vast volunteer force, and the gene. ral ardour manifested by every class of his subjects, which, in their united effect, had completely checked, and had been abundantly sufficient to deter him from so desperate and hopeless an enterprise. But, while such was the actual state of affairs, it must be remembered, that the security of the country had arisen from the prompt and resolute determinations of the government, and which to preserve in their full vigour, must not be relaxed, even for a moment.

His majesty then poceeded to state that the conduct of the court of Spain, under the direct influence of French councils, had been such, as to compel him to take decisive measures to guard against hostility from that quarter, at the same time that every effort had been made by him to avert the calamities of war with a country so circumstanced. The refusal, however, of satisfactory explanations on the part of that power, had obliged the English minister to depart from Madrid, and war had since been declared by Spain against this kingdom; -all the papers respecting which event should speedily be laid before par. liament.

His majesty next adverted to the general conduct of the French government towards the continent, as being recently marked by every species of outrage, and the most unequivocal determination of that power to violate every principle of public law or civilized usage, which impeded the career of the present ruler of France,, towards an uncontrolled predominance in Europe, if not to universal dominion.-That he had lately received a communication from that government, containing professions of a pacific ten

dency, to which, however, his ma、 jesty had been pleased to reply only in general terms, expressive of his wish for the restoration of the bles sings of peace to the afflicted world, but declining any more particular explanations, without previous communications with those powers to whom he was engaged in confidential intercourse and connection, with a view to that important object; and especially with the emperor of Russia, who had given the strongest proofs of the most dignified sentiment, and of the strongest interest in the independence and happiness of Europe.

To the commons, his majesty expressed his sorrow for the additional burdens he was forced to impose upon them, at the same time that he expressed his conviction in their willingness to support him in the present arduous but necessary contest; and to both houses his majesty expressed, generally, his conviction that their most strenuous efforts would not be wanting to enable him to prosecute the war with vigour, and thereby conduce, in the most effectual manner, to its termi nation by a safe and honourable peace.

After his majesty and the commons had withdrawn, and a copy of the speech having been read by the lord chancellor,-Lord Elliot moved an address in answer, which, however, he did not think it necessary to enforce, otherwise than by a slight review of the different topics to which it adverted. He appeared to doubt the sincerity of the French government in the late overtures for negociation, and observed, with pride, that the presumptuous bosat made at the commencement of the war, that this country was no longer able

to

to cope, "single-handed," with France, was now given up, and that after the enemy had brought his preparations for invasion to the highest state, he now seemed conscious of the vanity of his hopes; an effect for which he considered the country indebted to the excellent measures adopted for our defence, to the skill and gallantry of our officers and seamen, to the admirable discipline of our army and militia, and to the patriotism and valour of a new description of force, in the order of our brave and patriotic volunteers. His lordship intimated a doubt, whether, considering the animosity heretofore shewn by the enemy, his motives, in making the late overtures, might not have been to embarrass the government, to create divisions in parliament, or discontent in the country, by exciting too eager a desire for peace; in any of which cases he thought our best resource was in that firmness and unanimity, which he strongly recommended.

The address, whieb, as usual, contained sentiments in unison with those of his majesty's speech, was seconded by lord Gwydir, who congratulated the house on the exalted situation to which the country had attained, and the inability which the enemy, after all his gasconading, experienced of hazarding his boasted fleets and his flotilla from under the protection of the cannon of his shores. The rupture with Spain, he observed, had been long expected, and the only surprise was, how it could have been so long delayed. The councils, the treasures, the fleets and the armies of Spain, had long been under the control of French despotism, nor could that devoted country maintain peace one

hour after the interests of France required that it should go to war. Self-preservation even required of us to seize upon the treasures of Spain, and employ them for our own defence, rather than suffer them to go, as had been the case through the war, to the payment and support of those armies, which France was collecting within sight of our coasts, and with which it was threatening our ruin. With respect to the communications lately sent from France, the house would be better able to form an opinion on them when it should be acquainted with their nature and extent; but, at all events, nothing could be lost by our perseverance in those strenuous exertions, which alone were likely to bring about, not a false and hollow security, like the last peace, not peace in words, and malignant hostility in actions, but a peace that would af ford a moral and well-founded assurance of lasting and mutual benefit.

