period of negotiation fhould arrive, and when this triumphant nation fhould find herself in a fituation rather to dictate than to receive the terms of pacification, that far from imitating this conduct of our enemies, we should fhew as bright an example of temperance and moderation in our profperity, as we had already done of magnanimity and real fortitude in contrary circumftances, and that we should be guided by no other ambition, than that of fecuring the general profperity of the empire, by a safe, an honourable, and a permanent peace. That the means tending moft effectually to this great object would be, by a vigorous profecution of the war, and convincing the enemy by our preparations and exertions, that we were determined to carry it on, as long as their obftinacy and folly should render it neceffary. Thefe means and thefe exertions would be beft found in an extenfion of that meafure, which was recommended from the Throne, to which he should therefore give his warmeft fupport, as the Addrefs had his moft cordial approbation.

The Speaker having read the Addrefs, which was moved and feconded,

["Hear!

Mr. JOLLIFFE faid, he was perfectly difpofed to give credit to those who had brought about the great events which had of late increased the splendour of the country; he, however, could not attribute the whole merit to the army and navy; no inconfiderable fhare of praife was due to the Minifters who had directed their operations. [ Hear! hear!"] There was but one part of the conduct of thofe Minifters of which he difapproved, and that was, with refpect to the Militia. It was the duty undoubtedly of every man, who received the pay of the country, to ferve it wherever the Government might think his fervices neceffary; but it was a fyftem he could not but condemn, that those who nobly stood forward in defence of the country fhould be made mere recruiting parties to the army. He conceived, if we were to avail ourselves farther of the voluntary fervices of the Militia, those services should be tendered in corps, as was done with regard to Ireland. A different fyftem was extremely unfair as to the officers. After officers of the Militia had, at confiderable pains, difciplined their regiments, to take their men from them by the temptation of an high douceur, was acting with the utmoft ingratitude towards them. He was perfuaded it would be more fatisfactory to enlift the Militia in bodies than by any other fyftem: they would go with more readinefs, and would require no bounty; confequently, on every account, it would be more advantageous that the Militia fhould enlist in bodies, not only with respect to the expence to the nation, but

alfo on account of the fatisfaction it would give to the Militia officers.

The Addrefs was then read by Mr. Speaker, and carried nemine contradicente.

Mr. Secretary DUNDAS gave notice of his intention to move a vote of thanks to feveral public characters who had greatly dif tinguished themfelves in the late fucceffes this country had obtained, and particularly to the Earl of Mornington, Governor General in India. At the fame time, as he was defirous that the House fhould be more fully informed of the grounds on which the war in India was undertaken, which had proved fo fuccefsful and decifive, he would with them to be fatisfied that the war was in its nature juft and defenfive. He would therefore move first of all for papers to fhow that we had been dragged into the war, and that it was, in every fenfe of the word, juft and neceffary. He then moved for copies and extracts of correfpondence between the Governor General and Government in India with the Directors, refpecting the war in India with the late Tippo Sultaun.-Ordered.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Wednesday, September 25

Their Lordships met about two o'clock, when they proceeded to St. James's to present the following Addrefs to His Majesty on his moft gracious fpeech from the Throne:

"Moft gracious Sovereign,

We, your Majefty's. moft dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, in Parliament affembled, beg leave to return your Majesty our humble thanks for your Majesty's most gracious fpeech from the Throne.

"To affure your Majefty that, fenfible of the happy effects of the measure adopted in the laft Seffion, and of the courage, difcipline, and steadiness, which have already been manifefted, in the face of the enemy, by the forces which your Majefty was thereby enabled to employ; and impreffed with a full perfuafion of the beneficial confequenees which may at the prefent moment be derived from an increase of your Majefty's forces abroad, we will without delay enter into the confideration of the propriety of enabling your Majefty to avail yourfelf, for that purpose, to a farther extent of the voluntary fervices of your Militia forces.

"We beg leave humbly to congratulate your Majefty on thofe happy events, by which, under the bleffing of Divine Providence, the fituation and profpects of this country have, fince the close of the laft Seffion, been improved beyond the moft fanguine expec

tations.

"While the abilities and valour of the Commanders and Troops of the combined Imperial armies have continued to be displayed, and when the deliverance of Italy may be confidered as fecured by the refult of a campaign equal in fplendour and fuccefs to any the moft brilliant recorded in hiftory, we reflect, with just pride and fatisfaction, that the valour of your Majefty's fleets and armies have been fuccessfully and gloriously employed to the affistance of your Majefty's allies, to the fupport of the juft caufe in which your Majefty is engaged, and to the advancement of the most important interefts of the British empire.

"We have feen with particular pleasure the restoration of the kingdom of Naples to the dominion of its lawful Sovereign, and the renewal of your Majefty's former connections with that power.

