throughout the country; on
the contrary, it facilitated the conquest of the United Provinces by the
revolutionary army of France.

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

Notwithstanding the affairs on the continent were brought to a happy
termination, it was deemed expedient to re-assemble parliament much
earlier than had been usual for some months past. It met on the 27th of
November, and the speech from the throne expressed great satisfaction
that the disputes in the United Provinces, which not only threatened
their constitution but affected the security and interests of the
British dominions, had been so happily arranged. His majesty entered
into a detail of the negociations which had taken place; after which
he made some remarks on the flourishing state of the revenue, and the
advantages that might be expected from the continuance of peace. The
addresses were agreed to _nem. con._, in both houses. Fox acknowledged
that if it were possible for him on the present occasion to refuse his
concurrence with the sentiments conveyed by his majesty's speech, or
to oppose the motion, he should commit an outrage against all those
principles and opinions by which his political career had been uniformly
marked. Fox also expressed his warmest approbation of the energetic
conduct of ministers in preventing France from interfering in the
affairs of Holland, and said, that it was his unalterable opinion, that
this country ought, whenever occasion required, to take a vigorous part
in preserving the balance of power in Europe. Yet, though Fox might be
sincere when he uttered these sentiments, he soon showed that he was
still as hostile as ever to ministers. Two nights after he moved for an
address to his majesty, that he would direct copies, or extracts from
any notification made by the court of France of the intention of the
most Christian king to interfere in the affairs of Holland, to be laid
before the house; and he now contended that ministers had incurred
unnecessary expenses, as the King of France never had any intention of
an armed interference. This motion was negatived without a division, but
on the 5th of December, when Pitt moved that a sum not exceeding L36,093
should be granted to the Prince of Hesse Cassel for the year 1788, Fox
again cavilled, by insisting that further information was necessary,
and that it was essential to show how these Hessian troops were to be
employed. Burke showed himself more noble than his friend Fox on