Page images
PDF
EPUB

our ancestors had devised, and which it would be our wisdom inviolably to fupport. They experienced all the viciffitudes and distractions of a republic. They felt all the vaffalage and difpotifm of a fimple monarchy. They abandoned both, and by blending each together, extracted a fyftem which has been the envy and admiration of the world. It is this fcheme of government which conftitutes the pride of Englishmen, and which they can never relinquish but with their lives. This fyftem, however, it is the intention of the prefent addrefs to defeat and deftroy. It is the intention of this address to arrogate a power which does not belong to the House of Commons, to place a negative on the exercife of the Prerogative, and to deftroy the balance of power which gives distinction to that government which was fettled at the Revolution, and has ever fince continued to diffuse its happy influences over the inhabitants of this country. It had been remarked by an honourable member (Mr. Fox) that no period of our history affords an example of minifters existing after an addrefs, difapproving of them, from the House of Commons. But to obviate this obfervation, it may be proper to ask, whether the hiftory of this country affords any inftance in which a Miniftry have been called on to retire from office without a caufe? This is a remark which merits attention, and to which it may not be improper to direct the notice of the honourable gentleman at the prefent moment. On what grounds of plaufibility, under what pretexts then are the fupplies for the fervices of the public to be refufed? Is it on account of the arbitrary decifion of the Houfe? Have they no confidence in the conduct of Adminiftration? And I will even venture to ask the honourable gentleman (Mr. Fox) whether he believes that thefe fupplies, if granted, would be mifapplied? He faid the fentiments of the public were flattering to Miniftry. These the refolutions of the House had led his Majefty to attend to, and he would fay the addreffes which had been prefented to the Throne were unequivocally in favour of that Adminiftration which this Houfe has difapproved. He expreffed his approbation of the explicitness of the present addrefs: he hoped gentlemen would now fpeak out, and that they would bring their charges against Ministers. He flattered himself the honourable gentleman's (Mr. Fox) manliness and candour would lead him to this, and that he would not any longer tear in pieces the character of Ministers by diftant but dark invective, or unfupported allegation. He cautioned the House against entertaining an idea that the present motion was calculated to promote union-it feemed rather intended

te

to divide and drive parties at greater diftance from each other. He infifted that an union, if established at all, must exift and be formed on honourable principles-without this, all coali-, tion was farce, and could never be permanent. Union formed on different motives could never be of long continuancethey carried in them their very principles of divifion, “They hold the word of promise to the ear, and break it to the sense." He concluded with apologizing to the House for delaying them fo long: thus much, however, he thought it neceffary to fay in fupport of the balance of the Conftitution, the prerogatives of the King, and the previleges of Parliament.

Mr. Drake was against the motion.

Mr. Dempster ftated what had occurred that dy at the St. Mr. DempAlban's Tavern, and wifhed that gentlemen would on both fter. fides concede a little, and not fuffer grammatical obftacles to stand in the way, when he trusted in God that all others were pretty well removed. The two gentlemen who had negociated this bufinefs deferved every thing from their country that gratitude could bestow; and he wished that they had yet four and twenty hours to try their efforts farther.

kins.

Mr. Hopkins fpoke to the fame effect. He thought Mr. Mr. Hop. Pitt had acted with becoming liberality, in conceding what he had done, and he wifhed that they would yet come to a conclufion.

Mr. Fox thought it neceffary to explain the circumftances Mr. Fox. of the last negociation, and the reafons of their conduct. He faid he was of opinion, that when the meffage came down to the Duke of Portland, intimating his Majefty's wishes that he should have a perfonal interview with Mr. Pitt, to form a new Administration on a wide bafis, and on fair and equal terms, there was no probability that any ferious and cordial union fhould be formed from an interview grounded on fuch terms-but the Duke of Portland thought that the terms of the meffage might be conftrued in a manner which might warrant them in agreeing to a conference. The word fair no one could object to; it was a general term, and the parties might discuss and determine on what they conceived to be mutually fair in fettling the feveral arrangements. That as to the word equal, to which he in particular objected, his Grace thought it might be meant in its more general unlimited fenfe of equitable, and in that fenfe there could be no objection to it. On this account the Duke returned an answer, requesting that Mr. Pitt would explain the word equal, but Mr. Pitt declared in fo many words, that he did not think any farther preliminary explanation neceffary.-Here the matter broke

Kk 2

off,

(

The Chan

off, for it was impoffible that his Grace could meet Mr. Pitt on terms which he refused to explain. The refolution of the St. Alban's meeting was not directed against either party: it was fairly impartial in its purport, and cenfured the one fide for not explaining, as well as the other for not conceding.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer explained his conduct in recellor of the gard to this negociation with great clearness. He had always Exchequer. declared, he faid, that he would never confent either to one

Mr. Fox,

The Hon.

actual or virtual refignation for the purpose of negociating. The meffage which his Majefty fent to the Duke of Portland was in every refpect clear and unequivocal. When defired to explain what was meant by equal, he had faid that it would be beft explained in a perfonal conference. His reafon for this anfwer, and for not agreeing to take this word out of the meffage, and to let the term fair stand by itself, was, that by fo doing it was an implication that they came to an interview to negociate a new Adminiftration, admitting the Duke of Portland's pofition, that inequality was the bafis of fairness.

