terpofe and raise up its friendly arm to fupport her from finking and to preferve the proper balance of power: but now that we had rushed on precipitately to attack one of these armed powers, the others, connected together by the fame. treaty and alliance, would foon follow.

That Holland might be confidered, from her fituation and other circumftances, as a kind of general market, in which, all the kingdoms of Europe were more or lefs connected. Her commerce was a kind of commercial neutrality; and fo enlarged were her views, as not only to fupply other nations at war, but even her own enemies, with warlike articles, to be employed against herfelf. A nation, therefore, confidered as fo univerfally uteful, her caufe would be a common one. He concluded with adding, that he could not give his approbation of a war big with fuch dreadful confequences, without having more material information before him.

Mr. Dunning obferved fhortly, that after what the honour-Mr. Danable gentleman [Mr. Burke] bad faid, nothing remained for ning him to fay; he would only obferve, that he did not underftand by what law we could call upon the States General to punish an individual, for forming a new project with refpect to commerce, and what punishment could be inflicted upon him; he could only think of one precedent, and that was of Czar Peter of Mufcovy, who, when his ambaffador was infulted by fome theriff's officers, fent over to demand reparation for the injury, and it was fuppofed that a prefent of fome of their heads could be the only fatisfaction.

The queftion being put, whether the amendment ftand part of the addrefs, the Houfe divided, for the amendment 101, against it 180.

Lord Mahon moved another amendment, which was to Ld. Maben. leave out the laft paragraph of the King's meffage, and to infertThat the Houfe will immediately apply itfelf to examine, with the moft ferious attention, the caufes which have led to this new and unfortunate fituation of hoftility against the ancient and natural ally of this kingdom, and when satisfied of the neceflity of fuch a measure, will exert their utmost endeavours to fupport the honour of his Majefty's crown and the real interefts of his people."

This was negatived without a divifion: upon which the main question was put, and agreed to.

January 26.

Not members fufficient to make a House.

January

January 27.

The addrefs reported and agreed to. Adjourned to the

29th.

January 29.

The address prefented to his Majefty at St. James's.

The humble Address of the House of Commons to the King. "Moft Gracious Sovereign,

"WE, your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the Commons of Great Britain in Parlament affembled, return your Majefty our humble thanks for your most gracious meffage, and for having been pleafed to communicate to this Houfe your Majefty's public declaration of the causes and motives which have obliged your Majefty to direct letters of marque, and general reprisals, to be iffued against the States General of the United Provinces and their fubjects.

"Permit us, Sir, to affure your Majefty, that we take a moft fincere part in the concern and regret which your Majefty expreffes, for the unavoidable neceffity of hoftile meafures against the ancient friends and natural allies of your kingdoms.

We acknowledge, with the warmeft fentiments of gratitude, the wisdom and moderation of your Majefty's conduct, in ufing every endeavour, before your Majefty proceeded to extremities, to prevail on the States General to revert to that fyftem of found policy which used to govern their councils in the beft times of the republic, and which formed and established her union with Great Britain, for the common intereft and mutual fafety of both countries.

"We beg leave to affure your Majefty, that your faithful Commons will, with a firm and determined refolution, fupport your Majefty against all your enemies, in the profecution of this juft and neceffary war, for the maintenance of the honour of your crown, and of the rights and interests of your people."

"Nothing could give me fo much fatisfaction as this very loyal and affectionate addrefs.

"I return you my moft cordial thanks, for the zealous affurances of the continuance of your fupport; and I affure you, on my part, that I never called for that fupport except when I was convinced that it was effentially neceffary for the welfare and fecurity of my kingdoms, and for the mainte

nance

nance of the honour of my crown, which I fhall always confider as infeparably connected with the interefts of my people."

Decollation of Charles I.

January 30.

January 31.

Mr. Huffey moved, That there be laid before this House, Mr. Huffey. an account of the number of letters of marque and reprifals granted fince the prefent war, diftinguishing the number againft America, France, Spain, and Holland.

Earl Nugent faid, he was furprifed at fuch a motion, and Earl Nugent, begged to know if there was any precedent for it.

Mr. Huffey defired to ask the noble lord if he had any ob- Mr. Huffy. jection to make to his motion?

Earl Nugent faid, he thought the motion unufual, and that Earl Nugent. it might do harm, by informing our enemies the number and force of the fhips defcribed by the motion.

Sir Jofeph Mawbey faid, the objection would apply equally Sir Jofeph to every motion relative to the army and navy, of the ftate Mabey. and amount of which the enemy were as well apprized as

we were.

Sir Richard Sutton afferted, that the enemy had not com- Sir Richard plete accounts of our navy; they might have a general lift Sutton. of it, but that lift did not defcribe them its condition, the number fit for fea, the number in dock, under repair, &c. The prefent motion, however, was of a very different complexion. It was for an account of the number of letters of marque and reprisals that had been iffued, not the ftate of the public but the ftate of the private force of the nation, of which our enemies could have no information already, nor were likely to obtain any, unless they came at it by the prefent motion.

