was as valuable in courts and cabinets as in the ordinary concerns in life. It is true that, by pursuing this conduct, he sometimes gave opportunities to his adversaries to turn to his disadvantage any hasty or strong expressions which might fall from him in the course of a warm debate. Among those which were imputed to him, the greatest triumph was assumed by the opposition of the day from that of "perish commerce-let merce let the constitution live." But it is curious enough that this remarkable sentiment, which was first charged on him in a pamphlet under the fictitious signature of Jasper Wilson, and was afterwards echoed and re-echoed through the country, had in fact never been uttered by him, but was owned by Mr. Hardinge. Mr. Windham, however, though he denied having spoken the words, justified the sentiment, under the explanation which he gave of it, namely, a preference, as an alternative, of government, order, and the British laws, above mere wealth and commercial prosperity.

In July 1795, an expedition, composed of Emigrants, proceeded against Quiberon. For this project, which unhappily failed, Mr. Windham always held himself responsible. He thought it a most important object that an attempt should be made to assist the efforts of those Frenchmen who were bravely struggling at home against republican usurpation; and he earnestly wished that such an experiment should be tried with a far greater force than was actually employed in it. He always remained firmly of opinion that the royalist war in France had been too lightly considered by our

government; and that if the tide had been "taken at the head," the family of Bourbon might have been restored to the throne of their ancestors. Of the extent of the war in La Vendée, which seemed to be but little known in this country, Mr. Windham took an opportunity, some years afterwards, of giving a very forcible description, in the Appendix to his speech on the Peace of Amiens *.

Upon the dissolution of parliament in 1796, Mr. Windham was, for the fourth time, chosen member for Norwich. An opposition, however, of a much more formidable nature than that in 1794, was attempted in favour of Mr. Bartlett Gurney, a banker, of considerable local influence, who was defeated by a majority of only 83. Mr. Thelwall, the celebrated political lecturer, was at Norwich during this election, and endeavoured to sharpen the contest by his popular harangues in the market place, against Mr. Windham, and the war-system of the Pitt administration.

The two following letters addressed to a friend, will furnish the reader with some of the impressions made on Mr. Windham by the state of continental affairs in 1796:

"DEAR SIR,

"Park Street, Westminster,

August 6th 1796. "I HAVE turned in my mind what you mentioned of your views respecting Genoa, and will take the first opportunity of speaking upon the subject to Lord

See Vol. II, of this work.

Grenville; but I much doubt whether any situation, such as your wishes seem to point to, is likely to be found. The prospect of things in that part of the world, as well as every where else, is bad indeed. The question is, how might this have been avoided, and, what is still more to the purpose, how may it now be avoided. The opposition will say to the first, "by having remained at peace." But, besides that that was not in our power, I should rather say, "by having resolved earlier to go to war, and by having seen better than the allies in general have done, the true nature of that war." While the French understood perfectly their own views, and have taken the straight road to universal dominion, other nations have not understood equally their own danger. The consequence, is, that this danger now threatens to overwhelm them.

"Should a time arrive when the zeal and energy. of individuals of all descriptions must be called for, as I foresee is likely to be the case, I shall not forget the tender which you so properly and so handsomely make of your services. I hope, should that period arrive, we shall all shew equal spirit and alacrity with the young soldier whose letter I return to you.

"I am, dear Sir,

"Your very faithful,

" and obedient Servant,

" W. WINDHAM."

"Park Street, Westminster,

" DEAR SIR, September 21 1796. "I RECEIVE with more grief than surprize the account you send me of the fate of your poor nephew, whose return to his friends and country I never allowed myself to count upon, any more than upon that of many other brave and promising men, employed in the same fatal climate. To the losses that happen in the field of battle one can, in some measure, reconcile one'sself, and they are comparatively small; but the ravages of these fatal climates are so extensive and so unceasing, that one cannot bear to look to that side of the war. I will not fail to return you his letter the moment I have time to turn to it, but I cannot forbear, in the meanwhile, to offer my condolence to yourself and his other relations, on the loss of a youth in whose success and safety I had myself contracted a very lively interest.

"The calamities of war are undoubtedly very great; but it does not follow that every transaction that may call itself Peace will ultimately be the means of diminishing them, even if it should not bring on calamities of a worse kind. Suppose, for instance,

upon terms so advan

that that peace should be made tageous to the republick, as to give them the command of all the coast of Europe; and, by enabling them, in consequence, to shut against us, in a great measure, all the ports of Europe, to set them up as our rivals in trade, in such circumstances as may give them a decided superiority in that respect. The jealousy of other countries, the connexion of

France with America, the rapid increase of their marine, supported by that of Spain and Holland, and supplied and pushed forward by those resources which are now expended in the maintenance of immense armies, may well give such a turn to trade and manufactures, as in a very short time to begin the operation of sinking the commercial consequence of this country, and that operation once begun, will not fail to go on very rapidly.

"You have already a proof of the effect that empire will have on trade, in the stopping up of the port of Leghorn, and the termination of all intercourse with Spain. Spain is now, and has long been, a country devoted to France, and it remains to be seen. how long Portugal will be otherwise than in the same state. All these are consequences resulting from military and political ascendancy, yet I fear we may happen to find that they have a close connexion with national and commercial prosperity: so little true it is, as many are led to think, that war and commerce must always be adverse to one another. !

"I will not fail to bear in mind your wishes on the different objects to which they point, should any opportunity offer of promoting them. Let me beg you to believe me, dear Sir, in the meantime, with sincere concern for the loss which you and Mrs.

sustained,

have

"Your very obedient,

"and faithful Servant,

" W. WINDHAM."