Lord Carlisle said, that though he cordially agreed in every sentiment expressed in the speech, there were some topics connected with, and adverted to, by the two noble lords, which would require future explanation. What he alluded to was the mode of commencing the war with Spain, by the detention of some of her ships, and the representation made of the present respectable and formidable state of the army. In agreeing to the address, he wished to be understood as pledged to no opinion, on either of these subjects.

Lord Hawkesbury, (secretary of state,) admitted that the two points alluded to by the noble lord would be fit subjects for separate dis. cussion, and said that, when the proper occasion came, he should be ready to maintain that our conduct

towards Spain was justifiable on the grounds of policy, justice, and liberality; and also to shew, that such an augmentation had been made in the military force of the country, in troops of the line, militia and vo: lunteers, that we had at this moment 600,000 men ready to take the field.

His royal highness the duke of Clarence spoke merely to the same effect as lord Carlisle, and thought it would be more consistent with the humanity and magnanimity of this great nation, to have employed double the force it did in the detention of the Spanish ships, which might have prevented the unhappy accident that had occurred.

Lord Grenville also expressed his general concurrence in the address, but referred the two main points, already taken notice of, for future discussion.

The duke of Norfolk expressed his disappointment at not finding any notice taken, in the speech, of the final emancipation of the Roman catholics of Ireland, which was expected to be one of the first acts of the present government, as inability to carry it into effect was the reason generally assigned for a right honourable gentleman (Mr. Pitt) and his friends before retiring from administration. If the Roman catholics were already satisfied, he should urge the subject no further; but if not, it must form the subject of a future discussion; for he was onvinced that the best mode of securing peace, and maintaining our respect abroad, was by conciliation and unanimity at home.

After a few words, in which it was understood that the papers connected with the several points in his Majesty's speech would be pre

sented on an early day, the address was agreed to.

On the same day, a similar address was moved in the house of commons, by the honourable Henry Augustus Dillon, who, after barely adverting to the rupture with the court of Madrid, and the late communication from France, and referring them for future discussion, expressed his delight and satisfaction at having proofs of the just sense the emperor of Russia entertained of the oppressions and outrageous conduct of France, praised the attention of the present administration, for the state of defence in which they had placed Ireland, which France considered as our most vulnerable point.

Mr. Fox said, that though he did not mean to propose any amendment to the address, there were some things which he could not suffer to pass unnoticed. In the first place, he did not see how he could approve of his majesty's determination not to explain himself further on the French communication, until he consulted certain foreign courts, unless he knew what the nature of the intercourse between his majesty, and those foreign courts was. If he did know it, he might perhaps approve of it; but,circumstanced as he was, he could give no opinion. He next adverted so the omission of the claims of the Roman catholics of Ireland, to which he understood the right honourable gentleman (Mr. Pitt) stood pledged; and then passed on to another omission, of a not less important, but mose surprising kind. On former occasions, when parliament took measures for increasing the power of the country, it was usual with his majesty to compliment them (when he thought often

they

they but ill deserved it) on the wisdom of their measures. But here nothing was said of the effect of that measure of the right honourable gentleman (Mr. Pitt) for the improvement of our military system, which as last year supposed to make the whole difference between an administration of imbecility and one of vigour. There was not a word in the speech of the difference between the two, and he believed it would be admitted that the measure of last year had altogether failed. Ile would not prejudge the subject of the Spanish war before the papers relating to it were before the house, but he must remark that the seizing of the Spanish frigates, loaded and destined as they were, did certainly bear an unseemlyappearance, and one not much to the honour of this country. Never was there a moment when this nation ought to stand more clear of reproach than the present, when we were accusing France of violations of the law of nations, and making them a ground of war with her; and when, upon that ground, we were calling upon foreign nations to make a common cause with us against her. He therefore hoped that neither Spain, nor any other nation, whether they vied with each other for outrage, violation, or contempt of the law of nations, or for their reverence for it, would have it in their power to accuse us justly either of any such outrage, violation, or contempt, or even of indifference to the principles of equity and moderation; and he further hoped that no partiality to our own country would induce us to everlook any of these principles, whether towards Spain or any other power, even though it should be a power in dispute with

