5s ANNUAL RE 
objected to the extent of these esta- 
blishments ; for if it were necessary 
to have 130,000 soldiers, besides 
our militia and volunteers, 50,000 
seamen could not be sufficient: 
and his majesty’s ministers were 
blameable in reducing the number 
from 70,000 to 50,000 : thirdly, 
he objected to the probable appli- 
cation of such a force, from a firm 
conviction, that the present admi- 
nistration had not sufficient judg- 
ment and energy of character, to 
use such a force to advantage. At 
@ time when France was every day 
extending her empire and her re- 
sources, ministers had disbanded 
eur army, and diminished the num- 
ber of seamen in employment. He 
declared, he agreed perfectly with 
a noble friend of his (lord Temple) 
that in an administration he looked 
to the men, as well as the measures: 
as to measures, every body would 
allow, that buying a good gun was a 
good measure for the defence of a 
house; but it was an important 
consideration to whom this gun 
should be entrusted. If we are at 
sea at a time of impending danger, 
it would be well to hear that the 
ship was sound; but it would be 
full as important to hear that the 
pilot was skilful. 
The earl of Suffolk condemned 
the conduct of the late administra- 
tion in the whole of the war; and 
praised that of the present admi- 
histration, whom he thought de- 
serving of the confidence and sup- 
port of the nation; and who should 
therefore receive his support and 
confidence. He aliuded then, to 
the conduct of the late adminis- 
tration, with respect to confining 
persons for a long time, whom they 
suspected of treascnable practices, 
GISTER, i803. 
but whom they never brought t@ 
trial. 
The lord chancellor with great 
warmth declared; that he would 
sooner suffer death upon the spot, 
than hear the conduct of the late 
administration aspersed upon that 
head without confutation. If it 
was criminal, he was as deeply cri- 
minal as they, and the only reason 
for pursuing a different conduct 
now, was, that the country was un- 
der different circumstances. He 
also approved of the conduct of the 
late administration during the war, 
and had always supported it: the 
peace had been approved of by that 
great character, whom the opposers 
of the bill had so highly respected, 
(Mr. Pitt) and he was much sur- 
prised to hear the same noble lords, 
who so highly admired that exalted 
character, express opinions'so very 
ditferent. With respect to the pre- 
sent situation of Europe, he felt as 
an Englishman must feel, but would 
consider it inconsistent with his du- 
ty, to give any detailed information 
upon the subject. 
The earl of Carlisle: said, his 
principal objection to the establish- 
ment proposed was, that it was to 
be voted altogether on the credit 
of the minister; which was a de- 
gree of confidence not to be found 
on the records of parliament. He 
was not guided in his opposition to 
this, by any paltry motive of obtain- 
ing place or power; but if in the 
hands of other ministers, the am- 
bition of Bonaparte was likely to 
receive a greater check; if the 
tone and spirit of the country were 
more likely to be supported, under 
the management of men of greater 
talents, and men of more elevated 
minds; in such case, he wished to 
see 
