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YALE UNIVERSITY
LLBRARY

Bought with the income
of the
HENRY A. HOMES FUND

HISTORY

O F

ENGLAND,

IN

A SERIES OF LETTERS.
VOL. IL

A
HISTORY OF
ENGLAND, IN
A SERIES OF LETTERS
FROM
A NOBLEMAN TO HIS SON.
TO WHICH ARE ADDKD
TWO LETTERS

THE STUDY AND BIOGRAPHY OF THE ANCIENT
' 'and MODERN BRITISH HISTORIANS.
VOL. II.

PARIS:
Printed for TheoIphii^us Barbois junior,
Boolseller, quai Voltaire, n.° 3.
1802.

AN ACCOUNT

OP THE

BRITISH HISTORIANS.

LETTER I.
After having, in these letters, laid before you
such a detail of ihe history of England as may, by
¦dwelling on your memory, give you a correct idea
¦ofthe whole, and assist you in more extended re
searches into the transactions of nations and of
individuals, I come now, by way of appendix, lo
lay open to you those stores from which all histo
rians, who are not mere compilers, must borrow
the materials of their superstructure. I proposd
to give you some account ofthe principal English
historians from the earliest times to the present
<lay, with a short character of each. You will, in
perusing this, see much reason to admire that pro
vidence by which we are so excellently provided
with records of ages long since past.
The eariiest British historian, whose works ar«
now extant, is Oildas, surnamed the "Wise, who
lived in the sixth century. He wrote a book Z><s
Excidio BritdnnicB, while he resided in France,
to •which the Britons had retired with their colony.
In this book, or letter, as he calls it, much infor
mation may be gathered respecting the unhappy ¦
state of the Britons at that time; The best edition
of it w^as published by Dr. Gale.
Bede, or Beda, a writer of great renown, flou
rished in the seventh century. This extraordinarjpr
man was boru at Yarrow, in the bishopric of
Vol, II. a

ij AN ACCOUNT OF THE
Durham. Although much sought after for his
learning, he spent most of his lime in his cell,
where he composed a variety of works, and
among them an ecclesiastical history, which con
tains many particulars of the civil and mihtary
history of the Britons and Saxons. ¦ If we con
sider the low stale of learning in his time, Beda
will appear a prodigy ; but it must be aUowed that
he was not without the failings common in dark
ages, and which are peculiarly attached to a mo
nastic life. He was not exempt from credulity
and superstition ; yet his information waji the best
that could be procured, and the copiousness of his
materials is at once a propf of his various learn
ing, and his indefatigable indqstry,
Nennius, a monk of the ninth century, left be
hind him st work entitled Historia Britonum.
Jeffrey of Monmouth flourished in the time of
Henry I, and was the earhest writer of the ancient
British History after the conquest. The fictitious
ingredients of his history, however, unfortunately
predominate, and many able antiquarians consider
the whole as a forgery. In his genealogy of the
kings of Britain from the days of Brutus, the pre
tended son of ./Eneas, he certainly followed Nen
nius, whom I have just now mentioned, and who
in his history ( published by Gale at Oxford in
1691 ) traces tliis .^neas up to Nos^h, The au--
thenticity of Jeffrey's history has been caUed in
question by Polydore Vergil and Buchc^nan, and
has been vindicated by Usher, Leland, Rice, and
others, The best edition of his history in Latin,
was pubEshed by Commeline in 1587, There ig
an English translation by Thomson, pubhshed
1718, with a sensible preface concerning the au
thority ofthe history, which may be consulted wilji
advantage. P^radocus, a Welsh mon]t, was contemporaiy

BMTISH HISTORIANS. ijj
with Jeffrey of Monmouth, and wrote a treatise
of the succession of several petty kings of Wales.
This history, -which is brought as low as the.year
1 1 56, has been translated and published in Eng
lish by Dr. Powei.
The earliest Saxon history is the Saxon Chro
nicle, the compilers of -wliich are unkno-wn. It
"was printed by Abrahara Wheelock at the end of
his Bede. It appears to have been enlarged by
different hands, as some copies end with the year
977, and others not befoi-e j i54.
Tlie history ofthe reign ofthe immortal Alfj-ed
was wrilten by Asser .of St. David'.s, -who lived in
his court, and who, it is said, persuaded Alfred
to found and endow the university of Oxford. His
hfe of Alfred extends only to the forty-fifth year
of the life of that prince, and -was continued by
olher hands. Parker, archbishop of Canterbury,
brought this manuscript first into light ; the last
edilio-n was published at Oxford in 1772. A his
torical Chronicle has likewise been published as
the -work of Asser, on the authority of Dr. Gale,
the celebrated antiquarian.
Of more modern writers w-ho have thrown light
upon the Saxon history, Richard Verstegan rnay
be considered as one of the chief. He -was a na
tive of London, and born in the 16th century, a
man of a very singular character. His i^rincipal
work is entitled cc A Restitution of decayed Intel-
5) ligence in Antiquities concerning the most noble
» and renowned English nation, » published ia
i6o5, and often reprinted since. Although not
free from mistakes, this is a work of unquestion
able authority. The errors have been corrected
by Mr. Sheringham, in his Treatise on the Origin
of the English Nation, a work peculiarly interest
ing to those who wish to be acquainted with the
earlier Saxon antiquities. a i;

IV AN ACCOUNT OP THE
Afier the conquest, the number of o-ur histo
rians increases. The first in the order of time m
Ingulj)hus of Croyland, who was born in the year
io3o, and made abbot of Croyland by William
the Conqueror in the year 1076. Ofthis monas
tery he -wrote a history from the year 664 to 1091,
which has beeii often reprinted since. In his
account of Harold he is evidently biassed by his
gratitude to William, lo whom he lay under ma
ny obligations.
Tbe history written by Marianus, a native ai
Scotland, who lived in the eleventh century, was
in considerable estimation. It extends from the
birth of Christ to the year io83, and was conti
nued to 1200 by Bodecjhin, abbot of -St. Dissibode
in the diocese of Treves.
Much use was made of Marianus by Florentius
Bravonius, or W^igorniensis, a monk pf Worces
ter, who lived in the lath century. This work
was called the ChronicJe of Chronicles, and reaches
nearly to the time pf his ^dealh in 1118, and was
continued by another monk to 1 163. Florentius
wrote also ^ Treatise on the Royal Family of Eng
land. To the same century belongs a historian of un^-
doubted authority and excellent style, Eadmerus,
wrho -wrote the history of William I and II, and
Henry I, in six books ; -which were partly publish
ed by Selden in 1623, Eadmer ejf cells in the
.choice and disposal ofhis materials, and deals less
in miracles than any of his predecessors.
Aldredus wrote an abridgment of our history
from Brutus to Henry I, which was deservedly
brought into notice by Hearne in 1716. Aldre
dus is pirticularly attentive to dates and authori
ties, arid from the elegant conciseness of his style,
has been called the Erighsh Florus.
William of Malmsbury wrote the histoiy of th*

liSlTlSH ItlSTOfilANS. Y
Saxon kings and bishops before the conquest and
after it, concluding with king Stephen. Few au
thors have had more admirers, and few of early
times are quoted oftener by the most fastidious
antiquaries. In the twelfth century also. We have Simeon of
Durham, -whose history ofthe kings of England is
not in very high estiiriation ; he continued Bede's
history to the year 1 1 3o. Simeon was one of the
most learned men of his timfe.
Henry of Huntingdon, so called from being
archdeacon of lhat place, flourished in the same
century. H* -wrote a history of England which is
frequently c^onsultfed by modern historians. The
arrangement, however, is not convenient, nor
have the materials been gatheii'ed with much care
and accuracy. Sir Henry Saville pubUshed this
work in 1 5g6,
William- of Newberry's history begins at the
death of Henry I, a-nd is carried on to die year
1 197. In the early part of it he refutes the fabul
ous w-hiras of Jeffrey of Monmouth. His style is
much ad'mired.
Gervasefbf Tilbury, an Englishman, made con
siderable additions to the histories of his country.
All that is extant, ho-wever, begins w^ith the year
1 1 1 3j and ends with the death^f Richard I. From
the method and judgment displayed in this speci
men, it is to be regretted that the whole work was
not preserved.
Roger de HdVeden Was one of the principal his-
toriaris of the thirteenth centuiy. He wrote a
Chronicle of England from where Bede left off"
down to the fourth year of king John. Sir Henry
Sa-ville published this work in 1601.
Matthew Paris in all respects claims the atten
tion of modern historians. He was a Benedic
tine monk of St. Alban's, and one of the greafesi;
a ii;

^^ AN ACCOUNT OF THE
ornaments ofthe thirteenth century. In point of
learning, industry, and candour, he outstripped all
his contemporaries. The vigour of his mind, great
for. the age in which he lived, could not exceed
the courage with which he told unwelcome truths.
His history consists of tvsfo parts : the first extends
from the creation of the world to William the
Conquerpr; the second from William to the year
1 aSo. A monk of die same monastery continued
it to the death of Henry III. Paris' Latin is ex
cellent. The best edition of this history was pu
bUshed in 1 640 by Dr. Wats.
Thomas "Wikes, an Augustine canon regular
of Osney, Oxfordshire, wrote a history -which is
much esteemed for its clearness and fulness. Com
mencing with the Conqueror, he goes on nearly
to the end of Edward I, in i3o6.. It was published
by Dr. Gale.
Nicholas Trivet and Roger Cestrensis contri
buted also pretty largely to the history af lliis pe
riod. Their works were never printed, but have
been often consulted in the Merton college and
Harleian libraries, w^here they are deposited.
About this lime, Selden thinks, John Brompton
lived, the author of a useful Chronicle -which gpes
under his name. It begins at the year 588 when
Augustine, the mpnk, came to England, and ends
at the death of Richard I, ji igS. There are doubts,
however, of his being really the author of thip
chronicle. It is not a litde indebted to Hoved-en,.
but isin itself chiefly valuable pn accpunt of its con
taining a ti^anslation of the Saxon laws into Eng
lish, and being very copious on the Saxon affairs.
From the chronicle of AValter Hemingford, a
canon of Gisborough abbey in Yorkshire, we
learn some particulars of the reign of Edward HI.
It -was published by Gale, who gives such an ac
cpunt of Hemingford as he could procure. The

BRITISH tliSTORIANs. Vlj
PolychronJconof Ralph Higden, a monk of Ches
ter, is chiefly a compilation. Many objections have
been made to him ; but Dr. Gale, who published
the most valuable part of it, commends him for
rescuing from oblivion ma tiy remains of ancient
chronicles. John, vicar of Tinmouth, aiid MattheW of
Westminster, were useful collectors of the labours
of others. The works of the latter were conti
nued by Adam Merimuth lo the year 1 3,8o. Adam -
began his continuation at Michaelmas, and for that
reason, if it may be called a reason, he alw-ays
afterw-ard begins the new year at that feast.
The- last historian of note in the fourteenth cen
tury -was Henry Knighton, canon of Leicester.
He begins with Edgar and ends at the death of
Richard II. He copies considerably from Ralph
Higden, and candidly owns it.
In the fifteenth century, we have Sir John Frois-=
sart, a learned man. He was born at Valen
ciennes about the year i337. His chronicle com-'
prehends the affairs of France, England and Spain,
but chiefly England, from the year i32G to 1400.
He was indefatigable in collecting, and careful in
admitiing only -what he could ascertain to be" fact.
The manners of the limes are very faithfully de
scribed. An EngUsh edition ( the original is in
I'renc;h) was pubUshed by Sir John Bouchier, de
puty of Calais, at the commandof king Henry VIII,
at the latter end ofhis reign. Sleidan epitomized
it, but rather partially. Engueran de Monstrelet
continued Sir Jphn's work to 1467-
In this dark and ignorant century we have few
historians of eminence. Thomas W'alsingham, a
Benedictine monk of St. Alban's, deserves lo be
mentioned as no inconsiderable benefactor. His
short history begins at the conclusion of Hen
ry Ill's reign, where Malthew Paris ends, an3
a iv

Viij AN ACCOUNT OP THE
continues to the end of Henry V. His reign of
Edward II, hpwever, is, almost entirely borrpw-ed
from Thpmas de la Mpre., Walsingham's histpry
was published by archbishop Parker in 1 574,
WiUiam Caxton, the first, whp introduced the
art pf printing with fusile types intp England, con
tributed alsp to the histpry pf his cPuntry by a
WPrk called Fructus Temporum, which, he says,
he lighted uppn in Latin, and continued in Eng
lish. It cpmmences -with the first inhabitants of the
island, and ends with the death pf Edward IV,
in 1483. Much useful infprmatipn may be found
in this work, as Caxton was indefatigable iu his
researches.
LETTER II.
By the invenlipn.pf printing, books of all kinds
multiplied fast, and we here, take pur leave pf the
age pf manuscripts. The sixteenth centuiry pre
sents us wiih many historians of ilPte whpse la
bours were greatly • feeiUtaled by the ease -with
which copies could no-w .be multipUed.
Among the first is Robert Fabian, a merchant
and alderman of the city of London, and a person
of very considerable learning. His work was en
titled the Chronicle of England and France, or
Cpnc;,ordance of. Stories, beginning with Brutus,
and 'ending in i5o4,thp 29th year of Henry VIII.
His account of London is very full, and be has
indeed colle<;ted a mass of infomiation, much of
w-hich is not tp be found in any fprmer work. It
is no small proof of his canidour and his conse
quence with the pubUc, that be had the hpupur
tp excite the jealousy of cardinal Wplsey, who
caused as many copies of this book as he could
find to be burnt, because Fabian had disclosed ma
ny particulars of the large revejjues of the clergy.

BRITISH HISTORIANS. IX
Polydore Vergil, er Virgil, an authpr pf great
genius and learning, is to be .ranked ampng the
English historians, allhough a native of tJ rhino in
Italy. He was sent into England by pope Alex
ander VI, to coUect the Peter-pence. His History
of England was written at the command of Henry
VII, and extends into tbe reign of Henry VIII, to
whom it was dedicated ; a circumstance which
brought uppn him the suspicion of partiality. His
account ofthe reformation is certainly to be read
with caution, and, throughout tlie whole work,
he does not seem to have risen superior to those
prejudices -which the bigotry of his religion and
times too often fostered, and countenanced. His
Lives of Edward IV and V are principaUy va
luable, as they are original. '^^ ,,-
Ralph Holinshed -was the editor of a Volumin
ous chronicle, -which is still in inuch reputation.
He -was assisted by WilUam Harrison, Richard
Stainhurst, and others. Tl'he second edition ef this
work w-as continued to llie year i586 by John
Hooper, alias VowelL The reader will find an
immense store of anecdotes in those volumes, al
lhough the style is poor : the authors were men of
mere labour.
The first w-riter worthy of notice in tbe seven
teenth century, was the famous antiquary John
Sto-w, a tailor of London, but ,.-whese taste in. an-
tiijuities diverted him from every other pursuit.
The greatest part pf his life- -was spent, in making
preparations for a Chronicle of England, in -which
he w-as liberaUy encouraged by archbishop Parker.
His works are deservedly held in esteem, as he
was accurate even lo a degree of fastidiousness,
and Bacon and Camden have borrow-ed from
him, as an author of undoubted veracity. Ed
ward Howe continued aud revised his Chrbnicley
and considerably improved the arrangement.

*ii AN ACCOUNT OF TUE
have rescued histpry frbm being a Marrdtioa of
insipid fact8> and ha-fre given a rationaUty tp the
subject, which is the true business of a histprian.
They are certailily not entirely free from- jireju-
dices, nor are political prejudices easily avoided
by ihe best pf men. That of Hume, I think, the
mo^t dangerous • his poUtics may be forgiven ; but
he misses no opportunity to represent reUgion iri an
unfavourable light ; and superficial readers have
imbibed from hitn a greater contempt fpr religion,
than perhaps it w^as his intention to instill.
The form which history has taken in our time,
is essentiaUy different frora the practice of diose
authors whose names and characters have been
now- given. The most ancient &iglish historians
presented- their readers with a series of events, in
the form pf a chrpnicle, in w^liich no instmefaon
was conveyed, by reasoning, and np superstitipn
corpected by philosophy. In doing what ihey did,
they seem lo have been prineipally actuated by a
laudable partiaUty toward their own country. But
as to all tlie purposes to -which history is no-w ap
plied, they were almost, if not altogelber, useless.
The little learning of their limes was confined to
cells and monasteries, frp-m whence il emanated
only to olher celk and monasteries. PubUc in
struction had not taken rise. There -was no ex
pression analogous! to what we mean by the pu
hlic mind. The iiistrnctioH, therefore', tbat history
now^ afibrds to individuals, was ihen little more
than a portion of antiquarian taste, communicated
to sttch only as were opafent enouigt to erojdoy
transcribers pftheap^-voluminpus chrcnicles. And,
as the number of such perspiis was extremely
smaU, aud the cppists probably careless and igno
rant, we are n«)t to -woader if all our ancient
histories, before the era of printing, abounded in
errors.

BRITISH HISTORIANS. XU)
To surmount the difficulties which such errors
create, is the business of a modern historian ; and
tills he can dp only by comparing pne chronicle
with another, by placing his confidence in a multi
tude of authors who record the same event, and
by, on every occasion, weighing tlie probabilities
of conlradictory evidence one against the olher.
There are, for instance, a number of w^itnesses
-who attest the same fact; but they differ in the date
of the fact, in the manner of it, in the actors who
performed it, and in the causes and consequences
of it. He who a^;ten tively revolves and examines
all these circumstances, where they concur and
where they difi'er, and who extricates a plain fact
from a mist of misrepresentation, may be account
ed the best hisloriari, and cannot feil to interest
tlie attention, and exercise the judgment:, of his
readers. Such are, or ought to be, the writers who,
offer' to the pubUc general histories, drawn from
the mass of materials cjontained in our ancient
chronicles. With aU the industry and attention, however,
which many eminent men have besto-wed on our
Jiistory, it cannot be denied that the earlier pe
riods are still invplved in darkness and pontradie*.
tion. The fact can -with difficulty be separated
from the fable. But -we niay console ourselves
w^ilh the reflection ofa great historian of our own
-tunes, cc The adventures pf barbarous nations,
» even if they w-ere recorded, could afford Uttle oi?
» no entertainment to men born in a inore cul-
)> tivated age. The convulsions ofa civilized slate
.» usuaUy compose the most instructive and most
» inleresling part of its history ; but the sudden,
^» violent, and unprepared revolutions incident
» to barbarians, are so much guided by caprice,
» and terminate so often in cruelty, that they di.s-
3) gust us by the unifofinity pf their appearance ;

XlV ' AN ACCOUNT OP THE
» and il is rather fortunate for letters, that they are
» buried in obUvion. 5)
The imporlance of the study of history has al
ready been explained tp ypu ; and as you have, no
doubt, now- acquired a general idea of the history
of England, you must be aware, that there are
sorae periods of it more impprtant than others.
There are spme w^hich deserve your attentive in
vestigation. The effects of certain events, of ages
long ago past, yet remain, and it is necessary that
we should trace them to their origin, and discover
whether such usages or institutions -were founded
on principle, or arose from chance or conquest.
There is a mixture of both in the poUtical history
of all nations, but especiaUy in that of a nation pf
free and thinking men. After studying the 'rise
and decrease pf the feudal' system, ypu -will natu
raUy wish tp trace the rise and increase pf the po
pular branch of government ; the various struggles
for power that convulsed the nation through the
greater part pf the seventeenth century, and tlie
happy termination of these by the Revolution.
Upon the whole, history, when studied -with
the honest view- of investigating truth, and making
ourselves and others wiser and happier, by im
proving upon the experience of past ages, will be
found one of the noblest employments of an ex
alted mind. The imagination will be no less amus
ed, than the understanding ripened and perfected.
The conduct of human affairs wiU often, it is true,
appear confused and unaccountable ; but, if con
sidered as a part of some grand design of the Pa
rent of the universe lo promote human happiness,
you wiU be ready to acknowledge, that the vices
and miseries with which history abounds, bear no
greater proportion to goodness and hajjpiness tliau
sickness does to health. If history seem terrible,
because it is a record chiefly of what is evil and

BRITISH HISTORIANS. XV
destructive, let it be remembered, that it can con
sist of no other materials. The still Ufe of society
may be celebrated by the poet ; but the historian
can catch only the prominent features of war and
turbulence : and it is indeed from these lhat our
instruction arises, cc He, » says an illustrious writer,
a -who studies history as he would philosophy, will
» distinguish and collect cer lain general principles,
» and rules of Ufe and conduct, which must al-ways
» be true ; because they are conformable lo the iii-
» variable nature of things; and, by doing so, he
» -will soon form to himself a system of ethics and
» politics, on the surest foundations, on the trial of
)) these principles and rules in all ages, and on the
¦» confirmation of thenj by universal experience. »

THE END,

PRINTED BY CRAPELET.

A
HISTORY OP
ENGLAND, IN
A SERIES OF LETTERS.

LETTER XLVII.

As we descend, we find the materials for Eng
Ush history increase : the minutest transactions are
recorded with prolixity ; and these, however dry
and unimproving to some, are yet bolh interesting
and satisfactory lo others. In such a profusion of
materials I must be content rather to give (he siji-
rit ofthe following reigns, than pretend to exhibit
a historical detail of particular inlerests and in
trigues. It wiU be enough to mark those strong
outlines lhat may probably escape the wreck of
time, when the internal colouring shall fade. As
history increases in time by ihe addition of new
events, an epitome becomes more necessary to
abridge its excrescences.
The duke of York, who succeeded his brother
with the title of king James the second, j -r,
had been bred a papist, and was ^ ' ' ^°°''-
trongly bigotled to his principles. Il is the pro-
A a

4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
perty of that religion, almost e-^er, to contract the
sphere of the understanding ; and, until people
ai-e, in some raeasure, disengaged from its preju
dices, it is impossible tp lay a just claim to extensi-ve
views, or consistency of design. The inteUects of
this prince were iialurallyTveak, and his bigotled
princijiles still rendered them more feeble : he
conceived the ridiculous project of reigning in the
aibitrary manner of his predecessor, and chang
ing the estabUshed reUgion of his country, at a
time \vhen his person -was hated, and the established
religion was universaUy approved.
The people of England were no-w entirely
changed from what they had been in the times of
Henry, Mary, and Elisabeth, who had altered re
ligion at wiU. Learning was now as much culti
vated by die laity as by the priesthood ; every man
now pretended to think himself, and had rational
grounds for his opinion. In the beginning of ihe
reformation the monarchs had only lo bring over
the clergy, in order totaUy to change the modes of
belief ; for the people were entirely guided by
their pastors. To influence the priesthood was
an easy task : the hopes of preferment, or the fears
of degradation, entirely subjected the consciences
of the clergy lo tlie royal -will. Such it w-as then :
but the circumstances of the nation -were, at pre
sent, entirely altered : and to make a change in
religion, it would have been necessary to tamper
-witli every indi-vidual in die stale. But James had
no idea of the alteration of circumstances ; his si
tuation, he thought, supplied him with aulhorily,
and his zeal furnished him with hope of accom
plishing this chimerical design.
The success he met with in x;rushing a rebeUion,
ill the opening of his reign, seemed lo promise a
favourable omen to^vard the completion of his
wislies. The duke of Monmouth, who had long

JiMRS II. 5
been at the head of faction, and inflamed all ihe
disconlenlslhat molesled the late king's reign, was
now resoh^ed lo aim at the crown. He was the
darling of the jjeople ; and some averred thai the
king had married iiis raolher, and owned his legi
timacy at his death. The earl of Argyll seconded
his views, and tliey forraed a scheme ofa double
insurrection. Argyll first landed in Scotland, pu
blished his manifestoes, put himself ^^ j rt , g«5
the liead of two thousand five hun
dred men, and attempted lo influence the nation ;
but a formidable body of (he king's forces coming
against him, his army fell away, and he himsellj
after being wounded in attemjaling to escape, was
taken by a peasant, standing up to his neck in wa
ter. Being brought to Edinburgh, he prepared
for his death, wcU knowing lhat it was not in the
king's nature to forgive an enemy.
The duke of Monmouth was not more fortu
nate ; he sailed from the Texel with three vessels,
and arrived on the coaSts of Dorsetshire -with aboul
fourscore followers. The country soon flocked in
lo his standard, ancl in two days his army was in
creased lo t-wo thousand men. The earl of Fever-
sham was sent to oppose him, and took post at
Sedgemore, a -viUage in Somersetshire. Monrnoulh
rciiolved to fight him, and began his march-about
eleven in the night, -with profound silence ; but
the royalists -were prepared for his reception ; the
action began at daybreak. Lord Grey, who com
manded the duke of Monmouth's horse, was routed
al the first onset. The duke at the head of his in
fantry bravely maintained his ground, until he was
charged in flank by the enemy's horse, who had
been just no-w victorious. A total rout ensued ;
three hundred were killed in the engagement, and
a thousand in pursuit. The duke escaped the car
nage, and, in a shepherd's disguise, fled on foot,
A 3

6 History of etscjland,
attended by a faithful companion, who had fol
lowed his fortunes into England. Thus they tra
velled on toward Dorsetshire, liU, quite exhausted
¦with hunger and fatigue, they lay dpwn in a field,
and cpvered themselves with stubble. In diis for
lorn situation he was found, with some pease in
his pocket, which he had gathered in the fields lo
sustain life. His spirit sunk -with his misfortunes ;
he wrote to the king ; implored his mercy. The
king gave him an audience, as if -wrilUng to satisfy
his vengeance -vrith the sight of a rival's misery ;
but his death vras determined, and no intreaties
could extorl royal clemency. On the scaffold he
resumed his former courage, handled the axe, de
clared tliat he meant well to the nation, and his
head was cut off, but not tfll after the thii-d blow.
But it were happy for the nation, and fortunate
for the king, if the blood that was already shed
had been thought a sufficient expiation for llie
late offence. The victorious army behaved with
the most savage cruelty to the prisoners taken afler
the battle. Their inhumanity was properly se
conded by Jefferies, who was sent on the Western
circuit to try the insurgents. His furious thirst of
blood being inflamed by continual intoxication,
he threatened, calumniated, and threw aside every
appearance of clemency. Men and v\^omen in
discriminately felt the effects ofhis sa^'age zeal ; and
not less than two hundred and fifty persons expired
under circumstances of -wanton cruelty. Cruel
kings ever find cruel ministers.
It was nol lo be expected, that these butcheries
could acquire the king the love or the confidence
of his people, or tend to alter their opinions, as
they rather excited the secret abhorrence of every
honest man ; yet he thought this a lime favourable
for the carrying on his scheme of reUgion and arbi
trary goveniraent. An attempt at arbitrary power

afAMEs ii. 9
m Charles was, in some measure, excusable, as lie
had a republican faction to oppose ; and it might
have been prudent al that time to overstep justice,
in order to attain security : but the same designs
in James were as unnecessary as impracticable,
since there were few republicans remaining, and
the people were .satisfied with Umited monarchy.
But this weak and deluded monarch was resolved
lo imitate one or tvso princes of Europe, -who had
just before rendered themselves absolute ; and he
was incited lo this project by Lewis XIV, who
secretly desired his destruction. Thus instigated,
he began his designs with the measures- w-hich he
should not have used lill their completion. He
sent a splendid embassy lo Rome, to acknowledge
his obedience to the pope. Innocent, w^ho then
fiUed the cliair, was too good a politician lo ap
prove of such childish measures, and gave his am
bassador a very cool reception. He was sensible
that the king Was openly striking at those laws and
opinions which it was his business to undermine
in silence and security. The cardinals were even
heard facetiously to declare, that the king should
be e.vcommunicated for thus endeavouring to over
turn the small remains of popery that still sub
sisted in England.
James, notwithstanding these discouragements,
•was yet resolved to prosecute his favourite scheme
with vigour. Upon every occasion the cathoUcs
shared his confidence and favour. Hugh Petei-s,
his confessor, ruled his conscience, and drove him
blindly forward lo attempt innovation. He be
came every clay more and more ambitious of mak
ing converts; the earl of Sunderland sacrificed his
religion to his ambition ; the earl of Rochester lost
his employment of treasurer, for refusing lo alter
his religion. The king stooped so low as to his
officers : a rough soldier ene day answered liis
A 4

8 HISTORY OF ENGIiANT),
remonstrances by saying he was pre-engaged, for
he had promised the king of Morocco, when he
was quartered at Tangiers, that, should he ever
change his reUgion, he would turn Mahometan.
An ecclesiastical court was erected with power
A -n cor to punish aU deUnquents, or such so
.A. D. 1686. ^ . J L »i \ -.-1' 11
reputed by the court, with ail manner
of ecclesiastical censures. The vice-chanceUor of
Cambridge was summoned before this cpurt fpr
having refused to admit one Francis, a Benedic
tine monk, to the degree of master of arts : ihe vice-
chanceUor was deprived of his office ; but the uni
versity persisted in their refusal, and the king
thought proper to desist from his purpose. The
-vice-president and fellows pf Magdalen coUege in
Oxford were treated with more severity. They
refused to admit one Farmer, a new convert, and
one of a profligate Ufe, -who was nominated by the
king to the place of president, now become vacant.
The king next nominated Parker, bishop of Ox
ford ; but he was equaUy obnoxious for the same
reasons. The king repaired in person to Oxford :
he reproached the feUows with insolence ancl dis
obedience; but neither he, nor his ministers, could
prevail to alter the resolutions of this society. The
fellows were expeUed by his order, and their places
filled with papists, wlio he knew would be more
obedient to liis commands.
His designs hitherto were sufficiently manifest ;
but he was no-w resolved entirely to throw off'
the mask. By his jiermission the pope's nuncio
made his public entry into Windsor in his ponti
ficals, preceded by the cross, and attended by a
great number of monks, in the habit of their re
spective orders. He next published a declaration
for liberty of conscience, by which all restraints
upon popery were taken away. The church of
England took the alarm. The peculiar animosity

JAMES II. ' C)
of the people against the catholic reUgion proceeded
not less from religious than temporal motives. It
is the spirit of lhat reUgion to favour arbitrary
power, and its reproach to encourage persecution.
The- English bad too often smarted under both,
to be willing again to submit to either. Seven bi
shops, -who had received the king's express orders
to cause this declaration of liberty of conscience to
be read in their churches, refused to comply. They
dre-w up a modest petition lo excuse their refusal,
which only served lo increase jthe king's resent
ment and rage. They were cited be- j j) co
fore the council, and still adhered to ' ' ''
their former resolution -with lhat firmness which
is the characteristic of virtue. The attorney-gene
ral was ordered to prosecute them for pubUshing
sedition, and abridging the king's prerogative.
They were committed prisoners to the Tower, con
ducted thither amid the prayers and condolence
of an incredible multitude of the populace, -who
regarded them as sufferers for truth. The day
appointed for their trial arrived. The cause wa,s
looked upon as the crisis of English freedom. The
council manageci the debate on both sides with
learning and candour : the jury withdre^v into a
ch.imber, where they passed the whole night, but
next morning returned into court, and declared
the bishops not guilty. The joy of the people, on
this occasion, was inexpressible : the whole city,
and the country around, seemed al once lo catch the
shouts of exultation ; they even reached the camp,
where the king was then sitting at dinner, who
heard them with indignation and amazement.
If the bishops testified the readiness of martyrs
in support of their religion, James shewed no less
obstinacy in his attempts toward ihe establishment
ofhis own. Finding the clergy adverse to his de
signs, he next tried what he could do with lh<s
A 5

10 HISTOEY OP ENGLAND,
army. He thought, if one regiment would pro
mise impUcit obedience, their examj)le ^vould soon
induce others to the same compliance. He ordered
one of the regiments lo be drawn up in his pre
sence, and desired that such as were against his lale
declaration of liberty shpuld lay down their arms.
He was surprised lo see the whole battaUon ground
their arm.s, except two ofiicers and a few Roman
cathoUc soldiers.
Opposition only served to increase the infaluated
monarch's zeal ; he was continuaUy stimulated by
his queen and his priests to proceed rashly onward.
But he was particularly urged on by the Jesuit
Peters, liis confessor^ an ambitious and intriguing
priest, whom some historians have even accused
of being the creature of the prince of Orange, the
king's son-in-law, who had Ipng since conceived
hopes of seizing the crown. James now, there
fore, issued orders for prosecuting all those clergy
men -who had forborne lo read his declaralipn. He
placed pne Giffprd, a doctor of the Sorbonne, at
the head of Magdalen coUege, and Uke-wise nomi
nated him to the see of Oxford, lately become va
cant. Every member of the church of England
now saw their danger ; and whigs and lories united
their efforts lo oppose it.
WilUam, prince of Orange, had married Mary
the daughter of king James. This prince had been
early immersed in danger, calamities, and poUtics ;
ihe designs of France, and the turbulence of Hol
land, had served to sharpen his talents, and given
him a propensity for intrigue. This great politi
cian and soldier concealed, beneath a phlegmatic
appearance, a most violent and bpundless ambi-
tipn ; aU his actipns -were levelled at pp-wer, ^vliile
his discourse never betrayed the wishes of his heart.
His temper was cold and severe, his genius active
and piercing ; he was valiant wilhout ostentation.

JAJIES II. 1 1
and politic -without address ; disdaining tbe plea
sures, or the elegancies of Ufe, yet eager after the
phantom of pre-eminence. He was no stranger
to the murmurs ofthe English, and was resolved
to turn them to his interest : he therefore accepted
the in-vitations ofthe nobility and others, and still
more wUlingly embarked in the cause, as he found
the malecontents had concerted iheir raeasures
¦with prudence and secrecy.
A fleet was equipped sufficient to transport fif
teen thousand troops ; and it was at first given out
that this armament was designed against France,
James, at length, began lo see his own errors ancl
the cUscontents of the peojole : lie would now ha^'e
retracted his measures in favour of pojieiy, bul it
was loo late ; the fleet of the prince was already
sailed, and had landed thirteen thousand troops at
the village of Broxholme, in Torbay.
The expectations ofthe prince of Orange seem
ed, at first, to be frustrated ; very few Englishmen
offered hira their services, Ihough the people were,
in general, well affected to his design. Slight re
pulses were not sufficient to intimidate a general
who had, from early youth, encountered adver
sity : he continued ten days in expectation of being
joined -with the malecontents without success ;
but just when he began to deliberate about reim-
barking his forces, he was joined by several per
sons of consequence, and the country people came
flocking to his standard. From tliis day his num
bers began to increase ; the nobility, which had
coraposed the court and council of king James,
now left their old master to solicit protection from
the new.
Lewis XIV had long foreseen this defection,
and had formerly offered the king thirty thousand
men for his security. This was then refused by
James, by the ad-vice of Sunderland, his favourite,
A 6

12 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
who was secretly in the interest of the prince of
Orange. James, however, now requested assist
ance from France, when it was too late. He
wrote in vain to Leopold, emperor of Germany,
whp only returned for answer, that what he had
foreseen had happened. He had some dependence
on his fleet, but they were entirely disaffected. In
a word, his interests were deserted by aU ; for he
had long deserted them hiraself He was at the
head of an army pf t-wenty thousand men, and it
is possible, that, had he led them lo the combat
-without granting thera time for deUberalion, they
might have fought in his favour : but he -was in
volved in a maze pf fears and suspicipns ; the de
fection of those he mosl confided in look away
his power of deliberationj and his perplexity -was
increased, when told that the prince of Denmark
and Anne, liis favourite daughter, had gone over
to the prince of Orange. In this exigence he could
not repress his tears, and in the agony of his heart
was heard to exclaim, God help Tne, my own child
ren have forsajcen me !
He now hung over the precipice of destruction ;
invaded by one son-in-la-w, abandoned by ano
ther, hated by his subjects, and detested by those
w^ho had suffered beneath his cruelty. He assem
bled the few noblemen who stiU adhered to his in
terests, and demanded their advice and assistance.
Addressing himself to the earl of Bedford, father
"^o lord Russel, who was beheaded by James' in
trigues in the preceding reign. My lord, said he,
you are an honest man, have great credit, and can
do me signal service. Ah, Sir, replied the earl, /
am old and feeble, Ican do you but little service ;
but I once had a son, that could have assisted you,
but he is no more. James -was so struck with tliis
reply, that he could not speak for some minutes.
The king was naturally timid ; and some coun-

james II. i5
seUors abouthim, either sharing his fears, or bribed
by the prince, contributed lo increase his appre
hensions. They reminded him of the fate of
Charles I, and aggravated the turbulence of Uie
people. He was, at length, persuaded to think of
flying frotn a nation he could no longer govern,
and of taking refuge at the court of France, vyhere
he was sure of finding assistance and protection.
Thus instructed, he firsl sent away his queen, -who
arrived safely at Calais ; and soon after, disguising
himself in a plain dress, he went down lo Fever-
sham, and embarked on board a small vessel for
France. Bul his misfortunes still continued to fol
low him ; the vessel was detained by the common
people, who, not knowing their sovereign, robbed,
insulted, and abused him. He was now persuad
ed by the earl of Winchelsea to return to London,
where he -was once more received amid the accla
mations of the people.
The return of James was by no means agreeable
to "William, though he well knew how to dis
semble. It was his interest and his design to increase
the forsaken monarch's apprehensions, so as to in
duce him to flj'. He therefore received the news
of his return with a haughly air, ancl ordered him
to leave WhitehaU, and lo retire lo Richmond.
The king remonstrated against Richmond, and
desired that Rochester might be appointed as the
place of his abode. The jirince perceived his in
tention was to leave the kingdom ; nor did the one
wish for flight more ardently than the other desir
ed hira away. The king soon concurred with his
designs : afler staying but a short tirae at Roches
ter, he fled to the seaside, attended by his natural
son the duke of Berwick, where he erabarked for
France, and arrived in safety, lo enjoy, for the rest
of hfe, the empty title of a king, and the appella
tion of a saint, a title which still flattered him more.

14 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
There he continued to reside among a people who*
pitied, ridiculed, and despised him. He enrolled
himself in the order of Jesuits ; and the court of
Rome, for whom he had lest all, repaid him only
with indulgences and pasquinades.
From this moment the constitution of England,
that had fluctuated for so many ages, was fixed.
The nation, represented by its parUament, deter
mined the long contested Umits between the king
and the people : they prescribed to the prince of
Orange the terms by which he was lo rule ; they
chose him for king, jointly with Mary, who was
the next protestant heir lo tlie crown. They were
crow^ned by the titles of WilUam III and- Mary,
king and queen of England. The prince saw his
ambition at length gratified ; and his wisdom was
repaid -with that crown which the foUy of his pre-'
decessor had given away.

LETTER XLVIII.
Though WiUiara was chosen king of England,
his power was liraited on every side ; and the op
position he raet -with from his parUaments sUU less
ened his authority. His sway in Holland, where
he was but the sladlhplder, was far more arbitrary ;
so lhat he might, with greater propriety, have been
caUed the king of the United Pro-vinces, and the
stadth older of England. He -was not sufficiently
acquainted -with the difficulty of governing the na
tion by which he was elected : he expected in
them a people ready to second the -views of his am
bition in humbling France ; but he found them
more apt tp fear fer the invasien of their dpmeslic
Uberties frpm himself.
His reign cpmmenced, hewever, with the same
attempt which had been the principal cause of afl

WILLIAM III. , l5
the disturbances in the preceding reign, and bad
excluded the raonarch frora the throne. William
was a cal-vinisl, and naturally averse to persecu
tion. He therefore began by attempting lo repeal
those la-^vs tliat enjoined uniformity of worship ;
and though he could not entirely succeed in his
design, yet a toleration was granted to such dis
senters as should take the oaths of allegiance, and
hold no private conventicles. The papists also en
joyed the lenity of his government ; and though
the laws against them continued to subsist, yet they
were seldom put into rigorous execution. What
was criminal in James was virtuous in his successor ;
James only wanted to introduce persecution, by
pretending to disown il ; 'William was averse to
persecution from principle, and none suffered for
religious opinions during his reign.
But, ihough William was acknowledged in Eng
land, Scotland was still undetermined. The par
Uament of that country, however, soon recogniseci
his authority, and took that opportunity to aboUsh
episcopacy, which had been long disagreeable to
the nation. Nothing now- remained to the deposed
monarch, of alibis former dominions, but Ireland,,
His cause -was espoused by all the catholics of lhat
country, who were much more nuraerous there
than those ofthe protestant persuasion. The king
of France, eilher touched -with compassion for his
sufferings, or willina to weaken a, rival kingdom
hy proraoling its mternal dissensions, granted
James a fleet and some troops, to assert his claims
there. On the seventh day of May this unhappy
monarch embarked at Brest, and on the twenty-
second arrived at Kinsale. He was received by
the catholics of Ireland with open arms. The pro
testants, who were unanimously attached to king
^Villiam, had been previously disarmed by Tyr-
connel, their lord-Ueutenant, and a papist. James

l6 HISTORY OF ESGtAND,
made his public entry into DubUn,amid the accla
mations ofthe inhabitants. He was met by a po
pish procession , bearing the host, -which he puhUcjy
adored ; and this served to aUenate the few protes
tants of that kingdpm -who stiU adhered to his
cause. A smaU party of that reUgion -were resolv
ed tP defend their Uves and Uberties in the Utile
city pf Lpndpnderry. They were besieged by the
forces of king James, and suffered aU the compU-
cated miseries of war, famine, and bigotted cruel
ty • but, determined never lo yield, they rejected
A D i68q '-¦^pi'ii^^'ion, and always repulsed the
°' besiegers -with considerable loss. At
length, suppUes and succours arri-dng from Eng
land, king James' army thought proper to raise
the siege.
The cruelties exercised upon -the protestan's
were as shocking as unnecessary ; soldiers -were
permitted to pillage them without redress, and thev
-were compeUed to accept base money in exchange
for those commodities they were forced to seU.
But their sufferings -were soon to have a period.
The duke pf Schpmberg -was sent over with assist
ance , and \"S dUam himself soon after foUowed,
and landed at Carrickfergus. He -was met by num
bers of the protestants -who had fled from persecu
tion ; and now-, at the head of six and thirty thpu-
sand men, he was, resplved to go in quest of the
enemy. Ha-ving inarched to Dundalk, and then to
Ardee, he at length came in sight of the Irish army.
The river Boyne lav between the two armies, the
front of the Irish being secured by a morass and
a rising ground. These obstacles were insufficient
to prevent the ardour of WiUiam, who, when his
friend the duke of Schomberg expostulated upon
the danger, boldly repUed, That a tardy viclory
¦would be worse than a defeat. The duke, finding
his adrice not reUshed, relii-ed lo his tent in a

WILLIAM III. 17
melancholy manner, as if he had a prescience of
his own misfoi-luuc. Early in the raorning, al six,
king WiUiam g;n e orders lo pass the river : the
army passed in ihicc cliirerentpiaces,and the battle
began wiih unusual vigour. The Irish Iroops,
which have been re( koned the best in Europe
abroad, liave always fought indifferenlly al home :
they fled, afler a long resistance, wiih jirccipilatiou,
and left ihe French and Swiss regiraents, who came
to iheir assislancu, to make llie best letreat they
coulcL W^illiam led on liis horse iu person, and
contributed, by his aclivily and vigilance, to secure
iJic \ iciory. James was not in the battle, but stood
aloof, during the aclion, on ibe hill of Dunmore,
surrounded xvilli some squadrons of horse ; and,
at iiiler\'aks, was heard to exclaim, wh(>n he saw
bis own Iroops repulsing the ciioniy, O spare my
Enirli.sh subjects ! The Irish lost aboul fifleen Imii-
di-ed men, ancl ihe English about one third of that
number ; bul the death of the duke of Schomberg,
-who was shot as he was crossing the -^vater, seemed
lo outweigh all the numbers of ihe enemy. He
had been long a soldier of fortune, and fouglil un
der almost every power in Europe. His skill in
war was mi paralleled, and his ficlelily equal lo his
coiir;ige. The number of battles in which he had
been personally engaged, was said to equal the
number ofhis years ; and he died aged eighty-lwo.
Jiiines fled, regardless of ihe safely of his soldiers.
William rocle round the scene of slauglitei-, re
lieving ihe wounded, as well of ihe enemies troops
as his own. O'Regan, an old Irish eaplain, was
heard lo say upon this occasion. Thai, if the Eng
lish would exchange generals, llie concpieied army
-would fighl llie bailie over again.
This blow totally depressed the hopes of James:
he lied lo Dublin, advised ihe magistrates to get
the best krms they could from the victor, then set

l8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
out for Waterford, where he erabarked for Francs',
in a Vessel prepared for his reception. Had he
jjossessed eiflier conduct or courage, he might still
have headed his troops, and fought with advan
tage ; but prudence forsook hira -with good fortune.
His friends were still resolved to second his in
terests, iheugh he had abandoned them himself.
After his retreat, another desperate battle was fought
at Aughrim, in which his adversaries were again
victorious. Limerick, a strongxily in the southern
part of the kingdom, still held out in his favour,
J -r\ c The city was besieged, and made a
" ¦ brave defence; bnt, despairing of the
king's fortunes, the garrison at length capitulated.
The Roraan cathoUcs, by this capitulation, were
restored tp the enjpyment pf such liberty in the
exercise pf their religion, as they had possessed in
the reign of Charles II, and about fourteen thou
sand of those who had fought in favour of king
James, had permission to go over to France, and
transpprts -were prpvided for their reception.
The conquest of Ireland being thus completed,
the only hopes ofthe fugitive king now depended
on the assistance of Lewis XIV, who promised to
make a descent upon England in his favour. The
French king was punclaal ; he suppUed the fugi
tive monarch -with an army consisting ofa body of
French troops, sorae EngUsh and Scotch refugees,
and the Irish regiments which had been' Irans^
ported from Limerick into France, by long disci
pline now become excellent soldiers. This army
was assembled between Cherburgh and La Hogue :
king James commanded it in person ; and more
than three hundred transjjorts were pro-vided for
landing it on the EngUsli shore. TourviUe, the
French admiral, at the head of sixty-three ships of
the line, was appointed to favour the descent, and
had orders to attack the enemy, if they should

-^'IT.LIAM lit. 19
a I tempt to oppose him. All things conspired to
revive the hopes of the hitherto unfortunate king.
These preparations on the side of France were
soon known al the court of England, > „ g
and precautions were taken for -vigo- • ' 9 •
rous opposition : aU the secrel machinations of the
banished king's adherents were early discovered
to the EngUsh ministry by spies, and Ihey took pro
per measures to defeat them. Admiral Russel was
ordered to put to sea with all possible expedition ;
and he soon appeared -with ninety-nine ships of
the Une, beside frigates and fireships. Bolh tleels
met at La Hogue. On the success of ihis engage
ment aU the hopes of James depended ; but the
victory was on fhe side ofthe English, and of num
bers. The combat continued ten hours, ancl the
pursuit two days. Fifleen French men of wnv
were destroyed ; and the blow was so decisi-^'e,
lhat from that lime France seemed lo relinquish
her clairas to the ocean.
Jaraes was now reduced lo the lowest ebb of de
spondence : his designs upon England were quite
frustrated ; nothing was now left his friends but
terrors and despair, or die hopes of assassinating
the raonarch on the throne. These base attempts,
as barbarous as they -were useless, were not en
tirely disagreeable to the temper of James : it is
said, he encouraged and proposed them ; but they
all ended in the destruction of their undertakers.
He passed the rest of his days at St. Germain's, a
pensioner on the bounties of Lewis, and assisted by
occasional liberaUties from his daughter, ancl friends
in England. He died in 1700, at St. Germain's.
Some pretend that miracles were wrought at Iiis
tomb. "We have seen fe-w deposed kings that ha^'e
not died with a reputation for sanctity.
The defeat al La Hogue confirmed king '^Vil-
liam's safety and title to the crown ; the Jacobites

20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
were now a feeble and disunited faction : new
parties therefore arose among those who had been
friends of the revolution, and WilUam found as
much opposition from his parliament at home, as
from the enemy in the field. His chief .motive for
accepting the crown was to engage England more
deeply in the concerns of Europe. It had ever
been his ambition to humble the French, whom
he considered as the most formidable enemies of
that liberty which he idolized ; and aU his politics
lay in making alUances against them. Many of
ihe EngUsh, on the olher hand, had neither the
same animosity against ihe French, nor the same
terrors of their increasing po-wer ; they therefore
considered the interests of the nation as sacrificed
to foreign connections, ancl complained, that the
war on the continent feU raost heavily on them,
though ihey had the least interest in its success.
To these motives of discontent was added his par
tiaUty to his own countiymen, in prejudice ofhis
English subjects, togelher -w-ith his proud resei-,ve
and suUen silence, so unlike the beiiaviour of all
their former kings. WiUiam heard their com-
plainls with the most phlegmatic indifference ; the
interest of Eurojie alone eraployed all his allen
tion : but yvhile he incessantly watched over die
schemes of contending kings and nations, he was
unmindful of the cultivation of internal polity.
Patriolism was ritUculed as an ideal virtue ; ihe
practice of bribing a majority in parliament be
came universal. The example of the great -was
caught up by the vulgar : aU principle, and even
decency, was graduaUy banished ; talents lay un
cultivated ; and the ignorant and profligate were
received into favour.
AVilliam, upon accepting the cro-ivn, was re
solved to preserve, as much as he was able, the pri
vileges of a sovereign. He was, as yet, entirely

WILLIAM III. 2 1
unacquainted wiih the nature of a limited mo
narchy, which -was not then thoroughly under
stood in any part of Europe, except in England
alone ; he llierefore oflen controverted the views
of his parliament, and was directed by arbitrary
councils. One of the first instances of this was in
the opposition he gave lo the bill for triennial par
Uaments ; it. had passed the l-wo houses, and -was
sent up to receive the royal assent, which "William
refused to grant : the commons then voted, that
-whoever advised the king to this measure was an
enemy lo his country. The bill, thus rejected, lay
dormant till another season ; and being again
brought in, the king found himself obUged, though
reluctantly, lo comply. The same opposition, and
the same success, attended a bill for regulating trials
in cases of high treason, by which the accused was
allowed acopy of his indictment, and a list of the
names of his jury, two da3'^s before his trial, toge
ther with council to plead in his defence : lhat no
person should be indicted, but upon the oaths of
t-wo faithful witnesses. This was one of the most
salutary laws thai had been long enacted ; but -while
penal statutes -were mitigated on one hand, they
were strangely increased by a number of others.
The great business of the parUament, frora this
period, seemed to consist in restraining corruption,
and bringing such to justice as had grown wealthy
from the plunder of the public. The number of
la-ws thai -were now enacted every session seemed
calculated for the safety of the subject ; bul, in
reality, -were syrajjtoras ofthe universal corruption.
The more corrupt the commonwealth, the more
numerous are the laws.
¦WiUiam -was willing to admit all the restraints
they chose to lay on ihe royal prerogative in Eng
land, upon condition of being properly supplied
with llie means of humbling the power of France.

23 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
'War, and foreign poUtics, were all he knew or
desired to understand. Thesumsof money granted
him for the prosecution ofthis war were incredible;
and the nation, not contented with furnishing hira
with such suppUes as they were immediately capable
of raising, involved themselves in debts, which
they have never since been able to discharge. For
aU this profusipn England received, in return, the
empty reward pf miUtary gfory in Flanders, and
the cpnsciousness of having given the Dutch, -whom
they saved, frequent opportunities of being un
grateful. The treaty of Rys-vrick, at length, put an end to
. , _j r- a war in -which England had engaged
° '¦ -without interest, and came off" with
out advantage. In the general pacification the
only equivalent she received for her blood and
treasure, -was the king of France's acl^owledg-
ment of king "WilUam's title to the cro-wn.
The king, no-w freed from a foreign w-ar, laid
himself out tp strengthen his authority at home.
He conceived hopes of keeping up the forces that
were granted him in time of war, during the con
tinuance ofthe peace; but he -was not a Utfle mor
tified to find that the commons had passed a vote,
lhat all the forces in English pay, exceeding seven
thousand men, should be fordiwilh disbanded ;
and tliat tiiose retained should be natural English
subjects. A standing army w-as tliis monarch's
greatest delight ; he had been bred up in camps,
•and knew no olher pleasure but dial of reviewing
troops, or dictating to generals. He professed him
self therefore entirely displeased -with die proposal;
and.-his indignation was kindled lo such a pitch,
that he actuaUy conceived a design of abandoning
the government. His ministers, however, diverted
him from this resolution, ajid persuaded him lo con
sent to passing the biU. Such were the altercations

WILLIAM III. 23
between the king and his parUament ; which con
tinued during his reign. He considered his com
mons as a set of men desirous of power, and con
sequently resolved upon obstructing all his projects.
He seemed bul little attached to any party in the
house : he veered from whigs to tories, as interest,
or imraediate exigence, demanded. England he
considered as a place of labour, anxiety, a^ld al
tercation. He used lo retire to his seal at l^ioo, in
HoUand, for those moments which he dedicated
to pleasure or tranquilUty. It -was in this quiet
retreat he planned the different successions of Eu
rope, and laboured lo undermine the politics of
Lewis XIV, his insidious rival in power and in
fame, Agauist France his resentraent was ever
leveUed ; and he had made vigorous preparations
for entering intP a new war with lhat ^ ^
kingdem, when death interrupted the ' • 7 •
execulion of lus schemes. He was naturally of a
very feeble constitution, and it was now almost
exhausted by a life of continual action and care.
He endeavoured to conceal the increase of his in
firmities, and repair his health by riding. In one
of his excursions lo Hampton-court, his horse fell
under him, and he himself -was thrown off with
such violence that his collar-bone was fractured.
This, in a robust constitution, would have been a
triffing misfortune, but to him it was fatah Per
ceiving his end approach, llie objects of his former
care still lay next his heart ; the interests of Eu
rope still filled him with concern. The earl of Al
bemarle arriving from Holland, he conferred with
him in private on the posture of affairs abroad.
Two days after, having received the sacrament
from archbishop Tennison, lie expired, in the fifty»
second year of his age, after having reigned thir
teen years.
WilUam left behind him the character of a

34 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
great pelitician, thpugh he had never been popular;
and a fprmidable general, thpugh he was seldpm
victprious : his depprtment was grave and sullen,
npr did he shew any fire, but in the day pf battle.
He desj)ised flattery, yet Ipved dominion. Greater
as the general of HoUand, than the king of England ;
Ip pne he was a father, Ip the other a suspicious
friend. He scrupled not to employ the engines
of corruption to gain his ends ; and while he in
creased the power ofthe nation he was breught tP
gpvern, he cpntributed, in seme measure, lo cor
rupt their merals.

