If, therefore, our assistance be an act of honesty, and granted in
consequence of treaties, why may it not equally be required of
Hanover? And if it be an act of generosity, why should this nation
alone be obliged to sacrifice her own interest to that of others? Or
why should the elector of Hanover exert his liberality at the expense
of Britain?
It is now too apparent, that this great, this powerful, this
formidable kingdom, is considered only as a province to a despicable
electorate; and that, in consequence of a scheme formed long ago, and
invariably pursued, these troops are hired only to drain this unhappy
nation of its money. That they have hitherto been of no use to
Britain, or to Austria, is evident beyond controversy; and, therefore,
it is plain, that they are retained only for the purposes of Hanover.
How much reason the transactions of almost every year have given for
suspecting this ridiculous, ungrateful, and perfidious partiality, it
is not necessary to mention. I doubt not but most of those who sit in
this house can recollect a great number of instances, from the
purchase of part of the Swedish dominions, to the contract which we
are now called upon to ratify.
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