he is at prefent engaged in concerting measures with his allies, in order to be fully prepared for the vigorous and effectual profecution of the war, if the failure of his majesty's earnest endeavours to effect a general peace, on fecure and honourable terms, fhould unfortunately render another campaign unavoidable. And his majefty will not fail to take the first opportunity to communicate the result of thefe difcuffions to the house. In the interval, his majefty conceives that it may be of the greatest importance to the common caufe, that his majefty fhould be enabled to continue fuch temporary advances for the fervice of the emperor as may be indifpenfably neceflary, with a view to military operations being profecuted with vigour and effect at an early period; and his majesty recommends it to the houfe to confider of making fuch provifion as may appear to them to be most expedient for this purpose.

G. R.

Proceedings in the House of Commons, Dec. 29, 1796, on the Subject of the preceding Meliage.

Mr. Pitt moved, "that an humble addrefs be prefented to his majefty, to return his majesty the thanks of this houfe for his moft gracious meffage to affure his majesty that this houfe will immediately enter into the confideration of such meafures as may appear to them to be moft expedient for enabling his majefty to continue fuch temporary advances to the emperor, as may (if the failure of his majesty's earnest endeavours to effect a general peace on focure and honourable hould unfortunately render mpaign unavoidable) be

neceffary, with a view to the prov fecution of military operations, with vigour and effect, at an early period."

Sir William Pulteney moved as an amendment to the above addrefs, that the whole fhould-be left out after the word 'confideration,' and inftead thereof, the words of the fame' inferted. (Negatived without a divifion.)

Mr. Sheridan then moved the following amendment:

"Your majefty's faithfulcommons having thus manifefted their determination to enable your majesty to give fuch affiftance to your majefty's ally the emperor, as may be indifpenfably neceflary in the un

fortunate event of an unfavourable iffue to the prefent negotiations for peace, cannot omit this occafion of expreffing their deep regret, that your majefty's minifters fhould, in recent inftances, have prefumed to iflue fimilar affiftance to the emperor, without any previous application to parliament to enable your majefty fo to do; thereby acting, as your majefty's gracious meffageappears in a great measure to admit, in defiance of the established practice, and in violation of the conftitutional privileges of this houfe.” (Negatived without a divifion.)

The original addrefs was then put and carried.

fufal of the French government to treat, except upon a basis evidently inadıniffible, and by their having in confequence required his majefty's plenipotentiary to quit Paris within 48 hours.

His majefty has directed the feveral memorials and papers which have been exchanged in the courfe of the late difcuffion, and the account transmitted to his majesty of its final refult, to be laid before the house.

From these papers, his majefty trufts, it will be proved to the whole world, that his conduct has been guided by a fincere defire to effect the restoration of peace on principles fuited to the relative fituation of the belligerent powers, and effential for the permanent interefts of his kingdoms, and the general fecurity of Europe; whilft his enemies have advanced pretenfions at once inconfiftent with thofe objects, unfupported even on the grounds on which they were profeffed to reft, and repugnant both to the fyftem eftablished by repeated treaties, and to the principles and practice which have hitherto regulated the intercourse of independent nations.

In this fituation his majefty has the confolation of reflecting, that the continuance of the calamities of war can be imputed only to the unjust and exorbitant views of his enemies; and his majefly, looking forward with anxiety to the moment when they may be difpofed to act on different principles, places in the mean time the fulleft reliance, under the protection of Providence, on the wildom and firmnefs of his - parliament, on the tried valour of his forces by fea and land, and on the zeal, public fpirit, and refources of his kingdoms, for vigorous and effectual fupport in the profecution

Proceedings of the House of Peers on his Majesty's Meffage.

On Friday the 30th of Decem ber, his majefty's meflage to the houfe of peers was taken into confideration, and Lord Grenville moved,

"That an humble addrefs be prefented to his majefty, thanking him for his gracious meffage, and giving him the loyal affurance of their firm and steady support in the further continuance of this just and neceffary war; his majesty's difpofitions to peace having been unhappily fruftrated by the conduct of the enemy."

The earl of Guildford moved the following amendment to the above addrefs:

That after the words, "returning his majesty thanks for his gracious meflage," there be inserted the following:

"That this houfe has learnt with inexpreffible concern, that the negotiation his majefty lately commenced for the restoration of peace has been unhappily frustrated.

"In fo awful and momentous a crifis, the house of lords feel it their duty to fpeak to his majesty with that freedom and earnestnefs which becomes men anxious to preferve the honour of his majesty's crown, and to fecure the interefts of bis people. That, in doing this, they fincerely deplore that they are under the neceffity of declaring, that, as well from the man. (G 3)

ner

ner in which the late negotiation has been conducted, as from the fubftance of the memorial which appears to have produced the abrupt termination of it, they have reafon to think his majesty's minifters were not fincere in their endea vour to procure the bleffings of peace, fo neceffary for this diftreffed country, and that all profpect of pacification feems entirely removed from their view. For, on the one hand, his majesty's minifters infift upon the restoration of the Netherlands to the emperor as a fine qua non, from which they have pledged his majefty not to recede; while, on the other, the executive directory of the. French republic, with equal pertinacity, claim the prefervation of that part part of their conquests as a condition from which they cannot depart.

