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The motion was negatived with- dictate to every country, and to out a division.

model every government by her At this time his majesty's minis- own ftandard. Could we then, ters appear to have been in a fitu- without resigning the spirit of ination as unexpected, as it is with- dependent Britons, and the faith out example. It was occafioned due to an ancient ally, submit to by the difunion of the opposition such an intolent and unjust claim party, respecting their political opi- as that of opening the Scheldt on the nions, fo that the division of the part of the French. But they afphalanx, which adhered to its old fected, upon their present system, principles, declared their reproba- to despise all treatics, and to retion of ministers for employing ar- gard that which we are now confitifices to conjure up falle alarms dering as extorted by avarice, or among the people, to serve their compelled by despotism. own purposes; while the receding By the decree of the nineteenth part accused them of an actual neg- of November, the French engaged iect of duty, and a shameful want to allilt the people of every country of vigilance, in a season of such ap- in procuring freedom, by which parent danger. Which of these they may be supposed to mean the branches of the opposition were fame that they enjoyed themselves. 11 well founded in their respective We have, however, seen French opinions, may be discovered, by re- freedom in definition; we have ferring to the situation and conduct seen it in illustration, and have now of France at this period, and the an opportunity to compare the the. effects of them both on our own ory with the practice. Flanders ofcountry. France had not only de- fered a curious specimen of the nanied the obligation of a treaty ture of their freedom. They had which had been considered as the thereendeavoured to propagate their corner fione of the balance of Eu- doctrines; but, finding that the in. rope, and repeatedly renewed; habitants were not disposed to give which had been cocval with the them such a favourable reception as establithment of Dutch freedom, they expected, they employed the and was in fact essentially necessary method of inculcating their opito the independence of Holland; a nions of freedom by force. Their treaty in which France could have general had issued a proclamation, no concern, except in fulfilling its that whoever should refuse to emown stipulation, to guard it against brace the tree of liberty, should be infringement; and which could on- considered and treated as a wretch ly be a matter of contest between who did not dcferve to live. But the sovereign of the Dutch repub- it has been said, that they gave an Jic, and the forereign of the Auf- explanation with respect to this detrian Netherlands. France could cree. But what was the explanahave interfered only from one or tion which they had given? They other of the following motives: As had ftated, as their juftification, assuming to act as sovereign of the that it was not their intention to Netherlands ; or because the pro- allist a few individuals, but only to in claimed a new code of the law of interfere where

great majority nations, by which ihe presumed to should be disposed to thake off their 5:47

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with- di&tate to every country,

model every government by minis- own standard. Could be

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5 with- dependent Britons, and the

Dofition such an infolent aud unjur cal opi- as that of opening the Schelde its old fected, upon their present lite

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a fitu- without resigning the fpiritant than their intention to pro- command, in the inonth of May,

33
government. But be this as it of foreign aid. The proclamation
Bay
, nothing can be more appa- which was made by his majesty's

in other , produced the most fined due to an ancient als

, ded to declare war against all efta- effects. Men, who had been loud

Miched authorities. This kind of in their commendations of the mea

W was, in fact, an inexpiable fures of France, became more moof the part of the French. But they

mr againit all legitimate power, derate and reserved ; and, in pro

and was designed to terminate in portion as the luccess of the comproba- to despise all treaties

, and to :

is extinction. The splendour of bined armies against France became ng ar- gard that which we are now on

conquest had, in former times, more probable, they sunk into difalarms dering as extorted by avarice

,

ben considered in the respect couragement and silence. After their compelled by despotism.

which had been shewn to the go- the horrid maslacres of the tenth of ceding

By the decree of the ninete rernment and rights of the con- August, their partizans seemed alel neg- of November, the French erga wariable policy and scrupulous them ; but, as a melancholy proof

moit entirely to have abandoned want to atlift the people of every coses wch ap- in procuring freedom, by justice, never failed to preserve the how inuch, in the eyes of manthese they may be fuppoied to me

government, the habits and the kind, success constitutes the jufwere same that they enjoyed theme

cuftoms of those nations whom they tice, and misfortune the guilt of ective We have, however, feen bad vanquished. This mode of any measure ; no sooner did the Dy re- freedom in definition ; we proceeding they considered as the tide of war turn in favour of the

bei security for their conquests. French, than their former supportnduct feen it in illuftration, and have for the present age, alas ! had ers flung their dejected spirit from

the an opportunity to compare the been reserved the idea of a war of them, and resumed their courage. own ory with the practice. Flanderse

