principal topics in the speech. Several members spoke in favour of
the amendment; and Pitt rose with excited feelings to reply. He
remarked:--"The reasons that have induced gentlemen to dissent from the
prosecution of the war-, seem to have possessed a considerable influence
on the manner in which they speak of its justice and necessity at the
commencement; and their language is fainter and feebler than I had
reason to expect. Contending as these gentlemen and I did with the new
and monstrous system of cruelty, anarchy, and impiety, against
those whose principles trampled on civilised society, religion,
and law;--contending, I say, with such a system, I could not have
entertained the slightest expectation that from them would have
proceeded such an amendment. It has pleased an inscrutable Providence
that this power ef France should trample over everything that has been
opposed to it: but let us not therefore fall without any efforts
to resist it; let us not sink without measuring its strength." Pitt
affirmed that neither the speech nor the address pledged the house
never to make peace with the republican government of France, though he
confessed that he had no idea of a secure peace till the return of the
monarchy. The change which had taken place in that government was a
change merely in the name, and not in substance; it no more deserved
the name of moderate than that under Bris-sot, which had provoked this
country to war. If peace could be obtained it would not place us, he
said, in a situation of confidence, and therefore precautions must
be increased. Even if disposed to peace, fear would compel the French
rulers to give their troops employment; and if we dissolved the
continental confederacy, we could not hope to see it again restored; and
then we should be exposed alone to the fury of France. In conclusion,
Pitt entered into a variety of details, showing that the French finances
were on the gulf of bankruptcy, and auguring from thence their final
overthrow, gold ever being the sinews of war. Pitt's sentiments
prevailed the amendment was negatived by two hundred and forty-six
against seventy-three.

CHAPTER XXII.

{GEORGE III. 1795-1796}

Bill for the Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act
(continued)..... Subsidy to Austria..... Supplies, &c.....
Pitt's Plan to man the Navy, &c..... The Slave-Trade
Question..... Termination of the Trial of Warren
Hastings..... Motion for Inquiry i