ty also alluded to
preparations going on in Spain, and remarked that however friendly and
seemingly sincere the professions made to us might be, it was a subject
that must gain the attention of the house. The king noticed the complete
failure of the commissioners and of the conciliatory measures passed
during the last sitting of parliament, and urged the necessity of the
most active exertions, in order to vindicate and maintain the honour
of the crown and the interests of the people. He concluded with saying,
that, according to the powers vested in him, he had called out the
militia to assist in the defence of the country, and that he had with
high satisfaction witnessed the public spirit, ardour, and love of their
country which animated all classes of his subjects; and which could not
fail of ensuring safety at home and procuring respect abroad.

In both houses the address of his majesty was opposed. In the lords
it was condemned in toto, with the king's speech, and the opposition
proposed putting an absolute negative upon the whole. It was argued in
support of this proposition, that ministers were proceeding upon false
principles, upheld by obstinacy, folly, and error, and tending to
inevitable ruin; that new men and new measures must be adopted before we
could hope for success in war, or honour and security in peace; that as
ministers had shown themselves incompetent to the management of the
war when they only had the Americans to contend with, it was not to
be expected that they would be able to contend with the united arms
of France and America; and that they would be still less able if Spain
joined the contest. Ministers and their supporters argued that it would
be monstrous to refuse addressing, especially as the speech dwelt solely
on the dangers of the kingdom from the perfidy of France; and as the
address was a simple declaration of supporting his majesty against the
machinations of the French government. The address was carried by
a majority of sixty-seven against thirty-five. In the commons the
opposition moved an amendment "to assure his majesty that from zeal and
affection that house was ready to give the most ample support to
such measures as might be thought necessary for the defence of those
kingdoms, or for frustrating the designs of that restless power which
had so often disturbed the peace of Europe; but that they thought it
their duty to inquire by what fatal councils and unhappy systems of
policy t