169 
nisters arraigned by those who were 
themselves most incapable, and 
whens he saw ignorance itself, pre- 
tending to decide on the knowledge 
possessed by others. He .warmly 
vindicated the firmness and ability 
displayed by ministers in the whole 
of the negociation, and during the 
whole course of their adminis- 
tration. 
Lord Melville, supported the. 
question of adjournment, as he 
thought it was better not to discuss 
the question, than to discuss it 
partially. He expressed a strong 
disapprobation of many parts of 
the conduct of ministers, but 
thought it would be a dangerous 
time to address his majesty to re- 
move them, as this was not a sea- 
son in which the country could 
bear to be any time without an 
administration; and there might be 
a considerable difficulty in agree- 
ing who should be the new minis- 
ters, even were the present now 
removed. 
Lord Hobart, complained of the 
mannerin which ministers had been 
treated. It would be evident that 
‘the adjournment would be an indi- 
rect censure upon ministers. 
Lord Grenville, although he dis- 
approved ina variety of instances 
of the conduct of ministers, said, 
that he had hitherto abstained from 
expressing his disapprobation, for 
fear we might appear to the enemy, 
not so firmly united as we ought be. 
Of all the various acts of miscon- 
duct of the present administration, 
there were none which he con- 
demned more severely, than their 
wniform system of withholding the 
* Foracopy of the resolutions, vide state papcrss 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
‘ministers, were, that they had not 
1803. 
necessary information from parlia~ 
ment, 
At half past four, in the morn- 
ing, the question of adjournment 
and the previous question were put 
and negatived by a majority of 86 
to 17. Some of the original resolu- 
tions were then put and _negatived 
also.* 
The next day, in the house of 
commons, a set of resolutions of a 
similar tendency, were brought 
forward by colonel Patten. The 
principal charges he urged against 
only withheld from parliament the 
information they ought to have 
given, but had deceived it by 
giving false statements of the situa-— 
tion of the country, and in no 
instance more remarkably so, than 
in his majesty’s message, which 
stated great preparations in the 
ports of France, which were not 
known to lord Whitworth. 
Ile then dwelt with considerable 
force on the situation of Holland 
and Switzerland, in which he 
thought we were deeply implicated. 
He concluded, by expressing strong- 
ly his opinion, that, in the pre- 
sent crisis, the best talents of the 
nation, ought to be called forward 
for its defence: and that a feeble 
administration was not suited to the 
character of the times. He then 
moved his resolutions. 
After the first resolution was’ 
read from the chair, 
Colonel Bastard and Mr. Haw- 
kins Browne briefly vindicated the 
conduct of ministers; and lord 
Kensington defended that of the late, 
administration, which he thought 
attacked 
