Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1868 edition. Excerpt: ...had not been really decided on in consequence of the transactions at Tilsit. He took, as became the organ of the Government, the high ground that " what his Majesty's speech stated as a fact they were bound to believe. It was not unusual for Parliament to act upon a fact distinctly stated to them by the ministers of the Crown; and they had a right to have their statements as to a matter of fact accepted with confidence. But in this instance the truth of those statements had been corroborated by others than the ministers themselves. It had been corroborated by the Portuguese Government, which, before the result of the expedition to Copenhagen was known, the allies of Tilsit had required to make common cause with them against England, and to unite its fleet to theirs, in order that the confederacy might thus be enabled to make a general attack on these islands. It was confirmed by the testimony of different persons in Ireland, where, strange to say, all the designs and projects of the enemy were most speedily known, and where it was promised that the combined fleets of Spain, Portugal, and Denmark would make a descent on both the British islands." He skilfully availed himself of Lord Grenville's admission that there might be circumstances in which our own personal safety would justify a disregard of the strict rights of a neutral nation which wanted the power requisite to enable it to preserve its neutrality, and affirmed that the whole case rested on the answers to be given to these questions: " I. Whether the House believed that there was a design on the part of the enemy to form a great maritime confederacy against this country, and to seize the fleet of Denmark to effect this purpose? 2. Whether it was practicable for him to carry this...
