wished to have it thought, that the insurrection was a thing of their own choice; that they wished the disorder to get to a head, and that they did not like to use repellants. Those who called this insurrection, and that in 1798, "contemptible," should have the answer of the duke of Marlborough parodied. "If the rioters were contemptible, how much more so were those, who had nearly been beaten by them." Lord Redesdale asserted, that near three fourths of the people were concerned in that insurrection, and whatever might be said of the impropriety of publishing such letters, he thought there was a much greater impropriety in writing them. Nothing could be more absurd in theology, or in politics, than to see a lord chancellor raking up the exploded controversies of more than two centuries ago, for the purpose of persecution. The letters to Dr. Coppinger were still worse than those to lord Fingall. There was no pretence that they were confidential, and it appeared, that a person who could write and speak as he did of the case of Father O'Neil, must have been lost to every legal idea or feeling. What will be thought of a person, who was the first law officer in that country, who, instead of being shocked at the horrors of that case, and its illegality, as well as its cruelty, should only find fault at the audacity of the sufferer, for daring to complain!!!

Mr. Hawthorne spoke to order, as thinking this matter irrelevant to the subject.

A long desultory conversation took place on the question, whether Mr. Windham was in order or not.

Mr. Windham concluded, by expressing his opinion that a very se

rious case had been made out for en quiry.

Mr. Tierney said, the only ob jection he should have expected to hear from Mr. Windham, on th subject of the Irish government was, that the traitors had been pu nished with a "vigour," withir "the law," instead of "a vigou beyond the law." He considered this question as one, that had been chosen for the purpose of bringing together parties, that could agree on no other subject; and to give an appearance of unanimity against the ministers. As for the late insurrection, as it was called, he considered it a petty tumult, which accident had made of more importance than it would otherwise have been.

Mr. Grey was surprised at the lecture which Mr. Tierney had given to Mr. Windham, on decorum and consistency. He (Mr. Tierney) certainly thought it quite decorous for members to quit the opposition side of the house, but a strange indecorum to relinquish the sweets of office. He concluded by supporting the motion.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer contended, that the Irish government were sufficiently apprised of a spirit of disaffection still lurking in that country; but that they were also confident, that the general disposition was to tranquillity and loyalty. The deaths of lord Kilwarden and colonel Brown, which were the prominent features of the late insurrection, must certainly be considered accidental.

After some explanations between general Tarleton, Mr. Dent, and Mr. Tierney,

Colonel Hutchinson said, he could not approve of any motion, whose object was to employ censure upon

lord

that, considering the extent of the danger which now threatens us, the means of repelling it by our naval efforts were more inadequate than at any former period. The present ad. miralty seemed to consider, that the sort of vessels which were peculiarly serviceable for meeting the threatened invasion, were those of small burthen, and which would run into shoal water; and yet, in the course of a year, he understood they had only built 23 gun-boats, while, in the same period, the enemy had built nearly 1000. During the last war, the danger was much less pressing, and yet he was prepared to shew, that far greater exertions in that way had been made.

In 1794, 1797, and 1801, it was thought necessary to build small craft, of the sort he had alluded to, and a considerable number were got together in ten or twelve weeks; but even the 23 gun-boats, which were built last year, were not finished in less than six months! He should, therefore, also move for an account of the different gun-vessels built, or contracted to be built, at those several periods, in order to institute a comparison between the exertions of the former admiralty (when the danger was less pressing) with those of the present board. He believed that it would be universally allowed, that, from the commencement of the present war, our navy ought to have been increasing, instead of diminishing: notwithstanding which, government had only contracted, during the war, for the building of two ships of the line at the merchant yards, although it was known that, during a war, the building of ships was always nearly suspended at the king's yards, which were then wanting for repairing the

damages our ships might meet on service. It was also worthy of remark, that, in the first year of the last war, we began from a naval establishment of 16,000 seamen, which was increased in the course of that year to 76,000; whereas, we began the present war with an establishment of 50,000, which, in the course of the first year, was only augmented to 86,000 men. He concluded, by moving his first resolution.

Mr. Tierney considered the conduct of the right honourable gentleman as most extraordinary, and that he had chosen a most extraordinary time to bring forward his charges against the administration of the navy, when we had suffered no loss at sea, while the enemy were sealed up in their ports, and while our commerce was flourishing beyond example. That right honourable gentleman had once thought most highly of earl St. Vincent, when he recommended him as the only person fit for the situation of first lord of the admiralty, and yet the present motion was to declare lord St. Vincent utterly incapable. The country was much indebted to Mr. Pitt, for his exertions as a volunteer, but he thought the land service was enough for him, and that he might leave the sea service to abler hands. In answer to the complaints against the admiralty, he should state the number of vessels which we now have, viz. ships of the line, frigates, sloops, and other smaller vessels, amounted to 511; block ships, 9; lighters, and small craft, fitted out in the king's yards, 373; and the flotilla, completely equipped, and fit for service, amounted to 624; making a total of 1536 vessels, equipped by this unworthy first lord of the admiralty.

As to the building ships at the merchants' yards, in preference to the king's yards, there were many objections. The contract-built ships were found not to be so good as those built in the king's yards. The Ajax, which was built at a merchant's yard, in three years required an additional sum of 17,000l. to be laid out upon her in repairs. As to the increase of seamen, in the first year of the present war, it must be recollected that the army of reserve, the volunteers, and the great draught on the population for the land service, must necessarily injure the sea service; notwithstanding which, there were only 1700 men wanting of the whole number of seamen voted by parliament. He thought that such an exalted character as earl St. Vincent ought not to be attacked by insinuations or unsupported assertions; and concluded, by moving an amendment to Mr. Pitt's first resolution.

Sir C. Pole defended the conduct of the admiralty, who had used, as he conceived, uncommon vigilance and exertion. In 48 hours after hostilities were determined on, admiral Cornwallis sailed for Brest; and ever since that time, that port, as well as Toulon, Flushing, and Ferrol, had been kept in strict blockade. for building gunboats, he thought it would be much better to fight the enemy's gun-boats with vessels of a superior description: those that were fitted out last war he considered a mere job.

Admiral Berkeley denied the accuracy of Mr. Tierney's statements: it was by reckoning the marines twice over, that he had supposed the number of men to be deficient only 1700, when, in fact, they were defieient by about 20,000. As to the

number of what he called the flotilla, he was also mistaken, and many of them were in such wretched order, that they could not go from Portsmouth to Spithead, except in a calm. He would contend, that if a proper number of light vessels had been constructed, to assist the ships in the channel, the junction of the enemy's flotilla at Boulogne might have been prevented, and a considerable number of frigates and other vessels spared for the protection of our convoys. He by no means thought light vessels to be despised. He perfectly agreed in the propriety and necessity of the enquiry pro posed by Mr. Pitt, and if he had any fault to find in it, it was merely that it did not go as far as he thought it ought, into the investigation of every branch of the naval department.

Sir Edward Pellew praised the naval administration, and thought there was no cause for alarm. Near the enemy's coast we had a light squadron, at the Downs we had heavier ships, and close to the beach we had a flotilla of such vessels as, he conceived, would give a good account of such of the enemy's gunboats as should escape. We had thus a triple line of defence, which he did not see how the enemy could get through.

Mr. Wilberforce supported the motion for enquiry. He declared most solemnly, that, in many conversations he had had with different professional characters, and some of them highly distinguished in the service, every one appeared to agree in being completely dissatisfied with the conduct of the present admiralty.— He felt as much respect as any man for lord St. Vincent, on account of the great services he had rendered

the