Berlin was instigating war
for the same object. Canning also adverted to the letter which Fox had
sent to Talleyrand, observing that the insertion in it, that the British
government were beginning a new cause, as illustrated by the transaction
alluded to, was false, since the British government had never been
stimulators of assassination. The character of Fox was powerfully
vindicated by Lord Howick, who endeavoured to prove that the deceased
statesman was wholly free from any imputation on his integrity or his
political wisdom. Three days after this Lord Grenville presented to the
house of lords papers relative to the late negociations with Buonaparte;
and on the same day the thanks of both houses were voted to the British
officers who had commanded in the plains of Maida, in Calabria, where,
though inferior in numbers, they had defeated the French with great
slaughter. But, notwithstanding this defeat, as before seen, the French
made the conquest of the kingdom of Naples.

CHAPTER XXVII.

{GEORGE III. 1807--1809}

Debate on the negociation with France..... Financial
Arrangements..... The Slave-Trade Question..... Bill for
Removing the Disabilities of the Roman Catholics.....
Dismissal of Ministers..... New Cabinet..... Trial of
Strength between the two Parties..... Dissolution of
Parliament..... The New Parliament--Campaign of
Napoleon..... The Peace of Tilsit..... Expedition to
Copenhagen..... Hostilities against Turkey..... Expedition
to Egypt..... Disasters in South America..... War with
Russia..... French invasion of Portugal..... Milan Decree,
&c...... Disputes with America..... Meeting of
Parliament..... Debates on the Orders in Council.....
Financial Measures..... Debate on Ireland..... Motion
respecting the Droits of Admiralty, &c...... Prorogation
of Parliament..... Rising of the Spanish Nation, &c.....
Affairs of Portugal..... Confederation of France and
Russia..... Operations in Spain..... Naval Affairs in the
Mediterranean..... State of the Continent.

DEBATE ON THE NEGOCIATION WITH FRANCE.

{A.D. 1807}

The papers which Lord Grenville had laid on the table relative to the
negociations with France, were taken into consideration on the 5th of
January. In both houses addresses were moved to express to his majesty
approbation of his attempts to restore the blessings of peace, and
determinat