us.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Pitt) conceived the speech to be sufficiently explicit, in declaring that confidential communications did subsist between his majesty and some of the continental powers, and gave the house assurances of the magnanimous sentiments entertained by the emperor of Russia, relative to the highest interests of Europe, as well as the security and independence of this country. This was surely sufficient for all those who thought that in making peace we should look to the re-establishment of those ancient continental relations, which French ambition had overthrown. As to the state of Ireland, he observed, that though that country certainly had not derived all the benefits from the union which that measure was capable of affording, yet great advantages had already attended it, and many others may speedily be expected. If the measures which the honourable gentleman (Mr. Fox) now so loudly called for, appeared to him so immediately necessary, why did he suffer four years to elapse since the union, and never have called for them before?" What the reasons are," continued he, "which have induced me to suffer it to remain dormant, I shall, on a future occasion, have an opportu nity of stating, and I flatter myself that the house and the country will give me credit for consistency, when I have stated the reasons why I still think that the matter should remain dormant at the present moment." With respect to the plan of military defence which he proposed last year, though he admitted that its effects, in adding to the numbers of our military force, had hitherto been very small, yet he was far from thinking it a measure which ought not to B 3

have

have been adopted. He mentioned that we had now a regular disposable force, far beyond that of last year, but admitted, at the same time, that it ought to be further augmented. In adverting to the detention of the Spanish ships, he said, he was confident that a little time would clear up and justify the suspicions which the honourable gentleman gentleman entertained upon that subject. He agreed that it was at all times necessary for this country to keep up its high character for moderation, justice, and honour, but was confident that the detention of the frigates would not, upon full explanation, be found a departure from the strictest rules of moderation and justice. All these topics may, in their turn, be subjects of discussion in that house, till which time it would be proper to postpone any debate upon them.

Mr. Windham vindicated the conduct of Mr. Fox, in urging the catholic claims now, when we had a cabinet that was friendly to them, though it would have been in vain to urge them during the admi. nistration of a hostile cabinet. With respect to our relative situation with the continent, he thought the communication was rather scanty, and should have wished to know to what extent the emperor of Russia was willing to co-operate with us against France, or what exertions he was disposed to make for the restoration of the ancient balance of power on the continent: but upon that subject he would wait, in hopes of further explanation. As to the rupture with Spain, and the detention of the frigates, though he did not feel himself in a situation to pronounce a final judgment, yet, judging of it from what was known as

yet, it could excite no other senti ment than reprobation. In state ing this opinion, he wished it to be understood as subject to such explanations as might hereafter be afforded. In adverting to the state of the regular army, he said, if the word respectable applied to the quality of our regular force, no man was more ready to admit it; but if applied to their number, he must deny the truth of the assertion. When he came to that part of the speech which mentioned the violent and unjust proceedings of the French government, he dwelt emphatically on the case of captain Wright, of the Vincejo ship of war, who, though taken valiantly fighting on board his ship, in most clear and legitimate warfare, was detained a close prisoner in the Temple, and exposed to alarming threats, contrary to every rule and practice of war, ás observed among civilized nations.— This officer remained in that situation far longer than was consistent with the honour of this country, and if no other means of redress should be found effectual, he suggested whether it was not full time to recur to the only remaining one, of retaliation.On the question being then put, the address was unanimously agreed to.

The address was accordingly presented to his majesty on the Thurs day following, and a most gracious answer returned to it.

In the house of commons, on the 21st of January, Mr. Francis, after adverting to the variety of papers laid before them last year, relative to the causes of the war which began in 1803, against two of the prin cipal Mahratta chiefs, Scindia and Boosla, and its conclusion by a treaty of peace signed after these