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jur ancient 1 of the Core Alded he, il com Or are to be, 5 them, tips of nations, as pproved by pe Couptry; ita

bim that e; and that arations, the bet Eth effeâ.

ter enlarga

of the iperten

efs.

thought it dhe Tho was a friend

in church 24 Ty thing, at

1 support of a Aded, if miz ordinary porco ration, he 3

not perceive, in the existing cir, After enlarging, in a strain of
cintances of Europe, lufticient superior animation, on the power
cule for such an event; and it which he accused government of
Tas his opinion, that nothing but having dared to allume over the

actual invasion could justify it minds and speculative opinions of
on the part of Great-Britain.

men, he inveighed against the in-
Mr. Fox, after some general ob- justice of complaining that fediti-
fervations, and the usual apology ous pamphlets were in circulation,
ci considering the King's speech without stretching forth the arm of
is that of the ministers, declared it law to punish and suppress them.
na be his firm opinion and belief, He then noticed the publications
chat every fact allerted in the speech and conduct of the association at
was falfe, and all its infinuations the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in
cafoauded; that no insurrection terms of great disapprobation, and
exifted; and that the alarm, what proceeded to speak of the calling
ever it might be, was not occafion- out of the militia, which he confi-
ed by any actual circumstances that dered as a fraud on the part of mi-
could justify reasonable apprehen- nifters, because it was founded on
hori

, but by the artful designs and false pretences, and done with a practices of minifters.

view to raise those apprehenfions
In his observations on the affairs in the minds of the people, in or-
of France, Mr. Fox expreised his der that they may be the more rea-
disapprobation of the manner in dily duped into a support of the
which Mr. Wallace mentioned prefent government. Mr. Fox now
the effect that the retreat of the passed on to the fucceeding patiage
Duke of Bruntwick had on many of the fpeech, which, in his opi-
persons in this country: “What,” nion, implied an apprehension of
exclaimed be, “is this to be con war ; an event which he most fin-
fidered as a tign of discontent and cerely deprecated, because, he faid,
of a preference to republican doc- there never was a moment when
trines

, that men should droop and this country had so much reason to
be dejected in their spirits, when with for peace as the pretent, and
tbey beard that the arinies of def- that there never was a period 10 lit-
pozulm had triumphed over an army tle favourable to a rupture with
fighting for liberty? If such dejec- France with any other power. He
to be a proof that men are dif- mentioned several examples of for-
Ontented with the conftitution of tunate negotiations, by which wars
Igland, and leagued with fo- bad been prevented; and repro-
regres in an attempt to destroy bated, in very pointed terms, the
it, I give myself up to my country backwardness of ministers to avert
25 a guilty man: for I freely con- the evils of war, by sending an
tris that, when I heard of the sur- ambasador to the executive go-
reader or retreat of Dumourier; vernment of France.
and that there was a probability of After some spirited animadver-
the triumph of the armies of Auf- fions on the conduct of ministers,
tria and Pruffia over the liberties of from the beginning of the French
Frauce, my spirits drooped, and I troubles to the present time, he ap-
as dejrúed."

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plied the plot of Titus Oates, in nifest to all the world, that where the reign of Charles the Second, to they did exift, they should be rethe artificial fears of the existing pe- dressed; where they did not, that riod, and warned his friends who it should be made manifeft. 'I love had lately separated from the oppo- the constitution, continued Mr. sition party, of being, like the cele- Fox, as it is established. I know brated Lord Russel, the dupes of that it is calculated for the happiness similar deception. « But," ex- of man, and that its constituent claimed Mr. Fox, “ if it should be branches of king, lords, and comasked, what I propose to do in mons, could not be altered or imtimes of agitation like the present? paired, without entailing on this I will answer at once and without country the most dreadful miseries, referve. If there is a tendency in It is the best adapted to England, Ithe diflenters to discontent, because because the people of England think they conceive themselves to be un- it the best ; and the safest course is justly suspected and cruelly calum- to consult the judgment and graniated; what should I do? I would tify the predilections of a country. instantly repeal the test and corpo- Heartily convinced as I am, that, to ration acts, and take from them, secure the peace, ftrength, and by such a step, all cause of com- happiness of the country, we inuft plaint. If there were any persons maintain the constitution against tinctured with a republican fpirit, all innovation ; yet I do not think because they thought that there pre- fo superstitiously of any human insentative government was more per- ftitution, as to believe, that it is infect in a republic, I would endea- capable of being perverted : on the vour to amend the representation contrary, I believe, that it requires of the commons, and to prove, that an increasing vigilance, on the part the house of commons, though not of the people, to prevent the decay chosen by all, should have no other and dilapidations to which every interest than to prove itself the re- edifice is subject. I think also that presentative of all. If there were we inay be laid asleep to our real inen dissatisfied in Scotland or Ire- danger by these perpetual alarms to Jand, or elsewhere, on account of loyalty, which appear to be daily disabilities and exemptions, of un- fapping the constitution; under the just prejudices and of cruel restric- pretext of guarding it from the artions, I would repeal the penal Ita- faults of republicans and levellers, tutes, which are a disgrace to our we run the hazard of leaving it open law books. If there were other on the other, and more feeble side. complaints of grievances, I would We are led insensibly to the opporedress them where they were re- fite danger; that of increasing the ally proved; but, above all, I would power of the crown, and of degradconstantly, cheerfully, patientlying the influence of the coinmons liften. I would make it known, if house of parliament. any man felt, or thought he felt, a Mr. Fox concluded his speech grievance, he might come freely to with an amendment to the address, the bar of this house, and bring his which merely proposed, that the proofs; and it should be made ma- house should enter into an imme

