the public peace, will be
wholly defeated. The magistrates, utterly incapable of distinguishing
the friends from the enemies of order, will in vain look for support
when they stand in the greatest need of it." Mr. Grey's motion was
negatived without a division.

Pitt was not in the house when these debates occurred; but on the 18th,
having been re-elected for the university of Cambridge, he resumed
his seat; and in doing so he referred to the recent discussions, by
declaring his conviction of the facts stated, and his approbation of
the arguments used in support of the address. To send an ambassador to
France, he said, under present circumstances, would be incompatible with
the dignity of the crown, and contrary to the interests of the public;
counteracting and disclaiming those very principles on which the
whole of our conduct was founded. The decided opinion expressed by all
parties, that if war was necessary, it should be prosecuted with vigour,
gave him pleasure; but, at the same time, he assured the house, that
nothing consistent with the dignity of the crown, the safety of the
country, and the security of Europe should be omitted by government to
preserve the blessings of peace.

THE ALIEN BILL, ETC.

At this period many of our provincial towns were filled with Frenchmen.
Most of these were royalists; but there were some who mixed with the
royalists in order to serve the cause of the republic; and there were
others who were professed republicans, and who were using their utmost
efforts to seduce the people. As the English laws were not made for
foreigners, on the 19th of December, Lord Grenville brought forward
a bill in the house of lords, for subjecting aliens to certain
regulations. Thus the bill proposed that all foreigners arriving in the
kingdom, should give an account of themselves, and surrender such arms
as they might have in their possession; that they should be obliged,
in their removals from one part of the country to another, to use
passports; that all emigrants, who received allowances from the British
government, should be distributed in certain districts, where they would
be more under the cognizance of the civil power; and that particular
attention should be paid to such foreigners as had arrived within the
present year, or as might afterwards arrive without obvious reasons.
This bill, though opposed by several lords, passed the three readings
in the upper house without a division, and w