“In respect to what has been said of building ships by contract, I must confess that I do not much admire that mode of keeping up our navy.  I have seen some of them—­I particularly allude to the Ajax and Achilles—­that I took for Frenchmen.

“As to these gun-boats, which have been so strongly recommended, this musquito fleet, they are the most contemptible force that can be employed.  Gun-brigs, indeed, are of some use; but between a gun-brig and a gun-boat there is almost as much difference as between a line-of-battle ship and a frigate.  I have lately seen half a dozen of them lying wrecked on the rocks.

“As to the probability of the enemy being able, in a narrow sea, to pass through our blockading and protecting squadrons, with all that secresy and dexterity, and by those hidden means that some worthy people expect, I really, from anything that I have seen in the course of my professional career, am not disposed to concur in it.

“I know, sir, and can assert with confidence, that our navy was never better found; that it was never better supplied; and that the men were never better fed and better clothed.  Have we not all the enemy’s ports blockaded from Toulon to Flushing?  Are we not able to cope anywhere with any force the enemy dares to send out against us?  And do we not even outnumber them at every one of the ports we have blockaded?  It would smack a little of egotism, I fear, were I to speak of myself; but as a person lately having the command of six ships, I hope I may be allowed to state to the House how I have been supported in that command.  Sir, during the time that I was stationed off Ferrol, I had ships passing from the fleet to me every three weeks or a month; and so much was the French commander in that port deceived by these appearances, that he was persuaded, and I believe is to this very hour, that I had twelve ships under my command, and that I had two squadrons to relieve each other, one of six inside, and the other of six outside.”

He was highly complimented by several who followed him in the debate, particularly by Mr. Addington, Mr. Sheridan, and Mr. Courtenay, as well as by other members out of the House.  Twenty, who had come down intending to vote for Mr. Pitt’s motions, were induced to support the Admiralty, confessedly by Sir Edward’s statements.  But it is, perhaps, the most decisive proof of the effect of his speech, that Mr. Pitt himself referred to it in a debate on the defence of the country six weeks after.  At the same time he disavowed the gun-boats, and contended for “good stout gun-brigs,” declaring that he had observed with much satisfaction the efforts which had lately been made to increase that description of force.

Mr. Addington resigned on the 12th of May, with Earl St. Vincent; Mr. Yorke, the Home Secretary; and Lord Hobart, Secretary at War.  They were succeeded by Mr. Pitt, and Lords Melville, Harrowby, and Camden.