My Lords, I cannot agree with the noble duke, that nothing less than an immediate attack upon the honour or interest of this nation can authorize us to interpose in defence of weaker states, and in stopping the enterprises of an ambitious neighbour.  Whenever that narrow, selfish policy has prevailed in our councils, we have constantly experienced the fatal effects of it.  By suffering our natural enemies to oppress the Powers less able than we are to make a resistance, we have permitted them to increase their strength; we have lost the most favourable opportunities of opposing them with success; and found ourselves at last obliged to run every hazard, in making that cause our own, in which we were not wise enough to take part while the expense and danger might have been supported by others.  With respect to Corsica I shall only say, that France has obtained a more useful and important acquisition in one pacific campaign, than in any of her belligerent campaigns;[1] at least while I had the honour of administering the war against her.  The word may, perhaps, be thought singular:  I mean only while I was the minister chiefly entrusted with the conduct of the war.  I remember, my Lords, the time when Lorraine was united to the Crown of France;[2] that too was, in some measure, a pacific conquest; and there were, people who talked of it as the noble duke[3] now speaks of Corsica, France was permitted to take and keep possession of a noble province; and, according to his Grace’s ideas, we did right in not opposing it.  The effect of these acquisitions is, I confess, not immediate; but they unite with the main body by degrees, and, in time, make a part of the national strength.  I fear, my Lords, it is too much the temper of this country to be insensible of the approach of danger, until it comes with accumulated terror upon us.

My Lords, the condition of His Majesty’s affairs in Ireland, and the state of that kingdom within itself, will undoubtedly make a very material part of your Lordships’ inquiry.  I am not sufficiently informed to enter into the subject so fully as I could wish; but by what appears to the public, and from my own observation, I confess I cannot give the Ministry much credit for the spirit or prudence of their conduct.  I see that, even where their measures are well chosen, they are incapable of carrying them through without some unhappy mixture of weakness or imprudence.  They are incapable of doing entirely right.  My Lords, I do, from my conscience, and from the best weighed principles of my understanding, applaud the augmentation of the army.  As a military plan, I believe it has been judiciously arranged.  In a political view, I am convinced it was for the welfare, for the safety, of the whole empire.  But, my Lords, with all these advantages, with all these recommendations, if I had the honour of advising His Majesty, I would never have consented to his accepting the augmentation with that absurd, dishonourable condition which the