HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
of the army of reserve bill, being 
put, in the commons, 
Mr. Johnstone rose, and took a 
general review of the conduct of 
ministers, in beginning the present 
war with France. He considered 
the cause of the war, which, by 
their own allowance, was only for 
‘the possession of Malta, for ten 
years, as one altogether inadequate 
to so serious an evil. Franee had 
even offered to allow Malta to be 
added to Russia, which was, in his 
Opinion, the best thing that could 
be done with it? as it would con- 
nect Russia more with the interests 
of the southern nations of Europe. 
France had also offered to evacuate 
Holland, and yet, we rejected 
those proposals ; notwithstanding 
a) 
ne 
4 
against wars 
all that some gentlemen had said 
merely defensive, 
yet no body had pointed out any 
“means by which our power could 
be directad to the annoyance of 
France. He then, in a very long 
speech, endeavoured to prove, that 
we had no chance of co-operation, 
from the continental nations; that 
the resources of France were 
not likely to be much affected by 
the war; while we had no other 
means to support it, but by con- 
stantly raising fresh loans, 
Mr. Hutchinson, bore testimony 
| to the good disposition of the peo- 
ple of Ireland, for resisting the 
commonenemy. ‘The only contest 
that could arise between the two 
countries, was, which would stand 
_ most forward in the day of battle. 
Mr. Archdale, thought that Mr, 
Johnstone had wandered far from 
the question before the house, when 
he discussed, at such length, the 
conduct of ministers, respecting 
Malta; a point that had been pre- 
189 
viously disposed of by the house, 
The mode proposed for raising the 
additional force, which was want- 
ed, appeared to him to be the 
best for the attainment of the oby 
ject. 
Lord de Blaquiere thought it im- 
possible, that France could make 
any serious impression on this coun= 
try ; on the contrary, he thought, 
that the state of affairs on the con- 
tinent, where so many nations bore 
reluctantly the French yoke, was 
favourable to any attack which 
should be made by this country 
against France. 
Colonel Crawford rose, but pros 
ceeding on a very detailed state- 
ment of the military force aad situ- 
ation of the country, 
The secretary at war, consider+ 
ing that such discussions should not 
be public, moved that the gallery 
should be cleared. 
This motion was, of course, a- 
ereed to, and for the rest of the 
debate, strangers were excluded. 
- The bill was, at length, passed, 
without farther opposition. 
On being brought into the house 
of lords, on the 4th of July, 
The duke of Cumberland, ap- 
proved highly of the principle of the 
bill, and thought, that if ministers 
had judged it expedient to propose 
100,000 men, instead of 50,000, 
it would have equally been assented 
to. He concluded, by proposing, 
as an amendment, “ that every sub- 
stitute, enrolled by virtue of this 
act, should- be liable to be called 
ypon for general service.” 
Lord Hobart, opposed the a- 
mendment ; which, he thought, 
would impose a great burden and 
_hardship indeed upon the substi- 
tutes, and entirely destroy the 
; good 