"The fresh calamity and difgrace which have attended the French expedition to Egypt, and the utter difappointment' and confufion of its ultimate views against the British poffeffions in the East, are the more fatisfactory to us, from a confideration of the means by which this refult has been produced. We are fenfible how materially the skill and heroifm of a British officer, and of the small portion of naval force under his command, have contributed to direct and animate the valour of the Turkish forces in repelling the defperate attempt of the enemy against the heart of the Ottoman empire and we feel and acknowledge with great fatisfaction the juftice of that praise which your Majefty has graciously been pleased to beftow on the vigilance, decifion, and wifdom of the Governor General in Council, on this great and important occafion, and on the tried abilities and valour of the Commanders, Officers, and Troops, employed under his direction, which have placed the British interefts in India in a state of folid and permanent fecurity, by the total overthrow of that reftlefs and perfidious power, who, inftigated by the artifices, and deluded by the promises of the French, had combined with them for the execution of their ambitious and deftructive projects in that quarter.

"We trust that the effort which your Majefty is now making will produce the deliverance of the United Provinces; and although we lament with your Majefty the lofs of the brave men who have fallen in the fubfequent attack, yet the fuccefs of the British arms

in refcuing from the poffeffion of the enemy the principal port and naval arfenal of the Dutch Republic, excites a well-founded confidence that the fleet, which, under the ufurped dominion of France, was deftined to co-operate in the invasion of these islands, may now, under its antient ftandard, partake in the glory of restoring the religion, liberty, and independence of thofe provinces, fo long in intimate union and alliance with this country.

"While we rejoice with your Majesty in the events which add fo much luftre to the British character, we as cordially join in the fentiments juftly due to your Majefty's good and faithful ally the Emperor of Ruffia; to whofe magnanimity and wifdom, directing to fo many quarters of Europe the force of his extenfive and powerful empire, this country is in a great measure indebted for the fuccefs of its own efforts, as well as for the rapid and favourable change in the general fituation of affairs.

"We beg leave to return our thanks to your Majesty, for having been gracioufly pleased to direct copies to be laid before us of thofe engagements which have confolidated and cemented a connection fo confonant to the permanent interefts of the British empire, and fo important at this moment to every part of the civilized world.

"While we return thanks to your Majefty for your gracious compliance with our recommendation in communicating to the two Houfes of Parliament in Ireland, at the clofe of their laft feffion, the fentiments which we had humbly expreffed to your Majesty refpecting an incorporating Union with that kingdom, we concur with your Majefty in the perfuafion that fignal benefits will be derived to both countries from that important measure; and we trust that the difpofition of the Parliament there will be found to correfpond with that which we have manifested for the accomplishment of a work which tends fo much to add to the fecurity and happiness of all your Majefty's Irish fubjects, and to confolidate the ftrength and profperity of the empire."

HIS MAJESTY's Moft Gracious ANSWER.

My Lords,

I receive with great pleasure this very dutiful and loyal Addrefs. The fentiments which you exprefs are conformable to the whole tenor of your conduct; and if the rapid improvement of our fituation and prospects should lead, as I truft it will, to ultimate fuccefs in this just caufe, I fhall ever acknowledge, with pride and fatisfaction, how much,

under the favour of Providence, this issue must be ascribed to the energy and wisdom manifefted by my two Houfes of Parliament throughout every period of this arduous conteft.

Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE brought up the Report of the Committee appointed to prepare the addrefs to His Majefty, which was read a first and second time, and the address ordered to be presented to His Majesty by fuch Members as were of his most honourable Privy Council; and it was alfo ordered that fuch Members fhould wait upon His Majefty to know when he would be graciously pleased to receive the fame.

Mr. Chancellor PITT moved that His Majefty's most gracious fpeech might be taken into confideration to-morrow.

Mr. PLUMER faid, that contemplating the magnitude and importance of the measure which was likely to be brought forward in the course of the week, he could not but have expected that the right honourable the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or fome other honourable gentleman near him, would have moved the call of the Houfe. He could affure the House he had not the least objection to the bill intended to be brought in, for leffening and reducing the Militia to its antient and original ftandard; but if, after that bill was paffed into a law, it was the object of Minifters to fend large bodies of troops drafted from the Militia to ferve on the Continent, he could not but entertain the most serious doubt as to the propriety of fuch a measure; yet, however his conclufions with respect to it might be founded in juftice, ftill he thought it was a measure of fuch deep importance to the country, that it ought by no means to be carried into effect without a call of the Houfe. His obfervations upon the fubject were fuggefted entirely by his own feelings, and he really knew not whether any gentleman prefent would fecond the motion he meant to submit. He was aware how unpopular it was for any Member to move for a call of the Houfe; but he could not, confiftent with the duty he owed to the country, avoid fuch a motion. He repeated, that he had no objection to the measure intended to be brought forward; on the contrary, he was one who approved of the reduction of the Militia; but he conceived, when such a measure was thought proper to be adopted by the Executive VOL. X.

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