LETTER XLIX.
The distresses pccasioned bythe death of princes
are not so great, or so sincere, as the survivors
¦would fondly persuade us. The loss of king Wil
Uam was, at first, thpught irreparable ; but the
prpsperity -which the kingdpm seemed to acquire
under his successor, queen Anne, shev^'ed the con
trary. This princess -was the second daughter of
king Jaraes by his first wife : she was, by the mo
ther's side, descended from chancellpr Hyde, after
w-ard earl of Clarendon ; and had been married
to the prince of Denmark, before her accession to
the crown. She ascended die throne in the thirty-
eighth year pf her age, ha-ving undergpne many
-vicissitudes after the expulsion of her ftther, and
many severe mortifications during the reign ofthe
late king ; but, naturally possessed of an even, se
rene temper, she eilher -was insensible of tlie dis
respect shown her, or had wisdom to conceal her
resentment. She came to the throne -with the same hostile dis
position toward France in wliich the late monarch
died. She was wholly guided by the countess of

ANNE. a5
Marlborpugh, a woraan of masculine spirit, and
remarkable for intrigue, bolh in poUtics and gal
lantry. This lady advised a vigorous exertion of
-the English power against France, as she had al
ready marked the earl, her husband, for conduct
ing all the operations bolh in the cabinet and the
¦field. Thus influenced, the queen took early mea-
Tsures to confirm her allies, the Dutch, with assur
ances of union and assistance^
Le-wis XIV, now grown familiar with disap
pointment and disgrace, yet still spurring on an
exhausted kingdom to second Ihe views ofhis am
bition, expected, from the death of king William
a field open fm' conquests and glory. The vigi
lance of his late rival had blasted his laurels, and
circumscribed his power ; for, even afters defeat,
WilUam still was formidable. At the news ofhis
death, therefore, the French nionarcfi could not
.suppress his joy, and his court at Ver-saiUes seemed
to have forgotten its usual decorum in the sincerity
of iheir rapture. But their pleasure was soon to
terminate : a much more formidable eneray was
now rising up to oppose them ; a more able war
rior, and one backed by the efforts of an indulgent
mistress and a willing nation.
Immediately upon the queen's accession, war
was declared against the French king, and lhat
monarch was accused of allempling to unite the
crown of Spain to his own dorainions, by placing
liis grandson upon the throne of that kingdom ¦
thus atterapting to destroy the equality of power
among the states of Europe. This, declaralion was
soon seconijed with vigorous efforts ; an aUiance
was formed between llie Imijerialists, the Dutch,
and the En'glish, who contributed more lo the su]>-
port of the war than the ether t-wo uniled. Marl
borough was sent over to coraraand the English
army, and the alUes declared hini generalissimo of
Vol. II. J3

26 nisTORV or exclanu,
all -iheir foi i es. Kever was a man better calcu
lated for debate and action than he : serene in the
mid.sl of danger, and cool in aU the fury of battle.
VS^hile bis countess governed the queen, liis in
trigues governed the kingdom. Ari indefatigable
warrior while in camp, and a skilful politician in
courls ; he thus became the most fatal enemy to
France that Englancl had produced since the con
quering times of Cressy and Agincourt.
This general had learned the art of war under
fhe famous marshal Turenne, having been a vo
lunteer in his army. He, at thai time, went by the
name of the Handtiome Englishman ; but Turenne
foresaw his fulure greatness. He gave tbe first -
proofs of his -i^isdom by advancing the subaltern
officers, whose merit had hitherto been neglected :
he gained the enemy's posts wilhout fighting, ever
advancing, and never losing one advantage -which
he had gained. To ibis general was j jj , ,
opposed, on Jhe side of France, the ' • 7 *¦
duke of Burgundy, grandson of die king ; a j'oulh
more qualified to grace a court tlian cxinducl an
army ; the marshal Boufflers commanded under
him, a man of courage and activity. But these
qualifications in bpth ^vere forced to give way tp
the superior powers of tlieir adversary 4 afler hav
ing been fprced tP retire by the skilfiil marches of
Marlborough, after ba-ving seen several towns
taken, they gave up aU hppes pf acting offensively,
and cpiicluded the campaign with resplutions to
prosecute the next w^ith greater vigour,
Marlborough, upon his return to Lpndon, re-
reived the lewards of his merit, being Uianked by
the house of comraons, and created a duke by tlie
queen. The success oi one ca»npaign but spurred
on the English to aim at new triumphs. Marlbo
rough next-season returned to the field, wiih larger
aulho:il_y, and greater confidence from liis former

ANNE. S7
success. He began the campaign by taking Bonn,
the residence of the elector of Cologne ; he next
retook Huys, Limbourg, and became master of
all the lower Rhine. The marshal j jy g
Villeroy, son to the king of France's
governor, and educated with him, was now gene
ral of the French army. He was ever a favourite
of Lewis, and had shared his pleasures and his
campaigns. I-Ie was brave, virtuous, and polite,
but unequal to the great task of command ; and
still more so, when opposed to so great a rival.
Marlborough, sensible of the abilities of his an
tagonist, -was resolved, instead of immediately op
posing him, to fly lo the succour of the emperor,
his ally» who loudly requested liis assistance, being
pressed on every side by a victorious eriemy. The
English general, who was resolved lo strike a -vi
gorous blow for his relief, took with him about
thirteen thousand English troops, traversed exten
sive countries by hasty marches, arrived at the
banks of the Danube, defeated a body of French
and Bavarians stationed at Dona vert to oppose him,
passed the Danube, and laid the dukedom of Ba
varia, that had s'ded -with the French, under con
tribution. Vflleroy, who at first attempted to fol
low his motions, seemed, all al once, lo have Igst
sight of his enemy ; nor was he apprized of hia
rout till he was informed of his successes.
Marshal Tallard prepared, by another rout, lo
obstruct the duke of Marlborough's retreat, with
thirty thousand men. He was soon after joined
by the duke of Ba-i'-aria's forces ; so lhat the French
array amounted to a body of sixty' thousand dis
ciplined veterans, commanded by the Xn^^o best
rejiuted generals at that time in France. Tallard
had established his re23U tation by forraer victories ;
he was active, penetrating, and had risen by the
dint of merit alone. But this ardour often rose to
B 3

xS HISTORY OF ENGLAND;
impetupslty ; and he ^vas so short-sighted, as to be
.unable to distinguish at the sraaUest distance. On
the other hand, the duke of Marlborough was n»w
joined by prince Eugene, a general bred up from
his infancy in camps, and equal to Marlborough
in intrigue and military knpwledge. Their lalenls
-were 'cpngenial ; and all their designs seemed to
flow but frora one source.. Their army, -when
combined, amounted to about fifty-two thousand
raen ; troops that had been accustpmed Ip con
quer, and had seen the French, the Turks," and
ihe Russians, fly before them. As ihis battle, both
from the talents of, the generals, the iraproveraents
in the art of war, the number and discipUne of
the Iroops, and the greatness of the contending
po^wers, is reckoned the mosl remarkable of lliis
cenlnry, it demands a more particular detail. '
I'he French were posted on a hill, their right
^eing covered by the Danube arid the viUage of
Blenheira, and commanded by marshal TaUskrd ;
their left was defended by a viUage, and headed
by the elector and Marsin, an experienced French
general. In the front oftheir army ran a rivulet,
the banks of -vs'hich \yere steep, and -the .bottom
niarshy. Marlborough and Eugene went toge
ther to observe the jiosture pf the French forc^es.
Nptwithstanding their ad-yantagepus situatipn, they
w-ere resplved lo attack them immediately. Thejiat;-
tie began between l-w-elve and one in ihe afternoon.
Marlhoroygh, at the head of the EngUsh troops,
haying passed thp ri-vulet, attacked the cavalry of
TaUard on the right. This general was al that
time re-vie-wing ihe disposition of his troops on the
left ; and the cavaliy fought for some time witliout
the presence of their general. Prince Eugene, on
the left, had net yet attacked the forces of tlie elec-
lor ; and it was an hour before he cOuld bring his
/bices up to the engagepient.

ANNE. ^3
Tallaid had no sooner understood lhal his rigJit
was attacked by the duke, bul he flew to its head.
He found the furious encounter already begun, his
cavalry thrice repulsed, and raUied as often. He
had a large body of forces in the viUage of Blen
heim ; he made an atterapt to bring thera to llie
charge. They were attacked by a part of Marl
borough's forces so vigorously, lhat. Instead of as
sisting the main body, they coulcj hardly maintain
tlieir ground.' All the Fiench cavalry, being now
attacked in flank, was totally defeafed. The Eng
lish army, thus half victorious, piercedxup between
the t-vvo bodies of tlie French, commahded by the
marshal and the elector, while at the same time
the forces in the village of Blenheim -were separated
by another delaehmenl. In Ihis terrible siluationy
Tallard flew to rally sorae squadrons ; but, from
his short-sightedness, mistaking a delachment of
tlie enemy for his oyvn, he was taken prisoner by
the Hessian troops, -who were in English pay.
In the mean lime, prince Eugene on the left, after
having been thrice repulsed, put the enemy inlo
confusion. The rout then became general, and
the flight precipitate. The consternation -was such,
that the French soldiers threw themselves into
the Danube without knowing where ihey fled : the
officers lost all their authoiity ; there was no ge
neral left to secure a> retreat. The alUes were now
masters of the field of battle, and surrounded the
tillage of Blenheim^ where a body of thirteen thou
sand men had been posted in the beginning of the
action, and still kept their ground. These Iroops,
seeing themselves cut off from aU communication
from the rest of the. army, Uirewdown their arm.s,
and surrendered themselves prisoners of war.
Thus ended the battle of Blenheira, one of the
most complete victories lhat was ever obtained.
Twelve thousand French and Bavarians were slain
B 5

ao HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
in the field, or drowned in the Danube ; tliirteen
thousand were made prisoners of war. Of the
aUies about five thousand men were killed, and
eight thousand wounded or taken.
The loss of ^ the battle is imputed tp two capital
errors committed by marshal Tallard : first weak
ening the centre, by detacliing such a number of
troops lo the -village of Blenheim ; and then suffer-
irig the confederates to pass the rivulet, and form
unmolested. The next day, when the duke of
Marlborough visited his prisoner, the marshal paid
him the compliment of ha'ving overcome the best
troops in the world. / hope. Sir, replied the duke,
you will except those by <it>hom ihey were conquered.
A cpuntry of a hundred leagues in extent fell,
by this defeat, into the hands of the victor.
Having ihus succeeded beyond his hopes, the
duke once^ more returned to England, where he
found the people in a transport pf jpy : he -was
welcomed as a hero who had retrieved the glory
of the, nation ; and the queen, the parUament, and
tlie people, were ready to second him in all his
designs. The manor of "W^oodslock -was confer
red upon him for his services ; and the lord-
j -p, c. keeper, in the name of the peers, ho-
' ¦ noured him with lhat praise he so -well
deserved. The success of the last campaign induced the
EngUsh to increase their supplies for the next, and
die duke had fixed upon the MoseUe for the scene of
aclion ; but being disajip.ointed by prince Le-wis,
who promised his assistance, he returned to the
Netherlands to pppose VUleroy, who, in his absence,
undertook the sie^e of Liege. ViUeroy, having
received adriceof the duke's approach, abandoned
his enterprise, and i-«treated -wilhin his Unes.
Marlborough was resolved to force ihem. He led
his troops lo the charge ; after a yvarm but slior^

a.N'm!. 01
engagement, the enemy's horse were defeated wiih
great slaughter. The infantry, being abandoned,
retreated in great disorder to an advantageous post,
where they again drew up in order of batile. Had
die duke been permitted to take advantage of their
consternation as he proposed, it is possible he
might have gained a complete victory ; but he was
opposed by the Dutch ofiicers, who represented ii
in such a light lo the Deputies of the Stales, that
they refused to consent to its execution. This timi
dity was highly resented in England, and laid the
first foundation of suspecting the Dutch fidelity ;
they were secretly accused ofa desire to pro-tract
the -war, by which they alone, of all the powei's
in- Europe, were gainers.
While the arms of England were crowned with
success in the Netherlands, they were not less for
tunate in Spain, where efforts were made to fix
Charles, duke of Austria, upon the throne. .The
greatest part of lliat kingdom had declared in fa
vour of Philip IV, grandson to Lewis XIV, who
had been noininated successor by the late king of
Spain's w-iU. "We have already seen, that, by a
former treaty among the powers of Europe, Charles
of Austria was appointed heir to that crown ; and
this treaty bad been guaranteed by France herself,
who now intended to reverse it in favour of a
descendant ofthe house of Bourbon. Charles there
fore entered Spain, assisted by the arms of Eng
land, and invited by the Cafaionians, who had
> declared in his favour. He 'was furnished with
two hundred transports, thirty ships of -war, nine
thousand men ; and the earl of Peterborough, a.
man of even romantic bravery, was placed at their
head. One of the first exploits of these forces \vas to
take Gibraltar, which had hilherto been deemed
impregnable. A ledge of lofty rocks defended it-
B.i

Sa HISTPRr oy ENGLAND,
ainipst on every aide by land, and an ppen and
slprmy bay tool away all (security for shipping by
sea ; a ft'^ troops were therefore capable of de-
fenrling it against the most numerous armies. The
security of llie garrison proved their ruin, A de
tachment of eighteen hundred marines w^ere land
ed upon that neck of level ground w-hich joins it
lo the continent These -were incapable of attempt
ing any thing ei&ctnal, and even destitute of hopes-
of succeeding, A body of saOors, in boats, ^vere
ordered to attack a half-ruined mnle : they took
possessipn of the plaiform, nnterrified bv a mine
that blew np a hundred men in the air : -with tbe
utmost intrepidity tfa^ kept their ground, and, be
ing soon joined by other seamen, took a redoubt.
betw^een the mole and the town, by storm. TJje
governor -was now obliged to capitulate : and tbc
prince of Hesse entered the to-wn, amazed at tb&
success of so desperate an enterprise. This was a
glorious and an useful acquisition lo the British
dominions : tbeir trade to tlie Mediterranean w^as
thos secured ; and they had here a repqatory ca
pable of cpntainingali ihin^ necessary for the re
pairing of fleets, or the equipment of armies.
Soon after the taking this important garrison, the
EngUih fleet, no^v mistress ofthe seas, attacked tbe
Trench admiral, who cpmmanded fifly-lvro ships
of Tvar, After an obslinale contest, the Englisb
became vicloripus ; the French fleet safled awav,
npr could itbe brought again,lo tbe engagement,
though t]»e losses on either ade -were equal. This
may be reckoned the final effort of France by sea :
in aU subsequent engagements their diief care was
rather to consult means of escape than of victorv.
Npr yet -were the French and Spaniards -willing to
suffer Gibraltar to be taken, wShout in effort for
reprisal. Philip sent an army to retake if, and
France a fleet of thirteen slups of the line : bolh.

ANNE. 33
•<^ere equally unsuccessful ; part of ihe fleet was
dispersed by a tempest, and another part taken by
the English ; while the army, having made Utile
Or no progress by land, was obliged to abandon
file enterprise.
Nor were the English less successful in asserting
the tide of Charles lo the kingdom. Their army
was commanded by the earl of Peterborough, one
of the raost singular and extraordinary men of
tbe age. At fifleen he fought against the Moors
in Africa ; at twenty he assisted in compassing the
revolution : he nO-w carried on this war in Spain,
almost al his own expence ; and his friendship for
the duke Charles was his strongest motive lo un
dertake it. He was deformed in person, but of it-
mind the raost generous and active that ever iu-'
spired an honest bosora. His first atterapt in Spain
was to besiege Barcelona ; a-strong city -with a gai-
rison of five thousand raen, while his own army
amounted to but seven thousand. Never was an
attempt more bold, or raore fortunate. The opera
tions began by a sudden attack on fort Monjuce,
strongly situated on a hiU lhat commanded the ciiy.
The outworks were taken by storm : a shell chan-'
eed lo fafl into the body of the fort, and blew up
the magazine erf powder ; the garrison of the fort
was struck with consternation, and surrendered
without farther resistance. The toWn still remain
ed unconquered : the English general erected bat
teries against ilj and, in a few clays, the governor
capitulated. During the interval of capitulation,
Ihe Germans and Cataloniansin the English army
iiad entered the- town, and were plundering all
before them. , The governor thought himself be
trayed : he upbraided the treachery ofthe general. -
Peterborough flew among the plunderers, dro^e
ihem from their prey, and returned soon after
::noUy to finish the cajiilulation. The Spaniards
B 5

34 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
were equally amazed at the generosity of the Eng
lish, and the baseness of iheir own country-men,
who had led on lo the spoil.
The conquest of all Valencia -succeeded the tak
ing of this important place : the enemy, after a de
feated attempt lo retake Barcelona, saw themselves
deprived of almost every hope ; the parly of Charles
was increasing every day ; he became master of
Arragon, Carthagena, and Grenada : tlie road to
Madrid, their capital cily, lay open before him ;
ibe earl of GaUoWtty entered it in triumph, and
there proclaimed Charles king of Spain wiUiout
farther opposition.
The EngUsh liad scarce time to rejoice at these
successes of their arms, w^hem their attention was
turned to new victories in I landers. The duke
of Marlborough had eaiiy commenced the cam
paign, and brought an army of eighty ibousand
men into the field, and still expected reinforce
ments from Denmark and Prussia. The court of
France was resolved to attack him befoi-« this junc
tion. Villeroy, who commanded an army consist
ing of eighty thousand men, near Tirlemoiit, had
orders to engage. He accordingly drew up his
forces in a strong camp ; his right was flanked by
the river Mehsugne, his left was posted behind a
marsh, and the village of RamiUes lay in the centre.
Marlborough, -who perceived this disposition, drew
up his army accordingly. He knew that the ene
my's left could not pass the marsli, to attack him,
but at a great disadvantage; he therefore weakened-
his troops on that quartei-, and thundered on the
centre with superior numbers. They slpod but a
short time in the centi-e, and at lengih gave way
on all sides. The horse abandoned their foot, and
were so closely pursued, that almost all were cut
in pieces. Six thousand men were taken prisoners,
and about eight ihousand were kiUed or wounded.

ANNE. 35.
This victoiy was almost as signal as thai of Blen
heim ; Bavaria and Cologne were the fruits of the
one, and all Brabant was gained by the other. The
French Iroops were dis23iriled,and the city of Paris
overwhelmed with consternation. Lewis XIV,
who had long been flattered wiih conquest, was
no-w humbled to such a degree as almost lo exciie
the compassion of his enemies : he eiiilrealed for
peace, but in vain ; the alUes c^arried all before
them, and his very capital dreaded the approach^
of the conquerors. "VVhat neither his power, his
armies, iior his j^ioUtics, eould effect, a parly in
England performed ; and the dissension bet-w^een
the whigs and the tories saved ihe dominions of
France, that now seeniied ready for ruin.

LETTER L.
Queen Anne's councils had hilberlio been .go
verned by a whig ministry ; they stUl pursued ihe
scheraes of the late king, and, upon republican
principles, strove to cliffcse freedom throughfjut
Europe. In a government, where Ihe reasoning
of individuals, retired from power, generally leads
those who command, the designs of the ministry
must change, as the people happen to aller. The
queen's personal virtues, her successes, her adu
lation from ihe throne, contributed aU to cfianco
the disposition of the nation ; they now began lo
defend hereditary succession, nonresisiance, and
divine right ; they were noyv become tories, and
were ready to cohtraveae the designs of a whig mi
nistry, -whenever a 1^/der offered to conduct them
lo the charge.
These disoontenia were, in some measure, in
creased by a medilaled union between the Iwo
kingdoms of England and Scotland. The ti-ealy
* B 6

55 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
for this purpose -was chiefly managed by the mi
nistry ; and althpugh it ^vas fraught with number--
less benefits Ip either kingdom, yet it raised the-
murmurs.pf both. The English expected nodiing
from the uniun of soppor a natipn, but a partici-
patipn pf their necessities ; they thpught it unjust,
lhat, while Scotland was granted an eighth part of
the legi.slalure, it yet should he taxed bul a for
tieth pari of the suppUes. On the other hand, the
Scotch considered tliat their independency v^ould
be quite destroyed, and ihe dignity of their crown
betrayed ; tliey dreaded an increase of taxes, and
peemed not much tp esteem Uie advantages of an
increased trade. . In evejy poUtical measure -there
are disadvantages on 'either side, which may be-
sufficient to deter the timid, but -whicba bold legis-
T . n later disregards. The union, after
J ' I ' some struggles, was effected ; Scot
land was no longer lo have a parliament, but lo
send sixteen peers, chosen from the body cf their
nobility, and forty -five commoners. The lyvo-
kingdoms -were caUed.by ihe common name of
Great Britain ; and all.the subjects of both -were
to enjoy a communication of privileges and ad-
-vantages. Tliis measure, which strengthened the vigour of'
government by uniting its force, seemed to threalen'
the enemies of Great Britain y\ilh dangers abroad ;
but the discontents ofthe nation at home prevented
the effects of its newly-acquired power. The to--
ries, no-w becpme the majprily, were displeased
with the whig 'ministry ; Uiey looked -with jealousy
on the power of the earl of Godolphin and the-
duke ol Marlborough, who had long governed the-
queen, and lavished the treasures of the nation on ¦
coiKjiiesls more"" glorious than serviceable. To
them tlie people imputed the burdens under which
they now grpaned, and others which they hacl-

ANNS. ' ^T"
teason lo fear. The loss of a bailie near Alnianz*'
in Spain, ^vl^ere the English army were taken pri
soners, under the comraand of the earl of Gal
loway, with some other miscarriages, tended lo~
heighten their displeasure, and' dispelled the ine
briation of former success. The tories did nol fail
to inculcate and exaggerate these causes-oF discon
tent, -while Robert Harley, afterward earl of Ox
ford, and Henry Sl. John, made soon after lord
Bolingbrpke, secretly fanned the flame.
Harley had lately become a favourite of die queen :'
the pelulanceof the dUchess of Marlborough, who
formerly ruled the queen, had entirely aUenaled
tlie afl'ections of hei- mistress ; she no-w placecfi
them upon one Mrs. Masham, who ^vas entirely
de^'oled to lord Oxford. Oxford was possessed or
uncommon erudition- ; he was polite and intrigu
ing ; he had insinualed himself into the royal fa--
vour, and determined to sap the credit of Marl--
borough and his adherenls. In lliis attempt, he
chose for his second, Bolingbroke, a man ofex--
alted jiowers of thinking, eloc^uent, ambitious, and'
enlerprising. Bolingbroke was, at first, contented
to act a- subordinate character in this inedilated"
opposition ;- but soon perceiving the superiority of
his own talents, fi-om being an inferior, he ^-s as
resoh^ed lo become lord Oxford's rival. The duke
of Marlborough soon perceived their growing-
power, and resolved lo crush it in the beginning..
He refused to ;joiu iu ihe privy council, -while Har
ley was secretary. Godolphin- joined'his infliieiice
in tliis measure ; and the queen was obliged to
appease their resentment by discharging Harley
frora his place : Bolingbroke was resolved to share
his disgrace, and voluntarUy reUnquislied his em
ployments. ,
This violent measure, ^vhich¦ seemed, at first,'.
favourable to llie y\'hig ministry, laid the first-

58 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
foundation pf its ruin ; the queen -was enlirely dis
pleased with the haughly tpnduct pf ihe dule;
and, frpm lhal mpment, he lost her confidence
and afl'ection. Harley was«nabled to act now with
less disguise, and to take more vigorous measures
for the completion of his designi. In hini the
queen reposed all her trust, ihough he now had
no visible concern in the administration.
The -vvhig parly, in this manner, seemed to
triumph for some tirae, till an occurrence, in itself
of no great importance, served lo shew tbe sjiirit
A D ion **' *^^ limes. Doctor Sacheverel, a
I '¦ minister of narrow- intellect and bi
gotled principles, had pubUshed tw-o sermons, in
which be strongly insisted on the illegality of re
sisting kings, and enfon;ed ibe ditine origin of
their authority ; declaimed ag^nst the dissenters,
and exhdi-led fhe church lo put on tlie whole ar-
mpur pf God. There was nolhing in the sermons
either nervous, weU written, or clear ; they pwed
all their celebrity lo the cpmplexion pf the times,
and are at present justiy forgotten. Sacbeverel
was impeached by the -cximmoijfi, at the bar pf the
upper hpuse ; they seemed resolutely bent upon
punishing him, and a day w^as appointed for tr}-
ing him before the kirds at Weslnjinster-hall.
Mean while, the tories, -whp, one and all, approved
his princij^es, were as violent in his defence as the-
parUament had been in his prosecution. Tbe ej es
of the kingdom were turned upon litis extraordi
nary trial ; the queen herself -was every day pre
sent as a private ^pectatpr. The trial lae<tied some
days ; and ^-asl multitudes attended him each day,
as he went to the ball, shputing and praying for
his success. Tbe body of the people espoused his
cause. They destrpyed several meeting-houses,
and jilundered the dwellings ef dissenters ; and the
queen herself could not but relish those doctrines

ANNE. ''9
which contributed le exlend her prerogative. The
lords were divided ; they continued undeterniined
for some time ; but at lengih, after much obstinate
dispute and virulent altercation, Sacheverel was
found guilty by a majprily of sevenieen voices.
He was prohibited from preaching, for the lerm
of three years j his two sermons were ordered lo
be burnt by the hands of iJie common hangman.
The leuily of tliis sentence was considered, by the
tories, as a victory ; and, in fact, their faction took
the lead all ihe remaining part of this reign.
The king of France, long persecuted by fortune,
and each hour fearing for his capital, once more
23etitioned for peace. Godolphin and Marlbo
rough, who had, since the beginning of the war,
enjoyed the double advanlage of extending their
glory and increasing their fortunes, were entirely
averse lo any negotiation which tended lo diminish
both. The lories, on the oilier hand, wiUiiig to
humble the geiieral, and his partner Godolphin,
were sincerely desiious of a peace, as llie only
measure lo allain .their ends. A conference •wa.s,
al lengih, begun at Gerlruydenbei-g, under the in
fluence of Marlborough, Eugene, and Zinzendorf,
all three entirely averse to the treaty. The French
ministers were subjected to e^^ery species of mor-
lificalion ; tlieir conduct narrowly watclned ; their
master insulted ; and their lettei's opened. They
off'ei'ed to satisfy every complaint that had given
rise to tlie war : they consented to abandon Phi
lip IV in Spain ; to grant 1^ Dutch a large bar
rier ; they even consented lo grant a supply to
ward detiironing PhiUp ; but even Qais offer was
treated wiih conlempi, and at length the confer
ence was broken o'flj wliile Lewisresolved to hazai-d
anolher campaign.
The de-sjgns of llie Dutch, and ihe English gene
ral, were too obvious not to be seen, and preperly

40' HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
explained by iheir enemies in England. The"
Writers ofthe lory faction,, who were men of the
first rank in literary merit, djisplayed 'the avarice
of ihe duke, and the self-interesled conduct ofthe
Dutch : they insisted, that, -wlide England was ex
hausting her sl rength in foreign conquests, she was
losing her liberty at home ; that her ministers were
nol contented %vith sharing the plunder of ari impo
verishing slate, but Were resplved upon destroying
lis liberties also. To these complaints were added
Ihe real pride of ihe then prevailing ministry, and
the insolence of the duchess of Marlborough, yyho
hitlierto had possessed more real power than ihe
whole privy council united, Mrs. Masham, who
had first been receramended tp the queen's favour
by the duchess, now fairly supplanted her pa-^
ironess ; and, by a steady attention to please the
queen, had gained all that confidence which she
had reposed in her former confidant. It was loo
late lhat the duchess perceived this alienation of the
queen's favour, and now began to tliink of repair
ing it by demanding an aHidience of her majesly;
in order to vindicate her character frorn every sus
picion ; but formal explanatiens ever widen' the
breach. Mr. HiU, brpther to the new favourite, was ap-^
jjpinted by the queen tp be cplpiiel pf a regiment ;
ihis the duke pf Marlbprpugh cculd by no meaiiS
approve. He expostulated -n ith his sovereign ; he
retired in' disgust : the queen, by a letter, gave hfm
leave to dispose of the regiraent as he should tiiink
proper ; but, before it came to hishaiids, he had
sent a letter to the queen, desiring she would per
mit hirii to retire fi-om Hs employmenfs; This was
the conjuncture which tlie tories had long wished
for, and v^¦hicll the queen herself -w-as infernally
jileased yvilh. She no-w perceived herself set free
.fVoiii an arbitrary combination, by which she hadi,

A«KE. 4^
been long kept in dependence. The- earl of Go
dolphin, the duke's son-in-law, was divested ofhis
office ; and the treasury submitted to Harley, the
antagonist of his anibitionv Lord So- ^ jj ,^.1
mers was dismissed from being pre- " ' '
sident of the council, and the earl of Rochester ap
pointed in his room. Iu a A-sord, there was not
one whig left in anv office of state, except the duke
of Marlborough; he retained Jiis employnienis for
a sliort time, unsupported and alone, an object of
envy and factious i-eproach, till at lengtii he found
his cause iri-etiievcable, and vs'as obliged, afler Irv
ing another campaign, to resign, as the rest of his
parly had done before.
As war seemed to have been the desire of the
-whig party, so peace seemed to have been that of
the lories, Thi-ongh the course of English history.
France seeius to have been the peculiar object of
the hatred ofthe whigs. and cpntinual n-^'ju- -with that
nation has been their aim. On the conti-ary, the
tories have been found to regard that nation with
no such opposation of principle ; and a peace mtb
France has generaUy been the result ofa tory ad
ministration. For some time, thei-efoi-«, a nego
tiation for peace had been carried on between the
court of Fi-ance and ihe neyv ministers, who had
a double aim in ihis measui-* ; namely, to mortify
the wliigs and the Dutch, and to free their country
from a ruinous -war, -(\-hich had aU the appearance
of becoming habitual to the constitutiou.

LETTER LF.-
The conferences for peace ^ve^e first opened af
liondon : ancl some time aflei- the j -^
queen sent the earl of Slrallbrd as ' * ' "'
ambassador inlo Holland, to cominunicate ihe

4^ HISTORY QF ENGLAND,
proposals which the French king had made towaixl
the reestablishment of die general tranquiUity,
The spirit of the times was no^ changed ; Marl
borough's aversion to such measures could no
longer relard the negotiation ; lord Strafford obUged
the Dutch to name plenipptentiarjes, and to recei\ e
those of France. The treaty began at Utrecht ;
but as aU the powers concerned in this conference,
except France and England, -were averse to every
accommodation, their disputes served rather to re
tard than accelerate a pacification. The English
ministry, ho-wever, h*d foreseen and pro-vided
against those difficulties. Their great end was to
free the subjects frpm a Ipng, unprofitable war ;
a war where conquest (X)uld add nothing fo their
power, and a defeat might be prejudicial to in
fernal tranquillily. As England had bome the
chief burden of tie -war, it was but just to expect
ihat it would take the lead in dictating ihe terms of
peace. There -were, however, three persons of
very great mterest and power, -who laboured, by
every art, lo protract ths negotiation ; those were
the duke rtF Marlborough, prince Ikigene, and
Heinsius, llie Dutch grand pensionary. Prince
Eugene even came over to London, in order to re
tard the progress of a peac^, -which seemed to in-
leiTupt his career of glpry : he fpund at court
such a receptipn as -was due fo his merits and fame ;
but, at the same time, such a repulse as the propo
sals he made seemed to deserve.
This negotiation al London failing of effect, ihe
alUcs practised every artifice to intimidate the
queen, and bladen the character of her ministei-s ;
to raise and continue a dangerous ferment among
the people ; to obstruct her councils and cUvulge
her designs. Her ministers -were very sensible of
their present dangerous situation ; they perceived
her health was daily impairing, and her successor

countenanced the opposite faction. In case of her
death, they had nolhing to expect but prosecution
and ruin, for obeying her cemmands ; their pnly
way therefore was to give up their present em
ployments, or hasten the. conclusion of a treaty,
the UtUity of which woidd be the best arguraent
with the people in their favour. The peace there
fore was hastened ; and this haste, jn some mea
sure, relaxed the ministers obstinacy, in insisting
upon such teiTus and advantages as ihey had a right
to demand. Seeing that nothing was lo he expect
ed from the concurrence ofthe aUies, the courts
of London and Versailles resolved tp enter into a
private treaty, in which such terms might be agreed
on, as -would enable bodi courls tp prescribe terms
to the rest of the contending powers.
In the mean time, the duke of Marlborough
ha-ving been deposed from his office of general, the
coramand of the English army in Flanders was
given to the duke of Ormond ; but, at the same
time, private orders were given him not to act
with vigour against an eneray, -which -was upon
the point of being reconcUed by raore mild terras
of treatment. The allies, thus deprived of the as
sistance of the English, still continued their animo
sity, and -were resol-ved to continue the war sepa
rately • they had the utmost confidence in prince
Eugene, their general ; and, though lessened by
the defection of the British forces, they were stUl
superior to those of the enemy, ^vllich were com
manded by marshal VUlars, a man w-bo seemed
fo possess all the great quaUties, and all the foibles
of his country, in a supreme degree ; valiant, ge
nerous, alert, lively, boastful, and avaricious. The
loss of ihe British forces was soon severely felt
in the allied army, Villars attacked a separate
body of their troops incamped at Denain, under
the command of the earl of Albemarle. Their

T4 HISTORY OP rNCr.AND,
inli-enchmenls were forced, aud seventeen batla-
lions eiilier killed or taken, ihe earl himself, and aU
Ihe surviving oflScei-s, being made prisoiici-sof -^\-ar.
The successes of mai-shal ViUai-s served io hasten
ihe treaty of Utrecht The British ininielei-s at the
congi-ess, i-esponsible at once for their conduct to
their queen, iheir country, and aU Europe, ne
glected nothing ihat might ha\e been serviceable
eilher to the aUies, or that might conduce lo the
jiublic .-afeiy. They firat stipn'lated lhat Philip ^",
^vho had been settled on the thix>ne of Spain,
-should renounce all right lo the crown of France.
ihe union of tw^o such powerful kingdoms being
ihoHght dangeious io the hberiie* of the i-est of
Europe. They co-^-enanted that llie duke of lien y.
his brotiier, fhe presumptive heir lo ihe crown pk"
] ranee, after tlie death of the da^iuhin, should also
i"enounce his right io tlie ci-own of Spain, in cnst-
he became king of France. The duke of C^rleans
\\-(is lo make ibe same resignation. To oblige men
thus to renounce iheir riglits might iiave lieen in
justice ; bul, fw every good .icquirc^d. .some incon-
Aenience must be endui-ed : these reMgnations, in
some measure, served lo calm the world tempesled
up by long \^-ar, and ha^ o since become the basis
ol' the Ift^v of nations, to ^^-hich Eui-ojie professc*
j^resent submission.
By litis fi-eafy the duke of Savoy had the island
of Sicily, with the title of king, Avilh ]\'iiestrelles.
and Other places on tlie continent ; \yhich iiieiea.-ie
of pov(-er seemed, in some measure, drawn fi-om
the spoils ofthe Fit?nch monarchy. The Dulch
had lhat barrier granted them whicli tliey so
long sought after ; and, if the house of Bourbon
seemed strijiped of some dominions, iu order to
eiirieh the duke pf Savoy, on the oilier hand the
house of Auslria \\-as taxed to supply the wniits of
ibo llollaudcr.s, \^ ho \\ ere put in possession of iho-

ANNE. 45
Strongest towns in Flanders. "With regard to Eng
land, its glory and interests were secured. They
caused the fortifications of Dunkirk to be demo
lished, and its port to be destrpyed. .Spain gave
up all righllp Gibraltar and the island pf Minorca.
France resigned Hudson's Bay, Nova Scotia, and
Newfoundland ; but they were left in possession
of Cape-Breton, and the liberty of drying their fish
upon the shore. Araong the articles which yvere
glorious to the English, it may be observed, that
ilie setting free those -who had been confined in
the French prisons for professing the protestant
religion, -was not the least. It -was stipulated, that
the emperor slicHild possess ihe kingdom of Naples,
the duchy of Milan, and the Spanish Netherlands;
that the king of Prussia should have Upper
Gueldre ; and a tirae was fixed for the emperor's
acceding to these resolutions, for he > ^ „
had hitherto obstinately refused to as- ' '.'
sist at the negotiation. Thus il appears, that the
English ministry did justice lo aU the world : but
dieir counliy refused it to tliein ; they were brand
ed -with aU the terms of infamy and reproach by
the whig party, and accused of having given up
the privileges and rights which England had to
expect. Each party reviled the other in turn ;
the kingdom Was divided into opposite factions,
bodi so violent in the -cause, that the truth, which
both pretended to espouse, was attained by nei
ther ; both were virulent, and both wrong. These
ccmraotions, in some measure, served still raore
to impair the queen's health. One fit of sickness
succeeded another : nor did the consolation of her
ministry serve to aUay her an-xieties ; for they now
had faUen out araong themselves, the councU
chamber being turned into a theatre for the most
bitter altercations, Oxford advised a reconcilia-
.,t,ioa with the wliigs, yvhose resentment he now

4^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
began to fear, as the queen's heallh apiseared lo ba
impaired. Bolingbroke, on the olher hand, af
fected lo .sel the wliigs at defiance ; professed a
warm zeal for the church, and mixed flallery wiih
his olher assiduities. BoUngbrpke prevailed ; lord
Oxford, liie lii^asure)-, was removed frpm his em
ployment, and retired, meditating schcnies of re
venge, and new projects of leeslablishini ut. His
faU was so sudden, and so unexpected, that no
plan was adopted fbr supplying tbe vacancy oc
casioned by his disgrace. AU was confusion at
court ; and ibe cjueen had no longer force lo sup
port ihe burden : she sunk inlo a slate of insen-
sibilily, and thus found refuge from anxiely in le
thargic slumber. Every method was contrived to
rouse her from this state, but in -\'ain ; her physi
cians despaired of her life. The 2>ri^ y council as
sembled upon this pccasicn ; the dukes pf Spnicrset
and Argyll, being informed of the desperate stale
in which she lay, entered lhal assembly wilhout
being summoned ; the members were surprised
at their appearance, but the duke of Shrewsbury
thanked thera for their readiness to give their as
sistance at such a critical juncture, and desiied
them lo take iheir |>)aces. They now topk all ne
cessaiy precautiens for securing the succession in
the heuse of Hanover, sent orders to ihe heralds
at arms, and lo a Iroop uf life-guards lo be in rea
diness lo moiinl, ill order to proclaim the elector
of Brunswick king of Greal Britain.
On the ihirfielh of July Uie queen seemed soiiic-
whal relieved by medicines, rose from hei- bed,
and, about tight, walked a Utile ; when, casting
her eyes on the clock that stood in her chamber,
she (ontinued lo gaze for some time. One of ihe
ladies in wailing asked her what she saw there
more than usual ; to whieh ihe queen only an-
.sworccl by turning her eyes upon her wiih a clying

GEORGi, r. ; 47
look. She was soon after seized -with a fit of ihe
apoplexy, from which however she was reUeved
by Ihe assistance of doctor Mead, In this state of
stupefaction she continued all night ; she gave
some signs of life between twelve and one next
day, but expired the next morning, J^^„^^^f. , „ , ^_
a little after seven, having Uved for- a > / •
ty-nine years five months and six days, and hav
ing reigned more than twelve years with honour,
equity, and applause.
This princess was rather amiable than great, ra
ther pleasing than beautiful ; neidier her capacity
nor learning were remarkable. Like aUlho.se of
her family, she seeraed rather fitted for tlie private
duties of life tlian a pubUc station ; a pattern of
conjugal affection, a good mother, a warm friend,
and an indulgent mistress. During her reign none
suffered on tJie scaffold for treason : so that, after a
long succession of faulty or crael kings, sheshines
with particular lustre. In her ended the line of
the Stuarts ; a famUy, the misfortunes and miscon
duct of wbich.are not to be paralleled in histpry ; a
family, who, less than men themselves, seeraed tp
expect from their foUo-v^ers more than manheod
in their defence ; a family demanding rather our
pity than assistance, who never rewarded tiieir
friends, nor avenged thera of their eneraies.

LETTER LIL
The nearer we approach to our own times, in
this survey of EngUsh history, the more important
every occurrence becomes : our own interests are
blended with those of the state ; and the accounts
of public welfare are but the transcript of pri-vate
happiness. The two parries which had long di
vided the kingdom, under the names of whig and

48 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
tor}', now seemed to alter their lilies ; the whigs
being styled Hanoverians, and the tories branded
w-ith the appeUation of Jacobites. The former
desired to be governed by a king whp -^vas a pro-
A n -71 *^*'^"'' though a fpreigner.; tlie lalter,
¦ • - 7 ¦*• by a nipnarch pf their own counliy,
Ihough a papisl. Of die two inconveniences, how
ever, lhat seemed tiie least, where religion seeraed
to be in no danger ; and die Hanoverians prevailed.
The jiopish Jacobites had heen long flattered
with the hopes of seeing the succession altered by
the earl ot Oxford; but hy ihe premature death
of the queen, all their expectations at once were
blasled j the chUgence and activity o£ the privy
council, in which the Hanoverian interest prevail
ed, completed their oonfusiun, and they now found
tiiemseives without any leader to ^fie consistency
lo their designs, and force to tlieir councils. Upon
•recollection they saw notiiing so ehgible as sUence
¦and subraission ; they ioped much from the as
sistance of France, and st^ more from llie vigour
of the pretender.
Pursuant to the act of succession, George I, son
of Ernest Augustus, first elector of Brunswick,
and Sophia, grandaughter fo James I, ascendecl
the British throne. His mature age, being novr
fifty-four years old ; his sagacity and experience,
his numerous alliances, the general peace of Eu
rope, aU contributed to his support, and promised
a peaceable and bappy i-eign. His virtues, LhoUgh
not shining, were soUd He wasof a verydifferent
disposition from the Stuart fanuly, whom he suc
ceeded : they were known lo a proverb for lea\ing
their friends in distress ; George on the contrary,
soon after his arrival in England, used to say. My
maxim is never to abandon my friends, to do
justice to all the world, and to fear no man. To
tliese quaUfications he joined great appUcation to

GEORGE I. 49
hij.sincss ; but generally studied more the inlerests
of those subji^cls he had left behind, than of IhesS
he came to govern.
The king first landed at Greenwich, where he
was received by the duke of Northumberland, and
iho lords of the regency. From the landing place
111! walked lo his house in the park, accoinpanied
by a great number of the nobiUly, and other per
sons of distinclion, who had the honour to kiss his
hand ,-is they approached. When he retired to
liis bedchamber, lie sent for those of the npbUity
who had distinguished tiiemseives by iheir zeal for
his succession : but the duke of Ormond, the lord
(liancellor, and lord Trevor, 'were not ofthe nura
ber ; lord Oxford too, the next morning, was re
ceived wiih marks pf disajiprpbatipn ; and npiio
buf die whig parly wore acfmilled inlo any sharo
of confidence. The king of a faction is but the
sovereign of half his subjects : ofthis, however, the
monarch I speak of did not seera sensible ; it was
his misfortune, as well as tiiat of tiie nation, that
he was heramed round by men who soured him
with all tiieir interests and prejudices : none no-w
hill the violent in faction were admitted into em
ployment ; and the whigs, while they pretended
fo secure for him the crown, wpre, with all pos
sible diligence, abridging ihe prerogative. An in-
siaiilaneous and total change was effected in all the
offices of honour and advantage. The whigs go-
yen led the senate, and the court .diiiposed of all
places at pleasure : whom tiiey would ihey op
pressed ; bound the lower ordeispf people with
new and sevens laws ; and this they OaUed liberlyi'
These partialities, and this oppression, soon raised
discontents throughout the kingdom. The clamour
of the church's being in danger was revived, jea
lousies were harboured, and dangerous tumults
raised in every part of the country. Tlie parl}'-cry
Vol. I[. C

5o HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
was, Down with the whigs .' Sacheverel for ever .'
During these commotions ^in the pretender's fa
vour, the prince himself continued a silent specta
tor on the continent, now and then sending over
his emissaries lo inflame the didurbances, to dis
perse his ineffectual manifestoes, and lo delude the
un-waiy. Copies of a printed address were sent to
the dukes of Shrewsbuiy, Miarlboroagh, Argyll,
and olher noblemen of tfee first distinction, ¦vin
dicating the pretender's right to the crown, and
complainifflg -of the injustice that ¦was doneliim by
receiving a foreigner : yet, for all tbis, he slUl con-
li'iued to profess the truest regard lo the cathoUc
rehgion ; and, instead of concealing his sentiments
on that head, gloried in his princaples. It -was the
feeing a papist which had di^ossessed his father of
the throne ; and surely the son could never hope
to gain a cro-svn by the very methods in which it
was lost : but an infatuation seemed for ever lo at
tend the family. -
However ©dious, at tbat time, ,tbe popish super
stitions wea-e to the people in general, yet the opi
nions of the dissenters seemed stiU moiTe displeasing.
Rdtgion was mingled witb all political disputes.
The high-cburch party comjdained, that, under a
whig administration, impiety and heresy d^ily
gained gronnd ; that the prela'tes were at onee ne
gligent of religious concerns, a»d warm in |)ursuif
of temporal blessings. A book written by doctor
Samu^ Clarke, in fiivour of Socinianisra, was strict
ly reps-dicBded. The (dilutes ainong the «hurcli-
men rose to such a height, that die ministry was
obUged to interpose ; and the clergy received or-
> ders lo finish snch debates, -and to intermeddle in
affairs of stale no longer. Nothing, however ,.could
be more imiiolitic in a stale, than to prohibit the
clergy from disputing with each oiber : hy this
means they become more animated in the cause of

GEORGE I. 5l
religion ; ancl this raay be asserted, lhat, -whatever
side they defend, they become wiser and better as
they carry on the cause. To silence their disputes
is lo lead them inlo negUgenoe ; if reUgion be not
kept up by opposition, it falls to the ground, nor
longer becomes an object of jjublic concern. Go-
, veriiraent, I say again, should never silence .dis
pute, and should never side witii eilher clispulanl.
A new j)arliament was now called, in which the
wliigs had by far thcraajority ; all prepossessed with
ibe strongest aversion to the tories, and led on by
the king himself, ^-who made no secret of his dis
pleasure. Upon their first meeting, he inforraed
tiiem, that the branqlies ofthe revenue granted for
tlie -support of civil government, were not suffi
cient for that purpose ; be apprised them of the
machinations ofthe pretender, and intimated, that:
be expected iheir assistance in punishing such as
iad endeavoured to deprive him of lhat blessing
whicJi he most valued, the affection of his people.
As die hoTflses were then disposed, this served to
^Ive tlieni the alarm ; and they outwent even the
.most sanguine expectations of the most vindictive
ministry. Tlieir resentment began wiib arraigning lord
BoUngbroke of liigli treason, and other lugh criines
and misdemeanors. To tiiis it was objected by
one ofthe inerabers of the house of commons, that
notliingin the allegations laid to his charge amount
ed to high treason. To this tiiere was no reply
given: but lord Coningsby standing up, Tlie chair-
m,an,.s9id he, has impeached the hand, but I im-
pecuch the head ; he has impeached tite scholar, and
I the master. I impeach Robert earl of •Oxford,
and earl Mortimer, ef high treason, and other
crimes , and •mis.da/neanors. "W^hen therefore this
nobleman appeared the next day in the house of
-lords, he was avoided, by his brolier peex-s, aa
C a (.',

52 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
infectious; he, -whose favour had been, but a little
before so earnestly sought after, -was now rejected
and contemned. "When the articles were read
against him in the house of peers, some debates
arose as to the nature of his indictment, which,
however, were carried by his adversaries, and the
articles of impeachraent approved by the house :
he was therefore again irapeached at ihebarof the
house of lords ; and a motion was raade, that he
.¦should lose his" seat, and be coraraitted to close cus
tody. The earl, now. seeing a furious spirit of fac-
fion raised against him, and aiming at his head,
was not wanting to himself upon this emergency,
bul .s25oke to the foUowing purpose : / am accused,
says he, for having Tnade a peace ; a peace, which,
bad as it- is now represented, has been approved
hy two successive parliameTits. For my own part,
J always acted by the immediate directions and
command of the queen, my mistress, and never of
fended against any known law. I am justified in
my own conscience, arid unconcerned for the life of
an insignificant old man. But I cannot, without
the highest ingratitude, remain unconcerrted'for
fhe best of queens ; obligation binds me to vindi
cate her memory. My lords, if ministers of state,
acting by the immediate commands nf their sove
reign, are afterward to be made accountable for
their proceedings, it may, one day or other, be the
case of all tJie' members of this august assembly.
J do not doubt, therefore, that, out of regard to
yourselves, your lordships will give me an equi-r
table hearing ; and I hope that, in the prosecu
tion of this inquiry, it will appear, that I have
¦merited, not only the indulgence, but also the fa
vour of this government. My lords, I am now t6
take my leave of your lordships, and of this ho
nourable hotuie, perhaps, for ever ! I shall lay
down my life with pleasure, in a cause favoured

GEORGE tt oa
by rny late dear royal mistress. And when I coTir'
sider that I am to be judged by the justice, ho-,
nour, and virtue of my peers, J shall acquiesce^
and retire with great content. And, my lords,
God'ii will be done ! On his return from the house
of lords lo his' own house, where he was for lhat
night ]iermittecL to go, he was foUowed by a great
multilude of people, crying out. High-church, Or
mond, and Oxford for ever ! Next day he was
brought to tiie bar, where he received a copy of
his articles, and was allowed a raonth to prepare
his answer. Though doctor Mead declared, lhat,
if the earl should be sent to ihe Tower, his life
¦would be in danger, it was carried that he shoidd
be sent there, -whither he was attended by a pro
digious concourse of people, who did not scrujile
lo exclaim against his prosecutors. Tumults grew
more frequent ; and this only served to increase
the severity of the legislature. An act was made,
decreeing, that if any persons, to the number of
twelve, unlawfully assembled, should continue to
gether one hour, after being required to disperse
by a justice of peace, or other officer, and heard
the proclaraation against riots read in public, they
should be deemed guilty of felony -witiiout benefit
of the clergy^ An act pf this kind carries its Pwn
corameiit with it ; legislators should ever be ay,erse
lo enacting such laws as leave the greatest room
for abuse.
A committee was now appointed to draw up
articles of impeachment, and prepare evidence
against hira and ihe other irapeached lords : he was
confined in the Tower, and tiiere re- j jj r
mained for two years ; during which " • 7 '
tirae the kingdom -was in a continual ferraent,_se-
veral other lords who had broke out into actual
rebeUion, and were taken in arms, being executed
for treason. The ministry seemed weary of exe-
C 3

54 UlSTORY OF ENGIiAND,
ctttions ; and he, wiih his usua'l foresight, presented,
upon this occasion-, a petition for coming lo his
trial : a day was therefore assigned hiai. The com
mons appoiriited a committee to inquire into tbe
irtate of the earl's impeachment, and demanded a
longer lime to prepare for the trial. The, trath is,
they had now begun to relax in their former as
perity ; and the intoxication of party was not quite
so strong as when he had been firsl committed.
At the appointed time ihe peers repaired to the
court in W'estminster-liall, where lord Cowper
presided as lord steward. Tbe commons -were as-
.sembled, and the king and royal faraily assisted at
the solemnity. The prisoner ¦was broughl fiom
the Tower, and his articles of impeachment read,
with his answers and the repUes of the commons.
Sir Joseph Jekyl, one of the agents for tbe com
mons, sending up lo enforce the first article ofhis
lordship's accusation,- one of the lords, adjourning
the house, obser^'Bd, lhal much time -xvould be con
sumed in going tiirough all tlie articles of the im
peachraent ; thai nothing more remained than for
the commons to make good the two articles of high
treason cpntained in his charge ; and lhat ibis
-wpuld at pnce determine the trial. His ad-vice -^vas
agreed to by ihe Iprds ; but the cpmnipns deKvered
a paper, containing tbeir reasons for asserting it
as their undoubted right fo c^rry on the impeach
ment in the manner tiiey thought most conducive
to their aim : on the pther hand, Rehouse of lords
insisted on their forraer resolution, considering it
as the privilege of every judge lo hear each cause
in llie manner he thinks most fitting. The dispute
grew stUl more ^dolent ; a raessage was at lengih
sent to the coramons, intimating, lhat the lords
intended to jirbceed immediately to the earl of
Oxford's trial ; and soon after repairing to the hall
of justice, ihey took their places. The coramons.

