Come then, my foul, refign the next, And thou shalt dwell in Heav'n's bright

ray,

Where thou fhalt ne'er again be vex't,
Where night shall brighten into day.
Tho' tempefts drive me from the shore,
And death appears in every form;
Tho' floods defcend and billows roar,
Still, till, my fhip fhall leave the storm.
Tho' death perfifts, I'll not repine,
Comforts hereafter will prevail,
Then every bleffing fhall be mine,

And let it guide me thro' the vale. Lead on to mark and smooth the way Which leads to skies and brighter plains,

And lead me to the realms of day,
Where everlasting sunshine reigns.

Reading.

EPITAPH

S. R. S.

ON A TOMB-STONE IN THE WOODS OF DENHAM.

Sacred to the Memory of FRANCES the wife of G. HOARE, Efq. and daughter of W. SLUGH, Efq. of this place.

Who, in the fhort space of thirty-one years, having graced a moft amiable perfon with every virtue that can

TUESDAY, MARCH 8.

LORD HOBART brought down a Meffage from his Majefty. [See Houfe of Commons, March 8.]

On the motion of Lord Hobart, the Meffage was ordered to be taken into confideration to-morrow.

The Prince of Wales's Annuity Bill was read a first time.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9. The order of the day, for taking into confideration his Majesty's Meffage, being read,

Lord Hobart faid, that to the motion which he should have the honour to make

upon this occafion, he could not anticipate a diflenting voice. His Majesty had ftated, in his Meffage, that preparations of confiderable magnitude were carried on in two countries with which we had recently been at war. Thefe preparations, it was but just to obferve, might. be fully authorised, up to the whole extent to which they had hitherto been car. ried, by the state of the French poffef fions abroad. But when it was confidered that, as his Mejefty alfo informed them, there were difcutions of confiderable im-* portance now fubfifting between the two countries, the neceffity of our making a

pro

proportionate addition to our means of fecurity must be obvious to the unanimous fenfe of that Houfe and of the country. He could not fuppofe, that in the prefent ftage of the bubnets, Minifters would be preffed for any explanation of the particular points in difcuffion; nor did he with it to be understood, that they felt apprehenfive of an unfavourable iffue to the pending negociation. They were only defirus that the measure should be confidered as a part of that fyftem of precaution, which the prefent fate of affairs rendered it their duty to propofe. He concluded by moving an Addrefs of Thanks to his Majetty, which was fimilar to that given in our report of the Commons.

Lud Spencer faid, the fyftem of conceffion had been too long tried; if it had been fooner departed from, he should have augured better for the continuance of Peace. He hoped, that the spirit which had begun to be manifefted would be followed up with equal vigour; and he entertained the firmett conviction, that there was not a man in the country but was ready, with the last drop of his blood, and the laft fhilling of his property, to fupport his Majefty in the af fertion of the honour of his Crown, and the rights of his people.

Lord Grenville declared that the Addrefs had his moft cordial concurrence, though he lamented that Minifters had held out the profpect of a durable peace, and were fo late in the discovery of their

error.

Lord Moira was equally prepared to give his tupport to the motion made by the Noble Secretary of State, upon which, indeed, he could not conceive there exitted any difference of opinion; but the vote which he should then give, would, he trutted, be ipeedily justified by an explicit communication to Parliament, and the country, of the grounds on which a change had taken place in his Majesty's Councils: He hoped that this step had not been taken without a due confideration of the important confequence to which it might lead. He hoped allo, that it would not prove to be a mere piece of bravado to cover any additional conceffions to the Government of France; and, on the other hand, he trusted that Minitters had not adopted a measure which must neceffarily produce a very ftrong fenfation through the country, in order to have attributed to the credit of their vigorous conduct, conceffions which had perhaps been already agreed to in favour of our interefts. He owned that he

