212 GRATTAN. Mr. Grattan.— “I shall not trouble you long, nor take up the time of the House, by apologising for bodily infir mity, or the affectation of infirmity. I shall not speak of myself, or enter into a defence of my character, having never apostatised. I think it is not necessary for the House now to investigate what we know to be fact. I think it would be better to go into the business, as the House did upon another occasion, without the formality of the committee's report. As to myself, the honourable reward that a grateful nation has bestowed upon me, for ever binds me to make every return in my power, and particularly to oppose every unnecessary expense. I am far from thinking with the honourable gentleman, as to the speech; and I believe he will find instances, where economy has been recommended from the throne, but prodigality practised. This was the case in Lord Har court's administration ;-an administration which had the support of the honourable gentleman, and therefore he, of a l l men, cannot b e a t a loss t o reject that illusory eco nomy, which has s o often appeared i n the speeches o f lord lieutenants. With respect t o the Genevese, I never could have thought i t possible t o give the speech such a bias a s has been mentioned, and that people will b e deceived, i f they give credit t o any declaration that infers from the words o f the speech, any thing but a n honest economy i n applying the public money fairly t o their use. The nation has derived great honour from this transaction, and I would b e sorry t o have i t tarnished b y inference and insinuation. “In 1771, when the burdens o f the country were com paratively small, I made a motion similar t o this; the ho nourable gentleman then opposed me. I have his sanction, now, that I was right, and h e was wrong; and I say this, that though gentlemen may for a while vote against retrench ments, they will a t last see the necessity o f them. Yet, while I think retrenchments absolutely necessary, I ain not very sure, that this i s just the time t o nake i t i n the army; now when England has acted justly, I will not say generously;
