158 
successfully to resist the encroach- 
ments of ambition, These were 
the principles which had been con- 
tended for, in the last war, and 
which had founded the honor of 
this country. He was glad to hear 
these principles admitted by the 
hon. gentleman (Mr. Fox), who 
formerly differed so widely from 
him in the application of them. 
As to interfering in the affairs of 
the continent; he did think it was 
the policy of this country not to be 
too ready to involve itself in war, 
upon “every slight movement ; but 
that it should oppose any great con- 
vulsion on the continent, which, by 
destroying the independence of 
other nations, materially affected 
the interests of this country. It 
would-be a weak policy, to throw 
away entirely the assistance to be 
derived from continental connec- 
tions. After again expressing his 
perfect approbation of the princi- 
ples on which the motion was 
grounded, he still hoped, that 
Mr. Fox would not persist in it, as 
there appeared no reason to doubt, 
but that his majesty’s ministers 
would act in conformity with those 
general principles. 
Mr. Fox, in explanation, vindi- 
cated the consistency of his princi- 
ples now, with those he had for- 
merly expressed. The right hon, 
gentleman (Mr. Pitt), had confess- 
ed, that he had only abandoned 
them last war, by the untoward 
events which rendered the further 
prosecution of it hopeless.. He had 
considered the war in that light, 
long before, and the only great dif- 
ference between him and Mr. Pitt, 
upon the subject was, that what 
* that right hon, gentleman had seen 
at the latter end of thewar, he had 
ANNUAL'UREGISTER, 
1803. 
foreseen many years sooner. Hé& 
did not wish to press his motion to! 
a division, if the noble lord would, 
give the house that information for 
which he sought, whether it was: 
the intention of his majesty’s mi~ 
nisters to avail themselves of; the 
dispositions manifested by the em- 
peror of Russia, or whether the 
court of Russia had offered its.me- 
diation on. a large and gene 
scale? 
Lord Hawkesbury said, -the offer 
of Russia was made in a yery loose 
and general way, and- just at the 
time when lord Whitworth was on 
the point of leaving Paris. Our 
ultimatum had been rejected, and 
the negociations were then at an 
end. The British government was 
ready to accept the mediation of 
Russia, both with respect to our own 
disputes with France, and to the 
general interests. of the empire ; 
but at the same time, until those 
disputes could be settled, minis- 
ters could not advise his majesty to 
suspend, in any degree, his exer- 
tions for the continuance of the 
war, 
Mr. Fox admitted this declara- 
tion to be a sufficient. pledge of 
the conduct of government in this 
respect; and therefore consented 
to withdraw his motion. 
» Such was theissue of the solitary 
attempt made by the “ old opposi- 
tion” to direct the current of the 
public opinion, respecting the pos- 
sibility of evading a rupture with 
France. What effect the proffered 
mediation of Russia might have had 
in the present circumstances; of 
the principle on which it was ten- 
dered ; and of the wisdom of its re- 
jection; it will be the province of 
a distinct portion ef this volume to 
investigate, 
