subsequent to the words "his majesty's com- or how far any discussions which may have mons," and to introduce the following:- taken place subsequently to his majesty's "To assure his majesty that it is with gracious message of the 21st of April, were. increased affection, attachment, and loyal-directed to that object. But we cannot ty; that his majesty's faithful commons but lament that the obvious artifice of the meet his majesty in this ninth parliament common enemy, in making a fraudulent: of his majesty's assembling. And that and nominal transfer of his majesty's elecamidst all those evils and pressures of war, toral dominions to the king of Prussia, and those tremendous and unparalleled should have been so far crowned with, suc successes of a formidable and unrelenting cess as to have involved his majesty in enemy, which render the present crisis pe- war with the only state in Europe, whose. culiarly awful and alarming, the first and resources were yet unimpaired; and whose. most fervent prayer of his majesty's faith-arms might, at some happier hour, have ful commons is, that it may please Divine been employed with effect in a new confeProvidence to grant to this favoured coun- deracy against France; and that the too try the prolongation of a life and of a successful policy of the enemy in amusing reign, the value and the blessings of which, this country with an insincere and proeach succeeding year teaches us more tracted negociation, should have obtained highly to appreciate. And to express to for France the opportunity of goading. his majesty our unshaken determination Prussia (by unmeasured and accumulated to stand by his majesty throughout all the injuries) tothat premature, unconcerted,and difficulties and dangers of the times; in de- unassisted effort, which has terminated in. fence of the laws and liberties of this realm; the overthrow of that powerful monarchy, in defence of his majesty's sacred personand and in the complete subjugation of its dogovernment; and of a throne endeared to minions. We cannot but express our, res, all classes of his majesty's subjects by the gret that the policy which appears to have virtues of the sovereign who adorns it. been ultimately adopted towards Prussia To offer to his majesty our humble and af- should not have been recognized and acted fectionate condolence on that share of the upon until the occasion was gone by; and public calamities of Europe which has that his majesty's plenipotentiary, shouldcome home to the personal and domestic have arrived only in time to be an helpless. feelings of his majesty and his royal fa- witness of that prodigious ruin and demily, by the death of that gallant and il-struction which a more timely interposition. lustrious prince the late duke of Brunswick, of his majesty's advice and assistance might a prince connected by such near alliances possibly have averted or alleviated. To with his majesty's royal house, and with acknowledge his majesty's goodness in the throne of these kingdoms. That having directed to be laid before us the der while we most sensibly participate in the tails of the negociation so long carried on deep and poignant grief with which his at Paris.-We entertain the fullest convicmajesty contemplates the issue of the late tion that the just and moderate sentiments campaign on the continent, we studiously by which his majesty has proved himself to abstain from suggesting to his majesty, as have been animated in the several preceding a topic of consolation, what we well know negociations for peace with France, have his majesty's intelligence and magnanimity alike actuated his majesty on the late ocwould, disdain to receive as such-the in-casion: and while we look with anxious terruption of his majesty's intercourse interest for the developement of those with the court of Berlin during the last circumstances which can have deferred for eight months, which precluded his majesty so long a period that termination of the from any knowledge of those counsels by negociation which it is evident, as well which the war between Prussia and France from notorious facts as from the language was so unfortunately precipitated.-Satis-of his majesty's declaration, the artifices fied as we are of the justice of the original grounds of his majesty's complaints against Prussia, we are yet unable to refrain from deeply deploring their consequences. We are not furnished with any means of judging how far those complaints were capable of being adjusted, without recourse being had to actual hostilities;

and pretensions of the enemy rendered from the beginning almost certain and unavoidable; we doubt not but we shall see, in the whole course and tenour of the proceedings on the part of his majesty, fresh instances of that desire for peace, and of that sincerity and good faith in the pursuit of it, which have so often been frus

