_Hon. T. L[uttre]l_ rose, and with great solemnity, addressed himself to the chair in the following words:⸺Notwithstanding the general silence, which, I find, it is the fashion for Ministers of this day not only to hold themselves, but likewise to encourage in others, on the important subject of maritime affairs, I cannot, Sir, acquiesce in so culpable a silence, nor content myself with sitting still, until the close of the debate, to be numbered with the tacit votes in its disfavour. Sir, the Navy, I have ever considered not only as the true and constitutional safe-guard of this insular territory, but as the very spirit and soul of all traffic, the quintessence of merchandize, and indeed, I may say, the palladium of commerce. With this view, Sir, my studies have ever tended to the investigation of the origin of that stupendous piece of mechanism, a ship.⸺Noah, Sir, was, in my opinion, the first circumnavigator—(I beg to be understood, I mean no reflection on the memory of Sir Francis Drake)—he was therefore, Sir, justly entitled to the highest situation in the naval department of that early period—take him for all in all, we shall not look upon his like again—though, in truth, there are traits in his character not totally dissimilar to some leading features of the noble Earl who is now at the head of that department—But it is not for me to draw the parallel. Sir, The Phœnicians * * * * * It was a custom also among the Chaldeans and the Nazareens * * * * * Recollect, Sir, when news was brought to the Persians * * * * * So the Macedonians * * * * * In like manner the Lacedemonians, and the Athenians * * * * * Thus too the Carthagenians * * * * * Here let me call your attention to the Romans and Syracusians * * * * * Need I remind you of the northern hive, or trouble you with the Goths and Vandals? * * * * * So too, Sir, the Chinese * * * * * At length, Mr. Sp[ea]k[e]r, the Danes, Dutch, Swedes, Venetians, Neapolitans, Spaniards, French, Portuguese, Muscovites, Turks, Saracens, and others, that I skip over to avoid tediousness * * * * * And to bring it home to our feelings, the ancient Britons, hardy Welch, Milesians, wild Irish, Saxons, Picts, Normans, English, and _Regattaites_ rush upon our mind, and * * * * * From this historical deduction, I cannot but think, Sir, navigation highly necessary, highly favourable to liberty.