"That, under thefe circumftances, this houfe cannot help lamenting the rafhnefs and injuftice of his majefty's minifters, whofe longcontinued mifconduct has produced this embarraffing fituation, by advifing his majesty, before the bleffings of peace had been unfortunately interrupted, to refufe all negotiation for the adjustment of the then fubfifting differences, although at that time the Netherlands, now the main obftacle to the return of tranquillity, fo far from being confidered as an object of conteft, was folemnly renounced, and the peace of Europe offered into his majesty's hands upon the bafis of that renunciation, and upon the fecurity and independence of Holland, whilft the preferved her neutrality towards France.

"That this houfe hath further deeply to regret, that foon after the commencement of the war, when, by the vigour of his ma

jefty's arms, with the affiftance of his allies, the republic of Holland had been refcued from invafion, and the greatest part of the Netherlands had been recovered by the emperor; at a time too, when moft of the princes of Europe, with refources yet unexhaufted, continued firm in their alliances with Great Britain, his majefty's minifters did not avail themselves of this high and commanding pofition for the negotiation of an honourable peace, and the establishment of the political balance of Europe; that, on the contrary, without any example in the principles and practice of this or any other nation, it is with pain this houfe recollects his majefty's minifters refused to set on foot any negotiation whatsoever with the French republic; not upon a real or even alleged unwillingness on her part to liften to the propofitions now rejected by her, or to any other specific propofal of indemnity or political fecurity, but upon the arrogant and infulting pretence, that her government was not capable of maintaining the accuftomed relations of peace and amity amongst nations; and that, on this unfounded and merely fpeculative affumption, his majefty was advised to continue the war to a period when the difficulties in the way of peace have been so much increased by the defection of most of the powers engaged in the confederacy, and by the conquefts and confequent pretenfions of the French republic.

"That this house having thus humbly fubmitted to his majefty the reflections which his majesty's gracious communication immediately fuggeft, feel themselves in duty bound, for the information of his majefty, and the fatisfaction of an exhaufted people, to proceed,

cerity of the overtures which have been made for peace, is to be inferred from the minifters having infifted on the furrender of the Netherlands by France; this they have thought proper to term the fine qua non; while the enemy, profiting by the bad conduct, by the incapacity of thofe minifters, urge their demands. Your faithful commons have, moreover, feen, with extreme regret, that when only a very finall portion of the German empire was occupied by the arms of France, when the fecurity of Holland might have been guarantied by your arms, when your majefty's allies were firm in the nion, and apparently fincere in their profeffions, your majefty's minifters did not employ themfelves for the purpose of procuring peace to England and to Europe; but, on the contrary, repeatedly refufed to enter into any negotiation with the French republic, not for any well-grounded reafon, not becaufe that republic was really hoftile to all other nations, but on an infulting and arrogant preference for the forms and ufages of the ancient courts of Europe, by attempting to prove, that the republic of France could not maintain the accustomed relations of peace and amity. Your majesty's minifters having accordingly advifed your majefty to recommend in your fpeeches from the throne, to continue a war, ruinous in itfelf, after the most calamitous fufferings by the defection of the major part of your majesty's allies; your faithful commons will proceed therefore to investigate the caufe of that misconduct on the part of your majefty's minifters, which has involved this nation in her prefent misfortunes, and produced the failure of that negotiation."

Mr. Fox's addrefs was nega tived by a majority of 212 to 37.

Speech of his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to both Houfes of Parliament, Jan. 21, 1796.

My lords and gentlemen,

I have received his majesty's commands to meet you in parlia. ment.

It gives me the most fincere fatisfaction to be authorized to inform you, that notwithstanding the advantages which the enemy poffeffed at the commencement of the last year, and the fucceffes which attended their operations in the former parts of the campaign, the general fituation of affairs is on the whole most effentially improved.

The continued and brilliant fucceffes of the Auftrian armies upon the Rhine, the important captures of the Cape of Good Hope and Trincomalé by his majesty's forces, and the decided and confirmed fuperiority of his fleets, are circumftances of the utmost importance to the common cause, and their effect is heightened by the internal diftreffes, the ruined commerce, and increafing financial embarraffment of the enemy.

The crifis lately depending in France has led to an order of things in that country, fuch as will induce his majefty to meet any difpofition to negotiation on the part of the enemy, with an earneft defire to give it the fulleft and speedieft effect; and to conclude a treaty of general peace, when it may be effected on juft and fuitable terms for himself and his allies.

The treaty of commerce between his majesty and the United States

of