140 
in form, even if he could agree to 
it in substance: in point of form, 
such a motion could only be made 
as an amendment on a motion, 
proposing to adjourn to a longer 
time; but his principal objection 
was, to the substance of the mction. 
He had not stated last Friday, that 
lord Whitworth had quitted Paris, 
although he had reason tu appre- 
hend it; nor could he now express 
whether he was, or was not, on his 
way from thence. Te had no com- 
munication to make, and should 
more, the house to adjourn till 
Monday. 
Mr. Canning wished the minister 
expressly to declare, whether or 
pot he expected to be able to make 
any communication to the house 
by the next day. 
The chancellor of the exchequer 
answered, that he saw n® probabi- 
lity of his Majesty being enabled 
to make a comunication by to- 
morrow. 
Mr. Grey felt some doubts upon 
the subject: he had himself re- 
ceived intelligence last Friday, when 
the house was sitting, that lord 
Whitworth had not left Paris; and> 
possibly, this night or to-morrow 
morning, the decisive result of the 
negociation might arrive. He 
thought any informatiow was better 
than the present state of suspense. 
The noble lord’s motion was then, 
withdrawn, on the speaker’s declar- 
ing it to be informal, and 
The chancellor of the exchequer 
then moved, that the house should 
adjourn till Monday. 
Mr. H. Lascelles thought, it 
would be better to adjourn till to- 
morrow ; but as, on Friday last, he 
found, that he had voted with men 
who were the systematic opposers 
¢f administration, he should not 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1803. 
now give a vote, lest he should seena 
to pre-judge the question, 
Mr. Fox ironically lamented the 
aukward predicament of the last 
speaker, who was afraid to vote at 
all, for fear the systematic opposers 
might vote on the same side. He 
did not however scem in so much 
dread of the systematic supporters 
of ministers, in his fears of being 
thought fo pre-judge the question 5 
but he wished to know, what question 
it was supposed, he had intended to 
pre-judge. Was it in favor of peace? 
Although he (Mr. Fox) and his 
friends were known to be attached -. 
to peace, yet there was another set 
of gentlemen who had been called 
“ the blood-hounds,’ who were 
certainly not supposed to be very- 
favorable to that system, and yet 
they had also yoted with him on 
that occasion. Supposing accounts 
should be received of a favorable 
issue to this negociation, it would 
be better that the house should 
know it to-morrow thanon Monday: 
or, if any decisive result was known, 
that hotise was the proper medium 
of communication, between the 
king and his subjects. He did not 
wish, however, to divide the house 
upon the question. 
Lord Hawkesbury was for the 
adjournment to Monday, ‘because, 
he conceived it inconsistent with 
the dignity of that house to sit at 
unusual times, merely for the 
chance of hearing an oral commu- 
nication; and because it was im- 
possible for his majesty to give any 
other by to-morrow, even if the 
accounts should arrive. 
After a few words from Mr. Mar- 
tin and Dr. Lawrence, the motion 
of adjournment till Monday was 
agreed to, 
