“Scorn and contempt forbid me to proceed! But history, time’s slavish scribe, will tell, How rapidly the zealots of the cause Disbanded—or in hostile ranks appeared; Some tired of honest service; these, outdone, Disgusted, therefore, or appalled by aims Of fiercer zealots—so confusion reigned, And the more faithful were compelled to exclaim As Brutus did to virtue— ‘Liberty, worshipped thee, and find thee but a shade.’ —Wordsworth.”
CHAPTER XXI.
GEORGE III. 1794-1795
Meeting of Parliament..... The Militia augmented..... Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act..... Agitation in England and Scotland..... introduction of Foreign Troops..... The Slave-trade Question..... Motion on behalf of La Fayette..... Motion of Inquiry into the recent Failures of our Armies..... The Trial of Warren Hastings..... The Prorogation of Parliament..... Ministerial Appointments..... Embassy to China, &e...... Corsica annexed to the Crown of England..... Lord Howe’s Naval Victory..... British Conquests in the West Indies..... Disputes in America..... Military Operations on the Continent..... The internal Condition of France..... Convention with Sweden and Denmark..... The State of Poland..... Meeting of Parliament.
A.D. 1794
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.
THE British parliament assembled on the 21st of January. In his opening speech, the king observed, that he and his subjects were engaged in a momentous contest, on the issue of which depended the maintenance of the constitution, laws, and religion of the country, and the security of all civil society. Having mentioned the advantages obtained by the confederated powers, he added, that the circumstances by which their progress had been impeded not only proved the necessity of vigour and perseverance, but confirmed the expectation of ultimate success. Their enemies, he said, had derived the means of temporary exertion from a system which enabled them to dispose of the lives and property of the people; but these efforts, which were productive of internal discontent and confusion, would tend to exhaust the national and real strength of the country. His majesty regretted the necessity of continuing the war; but he thought that he should ill consult the interests of his people, if he desired peace on any grounds exclusive of a due provision for their permanent safety, and for the independence and security of Europe. An attack had been made on him and his allies, founded on principles tending to the destruction of all property, to the subversion of the laws and religion of every civilized nation, and to the general introduction of a horrible system of rapine, anarchy, and impiety. Amendments to the address were moved in both houses, but they were rejected by large majorities; in the lords, by ninety-seven against twelve, and in the commons, by two hundred and seventy-seven against fifty-nine. Fox, Sheridan, Lords Lansdowne and Lauderdale, and others, persevered in maintaining the inexpediency of war, as well as the improbability of success; they denied that France had been hostile to England; they foretold her career of conquests, and predicted disappointment to the nation, similar to that which had been experienced at the close of the American war; they repeated all their arguments in favour of peace: but it was all to no purpose; the majority in both houses were convinced that there could be no radical peace, except France was humbled. On every occasion, though sure of exhibiting their numerical weakness at every division, Fox and his friends attacked the war measures of government. On the vote for augmenting the navy to 85,000 men, they agreed with ministers, but when it was proposed to raise the regular army to 60,000, they renewed their opposition with all their vigour. At a subsequent date, the 17th of February, the Marquess of Lansdowne moved an address to “represent to his majesty the extreme improbability of conquering France; that the dismemberment of France, if attainable, would augment the strength of the powers most to be dreaded; that opinions cannot be controlled by arms; that experience has demonstrated the futility of every attempt to interfere in the internal government of France, even if the justice were problematical; and that we must incur the keenest reproaches, if we encouraged further revolts in a country where we had been unable to save those who put confidence in us from extermination and ruin—therefore to implore his majesty to declare, without delay, his disposition to make peace upon such just, disinterested, and liberal terms as were calculated to render the peace lasting, and that he would signify this intention to his allies, that a stop might be put to the effusion of human blood.” This motion was seconded by the Duke of Grafton, but it was negatived by one hundred and three against thirteen. Every effort of the opposition, indeed, to stem the tide of war proved fruitless. It was resolved to carry it on with vigour; and, to meet the extraordinary exertions, a loan of £11,000,000 was voted by parliament, and some new taxes granted.