190 Parliamentary Proceedings. Od. ij, 



of a few leagues of coaft. Thus we had given up a right to fet* 

 tie, except for temporary piirpofes, to Ihe/outh of the Spanifli 

 fettlements, or in the intervals between them, where they hap- 

 pened to be diftant. We had indeed obtained an admifliort 

 of our right to fettle to the tjorth of them, but where either thi 

 fo'ith or the north of theft- fettlements was, no rr.an could ore- 

 cifely tell. What a copious fource of difpute ! What fine feeds 

 for future wars ! Thofe who had extolled the late negociation 

 for the opportunity it had given to ftiow the vigour and prompt 

 titude of the national rt-fo'irces, might wr te in the margin of 

 tlie treaty, — T/pij r^vi/l afford an admirable opportunity for a fu- 

 ture dtfplay of the power and energy of Great Britain. In this 

 point of view the treaty muft be conlidcred as a mafterly per- 

 formance. 



After ffveral other arguments of lefs importance, and a good 

 many declamatory flourifhes, l>e ;it 1aft concluded with faying, 

 he fhould vote for the motion of a''iournment. 



J^Ir Pitt began with faying, he Ihould anfwcr the material 

 points that had been urged by the honourable gentleman. He- 

 cenfured thofe who held up Nootka Sound as not worthy of 

 contention, and he conceived the nation at laige confidered the 

 conda<fl of a iminiftration as highly meritorious. He defended 

 fome ot his Itff.r :iattizins from the ftrokes that had beep aim- 

 ed at Ihem. W.ti; regard to the obtaining better terms and i 

 more fpeedy difarmament, if the politior. of the right honour- 

 able gentleman could be eftablifhed, then the executive govern- 

 ment ihould be branded v. ith obloquy. 



As a commercial r.ation, it is much more commendable to 

 cultivate than to alienate the aifedions cf the Spaniards. Gen- 

 tlemen might cavil at evesy meafure of government, and con- 

 demn in general terms the late armaments ; but he was fully 

 convincet', that to thofe efforts may be attributed the happy 

 conclufion of p:ace. When the Spanifti Court found our natio- 

 nal mind united, and the public force concentred to refift an 

 indignant and potent enemy, it was then they receded from 

 their hoftile intentions. Confcious of having adted with probi- 

 ty to the public intereft, he would fcorn to dread an inveftiga- 

 tion. Should peace, as he flattered hinifelf it was, be eftablifh- 

 ed upon the broad bafis of general friendlhip and general inter- 

 efi:, the genius ol c ^mmerce would receive a new portion of 

 energy, by embracing new fourccs of opulence. The very fpi- 

 rit ot the Convention afftirds every r< afon to imagine that the 

 terms of amity between the two kingdoms will be formed upon' 

 a balls conformable to their true mterefts. The paper itfelf 

 prqfejfej in the Rirongeft manner to have thefe defireable objedts 

 in view. In this ftrain cf argumentation he went on to point, 

 out the complete reparation that was to be given for the injury 

 that had been received at Noctka. He then expatiated, ii) thi- 