Right honourable T. Townshend faid, he could not fit Rt. hon. T. filent, and hear fuch an interpretation put upon his honour- Townshend. able friend's motion, which he had opened fairly and tem

perately; and therefore it was unjust and indecent to impute it to fo difhonourable a motive.

Lord North faid, his honourable friend near him [Sir R. Lord North. Sutton] had not imputed any motive whatever to the gentleman who had made the motion, but had pointed out to him what would be the probable confequence of his motion, if agreed to by the Houfe; his lordship added, he did not doubt, when the honourable gentleman confidered that it was always cuftemary, when a motion for any particular papers was made,

Mr. Huffey.

made, for the mover to ftate to what purpose or enquiry thofe papers were defigned to be applied, in order that the Houfe, previous to their determining on the motion, might judge of the propriety of the enquiry. His lordfhip concluded with begging that Mr. Huffey would withdraw his motion, becaufe undoubtedly it tended to give the enemy very material information, which they could not otherwife procure.

Mr. Huffy faid, attacked as he had been, he would ftate to the Houfe for what purpose he had made the motion, and how he meant to apply the information it would give. Undoubtedly he did not defign it to ferve the enemy, and if it had ftruck him as likely to have any fuch effect, he would not have made it; the reafon why he made it was, in order to afcertain, by the number of letters of marque and reprifal that had been iffued, whether his fufpicions, that proper exertions were not ufed to man the navy, were well or ill founded. If the number of letters of marque were as numerous as had been reported, certainly his fufpicions_were well founded, and great blame was due fomewhere. From what the noble lord had faid of the probable effect of his motion, he would confent, with the leave of the House, to withdraw it; but he begged leave to afk the noble lord two queftions: the one was, whether it was intended in confequence of the rupture with Holland (which he thought a very unfortunate affair for this country) to apply to Parlia ment for 20,000 more feamen? because if minifters did not mean to make fuch an application, he would himself move it. His other queftion was, as the noble lord would probably in a fortnight, or a month, come to the Houte with notice of a new loan, whether he was making it in such a manner as to provide a prop for the credit of the nation, and not borrow it at fuch high intereft as he had done of late, in confequence of which, if fomething was not done fpeedily, the national credit would go-he was afhamed to fay where?

Lord North.

Lord North paid fome very high compliments to Mr. Huffey on his zeal to ferve his country, of which he said he had met with many inftances, and acknowledged that he had frequently received great affiftance and information from his abilities. His lordship then faid, there were various reasons which muft ftrike the Houfe, that made it highly improper to mention any thing there relative to the loan, till after it was fettled; but if the honourable gentleman would do him the favour to let him fee him out of the Houfe, he would inform

inform him fully as to the matter in queftion, and gladly profit by his advice.

Mr. Huffey faid, he chofe to fay what he wished to fay Mr. Haffey there, rather than elfewhere; that what he alluded to, was to know whether any thing was done to take care of the finking fund. Mr. Huffey alfo reminded the noble lord, that he had not answered his question about the navy.

Lord North faid, he believed there was no intention of Lord Nerth. applying for more feamen this year... Ninety thousand had been voted, which were 20,000 more than had ever been voted before. The reason why no further application was intended, was, that the admiralty always employed all they could procure, and 90,000 was fuppofed to be the outfide of what they could get.

The order of the day was then read for the House to be called over.

Sir Jofeph Mawbey faid, when the Houfe was thin, he Sir Jofeph meant to have perfifted in his motion for the Houfe to be Mawbey. called over that day; but feeing the House was tolerably full, and in order to comply with the requeft of feveral gentlemen, he should now move to difcharge the former order, - and renew the order for a call on the 8th inftant.

On the question being put, the House divided: Ayes, 83; Noes, 154.

The Houfe was called over.

The next order of the day for bringing the late fheriffs of Coventry to the bar was read. A great unwillingness appeared in feveral gentlemen to purfue the bufineis; for not one of them was prepared with any plan or method of proceeding, and for fome time they were debating upon mere forms.

The fheriffs were brought to the bar, and the return, or rather no return, made to the writ for Coventry, was acknowledged by them to be theirs: they begged to be heard by their counfel, and withdrew. Mr. Byng moved that their prayer might be granted.

It was argued on one hand, that fome charge ought to be made against them, before they fhould be put upon their defence; and that if no one ftood forward with a charge, the fheriffs ought to be difcharged, according to the maxim of law and juftice, that every man must be fuppofed innocent against whom no guilt has been proved.

On the other hand it was contended, that this maxim would not apply in the prefent cafe; for as obedience was VOL. XVIII.

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