avenge her cause: atheism was avowed and pro- BOOK fessed in France. Was it not, however, noto ་ XIX. rious, that almost all the men and women of 1793. rank and fashion in France, including the far greater part of the present emigrant nobility whose piety the honorable gentleman was eager to contrast with republican infidelity, were the genuine and zealous followers of Voltaire and Rousseau? and if the lower orders were ultimately perverted, it was by their precept and example. The atheism, therefore, of the new system, as opposed to the piety of the old, was one of the weakest arguments he had yet heard in favor of this mad political and religious crusade. Mr. Sheridan observed that the honorable gentleman had never made any allowance for the novelty of that situation in which France stood after the destruction of its old arbitrary government. It was an unalterable truth that despotism degrades and depraves human nature, and renders its subjects, on the first recovery of their rights, unfit for the exercise of them. In the first wildness of liberty they would probably dash their broken chains, to the present injury of themselves, and of all who were near them. Still he feared the enemy less than our allies For who were those allies? What had been their conduct? Could the honorable XIX. BOOK gentleman forget his character of the Polish revolution? Who had marred that lovely pro1793. spect, and annihilated the fairest offspring of virtue and valor?-those allies who were the chosen, associated, and bosom counsellors in the future efforts of this deluded nation." The amendment of Mr. Fox was, after a long and interesting discussion, negatived; and the address, as moved by the minister, carried without a division. The debates in the house of peers during this session were too similar to those of the commons to render a minute narration of them necessary. From the great defection experienced by the Whig party, the numbers of the opposition were reduced very low indeed; but the abilities of the marquis of Lansdown, the lords Lauderdale, Moira, Guildford, &c. gave them both animation and interest. On occasion of the address moved by lord Grenville in reply to the message from the throne, the earl of Lauderdale proposed an amendment coincident with that of Mr. Fox. Lord Stanhope, who spoke on the same side, very properly called the attention of the house to the second article of the treaty of 1786, by which it is expressly declared, that in case of any subject of misunderstanding arising between the two nations, the XIX. sending away the ambassador resident at either BOOK court should be deemed a rupture. The marquis of Lansdown supported the preceding speakers 1793. in their general arguments against the war. Who (said the noble lord) are the aggressors→ they who kept a minister, or they who dismissed him?-they who offered to explain, or they who refused to hear?-they who offered to go on and trade in amity, or they who prohibited the exportation of grain to them while it was open to the rest of the world?" The address at length passed in the affirmative, without a division. On the 18th of February Mr. Fox brought forward a set of resolutions, stating in clear and specific language the sentiments of the friends of peace, and the grounds of difference between ministers and the members of opposition. They were precisely as follow: moved by First, That it is not for the honor or interest Resolutions of Great Britain to make war upon France, on Mr. Fox. account of the internal circumstances of that country, for the purpose either of suppressing or punishing any opinions and principles, however pernicious in their tendency, which may prevail there; or of establishing among the French people any particular form of government. Secondly, That the particular complaints which have been made against the conduct of the XIX. BOOK French government are not of a nature to justify war in the first instance, without our having at1793. tempted to obtain redress by negotiation, Thirdly, That it appears to this house, that in the late negotiation between his majesty's ministers and the agents of the French government, the said ministers did not take such measures as were likely to procure redress, without a rupture, for the grievances of which they complained; and, particularly, that they never stated distinctly to the French government any terms and conditions, the accession to which, on the part of France, would induce his majesty to persevere in a system of neutrality. Fourthly, that it does not appear that the tranquillity of Europe, and the rights of independent nations, which have been stated as grounds of war against France, have been attended to by his majesty's ministers in the case of Poland, in the invasion of which unhappy country, both in the last year and more recently, the most open contempt of the law of nations, and the most unjustifiable spirit of aggrandisement, have been manifested, without having produced, so far as appears to this house, any remonstrance from his majesty's ministers. Fifthly, That it is the duty of his majesty's ministers, in the present crisis, to advise his XIX. majesty against entering into engagements BOOK which may prevent Great Britain from making à separate peace whenever the interests of his 1793. majesty and his people may render such a measure advisable, or which may countenance an opinion in Europe that his majesty is acting, in concert with other powers, for the unjustifiable purpose of compelling the people of France to submit to a form of government not approved by that nation. A debate not less vehement than the former took place; and, upon a division, the members appeared to be 270 who voted for the previous question, against 44 who supported the motion. moved by That the sentiments of the members in op- Address position, upon the conduct of ministers and the Mr. Grey. causes of the war, might remain yet more fully and explicitly upon parliamentary record, Mr. Grey, on the 21st of February, moved a memorable address to the throne, containing a clear and comprehensive view of the whole subjectmatter of dispute. "Various grounds of hostility to France," says this judicious and animated address," have been stated, but none that appeared to us to have constituted such an urgent and imperious case of necessity as left no room for accommodation, and made war unavoidable. The government of France has been accused |