150 Parliamentary Proceedings. Oct. 5. 



meafutes, and not to his own pcrfonal imperfeiftions. If th< 

 mover of the queftion, he obferved, could not come to a dcci 

 lion concerning it, without having feen the papers moved for 

 if he could not approve, fo certainly, neither could he difap 

 prove of the meafure. Mr Fox, who was now fo violent for tht 

 produdion of papers, had, he laid, on a former cccaiioa, pcr- 

 fuaded that Houfc to vote an approbation of a peace, withou; 

 the produ(ftioR of any papers. The declaration, and counter- 

 declaration ant! convention l^nng on the table, he contended, 

 conveyed all the information that could be wanted, for enabl 

 ing any one to judge on the prefent occafion. If the experce 

 of three millions of money was now thought too much, he 

 begged to kno'.v what would have been the expence if war had 

 taken place. He reminded the Koufe that the conduft of mini- 

 fters had been approved in refpedt to the recent tranfa(5tions 

 with Spain, both hv the laft and prefent Parliament. After a 

 great many obfcrvations of a fimilar nature, tending to draw off 

 the attention of the Houfe from the main queftion to particu 

 lars of lefTcr importance, he reverted again to the conduft of 

 his right hcnor.rahle opponent, who on former occafions had 

 Ihown no more dtfire to produce papers, than he hihifelf now 

 did ; and after politely apologiling to the Houfe for having de- 

 tained them fo long in refuting what he doubted not a great 

 majority of it would conlider as unnecelTary, he concluded 

 with faying, he fhould give his hearty negative to the motion. 



The queftion being called for, ftrangers were defired to with- 

 draw, and after fomc more debate the Houfe divided. 



j^yes, 134. A^o:-^, 258. Majority, 124. 



•Thus was ended, _/br /Atf/ri^«/, a debate, on a fubjed of 

 greater national importance, than the public fecm inclined to 

 believe it. A philofophical obferver cannot help remarking on 

 this, and many other occafions, the great mifchief which refults 

 from the prevalence of a party fpirit in all political arrangements. 

 In parliament, it is net for truth or juftice that fpeakers contend, 

 but for vi(Sory. Men there follow their refpe<ftive leaders, al- 

 tcgethi.r regavdlefs of the m.erits of the caufc for which they, 

 contend : and the public at large, drawn awayby their example, 

 too blindly follow, and adopt the fame pernicious pra<5tice. 



The queftion agitated this day, is nothing kfs than whether 

 minilters Ihall be allowed, while they poflefs a certain degree 

 of popiiLrity, to aft entirely without controiil, or the reverie i 

 Nothing can fo much tend to check improprieties on ail occa- 

 lioris, as a certain conviction, that the public at large nuft be 

 made acquainted with the real and true ftate of fadts rcfpj<5ting 

 every important tranfa<ftion that may occur; and the public, if 

 they wifii to prevent abufes, ought, on no account to difpenfe 

 with this comoii-nce. It is eafy for a minifter to obtc'.in a 

 v^nal msjority in Parlianjent j and as every man who is poflef- 



