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partizans. But ministers had so shuffled and BOOK trimmed between different systems, they had dealt out their declarations and professions in 1795. such ambiguous language, that they had lost all claim and title to confidence; and, through the puerile hope of embracing the incompatible ad vantages of these opposite plans, they had forfeited every benefit to be derived from the decided adoption of any one of them.

What could the great body of the emigrants suppose when they saw Valenciennes and Condé taken possession of in the name, not of Louis XVII. but of the emperor; and the French West-India islands in that of the king of England? Unquestionably, that we were fighting merely for the spoils of France.

Even at sea, where our fleets were triumphant, Mr. Fox remarked that, in the second year after France took part in the American war, the number of captures was 499. In the second In the second year of this war the number was 860.

ed enquiry.

All this demand

He then adverted to the condition of Ireland, the irritated state of which was to be ascribed, according to every appearance, to the misconduct of ministers. If the house refused to make any enquiry into these things, they would make themselves responsible for all the calamities which might and probably would ensue,

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BOOK The policy of ministers in relation to Ireland XXI., had been marked with the same ambiguity and 1795. inconsistency as their conduct towards France,

He thought highly of the eloquence, and even of the talents, of the present minister, as exerted in a particular line; but he was a minister of art and plausibility merely, not of discernment, not of candor, not of generosity in rebus. politicis, nihil simplex, nihil apertum, nihil honestum.'

Mr. Pitt, in reply, asked whether, at a period so arduous and important, and so late in the session, it could be deemed expedient to commence so extensive an investigation? Every topic in the speech just delivered had been fully discussed and decided upon: such a committee as that required was, therefore, as unnecessary as improper; it could answer no possible good purpose at the present moment: whenever a proper period arrived for investigating the conduct of the executive government, it would be found marked by moderation and forbearance. He positively disavowed the proposition that a nation, on entering into a war, was bound to state all its objects, and thus preclude itself from taking advantage of fortuitous circumstances as they might arise. Mr. Pitt coneluded with moving the question of adjournment, which after a debate of many hours, was carried

XXI.

by a majority of 219 to 63 voices. Upon this BOOK occasion, as on various others, it was remarked that a great proportion of the members present 1795. left the house without voting.

Motions re

recall of

william from

negatived.

Lord Fitzwilliam, having now returned from Ireland, after a government of three months' duration only, appeared on the 24th of April, in the house of peers, and in a manly and spirited manner challenged ministers to a full investigation of the causes of his removal. He said they had insinuated blame to him, and the gauntlet they had thus thrown down he willingly took up. A profound silence ensuing on the other side of the house, the duke of Norfolk specting the gave notice of a motion to address the king, lord Fitzthat those parts of the correspondence between Ireland lord Fitzwilliam and the ministry which related to his lordship's recal from his government should be forthwith laid before them. This was debated in a very full house on the 8th of May, the motion being supported, exclusive of those lords who usually voted in opposition, by the duke of Leeds, the earl of Moira, and lord Fitzwilliam himself, who positively avowed that he went out expressly authorized to complete the measure of Catholic emancipation, and that no objections had been made to the steps he had adopted for that purpose until he had proceeded to the dismission of certain persons in office ini

BOOK mical to that measure, and had taken other

XXI.

gentlemen, obnoxious to ministers here, into his 1795. favor and confidence.-Lord Grenville declined entering into a formal discussion of the subject, being prevented, as he alleged, by reasons of state which he could not properly explain. The motion called upon ministers to violate the secresy of the cabinet and the sanctity of their oath. But he asked in what respect the situation of a lord-lieutenant differed from that of any other minister of the crown, who might be removed at pleasure? and affirmed that the noble earl complained with an ill grace of being himself removed from office after he had exercised his authority in the removal of so many others. His lordship said he had seen the removal of many lord-lieutenants without a single complaint to parliament on the subject; and to adopt a new course would be to change the constitution, and to convert that house of parliament into a committee of public safety.-After a long and vigorous debate the house divided : contents, 25; non-contents, 100.

Pacific mo

A similar motion made by Mr. Jekyl in the house of commons, and seconded by Mr. Fox in a speech of great political comprehension and sagacity, was negatived by 188 to 49 voices.

The last effort of the session to rescue the tion by Mr. nation from the calamities of an unjust and un

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and the sa- 1795.

--negatived.

necessary war was made by Mr. Wilberforce on BOOK the 27th of May. He began by stating the general expectation of pacification, tisfaction which had arisen from it. Though he Wilberforce did not profess to go the length of Vox populi vor Dei, he thought the universal wish and desire of the people should only be superseded by extraordinary circumstances. It was an important duty, in every war, to look out continually for every opening which might lead to a conclusion of it, to see whether the original motives still subsisted, and whether it was needful to pursue the path we were treading. From a full review of the state of our allies he was of opinion that very slender assistance was to be expected from any of them; and the aspect of affairs in France afforded little encouragement obstinately to prosecute the war against her. The insurrections in that country were quelled; she had made her peace with Russia and Tuscany; she had subdued Holland; and, notwithstanding the depreciation of her paper money, it did not appear that the operations of the French government were any-wise impeded; nor could he see when the entire ruin of the French finances, so much talked of and so often foretold, was to take place. Her armies exhibited no symptoms of discontent, nor her rulers of apprehension. The situation of Ireland, Mr. Wilberforce said, was truly

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