ivk ANNUAL REGISTER, 
government? To displace one ad- 
ministration, and to introduce a 
new one, is not the work of a day. 
With all the functions of executive 
power suspended, with the regular 
means of communication between 
parliament and the throne inter- 
rapted ; weeks, nay months, wast- 
ed in doubt, uncertainty, and in- 
action; how could the public safety 
consist, with a state of things so 
violent and unnatural, as would re- 
sult from parliament rendering one 
administration incapable of exer- 
cising any public functions, with- 
out any other efficient government 
being obtained in its stead? I will 
venture to hint also, that after such a 
step, any administration that should 
succeed, be it what it might, and 
what it would be, must still depend 
upon the crown; and would there- 
fore feel itself placed in a most de- 
licate situation. Toputthe matter, 
as conscientiously and delicately as 
possible; would any set of men feel 
their introduction to power, in these 
circumstances, to be such as to en- 
able them to discharge, in a man- 
ner satisfactory to themselves, the 
duties which so eventful a period 
must impose? These are considera- 
tions for the crown and the public ; 
and they outweigh all those which 
present themselves, on the partial 
view of the advantages which could 
be hoped, from a prosecution of 
that censure and dissolution of ad- 
ministration, to which the proposi- 
tions tend. I am aware, that the 
right hon. gentleman, on the floor, 
and my friends on the same bench, 
with him, must feel their situation 
irksome, under the weight of a 
question so important, in which 
they are -personally involved, re* 
maining undecided, Nevertheless, 
1803. 
when other sacrifices are demanded; 
for the public interest, personal 
feelings must be overlooked: Those 
who, with me, have not made up 
their minds to the extent of cen- 
suring ministers, by the adoption 
of propositions; or approving their 
conduct, by agreeing to a direct 
negative, must pursue some middle 
course. Those who, on the exa- 
mination of the papers, from any 
feeling of regret for the steps which 
ministers took in the negociation, 
must consult their conscience on 
the vote they are to give. They 
cannot do that which implies appro- 
bation, when they do not find, from 
the case made out, that approba- 
tion has been deserved; neither can 
they vote severe censure, leading 
to an address for removal, when 
they do not consider the charges 
made, as 
Having stated the opposite lines of 
conduct, which present themselves 
in deciding upon the propositions, 
I do not intend to enter into any 
detailed discussion of the papers. 
I wish, if good cannot be obtained 
by continuing to discuss them, com= 
parable to the evil of interrupting 
the course of our parliamentary 
duty, to suspend them altogether, 
Since things more urgent, and more 
important, demand our care, let 
us keep the parliamentary pledge 
we have given. I shall behold, 
with much greater satisfaction, as 
first proofs of our determination to 
support his majesty, with our lives 
and fortunes, you, presenting a 
strong bill of supply, providing re- 
sources, not merely for every de- 
mand of public service, but ades 
quate to every scale of execution; 
a measure that will display and call 
forth the means of ‘sustaining the _ 
struggle, 
completely sustained, 
Ss. eh ee ee 
