10 
nion, that if an alliance could 
be formed with Russia, Austria, 
Prussia, and the other powers of 
the continent, which might gain their 
good will without attempting to 
rouze them, before their own in- 
terests, in their own view of them, 
would call for their exertions, such 
an alliance would afford hopes, 
that we might obtain reasonable 
terms of peace? but, who had ob- 
jected to the ministerial phrase of 
rouzing Europe to exertion, because 
the attempt to do so had the effect 
of producing a disinclination to co- 
operate with us; and who had ar- 
gued against the project of insti- 
gating the powers of the continent 
to a renewal of hostilities, whilst 
they wished to remain at peace, be- 
cause it would alienate from us the 
affections of Europe, where, what- 
ever we might say of our disinter- 
estedness,our forbearance and mode- 
ration, a different opinion was en- 
tertained of us, and the character 
of our government was, that it was 
actuated by selfish motives in insti- 
gating the powers of. the continent 
to war for British interests? Was 
it to be expected, that they who 
had foretold the disasters of a coa- 
lition, formed of such materials, 
and under such circumstances as 
the late coalition, would remain 
silent, when the most gloomy of 
their predictions were thus fatally 
verified? Austria, as foretold in 
the last session of parliament, had, 
after the most serious disasters, 
wisely chosen to abandon her allies, 
rather than hold out to the last at 
the risk of her destruction. What 
were now our hopes of continental 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806. 
connection? what.of the liberties of ~ 
Eurépe? what of the prospect of 
setting limits to the power of France, 
justly and rationally considered, 
before the disasters of the late 
coalition, as too formidable ?* 
Could the authors of the ruin of 
Europe imagine, that parliament 
would meet, and no observations be 
made on their fatal labours in. 
hastening the catastrophe? 
An amendment to the address 
had, therefore, been prepared by 
opposition ; and it was read in the 
house of lords by earl Cowper, 
and in the house of commons’ by 
lord Henry Petty, in the following 
words: 
‘¢ That this house feels the deep. 
est concern at the series of disasters 
which have attended the arms of 
your majesty’s allies on the conti- 
nent, and will; without delay, pro- 
ceed to enquire into the cause of 
such disasters, as far as they may be 
connected with the conduct of your 
majesty’s ministers. ‘This house is 
perfectly sensible that the alarming 
and unexampled state of public af- 
fairs renders the most vigorous ex- 
ertions necessary for the preserva- 
tion of the empire; and we feel it 
our peculiar duty, when we call for 
these extraordinary efforts, to pro- 
vide that the resources we furnish, 
and the powers we confer, may 
not in future be so employed as to 
increase the perils they were in- 
tended to avert, and to aggrandize 
that power to which it is the com- 
mon interest of all Europe, as well 
as of Great Britain, to set proper 
limits.” 
But this amendment, though read 
* See Debate, June 21, 1805, in a committee of supply on his majeSty’s message 
to the house of commons, brought down by the chancellor of the exchequer, 
June 19. 
in 
