at the approaching
election; but why the new-raised troops were sent on this expedition
rather than those which had been longer disciplined, it is very
difficult to assign a reason, unless it was considered that some who had
commands in them had likewise seats in the senate; and the minister was
too grateful to expose his friends to danger, and too prudent to hazard
the loss of a single vote. Besides the commander-in-chief, there is but
one senator in the expedition, and, my lords, he is one of too great
integrity to be corrupted, and, though sensible of the weakness of the
troops, too brave to quit his post. How much our country may suffer by
such absurd conduct, I need not explain to your lordships; it may easily
be conceived how much one defeat may dispirit the nation, and to what
attempts one victory may excite our enemies; those enemies whom, under a
steady and wise administration, we should terrify into submission, even
without an army.

I cannot forbear to remark on this occasion, how much the ignorance of
this man has exposed a very important part of our foreign dominions to
the attempts of the Spaniards. Gibraltar, my lords, is well known to be
so situated, as to be naturally in very little danger of an attack from
the land, and to command the country to a great distance; but these
natural advantages are now taken away, or greatly lessened, by new
fortifications, erected within much less than gunshot of the place,
erected in the sight of the garrison, and while one of our admirals was
cruizing upon the coast.

The pretence, my lords, upon which they were erected, was, that though
Gibraltar was granted to Britain, yet there was no district appendent to
it, nor did the British authority extend beyond the walls of the town:
this poor excuse did the chicanery of the Spaniards invent, and with
this, my lords, was our minister contented, either not knowing or not
appearing to know what, I hope, the children whom we have despatched to
America have been taught, and what no man, versed in national affairs,
can be ignorant of without a crime, that when a fortress is yielded to
another nation, the treaty always virtually includes, even without
mentioning it, an extent of land as far as the guns of the fortification
can reach.

Whether this man, my lords, was so ignorant as to be deceived thus
grossly, or so abandoned as willingly to deceive his country, he is
equally unqualified to support the office of first minister,