GEoncE I. 55
however, did nol tltink fit to ap}>eaf; and the earl,
having waited a quarler of an bour at the bar, vs'as
disraissed fw -want of aceusei-s. To this dispute,
perhaps, he owed his safety, though it is probable
they would have acquitled him of high treascm, as.
none of his actions could justly suffer such an im
putation. "Wiih the same acrimony prosecutions
were carried on agaii>sl lord Bolingbroke and the.
duke of Ormond ; but they found safely in lUght.
Such vindictive proceedings as those iiatnaraUy
excited indignation ; the people groaned to behold
a few great ones close up all the avenues lo royal
favour, and rule the nation with rigour and par-
lialily. In Scotiand the disconlent j -r, r
broke forth, at lengih, into the flames • ¦ 7 ¦
of rebellion. The earl of Mar, assembling three
hundred ofhis own vassals, in tbe Highlands of
Scotland, proclaimed the pretender at Ckstletown,
and set up bis standard al Brae Mar, on tiie sixth
day of September; then a.ssuming the title of lieute
nant-general of ihe pretender's forces, he exhorted
the people lo take arms in defence oftheir lawful
sovereign. But these ji reparations -were weak, and
ill conducted ; all the designs of the rebels were
betrayed to the government, the beginning of every
revolt repressed, tbe western countries jirereriled
from rising, and the most prudent precautions
taken tp keep all suspected persons in custody, or
in awe. The earl of Derwen I Water and Mr. Foster
look the field near the borders of Scolland ; and,
being joined by some gentlemen, proclaimed ^he
pretender. Their firsl atteriipt \-vas to seize ujion
Newcastle, in which they had many friends ; but
tliey found tiie gates -shut against them, and were
obliged to retire to Hexham, wMle general Car
penler, having assembled a body of dragoons, re
solved to attack them before their nurabers were
increased. The rebels bad two methods of acting
C.4

_ ."iG MISTOKY OF ENCt,AN»,
¦with success : either maixhing immediately into
the western parts of Scotland, and there joining
genej-ul Gomon, Avho commanded a strong body
of highlandera ; or of crossing the Tweed, and at
tacking general C«rpenter, whose forees did nol
exceed nine huridrea men. From iheir usual in
fatuation neilher of these schemes were put inlo
execution ; for, faking the rout anolher ^-ay. tiiey
left generW Carpenter on one side, and resoh ed
to penetrate into England by die western bolder.
Tlie\ accordinylx advanced, without either foi-e-
sighl or desiizn. as far as Pi-eslon, y^-liere they fii^t
lieaid the ne\\-s tiiat general ^^''Uls was nMrchiug
at the head of six i-egiiuenis of horse, and a batta
lion of foot, to aitaok tiiem. They now theivfore
began to raise barricadues, and io put the place
in a posture of defence, repulsing at first the attack
of tlie king's army xvilh some success. Next day.
howe^•er, genei-al ^^~ilLs was i-eiuforced by the
troops under Carpenter, and the rebels were iii-
vestod on all sides. Foster, their general, sent
colonel Oxburgli wilb a li-uuipet lo tlie Englisli
comiuancler, to propose a c^piiulation. This, how-
c\-«r,general Wills vefused .aQedging llialhe -w-ould
not treat with rebels-; and Uiat aU tiiey could ex-
jiecl -was. to be spared from immediate slaughtei-.
These \-s-ere hard terms j bul they w-rre obliged lo
submit. T!ie\ accoi-dingly Liid down their arms,
aud -were pui under a sUxing guaid. Their leadei-s
\\ ci-e sivui-^d, and led tiirough London pinioned.
and bound together, while Uie common men wero
confined al CJiester and Liverpool.
>'V"liile these unhappy cireumsfances attended
tide rebels in England, ihe earl of M;>r's forces, in
die mean lime, increased lo the number of ten
tiiousand men. and he had made hiinself master of
the whole eouiily of Fife. A:;ciinsl him Uie duke of
Ari;.\U sel onl fbr Scotiand, as commander in chief

GEORGE 1. aj
of the forces in North Britain ; and, assembling
some troops in Lothian, returned to Stirling wifn
all possible expedition. The earl of Mar, being
informed of this, at first retreated ; but, being joined
soon after by some clans under ihe earl of Seaforlh,
and Pthers under general Gerdon, who had signa
lized hiraself in the Russian service, he resolved lo
march forward toward England, The duke of
Argyll, apprised pf his intention, and being joined
by sorae regiraents of dragoons from Ireland, de-
lerinined to give hira battie in ihe neighbourhood
of Durablain, though his forces -were by no means
so numerous as those of the rebel army. In the
morning therefore of the sarae day on which the
Preston rebels had surrendered, he drew up his
forces, which did not exceed three thousand five
hundred raen, but found himself greatly outflank-'
ed by the enemy. The duke therefore perceiving
the enemy raaking atterapts lo surround him, wa.i
obUged lo alter his disposition ; which, on account
of the scarcity of general officers, was not done so
expeditiously as to be all formed before the rebels
'began ihe attack. The left wing therefore of the
duke's army fell in with the centre of the enemy's-^
and supported the first charge without shrinking,
Tfus wing .seeraed, for a short tirae, victorious, as
they killed the chief leader of part ofthe rebel ar
my. But Glengary, who was second in command,
undertook to inspire his intimidated forces : and,
waving his bonnet, cried out several times. Re
venge ! This animated his men lo such a degree,
that they followed hira close lo the muzzles of the
muskets, pushed aside tiieir bayonets with their
targets, and with their broad swords did great ex*
ecurion. A total rout of that -wing of ihe royal
array ensued, and general Witiiara, iheir com
mander, flying full speed to Stirling, gave out that
all was lost. In ihe mean lime, the duke of Argyll,
C 5 ^

•"jfi HISTOnv oy ENGLAND,
who f:omman(led in person on flio right, all/ukitd
ihe left ofthe cniomy, und drove ihein before him
for Iwp miles, Ihough they often facecl about, and
attempied lo i-tiUy. The ifuke, ha'ving thij,s entirely
broke the left, and pushed them ovcsr fhe river Al
len, relurncd to the field, where ho found lhal
part of the rebul army wbich had bfin victoiioiu ;
bul iii«iea(f of renewing the engagement, bolh
armies continued to gazo at each other, neither
curing lo attack ; till toward evening both sides
•Irew off, each boasting of viciory. Whichever
might claim the triumph, il muni be owned, fliat
all the fioMour, and ull the advantages of the day,
belonged onJ^ to tJie duke of Argyll. Ii wnt suf
ficient fbr hini fo have intorrupled the enemy '»
progress; and delay was io them a defeat, 'i'lio
earl of Mar tbcrofore soon found his disappoinl
menis and losses increase. The caslle of Invir-
ness, of which Ik^ was in possession, was delivcKd
up lo the king by lord Lovat, .who Imd hiiheric*
appeared in the interest of the jn^fender. The
marquis pf TuUibardinc left flie larl tp defend his
oWn cpuntry, and many pf the duns, seeing no
likelihood of^coming soon lo a weond engage men I,
returned home; for an irregular urmy is mnrh
easier h-d fo baffle, than induced to bear the f^i-
iignes ofa campaign.
The j)reiender might now be convinced of ihe
vanity of his exjx-c-luiions, in imagining lhat (he
whole counfry would rise up in his cause. J lis
affairs wc!re actually desperate: ; yel, witii l/ic ii.fii.d
infatnation ofthe family, he resolved fo hazard fii»
person among his friends in Scolland, of a lime
>vhen such a measure was totally useless. Paming
therefore ihroiigh France in disguise, nnd emliarl-
ing in a small vessel at Dunkirk, he arrived, on tiie
twcnly-sef-ond day of December, on the coast of
.SeoiUuid with only tix gentlemen in his relinue.

cEonoi''. I 5(}
Upon his urriviil in .Aberdeen, lie was solemnly
proekiinii'd, aud soon iifler uiiule his pubUc cnlry
inlo Dundee. In two days more, he came to
Seoon, where he intended lo have Uie eereinonv
ofhi.s eoromilion perl(>iined. 1 le ordered llianks-
giviugs for his safe unival ; enjoined tho niini.slers
lo pi-;iy for liiiu in the cbnrehes ; and, wilhout llie
.sniii lies! share of power, went through all the ceie-
monies of royally, ^vllieh wore, at suoh a jnnolure,
porfeolly ridieiilons. Aller Uiis uniiuporluiil pa-
rude, he resolved to abiindon iho enlerpiiso witii
tlio Niinio le\ ily with \\hioh ithad boon uiulerlukoii,
and oiiib.irkod Ui;.-un for I'l-iinoo, togelher wilb Iho
eurl of Mar, hikI sonio ollieis, in a suiull slii]) lhat
l.iy in llii' liurbour olMonlro.so ; and in live days
airixticl ul (Jruxoiin. (leneial Gordon, who was
left ooniniunder in chief ol file forces, wilb tho
a.ssisluneoof llie eiirl-iuarsliui. pioooeded with them
lo .Aberdeon, wlieru ho .seeurod ihree Mvssels lo sail
iiorlliwui-d. whieh look on hoard ihe persons -\ylio
iiiloiidod lo iiuiko tlioir o.soiipo lo iho oonlineut.
Ill liii.s nifiiiiior iho rebellion wu.s .suppressed ; but
llio fury of llie vietors did nol seem in Ihe le;isl lo
iibulo widl .siioee.ss. The law was now })iit ill
loree. wiih all iis Lorrois ; and the prisons of Lon
don woi-o orowclod wiUi llioso deluded w lelohes,
wlioiii llie iiiiiiLsli\ shewed no disiiosilion to spare.
Tlu> (-OI11I1101IS. ill iheir addro.s.s io the crown, do-
olurod ihey >\ oiilcl prosoiulo, iu the most Aigorous
iii.iiinor, llio anllioi-s of llie rebel lion ; «nd fheir
resolutions wore us speedy us tlieir uieusiires were
^ iii(lioli\e. Thei^arks of Derwenlwaloi-. .Nitiisdale,
r.iniwnlh. and W inl()\\ n : the lords W idringlon.
.Keuiuiiir. and Nairn, wiro impeaclied. The Mtt-
hcii.i rorpiw nd w us suspended : and ihe rebel
lords, upon ploudiiii; giiilly. recoivod sentence of
doatii, Nolhiiii; oould soften the privy eounoil ;
the lioiiso of lord.-- e\ on prescnlod ui\ address to ihc
t' G

f>0 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
throne for mercy, but wilhout effect. Orders were
dispatched for executing tiie earls of Derwentwater
and Nithsdale, and the viscount Kenmuir, im
mediately ; the Others were respited for three weeks
longer. Nilhsdale, however, escaped in woman's
clothes, which were brought him by his raother,
the night before his intended execulion. Derwen 1-
water and Kenrauir were brought to the scaffold
on Tower-hUl, at the hour appointed. Both un
derwent their sentence with calmness and intrepi
dity, pitied by aU, seemingly less moved themselves
than the spectators.
An act of parUament was also made for liying
the private prisoners in London, and not in Lan
cashire, where they were taken in arms ; which
proceeding was, in seme measure, an alteration of
the ancient cpnstitution pf the kingdpm ; when
Fpster> MackinlPsh, and several pthers, were fpund
guilty. Fpster, however, escaped from Newgale,
and reached the continent in safely ; and some
time after also Mackintosh, with some others, forced
their way, having raastered die keeper and turn
keys, and disarmed the centinel. Four or five were
hanged, drawn, and quarlered ; among -whom was
"William Paul, a clergyman, who professed hini^
self a true and sincere member of the church of
England ; but not of lhat schismafical church
whose bishops had abandoned their king. Such
was the end of a rebeUion, probably first inspired
by the rigour of the new whig ministry and par
liament.' In running through Uie vicissitudes of
human transactions, we too often find both sides
culpable ; and so it was in this case. The royal parly
acted under Uie influences of partiality, rigour and
prejudice ; gratified private animosity under the
- mask of pubUc justice, and, in their pretended
love of freedora, forgot humanity. On the other
hand, the pretender's parly aimed not only at

GEORGE I. 6*
subverting llie government, but the reUgion of the
kingdom : bred a papist himself, he confided only
in counsellors of his own persuasion ; and most
of those who adhered to the cause were men of
indifferent morals, or bigotled principles. Cle
mency, ho-wever, in the governraent, at that tirae,
would probably have extinguished all the factious
spirit w^liich has hilherto disturbed the peace of
this country ; for it has ever been the character of
the English, that they are more easily led than
driven into loyally.

LETT E R LIII-
In a government so very complicated as that of
England, it raust necessarily change frora ilself,
in a revolution of even a few years, as some of iis
weaker branches acquii-e strength, or its stronger
decline. At fhis period, the rich and noble seemed
to possess a greater share of power than they had
clone for some ages preceding ; the house of comr
mons became each day a stronger body, at once
raore independent on the cro-wn and the people.
Il %vas now seen thai the rich could at any tirae
buy iheir election ; and that while their laws go
verned the poor, they might be enabled to govern
Uie law. The rebeUion -was now extinguished ;
and the severities which justice had inflicted, ex
cited the discontent of many, whose human pas
sions were awakened as their fears began to sub
side. Tliis served as a prelexl for continuing the
parliament, and repeaUiig the act by which they
were to be dissolved at the expiration of .every
Uiird year. An act of this nature, by which a par
liament thus extended their own power, was
thought by many the ready raeans of undermining
the consiituliou ^ for if tliey could with impunity

62 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
extend their conlinuanc^e for seven years, which
was the time proposed, ihey could also for life con
tinue their power ; bnt tbis, it was observed, was
utterly incomjiatible with the spirit of legislation.
The bUl, ho-wever, passed both houses ; all objec
tions to it were considered as disaffection : and, in
a short, time, it recei-red the royal sanction. The
people might murmur at this encroachment ; but
it was no-w too late for redress.
Domestic concerns being thus adjusted, the king
began to turn his thoughts to his Hanoverian do
minions, and determined upon a voyage to the
continent. Nor was he wilboul his fears for bis
dorainions there, as Charles XII of Sweden pro
fessed the highest displeasure at his ha^ ing entered
into a confederacy against him in his absence.
Hariiig therefore passed through Holland to Ha-
no-yer, in order to seccure liis German territories,
lie entered into a treaty -with the Dutch and the
regerit of France, by -which they promised mutu
ally to assist each other in case of invasion ; but
the death of the Swedish monarch, who was killed
by a cannon-baU a.t the siege of Fredericksladt,
soon put an end to his disquietudes frora lhat quar
ter, Ho-wever, his nmajesty, to secure 'himself, as
far as alliances could add lo his safety, entered into
various negotiations -withjlhe different jiowers of
Europe; some were brought to accede by money,
others by promises. Treaties of this kind seldora
give any real .security , th^ may be considered as
mere political playthings ; they amuse for a -while,
and then are thrown neglected by, never raore to
be heard of, as nolhing but its own internal strenglli
can guard a country from insult, *
Among other treaties concluded wilb such in
tentions, was that caUed the Quadruple Alliance.
li -was agreed upon, between the Emperor, France,
England, and Holland, tiiat the emperor should

GEORGE I. 63
renounce all pretensions to the crown of Spain,
and exchange Sardinia for Sicily y^^ith the duke of
Savoy ; that the succession for the duchies of Tus
cany, Parma, and Placentia, should be settled on
the queen of Spain's eldest son, in case ihe present
possessors should die without male issue. This
treaty was by no means favourable to the interests
of England, as it interrupted the commerce with
Spain, and as it destroyed the balance of power
in Italy, by throwing tpo rauch into the hands of
Austria. However, England fitted out k strong
squadron in order to bring Spain to terms, if that
kingdom should insist upon iis rights in Italy. The
war between the emperor and the king of Spain
was actually begun in that country ; and the me
diation of the king of England was rejected, as
partial and unjust. It was therefore resolved by
ihe court of London to support its negotiations
-with the strongest reasons ; naraely, those of war.
Sir George Byhg sailed to Naples with tWenty-two'
ships of the Une, where he -was received as a de
liverer, that cily haviiig been under the utraost
terrors of an invasion from Spain. Here the Eng
lish admiral received intelUgence, that the Spanisli
army, amounting to thirty thousand men, had land
ed in Sicily ; wherefore he immediately deter
mined to saU thilher, fuUy resolved to pursue the
Spanish fleet. Upon doubling Cape Faro, he per
ceived two small Spanish vessels, and pursuing
them closely, ihey led him lo their main fleet,
which, before noon, he perceived in line of battle,
araounting, in all, to twenty-seven sail. At sigjit
of the English, the Spanish fleet, ihough superior
in nurabers, attempted to sail away, as the EngUsh
had, for some time, acquired such'fexpertness in
naval affairs, that no other nation would venture
lo face them, except wiUi manifest advanfage;
The Spaniards seemed distracted in tiieir councils.

6-t HISTORY OF BNGL.AND,
and acted -with exfreme confusion : they made a
running fight ; but notwithstanding what they
could do, aU but three -were takeli. The admiral^
during this engagement, acted -with equal pru-
debce and resolution ; and the king wixile him a
letter -with bis own hand, approving his conduct.
This victoiy necessarily produced the resentment
and complainls of the Spanish ministers at aU the
covp-ts of Europe, which induct En^and fo
A D ii-i S *^^*^'^'* '"^1' '^^ih Spain ; and the re-
' ' gent of France joined England in a
similar declaration. The doke of Ormond now.
once more, hoped, by the assistance of cardinal
Alberoni, the Spanish minister, to restoi-e the pi«-
tender in England : he accordingly set sail with
some troops, and prcx;eeded as far as Cape Finis
terre, ^vhere bis fleet yvas dispersed and disabled
by a -violent storm, which entii-«ly frustrated the
armament, and, from thai time, the pretender
seemed to lose aU hppes of being received in Eng
land. This blo-w of foi-tuue, together -with the bad
success of the Spanish arms in Sicily and else-
¦where, once more induced them to wish for peacie ;
and the king of Spain was al last contented to sign
the quadruple aUiance.
Kong George ha'ving thus, with equal vigour and
deUberation, surmounted all the obstacles he met
-with in bis way to ibe throne, and used every pi*-
caution that sagacity could suggest for securing
himself in it, again returned fo England, where
the addresses from both houses %vere as loyal as
he could expect From addressing they turned
to an object of the greatest importance ; namely,
that of securing the dependency of the Irish par
Uament upon that of Great Britain, Maurice
Annesley had appeded lo the house of peers iu
England, from a decree of the house of peers iu
Ireland ; wliich was reversed. The Bntish peera

GEORGE I. b'J
ordered tlie barons. of the exchequer in Ireland lo
put !Mi-. Annesley in . possession of the lands he
had lost by the decree in that kingdom. The ba
rons obeyed this order, and the Irish house of peers
passed a vote against tliem as having aUempted to
diminish the just privUeges of the parliament of
Ireland ; and, at ibe same time, ordered the ba
rons to be taken under the custody of the black rod.
On the other hand, ihe house of lords in England
resolved, lhal the barons of the exchequer in Ire
land had acted witb courage and fideUty ; and ad
dressed the- king to signify his approbation oftheir
conduct, by some marks ofhis favoui-. To com
plete their intention, a bfll was prepared, by which
the Irish house of lords yvas deprived of aU right
of final jurisdiction. This -was opposed in both
houses. In the lower house iSlr. Pitt asserted, that
it would only increase the power df the English
peers, ^vho already had too much. Mr. Hunger-
ford demonstrated lhal the Irish lords had always
exerted their power of finally deciding causes.
The duke of Leeds produced fifteen reasons against
the biU ; but, nolwitiistanding aU opposition, it
-was carried Ly a great majority, and received fhe
roval assent. The kingdom of Ireland y\-as nol at
that time so -(veil acquainted -with the nature of U-
bert}', and its own constitution, as it is at present.
Their house of lords inight then consist mostly of
men bred up in luxury and ignorance ; neilher
spirited enough to make opposition, nor skilful
enough to conduct it.
But this blovF, which the Irish felt severely, was
not so great as that which England now began lo
suffer frora that spirit of avarice and clucanery
-which had infected almost aU ranks of people. In
fhe year 1 720,. John Law, a Scotsman, had erected
a company in France under the name of the Mis-
sisippi ; which at first promised the deluded people

66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
immense -weallh, bul too soon appeared an impos-
^ -p. _ lure, and left the greatest part of that
7 * nation in ruin and distress. The year
foUowing, the peo-ple of En-gland -were deceived
by just such another project, which is rem«n-bered
by the name of the South-sea scheme, and w-as
long felt by thousands. To explain this as con
cisely as possible, it is to be observed, that, -ever
since the revolution, the gpvernment nol ha-\'ing
sufficient suppUes granted by parliament, or what
¦was granted requiring time Xo be callecled, they
¦were obUged to b©rr6-w money from several dif
ferent comjianies of merchants, and, among the
rest, firom that company which ti-aded (o the Semfh
sea. In fhe year 1 716, they were indebted ict tbis
company about nine millions, and a half of money,
for which they granted annuaUy at the rate of six
per cent, interest. As this company was not tbe
only one to -which the go^'e^mnent was debtor,
and' paid such- large interest yearly. Sir Robert
Walpole eonejefved a design oflessening Uiese »a-
lionaj debts, by giving the several- companies an
alternative, either of accepting a lower interest,
namely, ^e per cent, for their money, or of being
paid the principab The different companies chose
ralher to accept of ihe diminished interest than the
cajiilal ; and the South-sea conipany, accordingly,
having made up their debt to the govemment ten
milUons, instead of six hundred thotisand pounds
which they usuaUy received as interest, w^ere satis
fied widl five hundred ihousand. In the same
manner the governors and company. of the bank,
and other companies, were contented to receive a
diminished annuity for their several loans, all
xvhich greatiy lessened the debts of the natipn. It
was in this situation pf things, tiiat Sir Jphn Blount,
who had been bred a scrivener, and was possessed
of all the cunning and plausibiUty recpiisile for

GEORGE 1. 4 67
such an undertaking, proposed to the ministry, in
the name of the South-sea company, to lessen the
national debt still farther, by permitliMg the South-
sea corapany to buy up all the debts of the different
corapanies, and thus to become the principal cre
ditor of the state. The terms offered the govern
ment were extremely advantageous. The Soutli-
sea ccmipany was to redeem llie debts of the nation
out of the hands of tbe private proi>rietor&> wh*
were creditors to tfee government, upon wbaitever
terms they could agree on ; and for the interest
ofthis money, which they had thus redeemedi, and
taken inlo their owm bands, they wotdd be con
tented to be allowed- for six years five per cent.
and ihen the interest should be reduced to four
per cent, and be red!eemable by parliament. For
tliese purposes a bill passed bolh houses ; and as
the directors ofthe South-sea company could not .
of themselves alone be sujiposed to be possessed of
money sufficient to boy up these debts of the go
vernment, they -were empowered to raise it by
opening a subscription, and granting annuities to
such proprietors as should llrink proper to ex
change their creditors ; namely, the crown for the
South-sea company, -with the advantages that might
be made by their industry. The superior ad-yan-
tages with which these proprietors were ffattered,
by thus exchanging their properly in the goverii
ment funds for South-sea company stock, -were a
chimerical prospect of having iheir money turned
lo great advantage, by a commerce to the South
ern liarts of America, ^vhere it was reported- that
the English were to have some new settlements
granted them by the king of Spain. The directors
books therefore were no sooner opened for the
firsl subscrijition, but crowds carae to make the ex
change ; the delusion spread ; subscrijilions in a
few days sold for double the price ihey had been

68 HISTORY or ENGLAND,
bought for. The scheme succeeded, and Uie wliole
nation was infected -with a spirit of avaricious en
terprise. The infatuation prevailed ; Uie stock in
creased to a surjirising degree : bul afier a few
months, the people awaked from their deUrium ;
they found that aU the advantages lo be expected
were merely imaginary, and an infinite number
of famUies were involved in ruin. Many bf the
directors, w^hose arts had raised these vain expec
tations, had amassed surprising fortunes : it was,
however, one consolation to the nation to find the
parliament stripping them of their iU acquiied
weallh ; and orders were given lo remove aU di
rectors of the South-sea company from thefr seiils
in the house of comraons, or the places Ihey pos
sessed under the government. The delinquents
being punished by a forfeiture of their estates, the
, parUaraent next converled its attention toward re
dressing the sufferers. Several useful and just re
solutions were taken, and a bill was speedUy pre
pared for repairing the inischief. Of the profits
arising frora the Soulh-sea scherae, the sum of seven
iniUioiis was granted to the ancient proprietors ;
several additions also were raade to their dividends
out of what ^vas possessed by the company in iheir
own right ; the remaining capital stock also was
divided among all the proprietors at the rate of
thirly-fhree pounds per cent. In Uie mean tirae
petitions from aU parts ofthe kingdom were pre
sented lo the house, demanding justice ; arid the
whole nation seemed exasperated to the highest de
gree. During these transactions, the king, with
serenity and wisdom, presided at the helm, in
fluenced his fiarliament to pursue equitable mea
sures, and, by his councils, endeavoured to re^ore
the credit pf the natipii.
The discpiitents occasioned by these pubUc cala
mities, once more ga^e the disaffected parly hopes

GEORGE I. (;<)
of rising'; but in all their councils they were weak,
divided and wavering. Their present designs
therefore could nol escape the vigilance of tlie king,
who had emissaries in every court, and who had
made, by his alliances, every potentate a friend to
his cause. He was therefore informed bythe duke
of Orleans, regent of France, of a new conspi
racy against him by several persons of distinction,
which postponed his intended journey lo Hanover.
Ainong those against whom the most positive evi
dence was obtained, was Christopher > ^
Layer, a young gentleman of the ' ' " -•
Middle Temple. He ^vas convicted of having in-
listed -men for the pretender's service, and received
sentence of death ; which he underwent, afler hav
ing been often exarained, and having-strenuously
refused, to the last;, to discover his accomplices.
He was the only per.soii who suffered death upon
this occasion ; but several noblemen of high dis
tinction were made prisoners ujion suspicion. The
duke of Norfolk, Atterbury, bishop of Rochester,
lord Orrery, and lord North and Grey, were of
this number. Of these, all bnt the bishop of Ror
Chester carae oft' without punishment, the circum
stances not being .sufficient against them for con.-
victi'on. A bUl was brought into the house of
commons against liim, allhough a peer ; and ,thp'
it met with some ppposition, yet it was resolveid
by a great majority, that he shpuld, be deprived of
his office and benefice, ancj banished the kiijgdpni
for ever. The bishop made no defence in tlie
lower house, reserving all his power to be exerted
in the house of lords. In that assembly he had
many friends; his eloquence, politene.ss, and in
genuity; had procured him many ; and his cause
being heard, a leng and warm debate was the con
sequence. As there was Utile against him but in
tercepted letters, which were written in cipher.

JO HISTORY or England,
the earl Pawlet insisted on die danger and injus^
tice of depari'Liag, in such oases, from the fixed rules
of evidence. The duke of "Wharton, having sum
med up the depositions, and ^siiown the insuf-
ficdency of them, cconcihidfid -wilb saying. That, let
the consequences be what they would, lie lioped
the lustre of that house would be never larnislied,
by CMndemmng a .man without evidence. Tlie
lord Balhurst spoke also agaiaast fhe hiU, observing.
That, if such extraomilimary prooeedings were ceun-
lenanced, he saw nothing remaining for him and
others lo do, but lo I'etire lo their «ounte-y hoiuses,
and there, if possible, quietly enjoy then- es/ates
within iheir own famiUes, since tbe least corres
pondence, or intero^ted letter, raight be made
criminal. Then turamng to -die bishops, he said,
he could hardly account for the inveterate hatred
and.maUce some persons bore die ingenious bi-
-shop of Rochester, unless it was, lhat ihey were
infetuated Uke the wUd Americans, who fondly
beUeved they inherit, not only the fflppUfi,bul even
the abiUlies of any man tbey desLrey. The earl
of Straft'ord «p©be on the same side ; as also lord
Trevor, who observied. That, if men "were in this
imprecedraited manner prooeedesil against, willi-
out legal proof; in a short time the minister's fa
vour would be the subject's only protection ; but
that for himself, no appnehensions of what he
might suffer womiM deter bim from doing his duly.
He was answened by lord Seafield, who endea
voured to shew, tbat the e-(ideiice -which had been
produced, before ihem w^as sufficient to conrince
any reasonable man ; and in this he was supported
by flie duke of Argyll and lord Lechmere. To
these lord Co\\ per repUed, ibat the atrongest ar
gument urged in behsdf of the biU, was necessity;
but, for his part, he cpuld see nofldng that cculd
justify _such unprecedented and siicb dangerous

GEORGIJ I. 171
proceedings. The other party, however, said little
in aiLSWer ; perhaps already sensible ofa majority
in their favour. The bill was passed against the
bishop, and several lords entered their protest.
Ainong the members in the house of commons,
¦who had exerted themselves raost strenuously in
the bishop's favour, was doctor Friend, the cele
brated physician ; and he was now taken into cus
tody on suspicion of treasonable practices. He was
soon after, however, admitted to bail, his friend
doctor Mead beooming his seouri'ly. In tWo days
after the bishop of Rochester embarked for banish-'
ment, accompanied willi hfs daughter ;, ancl on the
same day that fie landed at Calais, the famous lord
Bolingbroke arrived there, in his return to Eng
land, having obtained his majesty's'pardon ; ujion
yvhich the bishop, smiUiig, said. His lordship and
I are exchanged. In this manner the bisliop con
tinued in exile and poverty till he died ; though it
may not be improper to observe, that doctor Sa
cheverel left bim, by will, five hundred .pounds.
Fe"sv transactions of iraportance happened dur
ing the remainder of this reign ; the ministry were
employed in making various and expensive nego
tiations, and covenants made wkhowt faith, and
only observed from motives of interest or fear.
The parUament raade also sorae -efforts to check
the progress of vice and immorality, which now
began to be diffiised through every rank of life ;
luxury and profligacy had increased to a surpris
ing degree ; nor were there any transactions to fiU
tbe page of history, except the mercenary schemes
of vile projectors, or the tasteless profusion of new
made opulence. The trea-ties lately concluded
with Spain were again broken, perhaps by every
parly : admiral Ho.sier was sent to intercept the
Spanish gaUeons from America, of vvhich the
Spaniards being apprised, remanded back Uieir

75 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
treasure ; and the greatest part ofthe English fleet
sent on this errand, was rendered, by the worms;
. „ -. entirely unfit for service, and the men
A. D. I72fa, .^e^g cut ofifby the unbeallhy climate
and long voyage. To retaUate this, the Spaniards
undertook tbe siege of Gibraltar, and with similar
success. Ne-w treaties were set on fopt ; France
offered its mediation ; and such a reconciliation as
treaties could procure was the consequence.
The king had not now, fpr twp years, visited his
German dpminipns; and therefpre, spon after jhe
breaking up pf parliament, he prepared for a jour
ney lo Hanpver. Accordingly, having appointed
an administration in his absence, he embarked for
Holland ;. lay, upon his landing, at the h'ttie town
of Vert ; next day proceeded on his journey; and
in two days more, befw-een leri and eleven at night,
arrived at Delden, in aU appearance in perfect
health. He supjied there very heartUy, and cpn
tinued his prpgress early the next mprning. Be
tween eight and nine he erdered the coach tp stpp,
and il being perceived that one of his hands lay
motionless, monsieur Fabrice, who had formerly
been the servant ofthe king of Sweden, and now
attended king George, chafed it between his. As
this had no effect; the surgeon vs'as caUed, who fol
lowed on horseback, and also rubbed it -wiUi spi
rits : soon afler the king's longue began to swell,-
and he had just force enough to bid them hasten
to Osnaburgh ; and falling into Fabrice's arms,
quite insensibl?, never recovered, but expired
about eleven the next morning. He died on Sun
day Uie eleventh of June, 1 727, in the sixty-eighth
year ofhis age, and ui the thirteenth of his reign.
Whatever was gopd or great in the reign pf
George I, ought to be attributed whoUy to himself;
-whenever he deviated, it might justly be iriiputed
f o a ministry always partial, and often corrupt. He

GEORGE I. 73
-was alinost ever attended with good fortune, which
was partly owing to prudence, and more to assi
duity. In short, his successes are the strongest in
stance of hov^ much raay be achieved by raoderate
abiUties exerted 'with application and uniforraily.

LETTER LFV.
I HAVE not hitherto said any thing of the Utera
ture ofthe present period, having resolved to refer
it to a separate letter, in yijhich we may have a
more perspicuous view of it than ff blended y-vith
the ordinary occurrences of the state. Though
learning ' had never received fewer encourage
ments than in the present reign, yet it never flour
ished more. That spirit of philosophy which had
been excited in forraer ages, stiU continued to ppe-
rate -with the greatest success, and prpduced the
greatest raen in every profession. Among the di^-
¦vines, Atterbury a'nd Clarke distinguishecl them
selves. , As a preacher, Atterbury united all the
graces of style -with aU the elegance of a just deli
very : he was natural, poUle, spirited ¦ and his ser
mons raay be ranked among the first of this period.
Clarke, on the olher hand, despising the graces of
eloquence, only sought'after con-viction, with ri
gorous Uiough phl'egraatic exactness, and brought
moral truths almost to matheraalical precision. Yet
neither he, Cudworth, nor any olher divine, did
such service to the reasoning world, as the- great
Mr. John Locke, who raay be justly .said to have
reformed all our modes of thinking in metaphy
sical inquiry. Though the jargon of schools had.
been before him arraigned, yet several of their eiv.
rors had stUl subsisted, and were regarded as true.
Locke therefore set hiraself lo overturn their sys
tems, and refute their ahsurdities ; this he eft'oc-
VoL. II. D

74 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
tually accomplished ; for which reasons his hook,
which, -when published, was of infinite service,
raay be found less useful at present, when the doc
trines it was calculated lo refute ^re no longer
subsisting. Among the 'moral writers ofthis period, ihe earl
of Shaftesbury is not fo be passed over, whose ele
gance, in some measure, recompMises for his want
of solidity. The opinions of aU latter writers upon
moral subjects are only derived from the ancients.
Morals are a subject on whicJi the industry of man
has been exercised in every age ; and an infinite
number of systems has been the result. That of
Shaftesbury, in whicb he establishes a natural sense
of raoral beauty^was originally professed by Plato,
and only adorned by the EngUsh philcjsopher.
This seemed to be the a^ of speculation. Berke
ley, after-ward bishop of Cloyne in Ireland, sur
passed all his contemporaries in siubUety of disqui
sition : but the mere eff'orts of reason, which are
exerted rather to raise doubt than procure cer
tainty, -will never meet with much favour from so
vain a being as man.
Lord BoUngbroke bad also some reputation for
metaphysical inquiry : his friends extolled his sa
gacity on lhat head, and the pubhc- were wilUng
enough to acquiesce in their opinion : his fame
therefore might have continued to rise, or, at least,
would have never sunk, if he had never pubUshed.
His works have appeared, and the public are no
longer in their former sentiments.
In mathematics and natural philosophy, the vein
opened hy Newton was prosecuted with success.
Doctor Halley illustrated the theory of the tides,
and increased the catalogue of the stars ; whfle
Gregory reduced astronomy lo one comprehefl'-
sive and regular system.
Doctor Friend, in njedicihe; produced some

GEORGE r. 75
ingenious theories, which, if Uiey did not improve
the art, at least shewed his abiUties and learning in
his profession. Doctor Mead was equally elegant^
and more successful ; to him is owing, the useful
improvement of tapping in the di;opsy, hj means
of a swathe.
But, of aU the other arts, poetry in this age. was
carried lo the greatest perfection. The language,
for sorae ages, had been improving, but now seem
ed entirely divested of its roughness and barbarity.
Among ihe poets of this period we may fjlace John
PhiUps, author of several poems, but of none more
admired than that humourous one, entitled Jhe
splendid Shilling : he lived in obscurity, and died
just above want. "V\''illiam Congreve deserves al
so particular notice : his comedies, some of which
were but coolly received upon their first appear
ance, seemed to mend upon repetition ; and he is,
at present, jusfly allowed the foremost in that species
of dramatic poe^ : his wit is, ever just and bril
liant ; his sentiments new and lively.; and his ele
gance equal to his regularity. Next bim Vanbrugh
is placed, -whose humour seems more natural, and
characters more new ; but he owes too many obli
gations to the French entirely to pass for an origi
nal ; and his total disregard of decency, in a great
measure, impairs his merit. Farquhar is sliU more
Uvely, and, perhaps, mere entertaining tiian either :
his pieces continue the favourite performances of
the stage, and bear frequent repetition withput sa»-
tiety ; bul he often mistakes pertness for wit, and
seldom strikes his characters yrith proper force or
originality. However, he died very young ; and
it is remarkable, that he continued to improve as
he grew older ; his last play, entitled The beaux
Stratagem, being the best of ins productions. Ad
dison, both as a poet and prose -writer, deserves .
the highest regard and imitation. His Campaign,
D 2

76 HISTORY OF ENGLAN-D,
and Letier to lord Halifax from Italy, are niaslei*-
pieces in the former, and his essays published in the
Spectator are inimitable specimens of the lalter.
"Whatever he treated of was handled with elegance
and precision • and Uiat virtue which was taught
in his writings, was enforced by his examiDle,
Steele was Addison's friend and admirer : his co
medies are perfectly poUte, chaste, and , genteel ;
nor were his other works contemptible : he wrote
on several subjects, and yet it is amazing, in the
multipUcity of his pursuits, how he found leisure
for the discussion of any ; ever persecuted by cre-
ditprs, whpm his prpfuseness drew upon him, or
pursuing impracticable schemes, suggested' by ill-
grounded ambition. Dean Swift was the professed
antagonist of both Addison and him. He perceived
that there was a spirit of romance mixed wilb aU
the works ofthe poets who preceded hira ; or, in
other v^'ords, that they had drawn nature on the
most pleasing side. There . stUl therefore was a
place left for him, who, careless of censure, should
describe it just as it -was, -with aU its defprmilies ;
he therefore owes much of his fame, not so much
to the greatness of his genius, as to tbe boldness of it.
He was dry, sarcastic and severe ; and suited liis
style exactiy lo the turn ofhis thought, being con
cise and nervous. In this period also flourished
many of subordinate fame. Prior was the first
who adopted the French elegant easy manner of
telling a story ; but if what he has borrowed from
that nation be taken from hini, scarce any thing
will be left upon which he can -lay claim to ap
plause" in poetry. Rowe was ouly outdone by
Shakspeare and Olway as a tragic writer : he has
fewer absurdities than eilher, and is, perhaps, as
pathetic as they ; bul his flights are not so bold,
nor his characters so strongly raarked. Perhaps
his coming later than the rest may have contributed

GEORGE I. 77
to lessen the esteera he deserves. Garth had suc
cess as a poet,; and for a tirae, his fame was even
greater than his desert. In his principal work, the
Dispensary, his versification is negligent, and his
plot is now become tedious'; but whatever he may
loose as a poet,it -would be improper to rob him of
the meril he cleserves for having wrilten the ^rose
dedication, and preface, lo the poem, already men
tioned, in which he has shown the truest wit, -with
the most lefined elegance. Parnel, though he has
-written bul one poem, naraely, the Hermit, yet
has found a place among the English first rate
poets. Gay, Ukewise, by his Fables and Pastorals,
has acquired an equal reputation. But of aU who
have added lo the stock of English poetry. Pope,
perhaps, d?serye.s the firsl place. ^ On him fo
reigners look as, one.of the most successful writers
of his time : his versificatipn is the most harrno-
nious, and his correctness the most remarkable, of
aU our poets. A noted contemporary ofhis own
calls the English the finest writers on moral topics,
and Pope the noblest moral writer of all the Eng
lish. Mr. Pope has spme-where named himself the
last English muse ; and, indeed, since his time,
-we have seen few productions that can justly lay
claim to immortality ; he carried the language lo its
highest perfection ; and tiiose who have attempted
still farther to improve it, instead of ornament,
have only caught finery.
Such was the learning of this period : it'flourish-
ed without encouragement, and 'the English taste
seemed to diffuse itselfover all Europe. The French
tragedies began lo be written after the model of
ours ; our plulosophy was adopted by aU who
pretended to reason for themselves. At present,
however, when the learned of Europe are turned
lo the EngUsh ¦ wiilers for instruction, all siiirit
of learning has ceased among us. So Utile has
D 3

7^ niSTORY OF KNGLAND,
been got by Uleratnre for more than an s^e, that
none choose to turn to it for preferment, Chorch
preferments, which ¦were once given as the re-
¦wards of learning, have, for some time, deviated
to the intriguing, venal, and base, AU desire of
novelty, in thinking, is suppressed among us ; and
our scholars, more pleased ¦with security and ease
than honour, cooUy foUo-w the reasonings oftheir
predecessors, and walk round the circle of former
discovery.

LETT E-R ^V.
Upon the death of George I, his son George II
ascended the throne j of inferior abiUties to the late
A D 1 nsn ^^S" ^^^ consequentty stUl more
' '* strongly attached lo his dominions
on the continent. The various subsidies that had
been in the last reign gi-anted to maintain foreign
connections, w-ere sliU kept up in this ; and ihe
late system of poUtics underwent no sort of altera
tipn. The rights and privileges of tbe throne of
England were, in general, commitled to the mi
nister's care ; the royal concern being chiefly fixed
upon balancing the German po-wers, and gaining
an ascendency for the elector of Hanover in the
empire. The ministry svas, at first, divided be
tween lord Townshend,a man of extensive kno-w^
ledge ; the earl of Chesterfield, the only man of
genius employed under this government ; and Sir
Robert 'VValpole, vrho soon after engrossed the
greatest share of the administration to himself.
Sir Robert >Valpole, who is to make the prin
cipal figure in fhe pi-esent reiga, had, from low be
ginnings, raised himself to the head of the treasury.
Strongly attached to the house of Hanover, and
serving it at times when it vs-auted his assistance.

GEORGE II. 79
he StiU maintained fhe prejudices wn'.h which he
set out ; and, unaware of the alteration of senti-
menls in the nation, stlU altempted lo govern by
party. He, probably, Uke ev^rj- other minister,
began by endeavpuring to serve his counfry ; bnt,
m'-';i.ing with strong opposition, his succeeding en
deavours ^vere ralher employed in maintaining
his post than of being serviceable in if. Tlie de
clining prerogative ofthe cro^vn mi^l have been
an early object ofhis allention ; but, in the sequel,
those very measures which he took to increase it,
proved to be the most effectual means of under
mining it. As lately afl hi* aims were turned only
to ser\-e himself and his friends, he undertook to
make a majority in the house of commons, by brib
ing the members ; and what -vras stfll worse, avo-w-
ed the <x)rmption. As all spirit of integrity -was
now laughed out of the kingdom, and as the people
¦were held lo duty by no motives of religious obe
dience to the ihrone, patriotism was ridicruled,
and venality praciised without shame. As such a
disposition oi things naturally produced opppsi-
tion. Sir Robert wa.s possessed of a most phlegmatic
invinsibiUly to bear reproach, and a calm dispas
sionate way of reasoning upon such lojiics as he
desired fo enforce. His discourse -was fluent with
out eloquence ; and his rea.sons con-vincing, -with-
ottt any share of elevation.
The honse of commons, which inthe preceding
reign had been distinguished inlo whigs and Jaco
bites, now underwent another change, and was
again divided inlo the court and country party.
ITie t^ourt party were for favouring all the schemes
of the ministry, and applauding aU the measures
of the crown. They regarded foreign alliances as
conducive to infernal security; and paid ihe troops
of other cxiuntries for their proinises of fulure as
sistance. Of these Sir Robert -was the leader ; and
D 4

So HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
such as he could not convince by. his eloquence,
he undertook to buy over by places and pensions.
The other side, -who caUed ibemselves the country
party, -were entirely averse to continental connec
tions : they coraplained that immense suras were
lavished on subsicUes which could never be useful ;
and that alUances were bought with money, which
could be only rewarded by a reciprocation of good
intentions. These looked upon the frequent jour
nles of the king to his electoral domjnipns with a
jealous eye, and sometimes hinted at the aUenation
of the royal affections, from England. Most of
these had been strong asserters of the protestant
succession,; and not fearing the reproach of jaco-
bitisra, they sppke -with stUl greater boldness. As
the court party generaUy threatened the house of
commons with imaginary dangers to the state, so
Uiese of the country usually declaimed against the
encroachments of the prerogative.. The tiireals of
neilher were founded in truth ; the kingdora was
in no danger fromabroad ; nor was internal liberty
in the least infringed by the crown. On the contra
ry, those who vie-wed the state with an unprejiidic-
cd eye, -were of opinion, that the prerogatives of the
crown were the only part of Uie constitution that
¦was growing every day yveaker ; that, wlnle the
king's thoughts -were turned- to foreign concerns,
the ministry were"»unmindful ofhis authority at
home ; and'^that every day the government was
making hasty steps to an aristocracy, the worst of
all governments. As "Walpole headed the court
party, so ihe leaders of the opposite side were Mr.
AViUiam Pitt, Mr. Shippen, Sir WUUam AVynd-
bam, and Mr, Hungerford.
The great objects of controversy during this
reign, were the national debt, and Uie number of
forces to be kept in pay. The government, at the
accession of the present monarch, owed more than

GEORGE II. 81.
thirty milUons of money ; and Ihough it was a time
of profound peace, yet this sum was conlinuaUy
found fo increase. To pay off this, the ministry
proposed many projects, and put some into execu
tion ; but ¦what could he expected from a set of
men who made the pu bUc wealth only subser
vient to private interest, and who gre^w powerftil
on the ¦wrecks of their country ? Demands for ne^v
supplies were made every session of parUament,
either for the purposes of securing friends upon
the <x)ntinent, of guarding the internal poUty, or
for enabling the ministry to act vigorously in con
junction with fheir aUfes abroad. Tliese yvere as
regularly opposed as made : the speakers of the
country party ever insisted, that the English had
no business to embroil themselves with the afl'airs
of the continent ; that expences were incurred
-vrithout prudence or necessity ; and that the in
crease of the n^onal debt, by midtiplying taxes,
-would at length becorae intolerable to the people,
"SVbatever reasons there might be in such argu
ments, they were, notwithstanding, conslantiy over
ruled ; and every demand granted with pleasure
and profusion.
AU these treaties and aUiances, ho-wever, in
which the kingdom had been lately involved, seera
ed no way productive ef the general tranquiUity
expected frora them. The Spaniards, who had
never been thoroughly reconcUed, stfll continued
iheir depredations, and plundered the EngUsh
merchants upon the southern coasts of America,
as if they had been pirates. This was the reign of
negotiations ; and from these alone the ministry
promised themselves and the nation redress. StUl,
riowever, the eneray went on to insult and seize,
regarcUess of our vain expostulations, j -r, o
The British merchants complained, by ¦ J^- ^T-^o.
petition, of the losses sustained by tbe Spaniards
D 5

82 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
and die house of commons deliberated upon this
subject. They examined the evidence, and pre
sented an address to his majesty. He promised Ihem
aU ppssible satisfaction, and negotiations were be
gun as formerly, and a new treaty was signed at
Vienna between the emperor and the kings of
Greal Britain and Spain, lending to cpnfirm the
fprmer. Though such transactions did not give
the security lhat was expected from ihem, yet they,
in some measure, put off the troubles of Europe
for a time. An interval pf peace succeeded, in
which scarce any events happened lhat deserve
ihe remembrance pf an historian : such intervals
are, however, the periods of happiness to a peojile ;
for history is too often but the register of human
calamities. By this treaty at Vienna the king of
England conceived hopes that ihe peace of Europe
-was established upon the most lasting foundation.
Don Carlos, uppn the death pf the duke of Parma,
Was, by the assistance nf an English fleet, put in
peaceable ppssessipn nf Parma and Placentia. Six
thnusand Spaniards were quiedy admitted, and
quartered in the duchy pf Tuscany, to secure for
liim the reversion of that dukedom. Thus -we see
Europe, in spme measure, resembling a repubUc,
pulling monarchs into new kingdoms, and de
priving others of their succession by an universal
concurrence. But this amicable disposition among
the great powers could never continue long ; and
the republic of Europe must be an empty name,
until uiere be some controling power set up by
universal consent, lo enforce obedience to the la-w
of nations.
During this interval bt profound peace, nolhing
remarkable happened, except the constant disputa
tions in the house of commons, where the contests
between the court and country party were carried
on wiih ihe greatest acrimony, the speeches on

GEOFCE 11. 83 ^
eiUier side being dictated less by reason than re
sentment. A calm, uninterested reader is now
surprised at tiie heat -with which many subjects, of
little importance in themselves, were discussed at
that time ; he no-w smiles at those denunciations
of ruin wiUi -which their orations are replete.
The truth is, the liberty of a nation is betier sup
ported by die ppposition, than by what is said in
the opposition.
In times of profound tranquUlity die slightest
occurrences become objects of universal attention.
A society of men, entiUed The Charitable Corpo
ration, eddied the indignation ofthe pubUc. Their
professed intention w-as, lo lend money at legal in
terest to the poor, upon smaU pledges ; and to per
sons of better rank, upon proper security. - Their
capital was at first limited to thirty thotisand
pounds ; bnt they afteiward increased it to six
hundred thousand. This money -wasgranted in
by subscription ; and the care of conducting the
capital was intrusted to a proper number of direc-
toi\s. This conipany having continued for more
than twenty years, die casliier, George Robinson.
and the yvarebouse keeper of the company, disap
peared in one day. Five hundred tbousandi pounds
of the capital appeared to be sunk and embezzled
by the directors, in a manner the proprietors could
not account for. They therefore petitioned the
house, representing the raanner in which they had
been defrauded of such vast sums of money, and
the distress to which many wei-e reduced, in con
sequence of such an imposition. The petition was
leceived, and a secret committee appointed to in
quire into the grievance. They soon cUscovered
a most iniquitous scene of fraud, which had been
carried on by Thomson and Robinson, in concert
with sorae of the directors, for embezzUng the ca
pital, and cheating tbe proprietors. Many persons
D fi

^84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
of rank and quaUly were concerned in this in
famous conspiracy ; even some of the firsl charac
ters in the nation did not escape without censure.
The house of commons declared their resentment,
and expeUed one or two of their" merabers; but the
sufferers met -with scarce any redress. Nor can I
mention such a circumstance wilhout reflecting
on lhat spirit of rapacity aud avarice which in
fected every degree of people. An Ul example in
the governing part of a cpuntry ever diffuses itself
downward ; and whUe the ministry do not blush
at detection, the people of everj' rank wUl not fear
guilt. About this time nol less than five members
of parUament were expeUed for the most sordid
acts of knavery ; Sir Robert Sutton, Sir Archibald
Grantj.and George Robinson, for iheir frauds fn
the management of Uie Charitable Corporation
scheme ; Dennis Bond, esquire, and serjeant
Burch, for a fraudulent sale ofthe late earl of Der-
wentwater's estates. Luxury had produced pro
digality, the sure parent of every .meanness. It
was even asserted in the house of lords, lhat not
one shiUing of the forfeited estates was ever ap
pUed lo the service of the pubUc, but became the
reward uf avarice and venaUty.
Anether occurrence of. a more private nature
aboul this time excited public compassion, not with
out « degree of horror : Richard Smith, a book
binder, and his -^-^ife, had long Uved together, and
struggled with those wants, which, notwithstanc!-
ing the profusion of the rich af this time, oppressed
die poor. Theii' mutual tenderness for each olher
was the only comfort Uiey had in their distresses,
which distiesses were increased by having a chUd,
which they knew not how to maintain. At length
ihey took ibe desperate resolution of dying by Uieir
o-wn hands : the child's throat was cut, and the
husband and -wife were found hanging "in Uieir

(', Kor.Gl'. II. 8S
bedoliumber. Th(;y Id'L a letter behind, conluiii-
ing tiie reuHons wfiidi induced them to tills act of
denperulion Ihey declared, thai tiiey could no
longer Biip|)(irt a liCo of siidi oomplicuted wrelch-
edness ; .uid ihoughl it tenderness to take their
child wiih Ihc^ni rrora a world whwre tbey ihero-
eelves li.id found no compassion. Suicide, in many
iiiHliinees, is ascribed lo |)hr(!nzy : we have here un
insliuice of self-murder, concerted wilh cotnpo-
Hun:, und borrowing the aids of reason for iis
vindication. *
LETTER LVI.
Ti/u histoiy of England has lilllo during this in-
fervul lo excite curiosity. Tiio debates in [lurliu-
niiMil grew every day nioro obslinale, us every
subject huppenecf lo come round in votiiigthe an-
nuul .sii|)plieH ; but as the siibjedw wero mostly
the 8urne,so also were the argunienls. There was
one, howiiver, of a diilijreiil nature from thpse in
lli(! iiNiml course of biiHiiieHH, which was laboured
for slreiiuoiisly by llio iniiiistry, und as warmly
op|)OHod by lliniruiilafToiiiHlH, nuinely, j -r, %r
ibe excise bill, wliidi Sir Uoherl Wul- ' ' " ¦
jiole inlrodiKKid inlo Ibe house, by fn-.s! declaiming
!if;uiiiHl ihi! I'ruiidH jiruclised by tho fui-lors in LcJn-
doii.who were employed by the American planl-
er.s in selling iheir tobueeo. To jirevenl ihese
fjuiids lie (iiopo.sed, insteud ofliuving Ihe customs
levied in Ibe ii.sn.il manner upon tobucco, lliut
wiiut was imporled should bo lodged in ware-
liouses u(ip()iuted Icir lhal piirjjose by Ihe officers
of tlu! crown ; from iIkik-o Io Jje sold, ufter Jiuy-
iiig llie duly orfour-peiK-.o /iftr pound, when die
prfiprielor found a niurkel for il .- tiiis pro|)o,sal
rai.sed ;i violent flriniint not fess in Ihe house ihan
wilhout doors. 'I'hose who opposed the scheme',

86 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
asserted, that it would expose the factors to such
hardships, lhat ihey would not be able to conti-
niie the trade, nor would it prevent the frauds
complained of They asserted, that, it ¦would pro
duce an additional swarm of excise officers and
warehouse keepers, which would at once render
the ministry formidable, and the people depen-,
dent. Arguments, however, were not ¦what the
ministry most dreaded ; for the people had been
raised into such a ferment, that aU die avenues of
the house were cro^wded wilb complaining mul
titudes ; and Sir Robert began even to fear for
his life. The ministry carried the proposal in the
bouse ; but observing the tumult of the people,
they thought fit to dnop the design. The miscar
riage ofthe bUl was celebrated with public rejoic
ings in Lpndpn and "Westminster; and -the mi
nister was burned in effigy by the pppulace.'
This success, in the raembers ofthe opposition,
encouraged them to go on to a proposal for re
pealing an act made in the last reign, by which the
house of commons •was to be septennial. They
proposed that parliaments should again be made
triennial, as liact been settled at tbe revolution. In
the course of this debate, in which they were op
posed, as usual, by the ministry, they reflected,
with great severity, on the measures of die late reign .
They asserted, that the septennial act was an en
croachment on the rights ofthe people; that, dur
ing the continuance of that parUament, several
severe laws had been enacted ; that by one of these
a raan might be removed, and tried at any place
where the jury might be favourable to fhe crown,
and where the pj)isoner's witnesses could not, or
dared not, to come ; lhat, by anolher, a justice of
the peace was erappwered to put the best subjects
tp immediate deafb, after reading a preclamation
against riots. The South-sea scheme, they said.

