1 796.) 
burdens upon the people, and to detract 
from the induftry, and fufpend the la- 
bours of the poor, without any one 
ofteafible caufe or folid proof whatever. 
The tirft duty of the houfe in fuch a 
cafe was, before it ailenred to fuch ex- 
traordinary and oppreilive propofals, to 
affure itfelf of their necetfiity. If the 
houfe was not difpofed to imitate the 
conduct of the laft parliainent, by relying 
on allertion only, and refigning itfelf up 
to an implicit confidence; then he trufted 
that it would infift upon fome proof 
being oifered, that the danger againtt 
which it was deemed neceffary to pro- 
vide, did aétually exift. Che munifter 
feemed to have built the plan of his 
Gperations upon a bafeleis roundation; 
he might with equal juftice, have adopted 
the tame pian fome years fince, when 
general DumMoURIER threatened to fail 
up the Thames, and take the tower of 
‘London. 
But to expect any other authority 
from the prefent minifters than decla- 
ration, he was well aware, was vain, and 
for the illuftration of this affertion, he 
referred to all their paft tranfactions. 
They had hbetore raifed and diffuled 
alarms, for other purpofes than thofe 
which they profefled, but tending chiefly 
to increafe their own extenfive power ; 
and he, had therefore every reafon to be 
doubtful now of their fincerity. The 
minifter’s idea of decimating the beau- 
cavalry in Hyde-Park was ludicrous, 
particularly where it affected thofe 
equcftrians who clubbed to keep a horfe. 
As ‘oO that part of the plan which in- 
volved the game-keepers; aithough they 
had taken out a licence to kill game, he 
did not fee why they were better quali- 
fied to kill Frenchmen. 
the plan as oppreilive in the extreme, 
fince there were many perfons and with 
families, who either muft abandon their 
occupation, or muft fubmit to dilfagree- 
able conditions, which neither did exift, © 
nor could be poihbly forefeen, when they 
accepted their employment. 
Mr. DunpaAs, after referring to what 
Mr. SHERIDAN: had faid of the con- 
duét of the laft parliament, flattered 
himfelf that the prefent one, conidering 
‘* the beneficial and laudable meafures”’ 
adopted by their predeceffors, would 
thow their approbation of thofe meafures, 
by their readinefs in following fimilar 
fteps. 
This minifter argued in favour of the 
propoted augmentation of the national 
Political Affairs——Great Britain. 
He confidered - 
forces, by obferving, that if the enemy 
did not liften to proper terms of peace, 
but perfevered in continuing the war, 
notwithflanding every juft propofal, it 
could not be contended that this couniry 
Sood not undertake offenfive operations: 
that it fhould be confidered in fuch a 
cafe, that the feafonable increafe of our 
force would fecure us fafety at home, 
and enable us to detach part of tt abroad, 
and that he earneftly defired, that he’ 
might not be implicated in a contrary 
opinion. 
Mr. Fox agreed with Mr. Saeri- 
DAN, that no proof had been adduced of 
the exiftence of any danger to this coun- 
try, trom a fuppofed detcent of the 
enemy. Mr. Dunpas, he faid, had 
{poken of the laft parliament as having 
fat fix years withthe highet approbation, 
and the greateft advantage to this coun- 
try. For my part,” faid Mr. Fox, «¥ 
think the laft parliament did the moft 
mitchief to this country and its liberty, 
that ever was done to it fince firft the 
name of liberty, or the aie of parlia- 
ments, were known. The hon. gentle- 
man might have fhowa that the laft 
parliament iad infringed the rights of 
the people, and increated the power of 
the executive. government beyond any 
former example. Parliaments were ori- 
ginaily initituted to proveét the public 
pu.fe, and the power of the people; but 
the laft parliament was la¥ith of both, 
and, proved, in his opinion, the greate 
curfe that a people had ever expe- 
rienced.”’ 
The general current of Mr. Fox’s ob- 
fervations on the propofed meafure, went 
to prove, that miniiters were not afraid 
of an inyafion, but that they augmented 
the domeftic force of the country only 
that (as Mr. DunDas intimated) they 
might be enabled to detach a larger 
portion to purfue deftructive fchemes of 
conqueft abroad. 
Mr. Pirt, as might be expeéted, 
defended the laft parliament againft the 
affertions advanced by Mr. SHERIDAN 
and Mr. Fox. 
Colonel TarLeton profeffled he 
would not oppofe the meafure at prefent, 
but he defired that ic might be viewed 
with all poflible jealoufy. 
Mr. EiForD (anew member) fup- 
ported the meafures before the com- 
mittee; and aflerted, that the clamout 
excited againft the bills paffed laft, fef. 
fion, was caufed by, grofs mifrepre- 
fentation, ae 
Ht Mr. 
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