I congratulate this Houfe, that however the feparation between Great Britain and America is to be lamented, his Majefty's minifters have advised the Crown to relinquish this obftacle to the negociation for peace. The attainment of a forced connection with America, (for I will not enter into the poffibility or impoffibility of the meafure) is neither for the intereft, nor worthy the purfuit of Great Britain. No, my Lords, could we have foreseen how much blood and treasure would have been lavished on this unfortunate war, its moft fanguine advocates would have reprobated the meafure, they would have forefeen that in the fcale of human life, advantages are always balanced by their concomitant difadvantages; that America would gain much, but she would lofe more; that the Spanish colonies would purfue to effect the fame ideas of emancipation; and that the period was ar rived, when a new fyftem of trade would take place: hiftory would have informed them, that the commerce and naval power of this country, are not founded on the fands of America. No, my Lords, they are raised on the folid rock of national fituation, national induftry, and national courage. Since then, my Lords, fuch is the relative fituation of each refpective country, his Majefty's Minifters have certainly acted wifely in refting the connection of Great Britain and America, on the permanent basis of affection, confanguinity, religion and mutual intereft. Purfuing the fame liberal ideas which have attached the grateful affection of Ireland to this kingdom, they have done it, I flatter myfelf e're the cold hand of death has deftroyed thofe in both countries, who can forget recent diftreffes, in the recollection of former benefits. The Loyalifts too have not been forgotten, afylum, protection, and fupport are held out to them; criminal indeed would it have been to have neglected thofe unfortunate men who have deferved much at our hands, for much have they relinquifhed, and much have they fuffered for the interefts. of this country. The neutral nations, fatisfied with this plain, unequivocal proof, how defirous we are to establish the general tranquillity, will no longer permit France to disturb the peace of Europe.

I come now naturally to fpeak of the economy recommended in his Majefty's fpeech, your Lordships are fenfible of the neceffity of this meafure; two plans were formerly adopted, the prefent, not only comprehends them both, but contains one of much greater extent and utility. Ministers are not afraid to purfue the intentions of Parliament, they

have

Earl of

have nothing to conceal, nothing of which they are afhamed, criminal indeed, would any other conduct be, when his Majefty has been gracioufly pleafed to fet them an example not as in former times, demanding the payments of accumulated debts, but providing for any debts incurred out of his an

nual income.

With fuch a prince, fo gracious, fo difinterested, and fo worthy of the love of his fubjects, what may we not expect ? A peace, not difhonourably, but highly honourable to Great Britain; but fhould France continue the war, the spirit of our people, the spirit of our fleet and army ftill remains unbroken, the treasures of Great Britain are not exhaufted, her arm ftill remains unnerved, the Commanders ftill exift who fo lately led us on to victory, the glow of patriotism still animates the breafts of individuals, they have exhbited examples unmatched in hiftory; let us follow the glorious example, we shall ftill rear the ftandard of victory, in defiance of the numerous foes, fo invidioufly combined against us.

Earl of Sandwich affured their Lordships that he did not Sandwich. rife to oppofe the Addrefs; but on the contrary, to fay, that at this critical and important moment, when the eyes of all foreign nations were upon the proceedings of Parliament, unanimity was of the utmost importance; and therefore that he would give his vote for the Address, as moved for by the noble Marquis. He was fo well convinced of the importance and neceffity of unanimity in Parliament at this time, that he thought every thing that was dear and honourable to the nation depended upon it. The Addrefs was in general terms, and he would put confidence in his Majesty's fervants, that they would act up to those general terms contained in it. But he wished to be understood, that when he gave his vote for this Addrefs he did not thereby intend to give up his right of difapproving the particular measures, when they came under the difcuffion of Parliament. When the terms or propofitions of peace were laid before the Houfe, he should fpeak of them as they appeared to him to deferve. If he did not approve of them, if, in his opinion, they were inadequate, infufficient, and impolitic, he would fay fo. He did not confider himfelf precluded from examining and condemning, if he faw juft reason, the particular measures of minifters, or terms of peace by the general vote he fhould give this day; and therefore he faid this to fhew the manner and principle in which his vote of this day was to be taken. The laft campaign having proved a very glorious campaign

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for this country, he thought we were entitled to very ho nourable terms of peace. The navy was never in fo refpe table a condition as at prefent. England never had fo fine 4 navy. Two great officers had fignalized themfelves fo emi nently, as to reflect immortal honour on their names, and render ineftimable advantages to their country. One in the Weft Indies, and one in Europe. The proud fchemes of the House of Bourbon had been defeated, the grand objects of our enemies this year had been Jamaica and Gibraltar. They reckoned upon the conquefts of thefe places with an almost certainty. Lord Rodney had defeated their fleet in the West Indies, and thereby faved Jamaica; and General Elliot had compelled the enemy to raife the fiege of Gibraltar; thefe were advantages of the highest importance, and entitled this nation to very honourable terms of peace. He did not at prefent wish to know any of the terms, or any part of the ftate of the negociation. He was very fenfible of the delicacy of the fituation of his Majefty's fervants; of the tenderness and caution they must make ufe of; and therefore nothing was farther from his thoughts, than faying any thing which might in the leaft degree embarra's them. But he muft give them a piece of advice: he had been concerned in negotiations himself, and he knew fomething of the manner in which they were carried on. If our enemies were not inclined to fubmit or acquiefce in fuch honourable terms of peace, as we were juftly entitled to, he hoped that the war would be continued with vigour; that Parliament would grant the moft ample fupplies for that purpose, that his Majesty's fervants would meet with the fulleft fupport, and that nothing would be wanting to make the next campaign as glorious as the laft; and if it should so prove, he must say to the King's fervants that whatever were the terms now offered, we ought at the end of the next campaign to be allowed to rife in our demands: if our enemies fhould prove fuccessful he was certain that they would rife in their demands and therefore he cautioned Minifters not to fuffer the present terms to be any precedent for a future negociation; if the war is continued upon these grounds they fhould have his fupport, but if they ventured to make innovations in the conftitution, a conftitution that had ftood the admiration of ages, he muft affure them they would meet with his hearty and determined oppofition.