GEORGE II. 8'7
wa's estabUshed by an act of a septennial parlia
ment ; and the excise bill had like, under their in
fluence also, to have passed into a law. Sir 'William
Wyndham distinguished himself in this debate :
Let us suppose, said he, a man without any sense
of honour raised to be a chief mini.iter of .state.
Suppose hiin possessed of great wealth ; the plun
der of the nation. Suppose him .screened hy a. cor
rupt majority ofhis creatures, and insulting over
all men of family, sense, and honour, in the na->
tion. Let us suppose a venal parliament, and an
igriorant king ; 1 hope such a case will never occur :>.
but should such ever happen to be at once united;-
a short parliament will be the only means ofless
ening the evil. Notwithstanding these expostula
tions, the ministry ¦were, as usual, victorious, and
the motion suppressed by the majority. Thus the
country party no^v found themselves outnumbered
upon every occasion ; they had long complairted,
in vain, that debate was useless, since every mem
ber seemed to have listed himself under the ban
ners of party, to which he held without shrinking.
Despairing therefore of being able to stem the tor
rent of corruption, they retired to their seats in
ihe country, and left die minister an undisputed
majority in the house.
The minister, being now left without opposition
in the house, took an opjiortdnity to render his
rivals odious or contemjitible, by getting several
useful laws passed in their absence ; while the
king laboured with equal assiduity lo'adjii&t the
political scale of Europe, ahd for this purpose
made several journies to his electoral dominions.
But his assiduity in heating foreign differences did
not prevent one of a more domestic nature : for
a misunderstanding arose between him and the
prince of AVales ; a prince that was the darUng
of the people,, and who professed his cUsUke both

88 HISTORY or ENGLAND,
'A Ti ^S *° ^^'^ ministry and their venal niea-
'¦ ¦ sures. He had been, a short time be
fore, married to the princess of Saxe-^Gotha ; and the
prince's mbtaking a message from the king, at a
time when the princess was lying-in, first caused
die rupture. It was soon after widened by the
vile emissaiies of the court ; so that his majesty
forbade the princehis presence, and gave orders
that none of his attendants should be admitted lo
court. A motion, however, was made in the house
of commons, for increasing Uie, prince's settle
ment, which was but fifty thousarid iiounds, to a
hundred thousand. Il Tvas represented that so
much had been granted by fhe late 'king to his pre
sent majesty, when prince of "Wales ; and Uiat
such a settiement was conformable to the practice
of former times, and necessary to the independ
ency of tiie heir apparent to the English crown.
This motion was vigorously opposed by Sir Eo
bert "Walpole, as an encroachment on the prero-
gati^-e, and an officious intermeddUng in the king's
famUy affairs. The supporters of the raotion ob-
S'i-ved,that the allo'wance of fifty thousand pounds
¦was not sufficient to defray the prince's yearly ex
pences, which, by his raajesly's own regulation,
amounted to sixly-tliree thousand. The motion,
however, met the fate of aU olher antiministerial
measures, being reinfected by the majority.
But -whatever imaginary disappointments the
people might suffer, there was a blow levelled at
the Uttie wil dial was yet remaining, which has ef
fectually banished aU taste from the stage, and
from which it has never since recovered. W^hen
Walpole entered into power, he resolved lo de
spise lhat 'set of under-rate writers, who live by ar
raigning every ministry, and disseminating scandal
and abuse. For a time he prosecuted that inten
tion-; but, at last, found it necessary to employ a

GEORGE II. 89
set of mean hireUngs, to. answer calumny vvith ca
lumny. He wanted judgment to distinguish ge
nius ; or none possessed pf such a gift were mean
enough to applaud his measures. From hence he
took an implacable aversion to the press, ¦which
so severely exposed his corruption,, and branded
his folUes. But the press alone was not the. only
scourge he had to fear ; the theatre joined aU its
ridicule, and he saw hiraself exposed as the object
of scorn, as well as hatred. 'WherrUcence once
transgresses the rules of deceilcy, it knows no
bounds. Sorae of the pieces exhibited at that tirae
¦yyere not only severe; but immoral also. This was
what the minister held to ; he brought in a liill to
Umit the number of playhouses ; to subject all dra
matic -writings lo the inspection of the lord cham
berlain, whose licence was to be. obtained before
finy vvork could appear. Amoiig Uiose who un-
viertpok to oppose this bill, was the earl of Ches
terfield, who observed, that the laws already in
being for keeping the stage yvithin due bounds
were every yvay sufficient. If, says he, our stage-
players at any time exceed those bounds, ihey ought
to be prosecuted, and may be punished. A new
law therefore is, in the present instance, unnece.i-
sary ; and every unnecessary law is dangerous.
TVit, my lords, is the property of those that have
it ; and it is too often the only property they have.
It is unjust therefore to rob a man at any rate of
his possessions ; hut it is cruelty to spoil him, if
already poor. If poets and players are to be re
strained, let them be restrained like other subjects ;
let them be tried hy their peers, and let not a lord
chamberlain he made the sovereigri judge of wit.
A power lodged in the hands of a single man to
determine without limitation or appeal, is a pri
vilege unknown to our laws, and inconsistent with
our constitution. The house applauded his wit

go HISTORY or, England,
and eloquence ; and the question was carried"
against him.
The discontents occasioned by .such proceedings
at horae, were slOl more increased by ibe depreda
tions of the Spaniards. They disputed the right
of the EngUsh lo cul logwoocl in the bay of Cam-
peacliy, in America ; a right which had been often
acknowledged, but never clearly explained, in all
former treaties between the two kingdoms. Their
Guarda Costas pandered the EngUsh merchants
with impunity ; and upon the least resistance be
haved wifh insolence, cruelly, and rapine. The
subjects of Britain were buried in the mines of Po-^
tosi, deprived of all means of conveying fheir com
plaints to their protectors, and their vessels confi.s-
cated, in defiance of justice. The EngUsh court
made frequent remonstrances lo that of Madrid,
on this outrageous violation of treaties, and they
received for answer only promises of inquiry,
whioh produced no reformation. Our merchants
loudly coraplained of these outrages ; but the mi
nister expected from negotiation that redress
-which could only be obtained by arms. He kne-w
that a -war would increase the difficulties he had
to encounter ; and he was sensible, that those he
already encountered requu-ed aU his art and in
dustry lo remove. A war, he -was sensible, -would
require expences which be Wished to share in
peace. In short, all his raeasures now -were not
to serve the state, bul to preserve his power._ In
fluenced by these considerations, he industriously
endeavoured to avoid a rupture. The fears he dis
covered pnly served to increase the enemy's inso
lence and pride. However, the complaints of the
EngUsh. mercharits were loud enough lo reach the
house of commons ; their letters and memorials
were produced, and their grievances enforced at
the bar by council. The house, at lengih, agreed

GEORGE II. 91
to an address, to entreat his ratljesty to obtain ef
fectual relief, and to convince Spain lhat its in
dignities would be no longer borne ¦writh impunity.
These complaints produced a convention belyveen
the two crowns, concluded at Prado, importing,
that two plenipotentiaries should meet at Madrid,
to regulate the respective pretensions of either
kingdom, yvith regard lo the trade in America, and
the limits of Florida and Carolina. These con
ferences were to be finished in eight months, and
in the mean time all hostile prej^arations ¦were to
cease on either side. His cathoUc majesty agreed
lo pay the king of Great Britain ninety-five thou
sand pounds, to satisfy the demands of the .British
subjects upon the cro^wn of Spain, after deducting
from the whole the demands of the crown and
subjects of Spain upon that of Britain. Such an
agreeraent as this was justly regarded on the side
of the British ministry as a base desertion of the
honour and inlerests oftheir country ; and ¦when
the house of commons came to take the conven
tion under conslderatiori, it produced the ¦warmest
debate. All' the adherents to the prince of "Wales
joined in the opposition. Il was alledged, that the
Spaniards, instead of granting a redress, had ra
ther extorted a release for their former conduct ;
lhat they still asserted their right of searching Eng
lish ships, and had not so rauch as mentioned the
word satisfaction in all the treaty. Notwithstand
ing aU the remonstrances against this treaty, tbe
majority of the house declared in its favour ; and
several members of the opposite sentiment retired
frora parUaraent, having despaired of being longer
serviceable in a place where party, and not reason,
was seen lo prevail.
As Spain had engaged to pay a large sum ot
money by this convention, some time after, -when
the minister demanded a supply, upon a different

92 HISTORY 0> ENGLAND,
occasion; lord Balhurst moved to know, ¦whether
Spain had paid the sums stipulated, as the .tiine li
mited for the payment w,as expired. The! duke
of, Newcastle, by his majesty's permission, ac
quainted the house, lhal it was not paid ; and that
Spain had assigned no reason for the delay. In
some measure, therefore, to alone for his former
slowness, the minister now began to piit the nation
inlo a condition for war. Letters of reprisals were
granted against the Spaniards. These preparations
were regarded by the Spanish court as actual hos
tilities. The French ambassador .at Hague der
dared, that the king his master was obliged, by
treaties, to assist the king of Spain ; he clissuaded
the Dutch from espousing the cause of England,
who promised him an inviolable neutrality. It is,
curious enough to consider the revolutions , which
the political system off Europe had undergone.
Not above twenty years before, France and Eng-.
land were combined against Spain ; at present
France and SjJain united against England. Those.
statesmen who build upon alliances a^ a lasting ba-,
sis of power, wfll, at, length, find themselves fataUy
mistaken. A rupture between Great Britain and Spain be
ing now become ineritable, the people, who had
long clamoured for war, began to fee] uncoraraon
alacrity at its approach ; and the ministry, finding
it unavoidable, b.egan,to be earnest in prepara.tion..
Orders were issued for augmenting the land forces,
and raising a body of marines. Two rich Spanish
prizes were taken in the Mediterranean, and war
A T) 1 ''i declared against them in form. Ad-
' ' "¦ miral Vernon was sent to the "West-
Indies, commander of the fleet, in order to distress
the Spaniards in lhat part of the globe. Vernon
was a rough and honest saUor, untainted with the
corriiplipn of the effeminacy of the limes. He.

GEORGE II. 9^
had in the house of comraons aOT«rted, that Porto
Bello, a fort and harbour in South America, might
be easily takpM, ancl Uiat he hiraself would under-,
take to leduce it with six ships only. A project
w-hich appeared so wild and impossible, was ridi
culed by the ministry ; but as he still insisted upori
the propcsal, ihey were pleased lo comply with
his request. This tiiey supposed would at once
rid them of a troublesome antagonist in the house ;
and, in case of his failure, it would be a new cause
of triuraph al his disgrace. In this, however, tliey
were disappointed. The admiral, ¦with six ships
only, attacked and demoUshed aU the fortifications
of the place, and came away viclorious, almost
without bloodshed. This dawning of success up
on the British arms induced the house of coramons
to enler vigorously into the king's measures for
carrying on the war. They enabled him lo equip
a very powerful navy ; they voted a subsidy to
the king of Denmark, and empowered their so
vereign to defray some other expences, not spe
cified in the estimates ; the whole of their grants
amounting to about four miUions. The -war •was
now carried on with vigour, and the debates in
the house of commons became less violent. In a
nation, like England, of arts, arms, and coraraerce,
war, at certain intervals, must ever be ser^riceable :
it turns ihe current of wealth from the industrious
lo the enterprising. Thus, all orders of mankind
find encouragement, andthe nation becomes com
posed of individuals, who have skill to acquire
property, and who have courage to defend it.

Ii E T T E R LVII.
A WAR between England and Spain was suffi
cient to communicate disturbances over aU llie

5l HISTORY OT ENGLAND,
globe. CountrioD that wero once loo obscure to be
known, were now seen to »end out fleets, one ship
of which were capable of deslrpyiug all the naval
power of an Asiatic erapire. A squadron of ships
commanded by commodore Anson was equipped,
in order lo sail through the Shraits of Magellan'
irito the Soulh Sea, and to act against the enemy
on the coasts of Chili and Peru. This fleet was to
cooperale occasionaUy with admiral Vernon across
die isthmus of Darien ; but the delays and blun
ders ofthe ministry frustrated this scheme, though
originally well laid. However, though loo lale in
the season, ihe commodore set forward with five
ships of ibe line, a frigate, and two store-ships,
supplied with provisions and olher merchandise,
designed to carry on a trade ¦with the savage inha
bitants of that part of tbe worid, or lo conciliale
their affections. The number of men amounted,
in all, to about fourleen hundred, including two
hundred invalids taken frpm the hospitals, ancl
two-hundred new- raised recriiils. This whole
expedition is a fine instance of the power of per-
eevorance in forcing fortune. The commodore
sleered his course by the island of Madeira, pro
ceeded lo Ihe Cape Verd Islands, and sailed along
the coasts of Brazil. He refreshed for some lime
at ihe island of Sl. Calharine, in twenly-seven de
grees of southern lalilude ; a spot that enjoys aU
the verdure and fiuilfulness of ihose luxurious cli
mates. I'rom this jilace he steered still onward
into fhe cold and lempe-stuons dimales of the
sputh, alpng the coast of Patagonia ; and, in about
five months, entered ihe famous Straits of Magel
lan. Afler having suUi'i-cd the mosl violent fem-
liests, he doubled Cape "Horn ; fhe resi ofhis fleet
were disjiersed or wrecked ; his cre^v deplorably
disabled by the scurvy ; and his own ship with
difficulty arrived at the island of Juan Fernandez,

GEORGE 11. g5
In this delicious abode he remain*4."^ ..Tl' i„
.,- 1 . , . oJine measure, lo
time, where nature seemed^" -,- r n •
console mankind f- "% ^'''^^f "^f" ?^ ">«"^ «^"
avarice and —"'Hon. In order to improve stiU
farUn^- " retreatof such elegance, he ordered'seve-
t^l European seeds and fruits lo be sown upon
the island, which increased lo such a surprising
degree, lhal sorae Spaniards, who, several years
after, landed there, and found Uiem in plenty,
could not a\'oid ackuowledging this act of gene
rosity and benevolence. Here the commodore
was joined by one ship more of his fleet, and by
the Tryal frigate of seven guns. Advancing now
norUiward, toward the Iroiiic of Capricorn, he
attacked ihe cily of Payta by nighl. In Uiis bold
attempt he made no use ofhis sliips, nor even dis
embarked all his men. A few soldiers landed by
night, and filled Uie whole town with terror and
confusion. The governor of the garrison, and the
inhabitanis, fled on all sides ; accustomed to
cruelly over a conquered enemy themselves, they
expected a similitude of treatment. In the mean
lime, for lliree days, a smaU number of English
kept possession of ibe town, and stripped il of all
its treasures arid merchandise, to an immense
amount. Such ofthe negroes as had not fled, were
made use of in carrying Uie goods of Uieir former
masters on board the EngUsh shipping ; and the
Spaniards, refusing to treat, soon sa%v their town all
in flames. This, however, was but a small pu
nishment for all the cruelties which Ihey had prac
tised, in luking possession of lhat country, upon its
first inhabitants. The plunder of Uiis place sers^ed
to enrich the caplors ; and the ravage made among
them by the scur\-y, still increased the share of
every survi^'or. Soon after, this small squadron
came up as far as Panama, situated on the Straits
of Darien, upon the western side of Uie great Ame-

^ Cg6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
""^T ¦Cr'^PliUl£"* ' *" '¦^*'"' ^y Anson on the one,
and Vermhrr^Lj^^^^j^gj.^ ^^le Spanish erapire was
attacked on both siderrT;:.^^ scherae faded from
Vernon's want of success. -^
Anson, who now only commanded Cvk, ship,
the remainder either having put back to Engl
land, or been wrecked by terapests, placed aU his
hopes in taking one of those rich Spanish ships
which trade between the PhUippine islands, near die
coast of China and Mexico, on the Spanish raain.
Only one or two, at the raost, oTlhese vessels, passed
frora one continent to the oUier in a year. These
are made immensely strong, large, and carry great
quantiti'es of treasure and merchandise. The com
modore, therefore, and his litde fleet, traversed that
great ocean lying between the Asiatic and Ameri
can continent, in hopes of meeting this rich prize,
which" it was hoped would, at that lime ofthe year,
return from the East, and amply repay the adven
turers for aU their dangers and fatigues. Avarice
thus became honourable when pursued through
peril and distress. But the scurvy once more vi
sited his crew, now long kept at sea, and without
fresh provisions. This disorder, diough it takes
the same name, is very different from .that on land.
The sea scurvy is attended yvith an universal pu- _
trefaction, die teeth loosen, old wounds dial are
healed again open, and sometimes the limbs are
seen to drop off at die joints. By this terrible
disorder several of his men daUy feU, and others
were disabled. One of his ships becoming leaky,
and the number of his hands decreasing, he Uiought
proper to sel il on fire in the midst of the ocean.
His fleet now being reduced only lo one ship, caU
ed The Centurion, of sixty guns, and aU the creyv
in the most deplorable" situation, he cast anchor
on die deserted island of Tinian, which lies about
half way between the old aud new world. This

GEORGE II. 97
island had, some years before, been peopled by near
thirty Uiousand inhabitants; but an epidemical
distemper coming among thera, destroyed a part,
and the rest forsook the place. Nothing however
could exceed the beauty of this spot. The most
romantic imagination cannot form a scene sur
passing what Tinian naturally afforded ; greens,
groves, cascades, fields,' flo'weis, and prospects.
This retreat saved the English squadron. AU that
a sea-beaten company of mariners could -wish, was
found here in great abundance ; clear and -whole
some -water, medicinal herbs, domestic animals; and
other necessaries for refitting their shaftei-ed vessel.
Thus refreshed, he went forward toward China,
passed by the pland of Formosa, and went up
the river Canton, in order to careen Uie only shiji
-which was now left him; Being thus far on his
way home-ward, nothing can better testify the har
dy and untameable spirit of the EngUsh, than his
venturing pnce raore back into the same Ocean,
-where he had experienced such a variety of dis
tress. The commodore ha-ying put his vessel into
good order, by the assistance of the Chinese, and
having taken DutcA and Indian sailors on board,
he again returned toward America. At length,
on the Cjlli of June, he disciovered the gaUeon he
so ardently expected. This vessel was fornied as
weU for the purposes of war as of merchandise.
It mounted forty guns, and six hundred men, while
the crew of the commodore' did not exceed half
that number. The engagement soon began ; but
as those who attack have always the advantage of
those who defend, and die EngUsh are more ex
pert in naval a^ffairs than any other nation, the
Spanisli ship soon became the Centurion's prize.
There were but a few men killed on the side of
the English; whil^ the Spaniards lost near seventy.
The conqueror now returned lo Canton once
Vol. II. E

^S HISTORY OF ENGIjANtt,
more wilh his prize. He there maintained the
honour of hi? country, in refusing to pay the im
posts which ¦were laid upon ordinary merchants •
and insisted that an ErigUsh ship of war was ex
empted from 8,i*ch a duty. From Canton he.pro-
Geeded to the Cape of Good Hope, and prosecuted
AD 1 744 ^ ^O-X^ge to England, where he ar-
/ .^' rivpd in safety wiih immense riches.
His last prize was valued at three hundred and
tliirteen thouijaflcl pounds sterling ; and ihe dif
ferent captures that had heen made before (his last
piece of good fortune, might amount to as much
more, Upon his return, comraodore Anson re
ceived aU that honour which jirudence and per
severance deserve. He soon became the oracje
consulted in all navaj deUberations • die king after
ward raised Jjira lo fhe dignity of the peerage ; and
he was made ffrst lord of die admir^ly. .
LETTER LVIII.
This expedition of Anson's took up almost three
years. The English, in the mean time, earned
on the operations against Spain with vigour, and
varipus success. 'When Anson had set ont, it was
only "to wst a subordinate part to a forraidable ar-,
mameiit, designed for the coasts of New Spain,
consisting of twenty-nine ships of die Une, and al
most an equal number of frigates, fiunisbed with
aH kinds of warUke stores, near fifleen thousand
seanien, and twelve thousand land forces. Never
w-as a fleet more cpmiilelely equipped, ncJr never
had the nation more sanguine hopes of victory.
Lord Calhcart commanded the land forces; but
dying on die passage, the command devolved uiion
general "Wenlworlh, whose chief merit was his
avour wilh fjjose in power, This, wiUi several

GEORGE II. 99
Other unfortunate circurastances, concnrred to
frustrate the hopes of the public. The rainistry,
•without any visible reason, had detained Uie fleet
in England untill the season for aclion was almost
over. In the country where they were to carry
on Uieir operations, periodical rains began about
the end of April ; and Uiis change in the atmos
phere is always altendecl with epidemical distem
pers. They at lengtii, however, set sail for the
continent of New Spain ; and after some tempests,
and some delays, arrived before Carthagena. This
city, which lies within sixty miles of Panama,
sei-ves as the magazine for Uie Spanisli merchan
dise, which is brought from Europe hither, and
from thence transj^orled, by land, lo Panama, ly
ing on the opposite coast.. The taking of Cartha
gena, therefore, would have interrupted the whole
trade between Old Spain and the New. The
ti'oojps were, landed on the island Terra Boraba,
near the mouth of the harbour, known by the
name ofthe Bocca-Chica, which was fortified by
all the arts of engineering. The British forces
erected a battery on shore, wilh -which they made
a breach in the principal fort ; -while the admiral
sent a nuraber of ships to divide the fire- of Uie
enemy, and to co-operate -with the endeavours of
the army. The breach being deemed practicable,
the forces advanced to the attack ; but the Spa
niards deserted the forts, which, had they had cou
rage, they might have defended with success. The
troops, upon this success, were brought nearer
the city, -where they found a greater opposition
than they had expected. The cUmate kiUed num
bers ofthe men ; and a dissen.sion which arose be
tween the land and naval officers, retarded all the
operations. Stimulated by rautual recriminations,
the general ordered his troops to altack the fort of
Sl. Lazar ; but the guides being slain, the troops
E a

TOO HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
mistook iheir yvay, and attacked Ihe strongest part
of the fortification, y^'here, after sufl'ering incre
dible slaughter ^vitll the mosl serene intrepidity,
they were at length obliged to retire. Bad provi
sions, a horrid climate, and an epidemical fever,
stiU more contributed lo thin their numbers, and
lo dejirive thera of all hopes o^ success. It was
determined therefore lo reimbark the troops, and
lo conduct thera, as soon as possible, frora this
scene of slaughter and contagion. The fortifica
tion and harbour were deraolished ; and the fleet
leturned to Jamaica. This fatal miscarriage, which
tarnished the British arms, was no sooner kno^vn
in England, than the kingdom was filled .with mur
murs and discontent: a raeasure which, if it hadsuo
ceeded, ¦would have crowned the promoters of it
^vitli honour, now only served lo cover them with
i-eproach. The greatest part of this discontent fell
upon ihe minister ; his forraer conduct, which
justly desei-ved censure, was not so powerfully ob
jected against hira as this failure, of which he ¦was
innoceiit. It is not \iUainy, b,ut raisfortune, lhat
•finds censure from raankind. Besides, the activity
of the enemy in distressing die trade of England,
contributed to increase the murmurs of the people.
Their privateers were so nuraerous and successful,
that in the beginning of this year tiiey had taken,
since the coramenceraent of the war, four hun
dred and seven shi23s belonging lo die subjects of
Great Britain, The EngUsI], though at immense
expence in equiiiising fleets, seemed lamely lo lie
do^svn under e^ery blow, and suffered one loss
after another without reprisal. This general dis
content had a manifest influence upon Uie election
of raembers for the new parUament. AU the ad
herents of the prince of Wales, who no^w lived
retired from the court as a jirivale gentleman, con
curred in the opposition to- the miuisliy. Obstinate

GEORGE ir. ¦ IOI
Struggles were maintained in aU parls of ihe king-'
dom ; and such a national spirit pf opposition pre
vailed, that tlie country interest seemed, at lengih,
lo preponderale in the house of commons. It y\'as
^oon seen that the interest of the minister was iu
the yvane ; and that opinion, once established, be
gan to deprive him of even ihose who had deter
mined lo act wilh neutrality. In proclinantes, as
Ovid says, omne recumbit onus.
Sir Robert now tottered on the brink. of ruin.
He was sensible that nothing bul a division in the
opposition could give, him safely. The prince was
his most fprmidable rival ; a prince revered by the i
whole nation, for his huraanity, benevolence, and
candour. These nvere only private virtues ; but
these were all he had then a liberty of exercising.
The minister's first attempt was,lo endeavour tak
ing him from the party ; a message therefore was
carried to his royal highness by the bishop of Ox
ford, importing, that, if the prince would write a
letter lo tiie king, he and aU his counseUors should
be taken into favottr, fifty thousand pounds should
be added to his reveAie, two hundred thousand
given him to pay his clebis, and suitable provision
should be made, in due time, for all his followers.
This, to a prince already involved in debt from
the necessity of keeping up his dignity, yvas a tempt?
ing offer ; but his royal highness generously dis
dained it, declaring he would accept no such con
ditions dictated to him under the instrument of
Sir Robert "Walpole, The minisler now therefore
saw that no arls could dissolve the combination
against hira : he resolved, as an expiring struggle,
to try his strength once raore in the house of com-'
mons upon a disputed election;, bul he had the
mortification to see the majority slill increased
against him by sixteen voices. He then declared
he would never sit in lhat house more. Tlie par-
E S

102 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
liament was adjourned the next day, and Sir Ro
bert, being created earl of Orford, resigned aU his
employmenfs. Never was a joy more universal
and sincere than this resignation produced. The
people now flattered themselves that all Uieir do
mestic grievances Would find redress ; that their
comraeice would be protected abroad ; that the
war would be carried on wilh -rigour ; and that the
house of commons would be unanimpus in every
measure. But they were disappointed in most of
their expectations. The misconduct of a minister
is more likely fo affect his successor than himself
as a weak reign ever produces a feeble succession.
The bouse of commons had been for a long time
increasing in power, arid "Walpole, -with all his
arts, was, in fact, ratherweakening than extending
the prerogative. By his method of bribing oppo
sition he had taught the'venal to oppose him ; and,
by his increasing the national debt, he weakened
the -vigour ofthe crown in war, and made it more
dependent upon parUament in times of peace. A
part of those who "succeeded Mm -were therefore
sensible of this , aud stiU Solved to support the
crown, >vhic"h they regarded as the only decUning
branch of the constitution. Anolher part, -who cla
moured from motives of self-interest, having noyv
attained the object of their desires, blundered on
in the former measures, studious of fortune, and
not of fame. In short , his successor, pursuing aU
the former schemes of die deposed minister, pre
sented the poUlicalpart ofthe nation with the mor
tifying prospect of pretended patriotism unstrip-
ped of its riiask, and shewed the Utile certainly
there is in aU poUtical reasonings.

OEOiiGi: li. lo3
LETTER LIX.
The War with Spain had rioW continued for
several yekrs, but with indifferent success; Some
unsuccessful expeditions were carlied on in the
"West Indies under adrairal Vei^flott, commodore
Knowles, and others ; and these Were aU aggrav
ated by a set of Worthless and mercenary things^
called political wtitefs — a class of beingS first em
ployed against Walpole, and afterward encoUrag-^
ed by him, at the expence> as it is said, of no less
than thirty thousand a year. These were men na--
turally tPO dull tp shine in ahy pf the politer kinds
of literature, which adorn either fhe scholar or the
gentleman, and therefore they tui'ned their lhbi.ight»
lo politics; a science an which they might deolaim
without kriowledge, and he dull without detec
tion. These -men, I say, had for sorae time embar-'
rassed the constitution, inflamed the people^ and
were "paid w^ilh large pensions from the cro^i'Vnt It
Was upon this oCca,sion that they eXag- * tj ,<z
geraled e-very misconduct, and drew '' ' • "^ °
frightful pictures ofthe distresses and misery wliich
they foreboded to posterity. This clamour, and
Want of success in a naval war, in which the prin
cipal strength of ihekingdom lay, induced the new
ministry lo divert the attention ofthe public to a
war which iriight be carried on by land. The
king's altachment to his electoral dominions con
tributed slill more to turn tlie current of British
indignation that way, and ari army was therefore
now prepared to be sent into Flanders; the war
with Spain being become an object but of secon
dary consideration.
To have a clear, yet concise idea of the origin
of ihe troubles on the continent, it will be expe
dient to go back for some years, and trace the mea-
E 4

'SOt^ HISTORY OF ENCLANB,
•sures of the European repubUc to dial period
where we formerly left them. After Uie duke of
Orleans, who had been regent of France, died,
cardinal Fleury undertook to settle that confusion
in which the former had left the kingdom. His
moderation was equal to his prudence ; he was
sincere, frugal, modest, and simple. Under him
France repaired her losses, and enriched herself
by commerce; he only left ihe state to its own na
tural methods of Uuiving, and saw it daily as,sum-
ing its former health and vigour. During the long
interval of peace which his councils had procurecl
for Europe, two powers, unregarded, now began
to attract the notice and the jealousy of their neigh-
bouringslates. Peter the Greal had already civiUzed
Russia, and this new extensive empire began io
influence Uie councils of other princes, and to give
laws to the North, The olher power was that of
Prussia, whose dominions were compact and po
pulous, and whose forces were well maintained
and ready for action. The empire continued under
Charles "VI, who had been placed upon the ihrone
by the treaty of Utrecht. Sweden languished,
being nol yet recovered from the destructive pro
jects of Charles XII. Denmark ¦was powerful ; and
part of Italy subject lo die masters which had been
iraposed upon il by foreign treaties. AU, however,
continued to enjoy a profound peace, until the
death of Augustus, king of Poland, -was found again
to kindle up the general flarae. The emperor Char
les VI, assisted by the arras of Russia, declared for
the elector of Saxony, son to the deceased king,-
On the olher hand , France declared for Stanis
laus, who had been long since elecled king of Po
land by Charles XII, and whose daughter had been
since married to the French king. Stanislaus re
paired lo Dantzic, in order lo support his election.
Ten Uiousand Russians appearing, Uie Polish no-

GEORGE II. 105
bilily dispersed, ancl their new elected monarch .
yvas shut up, and besieged by so small a nuraber of
forces. The cily was taken, the king escaped with
the utmost difficulty, and fifleen hundred French
men, that were sent lo his assistance, were raade
•prisoners of war. He had now no hopes left but
in the assistance of France, which accerdingly re
solved to give him powerful succours, by distress-^
ing the house of Austria. The views of France
were seconded by Spain and Sardinia : both hoped
to grow more powerful by a division ofthe spoils
of Austria ; and France had motives of alliance and
revenge. A French army therefore soon overran
the empire under tlie conduct of old marshal Vil
lars ; the duke of Montemart, the Spanish geijeral,
was equally victorious in the kingdom of Naples;
and the emperor Charles VI had the mortifica
tion of seeing himself deprived of the greatest part
of Italy, for having attempted lo give a king to Pa-
Land. These rapid successes of France and its allies
soon corapelled the emperor to deraand a peace.
By this treaty, Stanislaus, upon whose account the
war -was undertaken , -was obliged 16 renounce all
right to tbe throne of Poland ; and France made
sorae valuable acquests of dominion, particularly
the clutchy of Lorrain. In the year 1 740, the death
ofthe eraperor gave the French another ofiportu-
nity of exerting their ambition. Regardless of trea
ties, particularly the pragmatic sanction, asit was
called, which settled upon the daughter of the em
peror the reversion of all his dominions, they caus
ed the elector of Bavaria to be crowned emperor.
Thus the daughter of Charles VI, descended from
an iUustrious line of emperors, saw herself stripped
of her inheritance, and for a whole year without
hopes of succour. She had scarce dosed her father's
eyes, when she lost Silesia, by an irruption ofthe
young king of Prussia, who seized the o)iportunily
E 5 ~

106 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
of her defenceless slate to renew his ancient pre
tensions to lhat province, of which it must be
Owned his ancestors had been unjustly deprived,
France, Saxony, and Bavaria, altacked die rest of
her dominions.
In this forlorn silualion she found a powerful
aUy in Britain ; Sardinia and Holland soon after
came to her assistance, and, last of all, Russia join
ed in her cause. It may be demanded, VVhai
part Britain had in these continental measm-es?
The interests of Hanover; the security and aggran
dizement of that electorate, depended upon the
proper regulation of the empire. Lord Cai-teret
had now taken that place in the royal confidence
wlufrh had formerly been possessed by 'W"alpo]e ;
and, by pursuing these measures, he soothed the
wishes ofhis raaster, and opened a raore extensive
field for his own arabition. He expected honour
frqm victories w^hich could produce no good ; and
cairipai'gus, whether successful or not, that could
only terminate in riiisforlune. "Wheri die parUa
ment met, his majesty informed thera ofhis strict
adherence lo his engagements, ihough altacked in
his own dominions ; and lhat he had augmented
the British forces in the Low Countries with six
teen thousand Hanoverians. When the suppUes
came Ip be'cpnsidered, by w-hich this additional
number of troops was to be paid, it raised violent
debates in bolh houses. It was considered as hiring
, the troops ofthe elec>lorate to fight their own cause.
The ministry, however, who yvere formerly re
markable for declaiming against continental mea
sures, no-w boldly stood up for diem; and, at
length, by dint of number, carried their cause. The
people saw, wifh pain, their former defenders sa
crificing the blood and treasure ofthe nation upon
destructive alliances ; they knew not now pu whom
to rely for safety, and began lo think that patrio-;

(GEORGE it. 10?
tism yvas but an empty name, Hoivever injurious
these measures might have been to tbe nation, they
were of infinite service to the queen of Hungary,
She began, at ihis period, to triumph over aU her
enemies. The French were driven out of Bohe
mia. Her general, prince Charles, at the head of
a large army, invaded the doiminions of Bavaria.
Her rival, the noniinal emperor, was obUged lo
fly before her : abandoned by hi,s alUes, and strip
ped of all his dorainions, he repaired to Franc-
fort, where he Uved in indigence and obscurity.
He agreed to continue neuter during the remain
der ofthe war; while the French, who first began
il as allies, supported the burden. The troops sent
by Englancl to the queen's assistance were cora
manded by the earl of Stair, an experienced ge
neral, whp had learned tbe art of -war under the
famous prince Eugene ; ancl the chief object he had
first in view was, to effect a junction wilh the army
coramanded by prince Charles of Lorrain. The
French, in order to prevent this junctietn, assem
bled sixty thousand men upon the j jj 17/ 3'
river Mayne, under the command of •,•/-*'
marshal Noailles, who posted his troops upon the
east side of that river. The British forces, to the
number of forty thousand, pushed forward on the
other side, while the French, in the mean time,
found raeans to cut off all communications by
which they could be supplied -with provisions.
The king of England arrived at the camp wliile
the army was in this situation ; and, seeing it in
danger of starving, resolved lo proceed forward,
to join twelve thousand Hanoverians aud Hes
sians, who had reached Hanau. With this view
he decamped ; but before the army had marcjied
three leagues, he found the enemy had inclosed him
on every side, near a viUage called Dettingen, In
this siluatioa he must have fought at great disad- '
E 6

lo8 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
vantage, if he began the altack ; arid if he conti
nued in the same situatipn, his army must have
perished fpr want of subsistence. The impetupsity
pf the French, ho-wever, saved his array ; Ihey pass
ed a defile which they should have guarded, and,
under the conduct ofthe duke of Grammont, theie
horsexharged -vrith great impetuosity. They were
received by the English infantry with undaunted
resolution ; the French were obUged lo give way,
and to pass the Mayne wilh great precipitation,
vvith the loss of aboul five Uiousancl men. -The
king, who was possessed of personal courage, which.
seems hereditary lo the family, exiiosed himself to
a severe fire of cannon as weU as musketry; and,
in die midst ofthe ranks, encouraged his troops
by his presence and example. The whole of the
battle, on eitber side, exhibited raore courage than.
conduct. The English had the honour of the day;
but the French soon after took possession of the
field of bailie, treating the wounded EngUsh dial
were left behind wilh a clemency unprecedented
in ancient history, and that serves to 'show ho-w
superior the present times are in point pf huma
nity tp the bpasted ages of antiquity.. Thougb ihe
EngUsh were victprious upon. this occasipn, yet the.
earl of Stair, who coramanded, did not assume
any honour from such a viciory : he was un-wUl-
ing that his reputation should suffer for measures.
which he was not allowed to conduct; he there
fore solicited, and pbtained leave lo resign ; and
the British iroops desisted from further operations-
that campaign.
Mean while die French, went on with vigour on-
every quarter : diey opposed prince Charles of
Lorrain, they interrupted his progress in his at
tempts to pass the Rhine, and gained sorae succes—.
ses in Italy; hut their chief expectations -v^ere plac
ed in a projected invasion pf England. CarcUnal

GEORGE II. .;^ I OS
Fleury was now dead, and cardinal Tencin suc
ceeded in his place ; this was a person of a very
different character from his predecessor, being
proud, turbulent, and enterprising. France, from
the violence of parliamentarydisputes in England,
had been long persuaded lhat die country was ripe
for a revolution, and only wanted the presence of
the pretender to induce the majority to declare
against die reigning faraily. Several needy adven
turers who wished, for a change, sorae raen ot
broken fortunes, and almost all the Roman catho
Ucs of the kingdom, endeavoured to confirra the
court of France in these sentiments. An invasion
therefore was actuaUy projected. Charles, son of the
old chevaUer de St. George, departed from Rome'
in the disguise of a Spanish courier, and prosecut
ing his journey to Paris, had an audience of the
French king. The Iroops designed for this expe
dition araounted to fifteen ihousand; preparations
were raade for embarking them at Dunkirk, and
some other of the nearest ports lo England, under
the eye ofthe young pretender; and seven thou
sand of the number actually went on board. The
duke de Roquefeuillej wilh twenty ships of the
line, was to see them landed safely in England ; and
count Saxe was to comraand them, when put
ashore. The whole project, however, was discon
certed by the appearance of Sir John Norris, with
a superior fleet, raaking upagainst thera: the French
fleet was obliged lo put back ; a very hard gale of
wind damaged, their transports beyond redress.
All hopes of invasion were now frustrated ; and,
al lengUi, the French thought fil openly to declare.
war. But, though fortune seeraed to favour England
on this occasion, yet, on others, she was not equally
propitjious. The combined fleets of France and
Spain, for some time, fought the British armament

lid History op England,
under admiral Matthews arid Lestock, thougb with
inferipr forces, and came off upon nearly equal
terms. Such a parity of success in England was
J JJ , , regarded as a defeat. Both the Eng-
• I't'k- Y\£i\ admirals were tried by a court-
martial : Matthews, who had fought the enemy
¦with intrepidity, y^^as declared incapable of serv
ing for the future in his majesty's na^vy ; Lestock,
who had kept aloof, was acquitted with honour,
for he had intrenched himself within the punctilics
pf discipline : he barely did his duly ; a man pf
honpur, when his cOunlry is at stake, shpuld dp
mpre. The prpceedings in the Netherlands were still
mere unfavpurable. The French had assembled a
formidable army of one hundred and twenty thou?
sand raen ; the chief command of which was given
to count Saxe. This general was originally a sol
dier pf fortune, and natural spn to Augustus king
of Poland, by the farapus countess pf Kpnigs-
raark. He had been bred frem his yputh in camps,
and had shewn the mpst early instances pf cool
intrepidity. He, in the beginning of the war, had
offered his service to several crowns, and among
the rest, it is said, to lhat of England ; but his offers
were rejected. He was possessed of great miUtary
talents; and, by long habit, jireserved an equal
composure in the midst of battle as in a dra^wing-
roora at court. On the other side, the allied for- -
ces, consisting of English, Hanoverians, Dutch,
and Austrians, did riot amount lo above severity
diousand. These were incapable of withstanding
such a superior force, and commanded by such a
general. The French besieged and look Fribourg
before they went into winter quarters, and early
the next carapaign invested the city of Tournay.
The aUies were resolved to preverit the loss of this
city by a battle. Their army Xvas inferior, and

GEORGE II,, III
they were commanded by the duke of Cumberland,
Notwithstanding these disadvantages, they march
ed toward the enemy, and look post ^ j^ 1745
in sight of the French, who were en- "
camped on an eminence ; ihe village of Anlliom
on the right, a wood on their left, and the town of
Fontenpy before them. This advantageous situa
tion did not repress ihe ardour ofthe EngUsh ; on
the thirtieth day of April the duke of Cumberland
marched lo the attack at two in the raorning. The
British infantry pressed forward, bore down all
opposition, ancl, for near an hour, were -victorious.
Marshal Saxe was at that time sick of the same dis
order of which he afterward died. He visited
aU the posls in a Utter, a.nd saw, notwithstanding
all appearances, that the day was his own. The
English coluran wilhout coramand, by a mere me
chanical courage, had advanced upon the enemy's
Unes, which formed an avenue on each side to
receive them. The French artillery began to play
upon this forlorn body; and, though they conti
nued for a long lime unshaken, they were obliged
lo retreat about three in the afternoon. This was
one ofthe raost bloody battles that had been fought
this age; the allies left upon the field near twelve
thousand slain, and the French bought their vic
tory -with near an equal number.
This blo^w, by which Tournay was taken, gave
the French a manifest superiority all the rest of the
campaign, Avliich Uiey did not forego during the
continuance ofthe war. Theemperor Charles VII,
who had been raised to the throne from the duke
dom of Bavaria, and for whom tlie war first began,
was now dead ; yet this did not in the least restore
tranquUlity to Europe. The grand duke of Tus
cany, husband to the queen of Hungary, was de
clared emperor upon liis decease; but the war
between France and ihe alUes stiU continued, and

112 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
the original views and interests seemed now quite
fprgptten, that had at first inspired the centention.
LETTER LX.
The intended French invasion had roused all
the attention of the EngUsh ministry ; and no
lhing but loyalty breathed throughout the whole
kingdom. The administration of affairs being com
mitted to the earl of Harrington, the earl of Ches
terfield, and odiers, who enjoyed a great share of
popularity, the ¦views ofthe crown ¦were no longer
thwarted by an opposition in parliament. The ad
mirals Rowley and Warren had retrieved the ho
nour of Uie British flag, and made several rich cap
tures. Louisburgh, in the island of Cape Breton,
_in Nortii America, a place of great consequence
to the British commerce, surrendered to general
Pepperel ; while, a. short time after, two French
East-India ships, and anolher from Peru, laden
with treasure, .supposing the place still in possession
of the French, saUed into the harbour, and their
capture added to the English success.. It ¦was in
this period of universal satisfaction, that the son of
the old pretender resolved to make an effort at gain-^
ing Uie British crown. "Voung Charles Edward,
tbe adventurer in question, had been brpd in a
luxuriuus court without sharing its effeminacy ; he
.w^as enterprising and ambitious ; but, either from
inexperience, or natural inability, utterly unequal
to the undertaking. He was flattered by Uie rash,
the superstitious, and the needy, that the kingdom
yvas ripe for a revolt; lhat the people could no
longer bear the immense load of taxes, yvhich was
daily increasing; and lhat the most considerable
persons of Uie kingdom vs'ould gladly seize the oji-
portunily of crowding to his standard. Being fur
nished with some money, and slUl larger promises

GEORGE tl. Il3
from France, who fanned this ambition in hira,
frora which they hoped to gain some advantages,
he erabarked for Scotland on board a smaU fri
gate, accorapanied by the marquis TuUibardine,
Sir Thomas Sheridan, and a few other desperate
adventurers. For the conquest ofthe whole British
empire, he brought with him seven officers, and
arms for two thousand men. Fortune, which ever
persecuted his family, 'seemed no way more fa
vourable to him : his convoy, a ship of sixty guns,
was so disabled in an engagement wilh an English
man of war, called the Lion, that it returned to
BrQst, while he was obliged to continue his course
to the western parts of Scotland ; and, landing on
the coast of Lochabar, July 27, was, in a little
time, joined by sorae chiefs ofthe Highland clans,
and Uieir vassals, These chiefs had ever continued
to exercise an hereditary jurisdiction over all their
tenants. This power of Ufe and death, vested in
the lords ofthe manor, yvas a privUege of the old
feudal law, long abolished in England, but which
had been confirraed to the Scotch lairds at the tiine
of the union. From hence we see, that a chief had
the power of commanding all his vassals, and that
immediate death was the consequence oftheir dis
obedience. By means of these chiefs, therefore, he soon savv
himself at the head of fifleen hundred raen; and
invited oUiers to join him by his manifestoes, ¦wliich
were dispersed throughout all the Highlands.
The boldness of this enterprise astonished all
Europe ; it awakened the fears of the pusillani
mous, the pity of Uie wise, and die loyalty of all.
The vvliole kingdom seemed unanimously bent
upon opposing the enterprise, which they were
sensible, as being supjJorted only by papists, would
be instrumental in restoring popery. The minis
try was no sooner confirmed of the trulh of his

tl* riisToiiY OP englaS^d;
arrival, which, at first, they could scarcely he iti-*
duced to beUeve, than Sir John Cope-was ordered
to oppose his progress. In the mean time, the
young adi^enlrirer marched to Perth, where the
unnecessary ceremony was performed of proclaim
ing tbe chevalier de St, OeOrge, his father, king
of Great Britain. The rebel army, desceflding from
the mountains, seemed rather to gather as il went.
They advanced toward Edinburgh, which they en
tered wilhout oppo^tiori. Here too the pageantry
of proclamatipn was performed, August 1 7, iri
which he premised to dissoh'e fhe union, and
i^dress the grievances ofthe country. But, thongh
he was master of the capital, yet the citadel, which
goes by ihe name of the Castle, a strong fortress
built upon a rock, and commanded by general
Guest, braved aU his attempts. In ihe mean limcj
Sir John Cope, ¦who had pursued them to the High
lands, bul declined meeting them in their descent,
now reinforced by two regiments of dragoons, re
solved to march toward Ediuburgh, and give diem
battle. The young adventurer, un-wiUing lo give
him time to retreat, altacked him near Preston-pans,
about twelve nules from the capital, and, in a few
minutes, put him and his troops totaUy to tbe rout.
This victory^ in which the king Ipst abput five fauu'
dred men, gave the rebels great influence ; and
had the pretender taken advantage of Uie general
consternation, and marched toward England, die
consequence might have been dangerous to the
safety of dje state : bnt he spent the rime at Edin
burgh, seeming lo enjoy the useless parade of royal
ly, pleased al being addressed and treated as a king.
By this time, he was joined by the earl of Kilmar
nock, Ihe lords Elcho, Balmerino, Ogflvy, Pilsligo,
and the eldest son ofthe lord Lovat. This lore!
Lovat was the same whom we have seen upon a
former occasion tiusted by the old pretender, and

CEORGl II, IlS
betraying him by taking possession of the castie of
Stirling 'for king George. This nobleman, true to
neilher party, had again altered from his attach
ment to the house of Hanover, and, in secret,
aided the youngxhevaUer : studious only for his
own interest, he exerted aU the arls of low cun
ning, to appear an open enemy to the rebelUon,
yet tp give it secret assistance.
"WhUe the ypung pretender thus trifled 9.\'fiif
the tirae at Edinburgh (for aU delays in dangerous
enterprises are even worse than defeats), the mi
nistry of Great Britain took every possible measure
to defeat his intentions. Six thousand Dulch troops,
that had come over lo the assislance of the crown,
were sent northward under the command of ge
neral Wade; but, as it was ihen said, these could
lend no assistance, as they were, properly speak
ing, prisoners of France, and upon their parole
not to oppose that power for the space of one year.
However this be, the duke of Cumberland sbon
afler arrived from Flanders, and was fpUowed by
anolher detachment of dragoons and infantry ; vo
lunteers in different parts of the kingdom employed
themselves in the exercise of arms ; and every
county exerted a generous spirit of indignation,
both against the ambition, the religion, and the
allies of ihe young advenlurer.
It Avould be illiberal and base to deny ihis en
terprising youth Uiat praise which his merit may
"deserve. Though be might have brought civil war,
and all the calamities allending it, wilh him, into
the kingdom ; yet yve raust consider, tbat he had
ever been- taught, that bathing his country in blood
was but a just assertion of his right ; that altering
the constitution, and perhaps the religion, ofhis
supposed dominions, ¦was a laudable object of am
bition. Thus inspired, he went forward with vi
gour, a.nd resolving to make an irruption into Eng-

Il6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,.
land, he entered it by the western border. Oit
the sixth day of !Pf overaber, CarUsle was invested,
and in less than three days it surrendered. Here
he found a considerable quantity of arms, and was
declared king of Great Britain. General Wade,
being apprised of his progress, advanced acro.ss the
country from the opposite shore ; but, receiving
inteUigence that the enemy were two days marcli
before him, he retreated to his former station. The
young pretender now resolved to.proceed, having
received assurances from France that a consider
able body of troops would belauded on the south
ern coast of Britain, to make a diversion in his
favour, and flattered with the hopes of being joined
by a large body of English malecontents, as soon
as he should make his appearance among them.
Leaving therefore a small garrison in Carlisle, which
he should rather have left defenceless, he advanced
to Penrith, raarching on foot in a Highland garb,
and continued his irruplion till he carae to Man
chester, where he estabUshed his headquarters. He •
%yas here joined by about two hundred EngUsh
men,- who were formed into a regiment, under
die command of colonel Townly. From thence
he prosecuted his rout to Detby, intending to go
by Uie'way of Chester into "Wales, where he hop
ed for a great number of adherents. He was,
by this tirae, advanced within a hundred railes of
the capital, which was filled with terror and con
fusion. The king resolved to take the field in
person. The volunteers of the city were incorpo
rated inlo a regiment. Tlie practitioners of the
law agreed lo take the field vrith the judges at their
head. Even the managers of the theatres offered
lo raise a body of iheir dependents for the service
of their country. Yet these combinations only
served as instances of the nalional terror ; for the
'trading pari of the city, and those concerne.d in

GEORGE II. 117
the money corporations, -were overwhelraed with
dejection. They could hope for liitle safely in the
courage or discipline ofa raiUtia, especiaUy as they
every hour dreaded an invasion frora France, and
an insurrection of the Roman catholics, and other
friends lo the expelled faraUy, This there^jore was
the raoraent for the advanceraent of the adventur
er's enterprise. Had he marclied up to the capital,
he would undoubtedly have been joined by several
secretly aitached lo his cause ; but he deterrained to
relreat pnce more to Scotland, arid thus his scherae
was defeated. In fact, he was but nominaUy the
leader of his forces. His generals, the chiefs of
Highland dans, were, frora iheir education, igno
rant; and, frora their independency, obstinate.
They each erabraced peculiar systems, and began
to contend wilh each olher for the preeminence ;
so Uiat, afler violen tdisputes, they resolved to march
back. They effected their retreat to Carlisle with
out any loss ; and from thence crossed the rivers
Eden and Solway, into Scotiand. In this irrup
lion, ho-wever, they preserved all the rules of war ;
tbey desisted, in a great measure, from rapine;
levied Conlributions ; and, in the usual form, left a
garrison in Carlisle in their retreat ; which, a short
lime afte'r, lo the number of four hundred, sur
rendered to ihe duke of Cumberland prisoners at
discretion. The pretender being returned to Scot
land, proceeded to Glasgow; from yvhich city he
exacted severe conlributions. Advancing to Stir
ling, be was joined by lord Lewis Gordon, at the
head of sorae forces which had been asserabled in
his absence: other dans, lo ihe number of IWo ihou
sand, came in Ukewise ; Spain sent him some sup
plies of money ; and, in one or two skirmishes with
the rbyaUsts his generals came off wilh victory ;
so that his affairs once more seemed to wear an
aspect of success. Being joined by John lord Drum-

ri8 HISTORY OF EJf GLAND,
mond, he invested ihe castle of StirUng, command
ed by general Blakeney ; but his forces, being
unused to sieges, consumed much time to no pur
pose. General Hawley, who commanded a con
siderable body of forces near Edinburgh, under
took to^aise the siege. He advanced toward the
rebel army, and rendezvoused his whple forces at
Falkirk, while the rebels lay encaraped al no great
• distance. After two days, mutually examining each
other's strengUi, the rebels, on the seventeenth day
of January, came on in full spirits to attack the
king^s army. The pretender, who stood in the
front Une, gave the signal to fire ; and the first vol
ley served to put Hawley's forces into confusion,
Tiie horse retreated with precipitation, and feU in
upon their own infantry; the rebels followed iheir
blow ; and the greatest part of Uie royal army ffed
with the utmost precipitation. They retired in
confusion lo Edinbm-gh, leaving the field of battie,
JwiUi part of their tents and artillery, lo Uie rebels.
This was the end of all their triumphs. But a
newsceneof conduct was now going lo open; for
the duke of Cumberland, at that time the favou
rite of the English arrny, had put himself at die
head of the Iroops al Edinburgh, which consisted
of about fourteen thousandfmen. He resolved there
fore to come to a battle as soon as possible ; and
marched forward, whfle the ycmng adveutm-er re
tired at his approach. The duks advanced lo Aber^-
deen, wjiere he was joined by the duke of Gor
don, and some other lords attached to his famfly
and cause. Afler having refreslied his Iroops there
for some time, he renewed his march , and, in
twelve days, came uppn Uie banks of Uie deep and
AD /fi ^-^pi*^ river Spey. This was a place
"^ ¦ ¦where the rebels might have disputed
his passage; but they seemed now totally void of
aU council and subordiaation, wilhout conduct^

GEORGE II. "S

find without expectation . The duke still proceeded
in his pursuit ; and, at lengUi, had advice that the
enemy had advanced from Inverness to the plain
pf CuUoden, which was about nine miles distant,
and there intended to give him batUe, On this
plain the Highlanders were drawn up ^„„7 ^5.
in order of battle, to Uie number of ^ ,
eight Ihousand men in thirteen divisions, supplied
with some pieces of artfllery, Tl)e battie began
about one in the afternoon : the cannpn pf the
king's arpiy did dreadful execution among the
enemy, while theirs, being bul Ul served, was inef
fectual. One of the great errors in aU the preten
der's warlike measures, was his subjecting undis-
cij^Uned troops to the forms of artful war, and thu^
repressing Uieir native ferocity, from which alone
he could hope for success. After they had stood
die English fjre for some time, tliey, at length, be-?
came impatient for close engagement ; and about
five hundred of them attacked the EngUsh left
wing with their accustomed fierceness. The first
Une being disordered by this onset, two battalions
advanced lo su]pport it, and galled the enemy by a
terrible and close discharge. At the same time the
dragoons under Hawley, and the ArgyUshire mi
litia, pulling down a park wall that guarded the
enemy's flank, and which the rebels had left but
feebly defended, feU in among them, sword in
hand, with great slaughter. In less than thirty mi
nutes they vyrere totally routed, and the field cover
ed -with dieir -wounded and slain, lo the nuraber
of above three ihqusand men. Civil ¦wa,r is in itself
terrible, but still more so when heightened by
cruelty. How guilty soever men may he, it is ever
the business of a soldier lo remember, that he is
only to fighl an enemy lhat opposes hira, and to
spare die suppliant. This victory was in every re
spect coniplete; and humanity lo Uie conquered

I20 HISTORY OT ENGLAND,
would even have made it glorious. The conquer
ors oflen refused mercy to wretches who were
defenceless or wounded; and soldiers were seen to
anticipate the base eraployraent of the executioner.
¦ Thus sunk all the hopes and ambition of ithe
young adyeriturer ; one short hour deprived him
of imaginary thrones and sceptres, and reduced
him frora a nominal kinglo a distressed forlorn
outcast, shunned by aU mankind, except such as
sought lo take his life. To the goodnatured, sub
sequent distress often atones for forraer guilt; and
while reason would repi'ess humanity, yel our
hearts plead iri favour of the wretched. Theduke,
imraediately after ihe decisive aclion at CuUo
den, ordered six and thirty deserters to be execut
ed ; the conquerors spread terror wherever they
came ; and, after a short time, the whole country
round was one scene of slaughter, desolation, and
plunder : justice seemed forgotten, and vengeance
assumed die name.
In the mean time, the unhappy fugitive adven
turer yyandered from mountain fo niounlain, a
wretched spectator of aU these horrors, the result
of his Ul-guided ambition. He now underwent a
simUarily of adventures -with Charles II, after the
defeat at "Worcester. He sometimes found re
fuge in caves and cottages without attendants, and
exposed to the mercy of peasants, w-ho could pity
but not support him. Sometimes he lay in forests,
wilh one or two companions of his dislAss, con
tinually pursued by the Iroops -of the conqueror,
as Uiere was thirty ihou.sand pounds bid for his
head. Sheridan, an Irish adventurer, was he
yvho kept mosl faithfuUy by hira, and inspired him
yvith courage lo support such incredible hardships.
He was obliged lo Irust his life lo die fidelity of
above fifty individuals. One day, liaving walked
from morning till night, pres.sed by hunger, and

tJEORGj: 11. 131
¦worn yvith fatigue, he ventured to enier a house,
the owner of which he weU knew was attached lo
the opposite party : The son of your king, said he,
entering, comes to beg cljthes and a bit of bread.
I krww your present attachment..to my adversa
ries ; hut I believe you liave sufficient honour riot •
to abitse niy corpfidence, or to take the advantage
of my misfortunes. Take these rags that have for
'some time been my only covering, and keep them.
You may prpbably restore them to me one 4ay
when seated on the throne of the kings of Great
Britain. His hosl was touched wilh his disti'esses,
assisted him as far as he was able; and never di
vulged his secret. In this manner he wandered
among the frightful wild* of Glengary, for near
six months, often hemmed round by his pursuers,
but still finding some expedient to save himself from -
eaptivity and dealh. Al lengih a privateer of Sf.
Male's, hired by his adherenls, arrived at Loch-
nanach, on which he embarked, and arrived at
France in safety. ;
'While the prince thus led a wandering and soli
tary Ufe, ihe scaff'olds and the gibbets wer^ bathed
with the blood of .hjs adherenls. Sevenieen offi
cers ofthe rebel army were executed alKenning-
ton-comraon, in the neighbourhppd of London,
whose constancy in death gained more proselytes
to their cause than perhaps their victories could
have done.^ Nine were ejtecute^ in die same man
ner al CarUsle ; .jix at Br umptpn ; seven at Penrith ;
and eleven at York. A few obtained pardons .;
and a considerable number were transported to
the plantations. The earls of Kilmarnock and
Cromai-tie, with the lord Balraerino, were tried by
their peers, and found guUty, Cromartie was par-r
doned ; the other two were beheaded on Tower-
hill. Kilmarnock, either from cpn-rictipn, pr from
the hope ef a pardgn, owned his crime, gud '
Vol. II, F

123 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
declared fiis repentance of it. On the olber hand,
Balmerino, who had from his youUi up been bred
to arms, died in a more daring manner, "VN'hen
bis fellow-sufferer, as commanded, bid God bless
king George, Balmerino sliU held fast to his prin
ciples, and cried out, God bless king Jaraes, and
suffered with the utraost inlrepiditv. Lord Lovat,
and Mr. RadcUff, ihe titular earl of Derwentwater,
suffered the same fate withfequal resolution. Thus
ended a rebeUion, dictated by youth and presump
tion, and conducted without art or resolution.
The family of i(he Smart foun cfc fortune become
more averse at every new soUcitation of ber favours.
Let private men, who complain of ihe miseries of
this Ufe, only turn to the ricissiludes in that family,
and learn to bless God, and be happy.

