Cheit Sing. Disputes arising between this Rajah and his superior the Nabob Vizier, Mr. Hastings, then president of the council of Calcutta, took a journey in 1773, to the court of the latter, for the purpose of settling them, when he acted as the protector of the young Rajah. On the death of the Nabob Vizier, in 1775, an arrangement took place with his son and successor, by which the sovereignty of Benares was transferred to the Company, and from that time they stood in the same relation of superior to Cheit Sing that the Nabob had done. No complaint appears to have been made against the Rajah, till, in 1778, war having broken out between England and France, he was required to contribute an extraordinary subsidy towards its expenses. A long series of differences then arose, the representations of which by the opposite parties are naturally discordant; but on the whole, it may be concluded that the demands augmented on one side, and the repugnance to comply with them on the other, and that the Rajah became more and more disaffected to the Company, especially as he found their affairs brought into a hazardous state by the invasion of Hyder Ally. Such was their reciprocal situation when Mr. Hastings, now governor-general in India, set out from Calcutta, in July, 1781, on a progress for the purpose of restoring order in the dominions of the Nabob-Vizier, and calling to account the Rajah of Benares, who was suspected of a design entirely to throw off the Company's authority, and to render himself independent. Proceeding up the Ganges, Mr. Hastings reached Buxar, where he had a conference with the Rajah, of which very different accounts have been given. The Rajah being at length, after various negociations, placed under arrest, he was rescued, with the massacre of his guard, and fled to the fortress of Luttefpoor. The governor-general learning that there was a design of attacking his quarters near Benares by night, retired to Chunar. Repeated applications from the Rajah for an accommodation were ineffectual; and after reinforcements had been received at Chunar,

several of the Rajah's strong holds were attacked and taken, and he himself fled to Bidjeygur, and all his troops dispersed. The governor-general returning to Benares, settled the government, and appointed a new Rajah, with whom he made an agreement, by which the tribute paid to the Company was augmented. Their affairs in this part of India were now so successful, that a treaty of alliance and friendship was concluded with Madajee Scindia, by Colonel Muir. Major Popham then advancing in pursuit of Cheit Sing, to Bidjeygur, an almost impregnable fortress, in which his treasures were deposited, he abandoned the place and his country, carrying with him all the property he was able to convey; and the fortress afterward capitulating, a great booty was divided among the captors. Such was the issue of the transactions relative to Benares.

Intelligence of the Dutch war having reached India in August, the arrival of five of the Company's ships from China at Fort Marlborough on the coast of Sumatra, stimulated the gentlemen of that factory to undertake with their assistance an enterprise against the Dutch settlements in that island. By little more than intimidation this attempt completely succeeded. An undertaking of greater importance was the reduction of the Dutch port and fortress of Negapatam in the Tanjore country, which Sir Edward Hughes had blockaded by sea, from the time of his first knowledge of the rupture with Holland. Sir Hector Monro being appointed to act by land in conjunction with him, the troops destined for this service were landed at Nagore October 21st, and being joined by the marines of the fleet and a detachment of sailors, broke ground before the fort on November 3d. The advances were so vigorous, that the place capitulated on the 12th, Although the garrison, reinforced by some of Hyder's men, much surpassed the besiegers in number. The result of its capture was the evacuation by Hyder's troops of all the places which they held in Tanjore and its borders.

The autumnal session of parliament was opened on

November 27th, by a speech from the throne, the language of which was not less determinate than it had ever been in maintaining the necessity of continuing the most vigorous exertions for the preservation of the essential rights and permanent interests of the country. Very different, however, were the feelings of the nation in general since the intelligence of Lord Cornwallis's surrender, which was considered as decisive of the impracticability of recovering by force the American colonies; and on the usual motion for the answering address in the House of Commons, Mr. Fox exerted all the power of his eloquence to prevent any pledge from being given for a perseverance in so hopeless a contest. His proposed amendment was however rejected by a large majority; as was likewise a similar one moved in the House of Lords. The ministers on this occasion declared strongly that no such pledge was intended, and the tone of some of them was remarkably moderate. The change in public opinion was rendered more apparent on a motion made by Sir James Lowther, on the day appointed for voting the army supplies, for a declaration against all farther attempts to reduce the Americans to obedience by force. After a long debate, in which the nature and objects of any future war on that continent were closely canvassed, the motion was negatived by no greater majority than 220 to 179.

Mr. Burke having made a motion for an enquiry into the confiscations and other proceedings at St. Eustatius, Sir George Rodney, who was present, defended his conduct by an invective against the perfidy of the Dutch, and their attachment to the enemies of Great Britain, and also replied to the attacks on his military character relative to his remaining inactive at that island. In his defence he was followed by his fellowcommander General Vaughan, and the motion was finally quashed on a division.

Notice being given by Mr. Burke of an intention after the recess to move for a bill for regulating the mode of exchanging prisoners with America, he took occasion to inveigh against the cruelty, injustice,

and impolicy of the treatment of Mr. Laurens during his confinement in the Tower; and he delivered a representation and prayer from that gentleman, addressed to the House of Commons, written by him with a black lead pencil, as he had refused the indulgence lately offered him of the use of pen and ink, from which he had been long debarred-with so much augmented acrimony had the contest with America been carried on near its period. Some severe attacks on the conduct of the Admiralty were the most interesting occurrences in the remainder of the session previous to the recess.

801

A. D. 1782.

YEAR OF GEORGE III. 22 & 23.

PARLIAMENT 2 & 3.

- Lord

Parliamentary Affairs continued.-Motion to inculpate the First Lord of the Admiralty.- Motions against the Prosecution of the American War: Resolution carried against an offensive War. North's Administration dissolved. - Rockingham Ministry formed. - Affairs in Ireland: its Independence declared. Reform Bills passed.-Resolution concerning the Middlesex Election expunged. -Mr. Pitt's Motion on the State of Parliamentary Representation. Death of the Marquis of Rockingham and subsequent Changes: Shelburne Ministry. Reports of East India Committees.- West India Transactions. St. Christopher's taken by De Bouille. Danger of Jamaica. — Rodney's Victory over De Grasse. - Bahamas taken by the Spaniards. Dutch Settlements on the African Coast reduced.-French Expedition against Hudson's-Bay.Actions in the Bay of Honduras. - Fort St. Philip in Minorca taken. Success of Admiral Barrington against a French Convoy. -Newfoundland and Quebec Fleets captured by the French. - Loss of the Royal George.- Disasters of the Fleet from the West Indies with the Ville De Paris, &c.—Siege of Gibraltar: Destruction of the Floating Batteries. - Lord Howe's Relief of Gibraltar.- East Indies. Trincomalee taken from the Dutch. Action between Sir Edward Hughes and Suffrein. Tellicherry taken by the English. - Colonel Braithwaite's Detachment destroyed, and Cuddalore taken by the French.- Other Actions between Hughes and Suffrein.Defeat of Hyder by Sir Eyre Coote.-Suffrein recovers Trincomalee. Actions on the Malabar Coast. Death of Hyder and Succession of Tippoo. Visit of the Pope to the Emperor at Vienna. - Inquisition abolished in Tuscany.- Conflagrations at Constantinople.- Provisional Articles of Peace between England and America signed at Paris.- Winter Session of Parliament opened.-King's Speech.

THE first business brought before the House of Commons after the Christmas recess, was an enquiry into the conduct of the first lord of the Admiralty, opened by Mr. Fox in a motion, January 23d, for a