expected to have heard fomething more from the Secretary of State than had fallen from him that evening. He trufted the filence of Minilters did not proceed from the fear of giving umbrage to the First Conful. As to himself, he had no notion of talking with complaceney of that new Hanibal, who had, on the altar of inordinate ambition, fworn an implacable hatred to the interests of this country. The fubjugation of this country was an alarm, which, he trufted, would never for a moment enty the heart of a Briton. But we were not, on that aecount, to lull ourselves into a fupine fecurity, and to fuppofe that invafion would not be attempted, or that it was impracticable. With fo extenfive a line of hoftile coaft oppofite to our shores, no prudent man could ridicule the practicability of a defcent. Though the attempt could fcarcely be made with any view to ultimate fuccefs; yet if not provided again, it might produce that confufion which would antwer the particular purpoles, of the Chief Conful. We have been told, by the First Conful, that " he had 500,000 men in arms, and that England was no longer able to contend finglehanded with France." What! England not able to contend fingle-handed with France! Was this the deduction which the Firft Conial had made from the hiftory of the contests between the two countries? Was this the refult of the experience which he had gained from the courfe of the late war? Was this the lefon which he had been taught by the victories of a Noble Friend (Lord Nelon) who fat near him? Was this the diicovery which he had made from the triumphs of another Noble Lord

Lord Hutchinfon) now feated on the right hand of that Friend, and whom he could afpire to the honour of calling by the fame name! Let the people of England be excited to a fenie of the danger they had to encounter, and let the legions of France land on our hores, he could hazard every thing upon the iffue of the conteft. His Lordihip, having enlarged fomewhat further upon the measures of vigilance and precaution demanded by the prefent critis, concluded with giving his hearty allent to the mo

FRIDAY, MARCH 4.

To this laft obfervation, Mr. Sheridan, in his ufual vein of humour, replied, "If this doctrine of economy is to be maintained, let it be extended to all the branches of the Government. Do not let it be applied to the Prince of Wales alone. "Por instance," said Mr. S. "You, Mr. Speaker, whom I have the honour to addieis, may perhaps be told, that you can do very well with your virtues, and that it is not neceffary for you to have the fine new houfe which is build. ing for you; and when you have to go up to St. James's with an Addrefs, tome churlith fellow may fay, that it would be as well for you to leave that bauble, the mace, behind, and that your fate-coach is ille pageantry; and that it would be fully as decent, were you to walk up in your warm furtout, with an umbrella to protect you from the rain, for your only trappings. The fame fyftem of virtuous economy ought to be extended to the adminiftrators of the law. There is no occafion for the ceremonies practised by the Sheriffs of Counties on meeting the Judges. The latter might go to the athizes in the mail coaches, and the Counsel ride outfide. Let the Lord Mayor, instead of coming to Weltminder Hall in the flate-bage, take a plain wherry, without any attendants; and in #ead of going back in his itate-coach to Guildhall, call a hack, and content himfeit with topping and taking a beef-neak at Dolly's chop houfe."

MONDAY, MARCH 7,

The Attorney General of Ireland brought in a Bill for the more effectually preventing, and to punih offerders called Chalkers, in Ireland. Read a fit

time.

Mr. Fox reported from the Committee to whom the petition complaining of an undue return for the Borough of Stran

raer, in Scotland. had been referred, "That John Spalding, Eiq. the fitting Member, is duly elected."

The Marine Forces' Regulation Bill was read a third time and palled.

On the order of the day for the third reading of the Bill for fettling an annuity of 60,000l. upon his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,

to

Mr. Kinnaird faid, when the Right Honourable Gentleman brought down his Majefty's Meffage, and thereon founded the pretent Bill, he was one who confidered that a very advantageous bargain had been made. The Houle were to recollect, that they were the conftitutional protectors of the Prince. In giving his folemn protest against the Bill, he was actuated by no other motive than a conviction that it did not go far enough, nor more than half the length of what the Houfe, in its antwer his Majesty's Meffage, had promised. The money voted did not fatisfy the Prince, The Houfe had promised to en able the Prince to refume his ufual fplen dour. Had it done fo? His Royal Highnefs expreffed his readiness to fubmit to what his Majesty and Parliament might propofe to do; but he would ask again, and call upon the Right Honourable Gentleman for an answer, did the Bill go the length of his Majefty's Meffage, and enable his Highnets to refume his ufual fplendeur? No fecurity had been given that this defired object would be obtained before the four years of privation had expired. On thele grounds he thould lay in his claims to fupport any measure which might be propoled, that thould tend to reinftate his Royal Highness in his dignity.