LETTER LXI.
A REBELLION quelled, and mercy shewn to tha
deUnquents, ever strengthen the reigning cause.
How il -might have been in the present instance, I
wilf feot pretend to determine ; whether too much
rigotir-might have been exerted upon the conquer
ed, posterity muat determine : actions of this kind
are iWo near our own times to be either judged of
or talked of wilh freedom. Immediately after the
rebelUon was suppressed, the legislature under
took to establish several regulations in Scodand,
which were equaUy conducive to the happiness of
the people there, and the tranquiUity ofthe united
kingdom. " The Highlanders, who had, tiU ihis
lime, continued lo wear the old miUlary dress of
the Romans, and who always went armed, were
now reformed. Their habits were, by^ct of par
liament, reduced lo the modern modes ; the
obedience they were under to difeir chiefs was

GEORGE II. ia3
abolished ; and the lowest subject of that part of
the kingdora was granted a participation of British
freedora. But, whatever tranquillity, raight have been re
stored by these means at home, the flames of war
slill continued to rage upon the continent with
their accustomed violence. The French went for
ward with rapid success, having reduced almost
die whole NeUierlands lo, their . obedience. In
vain the Dulch negotiated, sujjplicated, and evaded
war ; tbey saw tiiemseives stripped of all those
strong towns which defended their dominions
from invasion ; aud they now lay, almost defence
less, ready to receive terms from Iheir conquerors.
The Diitch,-at this time, were very different from
dieir forefathers, the brave asserlors of liberty, in
ihe beginning of the repubUc ; the individuals of
the slate were now rich, while their government
was poor ; they had lost, in a spirit of traffic and
luxury, aU Uieir gene^osily of sentiment, and de
sire of independence ; they only sought riches, re
gardless of public virtue. They -were divided in
dieir councils between two factions wliich now-
subsisted, namely, that which declared for a sladt-
holder, and that which, with attachments ^ lo
France, ppppsed his eleciion. The prevalence of
eilher side was almost equaUy fatal lo Uberty : if a
stadtholder were elected, Uiey then saw their con-
slitution altered from a republic .to a kind of Umit
ed raonarchy ; if the opposite parly prevailed, they
were lo feel thp weight ofa confirmed aristocracy,
confirmed by French power, and crouching under
iis authority. Of the twp evils they chose the for
mer ; the people, in several towns, inflamed almost
to tumult and sedition, corapeUed their raagistrate*
lo declare for the prince of Orange as stadtholder
CTiptain-general, and admiral of the United Pro
vinces. The vigorous consequences of this reso^
Fa'

t2-| HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
lution jm-mediately appeared ; aU commerce wilh
flie F-reneh "(vasipi'olii'bilod ; the Dulch army was
augmented ; andorders were issued lo commence
hestrlities against the FreiiGh by sea and land.
Thns we see this war diff'used throughout the
whole -system of Europe ; in some measure re
sembUng a disorder, the sj'inptoms of whieh, at
different limes, appear in cUfferenls parts of die
body, remitting and raging by turns. At the com
mencement of the war; we have seen fhe queen
of Hungaiy upon the point of losing aU her pos-
eessions. Soon after we saw the unforiunatp duke ¦
of Bavaria, who had been chosen emperor -by fhe
name of Ciiarles VII, banished from bis throne,
iA:ripped of bis faeredilary dukedom, and shrink
ing from surrounding dangers. We have .seen
the duke of Savoy, now king of Sardinia, changing
fliat side whjch some years before he bad espoused,
and' joining wilh Austria arid England against llie
ambitious desig^ns of France ; whUe tlaly stUl felt
all "the terrors of war, or rather saw foreigners con
tending with -each olber for her dominions, die
Freiich and Spaniards on one side, the Impeiialisls
and the king of Sardinia on the other. Thus Italy,
that once gave laws lo the woriS, now saw the'
tropps pf Germany andlBpain, by turns, enter into
her lerritpries ;. and, afler 'various combats, she, at
last, saw the Impej^lisls become mastei-s. The
Spaniards and Fr.^nch lost the most flourishing
armies, notwiUistanding the excellent conduct of
the prince of Ccmti their genei;al ; and, at lasl, af-
t3r a bloody v^ictpry obtained over the Spaniards at
St. Lazaro, llip beautiful city of Genoa, which had
sided wifh Spain, -was obUged to submit to the conr
querors, to suffer some incUgnities imposed upon
diem, and to pay a most severe coritribulion.
The city of Ge'noa had for ages before raain
tained its own laws, and boasted of Ub.erly; Be-

feSORGE Hi ld5
side its inner wall, it had another formed by a
chain of rocks of more than two leagues extent ;
but both being built in those times when mod'ei-M
fortification was yet' unknown, it yVasnot tlougjit,
by its senate, capable of making a projier resistance.
¦Upon submitting, the unhappy ItaUans too soon
found lhat no mercy was 10 be expected from the
court of Vienna, who had! ever patronised oppres
sion. More than a miUion sterUng was demanded
fora coi'iffribution ; a tax, the payment- of which
must have utterly ruined the dty. The magisln?ates
dtd" all in their po^/vev' to pay ihe exorbitant sum
demarided ; and fhe German troops exercised
every inhunranity in exacting it. The conquerors
lived upon the people, and treated I'hem with an
insolence wbich was natural to them as conquerm-s,
and as Germans. The Genoese were, at lengtii,
rednced to despair, and were resol-ved to make a
lasUeflbrt for the recovery of Uieir liberty and in
dependence. The Austrians look the cannoir of
the city, in order lo transport thera to Provence^
where their arms had already penetrated. The.
Genoese theraselves -were obliged to dra-w those?
cannons, which they had onee coHsidered' as"tlie
defence anrl ornament oftheir citadel. It was oir
this occasion that an Austrian officer struck one of
the citizens, ¦^vho had been employed in this labo
rious task. This blow ser^ved lo ^animate the people.
with their former spirit of- fi-eedora. They tpok
up arms in eveiy quarter of the town, and sur
prised some bat'taUons of the Austrians, surrounded!
others, and cut them in pieces. " The senate, un-
cerfaiii how to proceed,, neither encouraged nor
stopped the citizens^ who drove die Austrians en
tire^ out, and then appointed commanders^ and
guarded tbe wallis with the utmost regularity.
This revolution ina Bttle city, the transactions of
whieh ha.ve fillet? whole folios of history, should nof
F 3

126 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
be passed over vsilhout remark : ihough no longer
capable of maintaining its liberties amid the shock
of the enormous powers of Europe, yet stUl we
find it possessed of its ancient spirit ; only to lose
it, however, by fhe prevaiUng power of the senate,
w^hich established their aristocracy on the necks of
die ciiizens, as before.
In this manner we see victoiy and mkcaniage
mutuaUy declaring for either ; aU sides growing
more feeble, and none acquiring any real recom-
AD TAfi P®"ce for the losses sustained. Thus-,
'*¦' about tiu's time, the English made an.
unsuccess&l expedition into. France, in order to,
attack port I'Oiient, in whicb they came oflT with
out -any honour. The French gained a consider
able victory at Raucoux, in !^anders, over the
alUes, although il pi-ocured them no real advantage ;
and it cost them a greaier number of Uves than ¦
those whom they obUged lo retire^ The Dutch,
in this general conffict, seemed the greatest losers.
A -victory gained over the aUies at Lawfeldt served
to -reduce ihem lo a stiU greater degree of distrust
in their generab than they had hitherto shown ;
but die taking of Bergen-op-Zoom, the strongest
fortification of Dutch Brabant,, and which put the
French in ppssession ofthe w^hole navigalion ofthe
Schelde, threw them almost into despair. But
these victories in favour of France yvere counter
balanced with almost equal disappoinlmenis. In
Italy, the French general, marshal BeUe-Isle's bro
ther, at the head of thirty-four ihousand men, at
tempted to penetrate into Piedmont ; but his troops,
were put to the rout, and he hiraself slain. The
French king equipped an unsuccessful armament
for. the recovery of Cape Breton; and, not dis
couraged by this. faUure, fitted out two squadrons,
one to make a descent upon tbe British colonies
jia America, aud the oUier to assist the ogeration*

GtORGE- 111 172
in the East Indies. These, however,^ jy j i ¦
wore attacked by Anson and "War- " ' ''*','
ren, and nine of their ships Were taken. Soon
after this, commodore Fox, with six. ships of war,
took above forty French ships laden frora St. Dor
mingo ; and this loss was soon after foUowed by
anolher defeat, yvhich the French' fl(?et sustained
from admiral Hawke, in whicli seven ships of the
line and several frigates were taken.
This -y'ariely of success served to make all the
powers at war heartily desirous of peace. Thp
states-general had, for some years, endeavoured lo
stop the progress of a vvar in which they could
gain no advantages, and had all to lose. The king
of France was sferisible, that, after conquest, was
the mosl advantageous opportunity of projipsing
terms pf peace ; and even expressed his desire pf
general tranquillity, in a perspnal conversation wilji
Sir John Ligonier who had been made prisoner in
the last viciory obtained by tlie French at Lawfeld I .
The bad success ofhis admirals at sea, his generals
misfoi-tunes in Ilaly, the frequenl bankruptcies of
his subjects, the election of a sladlholder in Hol-
lancl, who opposed his interests, his views in Ger-r
many entirely frustrated by the elevation of the
duke of Tuscany to rule the empire ; all these coU'
tributed to make hira weary of die war. An ac
commodation was therefore resolved upon ; and the
contending powers agreed lo come to a congress
at Aix-la-Chapelle, where the earl of Sandwich
and Sir Thomas Robinson assisted as pleriipoten-
tiaries from the king of Great Britain. This treaty,
which takes its narae from lhat city, -was concludecl
on the seventh day of October; a lasting instance
of precipifale counsels and English humility. By
this it was agreed, that all prisoners, on each sidej
should be miituaUy restored, andall conqueslsgiven .
up ; Uiat the duchies of Parma, Placentia, and Guas»
F4

128 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
taUa,sliould be ceded to donPhilip,heir apparent fs
the Spanish ihrone, and his heirs ; bul in c^se ofhis
succeeding to the crown of Spain, that Uien these
dominions should revert to the house of Austria :
that the fortifications of Dunkirk to the sea should
be demoUshed : lhat the ship annuaUy sent wilh
sla-ves fo the coast of Spain, should have this privi
lege continned for four years-: lhat the king of
Prussia shpuld be secured in the ppssession otSi-
lesia, which he had cpnquered ,* and that the queen
of Hungary should be secured in her patrimonial
dominions. But one article ofthe peace wasrqiore
displeasing and afflictive to the EngUsh than all
the rest : for it was agreed, that she should give two
persons of rank and distinction tp France as ho»-
.tages, nirtilr restitntipn rfipuld be made of aU die
cpnquests which England possessed of the enemy,
cither in fhe East or West Indies. This was a
mortifying stipulation ; but Uiere was no mentipn
made of the searching EngUsh ships in the Ame
rican seas, upon wliich die war originally "began.
The treaty of Utrecht had long been a subject of
reproach lo those bywhomitwas negotjated; but,
widl all its faults, tie treaty that was just con
cluded was far more despicable and erroneous.
The honour, of the nation was forgotten; its inte
rests left undetermined. Yet such was the strange in
fatuation of fhemultitude, that the treaty of Utrecht
Was held in universal contempt, and this was eif.-
tolled with the highest strain of paneg\'ric. The
truth is, the people were wearied with repeated
disgraces, and only expected an accumulation of
misfortunes by continuing the war. The minis
ters and their emissaries, about this, period, had ihe
art of persuading men lo what they thought pro
per, and represented the circurastances pf the na
tion asflourishing,*thougli the pubUc was groaning
Ibeaoath au immense load of debt, aud ffipugh aS

*G£ORGE It, i2§
measures were guided by an ignorant and. un-
Konstitulional faction.

LETTER LXll.
This peace might, in every respect, be termed
only a temporary cessation from general hostili*"
ties; Ihougli the war between England and France
had actually subsided in Europe, yet in the East
and West Indies they still carried on hostile ope
rations, both sides equally culpable, yet each Gomf
plaining of the infraction, '
In the mean time, as Europe enjoyed a tempo
rary tranquillily, the jieople of England expected,
and the government jaromised them, a restitution
of those blessings which, had been taken from them
by a long and obstinate war. A magnificent fire
work was played off upon this, occasion.; which,
though an useless and vain expence, served to
amuse tbe populace, and render them more con
tented wilh the late precarious treaty.
The ministry-also showed some desire topromols
the commerce of the kingdom ; and, for this pur
pose, a biU was passed for eneouraging a British
herring fishery, under proper regulations. FrOia
such a scheme carried- into execution, great ad
vantages were e3ipected to accrue : the Dutch,
who had long enjoyed the sole profils arising from
it, considered the sea as a mine of inexhaustible
weallh. However, experience has shown, lhat
the English were either incapable of turning thia
fishery to the same advantage, or that their cora
pany was not established with tfee raost strict ecOr.
nomy. Private perspns have often- been found to
make fortunes by this fishery; but the compaiiy
have found themselves considerable losers;,
A scheme, -yvlucb by many was thought sliljl
F 5

l3s> HISTORY OF ENGL AND,
'AT> / Diore advantageous lo the natioir,'
i*u' -was', the encouragirig those who had
been diisicharged the array or navy lo become mem
bers of a new colony in North America, caUed Nova
Scotia, To this^ retreat, it was thou^it, the waste
of an exuberant nation might weU be drained off;
and here those free spirits might be kept employed,
who, if suffered to remain- at home, wpuld only
prey uppn ;the ccmra-unity. This was a cpld cU
mate, and a barren spU, w'here the English kept a
fprt, and a small garrison, rather lo intimidate the
neighbouring French, and repress their encroach
ments, than to derive any advantages from the
improvements of trade, or' die cultivation of the
country. It was here tbat a scheme was laid for
the foundation of a new colony, which might im
prove the fishery lupon that coast, and become a
new source of wealth to the mother country. Thus
did the nation exchange her hardy and veteran
troops for the expectation of precarious, wealth.
Every colony taken from Uie parent country serves
to lessen its strenglh ; and all the -wealth imported
into it, after it has become moderately rich, being
only used- as the instrument of luxury, , instead of
invigorating the nation, lends to render it more
effeminate. However, it was advertised by authority, that
all proper encouragement would be given to such
officersand private roen,whobeing discharged from
the service of the government should be wUling
to setde in Nova Scotia. Fifty acres of land were
granted to every private soldier or seaman, free
from taxes for len years, and then to pay only one
shUling a year. Beside these fifly, ten acres more
were to be granted to every individual of which
each family should consist. Every officer, under
the rank of ensign, was to have fourscore acres J
ensigns were lo haye two hundred, Ueutenanls

GEORGE ir. , iSi;
three, captains four, and those above that rank
six. Such offers failed not lo induce numbers
lo try iheir fortunes on that desolate coast : and
in a Utile lime about four ihousand adventurers,
with their famiUes, were carried ihither : a town
named Halifax was built ; andthe coloqistslleft to
glean a scanty subsistence from an ungrateful soil.
Since that time, notwithstanding all the enconra- -
gement this colony has received from the go
vernment, the inhabitants have cleared but a very
small part of the woods with which the face of
the country is covered. Agriculiure is quite for
gotten ; and the settiement entirely subsists by the
sums expended by the army and navy stationed
in that part ofthe western world.
Here, fiowever, those voluntary outcast of fheir
country expected lo live, ihough hardly, yet at, ,
least securely ; but in this they found j j-j r
tiiemseives disappointed. The Indians, ' ' ''''*¦
a savage and fierce people, frora ihe first looked up
on these settieraents of the English as an encroach
ment upon their own liberties ; ancf the French,
who were eqitaUy jealous, fomented these suspi
cions. Commissaries -were therefor^ appointed to
meet at Paris, and compromise these disputes ;'
but these conferences were rendered aborlive by
mutual cavillings, ancl all the arls of evasion.
In Uie raean time Mr. Pelham, who chiefly con
ducted the business ofthe slate, and was esteemed
a man of candour and capaciiy, laid a scheme for
lightening fhe. iraraense load of debt that was laid
upon Uie nation. His plan was to lessen the na
tional incurabrance by loweringthe intereslwhich
had been promised upon the first raising the sup
ply, or obliging die. lenders to receive the sums
originally granted. Those who were proprietors
of stocks, and received, for the use. of their money,'
foxxr per cent, were, by royal authority, ordered to"
F 6 ''

102 HISTORY OP ENGtAND,
subscribe Uieir names, signifying their consent Iff
accept of three pounds len shiUings per cent, a year
after, and three per cerit. only about sis years after
their thus subscribing ; and, in case of a refusal,
that the -government would pay off' ihe principal.
This scheme was attended vrith the desired
efi'ect ; though it, in some measure, was a force
upon She lender, who had originaUy granted his
money upon different terms, yet it was salutary
to the nation ; and, as Machiavel has it, political
injustice is sometimes aUowable, in order to secure
national benefits. Beside this salnlary measure,
others were pursued by the minister at the hehn
with equal succe^. The importation of iron fiom
America was allowed, and the trade fo Africa laid
open^to the whole nation, but, at the same tim<i,
to be superintended by the boaid of trade and
plantation. -. .,».
But all the advantages the nation reaped fi-om
th^ salutary measures were not sufficient to
counterbalance the stroke yvhich liberty received
(as some are of opinion} by an unusual shrelch of
the privileges of the house of commons. As this
is a point which deserves the strictest attention,,,
permit me to trace it lo its source. The city of
Westminster had long been represenled by mera
bers who -were norainated, in sorae measure, by
fhe ministry. Lord Trentham, having vacated his
seat in the liouse by accepting a place under the
crown, again declared himself a candidate ; but
met vriUi violent opposition. It was objected lo
him by some, that he had been uncommonly
active in introducing some French stroUers, who
had come over to exhibit plays upon the suppression
of our own. This accusation, whether true or false,
excited numbers against him, who styled them
selves the independent electors offfestminster, and
named Sir George Vaudeput, a private gentleman.

ce6rc« ri. i35
as Tiis competitor. The opposiliori resolved to
support iheir candidate at their own expence.
They accordingly opened houses of entertainment,
soUcited votes, and projiagated abuse as usual. At
length, the poll being closed, the majority ap
peared in favour of lord Trentham, A scrutiny
Was deraanded bythe other side ; it was protracted
by the obstinacy of both parlies: but this also turn
ing oiil in favour of lord Trentham, the indepen
dent electors petitioned the house, coraplainiiig of
an undue^ election, and of partiaUty and injustice-
of Ihe high hafliff of "Westminster, who look the
poll. To fhis petition the hon.se paid Utile regard;,.
but proceeded to examine ihe high bailiff' as to the
causes lhal had so long protracted the election,
who laid the blame upon Mr, Crowle, who had
acted as counsel for the petitioners, as also on the
honourable Alexander Murray, and one Gibson,
an upholsterer. These three persons were there
fore brought to the bar of the house; CroWle and
Gibson, after having asked pardon upon their
knees, and being reprimanded by the house, were
dismissed. Murray was first admitted lo bail ; but,
afler some witnessesbad deposed dial hehad headed
a mob to intimidate the voters, it was voted that he
should be committed a close prisoner to Newgate j
and,'^to invigorate their raeasures, that he should
receive this sentence at the bar of the house on his
knees. He accordingly appeared ; but, being di
rected by the speaker lo kneel, refused to comply.
This refusal threw the whole house inlo a com
motion ; and it was ordered that he should be com^
mitted close prisoner to Newgate, debarred the use
of pen, ink, and paper, and that np peison should
have access to him without permission ofthe house.
This imprisonraent he underwent, sensible by
the constitution it would continue no longer ihari
wliile Uiey continued to sit ; and, at the close of

I 34 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
the session, he was coriducted from prison to h^
own house, amid the acclamations of the peopled
He now was thought by many entirely free from
all farthei- persecution : but in this they were mis
taken ; for, at the opening of the ensuing session,
a motion was made, that Mr, Murray should bfi
again committed close jirisoner to the Tower.
Hitherto it was supposed by several, that the house
of comraons had acted with a spirit of resentment;
now it was thought that they made an attempt at
extending their privUeges. Though the delinquent,
a person of no great consequence in himself, had
.taken the prudent precaution of. retiring from their
resentment, yet several ofthe people saw that the
house considered itself rather as a body distinct
from the peiople than the guardians ofthe people ;
and, instead of maintaining the liberties of die
subject in general, had attempted to increase their
own. Some thought diey sa-w in Uiis measure Uie
seeds of future aristocracy , that the house of com
mons constituted themselves judges. of their own
privUeges; and that the Uberty of every individual
in society was at the disposal of a body wbapro-
fes.sed acting chiefly for their own honour.
However this may be, anpther measure was soon
after taken, which, in reality, made distinctions
among the jieople, and 'laid an unpassable line
between the rich and poor. This was an act for
the better preventing clandestine marriages, and
for the mcH-e pubUc solemnization of that cere
mony. The grievance complained of, and which
this lavv was to redress, was, that the sons and
daughters of opulent famUies were often seduced
into marriage, before they had, acquired sufficient
experience in life to be sensible of the disparity
of fortune in the raatch. This statute therefore'
enacted, that the bans of marriage should be re
gularly published three successive Sundays, in the

GEORGE 11^ r35
church of Uie parish where bolh parties had resided
for one monlh at least before the ceremony ; that a
marriage which was solemnized wilhout this pre
vious pubUcation, or a licence oblained from the -
bishop's court, should be void, and ihe person who
solemnized it should be transported for seven years.
This act was, at that tirae, thought replete with
consequences injuriousto society ; and experience
has manifested sorae of ihem : viUains have'^gone
about deceiving ignorant women, under a pre
tence of marriage, and thenhave left them withouli
redress. The poor -were thus rendered utterly in
capable of making alliances with the rich ; and
the wealth ofthe nation has Ums been more Uable
lo accumulation in opulent families. It has been
Uiouglit to impede that ardour which impels many
to marry, and lo clog a ceremony of the most in
finite advantage to society, with procrastination and
delay. Sorae have affirmed, that debaucheries and
lewdness have become more frequent since the
enacting this law ; and it is beUeved that the num
bers of llie people are upon the decline.
This session of parliament was also distinguished
by anolher act equally unpopular, and, perhaps^
ec[ually injurious to ibe religion ofthe Gonimnnity.,
Tbis was a law for naturalizing the Jews. The
ministers boldly affirmed, that such a law wcrald-
greatly contribute to the advantage of ihe nation ;.
that it would increase the credit ancl commerce of
the kingdom, and sel a laudable example of poU
tical toleration. Many others, however, were of
very different sentiraents : they saw that greateu
favour was shown by this bill to Jews, than to some
other sects professing the Christian religion ; that
an introduction of this pepple into tlie kingdom!
would disgrace the character of the nation, and
cool the zeal of the natives, already loo lukewarm.,-
However, notwithstanding, aU opposition,- tliia bill

ISG history of ENGtANW,
Was passed into a law ; nor Was it tiU the ensmng
session of parliament, that it was thought neces?-
sary to be repealed.
An act, equally unpopular with the two former,
was now also passed, which contained regulations
for the belter preserving the game. By this none
but men already possessed of a stated fortune had'
a pri^dlege of carrying a gun, or destroying game,
diough eveii upon the grounds which he hiraself
ren ted. This totally daraped aU that martial spirit
among the Ipwer carders of mankind, by prevent
ing their handling those arms which, might one
day be necessary to defend their country, and
giving ihe rich the, sole enjoyment ofa pleasure,,
which, before, had been considered as .lJffi,coin-
mon privilege of humanity. Such were the laws
passed this session ; through aU which a spirit of
J Tt ' KR aristocracy was discerned by some.
j3, jj. 1 rjbb. rj,jjg ^^^y ^f ^g rich, no longer fear
ing oppression frora the throne, or an infruige-
ment of their own Uberties, now began lo lean-
heavy upon the poor, and to consider the interests
of that useful part of society as entiifely distiiict
from their own. They never omitted^ however,
iheir usual addresses to the tlmme ; and this session
was remarkable for an address of thanks lo his ma
jesty, for mainlaining and rendering permanent,
the general tranquillity of Europe, at a time when
war was kindUng in almost every- quarter of the
world. )
LETTER LXIII.
.If we seek for the origin of the war which now-
began to threaten universal devastation, we shall
find it kindling up in several countries, both of
Europe, America, and Asia, at one and the same
time. Most oth^i: natienal «onlests have arisen.

GEORGE It. f5'7
from some one principal cause; bul this war seems
tp have been produced by the concurrence of se
veral, or it may be considered as tbe conlinuance
of the late war, -which had not been effectually
extinguished by the defective treaty of Aix-Ia-
Chajjelle. In Asia, upon the coast of Malabar, the Eng
lish and French had never ceased hostilities. The
dairas of Prussia and Auslria, upon the territories
of Silesia, had never been thoroughly adjusted.
The limits' of Nova Scotia, inhabited by the Eng
lish, and bordered npon by the French, were never
precisely determined ; and, sonlhward, theboun-
aaries of Arcadia, an extensive country belonging
fo the French, ancl bordering upon- Virginia^ were
Squally left: uncertain. NegOtfaticmshad long been
carried on to determine these differences ; but
what could reasen dp in cletermimng disputes in
which tbere were nc certain principles tp be guided
by ? The limits ef these cpuntries bad never been
Settled ; fnr ^hey ¦were, before this time, thenght
too remote or too insignificant to employ much at
tention : and it ¦ivas not probable, that powers
who had no other right to the countries in dispute
but that of invasion, ¦would have equity enough to
agree upon sharing the spoil.
The right which any of the contending power*
pretended to, might, in the eye of reason, be
thought very controvertible ; but the convenience,
vyhich either party was to derive from the enjoy
ment of their pecuUar claims, was not so uncertain.
AA the dissensions seemed to begin in Norlh Ame
rica, we must turn le that country lo- eon.sicler their
rise. The French had been the first cultiialors of
Nova Scotia, and, by great industiy and long per
severance, rendered that soil, naturally barren,
some-what more fertile and capable cf sustaining
nature with very Utfle assistance frpm Europe.

»38 History of en-glaN^,
This country, however, had frequently changed
masters, uiitU the English were acknowledged as
the rightful possessors by the treaty of UtrecM.
The possession of this country, in any other na
tipn, wpuld expose our cplpnies to perpetual in-
vasipn, and assist them in acquiring a superiority
in commerce, and the northern fisheries. It has
been already observed, that we had an infant co
lpny uppn lhat cpast, which was chiefly supported
hy rpyal bounty, and struggled with all the disad
vantages of die .severe climate and the^ ungrateful
soil. . But it had an obstruction to its growth still
more formidable than either. The French, whp
had been long settled in the back parts of ihe
country, continually spirited up the Indians to
repel the ne-w comers ; so lhat spme of them
were actuaUy murdered, or sold tp the French a^
Louisburgh. These -riolatipns were cpmplained pf^
and cpraplaint produced recriminatipn ; sp lhat
the two ppwers-pf France and England were ne
gotiating with, accusing and destroying each-pther;
ail at one time.
Now also began to be observed another source
of dispute, which promised as much uneasiness
as the forraer. The French, pretending first to
have discovered ihe mouth of the river Missisippi,
claimed the w-hole adjacent country toward New
Mexico on tbe east, and quite to the Apalachian
mountains on the west ; and finding several Eng
Ushmen who had settled beyond these mountains,
both from motives of commerce, and invited by
the natural beauties of the i country, they drove
them away, and built such forts as would com
mand the whple country around. It was now,
therefore, seen, that their intentions were to sur
round the English colonies, which lay along the
shore, by taking possession of the internal parts of
the country Uiat lay on the back of our settlements ;

GEORGE II. '*9
and being already possessed of the northern and
soulhem shores, thus to enclose us on every side,
and secure to themselves aU trade' with the natives
ofthe country. The English therefore justly ap^
prehended, that, if the French were able to unite
Uieir norlhern colonies, which were traded into
by the river Sl, Lawrence, to their southern,
which were accessible by the river Missisippi,
they must, in time, become masters qf the whole
territory ; and, by having a wide country to in
crease in, would soon multiply, and become every
year more dangerous.
The government of England, having long com-r
plained of .,Aese encroachments, determined, at
length, to repel farce by force, and to cut the knot
of negotiation, which they could not untie. Or-
„ ders were dispatched to the gpvernors of the pro
vinces to unite into a confederacy for their mutual
security ; and, if possible, to bring Uie Indians
over to their cause. The Indians were a fierce,
savage people, unacquainted wilh the. arls of peace,
and from infancy trained to the practice of war.
Il had long been the method of the English to cul
tivate their friendship in times of danger, but to
slight their aUiance in qircumstarices of tranquil
lity : this, in gome raeasure, served to alienate their
affections from our governraent ; bnt the fraud
and avarice of our raerchants, particularly of that
called die Ohio Corfipany , who sold lh"em bad niei--
cliandises, and treated them with equal insolence
and perfidy, served lo confirm their aversion. Be
sides, Uiere was something in the disposition of the
French settlers in these regions more similar to
theirs ; the French, Uke the natives, were hardy, en
terprising, and poor; they natui-ally therefore join
ed with those alUes, from the conquering of whom
they could expect no plunder ; and declared
jigainat ibe English colonists, who were rich, frugal^

t40 HISTORV OF EVGLANS,
and laborious, ancl whose spoils they conseqtiefltfy
Were the more desirous to share.
'Thus then the English had not omly ihe French,
bnt almost the whole body of the Indian nations
to oppose ; yet this confederacy against them did
not give a greate* union to fhe difierent proivinces,
whose interest it was to oppose, , Some of the pro
vinces, who, from their situation, had little to fear
from the enemy, or Utile advantages to expect
ftom victory, decUned furnishing their share of dw
supplies ; the governprs of some other colonic^
who had heen men of broken fortiKBcs, and bad
come from tiieir native country fo retrieve them
by acts of rapacity and o23pre8sion here, were so
much dreaded or hated, that tbey lost all inflnence
in inspiring the cnlpnists wiUi a proper spirit of
defence. "The ministry, however, at home, began
to exert itself for their defence, and their measures
were hastened by hostilities already commen-ced>
diere having been, for some time, a skirm.ishing
between general La'wrence to^ the north, and co
lonel Washington to the south, wilh parties of the
French, in -which the latter were viclorious. It
would be tedious, as well as uninforming, to relafs
all the preparatipns that now began to be made by
either parly ; or to load tbis account with bai'bar-
ous names and unimportant marches ; or to re
count the allernate victories and defeats of either
side : be il sufficient to observe, that they seemed,
in some measure, to have imbibed a ferocily of
manners from the savage people -with whom they
fought, and exercised various cruelties, eidier from
a spirit of reprisal or cruelty.
Four operations were undertaken fey the Engjishr
yf n 'ifi ** '^® same lime : one commanded by
¦ ¦ ^ ' ' colonel MoHckton, to drive the French
from the encroachments they had made uiion the
prp-vince of Noyh Scotia ; another, on the south.

GEORGE II. *4*
against Crown Point, under the command of genc'»
ral Johnson ; a third, commanded by .general Shir
ley, against Niagara ; and a fonrlb, sUll-farther to the
soulh, against Du Quesne, under the conduct of
general Braddock. In these respective expediliens
Mpnckton was successful ; Johnson viclorious,
ihough without eflect ; Shirlgy was thought dila
tory, and his expedition deferred to another sea
son ; but the fortunes of Braddock are so extra
ordinary as to require a more ample delafl. This
¦general was recommended to this service by the
duke of Cumberland, who was justly senable of
¦his courage and knowledge in Uie art pf war.
These two advanljagfis, however, which, upon
olher occasions, are thonglit the highest requisite!!
of a general, were, in some measure, conducive
to litis commander's oii'erthrow, His courage made
him obstinate ; and his skiff in war was improper
to be exerted in a country where there were no
regular advances to be mB,de, nor a marshalled
enemy to encoujiter. This brave but. unfortu
nate man set forward upon.fliis expedition in June,
and left fort Cumberland on the teiiUi, at the head
of two ibottsand two hundred men, directing his
march to lhat pai't of ibe country where colonel
"Washington had been defeated the year- before,
Upon his arrival there, he was informed that Uie
French at fort Du Quesne expected a reinfo.rcer
ment of five hundred men ; he therefore ratolved,
w^iUi all haste, to advance, and attack them before
they became loo powerful by this assistance. Leavr
ing, therefore, colonel Dunbar, with eight hundred
men to bring up the provisions, stores, and heavy
baggage, as fast as the nature of the service would
permit, he marched forward with the rest of his
army through a country equally dangerous from
its forests and savage inhabilanis ; a country where
Eurppeans had never beforie attejBipled lo pene-

1-4S HISTORiY. OV ENGLAND,'
ti-ate, -wUd, solitary, and hideous. Still, howevtr,-
be advanced with intrepidity throi^h the desei-ts
of Osw-ego, regardles^of the enemy's attempts, fak
ing no ciare previously to explore the w-oods and
thickets, as if the nearer he approached the enemy,
the less regardless he "was of danger. At length,
on the eighth of.July, he encamped widiin ten
mUes of fort Da Quesne, which he intended to al
tack, and the next day he resumed his march,
without so mnch as endeavouring to get intelli
gence pf an enemy he despised. "V'S "ith this con
fidence he was marching forward, his soldiers
promising themselves a speedy cessation from their
harassing march, and all things seemed to promise
success ; but uppn a sudden his ^'hole army was
astonished by a general discharge of arms, from an
Unseen enemv, along the front and left flank. . It
¦was now too late to think of retreating ; his troops
had passed into the defile, ¦which the enemy had
artfuUy' permitted before they alterapSed to fire.
His vangnard therefore fdl back, in consler nation,
upon the main body ; and die patiic soon became
general. The officiers along disdained to fly, while
Braddock bimself, at their head, discovered the
greatest intrepidily and the highest imprudence :
he riever diought of retreating, but obstinately con
tinued on the spot where he was, and gave orders
tP the few brave men ¦who" surrounded him to
form according to the rules of war, and regulaity
advance against the enemy. An enthusiast to the
discipline of tbe field, he desired to bring the spirit
of a German <»tnpaign into the wilds of Niagara.
In die mean time, his officers feU thick about him,
wliUe he stiU continued to issue out orders with
composure, ihougli he had five horses shot under
him, and though the whole body of his troops was
fled. At length, receiving a musket shot through
the lungs, he dropped, and a total confvision en-

GEORGE II. 143
sued. AU the artillery, ammunition, and baggage"
of the army, were left to the enemy; the general's
cabinel, of letiers also shared the same fate. The loss
of the English, in this unhappy surprise, amounted
to seven hundred men ; and the remainder of the
army, some time after, returned to Philadelphia.
It was in this manner the expedition of general
Braddock terminated, from, which England had
expected such advantages, In all actions that ex
cite the applause and admiration of mankind, a
part of their success is owirig 'o conduct, and a
jiart lo fortune, Of the latter Braddock was totally
forsaken : he was unsuccessful ; and ihe ungrate
ful world are unwilling io grant him jhe former.
Thus unfortunate were the beginnings of this
war, with regard to England ; it was resolved,
therefore, that no measures were now to be pre
served with die French ; and orders were given
to take their ships wherever found, though there
was yet no formal cjuplaration of war, "With this
order the naval commanders vei-y readily and
wiUingly compUed ; so that soon U^e English porls
were filled with shipS laken from the enemy, and.
kept as an indemnification for ^hose forts which
the eneray had unjustly possessed themselves of in
America. The French complained loudly against
the injustice of this proceeding ; they represented
it to the rest of Europe, as a breach of lhat faith
yvhich should be observed among nations, as a
piratical measure, disgraceful to tiie most savage
people. Then- memorials were answered by the
English, wiUi some show of reason. However,
it must be owhed, that, as a declaration of war was
a ceremony easUy performed, it would have been
more consistent wiUi the honour of Uie ministry to
have pursued the usual meUiods qf contest whiclj
had been long estabUshed in Etirope The Irulh is,
the ministry were now divided'hetween peace and

l44' HISTORY OP ENGI^ANW,
war; diey sawthe necessity of vigorous measure*;
bAt they were afr.aid to throw off the mask of peace
^^ikely.- Henry Pelham, whp bad Ipng guided at
the helm of affiiirs with candpur arid capacity, had
for scm£ time been dead, aud his place supplied
by Sir Thpmas Rpbinson, who, Uiough a sensible
minister, and a favourite of the king, was of no
great weight in councU, and, consequentiy, soon
under a necessity of resigning; and Mr. Fox was
put in his place. The administration was also new
fprmed in other respects, hy the taking in of several
olher new members, Tiiose w^ho had loa§ been
in tlie ministry were, it is thought, for i^eace ; ijhose,
on the contrary, who were newly -taken into the
direction of affairs, expected to supplant Uieir rivals
by an opposite system, and were consequently for
war. "The leader of this parly, therefore, warmly
soUcited for war, seconded by the justice of the
cause, and the general voice of the people ; those
whp opposed him expected to^lfect by negotiation
aU that aru>s cwuld achiev^ AVhatever might
have been the motives for protracting the declara
tion, the Freijch seemed tp cpnvince Europe of
iheir mQd.eraliori upon Uiis altack, by neiUier de
claring war nor making any reprisals. However,
^ey tiireatened Engla.nd with a formidable inva
sion : several bodies of Iroops moved lo die coasts
j^djacent to ours ; tiieir ministers exclaim.ed loudly
yi foreign courts; and such preparations* were
made, as showed a resolutipii of carrying the war
into the litsart of Great Britain. These pi;eparatipns
hsd the desired effect, flQing the nation with con-
Blernalion, turbulence, and clamour. The pepple
saw. themseh'es exppsed witiiout arms, leaders,
or discipline, while the ministry were timid, unpo
pular, and wavering. In fliis situaUon the Dutch
were applied to fpr six Uiousand men, which, hj
treaty, Uiey were to sgnd England , iu case pf ite

GEORGE II. 145
being threatened with an invasion : which demand,
however, by affected delays, was put off so long,
that the king, unyviUing to come to an open rup
ture ¦with the repubUc, desisted frora it ; for which
they relumed his majesty thanks. Such are the
advantages England is to expect from relying on
assistance from any olher quarter than it^ native
strength and unanimity ; and every day seems to
convince us of the absurdity of political aUiances,
which are ne^'er observed , as wanting friendship--
to bind, or force to compel.
In this timid situation the ministry were eager to
catch at any assistance : a body therefore of Hes
sians and Hanoverians, amounting to about ten
ihousand, were brought over to protect about as
many millions of Englishmen, who, with swords in
tbeir hands, were able to defend themselves; but
such -was Uie vile complexion of this jieriod, that
the whole kingdom presented nolhing but one pic
ture of discontent, terror, and distrust.. "rhe minis
try -was execrated for having reduced the nation
to such circumstances of disgrace, as to be thought
lo stand in need of preservation frbm a few Ger
man mercenaries ; but what could be expected
from such a ministry, who ^vere jxissessed neilher
of the arts nor the integrity of government ?
However, the French were by no means serious
in this intended descent : their only design was to
draw off the attention ofthe English ministry from
an expedition which was actually going forward
against Minorca, an island in the Mediterranean,
which we had formerly laken from Spain, and had
been secured to us by repeated treaties. But the
ministry of England were too much infected wilh
the more domestic terror to take sufficient jirecau-
tions lo guard this place, though they had early
notice of the enemy's intentions. Instead there
fore of sufficiently securing the island wilh a pro-
VoL. II ,G

J-jjEr HISTORY OF ENCi^AND,
per gj-n-rison, or oE delachlng a squadron lhal, ii^
all respects, should be superior to ihe French fleet
>n the Mediterranean, tbey only sent len men of
-war xxpon ihns service, poorly manned and indiffe
renlly provided j under tbe fommatid of admiral
Byn-g, whose- character in the navy was by no
means established, wilh orders to reinforce die
garrison of SL PbUip's vrith one battaUon from
Gibraltar : this; cpmniaiid, however, the gpvernon
of that place fliought it unsafe t© obey.
The admiral sent upon this service reinforeed
his fleet by a detetdMmenlof naen al Gibrailtar ; and,
sailing krward Minorca^ -was joined in the way by
another man of wav, from -whom he fcajrned tbat
Minorca was aeluaUy besieged, and die French
fleet destiiaed I© support the eiperalions by laiids
He soon knew the reaUly of ibis, infornialion,
wlien, approaching the island, he saw the French
banners displayed, and the batteries opened against
the caskle of St. Pliilip's> upon whicb "was Stiil dis
played the English flag, Tbe appearance of the
French fleel^ soon after, still more strongly engaged
hi? attention ; he d»e-w up his shipsin line of bailie^
and determdried to act upon ihe defensive. Byng
bad been forraeriy thought eminent in naval
operations, to wbich he was early bred > but he had
'hitherto exhibited no proofs of courage. Men are
^nenaUy most apt to pride themselves upon those
talents for which they are most praised : and lliis
was tbe case \-nlh tliis unfcrfunate commander;
be sacnrificed his reputation for courage, to the
hopes of being applauded for his conduet. The
French fleet ad-i^anccd; a part of the English fleet
engaged : the adm iral stiU kept idoof, gising prudent
reasons for his remissness in coming to action ; till,
St length, theFns'ncb admiral, taking theadvaniage
of the EnghsJimaB's hesilarioiri, sailed slowly away
to join the v^n of hia fleet, which had feeen .ahea-dy

CEORGfi II, 147
discomfited. The English, for a \^ bile, continued
the pursuit; bul the opportunity ofcoruingtoa close
•engagement was now lost, and never presented
ilself again.
Byng -was still resotyed to act with his tisual cau
tion : be called a council of War, wherein it was
represented, that he -was much inferior to the enemy
in ships and men; that the reliefof Minorca yvas
irapracticable ; and Uiat it was most adviseable to
sail back to Gibraltar, -which might require imme
diate pfotectioti. This representation was almost
unanimously agreed to, and put accordingly in
execution. His pusfllanimous conduct, however,
soon reached hia native country, -where it excited
alraost a phrensy of resentment. The ministry werf;
also thought to fan the flame, which served to tuf-ri
ihe public eye from their oWn misconduct in sending
so weak an armameiil. Byflg, in the mean time,
remained at Gibraltar, noway suspecting the storm
that was galliefirig af a distance ; but talked and
wrote even as if he expected the thanks ofhis king,
and the applause of his countrymen : but he Was
soon awaked from this dveam, by a letter from the
ministry, giving him notice, that be was lectilled ;
and anolher soon after, by which dii-ectiotts were
given that he should be sent home under arrest.
Upon his arrival in England, he -was committed a
dose priso ner to Gree n wich Hospital, and nutilber-
less arts' used to inflsme the populace against him*
Long before his trial, several addresses Were sent
up from different counties, crying out fot justiciS
against theclelinquent. The industry of his frierids',
however, was not remiss upon this occasion ; they
expostulated yvilh the multitude, arid afte(rtipfed lo'
divert the whole of universal hatred ujion the!
muiisttfy, who, at worst, orily deserVed a share.
But, soon after, the news of the surrender of forlJ
St-. PMip to the Freiichi«tJEkmed Uie people beyorid

1 48 HLSTORY OF ENGLAND,
aU measure. This fortress liad been reckoned,
next to Gibraltar, Ihe ,^trongesl in Europe, the
w^orks having been planned by thp celebrated
Vauban; and, bolh from the nature ofthe soil,
-which was one solid rock, and the pecuUarity of
ihe silualion, it was thought almost impregnable.
] n order to make themselves masters ofthis impor
tant fortress, Uie French, under the comraand of
the duke de Richelieu, landed near twenty ihousand
men, whieh by continual assault, and ha-ring gained
an outwork, at last made themselves masters of die
place. The EngUsh governor, general Blakeney,
however, had very honorable terras of capitula
tion, and marched out wilh all ihe ensigns of war.
Yet, perliajis, in truth, the harder the conditions a
garrison is obUged lo accept, the more honorable
it is lo Uie commander, as they denote his extremity
in being reduced lo accept of them.
The English now saw themselves every where de
feated ; in America their armies -were cut in pieces ;
in Europe their garrisons taken ; the people trem
bling under the dread of an invasion ; a few- merce
naries brought in for iheir defence, -who, in turn,
became formidable to the natives ; afl these circum
stances concurred lo exasperate the people : but
there was no object on whom lo wreak their ven
geance, but die unhapity Byng, who, in a manner,
was already voted lo destruction. 'W^ar was now
proclaimed vrilh ihe usual solemnity, though it
was now but a denunciation after having struck
the blow. The Hanoverians were sent back to
dieir own country, and the preparations were
made for trjing admual Byng in the usual form.
On the twenty-eighth day of December his trial
began before a court martial in the harbour of
Portsmouth, where, after a scrutiny of sey^eral day's,
his judges came to a resolution, thathe had not done
bis utmost, during, the engagemenf, to desti-py ths

GEORGE II. I'iCj
enemy, which it was bis duty to have engaged.
They therefore unanimously were of opinion, that
he fell under the twelfth article of war, which
positively ordered dealh to any person who, in
the lime of action, should withdraw, keep back,
or not corae into fight, or who should not do his
utraost, through either raotives of cowardice, negli
gence, or disaffection. He was therefore adjudged
lo be shot on board whatever ship the lords ofthe
admiralty should please to direct; hut his judges,
at the same lime, recommended him to mercy, as
they could not tell the motives of his keeping aloof.
By such a sentence they expected to have satisfied
the national animosity against him, and yet tp have
screened themselves frpm the cpnsciousness of
severity. "Whatever the governnient might wish lo
do. is uncerlain ; but the cry of vengeance -was too
loud lo be disregarded : his majesty therefore re
ferred the sentence to the twelve judges, who were
unanimously of opinion that tbe sentence was
legal ; wherefore the king resolved that he should
suffer the extremity of the la-w. Still, ho-wever,
there was another attempt made to save him ; one
of those who had been his judges at Portsmouth,
ancl who -was also a member ofthe hpuse of com
mons, informed that assembly, that he, as well as
some others who had sat upon the admiral's trial,
desired to be released frpm the oath of secrecy
jmppsed uppn cpurts martial, that they might dis-
clpse fhe greunds on yvhich sentence of death had
passed upon admiral Byng, and perhaps discover
such circumstances as might show the sentence to
be improper. To tins the house prfid Utile regard ;
but his majesty thought fit to respite the execution,
lill the scruples ofthe court martial should be more
clearly explained. A bfll therefore passed the house
of comraons for releasing them from their bath ;
but when it came lo be debated among the lords,'
G 3

ijio histor;v or England,
and aftei" the members of the court martial were
exarained touching their reasons, the peers found
no reason for passing the biU, and it was rejected.
The admiral, being th,"s abandoned to his fate,.
resolved at least, by the bra%'ery of Ijis dealh, in
some measure, lo sUpw the injustice pf the impu-
lalipn of his being a coward. He maintained (o
the last his natnral serenity; and, en Uie day fixed
for his execution, when the boats belnnging Ip ihe
fleet>4?eing manned and armed, allended the so
lemnity inthe harbour, the admiraladvanced from
ihe cabin, where he had been imprisoned, loUie
deck, the place appointed for execution, wi'h a
composed stei^ »nd fesplnie countenanee. He
dien deUvered a jiaper, cpnlaining the, foUowing
nddress : A few moments wiU now deliver me front
¦virulentper^iecution,-, andfiustrate the maUce of my.
enemUi, J^pr need I envy them a life subject to-
//fg sensations my injuries, and the injustice done-
me, must create. Persuaded I am, that justice wHIt
be dime to my reputation hereaft^ The manner
and cause of raising and keeping up the popular
clamour and prejudice okgainst me,, will 6« seen-
ilu'ougb. I »haU be considered, asa victim, destined
io divert t/ie indignation and resentment of an
injured and deluded people f'om the proper ob'
jects. My enemies tiiemseives must now think me
ifingeent. Jfappy for me, at this my last moment,
f hat I know my own innocence, and am conscious.
that no part of my courttry's misfortunes can be-
wing to me ¦' I heartily wish the. shedding myr
hlood may contribute to the happiness and service
of my country; but I cannot resign my just claim
io a faithful discharge of my duty, aceording to
the kest of my judgn^ent, and the utmost exertion
of my ability for his majesty's honour, and my
country's service. I am sorry that my end.-avours;
were uot attended with more success; and. that ilte

GEOROfi 11. '" i51
ttymamenC under my command proved too weak to
succeed in an expedition ofeuchmoment. Truth ha^
prevailed over calumny and falsehood, and justice
has wiped off the ignominious stain of my personal
want of courage, and the charge of disaffection. My
heart acquits me of these crimes ; but who can be
presumptuously sure of his own judgment? If my
crime is an error of judgm^ent,- or differing in my
opinion from my judges, and if yet the error
of judgment should be On their side, God for-
pive them, as I dol and rnay the distress oftheir
minds, anxl uneasiness of their consciences, which,-
in justice to me, they have represented, he relieved^
nnd subside, as my resentment has do-ne ! The
supreme Jud^e sees all hearts and motives,- and to
Ibim I must submit the j-uSticeofmy cause: Wheri"
he had deUvered these Words, he carae forward,-
and resolved to die wilh his face uncovered ; bril,-
his friends representing that his looks might pos
sibly intimidate the soldiers-, and prevent their tak
ing proper aim, he had his eyes bound -with a
lianttkerchief, and kneeling upon ihe deck, the
signal was given for the soldiers lo fire, and he
dropped do-wn dead in an instant.
How far this unfortunate man was innocJent or
culpable, cannot be easily discerned in a mist of
opinions supported by the prejudices of faction :
if he erred in point of'judgriient only, it might
have been a- proper cause for his dismission ; but
it -would have been cruelly lo condemn him for it.
Those who pleaded wilh the greatest vehemence
against him, appeared, however, to bring their ar
guments from the necessity there was of making
sonde one commander an example, to give greater'
resolution to the fest, and froiri the good effects
that seemed to allend his execution, by our re
peated successes after it. These, however, are such
rea.5ons as maj' silence, but not satisfy; and it is Ic^'
G 4

'¦13 HISTORY OP ENGLANB,
be hoped that no person -wUl exultingly triumph
in the end where the means cannot be justified.

