62 Parliamentary 
ferted, that foreign leans were not more 
liable to be abufed as inftruments of cor- 
ruption, than domeftic loans; and he 
did not fee w hy parliament ould pals 
any act to encumber the negocietion of a 
foreign lean in future, When it might 
be face for the intereft of the country, 
that fuch a loan fhoulde granted. Mr. 
Fox teftified, his approbation of the mo- 
tion of Mr. Robinfon; and gave it as his 
opinion, that this country ought never 
toafift a foreign potentate by w ay of 
loan, becatife it was rifking, net only for 
ourfelves, but fer our potterity, a a 
pecuniary lofs, for which it was impofi- 
ble for us at prefent to provide. -Mr. 
Roebinfon’s motion was negatived by.a 
conliderable majority. 
The order of the day, on 
Feb. z2th, 
for the fecond readin 
Of a bill. for regu- 
dating the wages of labourers being: read, 
Mr. Whi itebread, jun. obferved, that the 
abject of the bill was important, and that 
its urgency was prefiing, but that of the. 
means propoied for iis attainment, it 
belonged to the houfe to decide. 
Heb 1s5., Mr. Grey mowed, “oi bat 
an humble addrefs be prefented to his 
majefty, entreating his majefty to take 
fuch meafures, as to his royal wifdom 
may feem fit, for communicating direétly 
to the government of the French re- 
publi ic, his readinefs to enter intoa nego- 
elation for reftoring the  bieifings ae 
peace, upon terms equitable and ho- 
nourable to beth countries.’ 
In fupport of his.motion, he obferved, 
that, by a late roval meflage, it had been 
flared, that the government of France 
was capable of maintaining the relations 
of peace and amity with “other nations, 
and he had hoped t that the opinion ex- 
prefed in that meflage would “have ren- 
<iered his prefent applica tion unneceliary. 
#te had hoped that his majefty’s minit- 
ters fecing F Kurope every where’ defo- 
g:ted and bleeding, would have been 
anxious te reftore the bleffings of peace. 
Hut after this interval, and notwith- 
ch the declaration of his majetty’s 
eninifters, itdid nat appear that we were 
ONE iota Nearer a peace than before. De 
<id now appear that his majefty’s minif- 
ters Intended to profecute the war. 
Lhey had, indeed, “changed Aer an= 
guege, but not their purpofes ; and they 
were hurrying on anether campaign 
av hile they were talking of peace. Fane 
Mr. Grey urged, with great fitength, 
@ variety of arguments againft the con 
tiuation of the war, and in fupport of 
peace; but he was oppcfed by Mir. Pitt, 
» Intelligence. 
. 
[ Feb. 
who, after fome preliminary obfer- 
ations en the nature of the confidence, 
to which mimifters were entitled, ob- 
ferved, that no opportunity of nego- 
claticn Had been rejected by the minittry, 
but that meafures had abfolutely been 
taken to afcertain the difpofitions of the 
enemy, and to pave the way for over- 
tures from either fide. He added, “ If 
anegociation fhouid be entered inte, it 
is evident, that in order to give it its Full 
fle€ét, we fhould be carefui net only te 
tie up the ftriét ictter of our engage- 
ments with our allies, but to maintain 
‘with them-full concert and harmony. £ 
have only to fav, that aéiing upon this 
principie, no regard to the rorm of go- 
vernment, no d:fReulty as to the mede 
of communication, no punédtilio of eti- 
quette, no delicacy as to the firit pro- 
pnolition cf overtures fhall be feund to 
fland in the way of negociation. ‘Suck 
meatures have already been taken, as, 
if the enemy are fincere in their dif- 
pohtions for peace, ma fi fpeedily lead to 
negociation. I admit, that the honour- 
able gentleman, ‘in his {peech, fep2rated 
hegociation from the terms. 
other patiages, he talked of negociation 
as leading to an immediate peace. i 
beg leaves by nothing I have faid, to be 
uniderfiood to hold out the idea ¢, im- 
ediate peace, or of peace at any periud ; 
L only wifh that it may be known, that 
if negociation be not fpeedily put in a 
train, it is not our fault, and that the 
blame mu& refi on the difpofitions of the 
enemy. If the dulipolaiope of the enemy 
fhall haye become more moderate, our 
Hee ects of -that defirable event mutt 
certainly be greatly aecclerated. But 
a am to ftate, that ftreng as is my 
dcfire cf peace, and confeftedly weak as 
are the means of the enemy for carrying 
on the war, they have net yet ma de any 
declarations which caa difpo fe us to give 
them credit for their mange atin with 
re{pect to peace J] muft, at the fame 
time.confef:, that / know nothing on the 
fubieét, but from the communications of 
the Direét tory, and from a paper which 
lias been circulated with much induéry 
here, and alfo on the contment.—This 
paper is fal to contain the terms on 
which they are willing to hold out the 
boon of peace to the peopie of England. 
If they will abandon all their intereits, 
if they will renounce all thofe contimen- 
tal alliances, which have been fuppofed 
Bat in 
to be connected with the fundamental - 
policy ok this country, and the general 
fafety of Europe ; if they will facrifice 
their 
