for the naval defence of the country were most admirable and complete, and if there were any delay in building the twenty-three gun-vessels ordered by the Admiralty, it was because no dependence was placed upon that description of force.  It would be folly to meet the enemy with the inferior weapons which necessity obliged him to employ, when we possessed a more powerful arm in our heavy men-of-war and frigates.  The depth of water would allow these to act close to our very shores; and if the enemy’s flotilla should venture out, Captain Markham, Sir Edward Pellew, Sir Thomas Troubridge, or any officer known in our naval records, would, with a single seventy-four, shoot through and sink a crowd of their contemptible craft.

Ministers obtained a majority of 201 against 130; a most triumphant result for Earl St. Vincent, considering the character of his accuser, and the grounds upon which Mr. Fox and his friends voted for the motions.

Sir Edward Pellew met the charges against the Admiralty with the plain and straightforward declarations of a seaman.  Nothing could be more disinterested than his conduct upon this occasion; for there was little to hope from the gratitude of a ministry just tottering to their overthrow, and everything to fear from the resentment of their successors.  But he justly considered that upon a vital question, and at such a crisis, no personal or party feeling should intrude; and he felt himself called upon to support the Admiralty with more than a silent vote, because he quite approved their measures, which no man could better understand.  He rose fifth in the debate, and spoke as follows:—­

“SIR,—­As I very seldom trouble the House, I hope I may be permitted to make a few observations on a subject of which, from the professional experience I have had, I may be presumed to have some knowledge.  From the debate of this night, there is one piece of information I have acquired, that the French have got upwards of a thousand vessels in Boulogne.  I am glad to find they are shut up there; we have one advantage in it—­we know where they are.  I wish we had any means of knowing when they intend to come out.  I know this much, however, that they cannot all get out in one day, or in one night either; and when they do come out, I trust that our cockleshells alone, as an honourable admiral has called a very manageable and very active part of our force, will be able to give a good account of them.

“Sir, I do not really see in the arrangement of our naval defence anything to excite the apprehensions of even the most timid among us.  On the contrary, I see everything that may be expected from activity and perseverance to inspire us with confidence.  I see a triple naval bulwark, composed of one fleet acting on the enemy’s coast; of another, consisting of heavier ships, stationed in the Downs, and ready to act at a moment’s notice; and a third, close to the beach, capable of destroying any part