 
their places. And if they could 
supplant them, he supposed they 
would proceed on the very same 
principles. He considered the op- 
position to ministers on this subject, 
as merely an opposition to their 
places, 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1803. 
_ Dr. Lawrence thought this line 
of observation as unparliamen- 
tary, as it was unusual; he consi- 
dered it an attack on the liberty 
of speech in that house. France 
had, since the definitive treaty, in- 
creased her army, by nearly 100,000 
men, and her navy in the same 
proportion ; he therefore thought it 
necessary that we should increase 
ours upon a similar scale, if we 
would be safe. He denied that he 
himself belonged to any party, or 
that he was secking the places of 
any body: he was content with the 
profits of an honorable profession, 
and had nothing further to wish for 
personally. He voted for the in- 
crease proposed, because, although 
he thought it inadequate, it was 
better to have that than nothing, 
The resolutions were then agreed 
to. 
Such were the opinions expressed 
by the leading members, in this 
spirited debate, on the circum- 
stances of the times. ‘There never 
appeared to be a period in which 
parliament were more unanimous in 
their vote for increasing the military 
establishments of the country; as 
indeed it had been most obvious to 
all, from the very day in which the 
definitive treaty was signed, that 
France was by no means willing to 
confine herself within any given 
limits; but was proceeding regu- 
larly and steadily, to the establish- 
ment of her own domination, over 
the degraded and weakened nations 
of Europe. During the interval of 
peace, the French government were 
at open war with our commerce: 
avowed their intention of retaking 
Sgypt; and by their cruel and un- 
justifiable treatment of Switzerland, 
roused the indignation of every 
individugd 