Chey fhould be

they did not, but de manifeft. Il 1), continued ablished. Ita

, lords, and a t be altered air

entailing ca tu 1 dreadful realize

the safeft corn dgment at ions of a cocon

- world, thanked Liste examination of the facts, the subversion of the constitution, Ced for the hapizá for, by an apology for opposing Fox had taken, was, how far it

which in his He to the house
frech, as the causes for assembling they did not know and feel that
the parliament

there was a general alarm throughMr. Windham commenced a ve out the country. The next point

argumentative answer to Mr. to be considered in the order Mr. hat its coabore dole political friends with who might be fit to check the cause of

be had so long acted. He atked, this mischief by law, the question Was the country, at this moment, of the policy of doing it, the right in a fate of danger, or not? He hon. gentleman had determined

was told, indeed, that there was no in the negative. It was true, that apted to Englismal caule for alarm among the peo- the meafurcs now pursued over the ¢ of Englandi en ple; that the only alarm which country, were such as had never

va felt had been created by go- been oployed before : but it must Ternment. The powers of govern- be observed, in answer to this, ment, therefore, must have been that there never had been such an frange and wonderful indeed, to occafion before. Speculative opiproduce the alarm every day ex- nions had been published froin time preled in different parts of the to time in this county, and they kingdom. It was his belief,however, might have been continued to be

that there were serious and well- published, but the manner of pubof any huma) 3 founded alarms, from the conduct, lishing, as well as the works pub

mot of the officers of government, lished of late, were entirely new.

but from those who had sworn an The machine was so well construct; that it require mamity to all government. Did not ed, there were such skill, contriyince, on the rain the whole country feel it? Was not ance, and management in the enrevent the deca

every town, village, or hamlet, gineers, that, unless parliament

illed with apprehenfion? Could a were on their guard, and the fenI think allone

man enter into his own house, or fible and honelt part of the commuleep to our read could he walk in a field, without nity active in counteracting their petual alaries colerving, that it occupied the designs, the whole form of our goir to be daily whole attention of all ranks and de- vernment might be easily subverted, tion; under the fcriptions of people. If a man He spoke not fron distrutt mercly, it from the Fuld not believe any thing but or rumour, but he knew, and it 3 and Jerelles what he saw, nor fee any thing but was notorious that there had been, leaving it open that he liked, it was not very pro- and was now, a constant commuvre feeble bide.

bule that he would see much of nication between persons in Paris, y to the oppo

the alarm in question : but if he and perfous in London, the object ncreating the

ve at the pains to observe, the of which was the dettruction of our nd of degrado zám was visible enough. He present form of government. This he COMING

had himself observed it: he had fort of counter alliance of the En

ken the intention of the enemies glishman in Paris, and the Frenchhis speech

of the present constitution exprefled man in London, had been reguthe addres ,

in various thapes. He had seen it Jarly fornied, and the ctfect of it ! in the confidence of their agents, was felt already in an alarming de

in the boldness of those who withed grce; for in every town, in every diate

village

ed as I am, ther. , ftrength. country, were nftitution and et I do act

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village, nay, almoft in every house, affected to treat these things with these worthy gentlemen had their contempt, but they ought not, in agents, who regularly disseminated his mind, to be fo regarded. It certain painphlets; these agents were was true that the high ranks of life vigilant and industrious, delivered were not contaminated by jacobin these pamphlets gratis, a proof principles; but if they were to caft there must be somewhere a society their eyes downward, they would to defray the expence; for these see these lurking underneath a fort agents could not afford to be thus of fubterranean heat, that night generous to the public without af- burst forth with great violence, if listance; they could not pay for not inimediately extinguished. them out of their own pockets. With respect to the combined arNo; the whole was a well-arranged mies that marched towards Paris, methodized plan, for gradually un- he believed, that their motives were dermining the principles of the good; and though the maxim, that British constitution,

