his dominions, to cruel and ruinous retaliations. After a long debate, the queftion was put, and carried in the negative. Contents 37. Non-contents 71, including proxies. Diffentient, 1ft. Because the public law of nations, in affirmance of the dictates of nature, and the precepts of revealed religion, forbids us to refort to the extremes of war upon our own opinion of their expeciency, or in any cafe to carry on war for the purpofe cf defolation. We know that the rights of war are odious, and instead of being extended upon Icofe conflructions and fpeculations of danger, ought to be bound up and limited by all the reftraints of the most rigorous conftraction. We are fhocked to fee the first law of nature, felf-prefervation, perverted and abufed into a principle deftructive of all other laws; asd a rule laid down, by which our own fafety is rendered incompatible with the profperity of mankind. Thofe objects of war, which cannot be compaffed by fair and honourable hoftility, ought not to be compaffed at all. An end that has no means, but fuch as are unlawful, is an unlawful end. The manifefto exprefsly founds the change it announces from a qualified and mitigated war, to a war of extremity and defolation, on a certainty that the provinces muft be independent, and must become an acceffion to the firength of an enemy. In the midst of the calamities, by which our lofs of empire has been preceded and accompanied; in the midft of our apprehenfions for the farther calamities which impend over us, it is a matter of fresh grief and accumulated fhame, to fee from a commiffion under the great feal of this kingdom, a declaration for defolating a vaft continent, folely becaufe we had not the wifdem to retain, or the power to.fubdue it. zdly. Because the avowal of a deliberate purpofe of violating the law of nations ruft give an alarm to every late in Europe. All commonwealths have a concern in that law, and are its natural avengers. At this time, furrounded by enemies, and delitute of all allies, it is not neceffary to fharpen and embitter the hoftility of declared foes, or to provoke the enmity of neutral flates. We truft that by the natural ftrength of this kingdom, we are fecured from a foreign conqueft, but no nation is fecured from the invafion and in curfions of enemies. And it feems to us the height of frenzy, as well as wickedness, to expofe this country to cruel depredations, and other outrages too fhocking to mention (but which are all contained in the idea of the extremes of war and defolation) by establishing a falfe, fhameful, and pernicious maxim, that where we have no intereft to preferve, we are called upon by neceflity to deftroy. This kingdom has long enjoyed a profound internal peace, and has flourished above all others in the arts and enjoyments of that happy ftate. It has been the admiration of the world for its cultivation and its plenty: for the comforts of the poor, the fplendor of the rich, and the content and profperity of all. This fituation of fafety may be attributed to the greatness of our power. It is more becoming, and more true, that we ought to [1] 3 attribute attribute that fafety, and the power which procured it, to the ancient juftice, honour, humanity, and generofity of this kingdom, which brought down the bleffing of Providence on a people who made their profperity a benefit to the world, and interested all nations in their fortune, whofe example of mildness and benignity at once humanized others, and rendered itfelf inviolable. In departing from thofe folid principles, and vainly trufting to the fragility of human force, and to the efficacy of arms, rendered impotent by their perverfion, we lay down principles, and furnish examples of the most atrocious barbarity. We are to dread that all our power, peace, and opulence fhould vanish like a dream, and that the cruelties which we think fafe to exercife, because their immediate object is remote, be brought to the coafts, perhaps to the bofom of this kingdom. 3dly. Becaufe, if the explanation given in debate, be expreffive of the true fenfe of the article in the manifefto, fuch explanation ought to be made, and by as high authority as that under which the exceptionable article was originally published. The natural and obvious fefe indicates, that the extremes of war had hitherto been checked; that his Majefty's rals had hitherto foreborne (upon principles of benignity and policy) to defolate the country; but that the whole nature, and future conduct of the war muft be changed in order to render the American acceffion of as little avail to France as pofiible. This, in our apprehenfion, conveys a menace of car rying the war to extremes and to defolation, or it means nothing. And as fome fpeeches in the Houfe (however palliated) and as fome acts of fingular cruelty, and perfectly conformable to the apparent ideas in the manifefto, have lately been exercifed, it becomes the more neceffary, for the honour and fafety of this nation, that this explanation fhould be made. As it is refused, we have only to clear ourfelves to our confciences, to our country, to our neighbours, and to every individual who may fuffer in confequence of this atrocious menace, of all part in the guilt, or in the evils that may become its punishment. And we chufe to draw ourselves out, and to diftinguish ourselves to pofterity, as not being the first to renew, to approve, or to tolerate, the return of that ferocity and barbarism in war, which a beneficent religion, and enlightened manners, and true military honour, had for a long time banished from the Chriftian world. Die Veneris, Apr. 23. Moved, • ТН АТ an humble addrefs be prefented to his Majefty, that he will be gracioufly pleafed to remove the Right Hon. John Earl of Sandwich, first commiffioner for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, and one of his Majesty's most honourable privy council, from the faid office of firft Lord Commiffioner of the Admiralty." After much debate, the question was put, and carried in the negative. Contents 39. Non contents 78. Diffentient, Because, as it is highly becoming this great council of the nation to addrefs his Majefty for the removal of any Minifter for neglect of duty or incapacity, in order to prevent public detriment; fo we conceive the notoriety of the facts in this debate fufficiently warrants, and the prefent alarming fituation of public affairs loudly calls for, this interpofition. Abingdon, Courtenay, I think it incumbent upon me to let pofterity know the particular grounds I made that motion upon. ift. Because, fince the year 1771, there has been 6,917,8721. 