GENERAL HISTORY. 



[127 



fproceeded to refute this anticipated 

 •opinion, by a number of remarks 

 relative to the peitidy and delusory 

 politics of the French ruler, not 

 without some of those glowing 

 sentiments relative to the maritime 

 rightsof Great Britain, and the ho- 

 nouraljle character of this nation, 

 which are found to be popular in 

 every assembly, from the highest 

 to the lowest. He concluded with 

 making a motion for an address to 

 the Prince Regent, requesting the 

 production of the correspondence 

 which had passed on this occasion, 



Mr. Whitbread, after seconding 

 the motion, expressed some sur- 

 prise at the maimer in which his 

 right honourable friend had intro- 

 duced his observations, as if they 

 were answers to some preceding 

 speech of his against the honour 

 and interests of his country — asup- 

 position which was the mere work 

 of his own imagination. He then, 

 in his proper person, made a va- 

 riety of remarks on the proposals 

 for accommodation contained in 

 the letter of the Duke of Bassano 

 (Maret), and also upon former of- 

 fers of negociation by the French 

 government, which he was inclin- 

 ed to think sinceie ; and lie main- 

 tained the general sentiments re- 

 specting the neces-itj' of peace to 

 this country, which he had ex- 

 pressed on many former occa- 

 sions. 



It cannot be necessary to give a 

 sketch of the other speeches in the 

 political conversation, as it may be 

 rather termed than debate, which 

 ensued, Tliat nothing further 

 could properly have been done by 

 the English government in this 

 negociation, seems to have been 

 the general opinion. The ques- 



tion for an address was put and 

 carried. The correspondence there- 

 upon laid before parliament will 

 be found among the State Papers. 

 Tiiis long session was terminat- 

 ed on July 30, by the speech of the 

 Prince Regent, delivered by com- 

 mission. His Royal Highness, af- 

 ter his acknowledgments for the 

 zeal and assiduity displayed by 

 both houses of parliament in the 

 display of their public duties, re- 

 fers with warm approbation to the 

 exertions made in the Peninsula, 

 particulnrisiiig the captureof Ciu- 

 dad Rodrigo and Badajoz, and ex- 

 presses his confidence that the con- 

 test in that quarter will be brought 

 to an issue which will secure the 

 independence of the two nations. 

 He then adverts to the new war 

 kindled in the north of Europe, as 

 an additional proof of the little se- 

 curity that can be derived from 

 submission to the tyranny and 

 usurpation of the French govern- 

 ment ; and he trusts that they will 

 approve of his affording to the 

 powers that may be united in this 

 contest, every degree of assistance 

 and co-operation consistent with 

 his other engagements, and the in- 

 terests of the kingdom. He as- 

 sures them that he views with sin- 

 cere regret the hostile measures 

 which have been adopted by the 

 United States of America, but is 

 willing to hope that the accustom- 

 ed relations of peace and amity 

 may yet be restored ; should his 

 expectations, however, be disap- 

 pointed, he relies on the support of 

 every class of his Majesty's sub- 

 jects, to enable him to support a 

 contest in which the honour of the 

 crown and the best interests of the 

 country must be involved. 



After 



