transactions, that the British administration at this time was wanting neither in vigour to conceive, nor power to execute designs calculated to bring the war to an honourable termination. It is however certain, that early in the present year the cabinet began to manifest symptoms of disunion, and that a commencement was made of those party animosities and dissensions which have so much agitated the reign of George III. The preponderating influence of the Earl of Bute over the royal mind, which was branded with the invidious appellation of favouritism, was sensibly felt by his colleagues in office; and it was particularly galling to that ancient servant of the crown, the Duke of Newcastle, who now possessed the post of first commissioner of the treasury. His situation was rendered so uneasy, that on May 26th, in consequence, it is said, of a direct intimation, that the step was expected, he sent in his resignation. An ample pension was offered him in consideration of his past services, which he declined, with the reply, that "if he could no longer be permitted to serve his country, he was at least determined not to be a burden to it." The resignation of the office of Lord Chamberlain by the Duke of Devonshire soon followed. The Earl of Hardwicke also retired in disgust; and several noblemen of distinction ranged themselves on the side of opposition. The vacant place at the head of the treasury, usually considered as that of first minister, was occupied by Lord Bute, who was succeeded in the secretaryship by Mr. George Grenville; but this gentleman soon after exchanged his post with the Earl of Halifax, who had succeeded Lord Anson as first Lord of the Admiralty. These changes and defections were productive of discontents that probably gave some alarm to the administration; of which it may be regarded as some indication, that the King's speech on the prorogation of parliament on June 2d expressed a hope that the mem. bers of both houses would continue to diffuse in their several counties that spirit of concord which they themselves had so steadily exerted in parliament. The increased difficulty of continuing the war in the face of a

powerful opposition, and the laudable wish of relieving the nation from the burdens under which it laboured, were motives with the ministers for entertaining a sincere desire of the return of peace; and the Bourbon courts concurring in the same desire, it was easy to convey mutual intimations that a renewal of overtures would not be unacceptable. When the French and English courts were come to an understanding on this point, it was agreed, that, in order to manifest a full determination to render the negotiation effectual, a minister of the highest class should be appointed on each side: accordingly, the Duke of Bedford nominated by the King of England as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, and the Duke de Nivernois with the same character from the King of France, were sent respectively to Paris and London in the beginning of September. Former discussions and late events had so far cleared the way, that preliminaries were signed at Fontainbleau on the 3d of November. By this treaty, the original cause of the war was for ever removed by the cession to Great Britain of the entire province of Canada, and of all that part of Louisiana which is situated to the east of the Mississippi, together with Cape Breton, and the other islands in the gulph and river of St. Lawrence. A right of fishery on the banks of Newfoundland was granted to the French, with the small islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, for the accommodation of their fishermen. In the West Indies, the islands of Tobago, Dominica, St. Vincent, and the Grenades were retained, and those of Martinico, Gua. daloupe, Marigalante, Desirade, and St. Lucia, were restored to the French. On the coast of Africa, Senegal and its dependencies remained in possession of England, and Goree was restored. In the East Indies, all the French factories and settlements were restored, but France agreed to erect no fortifications in Bengal, and to acknowledge the Nabob of the Carnatic, and the Subah of the Decan. In Europe, Minorca on one side, and Belleisle on the other, were to return to their

former possessors, and the fortifications of Dunkirk were to be demolished.

On the part of Spain, a cession was made to England of East and West Florida, and of all her possessions to the east and south-east of the Mississippi, and a right was confirmed to the English of cutting logwood on the coast of Honduras, but without erecting any fortification. In return she obtained the restitution of the Havanna, and all other conquests made upon her. The King of Spain further agreed to restore all the lands, fortresses, &c. conquered from Portugal.

The interests of our ally the King of Prussia were so far consulted, that a stipulation was made with France for the evacuation of Wesel, Cleves, and Gueldres, by its troops; and England and France being now withdrawn from the German war, it was thought that the remaining Belligerents, Prussia and Austria, might settle their quarrel by themselves.

Such, in substance, was the treaty by which the most extensive and burdensome, but the most glorious and successful, war, in which Great Britain had ever been engaged, was terminated. It was not to be expected that in the violent conflict of parties which had now commenced, negotiations comprising so many nice and complicated points could be brought to an issue without leaving much matter for political criticism; and, in fact, some very severe censures were passed upon different articles in the parliamentary debates on the subject. But the ministry foreseeing the impending attacks, had prepared for it. Mr. Fox, though possessing only his former post of paymaster to the army, was engaged to conduct the affairs of government in the House of Commons; and by his abilities, and the support given to the court by the great body of the country or tory party, now enlisted under the royal banners, an address was voted by a large majority in approbation of the preliminaries of peace, notwithstanding the warm invectives of Mr. Pitt and other members in opposition. In the

House of Lords a similar address passed without a division. Through the nation at large much dissatisfaction prevailed at what appeared a gratuitous renunciation of so many hard-earned conquests: yet many calm reasoners were convinced that no solid advantages would have accrued from insisting upon higher terms.

Before the close of the year a treaty of peace was signed at Hubertsburg between the courts of Austria and Prussia, by which the latter power was left in possession of all the territories belonging to it at the commencement of the war. Such was the result of seven years of bloodshed and desolation.

In this year, the parliament of Paris, without any opposition on the part of the crown, issued a decree condemning the institution of the Jesuits, releasing the members of the society from their vows, and alienating all the possessions of the order in France; and the example was followed by the other parliaments of the kingdom.

Expedition against Buenos Ayres.- War with North American Indians. Cyder Tax - Resignation of the Earl of Bute North Briton, 45: Prosecution of Mr. Wilkes, and its consequences. Changes in the Ministry.- Death of the King of Poland. Revolt of the Corsicans from Genoa.- Contests between the King and Parliaments in France. -East Indies. War against Cossim

Ally Cawn. Voyages of Discovery commenced.

THE latest action of the war with Spain, and the only unsuccessful one, occurred on the first day of this year. A joint A joint expedition of English and Portuguese, consisting of three frigates and some small-armed vessels and store-ships, with 500 soldiers on board, sailed in the preceding August from the Tagus, destined against the Spanish settlement of Buenos Ayres. It ar rived at the mouth of the Plata in the beginning of November, and, after encountering much difficulty in ascending that great river, reached Buenos Ayres on January 1st, and steered directly for the harbour. The Spaniards, who were well prepared, received them with a fierce cannonade; but at length their batteries were nearly silenced, and the success of the enterprise seemed almost certain, when the commodore's ship, from some unknown accident, took fire, and instantly was all in a blaze. A dreadful scene ensued, which ended in the destruction of the ship, and of more than three-fourths of her crew, the commander included. The ship next in force escaped with difficulty, and the attempt was thus entirely defeated.