HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
ral view of the conduct of France, 
since the treaty, which evinced a 
Constant design of injuring, and in- 
sulting this country. He dwelt par- 
ticularly on the report of Sebas- 
tiani, and the conversation of Bo- 
naparte with lord Whitworth. As 
to the interference of Russia, re- 
specting Malta, he should say, that 
if Russia, or any other great power, 
should interfere, with friendly in- 
tentions, and make any proposition 
of a practical nature, by which 
peace might be restored, no man 
would be more glad to attend to it 
than himself. At present, however, 
he thought it necessary to prepare 
the country for an arduous contest, 
and to be ready to make great sa- 
crifices in support of it. The cause 
in which we were now engaged, was 
that of justice, against insult and 
‘agoression ; a cause which had left 
to his majesty’ or parliament no al- 
_ ternative. 
The attorney general, supported 
the address, and highly disapprov- 
ed of the tendency of Mr. I’ox’s 
speech, whose arguments went, as 
he thought, to justify the conduct 
of Bonaparte. He conceived that 
this country had never been en- 
gaged in a contest before, on more 
honorable principles, or more ab- 
solutely necessary, than the present 
war. 
Mr. Windham, in very strong 
terms, condemned the arguments 
‘of Mr. Fox, which, he thought, 
not only fallacious, but wicked. 
‘His speech was like a quiver of 
poisoned arrows, aimed at the hearts 
of his hearers. The honorable gen- 
_ tleman had made himself a pandar 
_ ‘to all the base and illiberal passions 
of the people, by supporting sel- 
‘fishness against patriotism, and op- 
153 
posing private considerations to 'the 
grand views of national policy, If 
he stooped so low, he was not to be 
envied for the triumph of eloquence. 
He then drew a comparison, betwen 
his conduct and that of Mr. Pitt, 
who had employed his great talents 
in kindling the flame of patriotism, 
and in calling forth the energies of 
the country. 
Mr. W. Smith, condemned the 
severe epithets which had been ap- 
plied, by Mr. Windham, to the 
speech of Mr. Fox. He thought, 
when the heat of the moment had 
subsided, he must feel remorse, for 
the expressions he had used. 
Mr. Windham, in explanation, 
allowed that he did not wish the 
words that had fallen from him, in 
the heat of debate, to be under- 
stood in the strict literal mean- 
ing. 
Mr. Fox said, he excused the 
warmth of the right hon. gentle- 
man; and, as for himself, he had 
a foible, of not easily and slightly 
quarrelling with an old acquain- 
tance. 
The house then divided, on the 
amendment, when there appeared 
67 for it; 398 against it. The 
original question was then put and 
carried, 
On the next day, the chancellor 
of the exchequer brought up a mes- 
sage, from his majesty, informing 
the house that his majesty had 
judged it necessary, for the secu- 
rity of the kingdom, to call out the 
supplementary militia; and the se- 
cretary at war moved a correspond- 
ing address. 
Upon the report being brought 
up, of the address voted the night 
before, 
Sir Robert Pecle, though strongly 
adverse 
