aim being entirely frustrated, they prudently seemed to concur in a scheme now beyond their power to defeat, and furnished a supply of arms to the volunteers. The nation feeling its strength, now began to consider of its rights; and a free and unlimited commerce with all the world was an object which it resolved to pursue. The Irish parliament, which met in October, declared in their addresses to the throne, that nothing short of such a concession could save the country from ruin; and in order that their farther proceedings might not be intercepted by a prorogation, they passed a money bill of six months only.

Some changes in the English ministry, though of no political importance, took place in November. Earl Gower resigned the place of lord president of the council, in which he was succeeded by Earl Bathurst. The northern secretaryship, which had been some months vacant in consequence of the death of the Earl of Suffolk, was assigned to Lord Stormont, late ambassador to the court of France; and the Earl of Hillsborough was appointed to that of the southern department, in the room of Lord Weymouth who resigned.

Parliament met on November 25th, when the King's speech, and the addresses upon it, afforded matter for very warm debates in both houses. The ministers were attacked with more than usual severity on the dangerous state into which the country was brought under their direction; they were however supported by majorities sufficiently efficient, though less than those of the earlier periods of the war.

The affairs of Ireland were brought into immediate consideration by a motion of the Earl of Shelburne for a resolution declaring the ministers highly criminal in having neglected to take measures for the relief of Ireland in consequence of the address of the House of Lords to his Majesty in May last. The subsequent debate was rendered remarkable by the declaration of the late president of the council, that he was fully convinced that the charge brought against the ministers was strictly true; that if nothing had been effected for the relief of Ire

land, it was not his fault; he had done every thing in his power to keep the promise he had given for this purpose, but his efforts had been totally fruitless. The motion, however, was rejected by a majority of more than two to one. After a similar motion had been made and rejected in the House of Commons, Lord North, on December 13th, brought forward his own propositions for affording relief to Ireland. They consisted in, first, a repeal of the laws prohibiting the export of the Irish woollen manufactures from Ireland to any part of Europe: second, a repeal of the prohibition of importing glass except of British manufacture into Ireland, and of exporting glass from thence: third, permission to the Irish to carry on a direct export and import trade with the British colonies in America, and the West Indies, and on the coast of Africa, under regulations to be imposed by the parliament of Ireland. Such was the present temper of the houses, that these propositions were agreed to without the least opposition, and bills were brought in on the two former, before the

recess.

Motions were made by the Duke of Richmond and the Earl of Shelburne respecting the enormous expenditure of the public money, especially under the head of army extraordinaries; and though they were defeated by majorities, they made a great impression on the public at large; and the necessity of strict economy, in the arduous contest in which the nation was engaged, appeared to be admitted by all parties.

The war between the Austrian Emperor and the King of Prussia was renewed in the spring; but both sides were now fully sensible of the seriousness of the contest in which they were involved, while the other continental powers exerted their influence to put an end to a dispute which endangered the tranquillity of all Europe. An armistice being therefore agreed upon in March, a congress was held at Teschen in Silesia, under the mediation of France and Russia, which was productive of a treaty of peace signed on May 13th. By its conditions, the convention between the court of

Vienna and the Elector Palatine was annulled, and the former restored all the places and districts seized by it in Bavaria, except a part which was ceded to Austria as an indemnification for her claims. Cessions and indemnifications were granted to the house of Saxony, and other matters in dispute were adjusted upon equitable principles. On the whole, the Emperor's ambitious views were defeated, and Frederic gained the honour of being the champion of the Germanic body.

Some disputes which occurred between Russia and the Porte, relative to the fulfilment of the articles of the late peace, and which threatened a renewal of hostilities, were accommodated by the interposition of France.

250

A. D. 1780.

YEAR OF GEORGE III. 20 & 21.

PARLIAMENT 6 & 1.

-

Ad

County Petitions for Redress of Grievances. Mr. Burke's Reform Bills.-Motions for Controul of Expenditure. - Board of Trade abolished. Notice given to the East-India Company. - Mr. Dunning's Resolution passed relative to the Power of the Crown.— Other parliamentary Transactions relative to Reform.— Sir G. Rodney's Capture of a Spanish Convoy, and Victory over a Spanish Fleet.-Admiral Digby's Success against a French Convoy. - Disputes with Holland: Detention of a Dutch Convoy. - Northern armed Neutrality.- Capture of Charleston by Sir H. Clinton.Victory of Colonel Tarleton at Waxsaw. - Lord Cornwallis's Success in South Carolina. - Don Galves takes Fort Mobille. miral Rodney's Action with Guichen. Combined Fleet of France and Spain in the West Indies.- Operations of the Army at New York. Anti-catholic Riots in London. - Dreadful Conflagrations. Apprehension of Lord G. Gordon. - Parliamentary Proceedings. Channel Fleets.- Capture of a great Convoy of English outward-bound East and West Indiamen, and of a Quebec Fleet. Channel Fleet at Sea under Admiral Darby. Occurrences at the Siege of Gibraltar. - French and Americans at Rhode Island.· Alarm at New York. Lord Cornwallis's Attempts against North Carolina. - Lord Rawdon's Victory at Canada. Sumpter defeated by Tarleton. - General Arnold's Defection. - Fate of Major André. Destructive Hurricane in the West Indies. Capture and Imprisonment of Mr. Laurens. War declared against Holland. Parliament dissolved. New Parliament assembled.. Torture abolished in France, and Inquisition in Modena. - Interview between the Empress of Russia and Emperor of Germany. Archd. Maximilian elected Coadjutor of Cologne and Munster. Death of Empress Maria Theresa. -East Indies. Confederacy of Hyder Ally, the Nizam, and the Mahrattas, against the English Company. Success of General Goddard. Arcot invested by Hyder.-Defeat and Capture of Colonel Baillie.

THE

HE general ill success of the war, the alarming circumstances in which the nation was placed, and the loud complaints against ministers, often rather refuted

by votes than by reasonings, had now widely diffused a spirit of discontent which, at the commencement of this year, manifested itself by the meetings of a great number of counties for the purpose of framing petitions to parliament for the redress of grievances. The county of York took the lead, and in a petition signed by persons of the first consequence, both clergy and laity, stated in strong terms the evils arising from the war, the wastefulness of expenditure, the unconstitutional influence acquired by the crown in consequence of the increase of places and pensions, and the absolute necessity of correcting these abuses before new burdens were imposed on the people. The county of Middlesex succeeded, and the example was followed by a number of other counties and towns, some with greater, some with less unanimity. In some associations were entered into, and committees were named to further the objects in view, a measure which was objected to in others, as too close an imitation of America and Ireland. After the Christmas recess these petitions were presented to the House of Commons, Sir George Saville leading the way with that of Yorkshire. A petition was about the same time presented from Jamaica, complaining in very strong language of the negligence of ministers in providing for the safety of that important island.

On February 11th, Mr. Burke, in a speech, regarded as one of the greatest efforts of that celebrated orator and statesman, introduced to the House of Commons his plan "For the better security of the independence of parliament, and the economical reformation of the civil and other establishments." It consisted of five separate bills, of which the objects were the abolition of useless places, the sale of crown lands and forests, and the union to the crown of the detached jurisdiction of Wales, and the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall. The extensive information and comprehensive views displayed in these bills, and in the introductory matter, commanded general admiration, and no opposition was made to the motion for bringing them in, except with regard to that relative to the