46 
The resolutions were then agreed 
to unanimously, 
On a review of these two very 
important and highly interesting 
debates, it will have been seen that 
the note of preparation was swelled 
to a still higher pitch; and that, in 
calling for a vote for 129,000 men 
for the service of the year, indepen- 
dently of the great naval force al- 
ready granted, (however ministers 
might conceal the real causes of 
alarm) a renewal of hostilities was, 
even by them, supposed not very 
distant. But the effect of this 
vote, on the public mind, was by 
no means dubious. The alarm 
which was given by the speech from 
the throne was now universal, and 
received abundant confirmation 
from those measures of Parliament 
which had, since that period, taken 
place. The public funds expe- 
rienced immediate depression, and 
the minds of all were aroused toa 
sense of danger, and that too im- 
mediate; the more surprizing to a 
people, who but a month before, 
were wrapped round in universal 
confidence and security. Yet, to 
theastonishment of the whole coun- 
try, could not the minister, nor his 
colleagues in office, be prevailed 
upon to assign satisfactory and suf- 
ficient reasons for those great de- 
mands, unprecedented in time of 
peace, onthe public resources. In 
vain was it urged, that it was uncon- 
stitutional and unparliamentary, to 
press a vote for such an enormous 
increase of the military establish- 
ments of the country, without 
any information to guide them in 
the propriety of passingit. In vain 
was explicitness demanded, as the 
best means of rousing the public 
spirit, and even, as the best mode of 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1803, 
answering the ends, proposed by 
the ministers themselves, in the 
augmentation. In yain was it 
pleaded, that if intended for war, 
the numbers voted were too few, 
if for peace too many. Govern- 
ment still maintained a sullen and 
unaccountable reserve, and they 
entrenched themselvesin the position 
that this force was meant solely 
to repel hostility and aggression; to 
defend our own empire against all 
encroachments; and to enable us to 
look with vigilance, to the state of 
the continent. To this vague 
and indeterminate explanation, if it 
could be called explanation, did they 
confine themselves; nor could the 
splendid eloquence, the convincing 
reasoning, nor the bitter taunts of 
their adversaries, procure any more 
specious or more solid reply. 
Support however, was given by all 
parts of the house, to administra- 
tion, with but a few, and those 
individual exceptions. The friends 
of the late minister, (who however 
did not himself come forward) and 
the “ new. opposition,” supported 
the estimates, as manifesting some 
small degree of energy, in what 
they termed a feeble and spiritless 
government ;—and_ the partizans 
of Mr. Fox did not oppose them, 
although they shewed evident symp- 
toms of dislike, at the slightest 
appearance of a renewal of hostili- 
ties with France. An exception 
however must be made, with res- 
pect to Mr. Sheridan. His senti- 
ments, as delivered in his speech on 
the night of the 8th of December, 
when the secretary at war moved 
the peace establishments of the 
year ; and which was replete with 
sound reasoning, argument, and 
wit; was decidedly in unison with 
the 
