s were represented by
opposition to preponderate on the side of France; but Pitt endeavoured
to show that if the scales were held with an even hand, the weightiest
would be on our side. He remarked, "It would be ridiculous to imagine
that the French would consent to yield advantages without any idea of
compensation. The treaty would undoubtedly benefit them, but it would be
still more profitable to us. France might gain, for her wines and other
articles, a large and opulent market; but we should procure the same to
a much greater extent for our manufactures. Both nations are prepared
and disposed for such a connexion. France, by the peculiar dispensation
of Providence, was gifted, perhaps, more than any country on earth,
with what made life desirable, in point of soil, climate, and natural
productions: Britain, on the contrary, possessing these advantages in
a less degree, had, from the happy freedom of its constitution and
the equal security of its laws, risen to a state of great commercial
grandeur, and acquired the ability of supplying France with the
artificial conveniences of life in return for her natural luxuries."
Many objections were brought against this treaty by the opposition; Fox
distinguishing himself on this occasion by his hostility to its several
provisions. In his speech Fox re-asserted that France was the natural
and unalterable enemy of England; and that she ought to be considered,
not only as a rival, but as a nation with whom there ought never to be
any political or commercial connexion whatever. Fox, also, again spoke
of the restless ambition of France, and denounced the character of
the French monarch with great bitterness. Like Pitt, he alluded to the
American war; but it was only to heap coals of fire on the heads of
Louis XVI. and his subjects. He accused them of treachery and duplicity;
pointed out the mean way in which they had taken advantage of our
difficulties, and to revive the national animosity existing between the
two nations; and he re-affirmed that no doubt could be left on the
mind of any thinking man, but that the French nation was actuated by a
regular, fixed, and systematic enmity to this country: she might have
changed her policy, but there was no proof that she had changed her
sentiments. But though some plausible objections were suggested by
members of opposition against this measure, the only topic on which they
insisted with any advantage, and, in truth, the only real difficu