Lord Aucklandheld in his hand, and perused with satisfaction, a paper lately laid before their lordships, of the amount of the exports from this country; which almost reached the sum of 40 millions. He had already observed to their lordships what a very large proportion of those exports were taken by America; and hence he had urged how ruinous to our commerce the operation of the Orders in Council must prove, especially if carried to their utmost extent against the trade of the United States. It would be found, that between the account now in his hand, and a similar one presented last year, there was a difference of between three and four millions, but of this falling off he was not disposed to complain; but at the same time, he must advise their lordships to prepare their minds for a very different statement next year, should the measure of the Orders in Council be unfortunately persisted in to their present extent. The noble lord further observed that, in order more precisely to ascertain the difference between the two years in the different branches of our manufactures, he should now move, "That there be laid before the house an account of the amount of the value of the Exports for the last three months, ending the 5th of Jan. 1808."
The Earl of Westmorelandwould not object to the motion of the noble lord; but he could not help remarking the difference of tone which the noble lord assumed on the same subject this year, from what he had assumed in the preceding year. Last year his observations were accompanied with a warm panegyric on the late administration. This year there was no panegyric on his majesty's present ministers.
Lord Aucklandsaid it was too much for 1044 the noble earl to expect a panegyric on the present occasion, unless he should praise ministers for the diminution in the exports of the country to the amount of nearly four millions. He had indeed adverted to that falling off; but he had said, he did not complain of it. To panegyrise ministers must surely have savoured of irony.
Lord Stanhopeadvised ministers not to provoke comparisons between their own conduct and that of their predecessors. In the conduct of the latter there was every thing good, in that of the former nothing but mischief.—The question was then put and agreed to.