5 s. o. granted for naval purposes, more than was granted in an equal number of years, between 1751 and 1759, for the ufe of the navy, although we had been four years at war with France within that period. zdly. Because the navy of England appears to be reduced from what it was in the year 1771, when the prefent firft Lord of the Admiralty fucceeded to the head of that board, notwithstanding the immenfe fums granted for its fupport and increase fince that time. 3dly. Because it appears, after having received fuch repeated intelligence as hath been acknowledged to have been received from the 3d of January, 1778, to the 27th of April following, of the equipment and progrefs of the Toulon fquadron, to their failing on the 13th of April, 1778; the not fending a fquadron into the Mediterranean, to watch the motions of, and endeavour to intercept, the faid French fquadron from paffing the Straits, nor fendFitzwilliam, ing any reinforcement to Vice Admiral Lord Howe, or even difpatching Vice-Admiral Byron till Effingham, the 9th of June, 1778, was expofing the fleet as well as army of England, then employed in America, to a very fuperior force of France. Bolton, Craven, Harcourt King, Fortescue, Richmond, Spencer, Stamford, Ferrers, Manchester, Portland, Rockingham, Camden, Bristol, Egremont, known, that the French fleet then actually at Breft, and fitting for fea, confifted of 32 fhips of the line, befides many heavy frigates, might have been productive at that time of the moft fatal confequences to the only confiderable naval force this kingdom had then ready June 17th the following Meffage was for its protection, but alfo to the trade, and even the ports of these kingdoms. And if Admiral Keppel had remained with his 20 fail of the line off Breft, he muit with thofe fhips have engaged the French fleet of 30 fail of the line, who failed on the 8th of July, as Admiral Keppel could not get the reinforcement even of four fhips of the line to join him till the 9th of July, although he was then at St. Helens for that purpofe. 5thly. Because it appears we loft that valuable ifland of Dominica, for want of timely reinforcements and proper inftructions being fent to Admiral Barrington. 6thly. Becaufe, for want of the fmaileft naval force being fent to the coaft of Africa, we have alfo loft the valuable ftation of Senegal, which might in time, with proper attention, have opened new markets for our drooping manufac tures. 7thly. Because it appears that the Admiralty, without any deli beration whatsoever, having fo precipitately ordered a court-martial upon a commander in chief, of great rank and character, which Admiral Keppel bears in his Majelly's flect, was fruftrating the falutary intentions of that difere. tionary power, lodged by the conftitution in the lords commiffioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, whereby all malicious and ill-founded 6 fent by the King to both Houjes of Parliament. GEORGE R. TH THE ambaffador of the King of Spain having delivered a paper to Lord Viscount Weymouth, and fignified that he has received orders from his court, imme. diately to withdraw from this country; his Majefty has judged it neceffary to direct a copy of that paper to be laid before both Houfes of Parliament, as a matter of the highest importance to the crown and people; and his Majefty acquaints them at the fame time that he has found himself obliged, in confequence of this hoftile declaration, to recal his ambaffador from Madrid. His Majefty declares, in the moft folemn manner, that his defire to preferve and to cultivate peace and friendly intercourse with 'the court of Spain, has been uniform and fincere; and that his conduct towards that power has been guided by no other motives. or principles than thofe of good faith, honour, and juftice; and his Majefty fees with the greater furprise the pretences on which this declaration is grounded, as fome of the grievances enumerated in that paper have never come to the knowledge of his Majesty, either by reprefentation on the part of the Catholick King, or by intelligence from any other quarter; and in all thofe cafes where appli cations cations have been received, the matter of complaint has been treated with the utmost attention, and put into a courfe of enquiry and redress. His Majesty has the firmeft confidence, that his parliament will, with that zeal and public fpirit which he has so often experienced, fupport his Majefty in his refolution, to exert all the power, and all the refources of the nation, to refift and repel any hoftile attempts of the court of Spain; and that, by the bleffing of God, on the rectitude of his intentions, and the equity of his caufe, his Majefty will be able to withstand and defeat the unjuft and dangerous enterprises of his enemies, against the honour of his crown, and the commerce, the rights, and the common interefts of all his fubje&s. obliged to give orders to your ambaffador to withdraw from that court. 1 We beg leave to affure your Majefty, that among the many proofs we have received of your Majefty's conftant care and concern for the fafety and happiness of your people, your Majefty's declaration of your fincere defire to preferve and to cultivate peace and friendly intercourfe with the court of Spain, cannot fail to infpire us with the highest fentiments of gratitude and attachment; and that, animated by your Majefty's example, we will, with unfhaken fidelity and refolution, and with our lives and fǝrtunes, ftand by and fupport your Majefty against all the hoftile defigns and attempts of your enemies against the honour of your crown, and the rights and common interefts of all your Majesty's fubjects." Upon the motion for the above addrefs, an amendment was propoled by adding the following words: "That in a moment fo critical as that which now prefents itself to the confideration of parliament, the most awful this country has ever experienced, it would be deceiving his Majesty, and the nation, if at the fame time that we lament the fatal effect of thofe councils, which, by dividing and wafting the force of the empire by civil wars, incited our natural enemies to take advantage of our weak and distracted condition; were we not to represent to his Majefly, that the only means of refifting the powerful combination that now threatens this country, will be by a total change of that fyftem |