UK Parliamentary debate on the 1795 invasion by France of Catalonia. Hansard (1795)

Catalonia has been debated in the UK Houses of Parliament many times. Here is one such occasion, in March 1795, when revolutionary France was waging war against Spain (and was to take over the whole of Catalonia).
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Source:
https://books.google.es/books?id=0mA9AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1365&dq=hansard+catalonia&hl=ca&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj4nOv3xLPnAhVGrxoKHfpwAjsQ6AEIgwEwCQ#v=onepage&q=hansard%20catalonia&f=false

The Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803.

The Right Honourable Charles James Fox's Motion for a Committee on the State of the Nation

1795. March 24.

p. 1365:
       "But we have another ally, the king of Spain. Now, what is the real state of Spain? It is of importance that we should turn our view to the present situation of that country. A great part of its north-eastern provinces has already been conquered by France: Bilboa [sic] and Barcelona are in a considerable degree of danger. Are we to look, then, to the Spanish monarchy as being possessed of force sufficient to act against France with effect? Or is it not that part of the alliance which is the most weak, and on which it is probable the French will soon make an impression, that will decide the fate of the war in that kingdom? I was told there was such a store of vigour in that country, that the people would rise in a mass against France. But when that came to the trial, there was nothing which apparently so much contributed to the
p. 1366:
failure, as the individual treachery of the officers of the king of Spain; in no quarter was there so much cause for jealousy, or of a want of disposition to resist the French. It may be asked, Was Figueres taken by the French, or did it not surrender? It is extremely probable that French intrigue upon this occasion has operated more than French force. It was also supposed that the bigoted attachment of the Spaniards to the Roman Catholic religion would inspire them with vigour against the French, who are supposed to have trampled upon all religion;–but was this the case? We know the reverse to be the fact.

       But what is the state of Spain in other respects? Of all parts of Spain, there is none in which there is so much vigour as in Catalonia; into the heart of which the French have penetrated. What was the history of that people? When the French had, by their arms, made a considerable progress in this province, the people of Barcelona determined to resist their progress, and to undertake their own defence. Accordingly, they sent a deputation to that effect to Madrid, stating that they wished to undertake the defence of the country, and that they would defend it to the last drop of their blood, provided no Spanish troops were sent to their assistance except some particular regiments, which they specified, and provided an assembly of the state was called. This deputation received no answer; or rather, they received a direct refusal; and the French found but too easy a conquest in that province. I mention this to show that Spain is not a country to be depended upon, and that she is one of the weakest of our allies. The King of Sardinia and the King of Spain were to have made different diversions in aid of the confederacy. The King of Sardinia undertook to make a diversion in Dauphiny, and at this moment the French are masters of Nice and Savoy. Spain engaged to make a diversion in Rousillon, and the French are now in possession of Navarre, Biscay, and Catalonia. All these allies, therefore, upon whose exertions so much dependance was placed by the Ministers of this country, are now only so many dead weights upon our treasury.

       Are the Spaniards in a much better situation in regard to their finances? It is true they have not yet called upon this country for for a subsidy ; but they must either soon make that application, or,

p. 1367:

what will be much more beneficial for themselves, make a separate peace with France. They have had recourse to measures of finance of a very extraordinary nature. I shall name one of them. Gentlemen will recollect that an honourable friend of mine, not long ago, made a motion in this House for laying a moderate tax on all offices and employments under government during the war. The House will recollect with what ridicule that motion was received. It was considered as a paltry resource, to which no nation, that was not utterly exhausted in its finances, ought to resort. But what has the king of Spain done? The Spanish court has laid a duty of four per cent. upon every person enjoying any office in Spain above one hundred and fifty pounds per annum, and a tax of twenty-five per cent, upon the salaries of all upon the salaries of all the councillors of state, for the support of the present war. I am not commending this expedient. I am only stating it, to show what the situation of Spain is with respect to her finances; and how little the allies can rely on that country for support in the prosecution of the war.

      Such, Sir, is the real situation of our allies, according to the best information I have been able to procure..."

Also: https://books.google.es/books?id=4EEJiAHWgk8C&pg=PA544&dq=%22progress,+and+to+undertake+their+own+defence.+Accordingly,+they%22&hl=ca&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiGv-rlyLPnAhXW3oUKHWn5BLkQ6AEIYTAF