279^' PARHAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. 77* 



with regard to adminiftration. How was it poffible fot their 

 Lordfhips to commend what they could not underftand, as the 

 neceflary information was withheld ? As to theexpences incur- 

 red, it was yet to be explained, whether thofe expences were 

 necefTarily incurred, or whether Spain gave us any juft caufe of 

 complaint. No fuch matter of faft was before the houfe. That 

 confideration would induce him to move the previous queftion. . 



Lord Sydney {vA, adminiftration muft have been very much 

 changed fince he afted with them., if they had involved the na- 

 tion in o«^_/!'/7/;>;^ additional expence unneceflarily. — He fup- 

 ported the original motion. 



The Marquis of Lan/downe allowed, that liberal confidence 

 was due to thofe v/ho fuftain the fevcre refponfibility of office ; 

 but in return for this, minifters ought to give a clear account 

 when the day of reckoning comes. If, inftead of this condud, 

 •they ftiall attempt to fhelter themfelves under the protedtion of 

 a majority, by refuang to give the neceflary information when 

 properly called for, after the time of danger is paft, the matter 

 is ferious indeed. The conftitution is wounded in its vitals. 

 Is it poffible that after the ratification of the treaty is made, 

 minifters can call for commendation, and yet refufe to produce 

 the documents that can alone ferve 'to {how whether they de- 

 ferve it or not i this is only infulting the Houfe. The noble 

 Vifcount fays, that his Majefty's minifters muft be ftrangely 

 changed fince he fat among them, if they are now difpofed to 

 involve their country in unneceflary expences. I can fay with 

 truth they are much changed fince I was connefted with them. 

 Here the Marquis entered into a panegyric of the peace of 17S2, 

 and ran over the adminiftration of Mr Pitt in relation to exter- 

 nal politics, in which he found minifters, down to the year 1786, 

 obfervant of the principles on which they fet out. The firft 

 incomprehenfible aft, an aft, the meaning or fenfe of which he 

 could not yet difcover, was the conceffion made to Spain by 

 that memorable convention. And from that moment to the 

 prefent, he was bound in confcience to declare the whole lyf- 

 tem had been a marked and violent departure from the prin- 

 ciples, of the peace, and from the fyftem on which they had fet 

 out. Here he entered into a violent philiippic againft the mini- 

 fter, reprefenting him as officioully interfering with the bufinefs 

 of every cabinet in Europe, fomenting quarrels by his intrigues, 

 and deferting his allies after he had involved them in war ; and 

 concluded by obfcrving, that thfy had all the difgrace of at- 

 tacking their nei,jhbours when their houfe was on fire, and .had 

 gained nothing o\it of the flames. They had been mifchievous 

 without ambition, and had quarrelled for cats, when they 

 "light have demolillied navies. 