LETTER LXIV.
Europe has often been compared to one Tcpn-
-bUc obeying one law, namely, diat of nations ; and
composed of provinces, each of which is prevented
from becoming too great by the universal jealousy
ofthe rest. A quarrel therefore betvveen any two
of these is apt to involve the whole in war ; but,
particularly, if the dispute happens to arise be
tween those who are reckoned the leading powers
in this assemblage of nations. A war begun be
tween France and England, for a deserl and track
less wild in the remote parts of Araerica, seeraed
now spreading fast ihrpugh the whple wprld ; and
the appearance pf Uieir cpmmptions revived all the
ancient jealousies and claims among the rest.
The French, at the breaking out of this new
war, thpugh tbey were successful in its commence
ment, were very sensible that tbey could not long
bold their acquisitipns against such a superiprity
afl the English vi'ere pessessed ef at sea, and the
numberless respurces they had pf assisting their co-
Ipnies ¦with all the necessaries pf war. Being Uiere-
fpre apprised, that a naval war must, in the end,
turn put tp their disadvantage, they made np scruple
cf declaring that Uiey wpuld revenge the injuries
they sustained in their cplpnies, pr bysea, uppn the
king pf England's lerritpries in iGermany, which
they secretly hpped wpuld be a mptive Ip his com
plying with their demands, or dividing the Eng
Ush forces, or draining' their finances with heavy
subsidies, as they knew his affection for his native
cpunlry. Tn diese hopes they were not much dis
appointed : the court of Loudon immediately, to

GEORGE II. 1 53
secure the electorate of Hanover, entered inlo a
treaty with the empress of Russia, by which a body
of fifty-five thousand raen should be ready lo act
in the EngUsh service, in case Hanover should be
invaded, for which die Russian erapress was to re
ceive a hundred thousand pounds annually, lo be
paid in advance.
His Prussian raajesty had long considered him
self as the guardian of the interests of Germany,
and was slarlled at this treaty. The monarch upon,
the throne was Frederick [II, a prince adorned ¦with
all the arts of peace, and whom you have seen also
acting as the most consummate general. He had
learned to read men, by being himself bred in the
school of adversity ; and to love his subjects, by
having experienced their altachment. He there
fore tppk the first pppprtunity tP declare, that he
would not suffer any fpreign Irppps to enter the
empire, either as auxiliaries er principals. This
consuramate politician had, it seems, been abeady
apprised of some secret negotiations between the
Austrians, whom he looked upon as concealed ene-'
niies, and the Russiains,for entering his dorainions,
and stripping him of the proviuiie of Silesia, which
had been conceded lo him in the last treaty of
peace. His Britannic maje.sty, whose fears for Ha
nover guided all his councils, now saw hiraself in
the very situation he raost dreaded, exposed to the
resentraent of France and Prussia, either of which
could at once invade and overrun his electorate,
whUe his Russian aUies lay at too great a distance
to assist hira. HoAvever, aU he vrished was to keep
the eneray out pf Gerraany ; ancl this the king pf
Prussia made a prpfessioH of doing as well as he.
From the simUitude of their intentions, therefpre,
these tWP mpnarchs were induced to , y, -
unite their interests ; and as they both ¦ • / 7-
pnly desired the same thing, they came to an agi-ee-
G 5

l64 HISTORY OP ENGLANH,
ment Ip assist each ether mutually in keeping alt
foieign fprces put of the empire.
From this aUiance bolh powers hoped great ad
vantages ; the preserving the peace of Germany was
the apparent gPod, but each had plher peculiar
benefits in view. The king pf Prussia kne^ the-
Austrians to be his enemies, and Jlie Russians Ioh
Im in league wilh them against him ; an alliance
therefpre with the cpurt of London kept back the-
B-ussians, Vvhom.he dreaded, and gave him hopes.
of taking, an ample satisfaction from Austria, whpm.
lie susjiecled. As for France, he counted upom
il as a natural aUy, which, from die Ipng and here
ditary enmity with the Auslrians, could not, by.
declaring against him, jpin ihem lo whom it hacL
such various reasons for poUtical aversion. The
elector of Hanover, pn the olher hand, had slill,
^slronger- expectations pf the benefits that wpuld:
arise from this alliance. He thus prpcured a near-
and powerful ally ;¦ an ally whicm he thought ihe-
French, in dieir present circumstances,- would not
vantul-e to 'disoblige : he counted upon the Aus--
l(-ians as naturally aitached lo his interests. by for
mer services and friendship ;. and the Russians, at
least, as likely, lo continue neuter, from their for
mei- stipulations and subsidy. Such -were the mo^
lives to this alUance ; but bplh were deceived in!
every particular. And lliougb this alliance aslo—
nished Europe at lhat lime, it soon produced ano—
l|ier connection , still more extrftordinai-y.. The
Austrian, queen had long meditated designs of re- -
covering Silesia, which, in her exigency, the kingy
of Prussia had invaded, and expected the aseislance -.
of Russia lo effect her purposes. By this last treaty,
however, she saw En;^and joining wilh Prussia im
tiuitrating her hopes ; and, deprived of one ally,
she sought about, in order fo snbstilute anolher.
She Uaerefore appUed to France ; and, fo procure:.--

GtoRote II". 1 55
die friendship of that power, ga^ve uj) her barrier
in the Nelherlands, which England had been for
ages acquiring yvith its blood and treasure. By
this extraordinary revolution, the vvhole political
systera of Europe assumed a new face, and it pf elty
clearly shows lhat events guide the politician, while
the politician seldc|ni guides events ; or, to use the
words of Tacitus, there is but very hllle difference
bet^ween the art and its futility.
In the mean time, this treaty between France
and Austria was no sooner ratified than the em
press of Russia was invited to accede to it ; which-
projiosal slie ardently embraced. By concurring^
wilh their proposals, Russia had another oppor-
lunily of sending her forces into the western parts
of Europe, which vvas all she had hoped by the
subsidiary treaty with England. A settlement in
the ys'estern parts of Europe was what this fierce
norlhern power long wanted an opporlunity of
oblaining ; for, possessed of that, she could then
pour in fresh forces at any tirae upon the more
effeminate and contending stales ; and, perhaps^
at length, obtain universal empire. The intrigues"
of France were also successfully ^ployed with
iSweden. A war between that nation and Prussia
was kindled up, though contrary to the inclination'
of their sovereign, who had Uie natural raotives of
kindred for being averse to that measure.
Thus aU the aUiances which England had long
Been purchasing upon* the continent, and many of
the treaties which she had been long making -with
all ihe bustle of negotiation, were at once destroyed .
The forces of the contending powers, therefore,
now drawn out on each side, stood thus : England
opposed France in America and A.sia; France at
tacked Hanover on the continent of Europe : this
country the king of Prussia undertook lo protect,-
while England promised to furnish hira'vvitli
G 6-

ij6 betokt or rsousn.
troop» aaj loMeyCa ¦*¦¦* hk oy^^ttiwr.^ Ok&t
drew-dKeSeire-orof &xain~ai6DliK ajse rxzs
aJbe -was abo in i iiiii li ik her -nenrs bjr Bj
SwcdfijL, ao^ Frarace:, whSt tfae rest of Ae ]
of Earofie ::i!tbiiiefl ipo-Ufcm af fee <
These tJRi^iw of Aoitea,. fbr derEccrray of ber
loil itTiiiiii>—ij w^re too ^psiezA not ¦,-. he easlf
•Eacuf uted by io '^~ j~' a moosrcfc ii r*ise of
Proeca : k s^ '"af pt^aataas vrese- iKiiaig
aguDst koi %- Ubat fiow^r ia 'Babemaa s^ Mks^
VB, Wilule tbe EJecior of SasDsy, ipt-^Ipt fhe- pce-
tezKeftTz lOiUt * paad^ ^inr feigEfkr il<3Gf
iirttww ihoGsasd ^lea. i«fcic& jtAuykJ Ae jSpo^
.^icfzes of F&na. IIk secz^ tnsatr abo hetw^esL
the couifet sf Ttmiiii sad AaatiB Ad aat tgcj|«
ri;} peoetiabcii : h^Hes-k -mas pciv^^jiJi^Hlated^
Azt the tisabng povc^ECi 'frrrKrid^. is caae of ^sp?<T-
IwTwfiitg aon- bcscfc of the pces^d peace, HKte
-tgjiiM* Pi II mi «^ asd Aaz? Ae daHsioas cf Aat
cic^vahet:«<ra»i theau 1U:i ze :- jndeiedas an
- 3aBSVc:a^aiKie: the treali^ po«c€Tsafied^sd; Aat
i: ¦was oaJk de&aane. .As frepassbams^ &r war^
hwomtJj -^'^^r.-e LJiitULZ ob. »^k Se nz:r:s: jE-
r,»irir :a eiAe^aide, Ae kinz of INimiij ia ocdsr-
te hecowfig^ediK wfa£A£ alieadriiBUMili i\ cr-
deied hil aniides- af ^ ^exHa x densiid i. ^fe^c
espficatkiii. and pc^ziper i^susmrxs nm^et&i:^ Ae^
J rgfaiabotis he savr mm^mc Be at &st recaved
an eanareed aasvrer : ba^acdoKf Ibs s^i^Bfer tt*-
de-asand a cat^oiical (CfVf, -whElfeer t&e emfTr^s^-
qoeen «rs,} Ibr pe*;? :r vax-,. and :o ii iihhi a pou
tne ^¦STaace ~x^: Ae had no ioiesIk^ Za im^zi.
hiiR Aat year or Ae Bcact; i^ a^itigssaas smsw^f
¦H^asietanedt: ••' flaiziit
^iy manilesfed aa f
fore i.- :ijit proper no lo&gsr toi
ra-iftrji. ":-,.. to carrr Ae war ikIo Ae ea^sv'i

OMoiuiK tr. 1 57
couiili-y, riillier lliiui lo wnil for il in his o-WU. He
<>iili,'i-<'d wilh a liirgc iiriiiy inlo Saxony, and, in llio
n.sii.-d .sli-iiin of eivilily, dcniiinded from iho elector
11 piis.siigi^ lln-oiigh lhat counlry, wliioii ho well
knew llie po.Hse.ssor of it wiis not able to refuse.
Ill llie iiieiin liiiio, he di.sgui.sod all bis suspicions of
Iho eleclor's having secrelly Irealed wilh his eno-
inies ; mid, upon iho liUler's pioposing lo olwoi'vo
a striet neiilridity, he {)rol'o.sHed hiinself exlreniely
])le,ised .ll the olUn-, bul divsired, us a proof of iho
.siiH-erily of lilt) eleclor's inleiilioii.s, lo sejmnite llio
iiriuy oi'the eUu-loriile, for which (hero could ]ios-
.sihl-y bo no oocasiioii iu cii.sooflho uenlralily pro-
po.sed. This, llovve^'el•. iho <>leclor of Suxony
Ihou.uhl priicient lo refii.so, which was probably
whiii Ihc olluu- eagerly desired ; for, in con.seqneuco
ofhis refii.siil. Ui<^ king formed a kind of blockade
iibont (lie Siixon camp, in order to reduce it by
I'linine ; for snch was llio silimlloii of Uiis spot on
which Ihe Sjixoiis lind i-ncaniped, lhal, ihough a,
small Jii-my could defoiid il ttgftinsl the most nu-
UKM-oius forces, yd ihe same dilUcnlly attended
leaving il lluil .served lo render il inaccessible to iiii
enemy. Of Ihis liis Pnis,siaii uuijealy look iho ad-
vnnlam^ ; and, by blocking iipevery place of egre.s.s,
ent oM' iheir provisions, and ihe Avliolo body was
(d)liged to .siin-endoi- prisoners of war.
In udel.iil of llie Iraii.saelions of ICnglaiid, it will
nol be neee.s.sai-}' lo reeapilidale llie nuiiieions
nuirelieN. victories, sieges, and ropnlse.s of llii.s great
foreign ally- \\ha lover either lormer hislorj had
shown, or'even romance iiiighl feign, wa.s ouldono
bolh by his expedition and intrepidity. .King ouly
of a very small lerritory, assisled by .I'.uglund.
who.se silimlioii ^va8 loo roniolo to give any consi-
d(-i-able succours, opposed and surrounded by all
the mosl forniidnblo powers of Europe, ho still op
posed Ihem ou every side ; he luyade.s IJohcuuu,

t5S irisTofi-!^ OI* Hi^JgEaiId,
defeats the Austrian general at Lowositz, re-'
treats, begins his second campaign with anolher
viciory near Prague, is upon the point of taking
that city ; but by atemerity inspired by former suc--
cesses, attacking the Austrians al a disadvantage
near Koh'n,he is defeated, and obUged tp' raise the
siege : Fortune, says he, has turned Ker bach upon
me this day. I ought to have expected' it ; she is
a female, and I am- no gallant. Success often od-
easions a destructive oonfidenee ; but another time -
we will do better.
One misforlune seeraed lo follow another : the
Hjmoverians, who had joined wilh bim and Eng
land in the alliance, had armed in his favour, coin--
manded by ihedukeof Cumberland. Aslhisarmy,
which oonsisted of three thousand eight huncb-ecl^
men, was greatly outnumbered by the French,
they were obliged continuaDy to relire bcifore them.-
Tliepas.sage of the river "Weser might have been
disputed wilh some hopesof success ; yet the Ha
noverians permilted thera to pass it unmolested.
T'heir army, therefore, Avas now clrwen from one
part of the counlry lo another, till, at lengih, it
raade a sland near a viUage called Hasteribeck,
where it was judged it -would be best able to sus-
lain the superiority of the enemy's numbers.
However, nolwilhstanding all the efibrts of disci
pline, and the advantages of situation, the weaker
side was still obliged to' retire ; and, leaving the-
field of battle to the French, retreated toward>
Slade. By tafeing this rout, tbey marched info a
country, frora whence they could neither procure'
provisions, nor yel had an opportunity of attack
ing the enemy upon equal terms. Unable, by '
their situation, to > retire, or, by their strength, to
advance, they w re compeUed lo sign a capitula
tion, by which the whole army laid doyvn their*
a»ms, and were dispersed- iritodifferent quarters-

GISOKCE II. 1'5>J";
of cantonment. By this reraarkable treaty, which
went by the name of ihe treaty of Closter-Seveii,
the Hanoverians were quite subdued, and all the
French forces let loose upon the king of Prussia
tcigether. The situation of this monarch was now becorae -
desperate ; nor could huraan prudence foresee
how he could extricate himself from his distress.
The French forces, now united, invaded his domi--
nions on one side ; the Russians, who,- for some
lime, had hovered over his dominions in another
part, all at once hastened onward to overwhelm
him, marking their way wilh slaughter and cruelty.
A large body of the Austrians entered Silesia, and
penetrated as far as Breslau, and, lurning to
Sch-sveidnitz, sat down before that important for
tress, which after a long. siege surrendered. Ano--
flierarmy ofthe sa'rae nation entered Lusalia, raade'
theraselves raasters of Zitlau, and, pressing few-
ward, laid ihe c^apital of Berlin under contribu--
lion. Twenly-lwo thousand S-wedes pierced into
Prussian Pomerania, look the to-v^'iis of Anelam
and Demmin,'and exacted tribute from the -whole-
country. It was in vain that the king of Prussia-
faced abbut to every invader, though his eneraies
fled before him : -while he pursued one body, ano—
dier penetrated his territories in the raean time ;
and his dominions, evenin the midst of victory,,
were every day contracting. The greatest part-
were either laken or laid under contribulions, and
possessed by his enemies ; and he vvas left without^
any alliance or assistance, bul what the British par
Uament might think proper lo afford.
These succours could, at best, have been, for-
sonie time, but ineffeatmd ; however, it was resolv
ed by the EngUsh ministry, that something shoiildi'
bo done, and accordingly an enterprise was plan—
nedagainst die French coast, which, by drawing!

l6o HISTORY or ENGLAND,
off iheir attention frora Prussia, might give it time fo
respire, and call off a part ofthe French lo defend
themselves. Besides this intention, England also
hoped lo be able to give a blow tp their marine, by
destrpying such ships as were laid up or building in
the harbour of Rochfort, the city against which this
expedition was destined. The English ministry
kept this object of their operations a profound se
cret ; and France was filled with "^alarms,, till at
length it was found that the fleet appeared before
Rochfort, where it spent some time in deUberal-
ing upon what raanner lo proceed. At last it
was resolved to secure the littie isl^d of Aix, an
easy conquest, -which while performing, the mili
tia of the country had time to assemble, and there
yvas an appearance of twp caraps uppn the shore.
The commanders, therefore, who, by the badness
of the weather, were, at first, presented from land-
ine, now feared equal danger fi-om the numbers
pithe enemy which were to pppose them. They
topk intp cpnsideratipii die badness of the coast,
the danger of landing, tbe lime the city had to pre
pare for a vigorous defence, and tbeir own unfit
ness for any other methods to reduce it but diat of
a sudden attack. This consideration induced them
to desist from further operations ; and they una
nimously resolved to return home, -vrithout making
any attempt. Nothing could equal the discontent
ofthe English upon seeing this expedition, of which
they had conceived such expectations, return un
successful. It produced, as usual, a contest be
tween diose who planned, and those who were
sent lo execute it. The railitary men represented
il as useless and rash ; the ministers exclaimed at
the timidity and-delays of those from whose -rigour
success was to be expected. A court of inquiry
censured the cpramander ; but a cpurt martial
acquitted him. This, like 'almest aU the fprmer

Cr.ORGE II.- '6i
operations, served lo embiller parly, and increase
despondence. A great man was even heard to say,
upon a very solemn occasion, that he believed the
commanders of every miUtary operation were re
solved upon doing nothing. The tumult of the
people was now sunk frora turbulent clamour in
to sullen discontent ; they sa-w only gloomy pro
spects on every side, their armies destroyed, their
fleets inactive, their expeditions ridiculous, and
the only aUy they had left in Europe, that would
fight iheir battles, upon the point of being over
whelmed by superiority of numbers. Such were
the beginnings of this war, from which the timid
foreboded national servitude, and a total destruc
tion of aU maritime power,' and even the raost
sanguine only hoped for a peace thai raight restore
thera lo former equably.

LETTER LXV.
Such was the ill success of the English arms,
and of their allies, at the beginning of this war.
Every daylhe press teemed 'with productions which
eilher reproached their co-wardice, or foreboded
their undoing. Yet stiU the hopes ofthe parUament
rose wilh their disappoinlmenis, and every resource
seemed to augment with their expences. Though
the supplies for this destructive and hilherto shame
ful war were enormous, yet they were raised as
soon as granted. The officers of the array seemed
roused into vigour by national reproach. Asia
was the country in which success first began to'
dawn upon the British interest, and where we first
learned the art of again conquering the enemy. A
war in Europe could nol be proclairaed between
the two great powers, without being felt in Uie
remotest parts of tbe globe. This immense tract

'62 HISTORY OF ISNGL.VUD,
of country, which wa* the theatre- of an Asiatic
yvar, compreliends the whole peninsula of India
Proper., On the coasts of this great territory, Uie
EngUsh, the French, and several other powers of
Europe, had buUt forls, with tbe original consent
of the Mogul, who claims ihe sovereignty of the
whole empire. Whatever his right may be to
ihis dominion, his power is scarce felt or acknow
ledged in many of Uie remoter provinces; and
even the governors or nabobs, yvho were originally
of his appointment, have rendered themselves'
independent, and exert an absolute dominion
Over tlieir respective territories, wilfiout acknow
ledging his superiority, eidier by tribute or hpmage.
In their contests, therefore, these princes, instead
of having recpurse tp the Mpgul for redress, apply
to the European powers, whom tbey can either
purchase or persuade to assist ihem. The war be
tween England and France in these remote pa-i-ls,,
first bfegan by each power's sicUng -«villi two con-
lending nabobsj and thus, by degrees, becpming,
principals in- the dispute.. "I'he success, on- each-
side, for some time after the treaty of Aix-la-Char-
pelle, seeraed doubtful, till, at leftglh, the affairs of
the English seemed to gain the ascendency by Uie
courage and coi|iduct of Mr. Clive, a gentleman
who firsl entered into ihe service of .the <;ompany as
a clerk, but soon showed his lalenls more adapted
for war. By his vigilance and courage the pro
vince of Arcol was cleared ofthe enemy, Uie P'rench
general taken prisoner, and the nabob -whom the-
English supported, reinstated in the governraent
of which he had been formerly deprived. The-
French, discouraged by fhese misforlunes, 'ani
sensible of their own inferiority in this part ofthe-.
World, sent over a commissary wilh a view lo re
store peace ; and a convention between the Iwp-
companies -was accordingly concluded, impor! ing,.

GEORGE II. l63
dial the territories taken on either side, since the
last peace,should be mutually restored; llial|She
nabobs advanced by llie influence of eilher parly,
should be acknowledged by bolh ; and that, for Uie
future, neither should interfere in the differences
between the princes ofthe country. This cessation,
however, was not of long cluration : compacts
made between trading companies can never be of
long continuance, when there is a prospect of ad
vantage to either side frora their infraction. In a
few months after both sides renewed their opera-
lions, no longer as auxiliaries, but as rix'^als in arms
and commerce. AVhat the motives to this infrac
tion were are nol sufficiently known ; whei-ever
thereis trade there must be a degree of avarice;
and lhat is a. jmssion too often the parent of injus
tice and cruelly. Certain it is that the viceroy of
Bengal, from motives of personal resentment, de-
dared against the English, and, levying a nume
rous army, la-id siege to Calcutta, one of dieir forts.
which was iri no situation to- endure the altack
oven of barbarians. It -was taken by assault ; ancl
the garrison, lo the number of one hundred ancl
forty-six persons, were erow-dedinto a narrov^- pri
son called the Black Hole, about eighieen feet
scjuare, wilhout any entrance for air, except by
two iron -windows to the y^'est, -which by no means
afforded a sufficient quantity for the supporting of
life in such numbers.. In sueh a. burning cliraateit
is terrible to conceive the situation of wretches thus
immured and suffocating each other.. Their first
effort upon finding the danger oftheir horrid con
finement, was to- break open the door; but this
being impossible, they endeavoured to excite the
compassion or the avidity ofthe guard, by offering
hira a large sura of raoney for his assistance in
removing thera to separate jirisons, wilh which he
w,as not able to comply, as the viceroy ^vas asleepi

104 HISTORY OP ENGLANn,
and no person durst disturb him. They were now
thejiibre left without hopes of relief lo perish, and
the whole prison was filled -with groaiLS, shrieks,
contest and confusion. This turbulence soon after
sunk into langour and despair ; and toward morn
ing aU was horrid sUence and desolation^ Of a
hundred and forty-six, who had entered aUve,
twenty-three only survived,^ and of these several
died of putrid fevers upon thier being set free.
The reduction ofthis imporlant fortress served
to interrupt the prosperous successes of the Eng=
lish company ; but the fortune of Mr. Clive slill
vanquished every obstacle. ... A fleet under the
ccmimand of admiral Watson, conspired vrith his
eftbrts, and helped him in his ¦rictories. Angria, a.
piratical prince, who had long annoyed 'the com
pany's settiements in the neighbourhood of Bom
bay, first felt the weight of our naval po^wer. This
prince maintained a large number of gallies, wilh
which he would attack tbe largest ships, -when he
found a proper pppprtunity ; and, by this means,
he exacted a tribute from every European power
fpr a permissipn to trade. To subdue such a dan
gerous eneray to comraerce, adrairal "Watson and
colonel CUve saUed intp his barbpur pf Gariah,
thpugh they sustained a warm fire as they passed,
and sppu threw aU his fleet and his fort inlo flames.
The next day ihe fort surrendered at discretion,
where the conquerors found a large quanlity pf
yvarlike stpres, and effects to the value pf one hun
dred and thirty thousand pounds.
From this conquest Mr. CUve went on to take
revenge for the" treatment of die EngHsh at Cal-
¦^ciitta, and abputUie beginningpf December arrived
at Balaspre, in the kingdera pf Bengal. There was
but smaU opposition raade lo the fleet, or the array,
till they came before Calcutta, the scene of former
cruelty; but aS soon as the admiral, with two ships.

GEORGE II. l65
arriv-ed before the town, he received a furious fire
from all Ihe batteries. 'This, however, he returned
with stiU greater execulion, and in less than two
hours the place was abandoned. Thus by the con
quest of this and the former fortress, the EngUsh
became possessed ofthe two strongest settlemenls on
die banks of tiie Ganges. Soon after these successes,
Hughly, a city of greal trade, was reduced -with as
little difficulty, andallllie viceroy of Bengal's store
houses and granaries destroyed. This barbarous
prince, incensed at these losses, assembled an array
of ten ihousand horse and fifleen thousand foot,
fully resolved to expel the EngUsh out of his domi
nions. Upon the first inteUigence of his march,
colonel Clive begged of the admiral a reinforce
ment of men fromthe ships; and six hundred sea
men were accordingly soon added to his little army.
The numerous forces of the viceroy of Bengal ap
peared, and colonel Clive advanced in three co
lumns to attack him. But, though the forces -were
so seemingly disproporlioned, witii respect lo num
ber, the victory soon declared in favour of the Eng
lish commander. In fact, what could timid Asia
tic soldiers do against European troops, hardened
by war, and inured lo all the vicissitudes of -cli
mate ? AU the customs, habits, and ojiinions, of
the Asiatics, lend lo enfeeble the body, and effemin
ate the mind. When we conceive a body of men
led up to the attack, dressed in long sUk garments;
with no other courage than lhat inspired by opium,
with no other fears from defeat but that of chang
ing their mode of slavery; their chief commander
mounted on an elephant, and consequentiy a more
conspicuous object for aim ; their artillery drawn
by oxen, irapatient and furious upon the sUghtest
wound; every soldier utterly unacquainted with
that cool intrepidily -which provides against dan
ger, aod'only taught to fight by Uie same arls that

l66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
raise their passions; — if we. consider all lliese cir-t-
cumstances, it -wdl be no way sm'prising, if one
or two thpusand Eurppeans-shpuld easily discomfit
thirty dipusand Indians. Arid all the heroism ofa
Cyrus, or an Alexander, in gaining sudi dispro
porlioned victories, yvill no longer be the subjeot
of admiration.
A vicloiy so easily acquirpd by a foreign enemy,
soon rendered tbe viceroy of Bengal contemptible
to his subjects at home. His present cowardice
rendered hira despicable ; his former insolence and
cruelty, odious. A conspiracy was projected against
him by Alikin, his prime minister, and the English,
liaving private intimations of the design, resolved
to seize the opporlimity of seconding it -with aU
their endeavours. Accordingly, colonel Clive
marched forward, took tbe town of Culway in his
march, and soon came up wilh tbe viceroy's army ;
and, afler a short contest, put the whole to flight,
witb terrible alaugbter. AUkin, who lad fii'st
incited his master lo-this undertaking, bad bitherto
condfialed his altacbments, eilher through fear or
perfidy ; but, after this victoiy, he openly espoused
the cause of tbeEnglisb, and wasdierefore splemnly
proclaimed viceroy of Bengal, Bahar, and Orrsa,
in the room of die former viceroy, who was as
solemnly deposed, and soon afler put to death by
his successor. The new viceroy was not insensible
of the gratitude he oyved the English, for their assist
ance in bis promotion! He granted liberally aU
their demands, satisfied them even to the most ex
tended wish of .avarice, and look eveiy method to
demonstrate his pride in their alUance.
Yet nol the Indians alone, but the French alsoi
submitled to colonel Clive's assiduity and courage,
seconded by the endeavours of the admirals "Wat
son and Pocock. Chadenagore, a French settle
ment higher up the river than Calcutta, of great

¦Oi;0R0E II. 1G7
^strength, and llje, most important of any possessed
by lhat nation in the bay of Bengal, submitted to
the English arms. The goods and raoney found
in the place were considerable; but the chief da
mage the French sustained was in the ruin oftheir
head settlement on the Ganges, by which they liad
long divided the conimei-ce of this part of India.
Thus, in pne campaign, the English, in sorae
measure, became possessors of an immense tract
of country, superior in weallh, fertility, extent,
and number of inhabitants, to raany of Eurojie.
Above two millions slerUng were paid to the com
pany and sufferers at Calcutta; the soldiers and
seamen shared six hundred thousand pounds, and
the English forces became too formidable for resist
ance. Yet, perhaps, this remote power will, one
day, either serve to drain from ihe mother country
all its useful hands, or our victories will serve to
teach the native barbarians to avail themselves of
their numbers, and, by being frequently defeated,
they wiU, at last, learn to conquer.
"The success ofthe English was not a little alarm
ing to the French ministry at home; and it isbelieved
that even the Dutch themselves entertained some
jealousy oftheir growing greatness. A consider
able reinforcement -was therefore sent frora
France, under the command of general tially, an
Irishman, who was reckoned one of the bravest,
yet most whimsical men in the French service;
He had been, from bis earliest years, bred a soldier
of fortune, and carried the miUtary spirit of honour
to its utmost limits, U nder liis guidance tbe Frencli
aSairs seemed, for some time, lo wear a bettei- face-;
he took fort St. Divid's, plundered a town belowg-
ijig to the king of Tanjour, in alliance with the Eng
lish, and after laid siege to his capital. FaiUag ia
his design upon tbis city, he entered the pro-riiice
of Arcot, and prepared for laying siege to Madras,

>6!5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
the chief settlement of our company upon the coast
of Cororaandel. In the siege of this iraportant
fortress a greater variety of difficulties presented
than he had expected. The artiUery of the garri
son was yveU managed, while, on the olher side,
the French acted wilh the utmost timidity ; it was
in vain that tlieir commander exhorted tiiem to
proceed : though a breach was made, and lay open
for fifteen days, no one of them dared lo venture
to the assault. Besides this, they were ill suppUed
with provisions ; and the arrival of a reinforce
ment in the garrison soon after, served to banish
aU hopes of success. After a brisk fire they raised
the siege ; and this miscarriage so entirely depress-.
ed the ardour of the enemy, that they appeared
quite dispirited in almost every ensuing engage
ment. In this manner therefore their affairs went
on decUning, not less by land than by sea. There
were several engagements betvyeen the two fleets,
in which llie French, though superior in number
pf ships and meri, always decUned a decisive en
gagement. But the French were net the enly enemies the
English had to fear in this part of the wprld ; the
jealousy of the Dulch was excited by our repealed
successes, and llie lale extension of our power. As
diis dispute, however trifling it may seem, raay,
hereafter, be of gi-eater consequence, I shaU be
more particular in my relajicn of it.
Under a pretence of reinforcing their garriscxns
in Bengal, the Dulch equipped an armaraent of
seven ships, which \vas ordered to sail up fhe
Ganges, and render their fprt, at a place called
Chinsura, se fprraidable, as to be able Ip bid de
fiance to the ppwer pf Britain, and thus secure tp
themselves the trade for siiltpelre, which this place
afforded. This design, hewever, cplonel Clive
dipught it incumbent on him, if ppssible, tp defeat ;,

GEORGE II. 1S9
and sending the Dulch commander a letter, he'
informed him Uiat he could not permit his landing;
and marching forces to Chinsura. To this mes
sage the Dutchman replied, that he had no siich
designs as were impuled to him ; and he only re
quested liberty to land his troops lo refresh them,
wliich -yvas readily granted. He made these con
cessions, however, only till he knew that the ships,
wluch were to second his operations, were come up
the river, and then, throwing off the mask, he be
gan his march lo Chinsura, ancl took several small
vessels belonging to the EngUsh, to retaliate for the
affront he pretended to have sustained in being
denied permission to proceed. 'Whether, upon
this occasion, the Calcutta Indiaman was sent out
to interrupt their progress, or was only pursuing
iis way homeward, is not dearly known ; but cer
tain it is, that the Dutch commander threatened to
sink it, if it presumed to pass him. The English
captain seeing them point their guns, as if they
really resolved lo put their threats in execulion,
returned to Calcutta, where two other India ships
lay at anchor, and reported his adventure to colo
nel Clive, who instantly ordered the three India-
men to prepare for battle. . The Dutch fleet were
nol remiss in advancing lb meet them. After a
few broadsides, hoyvever, the Dutch commodore
struck, and the rest of his fleet followed the ex
ample. The victory being thus obtained vrithout
any loss to the English, captain WUson, who com
raanded in the expecUtion, took possession of the
prizes, which had greatly suffered, and the cre-ws
vvere sent prisoners lo the English fort. In the
mean time their land forces, which amounted
to eleven hundred men, were totaUy defeated by
colonel Ford, sent upon that duty by Clive. A
considerable part were killed, and the rest made
prisoners of war. During this contest, the nabob
Vol. II. H

i'JO HISTORY OF E-NGLA-ND,
preserved a suspicious neutraUty, ready, as it sbould
seem, to join with the conquerors. Forluiie, liow-
.e^'er, no sppner determined in favour pf Uie Eng
lish, {ban he pffered them his services, and prpfessed
himself ready tp demoUsh the Dulch fortifications
of Clunsura. This contest was represented in very
different lighls lo the respective governments at
home : die Dutch declaimed against the English
oppressing aU who altempted lo trade in the Iii'-
dies ; while the EngUsh, on the other hand, re--
minded .the Dutch of Uieir former cruelties, .and
oftheir desire of gain, even at the expence of es'ery
moral iObUgation. Hovs'ever, soon after, a nego
tiation ensued ; tbe Dutch, wisely gave way to a
power they were unable lo withslancL A freaty
was concluded, and peace was restored, seemingly
to the satisfaction of bolh parties. Such was the
lermination ofthis contest^, which probably con
tains Uie seeds of future dissension. The Dutch
wUl, upon aU occasions, think it aUowable lo in
crease their power in India to wbatgver pitch they
think proper ; and die English ¦wiU .ever find it
their interest to repel them.. It may thus happen,
lhat tbe amity of tbe two powers in Europe will
not be sufficient to preserve unanimity in so dis
tant a part of the world. In ibis manner, whUe
Greal Britain puis an end to one war, she often lays
the foundation for another ; for extended empire
.ever produces an iricreasing necessity ,of defence..
Our success against Uie French on the coast of
Coromaudel y\'^as nol less conspicuous. Our troops
were headed by colonel Coote, a native of Ireland,
a man of piudence aud bravery ; he marched
against general Lially ; look die city of \A'^aiideri-
wash in his waj* ; i-educed Carangoly, a fortress
commanded by colonel O'Kennedy ; and, sl
length, came vp wiih the French general, who
was equally desirous of the engageiueal. Jt is

GEORGE II. 171
remarkable enough, that the commanders on either
side were countrymen ; but this did not in the least
abate their altachment to the different crowns
they served. In ihe morning early the French ad
vanced within three quarters of a raile of ihe Eng
lish Une, and the cannonading began with great
fury on bolh sides ; the engagement continued
wilh much obstinacy till about two in the after
noon, when the French gave way and fled Ip-ward
their camp ; which, however, they as quickly
abandoned, and left their cannon and the field of
battle to the conquerors. Their losing the cily of
Arcot was the consequence of this victorj'- ; and
nolhing now remained to thera, of all their vast
possessions in India, but Pondicherry, their strong
est, largest, and raost beautiful selllement. This
capital ofthe French Indian power, in the clays of
its .prosperity, exceeded all other European settle
ments there, in trade, opulence, and splendor,
and was stiU the repository of aU the French wealth
which remained afler repeated defeats. As seon
as the fortresses adjacent te this iraportant place
were reduced, colonel Coote sat do-wn before it,
resolved upon the blockade by land, wliUe admiral
Stevens shut up iheir haibour by sea.
A regular siege was, at that lime, impracticable,
from the periodical rains wliich in that climate
were soon expecled lo obstruct such operations.
These disadvantages were even sufficient to repress
any attempts whatsoever ; but, notwiUistanding the
inclemency of the climate, the English commander
continued before the place for fuU seven montfig.
Neither rains nor stcn-ms were in the least able to
abate their assiduity ; Uiey .continued Uie siege, and
pressed the garrison in such a manner, that they
were reduced to the most extreme distress. Lally,
however, was resolutely bent on suffering eveiy
calamity, rather than yield this last stake of French
H 2

»7^ HISTORY or ENGLAND,
power in India ; though his soldiers w6re obliged
to feed on dogs and cats, and even bought such
wretched provisions extremely dear (eight crowns
lia^ring been given for the flesh of a dog), yet still
he determined to hold out. In the midst of tiiis
distress, fortune seemed to give an opportunity of
relief, had it been properly seconded. In the be
ginning pf January, one pf Uipse terrible storms
which are common in ihose climates, but of whose
violence we can have but littie idea in Europe,
yvrecked a large part of the English fleet that was
blocking up the harbour of Pondicherry. This
was a blo^w which once more elevated the hopes
of fhe despairing garrison. The gpverner npyy
flattered himself with the hojDe of being supplied
wilh provisions ; and once more animated lus sol
diers, long sunk by disease, famine, fatigue, and
yninlerrupled adversity. He iraraediately wrote
Id one of the French residents at a Dutch settle
ment for instant assistance ;-his eager irapalience
appears in the letter he sent. The English squa-
dr'on is no more. Sir. Of the twelve ships they
had in our road, seven are lost, crews and all ; the
other four dismasted, and no more than one fri
gate has escaped - — lose not an instant in send
ing boats after boats loaded with rice. — The
saving of Pondicherry has heen in your power
once already ; this opportunity neglected, the fault
will he all yours. Offer great rewards. — In four
days I expect seventeen thousand Marattas. — In
short, risk all, attempt all, force all, and send us
some rice, should it he but half a garse at a time,
This singular letier, however, was intercepted ;
and, in less than four days, he had the mortification
to behold admii-al Stevens again appearing in the
harbour, who had repaired his losses with aU pos
sible celerity ; and the blockade now became as
complete as ever. SlUl, however, he made no pror

GEORGE II. 17-?
p'oaal to surrender, wliUe the siege was carried on
by his countryman -with redoubled alacrity ; and,
al lengih, he found his troops half corisumed with
fatigue and famine, a breach made in the rampa'i f,
and not more than one day's prorisioii of any kind
remaining. He was now reduced to an extreraily
that Would admit of no hesitation ; a signal y^ as
therefore made to cease hostilities: the principal of
ihe Jesuits, together with two cirilians, came Out,
and offered terms of capitulation. Lally, however,
could not be prevailed upon to offer any terms :
he sent a paper filled with reproaches against ihe
EngUsh, to colonel Coote ; and alledged,- lhat he
would not treat wilb an enemy upon the honor
able terms of -war, who had already forfeited his
honour in several instances. He iherefore suffered
llie English troops to take possession ofthe place,
but refused to surrender it in the usual forms. This
conquest terminated the power of France in
IncUa ; the whole trade of that vast peninsula,
from the Indus lo the Ganges, became oUr own.
The princes ofthe country knew the English force,
and learned to fear il. Since that tirae nothing
considerable has been done against us. Our East
India eoinpany' has become the arbiters of em-
I^ire. The Mogul himself has been defeated and
laken prisoner. The British empire begins to -vii.-
even wilh that of ancient Rome ; the extent of iis
dominions on land is as vride, and its force at sea
is infinitely greaier. Happy if we know when fo
bound our successes ! happy if we can dislinguish
between victories and advantages y if we can be
convinced, that when a nation ^liines brightest wilh
conquest, it may then, Uke a wasting taper, be only
hastening to decay .'

H 5

1 74 HISTORY OF ENCJLANto,-
LETTER LXVL
Victory, which thus first dawned uppn us frpm.
die East, seemed to extend even tp Eurppe and
America. But some steps led to these successes
-which had been long wished for ; and, at length,,
were effected. The aflairs of -war were directed
by a ministry which seemed utterly unequal to the
weight and importance of such a charge ; they
were but feebly held togelher among each other,.
and clamoured againit by the united voice ofthe
2ieople. It had long been their, raelhod to rule by
party; and, surrounding the throne, it -was said,.
diey altempted only to fiU the royal ear with what
ever suggestions they thought most to their interests..
When any new measure was proposed;, which,
could not receive their approbation.; or any new;
member was introduced into government, whom
they did not nominate ; it was their method to,
ihrp-w up their places, witb- a- secret vievs-of re
suming diem vrilh greater lustre. Thus all hope
of preferment was to be expected only from. them ;
pubUc fav^ours were conferred- only for private-
services ; they were' thought to govern in the se
nate and in the field : fhe strenglh of the crown
was actuaUy decUning ; diat of the people was
scarce any more ; wliUe aristocracy filled up eve
ry avenue lo ihe Uiroiie with pride, ignorance,
ancl faction.
The stale of the king and nation, at that time,
was truly deplorable : Uie defeat of Braddock in
America, the loss of Oswego, the delay of arma
ments, the absurd destination of fleets and ar
mies, all served to reduce the people almost to a_
state of desperation, and brought addresses to the
king from every part ofthe kingdom. The general

OEOiiGE rr.' 175^
¦^olce yvas, at length, too loud not to reach the
dirone ; and the ministry were, at length, obliged
to admit sorae men into a share ofthe government,
whose talents ancl integrity might, in some mea
sure, counterbalance their cJwn deficiency. At
the head of these newly introduced were Mr. PiU
and Mr. Legge ; the former of these was appointed
secretary of state, the other chancellor of the ex
chequer. The people had high expectations from
their abUities, and, in the end, they were not dis
appointed. The pleasure of the nation, however, was but of
short continuance : a'ministry composed of such-
jarring principles could not lorig continue united,
being constiluted of persons espousing different
measures,- and actuated by differe^it motives. The
old junto courted the sovereign's favour by their "
pretended altachment- to his foreign dorainions ;
the new daraOiired against all continental con
nections, as utterly incompatible -vrith the inleresf
of the nation; Both, perhaps, might have been
-wrong ; but it is obrious lhat these sentiments ¦were
sufficient to sink the latter in tbe royal esteem j
and ihisdislike was art fully kept np, and increased
by their old rivals in povver. A few^ j -n Ki
months, iherefore, after Mi*. Pitt had ¦'^' '^oo-
been put into office, he was obliged to resign the
seals by his majesty's command ; and Mr. Legge
was dismissed frora being chancellor of the ex-
choc|uer. The old rainistry now thought them
selves secure in the unmolested possession of former
povver ; but this vei-y step -which they took for
their own - security, turned out to them as unfor
tunate as tiiose they planned for the public were
unsuccessful. The whole nation seemed to rise
up as one man in vindication of lhat part of the
ministry that was lately excluded ; and the king,
at lengih, theiis^ht proper to' comply wilh the
H 4

176 HISTOEY or ENGLAND,
general spUcilalipn. Mr. Pitt and Mr, Legge werq
again restpred, and a train pf successes sepn began
to dignify their designs.
Fpr spme lime, hewever, the measures planned
by the fprmer ministry were pursued in America;
and Uipughthe EngUsh weresuperier to the enemy,
yet still they feltaU theincpnveniencecf irresplule
cpuncils and ill-planned pperatipiis. Our wpmen
and children in that part pf the -wprld were exposed
tp the unparaUeled cruelty of the Indian savages ;
and, what is stiU more remarkable, two thousand
Britons, with arms in their hands, continued lame
spectators of these inhumanities. Bad success ever
produces complaint on aU sides; and England now
heard nothing but invective and accusation. The
generals sent over to manage fhe operations of -war,
loudly accused the timidity and the slowness ofthe
natives, who were to unite in their oyvn defence ;
the natives, on the contrary, as warmly expostu
lated against the pride, avarice, or incapacity, of
those sent over lo coramand them. General Shirley,
who was appointed to that command, had been su
perseded by lord Loudon ; and this nobleman soon
after returning to England, three several comman
ders were put at the head of separate operations :
the most important, being that designed against
cape Breton, was coramanded by general Amherst.
The taking possession ofthis island, and its fortress,
was a conquest greatiy wished by aU our colonies,
as it bad -always been a convenient harbour lo the
enemy, which from thenceannoyed our trade vvith
impunity. It was also a convenient situation for
carrying on their fisheiy ; a branch of commerce
of the utmost benefit to the French nation. The
fortress of Louisburgh was strengUiened wilh aU the
assislance of art ; the garrison was numerous ; the
commander vigilant; and every precaution taken
to prevent a descent. An account ofthe opera-(|

GEOKGE II. .177
"lions of a siege is led ious ; be it sufficieint to say, lhat
the English surmounted every obstacle vrilh the
most amazing intrepidity ; their forraer timidity
seemed now converted into persevering resolution :
the place was surrendered by capitulation ; and
our troops, long used to disappointment and re
pulse, began to boast 6f victory in their turn.
Two other operations were carried on in Ame
rica at the same time : the one, under general A ber-
crombie, against Crown Point and Ticonderago ;
the other, more to the southward, against fort Du
Quesne. The latler expedition was successful ; but
lhat against Crown Point and Ticonderago was at
tended with the customary b'ad fortune. This was
now the second time thatthe English army had at
tempted to penetrate inlo those nideous -wilds, by
which nature had secured the French encroach
ments in that reraote part of America. Braddock-
fell in the atterapt : his rashness contributed to his
defeat ; and too much caution, perhaps, -was the fan] t
of his successor. Much time was spent in march
ing to the place of action ; and the enemy were
thus perfectly prepared to give the English troops a
warm reception. They were found intrenched
under the fori of Ticonderago, behind a breast
work raised" eight feet high, and stUl farther secured-
by felling trees, with their branches poiriting out
ward. These difficulties, however; the English at
tempted to surmount ; but as the enemy, being
Secure themselves, took aim at leisure, a terrible
carnage ofthe assailants ensued, and, the general,
after repealed efforts, was obUged ,lo order a re
treat. The English army, however, was stiU supe
rior to that ofthe enemy, and' might, it was sup
posed, have gone onward with success, if supported
by their artillery, which had not yet arrived : but
the general felt too sensibly the terrors ofthe late;
defeat, lo remain in the vicinity ofa victorious^
H 5

IJ^S' HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
enemy ; he therefore reimbarked his troops, and
returned to his camp at Lake George, from
whence he had taken his departure.
The success of this campaign, however, was, .
upon ihe whole, gready in favour of the English.
The taking of fort Du Quesne served to remove.
from ¦ our colonies the' terror of the incursions of
the barbarians, -and interrupted that continued
correspondence, -which, by a chain efforts, one-
part ofthe French jsetdements had -with the other.
The ministry too discovered a .spirit of -rigorous -
resolution hitherto unknown in diis part of the.-
world; and the next campaign .promised more
briUiant successes. .
AccorcUngly, in the opening ofthe next session,
J -f. r the ministry seeraed sensible, that a,
• 7 9* single effort, carried in suoh vride ex- -
tended dominions, -would never biiiig the enemy-
into subjection ; it was iberefore resolved lo attack,.
ihem in several different parts ofthis extensive em- -
pireatonce. Preparations were accordingly made, .
and expeditions went forward against three difie
rent parts of die northem continent of America. _
General Amherst, commander in cliief, with a
body of twelve thousand men, was lo attack Crown .
Point, lhal had hidierto been the reproach of the:
EngUsh army; general \"N'olfe was, at the opposite
q narter,tp enter fhe river St. Lawrence,and under
take the siege pf Quebec, the capital pf die French.
dpminipns in ihis part pf die world ; while general:
Prideaux and Sir WiUiam Johnson were to attempt ,.
a fort nearthe calaract of Niagara. This last exper-
dition was the first that was successful. The fort of
Niagara was a place of great impprlance, and servecL
tp cpmmand all the communication between the
nprlhern and western French settiements. The
siege was soon comraenced by the EngUsh, but
general Prideaux w^is kUled iu ihe-trenches by ihe.

GEORGE' II. • 1^9
bursting of a cohorn ; so lhat the whole .successf'of
the expedition fell to general Johnson, and his good
fortune. He omitted nothing to promote the vigor
ous measures of his predecessor, but added all his
own popularity. The French knew the impor
tance ofthis fort, and altempted fo relieve it. John
son attacked thera -with his usual intrepidity and suc
cess ; in less than an hour their whole army -was
put to the rout, and the garrison, beholding the
defeat oftheir countiymen, surrendered prisoners
of war. • Nor was general Amherst less successful,
ihough -vrithout meeiing an enemy ; in his marcb"
tp Crpwn Point:, he found both tbat fort and Ticon
derago deserted and destroyed-. There now, there
fore, reraained but one grand and decisive blow
fo put all Norlh America in possession ofthe Eng
lish. This was the' taking of Quebecj a-city hand
somely built, populous, and flourishing. Admiral
Saunders coraraanded the naVal part ofthe expe
dition ; that"by land was coramitted to the conduct
of general "Wolfe. This young soldier, who wa?^
not yet thirty-five, had distinguished himself on
many former occasions; particularly in the siege
of Lpuisburgh, a part of the success of which Was =
justly ascribedto him, whp, vrilhput being indebted
fo famUy or connections, had raised himself by
merit to his present command. - The war in this
part ofthe world had hitherto been carried on
with extreme barbarity.- "Wolfe, however, dis
dained these base proceedings, and carried on aU
the terrors of war with the humanity of a truly ci-
riUzed European. A description of the siege pf this •
cily may instruct a soldier, but can scarcely inform
a- citizen ; be il sufficient te pbservej lhal its begin
ning appeared extremely unpromising tp the besie*
gers, and repeated repulses even served to abate
the hopes ofthe coraraander. / k?ww, said he, that<
the affairs of Great Britain require the most vigors
n-6-

HISTORY OF ENGLANB,

OUS measures ; but then the courage ofa handful
of brave men should be exerted only where there
is some hope- of a favourable event. At present
the diffvcultim are so various, that I am at a loss
how to determine. However, he resolved, though
now sinking under fatigue and sickness, to make
one %Tigorous attempt before he gave up aU ; and
accordingly, in ihe night, part ofhis troops made
themselves masters of a hUl that commanded the
town. A battle ensued : Montcalm, the French
ceramander, resplved npt lo survive the defeat of
his country; Wolfe, on the other side, resolved lo
conquer or die. Both coraraanders had their wish ;
bofb feU : but the EngUsh were rictorious. The
circumstances attending the dealh of Wolfe, serv
ed to give an example hke that of Uie noble The-
ban. He,. in the beginning of the engagement,
received a vsound in. the hand, which he dissem
bled, wrapping it round wilh his handkerchief to
stop the effusion of blood : he advanced with un
concern : a second baU was more fatal ; it pierced
his breast, so that, unable to proceed, he leaned
on die shoulder of a soldier yvho was near him.
Now, strug-gUng in the agonies of dealh, and just
departing, he beard a voice cry. They run ; he
seemed to revive a moment althe sound, and ask
ing who ran, y^-as informed the French : express
ing his wonder lhat they ran so soon, and unable
to gaze any longerj he sunk on the soldier's breast,
and his last -words were, / die. happy ..Ferhapsthe
loss of such a man was greater to the nation llian
the conquering of all Canada was advantageous ;
bui^ it is the misfortune of humanity, lhat we can
never know true greatness liU lhat moment when
we are going lo lose if.
The sui-render of the city was the consequence
of this victory, and, wiUi it, Uie total cession of
aU Canada. The French, it is true, made in the

GEORGE II. ibl
ensuing season a vigorous effort to retake it ; but, by
the good conduct of our governor, the town held
out till relieved by an English fleet, under the cora
mand of lord Colville. Thus did this campaign
make ample reparation <.for all the losses that had
been hilherto sustained by the EngUsh. The French
had now no force capable of making any resistance ;
tbey held out the war now, not wilh hopes of vic-
tpry, but honorable capitulation. One place after
another was invaded : Montreal, at last, surren
dered ; and, in a short tirae, a country, wbich theit
own writers have represented as being more ex
tensive than the Roman empire, feU totally under
the power of his Britannic majesty.
How far the extending dominion tends to the
increasing the strength of a nation, is an object
worthy consideration. The splendor of rictpry
should never dazzle the eye of reason. No people
ever could call their Country powerful,, if it were
not populous : for political force depends upon the
small frontier to be defended, and the vicinity of
an army to every place to be invaded; but ex
tended empire lakes away both these advantages,
and, before the soldier can traverse half his proper
territories, his country may have already fell aU
the horrors of invasion. "Whatever joy therefore
our country mighl have fqlt at these iraraense ac-
qm"sitions of remole lerritory, I own if gives me no
very pleasing prospect. The manufactures, the
trade, and the riches of these distant counlries, can
never recompence for the continual drain of use
ful and industrious subjects, that raust be derived
frora Uiemothercountry to people thera. Wherever
the lower sort of people in any kingdora can fly
from labour, they vrill be ready to gp; yet upon
the industry ancl valour of ihese alone, every king
dom raust hope for security. Noitlie efferainate and
the luxurious can defend Uieir countrj' in the day of

l?i-i HISTORY OF ENGEAW°D';
battle ; they raay increase timidity by their example, -
but opulence, can never give true reUef. The
Spaniards and the Portuguese were much more
powerful before Uiey divided their strength into all-
the torrid climates of Southern America. The
slate thus got rich, but lost men; they had gold,
bul could not regain industry. Thus are their
nations now incapable of defending themselves
against jiowerful foreign invasion. The iraraense
-wealth ofthe Indies, thai every year coraes home to *
their ports, goes to enrich a, few ; their subjects are '
eilher in the extrerae of weallh or poverty : the •
rich have only' slaves beneath them, who hate those ¦
for whom they must labour; the poor have no •
acquisitions nor property to defend ; so that their
arraies are composed eidier of wretches pi-essed into '
ihe service, who only seek for opportunities not to
fight, but to fly; or of.men, rich and noble, cou
rageous from pride, yet -weak from luxury. Such
is not, as yet, the case of England, nor wiU ever
be, if a passion for conquest is not mistaken for
natipnal prosperity.
LETTER LXVII.
The successof our arms in America was achieved'
by moderate efforts ; on the contrary, in Europe,
the efforts that were made, and the operations of
our great ally die king of Prussia, were astonish
ing, yet produced no very signal effects. Safety
was aU that could be expected ; and this was secured
contrary fo aU human expectation. You have just
seen that monarch surrounded- by enemies the
greatest and most formidable powers of Europe ;
you have seen almost the whole power of the con--
tinent'utiited against and hovering over his devoted
dominions; and the only allies that remained-. to---

GEORGE II. l85
hiin bound by treaty to retire, and give bim no
assistance. In this terrible situation he stiU adhered
to his fortitude, and, relying on his naluralsubjects
alone, resolved never to abandon his claims. Such
Was the desperate condilioh of hisi aflairs; yet they
were sliU rendered more hopeless, when he was
informed, that his only friend, the ra.onarch of that
generous people which had hitherto suppUed him
with money and stores, was going, lo forsake him,
and leave hira lo irremediable ruin. It was thus
be expostulated vrith the doubling monarch upon
this occasion : Is it possible that your majesty can
have so little fortitude and constancy, as to be
dispirited by a small reverse of fortune ? Are
our affairs so ruinous that they cannot be repair
ed ? Consider the step you Itave made me under
take, and remember you are the, cause of all my
misfortunes. I should- never have abandoned my
former alliances hut for your flattering assurances.
I. do not now repent of the treaty concluded be
tween us ; hut I intreat you will not ingloriously
leave me at the mej-cy of. my enemies, after having
brought upon me all the powers of Europe. Th*e
French and ImperiaUsts, after a successful suraraer
campaign, -were at this time, which was the depth
of -winter, set down lothe siege of Leipsic. His
Prussian majesty dreaded the capture of this im
portant city, and soon, unexpectedly, seemed to
rise up before it. Such was the terror of his arms, ,
even vanquished as he had been, that his approach-
raised the siege, and fhe French, though superior'
in number, retreated. He at lengih overlook -
thera at a. -riUage called Rosbach, and gained so
complete a victory, that night alone saved their
whole army from destruction. The Austiians were,
ia another part of the empire, still victorious, and
had taken the prince of Bevern, his generalissimo,
prisoner. The king, after adreadful marcbof two

1 84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
hundred mUes, in the depth pf winler, carae up
with them near Breslau, disppsed his inferipr forces
with his usual judgment, and pbtained anoUier
bloody victory, in which he tppk np less than fif
teen thpusand prispners. Breslau, with a garrison
of ten thousand men , surrendered soon after.
These successes dispirited the enemy, and raised
his allies lo-new hopes. *f
After the capitulation of Closter- Seven was
signed between the duke of Cumberland and the
duke of Richelieu, both sides began to complain
of infractions. The Hanoverians accused the ra
pacity of ibe French general, and fhe insolent bru
taUty ofhis soldiers ; whUe the French retorted the
charge of insurrection against them, and began lo
think of treating as a conquered enemy those
whom they had only hound by treaty as neutrals.
Treaties have never been preserved longer than
interest or compulsion bound thera ; political faith
is a word wiUiout raeaning. The French oppressed
the Hanoverians ; the latter resuraed their arms ;
and each side complained, as usual, of infraction.
A general was not long wanting to assemble the
coUecting army. Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick
put himself at their head, began by sku-mishing
with success ; and, at last, tbey were in a capa
city of becoming formidable to their late victors.
From this time the king of Prussia fought the ene
my upon more equal terms than ever ; often vic
torious, soraetiraes repulsed ; bul ever active and
formidable. To name his victories, die towns
he took, the dangers he escaped, and the losses he
suffered, would take up more time than I should
choose to grant to such accounts, or you should
bestow. Never was the art of war carried to such
a pilch as by him. In this war, Europe saw, with
astonishment, campaigns carried on in the midst
of winter; great and bloody battles fought, yet

GEORGE ir. l85
producing no visible advantage lo the victors. At
np tirae since the days of heroism were such num
bers destroyed, so many towns laken, so many
skirmishes fought, such stratagems practised, or
such intrepidity shown. Armies now Were con
sidered as coraposirig one single machine, directed
by the general, and animated with one vrill. From
the comnientary of these campaigns, succeeding
generals will take their lessons for devastation, and.
improve in the arts of increasing human calamity.
England was, all this time, happily retired from
the calamities which drenched the rest of Europe
in blood ; yet, from her naluial military eagerness,
she seemed desirous of sharing those dangers of
which she -was only a spectator. This passion for
carrying on a continental war, was nol less pleas
ing lo tfie monarch from his native attachments,
than to the people frora their natural propensity
to arms. As soon as it was known lhat prince
Ferdinand had put himself at the head ofthe Ha
noverian array, his Britannic raajesty, in a speech
at the opening of the session of parliament, ob
served that the late successesin Germany had given
a happy turn to his affairs, which it -would be
necessary lo improve. The commons iherefore
granted Uberal suppUes bolh for the serrice of Uie
kingof Prussia, and for enabling the army formed
in the electorate of Hanover to act rigorously in
conjunction wilh him. Soon afler it was con.si-
dered, tbat men would be a more grateful supply
than money. The minister, who had first come
into power and popularity by opposing such raea
sures, was now prevaUed upon to enter into thera
-with even greater ardour dian any of his 23rede-
cessors. The hopes of putting a speedy end to the
war by vigorous raeasures, his connections, and,
perhajis, the pleasure he found in giving his ma
jesty pleasure, incited hira eagerly into a conti-

l8G HIStORY OP ENGLAND,
iienfal war. It is certain no minister could more
powerfuUy second a warUke monarch's intentions.
That spirit of enterprise which had, in a measure,
taken birlh with his administration, began to over
power all obstacles. The passion for mflilary ho
nour seemed diffused through aU ranks of people;
and il only wanted a channel in -which to flow.
In order .to indulge this general inclination, the
dnke of Marlborough was sent into Germany with
a small body of British forces to assist prince Fer
dinand, where they behaved with bravery, and
conspired in promoting that prince's successes,
Each ricfory they gained, hpwever, pnly served as
a pretext tp caU pver new forces from Britain,
while the EngUsh ministry -were taught to believe
that every last battie weuld be aecisive. The battle
pf Crevelt was fought, in- which the Hannverians-
and English had the advantage ; but it prnduced
np eflect. The -rictory pf Minden fpUpwed ; but
laurels seemed aU that England reaped frem the
conquered field;- After these two -rictpries- it was-
supposed, that one reinfprcement pf British trppps
-would terminate the war in eur favour ; a rein
forcement was therefore sent. The British army in
Germany now amounted to abpve thirty thpusand
men, yet no advantage of any consequence was-
the result of this formidable assistance. • War was
ihe trade of some generals, and it raust be aUowed
a gainful trade it was. Let rae iherefore again
pass over this continued repetition of marchings,
skirraishes, and rencounters, nor load the page
wilh naraes of Gerraan generals, too difficult- to
be pronounced by an English longue, and equally
grating to a patriot ear. The victories of either
side mighl, in fact, be considered as a compact by
Avhich something was to be lost on eilher side, and
no advantage to be acquired. The English, at
lengih, began to open iheir eyes to their own in-