no country ought to intermeddle “The fyftem," said Mr. Wind- with the internal affairs of another, hamn, “ to which he had alluded, might be right in a limited fenie, had been carried throughout the he could not admit it in the degree country. Great pains had been ta- infitted upon by many modern poken with the poorer part of the liticians. Besides, it might be aikcominunity, to ween their affections ed, did France pursue only her owa from government; and it was a fact internal regulation ? Did the keep notoriously known, that the whole good faith in her decree, “ That plan was supported by a purse, ihe abandoned for ever all ideas of which, he believed, was made up foreign conquest?” It was her obin France. It might be said, in ject to lower this country, and in antwer to such an opinion, that that the would persist, while the the French had no money to con had any prospect of accomplishing tribute on such an occasion, but it. What was to be said for the the reply was obvious; that those French in the war againfi the king who are in a state of defperation, oí Sardinia Still worfe was their have always the most money to conduct at Genera : but, above all, squander upon acts of profligacyand who would applaud their decree to dishonour. The manner in which give liberty to all mankind, which

bi this bufizess was conducted, was very could be considered as no better artful. On putting there works of than an arowal of their design to fedition into the hands of the la- disturb every power in Europe ? bourer, they always told him that They talked, indeed,ofgiving toevethey were intended for his inftruc- ry place where their arms werevictotion. Again, it was said, that the rious, a choice of the form of governobject of these publications was ment; but did they wait for the tense the propagation of truth, and the of the majority? Not they indeed. improvement of the condition of When two or three were gathered man g---on the contrary, it was to ingether, 'it was enough for them. reverse the order of society altoge- What were their intentions to this ther. Some gentlemen, he said, country? Refer to the correspond

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ence of the jacobin club of Man ings of a certain tendency had been chefter, and the jacobin club of circulated in great profufion, in Paris. Did any man believe that consequence of the very means they would hesitate to bring an ar- which had been taken to suppress op into the heart of this country, them ; but the feditious effects

they thought themselves safe in which these writings were stated to Bo doing. Thus, from all circum- have had upon the minds of the tances, minute in themselves, but people, he completely denied. He

of the most serious importance, did not believe the minds of the great videos

when combined, it would appear, people to be fo perverfe as to be that the alarm was not fictitious, but dilaffected to a constitution from

real. Mr. Windham concluded by which they enjoyed so many bler d towards Pa declaring, that Ministers had acted ings; Their natural good sense right in calling out the militía.

would prevent them from adopting Mr. Grey regretted the necessity any doctrines subversive of thatconhe was under of opposing the hon. ftitution. He was not a friend to gentleman who had spoken laft

, Paine's doctrines, but he was not while he supported an administra- to be deterred by a name from

tian, whose uniform bad conduct acknowledging that he confidered any moderna - was füill more aggravated by their the Rights of Man as the foun

prelent measures. The fituation of dation of every government, and danger

, in which the country was those who itood out againti these

at present placed, arose not from rights as confpirators against the decree, - 74

the combinations of levellers and people. He then entered into a ever all ideas de republicans, who, he believed, were detail of the conduct of ministers, It was her sta

but few in number, and still less particularly in raising the late ountry, and is

Irmidable; not from any riots alarm, and concluded with comsist, while the which had originated from circum- paring, as Mr. Fox had already accomplimia tuces purely local ; not from any done, the delutions of the popish le laid for

inkurrections, theexistence of which plot in the reign of Charles the gainft the king

bad been attached to no particular Second, to the impresions proorte was de

fpt; but the danger arose from duced by those alarms, which mibut, abore ai

the measures of ministers, which nifters had taken so much pains to

hd fhaken the pillars of the public excite. nkind, which c.urity, which had threatened our Mr. Dundas could not refrain

comerce with the most fatal con- from exprefling his astonillment at isir delights

fequences from a war, and which what he had heard that night rein Eurore!

bindever been attended with a ftill specting univerral liberty, and the ne ferious evil, by introducing a unlimited right of discussion. He

pratie hoftile to the principles of allowed, indeed, that reasoning to ny wereridto I'm of goret

the constitution itself. The hon. be fair, which stated, if there for the lecie

grademan who had fpoke laft, had exifted discontents in consequence mat made the distinction between of grievances, that the proper mealarm and danger. He had mis- thod of getting rid of those dirtaken his own apprehensions for contents was, to remove the griethe danger of which he was afraid. vances which afforded ground of He was ready to allow, that writ- complaint. But what conduct could

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