Mr. Fox faid, the objection of the Duke carried no fuch in. ference. Subftitute the word equitable in the room of equal, or explain what you mean by your own term, and the difficulty is removed.

The Honourable Charles Marfham faid, he trufted that gen. Ch. Mar- tlemen would yet put an end to their grammatical objections and verbal delicacies, and that an approach for a fettlement might yet be made.

fham,

Mr. Hopkins.

Mr. Powys,

The Chan

Mr. Hopkins faid, that in this hope, and to prevent farther inflammation, he would move the previous queftion.

Mr. Powys thought that unless there was any farther ne gociation pending between the two right honourable, gentle. men, the motion for the address fhould be put, fince the cha racter of the Houfe was involved in it.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, that no other nego cellor of the ciation was pending; and as the question for the addrefs was Exchequer. moved, he thought it better that the fenfe of the House fhould be taken upon it.

The previous queftion was withdrawn.

The House then divided on the queftion for the address; Ayes, 201; Noes, 189. Majority, 12.

The addrefs was then prepared, and ordered to be presented by the whole House.

March 2.

The Houfe in a Committee went through the Receipt-tax bill, on the claufes of which there was fome converfation.

March

March 3.

A debate took place on the queftion started by Lord Maitland, whether the Conftable of the Tower was a civil officer, and whether it vacated the feat of Lord George Lenox. A number of circumftances belonging to the office were mentioned; and it was determined that it was a military appoint

ment.

March 4.

The House went up to St. James's with the Addrefs. On their return the Speaker read the King's moft gracious Answer as follows:

"Gentlemen,

"I have already expreffed to you how fenfible I am of the advantages to be derived from fuch an Administration as was pointed out in your unanimous refolution. And I affured you that I was defirous of taking every step most condufive to fuch an object: I remain in the fame fentiments; but I continue equally convinced that it is an object not likely to be obtained by the difmiffion of my prefent Minifters.

"I muft repeat, that no charge or complaint, or any specific objection, is yet made against any of them: if there were any fuch ground for their removal at present, it ought to be equally a reafon for not admitting them as part of that extended and united Administration which you ftate to be requifite:

"I did not confider the failure of my recent endeavours as a final bar to the accomplishment of the purpose which I had in view, if it could have been obtained on those purposes of fairness and equality, without which it can neither be honourable to those who are concerned, nor lay the foundation of fuch a strong and stable government as may be of lafting advantage to the country-but I know of no farther fteps which I can take, that are likely to remove the difficulties which obftruct that defirable end.

"I have never called in queftion the right of my faithful Commons, to offer me their advice upon every proper occafion, touching the exercife of any branch of my Prerogative.

"I fhall be ready at all times to exercise it, and give it the most attentive confideration-they will ever find me difpofed to fhew my regard to the true principles of the Conftitution, and to take fuch measures, as may best conduce to the profperity of my kingdom."

Mr.

Mr. Fox.

Ellis.

Mr. Fox rofe the moment the Speaker had finished his recital of the King's Anfwer, and moved that the confideration of His Majefty's answer to the Addrefs of the House of Commons be adjourned till Monday next.

This was unanimoufly affented to.

The order of the day was then called for from the Treasury Bench, for going into a Committee on the report of the account of the finances of the Eaft-India Company, prefented by the Court of Directors; and Mr. Eden, who had caufed the order to be made a few days ago, moved that it be read. Upon this,

Mr. Welbore Mr. Welbore Ellis rofe; he faid the House feemed to him to have laid it down as a rule of practice, not to go into any public bufinefs whatever until queftions that immediately concerned the privilege and dignity of the Houfe were first difpofed of. Upon this principle he moved that the order of the day be adjourned to Monday.

Mr. Fox,

: Chan

Mr. Fox feconded the motion, faying, that he did it not with any view to delay public bufinefs, or to withhold any fupply; and he intended that his conduct fhould prove the fincerity of his profeffions. But furely when a matter of fuch moment as the King's anfwer was to be difcuffed, and to be followed up with fome meafure that ought to be final, he thought that twice twenty-four hours could not be thought too long a time for deliberation.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, the right honourable cellor of the gentleman wifhed not to be thought defirous to ftop fupplies; Exchequer. But when he proceeded to delay, from day to day, it was very

[ocr errors][merged small]

natural for people to think that he meant to refuse. He did not think, that, after the manner in which the pitiful trick of adjournment last week had been treated, another would have been made this day to delay the public bufinefs, by another adjournment. The mutiny bill ftood for to-morrow; he hoped that when gentlemen confidered how very foon the mutiny. act was to expire, they would not think it expedient to put off the confideration of that bill any longer. If gentlemen fhould think proper to adjourn to Monday, the House was furely too thin to difcufs that queftion; all therefore that they ought in reafon to expect, was, that the House should now adjourn till to-morrow; and then in full House it might be determined, whether all business should be poftponed to Monday.

Mr. Fox faid that it was now only the 4th of March, and themutiny act would expire on the 25th; there was nothing therefore that was very preffing on that head; for if it should

be

« PreviousContinue »