660 
After’ the peace of Amiens, the 
Dutch offered indemnities to the 
prince of Orange, only on condi- 
tion, that we should restore the 
ships taken in hisname. ‘That was 
refused by this country; some in- 
demnity was therefore due from 
us. What he proposed was, that 
a sum of 60,000/. should be granted 
for the benefit of his family, and a 
pension of 16,000/. per annum, 
during the pleasure of his ma- 
jesty. 
Mr. Canning, disapproved highly 
of the conduct of ministers, in the 
negociation. He thought they ought 
to have remonstrated directly with 
France, and to have retained in 
their own hands sufliciént pledges 
for the fulfilment of this part of the 
treaty. 
Sir Francis Burdett, severely re- 
probated the proposition, which he 
considered one of the most indecor- 
ous that could possibly be brought 
forward. If the prince of Orange 
betrayed his own country to the 
interests of our government, he de- 
served no compensation ; if, on the 
contrary, it was for her own inte- 
rests that Holland went to war, it 
was England that should claim com- 
pensation from Holland, and: not 
Holland from England. If the 
prince 6f Orange wag now to ob- 
tain indemnity, for his losses; per- 
laps the elector of Hanover would 
next demand compensation for the 
loss of that country. 
The chancellor of the exchequer 
said, that the value of* the ships 
taken; in the name of the prince of 
Orange, was 150,000/. As we re- 
fused to restore those ships to Hol- 
land, who offered, on that condi- 
tion, to give indemnity to the prince, 
that 9 ae certainly gave 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1803. 
him something of a claim, if not 
upon the justice, at least upon the 
generosity of the British nation. 
Mr. W. Smith, wished to post- > 
pone the motion, thinking it was 
too late in the season, to propose 
measures of such importance. 
The resolutions of lord Hawkes- 
bury, for the sum of 60,0002, and 
the annuity of 16,000/. were then - 
agreed to, 
On that part of the sybject mat- 
ter of the present chapter, which 
relates to the ‘* Army of Reserye 
act,” and its operation, we shall 
have abundant room for remark, 
when we come to treat of the mode 
in which the war was carried on, 
from its commencement to the con- 
clusion of the year. But we can- 
not avoid here noticing, the deep, 
though silent indignation which per- 
vaded all ranks of people, on the 
passing the bill for'the renumera- 
tion of the losses in dominion and 
property, incurred by the house of 
Orange, in the progress of the strict 
and faithful performance of its du- 
ties, as the ally of Great Britain, 
during the late war. In order to 
secure the concurrence of parlia- 
ment, in the approval of the terms 
of the treaty of Amiens, its 18th 
article, professes the obtainment of 
‘*a full and adequate compensation 
for all the losses, of whatever na- 
ture, sustained by the prince of 
Orange, and his house.” Yn the 
only light in which this article 
could fairly be considered, namely, 
that such compensation should be, 
not only adequate, but provided by 
that power, who had plunged it in 
misery and ruin, the king’s first 
minister; the lord chancellor, wha 
must have officially penned the 
treaty; and the Bs Say) 
Wha 
