Whitehall, Dec. 5th, 1792.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
We determined last night to call out, in addition to the regiments
already ordered, the Militias of the maritime counties from Kent to
Cornwall, inclusive, and those of Berks, Bucks, Herts, and Surrey.
You will, in consequence, receive by this messenger the warrant and
letter for that purpose. The reason of the addition is partly the
increasing prospect of hostilities with France, and partly the
motives stated in your letter. Our object at first was to limit the
number, in order not to give too great an alarm. The spirit of the
people is evidently rising, and I trust that we shall have energy
enough in the country to enable the Government to assert its true
situation in Europe, and to maintain its dignity.
We shall certainly proceed to business on Thursday; but how long we
shall sit, it is impossible as yet to decide. I think the present
idea is to bring forward the bills immediately which are necessary
for strengthening the hands of Government. Hitherto, we have every
reason to be satisfied with the impression our measure has made.
Ever most affectionately yours,
G.
Parliament stood prorogued to the 3rd of January; but it was convened by
proclamation on the 3rd of December, in consequence of the urgent
necessity that existed for adopting immediate measures of internal
defence. On the 17th, Lord Grenville introduced his Alien Bill; and two
other measures were rapidly passed for interdicting the circulation of
French assignats, and preventing the exportation of naval stores and
ammunition.
The signs of the future were now darkening the horizon. The French
Republic sent over an ambassador extraordinary, under the title of
Minister Plenipotentiary, to demand of England whether France was to
consider her as a neutral or a hostile power. Lord Grenville refused to
negotiate with him in a character which England could not acknowledge;
but intimated that if France was desirous of maintaining peace with
Great Britain, she must renounce her views of aggression and
aggrandizement, and confine herself to her own territory, without
insulting other Governments, without disturbing their tranquillity,
without violating their rights.
The sequel need not be detailed. The King of France was brought to
trial, sentenced to death, and beheaded. This terrible catastrophe
terminated the mission of the French Ambassador, who was informed by
Lord Grenville that he could no longer remain in this kingdom in a
public character, and ordered to retire within eight days. In a week
from that time, the Convention passed a decree declaring the Republic of
France at war with the King of England and the Stadtholder of Holland.
1793.
CAUSES AND OBJECTS OF THE WAR--SECESSIONS FROM THE OPPOSITION--REVERSES
IN HOLLAND--DISASTERS OF THE ALLIES--STATE OF FRANCE AT THE CLOSE OF THE
YEAR.
The policy of England in reference to the proceedings in France had
hitherto been that of a conservative neutrality. The letter of Lord
Grenville to the Marquis of Buckingham, dated 7th November, 1792, to
which attention has been specially directed, clearly and unequivocally
establishes that fact. Had the motive commonly imputed to Ministers, of
having entered into the war for the vindication of the monarchical
principle and the restoration of the Bourbons, been really the actuating
object, it would have appeared in these confidential communications. Not
only, however, is there no such motive avowed or contemplated, but, on
the contrary, Lord Grenville declares that the greatest source of pride
and satisfaction he finds on reviewing the line of conduct he had acted
upon throughout that reign of anarchy, is in the reflection that he had
kept England out of it. Up to the last moment, so long as France
confined her public acts and the dissemination of her new doctrines to
her own territory, the English Government remained merely a spectator of
events in which she took no part, and evinced no concern. The case was
altered when France invaded Holland, and passed a decree fraternizing
with the people of other countries, and offering them assistance to
procure their liberties. These were the measures of oppression and
aggrandizement referred to by Lord Grenville in his communications with
the French Envoy; and upon these grounds, and these grounds alone,
England accepted and prosecuted the war.
Immediately after the declaration of hostilities by the Convention, the
King sent a message to Parliament explicitly declaring the causes of the
war, which were, the occupation by the French of the Scheldt, the
exclusive navigation of which had been guaranteed by treaty to the
Dutch; the fraternizing decree which invited the people of other
countries to revolutionize their Governments; and the danger with which
Europe was threatened by the progress of the French arms. In one aspect
this was a war of principles; in another, it was a war of self-defence.
In both, it was just and inevitable. Even the Opposition admitted the
validity of the grounds on which it proceeded, although they could not
resist the temptation of assailing the Minister, while they adopted his
measures. The resolutions founded on the message were carried with
scarcely a shadow of objection in either House of Parliament. The people
of all classes were wholly with Mr. Pitt. Amongst the last to be
convinced was Mr. Wilberforce, who had a moral aversion to all wars,
but who ultimately expressed himself converted to the necessity of war
on this occasion.
The effect of the message from the King was remarkable. Numbers of the
most influential men, who had previously voted with the Opposition,
passed over to the Ministerial benches, including Burke and Wyndham, and
the Lords Portland, Spencer, Fitzwilliam, Loughborough, and many other
peers and commoners. Lord Loughborough, who had so often run in couples
with Thurlow, was now appointed to succeed him on the Woolsack; and
Ministers, acquiring augmented strength from all quarters, addressed
themselves vigorously to the task of preparation.
The letters of this year are scanty, but not unimportant, in their
references to passing events. Taken in connection with the history of
the period, which is too familiar to require any further elucidation,
they will be found to throw a new light upon some points of contemporary
interest.