who was destitute of knowledge of foreign affairs, became the tool of the Ministers of other countries, and involved England in a war, the disastrous effects of which are felt even by the existing generation. Never was there a time the circumstances of which so clearly called for a policy of rigid non-intervention. Warlike intervention was a mistake, for the reasons already stated. Mediation was impossible, either in the west or east of Europe. The character and the conduct of the belligerents alike forbade it.
But it was urged, and there was no argument upon which the supporters of the Government more often insisted, that there was no government in France to treat with. This, Lord Lansdowne said, reminded him of the arguments that used to be employed against treating with Congress in the early stages of the American war; and he frankly declared that he considered a republic to be the form of government on the whole the best adapted to the circumstances of France, deriding those who looked upon a coronation as a panacea for every political evil, and complaining of the contempt and odium cast upon the leading members of the Convention; and the perpetual talk about English morality and French immorality. "The fast-day was approaching," he said (for a fast-day had been proclaimed), "and though he was not fond of party discourses from the pulpit, he should be glad to hear a sermon on a text, which he had always considered as one of the best parts of the Scripture, viz. the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. As to the existence of a Government in France, let them ask General Wurmser if there was no existing Government in France? Let them ask the Duke of Brunswick and the King of Prussia![1] Let them ask Lord Hood and Sir Gilbert Elliot! let them ask the Royalist army of La Vendée! let them ask the unfortunate Lyonese! let them ask the Spaniards, retreating before the French
- ↑ On January 9th, 1794, the Duke of Brunswick, disgusted alike with the political and military situation, resigned the command of the Allied armies on the Rhine.
