istry just tottering to their
overthrow, and everything to fear from the resentment of their
successors. But he justly considered that upon a vital question, and at
such a crisis, no personal or party feeling should intrude; and he felt
himself called upon to support the Admiralty with more than a silent
vote, because he quite approved their measures, which no man could
better understand. He rose fifth in the debate, and spoke as follows:--

"SIR,--As I very seldom trouble the House, I hope I may be
permitted to make a few observations on a subject of which, from
the professional experience I have had, I may be presumed to have
some knowledge. From the debate of this night, there is one piece
of information I have acquired, that the French have got upwards of
a thousand vessels in Boulogne. I am glad to find they are shut up
there; we have one advantage in it--we know where they are. I wish
we had any means of knowing when they intend to come out. I know
this much, however, that they cannot all get out in one day, or in
one night either; and when they do come out, I trust that our
cockleshells alone, as an honourable admiral has called a very
manageable and very active part of our force, will be able to give
a good account of them.

"Sir, I do not really see in the arrangement of our naval defence
anything to excite the apprehensions of even the most timid among
us. On the contrary, I see everything that may be expected from
activity and perseverance to inspire us with confidence. I see a
triple naval bulwark, composed of one fleet acting on the enemy's
coast; of another, consisting of heavier ships, stationed in the
Downs, and ready to act at a moment's notice; and a third, close to
the beach, capable of destroying any part of the enemy's flotilla
that should escape the vigilance of the other two branches of our
defence.

"In respect to what has been said of building ships by contract, I
must confess that I do not much admire that mode of keeping up our
navy. I have seen some of them--I particularly allude to the _Ajax_
and _Achilles_--that I took for Frenchmen.

"As to these gun-boats, which have been so strongly recommended,
this musquito fleet, they are the most contemptible force that can
be employed. Gun-brigs, indeed, are of some use; but between a
gun-br