age. To
dispute about words, is, indeed, seldom useful; and when questions so
weighty as these are before us, may be justly censured as improper. I
shall, therefore, only observe that the term mercenaries, which is in
the motion applied to the forces of Hanover, seems designed rather to
affect the passions than influence the reason, and intended only to
express a partiality which cannot be justified.

But it is far more necessary, my lords, to consider upon what motives
the troops of Hanover were hired, than by what denomination they may
most properly be called; and therefore I shall endeavour to explain
the reasons which induced the ministry to retain them, and which, I
suppose, have prevailed upon the commons to provide for their support.

It has been asked, why the troops of Hanover were preferred to those
of any other nation? And it has been insinuated, that our
determination was influenced by motives very different from that
regard which every Briton owes to the interest of his native country.
But to this imputation, however specious, and however popular, it may
be with great security replied, that there was no preference, because
there was no choice; that there was a necessity for hiring troops, and
that no other troops were to be obtained; and whoever shall endeavour
to invalidate this defence, must engage in an undertaking of which I
can boldly affirm, that he will find it very difficult. He must show
what power would have been able or willing to have furnished us with
troops on this occasion; and I am confident, that whoever shall, with
this design, take a deliberate survey of the several kingdoms and
states of Europe, will find, that there is no other prince to whom we
could have applied on this occasion, without greater inconveniencies
than can reasonably be feared from the present stipulation with
Hanover.

The reasons, indeed, for which this stipulation was made, appeared so
strong, when it was considered in the council, that it was unanimously
determined necessary; nor was the conclusion hastily made in an
assembly of particular persons, who might be suspected of favouring it
from private views, and of being convened on purpose to put it in
execution: it was debated by a great number with great solemnity; nor
can any man say, that he only yielded to what he found it in vain to
oppose; for the consent given was not a tacit acquiescence, but a
verbal approbation. So far was this part of our measures from