Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Report Of The Proceedings Of The British Parliament.
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT .
THE FIRST SESSION OF THE EIGHTEENTH PARLIAMENT
HOUSE T OP , LORDS /
THURSDAY , MARCH 23 . THE Earl of Oxford , in consequence of the notice he had given , of a motion for peace , to which their Lordships were summoned , rose , and began to address the House , by lamenting that the measure he was about to propose had not fallen into abler hands . But the situation of the country was so perilous , that he fell it his duty to come forward , and use his efforts to save it from the misfortunes with
which it was threatened ; and as the best means of saving the country would be an immediate Peace , he should move an Address to the King , soliciting his Majesty to take the proper steps to bring about such a desirable event . His Lordship argued that the Directory had long been desirous of Peace , and he quoted , in support of his opinion , Barthelemy'snote of the 26 th of March , 1796 , which in answer to Mr . Wickham says , ' the Directory ardently desires to procure for the French Republic a just , honourable , and solid Peace . ' He next quoted the Order of the Directorydated 9 th Vendemaireto grant Lord Malmesbury a passportin which
, , , they say ' they wish to give a proof of the desire they entertain to make Peace with England ; ' and after reading extracts from Delacroix ' s note of 19 th December , and other papers relative to Lord Malmesbury ' s negociation , he maintained that the Directory had always evinced a sincere desire for Peace . With regard to the demand of Belgium , made by the French Government , he said , since they possessed all the countries on the left bank of the Rhine , and since it did not appearthat the Allies ivould be able to dislodge them from thence , it would be very
vain to hope for the restoration of Belgium tothe Emperor ; especially as the French were determined to retain it , and the means of this country to carry on the war were daily growing weaker . His Lordship concluded an able and argumentative speech , by moving an Address , of which the following is a copy : That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty , humbly to represent to his Majesty , that in the present most critical and alarming situation of the country , this House holds it to be its bounden duty to apprize his Majesty of his own danger , and the ruin and confusion which threaten the whole nation .
That the shock which has been lately given to public credit must , from the peculiar nature of our commercialsystem , deprive us of those means whereby we were enabled to hold so high a rank among the nations of the world ; unless the eountiy is speedily relieved from its present enormous expendiiure , and its future prosperity insured by an IMMEDIATE , SINCERE , AND LASTING PEACH . That this House begs leave humbly to represent to his Majesty , that upon 4 considerate and impartial review of the whole of the late negociation , ihis House sees with concernthat that negociation was broken off by the conduct and
de-, mands of his Majesty ' s ministers , and not by a want of disposiliori for Peace oil ' the part of France . That in answerto the impolitic note , delivered by Mr . Wickham , the Executive Directory declare , that , ' yielding to the ardent desire by which it is animated to procure Peace for the French Republic , and for all nations , it will not fear to de-, dare itself openly . Charged by the constitution with the . execution of the laws , it cannot make , or Usteg to any proposal that Would be contrary to them . The
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Report Of The Proceedings Of The British Parliament.
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT .
THE FIRST SESSION OF THE EIGHTEENTH PARLIAMENT
HOUSE T OP , LORDS /
THURSDAY , MARCH 23 . THE Earl of Oxford , in consequence of the notice he had given , of a motion for peace , to which their Lordships were summoned , rose , and began to address the House , by lamenting that the measure he was about to propose had not fallen into abler hands . But the situation of the country was so perilous , that he fell it his duty to come forward , and use his efforts to save it from the misfortunes with
which it was threatened ; and as the best means of saving the country would be an immediate Peace , he should move an Address to the King , soliciting his Majesty to take the proper steps to bring about such a desirable event . His Lordship argued that the Directory had long been desirous of Peace , and he quoted , in support of his opinion , Barthelemy'snote of the 26 th of March , 1796 , which in answer to Mr . Wickham says , ' the Directory ardently desires to procure for the French Republic a just , honourable , and solid Peace . ' He next quoted the Order of the Directorydated 9 th Vendemaireto grant Lord Malmesbury a passportin which
, , , they say ' they wish to give a proof of the desire they entertain to make Peace with England ; ' and after reading extracts from Delacroix ' s note of 19 th December , and other papers relative to Lord Malmesbury ' s negociation , he maintained that the Directory had always evinced a sincere desire for Peace . With regard to the demand of Belgium , made by the French Government , he said , since they possessed all the countries on the left bank of the Rhine , and since it did not appearthat the Allies ivould be able to dislodge them from thence , it would be very
vain to hope for the restoration of Belgium tothe Emperor ; especially as the French were determined to retain it , and the means of this country to carry on the war were daily growing weaker . His Lordship concluded an able and argumentative speech , by moving an Address , of which the following is a copy : That an humble Address be presented to his Majesty , humbly to represent to his Majesty , that in the present most critical and alarming situation of the country , this House holds it to be its bounden duty to apprize his Majesty of his own danger , and the ruin and confusion which threaten the whole nation .
That the shock which has been lately given to public credit must , from the peculiar nature of our commercialsystem , deprive us of those means whereby we were enabled to hold so high a rank among the nations of the world ; unless the eountiy is speedily relieved from its present enormous expendiiure , and its future prosperity insured by an IMMEDIATE , SINCERE , AND LASTING PEACH . That this House begs leave humbly to represent to his Majesty , that upon 4 considerate and impartial review of the whole of the late negociation , ihis House sees with concernthat that negociation was broken off by the conduct and
de-, mands of his Majesty ' s ministers , and not by a want of disposiliori for Peace oil ' the part of France . That in answerto the impolitic note , delivered by Mr . Wickham , the Executive Directory declare , that , ' yielding to the ardent desire by which it is animated to procure Peace for the French Republic , and for all nations , it will not fear to de-, dare itself openly . Charged by the constitution with the . execution of the laws , it cannot make , or Usteg to any proposal that Would be contrary to them . The