HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
adopting provisionally measures of 
just retaliation against the com- 
merce and navigation of Prussia,” 
on account of acts ‘* of direct hos- 
tility, deliberately pursued against 
him, which left him no alternative.” 
After stating concisely the particu- 
lars of the conduct of Prussia, 
which called for these proceedings, 
the message concluded by saying, 
that his majesty ‘‘ had no doubt of 
the full support of his parliament, 
in vindicating the honour of the 
British flag, and the freedom of the 
British navigation; and that he 
would look with anxious expecta- 
tion to that moment, when a more 
dignified and enlightened policy, on 
the part of Prussia, should remove 
évery impediment to the renewal of 
peace and friendship with a power, 
with whom his majesty had no other 
cause of difference than that now 
created by these hostile acts.”’ 
This message having been taken 
into consideration by the two houses, 
of parliament on the 23d of April, 
addresses of thanks were voted u- 
nanimously in return. Mr. Foxin 
his speech gave an historical account 
of the transactions, which had Jed 
to the rupture with Prussia, and 
- made some severe comments on the 
conduct of that power, which he, 
described ‘* as the union of every 
thing that was contemptible in ser- 
vility, with every thing that was 
odious in rapacity. Other nations 
had been obliged to make cessions 
to France; but none of them had, 
like Prussia, been reduced to that 
_ lowest state of degradation, to con- 
sent to become the ministers of the 
injustice and rapacity of a master.” 
In answer to the plea set up by 
| 
| Vox, XLVHI. 
| 
ence of every nation.” 
161 
\ 
Prussia, that ‘¢ the emperor Napo. 
leon having obtained Hanover by 
right of conquest, the rightful pos- 
session of it had passed to Prussia,” 
he observed, that ‘‘ no, example 
could be found inall the histories of 
war, and no mention had ever been 
made by the writers on the law of 
nations, of any power having 2 
right to receiveas a present, a2 coun- 
try occupied during a war by one 
of the belligerent powers, but not 
ceded by the other.” After exposing 
the futility of this pretended right, 
Mr. Fox proceeded next to repro- 
bate ‘the principle, which had 
been lately‘adopted in Europe, of 
transferring the’ subjects of one 
prince to another, in the way of e- 
quivalents, and under the pretext of 
convenience and mutual accommo~ 
dation. ‘The wildest schemes,” he 
remarked, ‘* that were ever before 
broached,. would not go so far to 
shake the foundations of all esta- 
blished government as thisnew praca 
tice, ‘There must be, in every na- 
tion, a certain attachment of the 
people toits form of government, 
without which no nation can subsist. 
This principle, then, of transferring 
the subjects of one prince to au- 
other, strikes at the foundation of 
every government, and the exist« 
Mr. Fox 
concluded with stating, that ‘*¢ there 
could be nodoubt but that the shut. 
ting the ports of Prussia to British 
vessels was alone most clear'y and 
unquestionably an act of hostility 
against this country.” 
A declaration was also issu- 
ed* by his majesty, in his ca- 
pacity of elector of Hanover, reca- 
pitulating instaaces of the perfidy, 
* April 20. 
M 
insincerity, 
