t the queen of
Hungary, I think it necessary to fix the limits of our regard, to
inquire how far we may proceed with safety, and what expenses the
nation can bear, and how those expenses may be best employed. The
danger of the queen of Hungary ought not to have an effect which would
be reproachful, even if the danger was our own. It ought not so far to
engross our faculties as to hinder us from attending to every other
object. The man who runs into a greater evil to avoid a less,
evidently shows that he is defective either in prudence or in courage;
that either he wants the natural power of distinguishing, or that his
dread of an approaching, or his impatience of a present evil, has
taken it away.

Let us, therefore, examine, my lords, the measures with which those
who are intrusted with the administration of publick affairs, would
persuade us to concur, and inquire whether they are such as can be
approved by us without danger to our country. Let us consider, my
lords, yet more nearly, whether they are not such as we ourselves
could not be prevailed upon even to regard as the object of
deliberation, were we not dazzled on one part by glaring prospects of
triumphs and honours, of the reduction of France, and the rescue of
the world; of the propagation of liberty, and the defence of religion;
and intimidated on the other by the view of approaching calamities,
the cruelties of persecution, and the hardships of slavery.

All the arts of exaggeration, my lords, have been practised to
reconcile us to the measures which are now proposed, and, indeed, all
are necessary; for the expenses to which we are about to condemn this
nation, are such as it is not able to bear, and to which no lord in
this house would consent, were he calm enough to number the sums.

To prove the truth of this assertion, one question is necessary. Is
any lord in this assembly willing to assist the queen of Hungary at
the expense of sixteen hundred thousand a year? I think the universal
silence of this assembly is a sufficient proof, that no one is
willing; I will, however, repeat my question. Is any lord in this
assembly willing that this nation should assist the queen of Hungary
at the annual expense of sixteen hundred thousand pounds? The house
is, as I expected, still silent, and, therefore, I may now safely
proceed upon the supposition of an unanimous negative. Nor does any
thing remain in order to evince the impropriety of the measures which
we a