Earl of Radnor faid, that it was not with the most distant Earl of view of interrupting that unanimity, fo ably and properly Radnor VOL. XI. recommended

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recommended by the noble Lords who moved and feconded the Addrefs, that he wifhed to make a small amendment. The Addrets as far as it went, met with his hearty concurrence. But he thought there was an omiffion in it. It was the gratitude which he felt, that fuggefted to him and pointed out this omiffion. The Addrefs did not, in his opinion, exprefs that grateful fenfe of his Majefty's goodness, and regard for the interefts and happiness of his people, in facrificing to their wishes and welfare, his own rights and fovereignty over America, to procure the bleffings of peace, which fuch benevolence and attention fo juftly deserved. His Lordship therefore moved that after the words " to acknowledge with the fincereft gratitude," be added, "the facrifice that his Majefty has been graciously and affectionately pleased to make to the wifhes and opinions of his people, fully convinced that his Majefty's own conduct has always been actuated by a fimilar difpofition."

This amendment was agreed to without any oppofition. Lord Viscount Stormont faid, it was not his intention to Stormont. interrupt that unanimity, which, at this time, was fo neceffary in the proceedings of Parliament. The Address had his approbation. It contained thofe expreffions of duty, loyalty and affection to the Crown, which would always from him meet with the warmeft fupport. He entirely agreed with the noble Earl [Lord Sandwich] who spoke laft, as to the prudence of obferving fecrecy in the prefent state of negociation. But as a part of the negociation had been revealed by the speech, he could not, in duty to his King and country, in juftice to his own feelings, and, as a caution to the prefent Adminiftration, forbear his animadverfions upon it. We have been told, by the noble Lord who moved the Addrefs, that the navy of England is now greater than at any period in our hiftory. I fhall record the remark, and compare it with the refult of our prefent negociations. But without referring to a future comparifon, have we not occafion to queftion the wisdom of his Majesty's fervants even in the few steps they have taken towards a pacification, as far as they have thought proper to difclose themselves to the public, through the medium of the King's fpeech. What is this provifional treaty made by them with the Commiffioners of America? Commiffioners acting under the guidance and direction of French councils. Does it not plainly import the moft prepofterous conduct, that it was poffible for a miniftry of the greateft imbecility to have fallen into? Does it not

fay,

fay, that without any condition, any qualification, any ftipulation whatsoever, America fhall be independent whenever France chooses to make a peace with us? Is not this provi fional treaty irrevocable? Doth it not declare the matter in contention given up? Is not independence given to the Americans without poffibility of retraction? Let France, Spain, and Holland now war as they pleafe, the former grounds on which they fought, grounds by no means tenable by honour, are now changed. America has been treated with on an inde pendent footing. This treaty has been made without equivalent. But before Minifters had agreed to be weak enough to enter into this provifional treaty, as it is called, they would have done well to have confulted hiftory on the occafion. I will venture to affirm, that there is not an instance in either ancient or modern story to countenance fuch a procedure. It would not have demeaned the prefent Administration to have confidered the conduct of the Spanish government in nearly fimilar circumftances. By a wife negociation, in a reign of the greatest imbecility that ever Spain knew--I mean the reign of Philip II. the Spaniards retained ten out of feventeen revolted provinces, and thefe ten the most valuable to the Spanish empire. The Spanish negociator did more, he detached the feven provinces, whofe independency was acknowledged, from their French allies. But this is not all that I have to reprobate in this unconditional independence, this provifional peace. What are to become of- the wretched Loyalifts, is a mere provifion for exiftence; an eleemofynary fupport, all that this honeft, brave fet of men muft expect at the hands of the government, which they have at the utmoft risk of life, fortune, and, in fhort, every bleffing on this fide the grave, adhered to in the worst of times To Spanish hiftory I will again advert in behalf of thefe much abused people: The rebellious Catalonians were on the remarkable treaty with that province, placed by their Sovereign on the fame footing with his moft favoured Caftilians. In the treaty of Munfter, there is a leffon of wisdom, that the wifeft Minifter under the fun need not fcorn to be inftructed by.---And let me add, that, if (neglecting the wisdom handed down by paft ages) we fhall abandon our generous, loyal, fuffering friends, we fhall bring fo foul a difgrace on the name of Britain, as no future period shall ever be able to expunge. Before the late change of Minifters it was faid, that there were perfons in town authorized by America to treat of peace; but no enquiry had yet difcovered

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