HISTORY OF EUROPE, 
of the greatest respectability and 
talents, whose attachment to the 
party, whose conduct we are de- 
scribing, could not be doubted,went 
far on this occasion as to say, 
that, “‘ the whole ability of the 
nation was excluded from its ex- 
isting councils!” | One. exception, 
however, appeared in the speech of 
Mr. Sheridan, to. the union which 
Otherwise distinguished those, with 
whom he had. hitherto acted.—He 
took occasion to applaud the con- 
duct of ministers to. the skies, not 
only for their present activity, but 
for their former moderation’; and 
with considerable energy and effect, 
called the attention of the house, to 
the approaching contest ; which he 
insisted, we were fully equal to 
maintain, under the guidance of 
the councils which now directed 
the state. It was supposed, that 
though it did not now appear, this 
line of conduct would not be con- 
fined, of all the individuals of whom 
_ the party consisted, to this gentle- 
‘man solely. Some other leaders of 
the “‘ old opposition” were suspect- 
ed of similar views ; to which they 
might possibly be led, either by the 
allurements of official situation, 
which it must soon, from the threat- 
ening aspect of their affairs, be the 
object of administration to offer to 
their acceptance ; or from the in- 
yeterate abhorrence with which 
they contemplated-the return of 
Mr. Pitt to oflice; and which was 
a circumstance alike to be expected, 
both from the incapability and want 
of energy, of the present ministers, 
and from the apprehended extra- 
95 
grdinary pressure, of foreign and 
domestic affairs. But by far the 
most unfavorable impressions to the 
credit and character .of Mr. Ad+ 
dington and his colleagues, were 
made on the house and the public, 
by the speeches and arguments, of 
those, who had with unceasing soli; 
citude, and the most perfect consis- 
tency, exerted the whole force of 
the most splendid talents, and bril- 
liant eloquence, (hitherto in vain) 
to open ‘the eyes of the king’s go- 
vernment, and the empire, to the 
impending dangers. 
In vain had the most experienced 
statesmen, the most accomplished 
orators, individuals of the highest 
rank, and greatest interest in the 
public weal, with almost prophetic 
prescience, warned the country of 
the dangers of the peace of Amiens, 
of the encroaching disposition of the 
French ruler, and of their inevitable 
consequences. ‘This little, but il” 
lustrious band, few in numbers, but 
of whom each individual was quali- 
fied to lead; now found that they 
were no longer considered by the. 
multitude as a ‘“ war faction, ” 
a “pack of sanguinary bloed- 
hounds,”* whose objects were place 
and power, and whose lust of both 
were insatiable ; but as the seli-de- 
voted, steady sentinels, over the 
public safety ; who had descried the 
danger from afar, and who had 
sounded the alarm, with timely vigi- 
lance, in the ears of a nation, delud- 
ed, and lulled into the most proiound 
and unsuspecting security! Were 
it possible for men, such as we have 
here described, to have triumphed 
* Sneh were the epithets which clamour had most indecently applied, and even in 
the ministerial prints, io such men, as the Spencers, Fitzwilliams, Grenvilles, Windy 
Mims, &¢. Xc. dc. who composed the “ new opposition.” 
in 