CEOllGE n. 187
terest ; nor could all Uie splendors of victory so far
bUnd thera, as not to see that they were waging
unequal war, and assuraing:new loadsof taxes for
conquests ihey could neilher preserve nor enjoy.
Such were the growing discontents of the people,
when Uie king, who had inspired these measures,
unexpectedly died.
On the twenty-fifth of October, 1760, George II,
without- any previous disorder, was found by his
domestic servants expiring in his chamber.. He
had arisen al his usualhour, and observed to his
attendants, that, as the weather was fine, he would
walk out. In a few minutes after this, being left
alone, he was -heard lo fall down upon the floor.
The noise of his faU broughl bis allendanls inlo
the room, yvho Ufted him into bed, where he de
sired, in a faint voice, lhat the princess AmeUa
might be sent for ; but before her arrival, be ex
pired, in. the 77lh year of his age, and in the 33d
of his reign, in the midst of viciory, and at that
^-ery period -when the universal .enthusiasm of con--
quest began lo subside into more sober reflections.
If -any monarch was happy inthe peculiar mode
and time of his dealh, it was he. The factions
which had been nursing in his reign, had not yet
come to maturity; and all their virulence threat
ened to fall upon, his successor. He was himself
of no shining abilities ; and, consequently, while
he was suffered to guide his German dominions, he
entrusted the care of Britain to his ministers at
horae. Ho-wever, as we stand too near this mo
narch lo view his real character -without partiality,
take the following characters of him, by tWcTwrilers
pf ppppsile sentiments.
cc As Ip the extent pf his understanding » ( says
one ) cc pr the splendpr pf his virtue, -we rather
» -wish for ppportnnities of praising, than under-
» lake the task purselves. His public characier -was

'88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
» marked with a predilection for his native coun-
» try, to -which he sacrificed all other motives. »
On the other hand, says his panegyrist, cc On
» whatever side we look upon his character, we
» shall find ample matter for -just and unsuspected
» praise. None of his predecessors on the Ihrone
» of England hVed to so great an age, or enjoyed
» longer felicity. His subjects were sliU improv-
» ing under him in commerce and arls ; and his
» own economy set a prudent example to the na-
» tion, which, however, they did not foUow. He
» was, in his temper; sudden arid riolent; but
5) this, thcmgh it influenced his behariour, made
» no change in his conduct, which was generaUy
» guided by rpason. He was plain and direct in
» his intentions, true fo his word, steady in his fa
il vour and protection to his servants ; not parting
» even wilh his ministers tiU compelled to it by
» the violence of faction. In short, . through fhe
5) whole of Ufe, he appeared ralher to live for the
5) cultivation of useful rirtues than splendid ones ;
y> and, satisfied wilh being good, left others iheii-
» unenried greatness. »

LETTER LXVnL
'W"hatever the advantages or disadvantages of
the last reign may have been, George III had the
happiness to ascend the throne, when the former
were predominant, when the nation, if tired of
war, which from the present system of finance
had become expensive, were at least flushed with
victory, and when they were, from many circum
stances, prepared to greet the young king vrilh the
most cordial reception, and to flatter him with the
most exalted opinion. It is to be remarked, nor
is there any thing invidious iu the remark, that,

OEORGE III. 189
on such occasions, men act more from feeling than
judgment, and argue raore from hope than expe
rience. The expectations raised on the accession
ofhis majesty, were, however, not altogether with
out foundatipii. He had just reached his twenty-
third year ; his past Ufe was unsullied by public
licentiousness ; his manners were decent, and his
moral character irreproachable. To this was ad
ded, lhat he -was born in the kingdom, and cc glo-
5) ried in the name of Briton ; » the adherents lo
the Stuart family were few and nerveless ; tbe
Hanoverian faraily was established beyond all
possibiUty of successful opposition, and nothii^g
reraained but lo pursue those plans which ga-^e
sjDlendor to the war, and by dint of superiority
obtain frora the enemy conditions of peace equaUy
honorable ancl advantageous lo the nation. His
majesty, accordingly, professed his resolution to
prosecute the war -with vigour, and retained the
minister who had hitherto conducted it, excepting
lord Holdemess (who gave place tp John, earl of
Bute) and Mr,. Legge, chancellor ofthe exchequer.
But the latter of these removals -was attributed to
political intrigue, and it is certain that the eleva
tion of the earl of Bute was viewed vrith jealousy
by the adherents to the "Whig system, Bute had
many virtues; yet it was conceived, that his senti
ments were less favourable to die interests of Uber
ty than could have been wished in one who had
had die superintendance of his prince's education.
It is equaUy certain that, from this raoraent, sus
picions arose in the minds of thinking men, yvhich
appeared, to be in some measure confirrijed by the
subsequent events of this reign.
His majesty's union with the princess Charlotte of
Mecklenburg Slrelitz was celebrated j-r. c
together -with their coronation, vrith ' • " *'
*very demonstration of joy and satisfaction

190 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
throughout the kingdom. "While these domestic
events occupied the minds of the people, Mr. Pitt
pursued the war with unabated -rigour. BeUe-Isle
in Europe, and Pondicherry in the East Indies,
were added lo our conquests, and the caiiture of
Dominica in the "West Indies, reduced fhe French
power to the lowest degree. The nation, however,
became less dazzled by the splendor of victory ;
the expences of the war were enormous ; Germany
was a- perpetual drain to our finances, and the
necessity of a speedy termination to Jiosti'Uties was
beginning to be felt, when a negotiation was ojien-
ed between France and Great Britain ; but so far
was this from being successful, that ihe-war promis
ed a longer duration, and a greater extent. Spain,
deeply meditating fhe Family Compact, betrayed
her (Resigns by what was considered as an imper
tinent interference between the beUigerent po-wers,
and necessarily roused Mr. Pitt ; who seeing at once
the whole of the project, proposed to declare war
against that kingdonj. In this he was opposed by
ihe cabinet councU, but was so confident of ihe
¦rectitude and expediency of the measure, tbat he
resigned in consequence of its failure.
The popularity of Mr. Pitt at this time, notwiih
slanding a seeming inconsistency in his support of
continental connections, was at iis height-; and
while the people, of whom he had long been the
idol, were regretling his loss in the tumultuous
language of popular affection, he shook fhe opi
nions ofthe nation by accejitiriga pension for him
self, and a peerage for his lady. The representa
tions of his friends lo die public endeavoured,
however, lo support his popularity ; arid when,
soon after his resignation, their majesties, accord
ing lo custom, dined at GuildhaU wilh the lord
mayorand ciiizens, Mr. Pitt, pn his entrance irito
die city, was received by the populace with such

GEORGE XII. 191
-Reclamations, as seeraed lo derogate not a little frora
the respect due to their sovereign, who hapipened
tp be an eyewitness of the veneration with which
his late rainister was treated.
Our opinion of hira, indeed, as a shrewd politi-
.cian, takes strength frora the last act of his adrai
nistration. What he foresaw, almost imraediately
took place. The faraily corapact was announced.
England was necessarily drawn into a war wilh
.Spain, ancl Portugal, as fhe friend of England, was
involved almost lo destruction. The influence of
Mr. Pitt's former plans continued. Martinico sur
rendered to our arms, and Spain, in a very few
months, lost the Havannah, ManiUa, and all ihe
Philippine islands. The inhabitants of Manilla
isaved their lives ancl property by engaging tp pay
a ransom of one railUon ; but the Spanish govern
ment had not the honesty to pay the sum, nor our
administration the spirit to enforce il.
"While these successes gave courage to the new
minister, the duke of Newcastle, and die remainder
of those who composed the cabinet of George II,
resigned : the earl of Bute was placed at the helm,
,aiid a change of inferior departments took plape
to a degree so extensive .as to border upon inhu
manity. On the other hand, Mr. Henry Fox was
invited to manage the business, as it is termed, of
the house of coramons. The necessity of corrup
tion in carrying the measures of government into
execution began at this time to be understood.
"Without remarking on a principle which is false
in aU respects, I proceed to state that the adminis
tration -vyas now complete, the enemies of Great
Britain were humbled, and ihe paths lopeace clear
ly marked out. A negotiation -was accordingly
once more begun between the belligerent powers,
by Uie intervention of the king of Sardinia's am
bassador .; the duke of Bedford was sent over tc

ig* HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
Paris, and the duke de Nivernois carae to London •
and at length the definitive treaty of peace' was
Feb. lo ^^^^^^ ^' P*"*' ^y *^6 ^^^^ of Bedford,
J gj ' die duke de Praslin, and the .marquis de
' ¦ Grimaidi. The French gave up aU Ca
nada ; their right to the neutral islands ; the fort
of Senegal ; and their pririlege of fishing on the
coasts of Newfoundland, and the gulph of St. Law
rence, hut at a certain distance from the shore.
Spain, also, gave up on her jiart the extensive coun
try of Florirla. These were great advantages, but
they did not afford universal satisfaction : the par
liament, indeed, had sanctioned the treaty by a
great majority; but ihe adherents lo fhe ex-ministry,
who were neilher few in number, nor inconsi
derable in talents, reprobated the peace as inglo
rious, and ifs advantages as delusoiy. You may
read what has been advanced on both sides, and
you wiU find that one of the most urgent motives
a man can have for ifairiking fpr himself, is the
knpwledge that much of what he reads cpiiies frpra
ihe pens pf liireUngs. One nbjectipn to die peace
is however upon record. The regulations respect
ing our North Araerican conquests were so" ira-
perfecfly expressed as to occasion a war of horrid
bloodshed with the Indian nations, -which was not
concluded untfl the siibsecpient year. The go-
•^-ernments instituted in the "West "India islands
and America, were the Grenades, Quebec, and
East and "West Florida. Such -was the lermina
tion of a war, by which Greal Britain acquired
the highest renown as a warlike naiion, but by
which she accumulated immense experice, and
gained territory which diminished her security by
dividing her strength, and at the sarae tirae con-
•tributed lo lessen none of the animosities which
rival nations employ for the purpose of mutual
destruction. '

BEoRbE III, igS
The conclusion of the war was foUpwed by the
dpwnfall of the minister. The estabUshment of
the peace is said lo have been the object of his airi-
bilioh, and, Uial attained, his hopes of pnblic use
fulness were at an end. The talerits of lord Bute
¦w'ere undoubtedly such as would decorate an asce
tic Ufe. in a life of literary leisure, he acquired
dignity, ancl conciliated respect; but his manners
were npt adapted Ip a public situatipn. Npt wholly
averse lo corruption, he kne-w not ho-w to qualify
it, and, with intentions oflen honest and honorable,
he knew not how to recommend ihem. His wis
dom as a statesman -was doubled, and his prin
ciples Were certainly adverse to popular rights.
The first obnoxious aci qf his administration was
a tax upon cider, to be collected in the -way of ex
cise. Over that mode of taxation the people had
always preserved a watchful eye. It was not for
gotten that "Walpole, in the plenitude of power,
was defeated in a similar attempt; ancl allhough
llie cider bill passed into a law, the clamour agairist
it was so great, as to compel the succeeding admi
nistration to repeal it. The people, as I hinted be
fore, disUked lord Bute, and their disUke had now
what it wanted before, a just' foundation. It is
probable; however, lhat this excise bill, Uke others
of more consequence since, might have reraained
in force, and the adrainistration remained whole,
had not an individual started forUi, as the peoiile's
champion, who by his reiterated coraplaints of er
ror and misconduct in the adininisration of public
affairs, created a diss'atisfaction in the public mind
which the minister was neither able nor wilUncr to
wilhsland. This individual was Mr. Jolin "WUkes
a man of raoderate talents, but of great persever
ance, and ^vho possessed all the confidence and
cunning necessary to a public leader. "What his
¦character wanted in virtue was suppUed bv the
Vol. II. I -^

^^i HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
plausibility of his pen. Disappointed in his appii-
xalion for the governorship cif C|iiada, he com
menced a peri(3ical paper cajleij '^Nf»'th ffritoi^,
a series of invectives agajflgt tiie minisiiy, ayad of
obloquy against the §eQtch nation. His co^djlftpr
was Mr. Chgrtes ChHrc};fiU, t|,e v^4ir of vvjipse
jgenius cannot but he acknowJedgfd. ^heprcise
of the one ^nd the poetry of the qtjier k^indled the
^me of p^rly. The minister yii^ded, *nd was
succeeded by Mr. George Grenriile, who began
his adrainisti-aripn by piwgpuiiug Mr, "Wilkes-
This -writer, ip one of bi^ papers, .hi|d asjerled fbat
his majesty's ^speeph ppp^^ijp4 a IHs^Ijopd. The
king's messeMer, by vjrtiie qf a genei;;} warrant,
entered Mr. "VVilies' hoase,agdapprel?pn^^ hjim.
After ^eiftg examined T&^ft>re the spPFSfeiOes of
slate, he was commilted to the Tpwer. His papers
were likewise seized and sealed up, though in the
presence pf liij fiv^ends, an indulgence not usually
granted tp persons apprehesid^d i^ this mannei"-
A few days fiftpr,^ was hrojigbtlp "W#stmiijster
Hall by Habeas corpus, and rele^^d by lo^d ipjjief
justice Pr»lt, in conseqijence of hj? bping ^ mem
ber of ParUaraent. An infor^iatiqin was tljieft filed
against hjm in ^e court pf J^ifig's-beflch, ^if l?eing
the aullipr ciif thV45lh number of the Nprth ^iton.
No ^eans were npw left iijipr^Qtiaed tP svsrelj the
pppular tumwlts, Mr. "WilkfBs c^«i feimself the
champion of lil>ier):y ; Jw? j&ie^ds echped die tifle,
and the p,ep»lp hJ^Ueved hyn, It mu^f Jie (phservgd,
however, that Uifi ppposition, slUipngh not dis
pleased wiUi any ^tejp that Jjeidit^q^ the eiinjste-
rial scale, ^Uowedlum lofighMiJsowfl battles, and
ihe ad^r^of the corporation of Loijdon, pre^nt-
ed at ihj^ tiine, declared Uieir abliorrenpe pf the
rising spirit jpf fa.cfipn. The parljameijt .qrclered
the seditio.us paper to be burnt tjy the common
hangmfin., ah oper^tioiji that pj:ciii8iojijed a riot.

OEORGE III. 190
which was nol in itself dangerous, but served lo
discover the spirit of the populace. Mr. "Wilkes
was afterward expelled from the house of cpm-
mona, and found it prrident lo retire to the con-
linenl. The violeace and intemperance pf party
never appeared in a Ught so disgracefril as at
this period ; but however contemptible the origin
of the tumult, the effects were favourable to pubUc
liberty. General -warrarits lost their supposed le
gality, and the seizure Of papers iri censequence pf
such warrants was up fonger tp be practised. I
may remark on the whole proceedings against Mr.
"Wilkes, that, an eager desire to restrain the free
dom of pplitical discussion argues weakness. If
the libeUer advanced a falsehood, it might havo
been refuted to bis shame by a dedaration of th'e
fact. The steps taken to punish him only served
to crown the success of his scheme. He wanted to
be popular, and to gain by his popularity. What
neither his wit, his argument, nor his language
could have done, the unconstilintional seizure ofhis
papers did for him : he wished to be the idol of the
populace, and his enemies bwUt the altar. It must
be observed too, that his cause, when it merged
into the question of general warrants, becarae the
cause of the natipn at large; of raany who despised
him as weU as of the populace, whose ignorance
was deluded by his plausibility. Il remains to be
mentioned, that when he prosecuted the secretary
of stale for seizing his papers-, he obtained a ver
dict of damages. It was on this memorable occa
sion that chief justice Pratt, after pronouncing the
warrant under which Mr. Wilkes was seized, il
legal, cioncluded his speech with ihese words : cc If
» the higher jurisdiction should declare my opinion
» erroneous, I submit, as wiU become me, and
» kiss die rod ; but I must say I shall always con-
» sider it as a rod of iron for the chastiseirient of
I 2

19^ HISTORY OF ENUL.\N»,
» ihe people of Great Britain. » An appeal so
solemn was not without its effect. Justice Pratt
shared in the popularity of the times, and his at
tachment to the liberty of the subject was remem
bered to his honour, long after die interested flat
terers of the people had completely deceived them,
and the mist of popular delusion was no more.

LETTER LXIX.
The administration qf Mr. Grenville, a man
neither ignorant nor indplent, was in all respects
unfpi-tunate. His knpwledge in trade and finances,
whicli his friends very highly exfplled, was guided
by raisrepresentatien, and perplexed vrith errors.
Forgetting the relative dignity of silualion, he made
the naval officers act in the mean capacity of re
venue officers, a ppst which, if it had npt been de
grading, they were not quaUfied to fiU, and in a
short time their precipitanfcy almost ruined fhe
trade carried on bet-ween our American colonies
and the Spanish plantations. Our colonies lost the
specie whicb enabled iheni to make the desired
^remittances to the mother country. The trade,
likewise, bet-ween those cplpnies and the "West In
dia islands began to decline frpm a similar cause.
They sppu felt their distress, and, as the humblest
and mpst mpderate expedient, deterrained fp re
medy, l^ a strict ecpupmy and dpmesfic forbear
ance, these erils which the loss of trade was be
ginning to accumulate, The British ministry were
not insensible that they had gone too far, and enact
ed a law which seemed lo legalize the trade be-
Iw-een the Araerican and olher European cplpnies;
but, in fact, such was the prevailing impnlicy, that
il enjpined duties which almost ampunted tp a prp-
Jii bition, and which, when paid,, were to he paid

fttORGE III. 197
' ' in specie ; for paper bills were not to be offered in
payment. This was unwise in a very great degree,
but the cUmax of ministerial impolicy was to be
wound up by the faraous starap act ; an aci wbich,
Ihough afterward repealed, excited the discussion
ofa cjuestion in which the right pf Uie British par
Uaraent to tax the Araerican colonies was involved.
That right was then firsl denied, and > -p gg
afterward given up by its raost sire,-
nuoiis advocates, as nol to be defended on just priii'-
ciples of free goy-ernment. But it was unfortu
nate to hazard it. The Americans were more than
aft'ected in their commerce by the subsequenl re
peal of the stamp act. The act itself was rash,
and inflamed their passions; the repeal of it was
a Symplon of weakness, and shook Uieir loyalty
and obedience. In the chain cf causes which se
parated the colonies frora the raother country, ihis
must be considered as the first link.
The ministry were at this time confiding in their
security^ wheri some actions proceeding from this
excess of confidence hastened their downfall. In
the arrang'eraent ofa regency bill, to provide fbr
the klng'.s illness, they showed a marked disrespect
toward the princess dowager of "SVales, his ma--
jesty's raolher, by excluding her highness fiom any
share in the regency. They dismissed the earl of
Bute's brother from the office of keeper of the pri
vy seal in Scodand without being able to assign
any reason. These were actions which could con
ciliate neither the court nor the people. The odium
also which they liad contracted by their unwise
restraints on American commerce was revived by
an insurrection of the journeymen silk weavers
to prevent the importation of French silks. Dur
ing popular administrations^ insurrections are not
heard of.
A changeof ministry was planned and executed
I J

»9& HISTORY OF ENeLAND,
under the auspices ofthe duke of Cumberland, anc^
the marquis nf Rockingham, appeared at the head
¦of an administration composed of men of moderate
whig principles. It was dnring their short stay in-
ppwer lhat tbe stamp and cider acls were repealed,
and by their Ptlier measures respecting colonial
commerce, and their alleviating the burdens of the
pepple_al hpme, franquillity seemed to be restored
to every part ofthe Britiah dominions. They had,
however, no sponer made these salutary provi-
fipns, than their adminub-atinn ceased. The dtike
of Grafton was appointed first lord of ihe freasnrv,
and Mr. Pitt, now created earl of Chatham, accept
ed the office of lord privy seal. Theiir associates in
office were the :earl of Shelbnrne, lord Camden,.
and Mr. Charles Townsend. You have already
.seen that the parties denominated whig and lory
were now mixed, and popular opinion became
con,sequenUy divided.. .
The distresses of the poor, owing to a ««;.»rcity of
corn, obliged the privy councU to lay an embatrgo.
on lhat article, a proceeding which, however jus
tified by necessity, was so conducted as to require
mi act of indemnily. An act was accordingly pass.
ed on the meeting pf pariiament, but itpipvided
only for the indemnity of the persons who carried
the proclamation into effect. The privy councU,
as if authorised by the constitution to issue such pro
clamations, were omitted in the act. This brought
on a spirited debate, in Uie course of which the
rainislry justified themselves by die necessity of pio-
vidLng for the pubUe^good in extraordinary emer
gencies, by extiaprdinary means; an argument
which mayipften sflence, but can seldom satisfy.
Scarcely had they got over this difficulty, when
the impoUtic sysiem of taxing tbe colonies was
again rerived by Mr. Charies Townsend. - He in-
tl'oduced a bUl for imposing a duly on tea, paper.

GEOliGE IU. l-G^
painter's colours, and glass impcjrted into Ame
rica. This passed with Utile or nO opposition af
home. Its consequences were unhappily riot fore
seen. . It must be also mentioned that in ibis and
other financial aclsj lord Chathara bore nd part.
He was at tbis time prevented by illriess from exe-
eutingany ofthe duties of bisofBce; and whett qn
the demise of Mr. Charles ToWttsend, lord North
succeeded in his place, the earl was coririnced tha-t
his influence on public tratisaotioris was al an end,
and he resigned. Previous lb bis resignation, in
telligence arrived of the effecis Of Mr. Townsend 's
new stamp act^ America presented a scene of tu
multuous discontent^ and thongh tranquiUity was
apparentiy restored at Boston hf.an ai-med fbfce^
it was not of long duration. Ih the East Indies,
a war had broke out between the English and
Hyder AU, which was carried on -with various
success. The Irish obtained an act by which Ihe
parliament of tbat country, formerly determinable-
at the king's decease, was appoin ted fo be- chosen
ence in eight years. Oilier events of leaser mo
ment occurred in ibis year, but Ihe public aifen-
tion now became eagrossed by tbe ^appearance
of Mr. Wilkesi
This gentleman, who had incurred a senlenoe
of outlawry, returned to England jost a rj nGf,
before the general election, and with ' ' "" ¦
a .spirit untamed by safferings, and tiHeram^ed
by the yveight pf aulhorily, ofl'ered himself to re
present the c;ity pf Londpri,- Tbe livery, however,
-were not prepared to accept his services, and his
enemies were rejoicJing in his defeat, when, to their
surprise, he carried his eleciion for fhe county of ~
Middlesex, against the influcfnce of gi'eat landed
prpperty, and tbe whole strenglh of government.
His success -was the Signal for riot and exery species
of tumuli. A mob assembled round the king's-
I 4.

^OO ULSTORY of ENGt-XNTl,
bench prison (lo which Mr.-- "WUkes Was sen
tenced for l^vo years ) ; and the riot act beiri'g read
sin vain, the military fired upon the people, several
of whom yvere kiUed and wounded.- This served
only to increase ihe popular rage> and weaken the
influence of administration. "When on the death
of Mr. Copke, the pther meraber fpr Middlesex,
Mr. sei-jeant Glynn: pffered biraself as en ihe pp
pular side, he carried his electipu against the whole
interest ofthe court. At this election a riot topk
place, in ¦wluch seme pf the populate were killed ;
ihe murderers, though tried and convicted , found
means to escape. These repeated acts pf weak
ness pn the part pf administralipii, and of fuiy on
dial of the people, engaged the attention of fhe na
tion in an exlraorcUnary degree. The press teemed
with the mutual recriminations of the parlies.
WUkes had not yel laken his seat, when be pu
blished a letter, lhat fell into his hands, from lord
"VV^eymouUi to the chairman of the Surry quarler
sessions. This he chose to consider as the cause of
the murders committed in St. George's fields. A
charge, that sp nearly affected tbe neble Iprd's cha
racter, was npt likely to pass wiUiout notice. Mr.
"WUkes was adjudged guilty of a breach of priyi-
Imc, and expelled the house. The Middlesex elec
tors again chose him ; but Uie house of coramons
declared this election void, and made out a new
writ. To prevent his walking over the course, if
possible, a Mr. LulU-ell, alreacly a member of par
liament, vacated his seat, and stood candidate for
Middlesex. This gendeman, alUiough he had not
a fourth part of die votes which Mr. Wilkes had,
and was not returned by the sheriffs, was, in spile
of aU this, declared duly elected. It was argued
that Mr. "WUkes having been pnce expelled, could
nol again be elected; and as a v^ole for a man not
eligible is not a legal vote, it followed lhat Mr.

(iEOROE III. 201
L'utlreU had the majority of legal voles. The free
holders of Middlesex petitioned against a decision
which they deemed equally unconstitutional and
incomprehensible ; bul the house voted that, ac
cording to the law of parliament, a resolution once
passed could not be re\'ersed in the same session.
These proceedings were considered as so gene
rally interesting to the nation as lo draw their at
tention from affairs that afterward ajDpeared to .be
equally important. The parliament engaged. in
warm debates on the policy of taxing America,
but the question remained undecided. The people
in that counlry had become so refractory, that in
an address Uie king was requested lo issue a spe
cial commission for trying the American deUn
quents in England. This did not pass vrithout a
vehement but unsuccessful opposition on consti
tutional grounds. • ¦¦
We are now approaching to a period remark
able for the events lo which it gave j -t) , „f,
birlh. This was the accession of lord ' ' '' '
North to the office of first lord of the treasury. It
was during this administration that Greal Britain
experienced a convulsion -which shook it to its een-,
ter, and has since extended its effecis to olher na
tions in a manner that strongly erinces the insuf
ficiency of human wisdom and foresight. ,,
The Middlesex election stiU engaged the puhUc
mind. The people were roused, and the throne
was besieged by innumerable addresses and re-
monslrances. I'he rights of electors and elections,
the right of the peOple to speak, and the duty of
the sovereign to hear, were canvassed with unusual
boldness. The coraplaints against the late uncon-
stitulional stretches of ministerial power -were loud
and incessant. Compared lo the numbeis who
signed these remonstrances, and the alacrity wilh
whicli their names were procured, the courlly
, I i) '

202- HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
flattery of counter-addresses was constrained, lar
dy, feeble, and insignificant. In parUament, the
eloquence of Chatham and Camden enforced, but
in vain, a reversal ofthe proceedings pn the Mid
dlesex election. Lord Chatham declared, Uiat fhe
people had no con£dence in, Uie then parliament,
and prpppsed tp address his majiesty, praying him
to dissolve it. I have already adverted to the free
dom widl which the conduct of Uie ministry was
discuwed, but I am now lo relate an incident of
that kind lhat is whoUy unprecedented.
The corporation of London bad presented a se
cond address and remonstrance to his majesty, not.
having procured a favourable answer fo the former
one. Oa, this occasion his majesty returned for an
swer. That he should have been. wanting to the pu
blic, as weU as to himsdf^ if he bad nof expressed
his dissatisfaction al die last adclress. The lord
mayor, Mr. . Beckfcsxrd, a man of blunt manners,
ancl independent spirit, astonished the court, by
desiring' leave to reply.. This, being, however, '
granted, his lordship declared bow much the bare-
apprehension of bis ]najesly''a- displeasure would,;.
at all times,' affect tbeir minds ; thai tlie declaration^
of bis displeasure bad filled diem wilh anxiety, audi
wilh die deepest >afiliclion ; aad he intreated the
king nol to dismiss them, fi-om his presence with
out some comfort, and prospect at least of. redress. .
Thus far Mr. Beckford followed Uie etiquette of
jjetitioning , but he concluded his speech in these'
words : cc That whoever had already dared, or
» should hereafter endeavour, by false insinua-
» lions and suggestions, to aUenale lus majesty's af-
jjfection from his loyal subjects in ge^nersitl, and.
» from the city of London in pai-ticular, and to =
» withdraw has confidence and regard from bis
u people, was an enemy to his majesty's person-
s'.and femily, a violator of the pubhc peace, and.

rjEoRGE III'. ab?
» a betrayer of our happy consliliilioii, as it w,".s
» established at the glorious and necessaiy revolu-^
» lion. » That ihia assertion was equally just, and
equally unwelcjome, cannot be doubled. Mr..Be9k-
ford's speech was speedily circulated. over the king
dom, astonished all, and convinced the majority. ,
During this yearj a part of Mr. . Townsend's
stamp act was repealed ; bul tiiat which re^rded
the lea. was ccmtinued. The repeal therefore was
unsatisfactory to the frienda of the colonies, he-'
cause the principle of the act remained. Mr. Gren
ville was successful in cariying a, bill through the-
houses, for regulating the proceedings of the house
of commons on controverted elecjtioisis. This
was not very agreeable t'cr Uie ministry, and was
strenuously opposed by the first lord of the trea
sury. At this lime the Irish parliament vindicated
their independence, by i;ejeoting a money bill,
which, agreeably to ancient custpjn, had been al
ways framed in the English privy cpuncil. This-
pccasipned an unusual ferine'ri ; but ihe commons
persevered, and in time established their ifight tp
priginate mpney billa in their own house.
In the course of the summer, the Spaniards sent
pul spme ships and seized uppn Falklanc^s islands,
where tbe English had laljely made a settlement
and erected a fort, and this vielatipn of p«a<?e had
nearly invplved us in a war with Uial nation., A
negotiation, however, tppk place, *nd the Spa
niards restpred the islands. It was prjvately sti
pulated that those islands shpuld be afterward
evacuated by Great Britain, and since that time
no selllement has been made uppn them. The
pens pf the poJitic.al -yvjqiters were emplpyed to
magnify or diminish Ui^- cpnseqifieace of these
islands, according as they were engaged for or
against the ministry. Junius, a popular and ele
gant writer, whose real name has never yel been
1 6

2o4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
discovered, was at this lime a forraidable ojiponent
to administration, ^id Dr. Samiiel Jolinson, whose
moral and critical writings are above aU praise;
ranged himself pn Iheir side. On the whpfe, if
the affrpnl offered lo the nation be overlppked, it
dpes not appear that tlie ppssession of these islands
was worth contending for. The ministry, whose
private agreement to cede the islands was not at
this lime known, took credit for tbeir firmness,
and il m osl be confessed that in this instance at
least their firmness did not degenerate To obstinacy.
The foUo'wing year is chiefly dislinguished by
J jy 1 *^ event of considerable importance
'' ¦ Ip the natipn, by extending the Uberty
ofthe press. Befpre fhis peripd it was understppd
that the pubUcatieri pf the debates of parliament ¦
was contrary to the privUeges of the lipuse,' and
¦what Utile die printers pf newspapers ventured lo
give was disguised by fictitious names, or merety
ihe initials of the speakers. The power pf ihe-
bouse, however, to prohibit such publications, was
undefined, and the papers about this time were
encroaching, they knew not upon -what ; when, at
length, a meraber of the house of commons com
plained lhat his speech had been misrepresented;
and, as such, tended to injure liim in the opinion
of his. consliluents. The house took up his cause
wilh more -warmth ihan 'prudence. There are
-|ieripds when it is particularly dangereus tp assert
undefined aulhorily, and this was one of them.
They ordered the printers to atte^nd die house ; the
printers, conceiving lhat a law which did not exist,
could not be obeyed, refused fo attend. , The ser
jeant al arms was then ordered to lake ihem into
custody, but lie was treated' vrith designed con-
iempt. Irritated at ibis, die house addressed his
majesty, that he wpuld issue his proclamation, and
offer a re-ward for apprehending these men. Ia

GEORGE III. 305
consequence of tins, they were ajiprehended, but
immediately discharged by the magistrates^ one of
them by Mr. Wilkes ( now an aldemian of the
city of London ), a second by alderman Oliver,
and a third by Mr. Crosby, the lord mayor. The
magistrates were applauded by the populace, and
publicly thanked by the cilizeris in coraraon coun
cil. The house of coraraonshad, however, pro
ceeded too far to retract, and Mr. Oliver and the
lord mayor, both members of p'arUament, were
ordered lo attend in their places, where they jus
tified their act vrith so rauch boldness, as lo pro
voke the house to send thera to the Tower, in which
they remained until the erid'of the session. They
were brought up, indeed, by Habeas corpus to
the court of comraon pleas, and their case argued,
but in y^ain.
The house ¦vvere slill more perplexed wilh
Mr. Wilkes. He had been ordered to attend at
die bar ofthe house; but, in return, he clairtied his -
privilege as a member, refusing to obey the orders
of the hpuse in any pther character. It was npw
the house discovered that they had involved them
selves in a dUemma, from whipli there, were no
means of escaping ¦vrilh credit, and they accord
ingly hit upon one of those littlenesses ¦which make
the best causes ridiculous. They ordered Mr.
Wilkes to appear on the 8lh of April, and ad
journed to the ninth. This was giving up the cause
in the most ungraceful manner; and they were so
fully conrinced thai the privUege abovemenlioned
wasunlenable,lhat ihey have never since raolesled
the newspapers on the score of dehaies. These are
• now given openly, and at fuU lengih of naraes
and circumstances; and the persons employed in
this service have from long habit acquired a faci
lity and accuracy which is ¦wonderful, especially as
they are nol yet perraitted lo call in the aid of

2oG HISTORY OF ENGLAND;
short-hand. Some celebrated orators have, indeed,
cause to regret that the hpuse cpuld not cpmmand
secrecy, as the parUamentary repprls have served
tp record their many incnnsisfencies, and devia-
tipns frpm principle. 'Wliat they have lost, hew
ever, the public have gained : cnnstitutfonal infor-
m'ation is more widely diffused, and the people
have now a check upon their representatives,which.
they had not before, or had imperfectly.

LETTEB. LXX.
The exercnse of rea.son and judgment in matters-
respecting religion has always been considered,
by many able writers, as an essential part of thai
freedom which our constitution holds forth. At
several periods since the revolution, ibis privUege
has been asserted by (Unt ofthe strongest argument.
It has nevertheless been, on the other band, main--
tained, lhal the existence ofa reUgious eislablishment
requires that aU its members, and others -who -wish
lo enjoy die advantages pertaining to it, fihould
subscribe a certain formula, by wmch iheir belief
in the articles of its faith and worebip may be as
certained. The whole body of protestant dissen
ters have ever rejected subscription to the articles
of the chwrch of England, and have, at various-
times, endeavoured to procure an exemption from
it, as a bar to their advancement in civU offices, or
in the naval and military service. Nor are these
articles more acceptable to many members of the
established church, who conceive lhat there are
some things in them nol consonant to the 3crip- .
ture^ and that no protestant, as a qualification,
should be required lo make any other declaralipn,
than lhal the holy Scriptures are the rule pf hisfailh
and practice. When a reformed Ulurgy y^as

GEORGE HI. 207
shown lo archbishop Herring, he said> cc I approve
» the teraper and -yrisdom of it. But into what tiraes
3) are we faUen, after so much Ught, and so much.
» appearance of moderation, that one can pnly
» wish fpr the success of truth ? Tbe world will
» npt bear it.-»
Encpuraged, prpfoabfy, bjr sentiments like these,,
a numereus hpdy pf, ihe estabUshed a -r. ,_„,
clergy, with several members of die " " ' ' '
professions of law and physic, joined in a petition.
to parliamen ffor reUef in the matter of subscription.
A spirited debate accompanied this petition.^
The impolicy of confining or i^grieving mens con
sciences, and, tempting themi ,to prevarication and,
hypocrisy, was foriyibly urged. On die qllier hand,
the opponents of the petitiondedared themselves
swayed by the dread of future innovations (should
the present petition be answered), ofthe prevalence -
of heretical opinions, and of his- majesty's incapa-
eily, from his coronalion oath, to alter the church
government. During the debate on this petition,
which was rejected by a gf eat majority, some hints,
were thrown out respecting the dissenting minis'- ,
ters, which gave lhat body of men reason to hope
dial their case was considered as widely diflerent
from lhat of the petitioners of die establishment,
and tliat the time was now come when,their disa-
biUties were to-be taken ofi^. They accordingly
appUed to fhe hpuse by petition, pi-aying, to be re
lieved from subscribing lothe articles ofa church,
to which they did not belong. The success ofL
dieir petition showed that they had not misunder
stood the temper pf the house pf cpmmpns. The,
bill for reUef "Was carried by a great raajority; but
in the l)ouse of Iprds, after a long debate, it was
E4ec-tW' The church of England was repre-sented
as being endangered by sudi a departure from
the laws which guarded its privileges ; and it was

2o8 HISTPRY OP ENGLAND,
argued lhat religion ought never to be left naked
to the heresy and immoralities which a degenerate
age might introduce. Various circumstances have
since contributed tp support this watchfulness over
fhe discipline and articles pf the church. Yet the
Machiavels pf the time are pf ppinion, that the
church does not act with true policy in this iriatter.
Many, indeed, of the more moderate dissenters
think that toleration, instead of increasing their
numbers , would gradually mix them in the gene
ral mass, while the penal laws now hanging pver
their heads are a principal cause pf their being
mere firraly united as a religipus bpdy. It is con
ceived likewise, that they become less attached to a
govemment surrounded by a fence, that serves to
keep out only' men of integrity and principle ;
for to Uiose of another description, the articles can
never be a slumbUng block.
The cc Boyal Marriage Act,» introduced into
parUaraent about this tirae, was occasioned by
fhe marriage of his majesty's two brothers, the
dukes of Cumberland and Gloucester, lo ladies of
inferior rank. It was deemed expedient to supply
ihe defects of the existing laws, and, by some new
regidations, prevent the descendenls of the late
king (excepting the issue of princesses who have
married, or may hereafter marry, into foreign fa
milies) from marrying without the consent ofhis
majesty, his heirs and successors. A biU was ac
cordingly carried through bolh houses, declaring
all marriages, without such consent, to be nuU and
void. This biU was, however, violently resisted in
every stage of its progress, and, in the house of
lords, two strong protests were entered against it.
1 1 was thought to lay an improper restraint upon
marriage, audio add too much additional weight
lo the royal prerogative.
During this year an exjiedition had been made

GEOKGE III. aoi)
against the island of St. Vincent, one of our Carib
bean islands in the "West Indies. This expedition
was canvassed in parliament, and condemned as
unjust, cruel, and impolitic, because it wantonly
exposed our best troops to destruction. The motion
for a stricter inquiry, ho^wever, was thrown out,
and the Caribbees baring entered into a treaty
yvilh our forces, the affair was allowed to drop, al
lhough not ¦witiiout severe impulalions on the con
duct of our planters ; a race of men inlo ¦whose
moral system humanity hath not entered largely.
The affairs of the East India company occupied
much of Ihe attention of parliament during this
and the following year. But il ¦would swell this
sketch far beyond the prescribed limits, were I to
enter, even al moderate length, on the complicated
statements presented to the house on this occasion.
The affairs ofthe company were evidently Mtibar-
rassed, and it became necessary they sliould be
brought under the imraediate inspt-elion of the
crown, llie new regulating bill consisted of these
articles : that the court of directors should, in fu
ture, be elected for four years ; six raerabers an
nually, but none to hold their seals longer than
four years ; that no person should vote at the elec
tion of tbe directors, who had not possessed their
stock twelve raonths : that the slock of quaUfica-
tion should, instead of 5ool. be loool. ; that the
mayor's court of Calcutta should, for the fulure, be
confined lo small mercantile causes, to which only
its jurisdiction extended before the territorial ac
quisition ; that in lieu of this court, thus taken
away, a new one be established, consisiing of a
chief justice, and three puisne judges; that these
judges be appointed by the crown ; and that a su
periority be given to the presidency of Bengal over
the other presidencies in India.
All Uiese clauses passed with great raajorities.

210 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
arid" thus a total change was effected in th^ consli-
— tution ofthe corapany in' Engla-nfi, and the admi
nistration of its presidencies in India. At ibis lime
also, the conduct of lord CSive was severely cen
sured, but his services were considered as a para
mount to every defect in his government ; the na
ture of ihe evidence agairist him was objected to ^
and it was Voted, that he had rendered greal and
meritorious services to his country .-
Yon have seen, thai the events, of the last six or
seven, years have been few, and eomparalifely of
smaU importance to the historic page. Bnt we are'
now approaching a scene lhat wiU oiieri gradualty
to 3 revolution of infinite moment; a revolution,.
"lo which the gentle name of misunderstanding ha*
been applied, as if it had aiisen from » trifle which*
wards could explain, or etiquelte rectify. A va
riety of domestic eveiils have hitherto given, some-'
times, not an unpleasant interest to the detail of
this reign ; but in ,yvhat foUows, the train of impo-'
Ucj-is impeUiouganduninierruptedyand the cbains
of miscWef- is unbroken.'
You may, remember that, wh6n tbe other taxes
which gave Offence tP the growing independen-t
spirit pf America', were taken pfi", that pn tea,
Ihough a trifling one, remained. Nor was this
the only cause of disaffection ¦- the depehderice of
the governors and judges in America had been;
transferred, from thejieopte to the crown ; and by
some confidential letters, whicb accidentaUy fell
inlo the hands ofthe people of Massachusetl's&y,,
they discovered lhat a sdbeme of coercion was in;
agitation against them. Accordingly, when tlie
lea was attemjited to be landed, the mob arose in
Boston harbour, boarded tbe ships, and threw
their cargoes into the sea, retiring peaceably after
ward without offering or receiving any personal
violence. This circumstance alone ought lo ha^'*

GEORGE III. 21 t
indicated that this -vvas no common mob,, no ban
ditti of plunderers, seeling their own interest ontyi
OUier places followed the example, particularly in
Soulh Carolina.. Such resistance to the mother
country could not Ipng te concealed ; il reached
the ministry, heightened by many aggravations.
The ministerexhibited to^parliaraent, whpseMyice
yyas llipught immediately necessary, a number of
papers received frora .America, all- proving that
die spirit of sedition was not confined j j. ^^
to one or Iwo places, but extencled ^ ' ' ' '"*'
ovpr all ^he colonies. The house resolved lo ex:ert
every means in their power of effectually provid
ing for objecis so hnportant to the general w^lfai^e,,
as maintaining fhe due execulion of the law.s, and
securing ihe just dependence of the colonies upon
the croyvn and parliament of Great Britain. It
was proposed that die town of Boston should be
obliged fo^pay fo,r the cargpes of tea which the po-
pidace had destroyed ; and lhat in order to cprapdl
payment, it sIiqu^ he deprived of its privileges as
a p,ort,- until iis good behariour could be ascer^,
lained. "phis was .opposed, by a petition from the
agenlforthe councn of Massacbusett's Bay, who
desired tp.be.heard in favour of that council, and
of the town of Boston, and by another from the
ford mayor in the name ofthe natives and inhabi
tants of Norlh America, ll^eiji residipgin London.
They considered the resolutions' of llie house aa
oppressive and unjiist, and concluded wilh .the
emphatic words, that cc the attachment of Araerica,
» could npt survive the justice pf Britain. 3) The,
rainority in bpth hpuses also strongly contended
against the violence of the measures about to be
adopted, and warned the minister that the flame
would sPPn increase, and become loo violent for
any future atterapts to quench it. It -w-as even
proposed to repeal the duly upon tea; but the,

212 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
ministry were bentujipn their ewn raeasures, and
the resplutipns were" carried thrpugh bpth hpuses
withput a drvisipn.
This embp|4ened them to take another step, yet
more resolute. A bUl was brought in to regulate
the government of Massa chuseit's Bay, by trans
ferring 'the whole executive power to persons ap*
pointed by the crown. This occasioned warm
debates,*and a strong protest. Mpre 2ietitions
appeared again.st it, but were rejected. It was
urged, that such measures wcmld only exasperate,
because founded in injustice ; and that no instance
of general ch'scontent among a iieople or nation
ever arose from any other cause than a general
sense of oppressipii. These arguments were una-
vaiUng, and, as an appendix lo this and the former
bill, it was enacted, that rioters, apprehended in
the province of Massachusett's Bay, if il should
appear lhat a fair trial could not be had in the
province, might be tried in some oUier ofthe co
lonies, or in Great Britain. The rainister informed
the house al the same lime, that four regiments
under the coramand of general Gage bad J^en
ordered fo Boston. Il is plain from this last act,
that, whatever flattering .hopes the minister enter
tained pf returning peace, he. was . prpceeding
kgainst the celpnies as in a stale pf actual rebellicn.
Ypu maj' easily perceive that this was, in fact, a
humiliating CPU fessiori ofthe weakness arid ineffi-
cacy ef all prpceedings hitherto adpp.ted. The
inlerppsitipu pf parliament was undoubtedly ne
cessary, but necessary as adeUberate council, not as
a coundl of war lo enforce measures by arms. It
must be added, that, howeverimpoUtic this c;c^n-duct
now appears, the opinion ofthe nation at large went
with lord North. They foresaw not the evil day
that was coming on. If was expecled, and even
insisted upon, that the measures adopted must b&

(?E0EGE III. .2l3
successful ; ihe colonies n7i/s,f submit, and peace be
restored in a fe-w weeks. Much of these false hopes
may beatlributed to misrepresentation. The male-
contents in America were represented to be a
mob, and not the people ; lo be the few, whom it is
easy to terrify, and not the raany, whom no fprce
can conquer.'
Before entering on the consequences of these
measures, I shall advert to a bill passed near the
dose of this session, fo ascertain the limits ofthe
province of Quebec in North Airierica, to form a
legislative council for all ifs affairs ( except taxa
tion) lo be appointed by and during the pleasure
ofthe crown .-the Cainadiaii Roman catholics lo
be entitied fo a-jilacein it ; (o establish the French
laws, and a trial by jur'y in civil cases , and lo
secure lo ihe popish secular clergy the legal enjoy
ment of their estates, and of their tithes, from all
-who were of iheir' own religion. This bill met
•with great opposition both within doors and wilh
out. It was considered as nol merely tolerating
popery, but making it an established religion.
-The other regulations were objected to, because
Uiey went to form a system of arbifraiy govern
ment, and it must be confessed ¦ that in diese ar
rangements the model of the British corisritution
was whoUy overlooked.

LETTER LXXI.
^VHEN general Gage arrived at his destination,
-he entered on his coraraission with an apparent
confidence in the success of the raea- jj, ;
sures which he was instructed to pur- ^ ' 7'74.
sue. But the flame of civU discord had taken,
height before his arrival ; the coloriists .were al
ready in possession of the Boston port-bill, which

Sl4 HISTORY OP ENGL.IND,
•justified dieir fears, and at the same time excafed
.th^lr courage. And while sorae indulged the hopes
of reconoilemenl, the majority prepared for a sepa-
j-ation from the mnther counlry. Numerpus meet
ings of the inhabitanis of Boston iu'vit«d the other
colonies to concur -with ihem in a pesolulioii, that
all trade -vrith Great Britain, Ireland, and the
AVest Indies, sliould cease, uijilil the parliament
reversed their proceedings. The obnoxious port-
biU was circulated over the colonies, as the best
excuse for the steps tliey were about to take, aud
the lesenlment which il excited soon became
general: . i ' '
Soon after his arrival, the governor informed
ihe new assembly, lhat it -was necessary f bey should
remove ,le tbe town df-Salpm on the ist of June,
-pursuarit fo act pf parUaxnenf ; but the assembly
ieeming incUned lo remonsfrate, he adjourned- it
lo the 7di of thai month. He increased their dis
satisfaction stiU farther by rejecting a pjetition, that
a day (if fasting and prayer should be appointed.
Such days were comraon in America, on extraor-
¦dinary occasions, and are a reUct, perhaps among
-ihe beat, of the 'practice of the puritanical limes.
Other places had by this tiniB feUiiwed the ex
ample of Boston. The house.of burgesses in Vir
ginia look upon them to appoint a fast Pn the first
of June, the day on which the fatal bill, for such
I may no-w call it, yvas lo fake effect. This pro
voked their goy&fnors to dissolve, die assembly, a
measure useless and impotent, as the principal
members 'issued proposals for a general congress
lo meet, and .declare *be voice of fhe whole colo
nic^. The Golcmists, however, cannot be accused
of rashness. Many of them, while they commise
rated ihe distresses of the Bostonians, recommend
ed the most lenient measures. ."Wliile preparing
for the worst, tiiey used no other weapons at.this

OEORGE III- ^'^
time than remonstrance and petition. It may be
also supposed Uiat, amid, a variety of contending
interests, the proposal, lo interrupt aU trade yvith
Great Brilain, would not be subscribed by those
who imriiediately depended on it- Great Britain,
by such a step, mighl indeed lose much, but die
colonisls would ia&Uibly lose every dung ^The
oljstruoliou of one channel of profit cannot he
speedily succeeded by the opening of another. Be
sides, they cnniJderad, tliat the adoption of such
a measure must necessarily be foUowed by a civil
yvar. This terrific idea suggested the mildest con-
dugt on the pari of the colonists, and ought indeed
to havjS had iis due effisct on the prpceedings of ga-
vernmenl. Addresses, were drawn up by the
eouncilif Boston; and presented to general Gage.
In these the colonies urged, lhat their claims were
no other than the clainis of EngUshmen, and that
their gfievaaces had arisen from a series of oppres
sions by fprmer governors. Tlie general would
not listen to this remonstrance, and had his senti-
uienta confirmed by a counter-address frora some
friends tp goveriiment at Boston ; another instance
of the folly of opposing the few to the many.
When the representatives raet at Salem, they
renewed their proposals for a general congress,
appointed five deputies from that prorince,' and
voted Soo I. for their necessary expences. Accord
ing to the estabUshraent of the colony, t^e gover-
UOf's assent was necessary to these acts; but that
being, as you may suppose, peremptorily refused;
die money was raised by voluntary contribution,
and the assembly, foreseeing that the governor
would attempt to dissolve ihem, refused kdmittance
to his secretary, who came for that purpose, and
published a declaration expressive of Uieir sense
of the pubhc danger, and recommending fo dis-
contuiue trade with Great Britain. It was uppn

2l6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
this occasion, lhat the merchants exhibited a (zeal
ancl patriotism of which we have few examples.
It' was supposed, that men, -who must always be the
greatest losers, in civil tumult, would be the first
to join Issue wilh government, and crush fhe aspir
ing efforts of the malecontents. The merchants,
however, in an address fo the governor, proclaim
ed their ahherrence pf the idea, equally dishpnpr-
able to themselves and tp their country, that they
were riow enabled, and would erabrace the op
portunity, to profit by die distresses of Boston ;
and whUe they made this sacrifice, they declared
at the same time, that they were ready to promote
a reconcUiation, by any measures corapatible with
the safety and dignity of British subjects. Such
an avowal of sentiraents even in the -wprstpf causes,
ought to coraraand our veneration. Il was repug
nant to the acknowledged practices of trade, and
-was therefore singular. It militated against their
actual interest, and must have been sincere.
To complete the defeat of government measures,
when a proposition was made in the asserably lo
pay for the damaged tea, it was reje.cted by a very
great majority. The government, thus weakened
and crippled, were npt altpgether without friends.
The cpinmercial cpnnectipn between the mother
country and fhe colonies was a tie not easUy lo be
broken. The views of coraraerce were narrow.
It was supposed lhat by the cessation of trade both
countries raust be ruuied. This consideration
therefore was common to both ; and although the
colonists were spurred on by a few men of decla-
maloiiy talents, to Usten to no terms of accorarao
dation, and to^push raa Iters lo Uie extremity, yet
it is probable) ihaL a cessation of hostUe measures
on the part of government, precisely at this point,
might have given the raother country tirae lo
pause, and to recollect (for she had often expe-

GEORGE irt. 31'7
rienced it ) Uiat a general sense of oppression is
not lo be dissipated by fprce. And the colonist.",
dreading the falal corisequences of a civil war,
might have yielded on their part to a ceitain de
gree, or, on the removal of the port-bill, etc. might
have returned to their allegiance. But the arrival
of the biUs relative lo Massachusett's Bay, and that
for quartering the Iroops in America, convinced
them lhat they had nothing to hope frora Great
Britain, and that they raust now collect such powers
as could be speedily organized for the public de
fence. "While a general congress was eagerly called
for, the commiltee of correspcindence af Boston
bound themselves, by what theyileimed a solemn
league and covenant, lo suspend all commercial
-correspondence wilh Great Britain,' and fo re
nounce aU communication vrith those who should
refiise to join in this agreement. This league was
industriously circulaited, and the form pf it adppted
in other places. It was in vain that general Gage
proclaimed il an unlawful, hostile, and traitorous
¦combination, and enjoined the magish-ates to pu
nish die persons concerned in it. The |)eople pro
ceeded to choose representatives for the general
congress, and those again chose deputies, whose
members bore a proportion lo the ejctent of ihe
province. The congress was appointed lo be held
at PhiladeliDhia. Its purpose was lo form the plan
¦of a system of conduct from the united deUbera
lion. of the colonies in general ; and the members
were also empowered to lay before Great Britain
the clairas of the injured colonists. So resolute
Vere tiiey to sacrifice their interest to what they
valued at a higher rale, that Virginia and Mary
land, and Uie two Carolinas, which depended most
on esporfs, resolved not lo purchase any more
slaves fi-om Africa, or die "West Indies ;, and to
turn their lands into pasture and iraprove Uie brecxj
Vol. II. K

•2-itt HISTORY Ol' -ENGLANB,
of sheep, dial the loss oftheir lobacCo trade miglit
he as lillle as possible felt. The American magis
trates, in the mean time, informed the governors, '
lhat their povver was no more. They had no mob
to oppose, and they could not pretend to resist Uie
wUl of the majority.
Nuraerous as the disconteinled parly was, Uiey
had, as I have before observed, chiefly confined
themselves to the pubUcation of resolutions, and
the assertion oftheir clairas on thejustice of Great
Britain ; but die arrival of the Iroops frora Ireland, '
and plher places, and the repprt dial a regiment
liad been posled-ftt Bpslpn Neck, in erder tp force
the inhabitanis iiifp submission, determined them
to oppose force to force. A considerable body of
nien frpm W^orcesler cpunly prepared fp march
lo the assislance oftheir brethren at Boston, The
new counsellors appointed by the crpwn, and Uie
cpiirts of law, cpuld give no effect lo their pro
ceedings ; ihecolonisLs went on in the most orderly
and expeditious manner to provide for the exigen
cies of impending war. They declared themselves - "
ready lo die in defence of tlieir rights. They re
monstrated y^'iUi the governor on the injustice of
his seizing the araraunition lodged in die arsenal
at Carabridge and Charlestown, and liis fortifying
Boston Neck. He answered, that no use was to
be made of the cannon, etc. unless their hostilities
sliould render it necessary. This did not amount
lo a declaration of his sentiments, and they conti
nued their preparations.
The congress, consisting of fifty-one delegates,
„ ,^Bl at PhUadelphia, and commenced with
oept.^, ^^ aoldress to Uie governor, in which Uiey
' 77i' deprecated his endeavours to reduce Uiem
inlo submission by foree. The governor retaliated
wilb complaints of their hostiUties, and the viola-
iiPii of chartered rights, and' warned theni against