trated by the ambition of the French go-effectual to the annoyance of the enemy,

vernment; as well as fresh proofs of the and a just ground of dissatisfaction and disexpediency of adhering to the policy of appointment to the nation at large-We treating for general peace, and only in con- rejoice in the opportunity of congratulating junction with our allies.-That we receive his majesty on the capture of that valuable with the utmost satisfaction the assurance and important settlement, the Cape of of his majesty's uninterrupted concert and Good Hope, by those distinguished officers, good understanding, with the emperor of sir D. Baird and sir H. Popham. We have Russia; trusting that neither in war nor however, the consolation and gratification in negociation, his majesty's councils will of being able to recall his majesty's attenbe separated from those of our ally, distin- tion to acquisitions and achievements in guished alike by perseverance and good the course of the present year, by which, faith. The continued prosecution of the notwithstanding the apparent inactivity of war being necessarily imposed upon his his majesty's present servants, the credit of majesty, we rejoice in the assurance that his majesty's arms, by sea, and land, has it is intended to prosecute it with vigour been sustained in the different quarters of earnestly imploring his majesty, that no the globe. We congratulate his majesty apprehension of embarrassing the conduct on the signal advantages obtained by his of a negociation by, acquisitions made majesty's arms in the expedition under sir during its progress, may ever again be suf- H. Popham, and general Beresford, against., fered to relax for a moment the military the Spanish settlement of Buenos Ayres; and naval operations of this country. advantages which, if seasonably supported That if we have not the triumph and satis- and diligently improved, must be in the faction, as in former years of war, of offer- highest degree valuable to this country, ing to his majesty, our congratulations on opening fresh channels of commercial enany signal and decisive victory by sea, we terprise, and affording new and increasing. nevertheless reflect, with just pride and ac- encouragement to British manufactures and knowledgement, on the several distin-navigation; advantages doubly important guished instances in which the skill, valour, at a moment when the other markets of and intrepidity of British officers and sea- the world are attempted to be closed against men have been displayed in their usual us. We enter, with heartfelt exultation, lustre, and with their accustomed success, into the sentiments so justly expressed by over equal or superior squadrous of the his majesty, on the brilliant victory ob enemy. But we cannot help lamenting, tained on the plains of Maida, by his main justice to the naval service, as well as to jesty's land forces, under the gallant and the interests of the country, that supineness able conduct of sir J, Stuart, over a French or mismanagement, by which the, pieda- army, superior in numbers. We feel with tory squadrons of the enemy have been his majesty, the full value of the seasonable permitted to range, unchecked, among our check given, by this splendid achievement West-India colonies, and to escape with to the overweening confidence of the eneimpunity, and by which our commerce has my; and of the proof which it affords been exposed, to a degree of annoyance that the character and constitution of the highly injurious to the interests and discre- British army were not inadequate, upon ditable to the maritime superiority, of their ancient footing, to maintain, unimGreat Britain. With equal sorrow, and paired, the lustre of the British name, and with no less astonishment, we have ob- the military glory of our ancestors.-That served those delays and uncertainties, and we shall nevertheless examine, with due that apparent perplexity and fluctuation of attention and solicitude, into the effect of councils, which have marked the conduct that new system which the late parliaof the war department of the state, which ment were induced to adopt, for improhave hitherto prevented the execution of ving the character, as well as augmenting those measures which ministers persuaded the amount of his majesty's regular forces; the late parliament to enact, and upon willing to hope that, we shall have the sawhich they themselves professed so greatly tisfaction of discovering an improvement to rely for the internal defence of the em- so striking, and an augmentation so rapid pire; and delays which have so long con- and abundant, as at once to have supplied fined our expeditions within our own all the deficiencies arising from the disuse ports, and have rendered the military pre- of such measures as have been either aboparations of this government at once in-lished or suspended, and to compensate

