179^' political progrefs of Britain. ^o.y 



may in some measure attribute Qur succe/s, as it was 

 called, in that war ; for the charge of supporting 

 Minorca must have been felt as a dead weight upon 

 our other operations. It was restored in 1763, ancJ 

 in 1781, it was a second time, and I hope for ever, se- 

 parated from the Britilli dominions. Ej the lols of 

 this fortrefj we save an incessant and extravagant 

 expence. With me it is an object of regret, that the 

 brave Elliot knd his garrison ha:! not been forced to 

 capitulate bj the first bomb discharged against them. 

 The individuals, acting as they did, from the most ge- 

 nerous and honourable princip4e3, have acquired and 

 deserved our warmest gratitude ; and, as it may be 

 expected that such events will hereafter become lefs 

 frequent, their glory will descend with increasing lustre 

 to the last generations of mankind. But their effbrtj 

 were fatal to this country ; for it is self-evident that 

 we had much better have wanted this mock appen- 

 dage of empire. The siege itself produced sce;ics of 

 suci! stupenduous destruction that they cannot be per- 

 used without horror. Niue years of peace have since 

 elapsed, and, in tliat time, including the vast expence 

 of additional fortifications, it is probable that Gib- . 

 raltar has cost us at least five millions sterling; besides 

 we have been again on the verge of a war with SpaiiT, 

 which has added a comfortable item to the debts uf 

 the nation. If the annual exprnce of Gibraltar, a- 

 mounts to five hundred thousand pounds, this is about 

 one thirty-second part of our public revenue. No- 

 thing but the power of its disposal can obtain for a. 

 BriLiih rn,iniater a mnjority in the Louse of couv- 



