l/Qi* Parliamentary Proceedings, igi 



fame (train of forcible reafoning, on the new fource of wealth 

 opened to the induftry of this nation, by the fiflieries in the 

 South Sea, ivithout any diftttrbance or molcjlation. The Con- 

 vention, he then faid, has obtained fubftantially all that it 

 profcflsd : all the objedlions that have been made to it are 

 founded on fuppojitlon : thofe who oppofe him call aloud for 

 more papers, when they are convinced that every document 

 has been prefented that could be conceived for the purpofes of 

 elucidation. 



He afferted that the prefent negociation wras, in every view, 

 better managed, and more for the intereft of Great Britain, 

 than that refpeding Falklands Iflands had been. He once 

 more reverted to the benefits ot peace and concord ; but tho' 

 an advocate for peace, he reprobated, at a critical jundure of 

 affairs, indolence, falfe (hame, or indifference. The adoption of 

 fuch a conduft he confidered as a criminal excefs. He wifhed 

 to know in what fingle inftance his opponents had difplayed 

 their tranfcendant (kill as negociators. Wtien in office they had 

 not evinced that portion of political fagacity they now fo highly 

 extolled : their condudt had been fuch as to induce the nation 

 to drive them from the feat of power. 



The confirmation of our rights at Nootka, he once more faid, 

 was a matter of the greateft importance. Here he drew a glow- 

 ing pifture of its prefent flate, contending that the people who 

 were now deemed favages, might foon fhake ofFtheir fymptoms 

 of rudenefs and barbarity, by making a rapid progrefs toward 

 refinement. " Who can conceive, fays he, the firlt dawnings of 

 antiquity, compared with the maturity of the prefent moment ? 

 niay not fuch a revolution of manners happen among the people 

 whom the honourable gentleman reviles and affe<5ts to treat with 

 contempt ?" He denied that the Conventioii was a conceflion 

 on either part, nor had he any hefitation in faying, that by a 

 candid conlideration of the meafure, it would be found a fub- 

 jedt worthy of general approbation. Hence, whatever novelty 

 or bitternefs the farcafm of his enemies might produce, he 

 woUld reft perfeftly contented in having difcharged his duty 

 with the utmoft zeal and fidelity. Inftcad of finking in an ago- 

 ny of confufion on an examination of every circumftance which 

 led to the Convention, his Majefty's minifters, and he believed 

 the peoplea t large, had caufc to rejoice at the termination oi 

 hoftilities. He proceeded in the fame ftrain of general elo- 

 gium of the minilters, and praife of the Convention, forfome 

 time. He afTcrted once more, that the South Sea fifheries were 

 fources of great wealth, anJ were now fecured to the uimojl 

 extent of the human imagination. The lines of demarcation 

 luould be properly afccitained. The fpacc of ten leagues he 

 confidered as a fufncient diftance. If the fpace agreed to was 

 open to cavil, fa was any other. The latitude of 4; or 50, might 