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for the certain, permanent, and large ad- ception which attended the sudden exdition which they have necessarily occa-ercise of that prerogative in the dissolution sioned to the military expenditure of the of the late parliament; and particularly of state. We shall investigate with equal his servants to mislead upon the irreverent care, the state of our other military esta- use of his majesty's royal name in a problihments, and particularly that of the vo-clamation summoning the late parliament lunteers, the cheap, efficient, and patriotic to meet on a fixed and no distant day, isdefence of the united kingdom; we trust sued at a period, when the measure of disand believe that we shall find them, in spite solving that parliament must already have of all discouragement and discountenance, been in contemplation.-Connected also neither abated in zeal, nor, as yet, materi- with this subject, we cannot forbear to ally reduced in numbers, at a period when it notice rumours which strongly prevail appears but too probable that their services throughout the country, of the most immay be more than ever essential to their proper and unconstitutional interference country. That we are fully sensible of of his majesty's ministers in the course of his majesty's paternal affection for his the late Elections: rumours at once subjects, manifested in the regret which he highly discreditable and injurious to his expresses at being compelled to call upon majesty's government, and to the indethem for sacrifices of so great an extent as pendent character of parliament.-We hope may be necessary in the present crisis of that upon enquiry and examination they affairs. That however painful the duty of may be proved to be utterly unfounded.imposing fresh burthens upon the people, But, convinced as we are, that the tendency we shall, however, not shrink from dis- (though we trust not the effect) of such incharging it; satisfied as we are of the pre- terference, as is alledged, must have been vailing determination of all ranks of the to revolt and disgust the well-affected part community to submit with cheerfulness to of the comn.unity, and to sow distraction the indispensable necessity of providing and discontent in place of that unanimity means for the continuance of a contest, in which is so loudly called for, at a moment the issue of which public safety and private when the prosperity of the British empire happiness are alike inseparably involved.- depends upon the consenting and cordial That it is a consolation to us as to his ma- co-operation of all orders and descriptious jesty under the pressure of this inevitable of the people; convinced also, that it is necessity, to learn the flourishing state of our peculiar duty, as it is the common inpublic credit, and the productiveness of terest of all those who prize, as it deserves, the several branches of the revenue: and the inestimable blessing of a free form of that we agree entirely with his majesty in government, to mark with our strongest attributing these salutary effects in a great reprehension a perversion of power which measure to the system so wisely begun, would be too well calculated to favour and so properly persevered in, of raising a those delusive and dangerous theories which considerable proportion of the supplies stigmatize the house of commons as an inwithin the year, a system which has hap. adequate representative of the people.pily disappointed the predictions of the But while we feel this most unpleasant external and internal enemies of his ma-duty forced upon us, in vindication of our jesty and his government.-That we ear-own independence, and of the rights of nestly wish it were in our power to close those whom we represent, we humbly and our address here. But we feel that we earnestly intreat his majesty to be pershould be wanting as well in duty to his suaded, that neither this, nor any other majesty as in fidelity to that people, in misconduct of his majesty's ministers, can whose name and on whose behalf we are essentially affect the firm and settled purproffering sacrifices unexampled in mag-pose of this house and of the great body of nitude and indefinite in duration, if we were the nation, to unite in that general cause, to disguise from his majesty the deep and and against that common danger-in comgeneral sentiment which prevails respecting parison to which all other considerations, the measures which preceded and accom- however important in themselves, are at panied the late general election. Far be the present moment, unfortunately, infeit from us to question his majesty's un-rior and subordinate.-And we venture doubted prerogative. But we cannot re-confidently to assure his majesty, that flect without concern and disapprobation great and unexanipled as are the difficulupon the circumstances of surprise and de- ties and dangers which surround us, his

majesty possesses in the wealth and pro- for the dispatch of business. The amendsperity of his dominions, in the loyalty and ment proposed by the hon. gent, contained firmuess of his parliament, in the bravery matters which, if founded in fact, ought to of bis fleets and armies, and in the affec-be referred to a committee to ground upon tion, zeal, and courage of his people re-them articles of impeachment against his sources, which, if wisely called forth, and majesty's ministers. The hon. gent. thought diligently and judiciously applied, are yet it necessary to offer an apology for himself amply sufficient to ensure the safety and for being in opposition. The hon. gent. honour of the British empire; and to main- wished for unanimity, but when that unatain the only remaining hope, under Divine nimity would amount to an acquiescence in Providence, for the restoration of the li-faults destructive to the country, it would berties and happiness of mankind."-Mr. be a dereliction of his duty to make it an Canning added, that those gentlemen who invariable rule. The hon. gent. therefore thought that in the address to his majesty contented himself with that qualified conthe house ought to overlook all our naval cord which, while it marked whatever was and military achievements, would, doubt- wrong, gave a general support to governless, prefer the original address; but those ment. How far the hon. gent.'s speech who thought with him, that what was cheer- agreed with the principles he had thus laid ing and consolatory should not be sunk down, it was for the house to judge. As into the shade, would, he trusted, approve to the principles and character of the opof the amendment which he had just read. position that he himself had joined in, the Apprehending, however, that the tendency popularity which that opposition had enof pressing his amendment would be to joyed for 15 years was the most satisfactory cause a division of the votes between the proof of their justice and propriety. It was two addresses, and anxious that nothing an opposition of principle, and never could should be occasioned, on his part, which allow itself to give way to the low hostility might have a tendency to throw a damp on of vexing and harassing by a warfare of the spirit of the country, it was not his in-details. The hon. gent. needed not to tention to press his amendment to a divi-have gone back to the length of these 15 sion. The speaker then put the question, years to illustrate, by contrast, the nature "That the words proposed to be left out, of the opposition which he had resolved to stand part of this question." Upon which, enforce, after that painful struggle, in which Lord Howick rose. He was certainly he was so desirous to support the governnot surprized that the very extraordinary ment, if duty did not sometimes compel motion of the right hon. gent. should be him to oppose. The experience of the late thought of such a nature as not to require general election might have told him, how that it should be read from the chair; but far this opposition was popular, the public he certainly was surprized that the right sentiment having been so strongly mauihon. gent. should have thought proper to fested with respect to it, and that when it submit to the house not only in this motion, stood forward proposing to vindicate the but in many parts of the speech with which injured rights and wounded independence he prefaced it, assertions of facts unfounded of the people. The hon. gent. accused in truth, and that he should have built on ministers for their conduct in the recent those facts, unwarranted conclusions, with- negociations, and brought forward against out investigation or enquiry, without having them the promise they had made to substirecourse to the authority of any document tute a direct and manly system of diplowhatsoever. On such grounds, the hon.macy, for former artifice and cunning, and gent. had brought forward an amendment, charging his majesty's ministers with the most grave and momentous derelictions and deficiencies in the management of the army, of the navy, and of the foreign rela

