THE WORKS OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE EDMUND BURKE. RE-PRINTED FROM THE LAST LONDON EDITION. VOLUME III. BOSTON: WELLS AND LILLY-COURT STREET. ............. 1826. 03-33 Substance of the Speech on the Army Estimates, 1790 Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceed- SUBSTANCE OF MR. BURKE'S SPEECH IN THE DEBATE ON THE MR. BURKE's speech on the report of the army estimates has not been correctly stated in some of the publick papers. It is of consequence to him not to be misunderstood. The matter which incidentally came into discussion is of the most serious importance. It is thought that the heads and substance of the speech will answer the purpose sufficiently. If in making the abstract, through defect of memory, in the person who now gives it, any difference at all should be perceived from the speech as it was spoken, it will not, the editor imagines, be found in any thing which may amount to a retraction of the opinions he then maintained, or to any softening in the expressions in which they were conveyed. Mr. Burke spoke a considerable time in answer to various arguments which had been insisted upon by Mr. Grenville and Mr. Pitt, for keeping an increased peace establishment, and against an improper jealousy of the ministers, in whom a full confidence, subject to responsibility, ought to be placed, on account of their knowledge of the real situation of affairs; the exact state of which it frequently happened, that they could not disclose, without violating the constitutional and political secrecy, necessary to the wellbeing of their country. Mr. Burke said in substance, That confidence might become a vice, and jealousy a virtue, according to circumstanThat confidence, of all publick virtues, was the most dangerous, and jealousy in a house of commons, of all pub ces. |