That our design against Carthagena was defeated, cannot be denied; but what war has been one continued series of success?  In the late war with France, of which the conduct has been so lavishly celebrated, did no designs miscarry?  If we conquered at Ramillies, were we not in our turn beaten at Almanza?  If we destroyed the French ships, was it not always with some loss of our own?  And since the sufferings of our merchants have been mentioned with so much acrimony, do not the lists of the ships taken in that war, prove that the depredations of privateers cannot be entirely prevented?

The disappointment, sir, of the publick expectation by the return of the fleets, has been charged upon the administration, as a crime too enormous to be mentioned without horrour and detestation.  That the ministry have not the elements in their power, that they do not prescribe the course of the wind, is a sufficient proof of their negligence and weakness:  with as much justice is it charged upon them, that the expectations of the populace, which they did not raise, and to which, perhaps, the conquest of a kingdom had not been equal, failed of being gratified.

I am very far from hoping or desiring that the house should be satisfied with a defence like this; I know, by observing the practice of the opponents of the ministry, what fallacy may be concealed in general assertions, and am so far from wishing to evade a more exact inquiry, that if the gentleman who has thus publickly and confidently accused the ministry, will name a day for examining the state of the nation, I will second his motion.

[The address was at length agreed to, without a division.]

Mr. Pulteney then moved, that the state of the nation should be considered six weeks hence; sir Robert Walpole seconded the motion, and it was unanimously agreed, that this house will, on the 21st of next month, resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, to consider of the state of the nation.  But when that day came, sir Robert Walpole having been able to defeat a motion which was to refer some papers to a secret committee, the consideration of the state of the nation was put off for a fortnight; but on the eve of that day, both houses adjourned for fourteen days, during which, sir Robert Walpole resigned his employments of first lord of the treasury, and chancellor and under treasurer of his majesty’s exchequer; and was created a peer, by the title of lord Walpole, and earl of Orford.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, MARCH 9, 1741-2.

On A motion for inquiring into the conduct of affairs at home and abroad, during the last twenty years.

Lord Limerick rose, and spoke in the following manner:—­Sir, as I am about to offer to the house a motion of the highest importance to the honour and happiness of our country, to the preservation of our privileges, and the continuance of our constitution, I make no doubt of a candid attention from this assembly, and hope for such a determination as shall be the result not of external influence, but of real conviction.