admiralty."

HOUSE OF COMMONS, FEB. 3, 1740-1.

[DEBATE REGARDING THE DEPARTURE OF THE FRENCH AND SPANISH SQUADRONS.]

Mr. SANDYS this day presented a motion in writing, for petitioning his
majesty to inform them when the regency received intelligence that the
French and Spanish squadrons sailed, which was seconded, as follows, by
Mr. WALLER:--

Sir, the information now moved for, appears to me so necessary in their
deliberations on the conduct of the war, that without it we can only
conjecture in the dark, and entangle ourselves in an inextricable
labyrinth.

It is well known, that in war all motions are, in a great degree, to be
regulated by those of the enemy, and that, therefore, no vigilance is to
be spared by which any knowledge can be gained of their designs, nor any
methods omitted of communicating them to those who have the direction of
the war.

A ministry may, in conducting military operations, disappoint the
expectations of their country, either by neglecting to procure
intelligence, or by failing to make use of those opportunities which
seasonable information puts into their power, and they may, when their
designs fail of success, justify themselves, by proving that they were
deceived by intelligence which it was reasonable to believe, or that
better intelligence was not attainable, or that they made use, however
unsuccessfully, of all the forces that could then be employed, and of
all the advantages that were then in their possession.

But how shall we judge of our administration, how shall we know what
confidence we ought to repose in their prudence and fidelity, and what
miscarriages are to be attributed to the chance of war or superiour
force of our enemies, if we cannot be informed with what diligence they
endeavour at information, and how early they have notice of the motions
of the enemy?

The sailing, or rather escape of the Ferrol squadron, and departure of
the French fleet, are the most important events of the present war;
events that threaten very dangerous consequences, no less than descents
upon our American colonies, the conquest of our dominions, the slavery
of our fellow-subjects, and perhaps the destruction of the brave Vernon,
who is secure in the imagined vigilance of the other commanders, and
may, perhaps, in a few days see himself surrounded by formidable
squadrons of different nations, and exposed to the attack of forces to
which his little fleet bears no proportion