150 
which formed the best securities for 
the country. He did not wish to 
be considered an advocate for war. 
No man felt more strongly than he 
did the calamities of war, or the 
care that ought to be taken to 
avert so great anevil. But it was 
often the best way to avoid it, not 
to-appear too much afraid of it. 
it was from this conviction that he 
had always recommended to minis- 
ters a system contrary to what they 
had chosen to pursue, but which he 
firmly believed, would have been 
more eflectual even for avoiding the 
war. As to the non-execution of 
the article of the treaty respecting 
Malta, he saw and stated, that 
from the commencement, it was an 
article not capable of being carried 
into execution. Without dwelling 
much, however, upon the ground of 
Malta, he thought it clear that the 
present war was just, necessary, 
and expedient; inasmuch as it was 
a resistance to a series of violence, 
aggression, and insult, that could 
~not be endured, without sinking 
the country to the lowest state of 
degradation. It was better to be- 
gin the contest now, than wait till 
we should be forced to engayesin it, 
with diminished means, and against 
increased forces. The designs. of 
Bonaparte on the Turkish empire, 
were in direct violation of the letter 
and the spirit of the treaty of Ami- 
ens. The first consul was not a 
man to be conciliated to the prac- 
tice of justice’ by the appearance 
of submission: *all the energies of 
this country must therefore be eall- 
ed forward: we must expose our- 
selves to dangers, and reconcile our- 
ANNUAL REGISTER, ‘180s. 
selves to burdens; and prevent, by 
temporary sacrifices, the total sacri- 
fice of our country and ourselves. 
Lord Darnley supported the 
original address, as did aiso lord’ 
Gwidir. 
The house then divided on lord 
King’s amendment. For it 10; 
against it 142; majority 132 for 
the original address.* 
On the same day there was a 
very animated debate in the house 
of commons, but the public curio- 
sity was sogreat, that the galleries 
were filled at an carly hour, by per- 
sons admitted in an wiusual manner, 
and none of those persons who are 
accustomed to report the parliamen- 
tary proceedings, could gain admis- 
sion: avery imperfect sketch, there- 
fore, is all that can be presented to 
the public of the very interesting 
discussion, on the first day of the 
consideration of the subject. 
After some animated observa- 
tions from Mr. Erskine, 
Mr, Pitt rose, and expressed a 
strong hope, that upon the great 
and important question now at issue 
between this country and France, 
all parties would be unanimous. 
There had been such evident proofs 
of hostility on the part of France, 
as justified this country in retaining 
Malta for its security. The report 
of Sebastiani, the circumstances of 
his mission, and the express and de- 
liberate avowal of Bonaparte him- 
self, proved the intention of the 
first consul to renew his hostile at- 
tempts against Egypt, which would 
be undeniably an act of hostility 
against this country, and its most 
important interests, and a direct 
: 
* The minority were, the dukes of Bedford and Leinster, the earls of Derby, Cow- 
ger: Besborough, Thanet, Albemarle, Stanhope, Guildford, and Jord King. 
violation 
Bi 
