146. ANNUAL RE-GISTER, 
views disclosed by the French go- 
vernment. It was then necessary 
to review the whole conduct of that 
government since the signing of that 
peace, which proved that they did 
not sincerely wish to maintain it. 
His lordship then went over the ya- 
rious acts of aggression, committed 
by France, as stated in his majesty’s 
declaration; and justified the con- 
duct of ministers, on all the several 
points, As to the possession of 
Malta, he thought it absolutely ne- 
cessary for this country, as a se- 
curity against the designs of France 
upon EF cypt, since, by the destruc- 
tion of the order of Malta, it had 
been impossible to-fulfil exactly the 
treaty, in“this respect. His lord- 
ship, after having dwelt at consi- 
derable length, on the many acts 
of aggression and insult, on the part 
of France, concluded, by moving 
an address to his majesty, expres- 
sive of the sense the house enter- 
tained of the anxious desire, shewn 
by his majesty, for the preservation 
of the peace ; their regret that 
France had not manifested the same 
principles; their indignation at the 
spirit .of encroachment, exhibited 
by France ; and the reliance which 
his majesty might place in. their 
support and assistance. 
“The duke of Cumberland second- 
ed the motion, ‘in a very elegant 
and impressive speech. He con- 
sidered the question, arising out of 
the papers.on the table, was no- 
thing less, than whether this coun- 
try, which had so long held a proud 
and distinguished rank among the 
nations, should, or should not, cease 
to be an independent country ? Or 
whether we must now descend from 
that rank, and take our place 
among the vanquished. and. feeble 
1803. 
nations, which have been plunder 
ed and insulted by France. The 
country now, was again called to 
war,to repel the most unwarrantable 
system of encroachment and aggres- 
sion, that ever sprang from Gallic 
ambition. The first consul of 
France had endeavoured to sub- 
due all the nations of Europe, and 
reduce them to the most abject. 
vassalage. Holland, Italy, and 
Switzerland, lay now subdued, at 
the proud foot of France, after be- 
ing plundered of all the wealth, 
which the industry of ages had ac- 
quired; and now France, in the 
vanity of conquest, has ventured to 
say, that ‘¢ England could not con- 
tend with her, single handed.” He 
then went over the whole conduct 
of the Fvench government, during 
the peace, and shewed, that it was 
an uniform system of insult, aggres- 
sion, and hostility. His royal high- 
ness concluded, by expressing his 
firm persuasion, that if this war 
was prosecuted with vigour, it would 
be crowned with success, and that 
we should be able to convince the 
world, that this nation has not de- 
generated from the spirit of their 
ancestors, and that there is still in 
Europe, a powerful and uncon- 
quered nation, always ready to de- 
fend its own dignity, and to oppose 
lawless ambition, 
Earl Stanhope said, that it ap- 
peared to him, that the only se- 
rious difference between the French 
government and our’s, was in con- 
sequence of our insisting upon keep- 
ing Malta for ten years, in spite of 
the treaty of Amiens. In his opi- 
nion, we were bound to restore it; 
nor could he grant that France had 
so much increased her dominions, 
since, the peace. At the penerg 
P she 
