338

COMMENCEMENT OF THE UNION.

BOOK THE THIRD.

CHAPTER I.

A. D. 1801 TO 1803.

We now enter upon the first year of the most eventful era in the history of Britain, if not of mankind. On the first of January, 1801, the union of England and Ireland commenced, when a council assembled, at which the King presided, and the Heir-apparent, with all the Royal Dukes, took the prescribed oaths. A new great seal was delivered to the Lord Chancellor, and the old one defaced. The altered standard was hoisted at the Tower, and the guns both there and in the Park announced to the public the important political change that had taken place.

Notwithstanding these formalities, the country never stood in a more alarming position than at this very period. After a contest of eight years, the nation saw fresh enemies rising on every side, among whom were some of those powers that had received ample subsidies from Britain, and professed the warmest zeal for the cause in which she was engaged. The emperor Paul, being disappointed in his expectation of being put in possession of Malta, issued an order for laying an embargo on all British vessels in Russian ports.

NORTHERN CONFEDERACY.

339

The violent and capricious monarch next proceeded to another measure of hostility; by reviving the northern confederacy, consisting of Russia, Sweden, and Denmark, the object of which was to establish by force a new code of maritime laws, directly inimical to this country.

In consequence of these outrages, the British Government adopted the retaliatory measure of ordering the seizure of all vessels belonging to any of the confederate powers, then in the ports of this country.

Though the king of Prussia did not become an avowed party in this convention, he acceded to it privately, and on particular conditions. In the month of March, the Prussians took possession of Hanover, and at the same time the Danish troops entered Hamburg and Lubeck, for the purpose of putting a stop to British

commerce.

The most active exertions were now made, to meet the threatened danger, and to break by one great blow the formidable combination of the maritime states; who, on their part, were not less energetic in their preparations for present defence and future annoyance.

In the midst of these alarms, Parliament assembled, and on the 2d of February the King delivered a speech from the throne, in which, after noticing the coalition of the northern states against this country, his Majesty said, "In such a situation, I could not hesitate as to the conduct it became me to pursue. I have taken the earliest measures to repel the aggressions of this hostile confederacy, and to support those principles which are essential to the maintenance of our naval strength, grounded on the principle of public law so long established and recognized in Europe."

340

RESIGNATION OF MR. PITT.

The debates on the address were animated, and brought the old question of the right of searching neutral ships under discussion; but with little information or argument that could be called new. The minister asked, "If we were to permit the navy of our enemy to be supplied and recruited? to suffer blockaded ports to be furnished with stores and provisions? and allow neutral nations, by hoisting a flag on a sloop or a fishingboat, to convey the treasures of South America to Spain, or the naval stores of the Baltic to Brest or Toulon ?" This reasoning was not to be answered, and the Parliament confirmed it by great majorities.

While Britain thus stood alone, to contend with the world in arms; other circumstances arose, to agitate the nation, and embarrass the government. Previous to the King's meeting his Parliament, a communication was made to his Majesty by Mr. Pitt, stating the prevailing sentiments of the majority in the Cabinet, to be in favour of admitting Catholics and Dissenters to public offices, and of Catholics to Parliament, with a view to the tranquillity and improvement of Ireland, and to the general interest of the united kingdom.

His Majesty in reply declined "discussing any proposition tending, as he thought, to destroy the groundwork of our happy constitution; and much more so, that now mentioned, which would be no less than the complete overthrow of the whole fabric.'

The minister having intimated the necessity of his resignation, in the event of his Majesty's opposition to the proposed measure, the King answered-" Though I do not pretend to have the power of changing Mr. Pitt's opinion, when thus unfortunately fixed, yet I shall hope his sense of duty will prevent his retiring from his

ATTACK ON COPENHAGEN.

341

present situation to the end of my life-for I can, with great truth, assert, that I shall, from public and private considerations, feel great regret, if I shall ever find myself obliged, at any time, from a sense of religious and political duty, to yield to his entreaties of retiring from his seat at the board of the Treasury."

It was impossible, however, to shake the resolution of Mr. Pitt; and, on the 5th of February, his resignation was accepted, but with a condition, that he and his colleagues should continue to act till the new arrangement was formed.

This affair operated so strongly upon the royal mind, that a fever came on, from which the patient did not recover till the 12th of March; and, on the 17th, Mr. Addington was sworn into office, as first lord of the Treasury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lord Hawkesbury succeeded Lord Grenville, as secretary for foreign affairs; Earl St. Vincent succeeded Earl Spencer at the Admiralty board; Lord Eldon became Chancellor, in the room of Lord Loughborough; Lords Hobart and Pelham were made secretaries of state, instead of the Duke of Portland and Mr. Dundas; Mr. Yorke took the post of Mr. Windham, as secretary at war; the Earl of Hardwicke accepted the situation of viceroy of Ireland; and Lord Lewisham was put at the head of the board of control.

While this cabinet was forming, an expedition, commanded by Admiral Sir Hyde Parker and Lord Nelson, sailed from Yarmouth Roads for the Baltic. To force an entrance through the Sound, appeared an enterprise scarcely practicable; so formidable were the defences which the Danes, and their allied neighbours, had made for the security of the approaches. Nelson, however,

342

THANKS TO THE VICTORS.

was not to be deterred by obstacles. Born to encounter dangers, and to conquer them, he volunteered his service in directing the attack, and succeeded.

On the 16th of April, Earl St. Vincent, as first lord of the Admiralty, rose for the purpose of moving the thanks of the house to those noble, gallant, and distinguished commanders, who had so signally fought, and so decidedly obtained the victory over the Danish fleet before Copenhagen. He would move, too, with no less warmth, the thanks of the house to the officers, marines, and sailors, who had with so much courage sustained the engagement, and achieved the complete defeat of the enemy's fleet. Much as might be said for the glory and honour of the British arms, he must add, that, in his opinion, no one victory, through the whole course of our naval successes, was, in itself, of greater importance, nor likely to be attended with more important and extensive benefit to the British empire. He then moved the thanks of the house to Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, for the victory obtained over the Danish fleet on the 2nd of April; which was unanimously agreed to. The noble Earl then moved thanks to Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson; to Rear-Admiral Graves; to the honourable Colonel Stewart, of the 49th regiment of foot; together with the officers, marines, and sailors serving on board the British fleet.

The Duke of Clarence said, it might appear presumptuous in him to rise, and add his approbation to what had already been so forcibly expressed. He complimented Lord Nelson highly on his courage and intrepidity, which fortune seemed to back in every enterprise in which he was engaged. His Royal Highness also took that opportunity of acknowledging his own personal