The hon. gent, accused them of having excited universal discontent and disturbance in the army by an improper distribution of patronage; he accused them of prostituting the sacred name of his majesty, by dissolving parliament at a time when it was actually summoned to meet

the result of that promise. The hon gent. also taunted ministers with those pretensions of great talents, which, however they may have been put abroad by others, were never once urged by ministers themselves. Yet, disclaiming all pretensions for himself, he for one was ready to say, that before the fatal stroke which had laid Mr. Fox by the side of his late illustrious rival, and he trusted united both in the mercy of God, the administration of which Mr. Fox and lord Grenville were the chief members, was

the one which possessed the greatest share off of his ancestors. This melancholy event had knowledge, information, experience, and been omitted, only because there was no ability. Much of these great qualities was precedent for mentioning it in the king's now in the grave; but, with the exception speech. It was not want of feeling; for of the individual who was now addressing who that read in remote history of things the house, without any disparagement to like this; was able to withhold the tribute of the hon. gent, who as well as many of those a tear? And how much more naturally about him would, he allowed, be a valuable did that tribute flow for distresses which acquisition to any administration, he might happened in our own time, and which we challenge any one to look round, and state almost saw with our own eyes! When, to from what men an administration could be use the words of the poet, we see " Darius formed with better claims to the confidence great and good, fallen from his high estate of the country. The present ministers and weltering in his blood;" what heart were told they were on a "bed of roses," could be so callous às not to melt `with they were told so by a noble lord' (Castle- sympathetic grief! When the calamities reagh) who acknowledged that the conti- were real, and happened in our own time, nent was in a very "unsatisfactory"situation; their affliction must fall upon us with a dou they were told so after the battle of Aus-ble weight. And was it to be supposed terlitz. Was it possible for the present mi- that those who were charged with the nisters to remove all the distresses that had weight of government should be peculiarly come upon the country in 15 years preg-insensible, when deprived of the stays and nant with calamities, during the time of supports which they should otherwise reckthe late administration, though perhaps on upon, when their best hopes were lost? without any blame to that administration? Their affliction was, indeed, most poignant; All that could be done was, to offer the but it was some consolation to them to be best advice and aid in their power. That exempt from the bitter reflection that it was had been done. When the hon. gent. brought about by an interposition of theirs, spoke in glowing colours of the calamities or by any delay of their timely aidof Prussia, and of the evils extended to the With regard, continued the noble lord, to world, in consequence of the destruction of the hon. gent.'s allusions to Hanover as the that power, he had only to say, that no sole cause of the declaration of war by this part of those misfortunes was caused by his country against Prussia, I aur astonished majesty's ministers. The misfortunes of that the hon. gent. could hazard such an this case required none of those exaggera- unfounded statement. Indeed, if the hon. tions the hon. gent. was so prone to. His-gent. had taken the trouble of looking at the tory recorded many instances of armies terms of the declaration itself, he would have destroyed and empires ruined; but the there seen, that, so far from Hanover destruction of the Prussian empire was being the only cause, the slittting of the sudden and complete beyond parallel. A rivers in the north of Germany against our mighty monarch, possessing a vast army, commerce was the principal alleged ground distinguished for military reputation, was of hostility, and upon that ground the in one day reduced to seek safety in a house voted the address to his majesty, precipitate flight, accompanied but by a few which approved the course pursued by gofaithful followers of his broken fortunes. vernment upon that occasion. But even The hon. gent. had introduced into his supposing that the ports in the north of speech the melancholy fate of the duke of Germany were not closed against our Brunswick. That gallant prince, after re-shipping, was not the detention of Hanover ceiving his death wound, was carried into by Prussia, upon such grounds as that his palace, in a litter; but when all means power alleged, of such a nature as this goof ease and safety were denied him there, vernment could not subscribe to ? Was it he was carried beyond the frontier;-he not such a claim, indeed, as our government could no further, and his brave heart could not allow any power to insist upon burst. But persecution did not stop here. in a negociation, or to maintain 'without Cæsar was merciful when the battle was interruption? Would the hon. gent. say that over, and those who had fallen, opposing it was? But, combining the detention of his ambition, were sure at least of honour-Tanover with the shutting up the ports I able burial. But the son of this brave have already stated, would the hon. gent. prince was refused permission to deposit as member of a cabinet, hesitate to advise his venerable father's remains in the vault his majesty to declare war against the

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