session of the colony of St. Sacrament and other places. Preliminaries of peace were at length agreed on by the two courts, and a treaty of limits was concluded, by which all differences were terminated; and the final result was, that the closest alliance was formed between the royal families of Spain and Portugal. As nothing but necessity could have compelled the Ottoman Porte to submit to the terms of the late peace with Russia, its stipulations soon became a subject of dispute between the two courts. The permission given to the Russian vessels of passing the Dardanelles, being particularly galling to the Turks, pretexts were found for stopping at Constantinople all ships of that nation proceeding from the Mediterranean. The independence of the Krimea produced two parties in that peninsula, one attached to the Turks, the other to the Russians; and on the election of a Khan, each returned its own candidate. A civil war was the consequence, in which several of the neighbouring Tartar tribes took part. War still continued between the Turks and Persians, but without any important event. 208 A. D. 1778. YEAR OF GEORGE III. 18 & 19. · Ad Regiments voluntarily raised in different places.- Motions against the Measure. Lord North's renewed proposal for Reconciliation. French alliance with the American States, and Declaration. dress in consequence. Motions in favour of Irish Commerce, and Bills passed.-Provision for the King's younger Children. - Motion to prevent Members of Parliament from engaging in Government Contracts. Lord Chatham's Fit in the House of Lords, and subsequent death.- Bills passed for the Relief of Roman Catholics.- General Burgoyne's reception. Militia embodied. Reviews.- Congress retards the return of the Convention Troops. Expeditions in the Jerseys, &c.-Arrival of Commissioners for negotiating in America, and consequent Transactions.— British army quits Philadel phia: Action on Retreat: Lee suspended. War commenced with France.- Keppel sails with the Channel Fleet.- His Engagement with D'Orvilliers, and Consequences. -D'Estaign sails to America, and appears off Sandy Hook. Baffled by Lord Howe. His attack on the British at Rhode Island. Sullivan's Repulse there. - Lord Howe resigns his Command. - American Tories destroy Wyoming. Destruction of American Privateers. Other successes of the British.- Expedition against Georgia: the whole Colony subdued. -Commissioners quarrel with Congress and return. - Dominica taken by the French.- English Expedition against St. Lucie.D'Estaign repulsed, and the Island surrenders.- Pondicherry and other French Settlements in the East Indies taken.· Parliament. King's Speech, Addresses. - Dispute between Admirals Keppel and Palliser. War in Germany between the Emperor and the King of Prussia. THE HE difficulty of levying troops to supply the losses sustained in America, began to be strongly felt at the commencement of this year, and the influence of ministry was employed to induce that party which from the first had been zealous in support of coercive measures against the colonies, to use their voluntary efforts in aid of the ordinary public means resorted to for this purpose. The great trading towns of Manchester and Liverpool took the lead in this display of loyalty, and offers were sent to court by each of them, of raising at their own expence a regiment of a thousand men. The proposal was thankfully accepted, and the friends to the cause in each town, with the neighbouring country gentlemen, engaged in the business with the greatest ardour. It was much desired. that the city of London would follow the example, and a motion was made in a meeting of the corporation for that purpose; but while it was supported by a majority of 11 to 9 in the court of aldermen, it was thrown out by a majority of at least three to one in the common council. The prevalent temper of the city was farther shown by the notice of a motion for an address to his Majesty, that he would be pleased "to offer such terms to our American brethren, as would put a stop to the present calamitous war." The monied interest of London, however, showed its attachment to the king and administration, by opening a subscription for raising men for his Majesty's service," in such manner as his Majesty shall think fit;"-words that were afterwards much commented upon. An attempt to obtain a vote for the same purpose from the corporation of Bristol failed. In Scotland the measure of raising new regiments was adopted with great alacrity. Edinburgh and Glasgow levied regiments of their own, and several gentlemen in the Highlands raised corps in that martial district. One incentive to zeal on these occasions, was the privilege granted of nominating the officers, which, with other advantages, made it in some places a very gainful concern. The benefit which accrued to government from the subscriptions, was not so much in a pecuniary view, as in the revival of that spirit for subjugating the colonies, which the late events had in some measure repressed. The satisfaction derived to the ministers from this testimony of approbation of their policy, became apparent on the discussion, consequent upon a motion of Sir P. J. Clerke, in the House of Commons, immediately after the recess, for an address, that an account of the number of troops raised during the adjournment, with a specification of the corps, the names of the officers, &c. should be laid before them. This being agreed to, Lord North expressed himself in terms of cordial self-congratulation at such a display of general concurrence in the plans of administration. The opposition, however, charged the measure adopted with being illegal and unconstitutional; and some warm debates on the question were brought on, when a sum was moved for in the committee of supply, for clothing the new troops. The majority by which this was carried, was less than had been usual, being 223 to 130. In the House of Lords, two motions were made by the Earl of Abingdon, in direct reprobation of the levies and subscriptions, which were rejected by a majority of three to one. The leaders of opposition in both Houses afterwards introduced a variety of motions, which had for their purpose enquiry into the transactions of the war, and the conduct of ministers, but which it is at present unimportant to specify, their result being the same as that on former occasions. On February 17th, Lord North, who appears always to have had conciliation in view, though he had been so unfortunate as always to be too late with his proposals, brought into the house two bills, one, for declaring the intentions of the parliament concerning the exercise of the right of imposing taxes on the colonies; the other, to enable his Majesty to appoint commissioners with powers to treat upon the means for quieting the disorders now subsisting in America. In his preliminary speech he said he had always known that American taxation could never produce a beneficial revenue, and that he had never proposed any taxes on the colonies, but unfortunately found them taxed when he came into office. He justified the coercive acts as apparently necessary at the time, though they had produced effects which he never intended; and he expressed his disappointment at the military failures that had occurred, observing that Sir W. Howe had always been superior, not only in the goodness and appointment of his troops, but in their number to those opposed to him. With respect to the proposed commission, it was to be enabled to treat with the congress by name, as if it were a legal body; to order a suspension of arms; to suspend all restrictive laws, and grant all sorts of pardons and immunities; to restore to any of the colonies their ancient form of constitution; and where the King nominated governors, council, &c. to nominate others, till his pleasure were known. The minister's motion excited strong expressions of disapprobation from the strenuous supporters of the national sovereignty and the royal prerogative, and some of the country gentlemen warmly complained of the deception practised on them relative to American taxation. On the other hand, the propositions were in general approved by the opposition, but not without some severe remarks on the fruitlessness of a war, the objects of which appeared never to have been understood, and were now entirely renounced. The bills, however, passed with some amendments, one of which was a clause for the express repeal of the tea tax. During the progress of these bills in the House of Lords, the Duke of Grafton, on March 5th, informed the house that he had received intelligence from an unquestionable source, that a treaty had been actually signed between the court of France and the deputies of America, and put the question to the ministers present whether this were the fact. The secretary of state in reply affirmed that he knew nothing of such treaty, nor had received any authentic information of its being either in existence or contemplation. On March 16th Lord North gave notice to the House of Commons that he should have occasion upon the following day to present to it a message from the throne; accordingly, the 17th, the French declaration was laid before both houses, with a message purporting that his Majesty, relying upon the support of his people, was determined to exert, if necessary, all the force of his kingdom, to re on |