. A bill was likewise passed for continuing the
militia in Ireland, as well as in England and Scotland, but which
substituted in that country the giving of bounties for the system of
ballot.

WAR PROCLAIMED WITH FRANCE.

On the 6th of May Lord Pelham communicated to the lords, and Mr.
Addington to the commons, another message from his majesty, stating that
orders had been given to Lord Whitworth, our ambassador, to quit
Paris immediately, unless he found a certainty of bringing the pending
negociations to a close against a certain period; and that the French
ambassador had applied for a passport to be ready to leave London so
soon as he should be informed of Lord Whitworth having quitted Paris.
Both houses adjourned till the Monday following; and after they again
met, on the 16th of May, they were informed by another royal message,
that Lord Whitworth was recalled, and that the French ambassador had
departed. On the next day after the message was delivered, an Order of
Council was published, directing that reprisals be granted against the
ships, goods, and subjects of the French republic; and a proclamation
was issued for an embargo belonging either to the French and Batavian
republics, or to any countries occupied by French arms. Papers relating
to the correspondence between France and Great Britain, were laid before
both houses on the 18th of May and on the 23rd the subject was taken
into consideration. In each house an address was moved, reechoing the
sentiments of the king's message and declaration; and though stern
opposition was made by some members and peers, they were carried by
large majorities. Recently Pitt had absented himself from the commons,
but on this occasion he was present to defend the approaching contest.
His speech produced a great impression on the house, and was greatly
admired; Fox himself said, that if Demosthenes himself had been present,
he must have admired, and might have envied. Notwithstanding, Fox placed
himself at the head of those few who opposed the address; and ventured
to palliate the conduct of Napoleon's haughtiness and insolent language
to Lord Whitworth. Buonaparte, he said, had as much right to complain of
our aggrandizement in India, as we had to complain of his encroachments
in Europe; that his expressed determination to take possession of Egypt
on some future day, was not a sufficient cause for war; and that we
were going to war on a sordid principle, which would depr