HISTORY. 
for ‘ever ‘destroyed ; ‘and that no 
ministers would again aftempt, to 
impose upon a geferous people, by 
‘such false pretéxts, He requested, 
that ministers would not be afraid 
of reproaches, for too great efforts 
‘at conciliation ; as long as it was 
‘consistent with honor, he was a 
‘warm advocate for conciliation ; but 
jwould ‘never be an apologist for 
‘disHonor. He concluded by saying, 
that he should not vote against the 
‘motion, 
Mr. Burroughs considered, that 
secrecy ‘Im negociations, which 
‘might possibly terminate amicably, 
was much to be desired. We were 
‘not yet at war, and he hoped it 
would be avoided ; but, at the same 
time, he felt the utmost confidence 
in tlie resources of the country, to 
‘Carry on a war, should it be una- 
“yoidable. Great-as France had be- 
come, by the’plunder and oppres- 
sion of all the nations on the 
continent, she was unequal to the 
task of domineering over this coun- 
try. 
Lord Hawkesbury agreed in the 
general principles laid down by Mr. 
Fox ; he only differed in the appli- 
cation of them. Whena negocia- 
tion is terminated, he thought it 
right to give ample information ; 
bat, while it was pending, it was 
better to keep silence, than state 
‘matters which might produce irri- 
tating discussions, that must im- 
pede the negociation itself, On 
the commencement of a war, it was 
right to state the causes of it; but 
perhaps, when things were settled 
amicably, it was better not to stir 
up again those passions which had 
hardly subsided. Ministers consi- 
dered 60,000 seamen a force ade-. 
quate to the circumstances of the 
OF EUROPE. 
95 
times; and, at the same time ne- 
cessary, considering the armaments 
of the enemy. 
Mr. Elliot thought the resolution 
‘offered to the committee’ unprece- 
dented, not being sanctioned by 
sufficient information. 
Mr. Canning repeated the ob- 
servations he had made on a former 
evening, on the necessity of minis- 
ters (if they intended to “deal fairly 
by parliament) giving every inform- 
ation to the house, at the time those 
negociations were ended, whether 
they should end in peace or in war: 
should they end in peace, the house 
ought to know why those large sup- 
plies had been called for. The ar- 
mament itself, if unnecessary, was 
extremely imprudent ; unnecessary 
armaments might lead to war. He 
should vote, however, forthe force 
proposed, in the hope, that minis- 
ters would use it for the purpose of 
obtaining a complete, honorable, 
and durable peace, and not tor 
restoring it to that feverish un- 
wholesome repose, from which they 
had roused it. There was no time, 
at present, to consider in whose 
hands, the administration of the 
country might most safely be trust- 
ed; and ministers must, at present, 
act under the highest responsibility. 
Sir W. Pulteney, thought minis- 
ters acted prudently in fitting out 
such an armament, as the present 
situation of affairs seemed to re- 
quire. He did not think it right, 
while negotiations were pending, to 
lay before the house such informa- 
tion, us might only serve to put the 
people into bad temper. He thought 
the supply now demanded, was ne- 
cessary, trom those circumstances 
which are evident to all the world; 
but ir any more were demanded, 
then 
