Parliamentary Proceedings.

there was reason to suspect that the other islands would shortly be •*!! the same predicament . The force destined for the conquest of St . Domingo , he contended to be in the greatest degree inadequate , and by no means able to contend with the marauders of the country . ' So great and unpardonable was the neglect , tha { there , were not now 3000 men . He next took a view of the conduct of the war upon the Continent , which h « accused of the most gross and unpardonable mismanagement . He particularly blamed the neglect of the Allies in not commencing with the siege of Lisle , at a

time when that key of France and of the Netherlands might easily have been taken , from the smallness and disorganized state of the garrison . He compared with such an acquisition the conquest of Valenciennes , Conde , Ouesnoy , and Landrecies , as but of small importance ; and without that acquisition , had the expedition against Dunkirk succeeded , it ivould have been impossible to retain it . He then went on to censure in the same manner the attack on Maubeuge , thy abandonment of Valenciennes , and other strong places ; the retreat from

Brabant , the evacuation of Ostend , leaving Nieuport to its fate , the affair of Toulon , and indiscriminately all the military operations since the commencement of tha war . Throughout all his strictures he guarded against any imputation against the military character of the Commander in Chief , and the other Officers , directing himself solely to the plans' and measures of Administration , and concluded villi recommending a greater attention to the state of the British navy . Mr . tlusscy wished , before the present motion should be carried , that th * House should be in possession of the Minister ' s promised plan for the better

recruiting of his Majesty's navy . So much , in his opinion , depended upon out naval efforts , that he wished greater energy was employed even in impressing more seamen , though it might be a mode not strictly constitutional ; because thus our commerce would have been better protected , and our-seamen better disposed of on board our own men of war , than in crowding the prisons of the « nemy , as he apprehended was now the unfortunate situation of many of them .

He by no means intended to oppose the augmentation of our military force , it it was found to be necessary , and that the country could afford it ; but great as our resources were , they were by no means inexhaustible ; and if we were to be brought to our last effort , that effort should be made in the increase of our naval establishment upon which we could place the greatest confidence and dependence . He would not say that as yet we were driven to our last stake , but that we are approaching to that crisis maybe seen from nearly infallible symptoms . He therefore , moved , " That , for the present , the Chairman of the Committee should

report progress , and ask leave to sit again . " Mr . 1 'itt expressed his readinessto admit of the necessity that existed for the utmost naval exertions ; but in adverting to the history of this country it would be found , that in the most brilliant periods the navy of Great Britain was most successful when the land forces of the country , by diversions upon the territory of the enemy , co-operated and assisted it . Amongst all the reverses that we had hitherto experienced , we had still to recollect with pleasure that our resources for carrying on the war were encreasing with the necessity of employing "

them , and that our commerce and manufactories flourished to an unprecedented degree . All parties seemed " unanimous in the opinion , that the situation we were in called for the utmost efforts in every department ; and the best means of defence against an elated enemy must be allowed to consist in offensive operations . The events of the campaign , though disatrous , were only such as should animate the breast of Englishmen , and rouse all our fortitude . He should , for that reason , oppose any measure which could have the appearance of diffidence or dejection . In one sense of the wordwe were trulat our last stake

, y ; as on the issue of the contest depended the preservation of our laws , our prosperity , and constitution ; but in no other sense had we any occasion for despondency . Mr . Fox thought , that had it been die fortune of Mr . Pitt to have been Minister in the reign of Queen Anne , when the success of the British ' arms was th « theme gf universal siilogy , or tad he been Minister in the seven year * wax JR 2