extirpation; a war which tends to Sedition again broke out with augy de- fered a curious specimen of the

unihilate whatever has been held mented force : clubs and societies, Ereaty ture of their freedom. They must dear, and found most valuable established for the purpose of es the thereendeavoured to propagated anong mankind. This was a fpe- spreading jacobine doctrines, were

cies of war which had never been formed in various parts of the kingwed; habitants were not disposed togarried on even by the most crueldom, and a mode of regular com

the them such a favourable receptia despots, and is only to be exen-munication established between dom, they expected, they employed plied in the conduct of these mo- them. Embaflies were even sent =ísary method of inculcating their em republicans, the founders of from them to France, to congrad; a nions of freedom by force

. 1 iylem of what they call, free- tulate the national affembly of have general had illued a proclamata din and happiness. - But this is that country on their fuccess; and g its that whoever should refuse to a

wall. The French are also en- to encourage the hopes they exaint brace the tree of liberty, thodi dessaring to propagate through- pretsed of a speedy revolution in i

on- confidered and treated as a red cet Erope principles, as inconfift- this kingdom.
veen who did not deserve to live. Let with all established govern Such being the state and conduct
pub- it has been said, that they are a ment

, as they are with the gene- of France, as well as the effects hur explanation with relpect to this tal happiness of mankind. But, which had been produced by it in ould cree. But what was the capire lowerer wild and extravagant their the country, there appears to have As bad ftated, as their juftificatis made prolelytes in this country, aların, which prevailed throughout the that it was not their intentia mio are active in their mischievous it; and to justify the means which toe altist a few individuals

, but only puoles, deeply enraged against all government has employed to calın of interfere where a great macam teblishments, harbouring the most the fears and awaken the confidence é ihould be disposed to thake ofise dangerous deligns, and confident of the people.

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As to the associations which had pearance of a mere party questior, been formed at the Crown and An- was very generally considered, in chor, and other places in London, the progress of its hasty agitation, as well as in different parts of them as an impracticable and disgraceful kingdom, by the friends of the measure, and that sentiment was constitution, they did not take foon confirmed by a circumstance place, till clubs and societies had which must settle all opinions upon multiplied, for the dangerous pur- that subject for ever. Un the very poses of increasing fedition, creat- Jame day, when Mr. Fox made his ing anarchy, diffeminating libels, motion, to address his Majesty to and bringing into contempt the ju send a minister to France, to treat risprudence of the country. There with the executive government there, associations were formed upon those the convention publithed a decree; genuine principles of the constitu- in which it takes upon itself to letion, by which all men are bound gillate for the human race, and in to aslift in putting the law in force, which, according to the eleventh and in aiding and allifting the ma- article, the French nation declare, giftrący, in the performance of “ That it will treat as enemies tbe peon their important duty. They had ple who, refufing or renouncing liberty no other object but to strengthen and equality, are defirous of preserving the hands of government, and, by their prince and privileged cafts, or of keeping all good subjects on their entering into an accommodation with guard, to prevent the ingdious de- them. The nation promises and enSigns of their enemies. They were gages not to lay down its arms unconftituted for the preservation, till the sovereignty and liberty of and not for the destruction of civil the people, on whose territories the and religious liberty.

French armies shall have entered, That this was a period to fend an shall be established; and not to ambassador to negotiate with the content to any arrangement or ruling powers, whoever or what treaty with the princes, and priever they might be, with a vicw to vileged persons, so difpofferiled, prevent an impending war, is an with whom the repablicis at war." opinion which, though supported We thall in vain, says a fagacious by great talents and eloquence, met commentator, op this decree, search with a cold reception in parliament, the annals of the world, for an and found no partizans among the edict of luch rapacious, ruinous, people at large. It had all the ap- and insulting despotisin..

CHAP

СНАР. ІІ.

