60 
resularly increasing ; while that of 
this country had been impaired. 
He had aright to ask ministers the 
reason of this change of system, or 
to infer, that they had hitherto act- 
ed in a most unwise and impolitic 
system. He considered the idea of 
waiting for the changes which time 
might bring about, as completely 
ridiculous, 
The lord chancellor expressed 
his regret, that ministers had lost 
the confidence of the noble lord. 
Were be at liberty to declare the 
circumstances which governed the 
conduct of ministers, in the mea- 
sures they had adopted; he was 
convinced the noble lord would 
agree with him, that they were in- 
fluenced by the best considerations 
for the prosperity of the empire. 
Lord Pelham rose for the purpose 
of replying to some points of lord 
Grenville’s speech. He thought, 
that if in his lordship’s opinion, the 
present ministers were so unworthy 
of confidence; it would have been 
his lordship’s duty to go further 
than in making speeches in opposi- 
tion; he ought to have moved an 
address to his majesty for their re- 
moval. He had never coveted 
office ; he assumed it with no other 
view than for the service of his 
country, in a critical and awful 
period. He acted to the best of 
his judgment, and did not wish to 
hold his situation a moment longer 
than he enjoyed the confidence of 
his country. He concluded by 
stating, that no charges of incapa- 
city in ministers, could be a reason 
for not passing the present bill. 
Lord Minto agreed in the objec- 
tions that had been made by other 
noble Lords, to votes of supply, or 
their being offered to the house 
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ANNUAL REGISTER, 
18053. 
without the usual information. He 
strongly suspected, that the honor 
of the country had been compro- 
mised with respect to Switzerland. 
He believed it was after a rémon- 
strance made on the part of this 
country, that Switzerland was in- 
vaded ; and yet ministers never 
gave any information to parliament 
upon this subject, though often 
asked for it. 
The bill was then read a second 
time and committed, 
On the 21st of December, : the 
bill for appointing naval commis- 
sioners, was introduced into the 
house of lords, by lord Pelham. 
Lord Nelson warmly supported 
it, principally on the intolerable 
difficulties that naval men now find 
in getting their prize money. 
The lord chancellor wished for 
full time to consider a bill, that ap- 
peared to depart from that principle 
of law by which no man is obliged 
to criminate himself. 
The bill however was read a first 
and second time without further op- 
position, On the question being put 
the day following for its committal, 
The duke of Clarence, who con- 
sidered the bill not only unnecessa- 
ry but mischievous, moved as an 
amendment, that it should be com- 
mitted this day three months. 
The lord chancellor, however, op- 
posed this motion, but called for 
the peculiar attention of their lord- 
ships to the clauses of the bill, when 
it should be committed. 
The house then went into a com- 
mittee, and proposed an amend- . 
ment, to protect persons from being 
obliged to answer any questions 
which might criminate themselves. 
The amendment was adopted, and ~ 
tlic bill was passed. 
Such 
