148 
a sufficient ground for war. He 
declared, that until the late nego- 
ciation, he had never heard of the 
island of Lampedosa, and whether 
it had springs or rivers, and whether 
it was or was not capable of being 
foititied, he was entirely ignorant ; 
and yet this island, such as it was, 
would have contented ministers, 
witha ten years possession of Malta: 
he really did not think the dif ‘ 
ference worth going to war about. 
The marquis of Lansdown said, 
that in the experience of a long life, 
he‘ had always found, that when 
ministers chose to go to war, they 
also endeavoured to mingle among 
their alleged causes, some of the 
popular topics of the times. He 
had often before now, heard ‘* the 
liberty of the press” held forward, 
by ministers, as an object of the 
tirst importance. As to the aggres- 
sions of France in Switzerland, “and 
upon the continent, he thought 
those subjects rather belonged to 
Austria and the continental powers, 
than to us, and yet, they did not 
think them sufficient causes fora war, 
For his part, in the present war, or 
in the American war, he thought 
that the spirit of reconciliation 
would do more than force of arms. 
The duke of Norfolk, could not 
think of calling on ministers to 
give up Malta to the: possession of 
France; but he hoped that the be- 
nefits of peace would not be lightly 
thrown away on the provocation of 
the moment. He hoped that the gua- 
rantee of Russia might still be ob- 
tained, upon this head. He wished 
that it should be the recommenda- 
tion of this house to his majesty, 
that no mediation should be refused, 
that would hold out a hope of 
securing the peace of Europe ; but 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1803, 
if the independence of Europe, and 
the honor of the country, could no 
otherwise be obtained, then he must 
agree to mect again, the miseries 
and difficulties of war. 
Lord King, expressed his con- 
cern, that we were again to be in- 
volved in war with France, for the 
reasons set forth in his majesty’s 
declaration. He could not see 
what we were to expect, from a 
new conflict with France; we could 
make no impression on that coun- 
try: she had no colonies, that could 
be affected by our attacks: and at 
home, she was invulnerable. He 
did not think Malta a sufficient 
ground for war, much less did he 
consider it right to correct the er- 
rors of a treaty, by a breach of 
treaty. Although, as far as war 
was necessary, the house would sup- 
port his majesty; yet he did not 
like unnecessarily hurling defiance 
at France.. He then moyed, as an 
amendment to the address, that 
those expressions should be ex- 
punged, which so warmly imputed 
to France, the guilt of breaking the 
treaties. 
The question being put, on the 
amendment, 
Lord Ellenborough opposed it. 
He thought it evident, that we went 
to war, not for the island of Lam- 
pedosa (as stated by the duke of 
Richmond), but for our indepen- 
dence, our liberties, and our com- 
merce. It was most evident, that 
*some new arrangements were ne- 
cessary, respecting the island of 
Malta, as we had neither the order 
to restore it to, nor the guarantees 
to secure its independence. This 
country was never situated so, as 
that any just claim could be made 
on her for the surrender of Malta ; 
an 