Cizetal Remarks. Debate on the Alien Bill in the House of Lords. Marquis

Lansdowne's Motion to find a Minister to France. Mr. Pitt's Motion to address bis Majesty to communicate the Orders received by Lord Gower when beguitled Paris. Those Orders brought up by Mr. Dundas. Parliamentary Crversation thereon. Debates on the Alien Bill in the House of Commons. Eat Bill. Bill for prohibiting Naval Stores, Arms, &c. ? he Corn Indemnity Bill. Messages from his Majesty relative to the Correspondence briren Lord Grenzille and Mr. Chauvelin. The same taken into Confidercise by bath Houses of Parliament. Addresses to his Majesty thereon. A Mirage from his Majesty to the Commons, announcing a public Declaration of War by the French againf his Majesty and the United Provinces. The Jize taken into Confideration and an Address. His Majesty's Answer. The Janr: Melage to the Lords and an Address. Mr. Fox moves Resolutions czain ite War. Resolutions moved by Mr. Grey on the same Subject. Pe* tation from the Town of Nottingham praying a Reform in Parliament. Mr. 9. Grerville moves Resolutions relative to contested Elzations. Motion of M. 4. Taylor againft the Erection of Barracks. Mr. Dundas offers to the Houfe of Canoas & Statement of the Situation of Affairs in India. Debates in bath Houses of Parliament on the Slave Trade. Mr. Sheridan's Motion, relace 19 ihe Existence of Seditious Practices in this Country. General Obirsations.

As the namber of foreigners in a situation to render extraordiA and aliens which were at nary measures necessary ? and cases this time in Great-Britain was might be found in hiftory, which, Very considerable, and as many of though not exactly the same, bear then had conducted themselves in fome affinity to it. The period farba manner as to justify a fufpi- which appears to have produced ca of their evil intentions to- circumstances the most similar to Tards this nation; it was thought the present was the reign of queen 3 Datuiary measure, by his majer. Elizabeth. At that time the great TT Sinifters, to apply to parlia and overgrown power of Philip II. Brot, to provide for the public agitated and alarmed every sur tranquillity, by subjecting the re- rounding nation. Acuated not fort and residence of aliens to cers only by ambition, but by a religi123 regulations. Accordingly, ous fanaticitm intent on the prohe Grenville, on the 19th of pagation of its own doctrines, its Lerber, brought in a bill into moit powérful efforts were exerted

House of Lords for that pur- against this island. Money and phe.

feditious writings, as well as forces It muft indeed be acknowledged and secret emissaries, were enıploy. trat this bill was an extraordinary cd to excite plots in England, inszafore; but was not the country furrections in Ireland, and attacks

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from

from Scotland against the queen; pofterity. He was also at a fols, but they were all frustrated by the from the strange and flu&uating wise regulations of that princess affairs of France for fome time and her councils.

past, to whom an ambassador mun When the second reading of the address himself. His lordship said, Alien bill was moved by lord Gren- that he had another very substanville on the 21st of December, the tial objection to the resolution, marquis of Lansdowne expressed a which was, that it contained the with that government would enter words, “ consistent with the reinto an immediate negotiation 1pect due to an independent na. with France, for two important tion,” which implied at least a re: objects. It, To propose to the cognition of the government at ruling powers in that country to present subsisting in that unhappy

. receive back the people whom they country. Besides, the opinion of had thought proper to banishi, or this country concerning the devot. : to contribute to the means of their ed monarch was already known ir support in exile. The other was France, and precluded all necessity an object which interested every of sending any minister or remon man of virtue, justice, and huma- strance thither. ----The duke of nity. He alluded, he said, to the Norfolk admitted that there wa fate of the unfortunate king,whom ground for the objections made by it must be the wish of every noble the noble secretary of state; bu lord in that house, and of every thought that they might be so alter man in the nation, to fave from ed as to be deemed unobjectionable the horrid fate which appeared to At the same time he thought tha menace him. He accordingly a direct coinmunication with per moved two resolutions, recom- sons in power at Paris might bibi. mending the house to address his productive of the most happy conu majesty, entreating his royal inter- fequences. He could not, how to ference, by way of negotiation, ever, but with that the first motio : with the executive power of might be withdrawn, as tending things France, for the purpose of avert. perhaps to hasten the catastroph ing the fate of Louis XVI. and to it was designed to avert. With a receive back, or make some provi- this proposition the noble marquismo fion for, the French emigrants in complied. The second resolution Great-Britain.

relative to the French emigrants Lord Grenville opposed the first was opposed by lord Loughbode of them with great fpirit and rough, on the principle of its bei energy. He reprobated the pro. ing impracticable; and by th:-) posed resolution for describing the duke of Norfolk, as interferin imfortunate monarch under the with the internal government o fimple appellation of Louis XVI. France. It was accordingly nega << which was no more than was done tived. by those who were heaping every

The alien bill, in its progrei indignity upon him, in order to through the House of Lords, wa manifeft their abhorrence of the supported by the dukes of Rich kingly office, which they had mond, Leeds, and Portland, and {worn to maintain to him and his the lords Carlisle, Spencer, Stor

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