o be wished. The amendment
was negatived by eighty-two against forty-one.

A similar amendment to that of the Marquess of Rockingham, was moved in
the commons by Lord John Cavendish. In both houses, also, the arguments
and invectives employed were allied in character. The ministers were
accused of ruining both army and navy by their compliances with court
predilections; by their fear and jealousy of every officer of merit;
by their criminal tardiness; and by their want of a consistent plan of
military operations. Charles Fox went a step further than most of the
speakers in opposition. He declared that treachery and not ignorance
must have prevailed in the national councils, to reduce the nation to so
miserable a condition; and he warned ministers that when the nation was
reduced to such a state of wretchedness and distraction that the laws of
the land could afford no relief, the law of nature would put arms into
the hands of the people, and then they, who had caused the evil, would
suffer for their mal-administration. In reply, Lord North indignantly
denied that any treachery was resorted to by ministers, and called
upon the opposition to stand forth like men, and make good such vague
accusations. Laws, he said, existed for the protection of the innocent;
and if his accusers adhered to the laws, he had nothing to fear. Lord
North, also, defended with considerable ingenuity the management of the
war; asserting that, from its extensive nature, it was impossible to
keep a force superior to the enemy at every point; and affirming that
the fleets of France and Spain, which had been raised to the ruin
of their finances, had gained neither honour nor advantage, and were
already falling into weakness and decrepitude. The amendment was
negatived by two hundred and thirty-three against one hundred and
thirty-four.

LORD SHELBURNE ATTACKS MINISTERS IN THE CASE OF IRELAND.

Although Ireland had been misgoverned for centuries, yet opposition, in
the course of these debates attributed every mischief in that country
to the present ministers. In both houses assurances were given that
satisfactory plans of relief were in contemplation, but even then
opposition were not disarmed. Having procured a summons of the house, on
the 1st of December the Earl of Shelburne moved a resolution, declaring
ministers highly censurable for having neglected to take measures for
the relief of Ireland, in conformity with the address of the lords to