Sir W. Dolben faid, it had been his intention to fubmit a motion fimilar to the one propofed on Friday lat. He did not mean to oppole the Bill; but he thought the Houle fhould come to a refolution, by which the comfort and dignity of the Princess of Wales might alto be fupported. He should therefore move, that a finall part of the 60,000l. should be applied to the establishment of the Princels of Wales. He was aware the Prince had acted in a manner the mott becoming, in paying the demands on him out of his private income; but he was alto convinced, that this was one of the firit clailes of demand which called on his bonour,

Royal Highnefs to exprefs the fatisfaction and the fincere gratitude he felt for the very prompt atteption and provifion which had already, by the liberality of the Houte, been beltowed upon him; and to fay, in the prefent very important fituation ofubiic attans, that his Royal Highness by no means withed any further difcuffion upon the fubject of his finances. After this acknowledgment of the Prince, at once to mauly, generous, and difinterested, he trafted that the Noble Lord would forego his motion. When he confidered the likelihood there was of the country being again involved in war, being oblig. ed once more to exert herself to the ut. mott, the conduct of the Prince at the prelent moment mult Atrike every man in the molt torcible manner. He had already abandoned all claim to the arrears of the Duchy of Cornwall; and now, when a motion was about to be brought forward tending more to the comfort of his Royal Highnefs, he wishes that to be abandoned, in order that no impediment might be thrown in the way of the pubJic lervice. All that remained for himdelf (Mir. Erikine) to tay, was, that if this country was again involved in war with France, he would be ready to spend the latt tarthing of his earnings as a profeffional man of long practice, and the lat drop of his blood, in fo glorious a caufe.

Lor Porchefter confented to give up

his motion.

Mr. Addington moved the order of the Day, for the Houle taking into confideration his Majesty's Message.

The Mellage having been read by the Speaker,

Mr. Addington rose for the purpose of moving an Addrefs to his Majefty, expret five of the acknowledgments of the Houfe for the gracious communication which they had received. His Majesty's Mel fage divided inlelf into two points; namely, the preparations going on in the ports of France and Holland, and the dicuffins de ending between his Majefty and the French Government. Either of thele points would certainly have requied the greatest caution and attention; but when thele points were combined, they demanded not only the n molt vigilance and circumipection, on the part of his Majetty's Government, but the attention and warm intereft of the country at Jarge. With regard to the difcuthons now de, ending between his M jecty and the French Government, he trusted that at prefent the Houle would not prefs him

to disclose their nature or extent; he truffed, however, that the result of thefe negociations would terminate in a manner redounding to the honour of the courtry. Should, however, war be the alternative, the House might rely, with the molt implicit confidence, upon being put in complete poffeffion of the conduct of his Majefty's Minitters, from the ratification of the Treaty of Amiens to the period when fuch difclosure might be rendered neceffary and proper. In relation to the measures which may be requifite at prefent, he should say but little. It would be proposed to encreate the eltablishment of the navy, and to provide for the internal fecurity of the country, by having recourfe to the embodying of the militia, the conftitutional force of the realm. The Right Hon. Gentleman concluded by moving, That an humble Addrefs be prefented to his Majelty, to return his Majetty the Thanks of this House for his mo gracious Meffage; and, after recapitulating the words of the Message, to affure his Majetty, that his faithful Commons will, with the utmott cheerfulness, support his Majesty in the adoption of 1uch meatures as circumstances may ap pear to require, for maintaining the ho nour of his Majesty's Crown, and the effential interests of his people."

The question being put,

Mr. Fox faid, he did not rife to oppofe the motion for the Addrefs; but hoped his Majesty's advilers would feriously consider the prefent fituation of the British empire; for it they fhould involve the country in a war which should after wards be found not to be neceflary, they would be more guilty than any Ministers that ever advited fuch a meature in any other period of our history.

Lord Hawkesbury faid, if unfortunately thefe difcuffions thould lead to war, it would be the duty or his Majetty's Minifters to lay before the House every information refpecting their conduft, and the causes of the war. He would go farther, and lay, that it would be right for Miniters, under the peculiar cucumitances of the country, not to confine that communication to lubjects immediately depending; but that they fhould allo lay before the Houte and the Country the whole conduct of Government ince the figning of the Definitive Treaty of Peace.

Mr. Windham fid, all he could learn from the tatement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was, that the meatures of precaution about to be adopted were to

be