Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Report Of The Proceedings Of The British Parliament.
them unanimous in manfully lighting for the liberties of the country . With respect to the French Republic , he did not mean to retract a single idea of what he had formerl y asserted , for he was firmly persuaded that the attempt of the Allies to crush the infant Republic of France , produced that gigantic Republic , whose object seemed to be that of subjugating every other' civilized nation in Europe . The object of the enemy was the dominion of the sea ; nor from this
would they depart , whether a monarchical or republican government prevailed : therefore any attempt to restore the ancient monarchy would be as futile in its elfeft , as it would be absurd in speculation . He would not , in arguing this topic , follow the high example in another country , of calling Buonaparte either a monster or a ruffian ; he conceived such epithets as foolish as they were improper , and in proportion as they excited the hatred or rancour of the enemy , should be our exertions to frustrate their intention to
invade lis . He could , however , in case ofhis landing , not pay him the compliment to believe any one profession which he mi g ht think fit to make in his manifesto or proclamation to the people . He had no doubt but that be would say , ' I will not tarnish my character , or blast my laurels , by any one act of plunder ; I come to protect your liberties—to give happiness to the people , and peace to the cottage . ' Such , Mr . Shciklau saidhe had no doubt , would be the tenor of his
, language ; and what could be more noble , more generous , more disinterested or god-like ?—But was there an Englishman in the country so besotted , so befooled , or so credulous , as to believe a single profession that lie would use on such an occasion ? He called upon the country to look to the practice and nature of republics in virtuous times , and contrast it with the conduct of the French . The Republic of Rome conquered for glory , and Sparta for
fame—they drew no luxuries out of their conquests ; nor did they , like France , make the capital the seat of luxurious refinements , p lundered from , the nations which had unfortunately become the victims of their arms . What then , he asked , could be their object in conquering this country ? not territory , nor glory , for with these they were gorged—It was our capital and our commerce which they wished for—they only wanted , in fact , our SINEWS , our MARROW , and our HEART ' S BLOOD . They called us merchants ; but
when we looked to the articles in which they wished to trade , there was no Englishman , lie was convinced , would give them these in return for an importation of French liberty . Was there any man , he asked , so foolish as to believe that they would suffer this country-to enjoy m-jre liberty than they enjoy themselves ? Is it possible to conceive that they would leave us a constitution that , as a contrast , would become a reproach to tbe Directory ? and would not this be the case , if they suffered us to retain our trial by jury ? All
party considerations should cease , he observed , at a crisis so momentous as the present—though , in enforcing unanimity , he did not forego the right of arraigning the conduct of Ministers hereafter ; yet this was no time for discussing the errors which brought us into our present predicament . Itwas childish to say , let us wait till the enemy make a descent—No ; he was iniintcai to any such modified ardour , such diluted spirit . He sincerel y hoped that government would not act with any confined spirit
or unnecessary jealousy—he trusted that no man of honour who offered his service would be rejected , but rather accepted cheerfully . He adverted to those young gentlemen of hi gh rank , daily mounted on horses of high blood . He thought their lime would be much better employed , if , instead of foraging m the fruit shops in St . James ' s-street , preparatory to action in Rotten-row , they were training in such a manner as might render them useful to their country , and , by a co-operation vvi : h others , prevent themselves from be-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Report Of The Proceedings Of The British Parliament.
them unanimous in manfully lighting for the liberties of the country . With respect to the French Republic , he did not mean to retract a single idea of what he had formerl y asserted , for he was firmly persuaded that the attempt of the Allies to crush the infant Republic of France , produced that gigantic Republic , whose object seemed to be that of subjugating every other' civilized nation in Europe . The object of the enemy was the dominion of the sea ; nor from this
would they depart , whether a monarchical or republican government prevailed : therefore any attempt to restore the ancient monarchy would be as futile in its elfeft , as it would be absurd in speculation . He would not , in arguing this topic , follow the high example in another country , of calling Buonaparte either a monster or a ruffian ; he conceived such epithets as foolish as they were improper , and in proportion as they excited the hatred or rancour of the enemy , should be our exertions to frustrate their intention to
invade lis . He could , however , in case ofhis landing , not pay him the compliment to believe any one profession which he mi g ht think fit to make in his manifesto or proclamation to the people . He had no doubt but that be would say , ' I will not tarnish my character , or blast my laurels , by any one act of plunder ; I come to protect your liberties—to give happiness to the people , and peace to the cottage . ' Such , Mr . Shciklau saidhe had no doubt , would be the tenor of his
, language ; and what could be more noble , more generous , more disinterested or god-like ?—But was there an Englishman in the country so besotted , so befooled , or so credulous , as to believe a single profession that lie would use on such an occasion ? He called upon the country to look to the practice and nature of republics in virtuous times , and contrast it with the conduct of the French . The Republic of Rome conquered for glory , and Sparta for
fame—they drew no luxuries out of their conquests ; nor did they , like France , make the capital the seat of luxurious refinements , p lundered from , the nations which had unfortunately become the victims of their arms . What then , he asked , could be their object in conquering this country ? not territory , nor glory , for with these they were gorged—It was our capital and our commerce which they wished for—they only wanted , in fact , our SINEWS , our MARROW , and our HEART ' S BLOOD . They called us merchants ; but
when we looked to the articles in which they wished to trade , there was no Englishman , lie was convinced , would give them these in return for an importation of French liberty . Was there any man , he asked , so foolish as to believe that they would suffer this country-to enjoy m-jre liberty than they enjoy themselves ? Is it possible to conceive that they would leave us a constitution that , as a contrast , would become a reproach to tbe Directory ? and would not this be the case , if they suffered us to retain our trial by jury ? All
party considerations should cease , he observed , at a crisis so momentous as the present—though , in enforcing unanimity , he did not forego the right of arraigning the conduct of Ministers hereafter ; yet this was no time for discussing the errors which brought us into our present predicament . Itwas childish to say , let us wait till the enemy make a descent—No ; he was iniintcai to any such modified ardour , such diluted spirit . He sincerel y hoped that government would not act with any confined spirit
or unnecessary jealousy—he trusted that no man of honour who offered his service would be rejected , but rather accepted cheerfully . He adverted to those young gentlemen of hi gh rank , daily mounted on horses of high blood . He thought their lime would be much better employed , if , instead of foraging m the fruit shops in St . James ' s-street , preparatory to action in Rotten-row , they were training in such a manner as might render them useful to their country , and , by a co-operation vvi : h others , prevent themselves from be-