'e'EOROK III. 1*19
provoking government any farther. His aulhorily,
however, was gone : he could not even procure
the lowest mechanics to erect barracks for his sol
diers, and, in revenge, he sent some sailors lo spike
up the cannon on one of llie principal batteries
belonging to Boston. ,T-he congress, on the oilier
hand, had the satisfaction to see Uial all their reso
lutions had the validity of laws ; and assured ge
neral Gage, who disputed the legality of Iheir as
sembling, that the whole colonies were unanimous
against his, and the late parliamentary proceedings.
They drew up a long statement of grievances, and
traced them as far back as the year 1 764. This is
a proof that the violence of the present disaffection
Avas not sudden, and it has been since ascertained,
widl tolerable accuracy, that the seeds of a separa
tion from Great Britain had been sown in Ame
rica even before that period. The congress next
proceeded to draw up a petition lo his majesty, a
memorial to the people of Great Britain, an ad
dress to the colonies in general, and another to the
inhabilants of Massachusett's Bay. After finishina-
tliQse addresses, the congress adjourned : during the
fifty-two days of their sitting, they had been un
molested by the gp-^-ernor's proclamations, and
weie perfectly regardless ofhis refusal to sanction
their authority. Such were in America the con-
sec(uences of the parliamentary proceedings de
tailed in my last letter.
It became necessary lhat the ojiinion of pariia
ment should be taken as early as, possible on these
occurrences. Accordingly, a new pariiament met
on Uie 3pth pf Deceraber ; but allhough his majesty
in hisspeech, adverted lo the spirit of disobedience
which prevailed in the province of Massachusett's
Bay, no mention was made ofthe additional sup
plies. The eslimates were /brmed upon a peace
estabUshment ; eyeu a reduction of four Uiousand
K 2

aaa history of en'gland,
seamen took place. The consideration of Ame
rican affairs -was postponed tiU after the Christmas
J holid-ays. It was then that lord Cbaitbanit,
* r ' after a long absence, appeared in his seat
'' ¦ to repr6bate die measures purswed against
America, and te open a plan for concUiation, he^
fore it should be too late. The first part of this
plan -was an address to bis majesty, for recalling
the troops from Boston. But the minisliy were
averse to I'dax, unless- Araerica woufcl acknow
ledge the suprem-aey of Great Britain ; and his lord-
sliip's morion -was lost! by a greast raajow*y.- The
(able of tbe bouse of ,commoHs, however, 'became
soon covered -with petitions ircHn- fhe city of Lon
don, and odier eommei-oial towns, and great mer
cantile bod-ies. These occasioned great debates, as
to the manner in -which Uiey ouglil to- be. received.;
but their purpose was finally defeated. The peti
tion sent frem the American coagress, and pre-
seHted hy Mr. Bolan, !>. Fnanklin, and Mr. Lee,
was rejected, as coming from an illegal assembly.
Every mollon, indeed^ of a coneUialopy kind, was'
treated- with severity ; eveuy attempt to avert the
tniscMefs of civU war was-des-pised. The mini.s-
terial majorities were undimiiiished- by argumeM.
Loi'd Chafham made a secorid effort, by present
ing a biU, entitied ct^A pro-riskmaLact for setlling
» the trpubles in America, an-d for asserting the
» suprerae legislative aulhprity,' and superinleiid-
V ingppwer of Great Britain over, her colonies^)
Bu* Uns, allfto'righ recommended by ,tlie full vigour
, of his Ibrdshipfs eloquence, and strengUiened by
arguments "which maity then Siooght, and all how
confess to be unanswerable, was noi^.even allowed
to undergo the parUamentary forra of lying on
die table.
Lord North, on the othei- hand, bent on keep
ing no terms wiUi die- Ajnericans, and following

cro ROE III. ^^*
^ sysiem more likely (if it had succeeded) to extir
pate than to subdue, brought in a bUl for reslram--
ing^the trade and commerce of the provmces ot
Massachusett's Bay and New Hampshire, the co
lonies of CfenneGlicut and Rhode Island, and Pro
vidence -Plantation in, North America, to Great
Britain, Irelaisid,and the British West India Islands,
and to prohibitsuch proviaices and colonies from
carrying on any fishery on the banks of Newfound
land, or otherplaces fherein to be mentionfid, un
der certain conditions and fora Umited time. Ho
bill, perhaps, was ever more -eagerly contested h&th
within and without doors. ' If you look back to
the proceecUngs of congress; and to Ae various pe
titions presented -against theibill, you will be sen
sible Uiat it was ihe very step of allwthers- to he
avoided in fhe existing circumstances of the case.
It was, however, carried by a great majprily. I _
may pbservc.fhat in the •cxmrse of the debates tin
the affirirs of Anaerica, a question of law was>dis-
Gussed, namely, whether the Americans were or
were not in a elate o f rebellion: The crown layvyers
answered this- in- ihe affirmative.. Tbe xaancucviy ,.
-without direclly eaiering into its merits, averned
that il was of -VBiry litlla consequeace ;- tbe point
in dispMlie w^as, -wlietiier it would be prtideat to-
declare them to be in a state <of rebeUion.
As Jhe jninisiry had now heen successful in eve
ry motion that tended to estaibllsh.a system of coer
cion, and, as will sppu be seem, lo exasperaite tbe
minds of die coloiiisls, -wbsut foUowed was maMet-
of considerable surprise. Lord Norlh advanced
a concUialovy motion, die purjjort of which was,
that when die govemoir, tajuncil awid assembly, ©r
general court ofhis majeafy's provinces, or colo
nies, shaU propose to mate provision, acoordiHg
to their respective conditions, cireumslan'oes, and-
situations, for conlribuling their projiortion to lii«
IC 5

ZXt HISTOET or ENCLANB,
common defence, such proportion lo be raised^
under the authority of the general- court, or gene
ral assembly of such province, or colony, ahd dis-
.posable by parUaraent , and shall engage to make
provision also^ fbr the support of civil government,.
and the administration of justice in such province,
or colony, il -wIU be proper, if such pro2iosal
should be approved of by his raajesty in parlia
ment, and for so long as such proviselon shall be
made accordingly, to ¦ fcM-bea-r, in respect of such
province, or colony, to levy any duties, fax, or
assessment, or impose any further duly, tax-, or ns-
sessraenl, except-only such duties as it may be ex
pedient to impose for fhe regulalicm of commerce ;
the nett produce ofthe duties last mentioned, (o
be carried ft) the account of such province, colony, .
or plantation respectively. The minister's friends
thought that he was now granting too much ;• llie
opposition, that lie was granting nolhing at--all'':
but the bill, upon the whole, seemed so contra
dictory to the forraer declarations of the house,,
that his lordship was- obliged toexplain away die
contradiction, by saying, that no declaration of die
house could biiui to a strict adherence to any for
mer, resolution relative to the submission -to be re
quired of the colonies, prerious to- a relaxation on
our side ; and he frankly confessed, lhat fhe result
of our taxing the colonies had proved unproduc
tive in point of revenue. , But this explanation was
not plausible enough to satisfy many of his own
friends, and the opposition contended Uiat the re
laxation was not enough to produce aity effect on
the colonies, who ¦wpuld'discpver in it the irreso
lute ¦weakness of our councils, and would lake
encouragement to persevere in their resistance.
"While we were asserting an iraaginary supremacy,
¦we -were, in fact, giving fhe Americans a real su
periority. Other motions for a reconciliation,

GEORGE 111. 32'^
liroughl forwa-rd by the friends of Araerica, were
after a short hearing rejected, and this of lord
North's pa.ssed by a great raajority. The ministry
eilher did not know, or affected not to know, that
il was the right, ancl not the mode of taxation ,
which the colonies disputed. Besides, in this bill,
his majesty's governors, councils and as.sembl!e,':,
are called upon, -svhereas at this time such govern
ors, councils, and assemblies, existed in name only ;
their power and irifluence were gone for ever.
"W^hile these violent measures were pursued in
Great Britain, llie colonies were preparing for war.
They cherished some faint hopes that- their peti
tions would not pass unheeded; but self^preserva-
i ion would admit of no abateraen t oftheir vigilance.
The southern as well as ihe nprlhern colonies be--
gan to arm, and hearing that the exjiortalion of
arms ancl ammunition to America had been jiro-
bibited, they instandy eslablished manufactures of
these articles, and soon were enabled to supply
themselves.. At Rhode Island, Ihe people seized
above forty pieces of cannon which belonged to'
die crovvn. The inhabitanis, of New Hampshire
possessed tiiemseives of a small fort, and rigorpus
efforts were every where nia'de ih support of Ihe
comraon cause. The congress,, who raet at Cam
bridge, in Massachusett's Bay, passed several resp
lutions relative to the preparation of am
munition. The minute-men, a kUtid^ of mi- '
Utia, were embodied for service; and as the ' '^'^^'
proclamations of governmenl,^liad novrise tended
lo crush such proceedings, general Gag^ was in
duced to try what force could do.. The colonisls-
havlng collected some stores at the town of Con
cord, he sent a large body of troops to destroy tiiem ;.
the miUlia of the counlry were, however, alarmed'.
and having endeavoured to dispute the passage of
a. bridge with die king's troops, a skirmis^look
-' Kl 4i

aiVl HlVrORY OF ENGLAND,
place, in which Uie railitia were obligecblo relre.ifc
¦with the loss of some kUled, and sorae taken pri
soners. An engagement of a more serious nature
afterward took place at Lexington, in. wbich sixty-
five of the king's Iroops were killed, and more than:
two hundred wounded and taken prisoners : the
pj'orincials' reported lhat they lost no more than
sixty, two thirds of which were killed. This was
tlie first blood shed in tins unhappy quarrel. Each
party accused the other'of having given the pro-
Aocation : but if We consider the indignant rainds,
of ihe A-mericans, and iheTiigh spirit of the king's
troops, ¦who could not brook the reastance of a.
ra^v, undiscipUned inUitia, the provocation of the
day may be equaUy shared between them, while
the real cause of ihe war, now fetaUy coramenced,
is lo be sought for in a higher source.. The news
of this engagement quickly spread over the (X)lp-=,
nies ; the railitia \-\-liich surrounded iBostonamoBnt--
ed to raanj' thousands ; the names of Putnam,,
Ward, Pribble, Heath, Prescol, and Thomas, ap
pear araong then- commanders. A line of en
campment was formed round tbeir head quarters
at Cambridge, and the congress, in. an address lo
ihe inhabilanis of Great Britain, laid the blame of
die late hostiUties uppn the king's troops, and de
clared lhat the people- of America had no'altema-
live but death or freedom.. Paper currency was
issued lo support the establishment of an army,
and obedience to general Gage was formaUy re
nounced.
LETTER LXXII.
The quarrels of nations in some respect resemble
those of individuals. The operation of the irascible
passions is the same in bolh. A blow is riot to be
•forgiven : it precludes all reasoning, and must be

GEOTIGE lli:, 3'^
returned • it is an injury which did not before ex
ist, and must be atoned for, as a preliminary to aU
future agreement. After the aflair at Lexington,
it was not difficult to foresee that the hoi-ijors of a
civil war were ine-ritable ; one aggravation foUow
ed on ihe heels of another, and the conlendirig
parties, by mutual pro'Vocalions, stifled the senti
ments of broUierhood, and blasted Uic hopes of re-
eonciliation. The provincials of Boston, feeling
the disadvantages of their confined situatlcm, re
quested permission from the govemor to leave the
town, or at least to remove their women and chil
dren. This was granted,, upon condition oftheir
laying down iheir arms, wilh which vsUien they
compUed, the governor revoked his gran't, ancl
the few lhat were afterward permitted to go, were
obliged lo leave all their effects behinj^ them. In
resentment of this usage, the congress prohibited
all connection or cpramerce with such places as
had not yet revolted from their allegiance lo tbe
mother country. The province of New York ac
ceded to these proceedings, and preparations were
made for its defence. A body of men, not exceed
ing two hundred and forty, took possession, by
surprise, and without bloodshed, of Ticonderago,
Crown Point, ana other fortresses Which com
manded the passes between the British colonies
- and Canada. "With lliese they seized also two ves
sels, and materials prepared at Ticonderago for
building oUiers. Nor were these precautions un
necessary. The king's troops, about the end of
May, were reinforced by several regiments frora
Great Britain and Ireland, commanded by the ge
nerals Howe, Burgoyne, and Clinton. Upon diis
the congress resolved, that no bills or drafts-should
be 'negotiated with the officers of the army, nor
any necessaries disposed of to thera. The una
nimity of the. colonists appears iri nothing mars.
JL. 5./

2-26 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
than the readiness wilh which tliese. commands
vvere obeyed.
To break this union, general Gage offered, the
king'sa^ardon to.aU who would lay down iheir
arra.s, excepting Mess. Hancock and Adams, who
were deemed ringleaders, and -unworthy of raercy.
'I^hia offer had.no other success than to-be consi
dered as a. declaration of war, and HancockvWas
elected president of congress; an honour -which he
probably owed, al that time, to his being singled
out as a victim tp the wrath of governraent. A
parly of the continental Iroops, whp had been .sent
tp Charlestown, cprapleled, in ene night, upon
.Bunker's hill, a smaU but strong redoubt,, vyiUi in
trenchments and a .breastwork, . and Uiis amid Uie
fire from . tha king!s ships and floating balleries.-.
About nciom general Howe, wilh nearly iooo.raen,
marched from Boston against fhe.'^e men. , After
some manoeuvres on .both sides,, a furious engage—
ment took place, in 'which the king's Iroops were
J . ai first worsted, and probably would have
'' either been .cut lo pieces or d^-iven from.
the place,, had not general Clin ton, whp now ^ar
rived from Boston, rallied them, and pblig^ llie
jirpvincials to desist from their works. j,Tbe mis
chief done by this engagement was dreadful.
Charlestown -was, by spme accident, set on fire in
various places, and bui'iit lo die grouncL The
king's troops lost above a thousand men, oi whom:
more than two hundred v^^ere kiUed, and of ihe
latter nineteen were, coraraissioned officei's. The
piorincials are said lo have lost cwily four hundred
and fifty in all. Iraraediately. after this action, ihe
colonists, undismayed by the terrors ofa British
army, the strength of which they had How tried,
began to fortify another hill, opposite Bunker's
liiU, wluch produced several skirmishes. To add
to the difiiculties which the Biilish army had lo

GEORGE' III'. ViJ
encounter, the Canadians, who had been soliciled-
for this purpose, were not cordial in rendering.
assistance to the royal cause. An attempt was also-
made lo involve the colonists with- the Indians,
bul it did not succeed. In recording these trans
actions, il is impossible to justify them ; they were
founded' oa acrooked policy. In resolving on a sys
tera of coercion, there might be something of firm
ness • but, in carrying il into effecl, we can only
trace the progress of Infatuation,
In the month of July, the congress, who had not
yel wholly abandoned pacific measures, diew up
another declaration^ an address to the inhabitants
of Great Britain, one to ihpse of Ireland, and a-
petition to Ihe king. In the declaration they say,-
cc Our internal resources are great, and, if neces-
» sary, foreign assistance is undoubtedly attaln-
3) able. » These words passed unheeded at the
time, bul you will soon find they had a meaning.-
"The colony of Georgia, hiUierlo not included in
lord Norih's prohibitory actsj. now joined their
brethren, drew up a petition to the king, and sent-^
five merabers to congress.. Tbis completed the
union of the diirteen colonies. The congress ap
pointed George "Washington, esq. to be general
and coramander in chief of aU the Araerican forces.
Mr. ^Vashington, beside considerable mlUtary
skill, possessed an unbleriiished character, jpd in
violable attachraent lo the cause of the,/^onisls.
Araong the field ofiicers we likewise find ibe names
of "Ward, Lee,Schuyler,,Putnam,and Gates, some
of w-hpra had fprraerly served in the British army..
When general ¦Washingten and Lee jpiriedithe
camp at Bpstpn, the arrangements made for the
pay, etc. pf the army, and the favpur in which,'
they were held by the inhabitants, gave them su--
perior advantages.
The colonists, who as yet had acted principally
Ki- &•'

asS HISTORY OF- ENGI.AN1>,
pn the defensive, npw fprmed the bold- design pf
sending a force lo invade and reduce Canada. The
foree appointed lo this serrice consisted of three
thousand men, commanded by generals Monlgo-
mery and Schuyler. . The expeditipn, though not
successful, afforded botbarriiies various opporlu-
nities of signalizing their courage. The Americans
proceeded as far as Quebec, where fhey were re
pulsed, and obUged to turn the siege into a
blockade. General Carletori, however, the British
commander, recovered the province, and the con
tinental army were obliged to retire wilh great loss
of men kiUed, and many taken prisoners. Among
ihe killed was general Montgomery, of whose bra
very his enemies generously -bore testiraony.
"The war commenced in Virginia from a cir--
cumslance apparently tri-vial. Lord. Dunmore,
the govemor, began to entertain suspicions ofthe
Virginians, and by ordering fhe powder, which
had been deposited in "WilUamsbui-gh, die chief,"
city, to be reraoved on board a sliip in Jaraes' river, .
excited reciprocal suspicions in their rainds. In
iheir meetings- they reprobated bis conduct, and,
obliged the receiver-general to give security for the
payment of the valfte of the powder. The go-
\'ernor, in a proclamation, termed Uiis an aci of
rebeUion ; and after la^hg before the prorinciaL
assenftly lord North's conciliatory proposiUpns,.
vvhich he endeavoured fo recommend from every
Gonsideration pf peace and interest, he retired on,
board a man of war which lay off Yorktown. A,
singular negotiation then commenced between ihe
gcHernor and the burgesses, ibey intreah'ng him to
return, and he declaring his, fears for personal
safety. Mutual recrimination look place,"and ihe
propositions of lord North were rejected on ihe
grounds which influenced the other colonies. The
governpr still persisted in, retaining his situation..

OEOKGE III.- 229
on board' the sliiji, but invited the burgesses lo
meet him there. The burgesses considered this as
a high breach of their rights and pri^ Ileges, and
having concluded Uie session, a convention of de
legates was appomted to transact the business ofthe
colony. These began wilh a deoiaratiou sirailar
lo that drawn up by the other colonies. "With ihis.
the aUegiance of Virginia, to Great Britain ended, .
aud the hostility and desolation which foUowed
were natural consequences.
Lord Dunmore, having collected what marine
force he could, prepared lo resist fhe insurgents ;
bodies of Iroops were sent on shore to plunder,.
and being opposed by the Virginians, many lives
^vere lost. The king's ships also made an allempt;.
lo burn Flamplon townj bul were beat off wilh
Uie loss of some raen, and a tender. Martial law
was now proclaimed, and the governor's fprces.
were increased by a cpnsiderable number of blacks
and whites, who were promised their freedom on.:
Gonditiori of joining the royal standard ; bul a de- -
lacliment of ihese ha'ving endeavoured to surprise
the colpnists intheir inlrencbmenls, were aU either •
killed er taken prisoners.. Lord Dunmore, -who
had left his ship prerious lo this engagement, again
retired lo iL The provincials baring got posses
sion of some cannon and stor*, entered Norfolk,
and the king's ships retired to a greater distance. ,
Very soon after, however, this town was reduced
lo ashes by the fleet, after a desperate engagement. ,
The loss being immense, and the conflagration
-(vanton, it cannot be wondered if the minds of
the Americans .were now exasperated lo ihe highest .
pitch.. Il would far exceed the limits of lliis sketch,.
were I to notice all ihe petty engagements which,
look place in -the several prorinces, as the war ex
tended ilself The only important event pf this
year which remains to be noticed, is the act of

23o HISTORY. OF ENGLaNC;
confederation and perpetual union, passed by llis'
assoejiated cplpnies. This cpiifederalipn was de
clared tp be cc The uniled cplouies of Araerica, » '
for their comraon defence, for the security of theis
liberties and property, and their rautual and ge
neral safely and welfare. It ascertains the pow.er
of congress, and prescribes the mode bf its action,
and is declared, lo be estabjished, until the terms
of reconcflialion jiroposed in llie petition of con
gress lo the king are agreed to, the obnoxious acts
repealed, reparation raade for the injury done to
.Boston, for burning Gharlestown, and lill the Bri
tish troops are withdrawn frora America. On-
fliese events taking place,, fhe colonies arc lo re
turn to their former connections and friendshiji
wilh Great Britaiii; but on failure tixereof,l^lfiis con
federation: is to be perpetuah Some resolutions
¦were at fhe same tirae passed for the encourage
ment of foreign trade, and fcir retaUation in case
any person should be punished for an adherence-
tb the American cause.
This confederation was not at firsl agreed to by
aff the colonies ;;but what happened in the course
of die following year removed their scruples, and
it became the solera li act of the united colonies.
Such is an outline of American transactions-to Oie
close of the year,, ajjfcl from it you wIU gather tiie
importance of those parliamentary measures which
no-w come lo be reviewed.
The parliament was opened by a speech from,
^ r- the throne of raore tiian usual lengih, in,
fjct. 3b, ^JjIpJj ^11 ^^( jj3^ passed in America
' ' '^ ¦ during the recess was detailed, offers of
foreign assislance -were announced,, and an addi--
llon of supplies stated to be an object ofiiecessily,
in order to reduce the colonies to obedience. Tlie:
addresses in answer lo ihis speech were combiled
With the usual force of opposition. The war no-w-;

OEOEOE III. 2-0 [
entered into was declared to be unjust and im
politic, and it was foreseen. that its consequences
y^-ould be fatal. Large supplies were,, hovvever,
granted, and foreign- Iroops were engaged in the
service. By a bill introduced soon after the meet
ing of parliament, alftracle and' intercourse was
interdicted with Uie American colonies ; and the
property ofthe cofonists, whether sliips or goods,.
were declared' to be forfeited to the officersand
crews of his majesty's ships of war who raight be,
Uie captors.. It was also enacted, Uiat the raasters,
crews, and other persons found on board' Ameri
can vessels, should be entered, and considered as^
in his majesty's service. The operation of ihis law
was to be softened in Ihe case of such ^colonies as
lelurnc-id lo their allegiarice. It is iieecUess to re-
oapilulate the objections lo tiiis law. Tliey are. suf
ficiently obrious. "WiUi the Americans, il was ¦
noxv a point of political iieccssily to resist the mo
ther counlry. W illi llie British parliament, it be
came a point of honour lo subdue the Americans..
The law now enacted' completed the union of the
colonie.s, and was not inapdj' termed' cc A.bUl for
B carrying more effectually into execution llie re-^
» solves of congress. »
The propriety of employing foreign troops ,
against the colonies was «%rmly debated. The
rainislry, however, saw notiiing but the absolute
necessity of the war, and the employment of fo
reign Iroops vvas a lesser necessity arising from It.
The opposition strongly urged, that llie Ariiericans,
drii;en-likewrse by necessity into a war, -would not'
fail fo copy our example, and avail themselves of
the as.sistance of foreign- troops, if they could pro
cure thera. The trbops of Hesse Cassel, however,
and of the duke of Brunswick, were engaged to lhe
number of i6,poo. The other proceedings of par
Uament consisted of several unavaiUng attempts on.

a.'Ja HISTORY OF ENGLANB;
the pari of the minority to prbcure a recpncilia'^
llpu with America, Mr. Penn, the American, was
exarained in the hpuse pf peers, respecting the actual
slate and riews pf the cplpnies. The duke of
Richmpnd moved, that the jielitipn of congress
was grpund fpr a cpucilialipu ofthe unhappy dif
ferences at present subsisting between Great Bri
tain and America, but this was negatived. Mr.
Burke and Mr. Hartley rerived their propositions-
lo the same effect, but in vain-, though it was at
this time thai the opposition derived the greatest
aid from the briUiant talents of Mr., 'Charles Fdx.-
The opposition, indeed, however deficient in num
bers, formed a combination of talents thaf are nol-
often met with. During this session, the land-tax:
yvas voted at four BiUings in the pound, and some
changes took place in fhe arrangeraerUs of admi
nistration, but none in the system; Tlie session
A n "f, concluded pii May a3. It is singular,
¦ ¦ ^77 • that every discharge pf ministerial
thunder yvas answered by a. similar peal frpm the
Americans ; tbe bUls passed in parliament were -
exact cpuiiterparls to tbe resolves of congress..
LET T^E R. LXXItl.-
The slate of affairs in America:at the close of
la.'rt year was in aU respects new. A war vrilh
the mother counlry was actually begun, and when,
the hopes of reconcUiatipn becpming fauiter, the
question arose how to carry it on, the ccjlonisls
fonnd that diey had to stiruggle wiih difficulties ofa
very pec uliar nature, but which it would appear
diey had die art to conceal from their enemies.
Their ar ray had been raised for a temporary pur
pose only, and ralher for defence than offence. It
was CO mposed of troops in aU points irregular, ot

OEORGE nil. 233
men who took up arms in die sanguine hope lhat
lhe courage displayed in a few skirmishes would
induce the British to compound the dispute, but
who had never weighed the fatigues of -war, and
could not brook lhe transition from lhe easy com
forts of civU, to the discipline and rigour of mUi
tary life. Their ardour accordingly began to abate ;
great numbers left the army ;"new leries were
made with the grealest difficully ; 1ar- j j. ^^g
dinessandirresolutloiikept back their ' ' '"' '
lecrults, and at the commencement of the present
year, ibe whple American army did not amount-
to ten thousand men.
Boston -was, at tbis lime, snffei-ing afl the dis
tresses of a close siege ; lhe suppUes sent by go
vernment arrived late.^.and part of thera was in
tercepted by the colonists. General Wa.shingloii.
was counselled to raake an assault on this p-lace,,
bul be was too conscious ofthe insufedeiicy ofhi.s,
ajnmunilion to endanger his army and. his cause
by a rash enterprise.. Tliat, however, he might
not be seen lo disregard bis dtty, or discredit his.
vigUance, he informed his officers, lhat as his armv,
by die accession of a numerous militia, amounted
now lo nearly i7,oeo men, he ibought it might be-
proper to, make an attempt on the British lines..
In tills he -was.opposed, and.it was recommended
lo him to lale possession of Dorchester jj,
hejghts. This was acbieved in lhe dead •**'^" 4-
and silence of night, and *snch a defence erected
before morning, that the Bririsli admiral assured
general Howe it -would be impossible to keep one
ofhis ships in the harbour unless the enemy were
dislodged. A -riolent storm preventing this design,
Uie British officers, in conseqnence of a previous
resolution, began lo evacuate the town. On lhe
i7lh, their Iroops, aniounling to 9000 men, left lhe
place, after sfiking up some cannon, and destroy-

a54 HISTORY OF ENGLANl),
Kig part of the castle. Many of the lownsmeiC,,
who were weU affected lo government,- accompa
nied them, and after a short voyage they arrived
at Halllfax. The situation ofthe British troops in
Boston had been very unpleasant, and it was judg
ed that a central position fbr the grand army would
enable it to act with raore effecl. Some of the
king's ships only were left to-prolect such vessels as
might arrive, and general "Washington with his
army marched info the town imraediately on tMe
embarkation of die British troops.
In Canada, where the Americans hoped lo have
erected fheir standard, fhey were corapletely
unsnccessfuL Obliged fo-raise fhe siege, they bad
fhe raortificafion to see their sraall fleet destroyed
on the lakes. The British had possession of Lake
Champlain, and general Carleton, -whose troojjs
took possession of Crpwn Point,, afler driving tho
colonists fiom it, would have also contended wilh
the main body af Ticonderago ; but lhe arlful ma
noeuvres of general Gales interrupted his progress,
and the approach of winter obliged him lo reti-eaf ..
These operations wei-e die cause of some petty en- -
gagements, the- whole of Whieh, indie course -of
ibis war, it is nol my plan to describe. The
recovery of Quebec having heen now accom
plished, die British Iroops next proposed to ex
tend their arms to some of the southern colonies,
and to take posses.sIon of New York.
Su- Henry Clinton and Sir Peter Parker, die
latter of whom had just arrived wilh a fleet from
.England, determined to attack Charlestown, the
capital of Soutii Carolina, a place of great impor
tance, and which fhey supposed might -be carried
by lhe assistance of shipping. Charlestown was
iri a state of defence, principally arising from some
works erected on SulUvan's island, which guarded.
die channel. Sir Peter Parker commenced Ihfr

GEORGE III- , ^'5
attack on this Island with two fifty gun ships, four
frigates of 28 guns, and four lesser armed vessels.
The fort mounted only twenty-six cannon, the
largest of which were 26 pounders; the garrison
did not exceed 400 men, commanded by general
Moultrie. Afler a brisk engagement, wliich lasted
len hours, the fleet were obUged to retire wiOi a
considerable loss of men. General Clinton was
unable lo co-operate by land, and In a few days lhe
Iroops reimbarked.. This v^^as the first lime the pro
vincials had resisted a fleet ; and as they did nol lose
thirty raen, they were elevated with iheir success..
New York,.fromlhe facUity wilh whichit could
be maintained, and, its relative position, was ofthe
utmost importance to the contending jiowers. It
was welll^xkown lo.generalWashingtcin, thai the
EngUsh had deterrained to- make themselves mas
ters, of il,. as. a prelude lo more serious operations,.
and here iherefore the great sland must be made.
Admiral lord Howe, andbis brother Sir W'illian',
were appointed lo. command lhe expedition agaiiwt
this place. The British army consisted of nearly
3o,ooo,,men, amply provided. General Ho-^\ o
arrived, about the end of June, off. Sandy Hook,
¦vrith the troops which he bad removed- from
Boston. In two days the admiral joined him with .
reinforcements at Staten Island, where the inhabi
tants received them vrilh great cordiaUty.. A con
siderable body of loyalists here testified their altacli-
menl to the British government. At this very mo
ment, however, the congress published their decla
ration of independence., .Reflecting j . ^
-men could not but be struck wifh lhe " ¦'' ' "*"
Gircumstance of its being published at such a tirae
of danger, when the British array was double lhat
ofthe Araericans, fhe lalter raised only for a tem
porary purpose, and whenits leaders hadno cer
tainty that it, could be kejit.iip..

'236 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
The British commander found Long Island and
New York in a posture of defence. General
"Washington had fixed his head quarters in the
city; and, profiting by former experience, deter-
mineci on a war of posts, or the raising slight for
tifications in -various places, which retarded aud
embarrassed the operations cjf the enemy. This
commander, however, was not without his diffi
culties. Uncertain wbere lhe enemy might make
fheir attack, he had to answer all the appUcations
from the peeple of -various quarters, for support.
The appearance of fhe enemy off New Y«rk,
seemed to hrmg the matter to a decisioH, and the
inhabitants prepared to oppose their whole force.
The Howes, part of whose (Commission was lo
offer peace, issued proclamations, sjgnifyfng- that
diey were impowered to grant pardon- to aU those
who, though they had deriafed frcmi tlieir aUegi-
anc«, vvere wilUng to retum lo their duty; and to
declare any colony, prorince, &c. to be at peace
with his majesty. "The congress repubUshed tiie'se-
prodamationsjftom a, conrictiori, ihat- tbey -wcwlct
produce a -yeiy opposite eflect to that intended.
At the same time, lord Ho-we sent a letter to-
George JV~ashington, Esq. yvbieh tfiis gentleman:
refused lo receive, as it was not addi-essed lo bim
with his military rank and lille. General Howe-
then sent adjutant genesral 'Paterson. wilh a leMer lo-
George fp^asiington, &e. and hoped that lhe et ce
tera would remove the objection.. After some de
bate on this trifling absurdity, equally disgraceful
t« bodi -parties at sutSi a-cri*B, "Uie British commis
sioners were informed that « from what appeared,
» Uieir po-w^-s -were only lo grant pardon, and ihafc
J> those who liad committed no fault,, wanted no
» pardon. »
Tliese negotiations proving fruitless, the British*
army cpmmenced its pperatipns. The Americant

GF.onoE HI. *57
army in and near New York did not exceed i a,ooo
men, scaillered al considerable distances in posts.
The enemy landed -wilhout opposition between
Utrecht andGravesend, two small towns; and after
a series of marches, an engagement Ippk place, in
•wbiieli the Americans Lost or had taken -upward of
one thousand raen, and the British about 460.
General "Washlnglon, who had removed the
grealest pari of his army to Long Island, finding
the approach of the enemy irresistible, determined
to retreat. Thei-e are few occurrences in miUtary,
history oiare remarkable than this retreat. Nine
lliousaiiid meia, with aU Uieir baggage and ammu
nition, were conveyed over a river, more than a
niile ia breadUi, toi New York, in less than thir
teen hours, and this entirely unknown to the Bri
tish army, who were nota quarter ofa mile dis
tant. Im the morning die latter look possession of
the works evacuated by this weU: conducted ref real.
ImniecUately afler, aa interview was agreed upon,
between some men^bers pf congress amd lord
IJjo-we, bul il ended in a mere interehange of perT
sonal civilLlies.
A descent on: Ne^iv York island -was die next
step'to Use taken. W^hen general H&we began to
landiiis meii between Kep's bay and Turtle bay,a
party who had been stationed at ai breastwork to
appose hinn, retreated on the fk-st appearance of
his troops. "Washiiagton In vain atterapted to rally
tiiem. Next day, the same men partly retrieved
Uieir boniour in a slirmish ; bat the place was no
longer tenable, and fhe Americans retired to the
¦O t h 1 a '*°'''^* ^'^^ ofthe island. An accidental
' fisre broke out soon afler the: British
troops entered Uie city, -which desti-oyed; about a
ihoiusand houses. General Howe now endea
voured to draw the enemy inlo action ; but, after
various manoeuvres, he wasaiotable to accomplisii

iOS HISTORY OF ENGX.iND,
what would probably have been fatal lothe Ame
rican cause. In the course of this experiment,
general 'Wa.shinglon, at otie time, oblained an eli
gible position, and seemed to wish for an engage-
menl ; but tbat not taking place, he crossed the
Nortii river, and encamped in the neighbourhood
of fort Lee. 'General Lee was left;at North Castle
wilh -upward of 7000 m.en. General Howe after
ward determined to attack fort "V\'^ashingtpn, the
only ppst on Ne«v Yerk island in the hands ef the
-Americans. An adequate force being sent against
it, an engagement ensued, in which, cf the Bri
tish, nearly 1200 were kUled or wounded. The
fort capitulated on honorable terms t the men,
amounting to 2700, were considered as prisoners
of war.
Success emboldened the British troops to foUo-w
up Uieir late victories, aud lord CornwaUis was
sent to attack fort Lee, the garrison of which re
treated precipitately, leaving their artillery and
stores. General "Washington determined tp retire
lo Augusta cpunty in Virginia. The prpgress pf
the A-merican cause was no-w truly critical : their
spirits were sunk, nurabers were deserting, and
die ne-w array inlisted very slpwly. Lprd Cprn
wallis pursuedgeneral ¦W"ashington's trppps cipse
in the rear as far as the Pensylvania side pf the
Delaware. The British army alsp tepk ppssessipn
of Rhpde Island, and blocked up a squadron under
the coramand of commodore Hopkins; and to
complete Uie defeat of the colonists, general Lee
was taken prisoner at Baskenbrldge. Nothing
could appear so destitute of hope as the affairs of
the continental army; -Uie seat of war being now
removed to the neighbourhood of Philadelphia,
l!ie42ongress were obliged lo retreat to Baltimore,
leading a sort of dictatorial power with general
Washington. Their courage, however, was not

GEORGE III. a3g
a'bated. So far were they from yielding in any
measure to the terms held out by the mother coun
lry, thai some of them even now jirojiosed lo .seek
the assistance of France, and, as an equivalent,
to transfer to that countiy the monopoly of trade
^vliich Britain had enjoyed. This not being con-
duded upon, they resolved to ofl'er freedom of
trade to every foreign nation.- In all their dis
tresses, aud when their boasted independence and'
union seemed to be on the verge of dissolution,
tbey would listen to no abatement of their former
claims on the justice bf the raother countiy.
Toward the dose of this year, their army began
again lo recruit, and general "W^asfaington being
considerably reinforced, determined to cross the
Delaware, and altack fhe British troops wlucih lay
al 1'renton. The latter w^ere deceived by an ill-
grounded security, and afler a bloody engagement
were obliged to lay down" their arms. About nine
hundred were thus laken prisoners, six hundred
escaped, and the rest were killed. After j.. [.
the aclion, general "Washington returned "^ • ¦•
to Peiis-ylvaniato secure his prisoners, and recross-
ing tbe river again, took possessioii of Trenton.
Oil this, part of the British army advanced against
the place, marching from Princetown, and after
driving a detachment of the Americans from a.
ppst a little tp the northward of Trenton, were
themselves checked at the briclge over" Sandpink
creek, which runs through Trenton. On each
side of this creek, the two arraies sat down for the
night. Bul general Washington, thinking he could
altack the remainder of the enemy left at Prince-
town, relrealed in the night:, reached princetown
early In the riiorning, and engaged three j _
regiments of lhe British troops, sixty of ' '
yvhom were killed, and about three hun- 777-
4red taken ; the rest made their escape. The Axae^

a^. HISTORY QF ENGLANl),
rican loss, according to their report, v^'as iheoii:ii-
derable. The British now removed their wliole
force to New Bruns-wick. In the mean time, ge=-
iieral Washington retired to MorristoWn. For
three months after this, no action of importance
was performed. The Americans complained Ioud»
ly of the rapacious cruelty and wantonness of the
British soldiery, and this circumstance revived
those sentiraenls of freedom and union which ori"-
ginally animated iheir cause ; the continental array
began to increase ; the congress applied their wis-
dora to Uie organissation of a regidar force ; Uie
several colonies adopted a temporary form of ^-
vernraent ; and notvrithstanding the losses of thu
-campaigai, their coraraanders by judicious move
ments, and attempting lo take no advantage but
what appeared certainly attainable, preserved the
main body of iheir troops, and deprived their e.ne^'
rales of those .opportunities of action which must
.'have terminated in their favour.
This prolraclion, wMIe it enabled die tsolonists
to recruit their armies, and to form them for ser
vice, not oidy exhausted ibeir enemies, who were
subsisting at an enormous expence in a counlry
far removed from horae, and -wiUi which few of
them were acquainted, but also gave a turn to the
rainds of many of the people in Great Britain,
Accustoraed to undervalue the strength of' such
empires as "France and Spain, -when placed in op
position to that of Britain, and baring never be
fore contended with other than nations of slaves,
they had uo idea of Uiat energy, lhat perseverance,
and diose resources, -which a people fighting for
their liberty can command. The moUey successes,
therefore, of this, campaign, were either misrepre
sented or misunclerstood ; for, at the meeting of
parUament, the nation seemed unarumous to crush
tha rebellion in, America, and considered the

GEORGE III. 241
declaration of independence as an insult that de
manded iramediate salisfactibn. It was stated in
his majesty's speech, on the opening of papliament,
•that one great advantage would be derived^ „
frora the declaralion of independence. ' ^ '
We should have unanimity at home, found- 77
ed on the general conviction of thejustice and ne
cessity of our measures. Certain it is, lhe minister
pursued his systera of war with greater ease than
might have been expecled. A large mUitai-y and
naval force were voted ; and although the minority
disputed every inch of ground, yet ihey -were so
conscious of the Inefficacy of their endeavours, that
a number of them seceded from parliament. Near
the close of the session, the additional sum of
ioo,oool. a year was added to his raajesly's civil
list. This occasioned very -warm debiiles ; and
when the biU came to be presented for his ma
jesty's assent. Sir Fletcher Norton, the speaker of
the Iiouse of comraons, addressed the king with
unusual freedora, stating lhat the representatives of
the people had granted this sum, in a well ground
ed confidence, thai lus raajesty -would apply wise
ly what they granted liberally ; and feeUng, what
every good subject must feel with the greatest sa
tisfaction, that, under the direction of his majesty's
wisdom, the affluence and grandeur of the sove
reign would reflect dignity and honour upon his
people. The sense of the house was said to be
misrepresented in this speech, and the speaker M-as
judged to be highly culpable. Mr. Fox ended the
debate, by raoving, that lhe speaker did express,
'with just and proper energy, the zeal ofthe house
for the support of the honour and dignity of lhe
crown, in circumstances of greal public cliai-ie.
This motion, and a vote of thanks to the speaker
¦^rere then carried wilhout a division. Immedia
tely before the adjournment, lord Chatham made
Vol. II. L

34* HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
an ineffectual attempt to put a stop to the war, and
wilh lhal prescience wliiph had ever distinguished
Iris public life, hinted the ppssibility pf a treaty
between France and America. France had not
yet forgot the disgraces ofthe last war; she looked
to Britain with a jealous eye, aud the efiects of tiiat
jealau^ wUl soon appear-

LETTER LXXIV.
You have ah-eady, no doubt, concluded against
the possibUity ©fa reconciUation between Great
Britain and the colonies. Quarrels between na-
lions are more diflicult to adjust than those between
individuals, so much more forcibly does fhe pride
of human nature act with the former than with the
latter, and so lillle is the room left for mutual for
bearance and acknowledgments. Many plans
mighl be iuiagiued, and indeed were actuaUy pro
posed , to beal the breach even at this advanced
period, but none that eiUicr party could adopt.
Between supremacy on the one hand , and inde
pendence on the other, no safe medium could be
found ; and when congress had publicly thrown off
their allegiance lo the mother countrj', and had
kept the Briti^ troops in play fcM" a whole campaign,
ibe clue of injuries and recriminations could not
be unraveUed by human ajd.
We lirft the British and American army in,winler
quarters. The season was considerably advanced
before the campaign in the middle states commen
ced. The American army had received some re
sources of ammunition from France ; but lo balance
this, the royal Iroops had executed two successful
expeditions , by which diey destroyecl, or brought
away an immense quantity of provisions, arms, &c.
lUiese,however,were not couducled without hlood-

"CJEOEGE III. 245
shed. In one of them, nearly three hundred men
lost their Uves or were taken. In the monlh of June,
the British army was reinforced by about one
thousand men , raised in New York and, Jersey.
Much time was spent frora the month of May, by
Sir WiUiam Howe and general "Washington, in
endeavours to outwit eaeUi other by feigned ad
vances and retreats. In August, the British fleet
-entered the Chesapeak, from the eastern heads of
which the troops advanced boldly within two mUes
of the Araerican array, posted at Newport. Ge
neral "Washington, retiring fo high ground near
Chad's fort in the Brandywine creek, purposed to
dispute the passage, and, contrary fo his usual po
licy, hazard a general action. Bplh armies dis^^
played their valour , bul the action was riot deci
sive. The royaUsfs had nearly six hundred killed
and wounded, and the Americans lost more than
double that number. The marquis de la Fayette,
a young French nobleman, and a volunteer in the
American cause, dislinguished himself in this ac
lion, and was carried from the field wounded. A
few days after, the two armies were about to have
again engaged ; but a heavy rain, whieh spoiled the
Amijrioan ammunition, obliged them lo retreat.
Some idea may be formed of their hardslups and
Uieir unbroken spirit, from this single circumstance,
dial above a ihousand of Uiem had performed all
their lale marches wiUiout shoes or stockings, and .
had their feet lacerated by the ice so as to.leave a
track of blood behind thera. On the 20th of tliis
month, general Grey cut to pieces a delachment of
three hundred colonists, whom he had surprised in
the night, without losing above five or six of hia
own men. Congress, at Uiis time, found il neces
saiy to retire lo York-town, while Sir W^iUiam
Howe entered Philadelphia. Leaving him lo for
tify this city at leisure, general Washin^Jton formed
L a

214 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,'
a design of attacking his troops at German -town ;
the best dispositions were made for this ex;pedition :
but as tbe British army were alarmed, il failed of
success. The latler, however, lost nearly five hun
dred men, including the wounded and prisoners,
and the Araericans upward ofa thousand, of whom
four hundred were jirisoners.
The colonists having bmlt a fort on Mud-island,
which coraraanded the passage on the Delaware,
the royal array had lo encounter die greatest diffi
culties, and many Uves were lost in practising the
necessary manoeuvres to dislodge thera. The im
pprlance, hpwever, pf die pbject, pbliged them to
run all risks, as withput being masters pf the De
laware, lhe ppssessipn pf Philadelphia was rather.
dangereus than useful. The fort on Mud-island
was defended with uncoraraon bravery; but a sliip
of war having raade her way so as lo be able to
.play -vriUi effect uppn it, the centinenlals were
pbliged to leave their ppsition, after the grealep
part ofthe works had been destroyed.
In the beginning of Deceraber, Sir "WiUiam
Howe again attempted lo bring die American army
to a general engagement ; but after various marches,
counlerr-marches, and some skirmishes, the cam
paign concluded wilhout Uiis desirable object being
attained. The royal array wintered in PhUadel
phia, and general Washington posted his main
force at VaUey Forge, vsiUiin sixteen miles bf the
enemy- The British had heen successful in almost
every engagement; but the great purpose of the
war was stiU frustrated by the spirited resistance
ofthe continentals, and stiU more by that system
of protraction which general "W^ashlngton had
adopted, and which was Uie best possible for Uie
safely of Uie colonies ; for it does riot appear lhal he
could have succeeded in any general engagement.
The campaign was carried on by the norlhern

GEORGE III. 24.1
army, under general Burgoyne, wilh various suc
cess, and ended, at length, in the total defeat of his
army. It was their object to forra a Une of cora
raunication between New York and Canada.
The army destined for the necessary operations
consisted of seven Uiousand British and German
troops, vrith a prodigious quantity of artillery.
Several of the savage nations were also induced lo
- join the British army, a circumstance which does
not appear lo have been defensible, as it was, i*i
fact, arming -wild andlferoclous beasts against our
countryraen, and certainly contributed greatly to
inflame the aversion of the Americans to evej-y
proposal ofi reconciliation.
Frora Quebec, general Burgoyne advanced with
J 2 hisarmytp Crown Point, andthe Ara e-
¦ rican troops at Ticonderago, finding
theraselves unable lo cope with hira, evacuated the
place with great secrecy and expedition, leaving a
vast quantity of stores and ammunition, the loss of
which was so severely fell, that congress thought
proper to institute an inquiry into the conduct of
the coramandei-, -wlio did not escape -without irapu-
tations. Success now foUo-wed the royal arras wilh
such rapidity, that the cause of the colonies ra this
quarter wasgiven up as hopeless. It was Burgoyne's
jjiirpose to force his -R-ay into Albany, or, at least,
to be able lo join the army at New. York. "W^hen
engaged on this exjbedition, in the course of which
his men underwent fatigues that are alraost incre
dible , colonel St. Leger was endeavouring to
co-operate wilh hira in the Mohawk country, and,
about the beginning of August, attemjited lhe,-siege
of for^Sphuyler . This place was defended with so
much bravery, and the Indians proved so reluctant
to act with spirit, that the colonel was obliged lo
raise the siege, and leave a part of his artillery
behind him.
L 3

¦^^ msTCXRy OP ENGtANll,
Fortune was now changing sides. General Bur
goyne, when on his way lo Albany, detached abonl
six hundred ofhis troops to Bennington, to seize a
magazine of stores and provisions ; but the mUilia
of New Hampshire proving more numeroiSs dian
was expected, the greater part ofthis delachment
were either kiUed or wounded, and anoUler party
sent to their assistance were also routed. These
actions inspired lhe Americans with confidence,
fltad greatly disconcerted the plafts of the royal
army, by detaining it fully a month, waiting for
supplies, whUfrthe continentals were raUying from
aU quarters. The next step Burgoyne took was lo
Sept 14 ^''°^^ Hudson's river, and in four days
¦ he encamped on Ihe heights, about two
miles from fhe continental camp, where general
Gates had now fhe chief command. An engar
gement here look place, which lasted three hours,
vrith great destruction to bolh sides; "but night
coming On, the balUe was indecisive. Snch was
the situation after this of the royalists,. that a junc
tion with the forces at New York was absolutely
necessary. Dispatches were accordingly sent to
general CUnton, urgirig his immecUate assislance.
A delay of nearly three weeks had diminished llie-
stock'of pi-orisions, and an action happened, in
which the Atnericans had the adviinfage, and both
armies lost several brave' officers. The British thus
embarrassed, removed in the course of one night,
and this probably first suggested to the American
commander; that it was possible to cul off their
retreat. To avoid this, general Burgoyne moved
lo Saratoga, wherS", after suffering every hardship
and mortification, and making many fruitless at
tempts to extricate his army, he was, at length,
obliged lo offer a capitulation on honorable terms.
His tropps were allpvVed lo march out wilh lhe ho
nours pf war, Uieir arras being to be jiiled, and their

BEORGE lit, 2'4f"
artillery left on the river's edge : a free passage was
granted lo lhe troops lo England, on condition of
not serving again in Norib America, The rest of
die terms -were as favourable as the circumstances
would permit. If they appear more so than the
Americans were obliged to grant, let it be remem
bered, that it was the best policy lo show lenity
and forbearance in a case like the present. Thus,
by a series of ill-judged or Ul-conducted mea-.
sures, tlie wliole royal army, consisting of five
thousand seven hundred and ninety men, were
compelled lo surrender to the Araericans, with
all theirarms and amraunition. Sir Henry CUnl on
had endeavoured to cowduct an expedition lo assist
Burgoyne; but for some reasons, -which have never'
been satisfactorily explained, that commander was
left to his humiliating fiile. The consequences of
a victoty so importanl as this, may be easily con-
-ceived. In Europe, it raised the character of die
Araerican troops ; and it Is supposed that, accord
ing to the natural operaricDn of success on the
human mind, it turned tbe scale of pnblic opinioil
in favour of their courage, their strength, and their
final success.
"When the British parliament assembled, the
news ofthis defcathad not reached Eng- ^
land. The armaments which had been
for sorae time preparing in lhe porls of France
and Spain, induced pur ministry to make a con
siderable augmentation of naval force. Large sup
plies were voted, and resisted by the opposition on-
the usual grounds : the loss of trade was begin
ning lo be felt, and the issue ofa war vrith France
and Spain could only complete our destnoctiou.
To strengthen these arguments, and while the
augmentation of the army and navy was the sub—
j,ect of contention between the t-wo parties, the
news of general Burgoyne's defe;at arrivecL Hi*
L 4

248 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
expedition being the favourite scheme of the mi-
nislry, their disappointment was not lo be con
cealed, and the exultation ofthe minority was pro
portionate, But the loss of so great an army ren-
clered il necessary to raise regiments wiUiaU pos
sible speed. An appeal was made to the people,
and answered according lo the wishes of go- ,
vernment. Manchester, Liverpool, and many
other great towns, raised a ihousand men each.
The city of London haring refused to offer the
usual bounty money, large subscriptions were
raised by indiriduals, and this example was fol
lowed in various parts of Uie nation. In Scodand,
se-veral thousand men, chiefly Highlanders, were
raised with astonishing expedition. The voice of
the people was decidedly for vvar, and the mi
nisler, availing himself of this appearance of loyalty
and unanimity, pursued his system with very Utile
controul frora parliament. In the midsf. of his
operations, however, he surprised the house, by
advancing some motions of a conciUatory nature.
,.,„Q >Two biUs were passed, one of which
.'..' ' enabled bis majesty to appoint commis
sioners vrilh sufficient powers to treat -with the con
gress, or any provincial assembly, or with general
Washington, or any other persan. Afler some
debate, ihesfe^were carried, but few entertained
lio23es lhat lhe plan would be productive of any
substantial good.
The designs of France, which some ofthe mino -
rity had foreseen, became, at length, evident beyond
all dispute. His majesty communicated tothe par-
lianjerit, lhat the court of France had signed a treaty
TijT -L -^ of amity and commerce vrilh certain
March PT. •' , 1 ,1 1 • - 1 >
' persons employed by nis majesty s re-
y^olted subjecls in America, and that he had thought
proper to wiUidraw his ambassador from that court.
The French, it was discovered, had dispatched

GEORGE III. 249
count d'Eslaing, with twelve ships of the Une,
frora Toulon, and adrairal Byron, vriUi a fleet fi-om
PortsmouUi, was ready to sail afler him. But the
negUgence ofthe rainislry, in not providing sooner
against the Toulon fleet, was severely censured,
,and was vindicated but in a feeble manner.
The remainder of this session was eraployed in
motions brought forward by the rainority, for the
production of papers wliich, on the ground of dan
ger; the ministry uniforraly resisted ; and In dis
putes relative 10 Burgoyne's army, the conduct of
the lords ofthe admiralty, &c. In the course ofa
debate, on a motion made by the duke of Rich
mond for withdrawing our troops frbm America,
the venerable earl of Chatham, while answering
some part of the duke's arguments, was seized with
a fainting fit, which in a fe-w days ended in his
dealh. The loss of this, able slatesman -was severely
felt ; all ranks and parties joined in honouring
his memory. His character may be summed up
ill few words. His counlry knew him to be incor
ruptible; and the enemies of his country found
hira to be^ invincible. Few raen have better tem
pered the love of liberty with the love of their
country. It is to be regretted , that he, had been so
long excluded from the cpuncils of state; he whose
opinions ha(J niqver proved false, ai;ijd whose plans
had never proved abprlIve."What he was conrinced
was wise, he undertook; and what he undertook,
he never departed fro^i.,,
A,s the concUiatory bijjs introduced by the rai
nistry constiluted the :laft effort ofthe kind which
(Jre^t Britain made, it is necessary to dwell for a
moment pn ;lhe, nature and effect of them. They
arrived in America bqfore pongre;ss had heard of
Uie effect of iheir negptiatipn yyitli, France, and,
after being taken into consideration, congress de
clared that they could nothold any conference with
L 5

25oi HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
any commissioners on lhe part o£ Great Britain,
unless they should, as a- preliminary, either -with
draw their fleets and armies,or else, in positive and
express terms, acknowledge the independence of
the states. The commissioners here alluded to were
governor Johnstone, lord Carlisle, and Mr. Eden.
They opened their commission soon after this by
a letter to^ongress, in which they pffered to ccnour
in the foflowing articles : tp cpiisent fp a cessaticm,
pf hpsiUilies,.bpth by sea and land : fo restore free
intercourse, to revive mutual affection, and renew
the common benefits of naturalizalibn, throuhg-'
out the several parts of fhis empire : to ex-tend
every freedom, of Iradethat our respective interests
can require : to agree lhat no milifarj' forces^ shaU
be kept upin the different stales of North America,.
-without the consent ofthe general congress, or par
ticular assembUes : to concur in.measures calculated
to discharge the debts of America, and to raise the
credit, and value of the paper circulation- : to per
petuate our union by a reciprocal deputation of an.-
agent or agents fromttbe different stales, who shaU
have the pr-i-rilege ofa seat and voice in the parUa
ment of Great Britain ; or, if sent from Britain, in,
that case to have a. seal and voice inthe. assemblies,
of the different slates to which they may be de-^
puled respectively, in order tp attend the se^-eral
interests of "those fey whom, they are deputed- : in*.
short, to establish the power of the respective- le
gislatures in each particular slate, to setUeils reve--
nue, in civil and mililaly: establishment, and, to.
exercise a perfect, freedom 6f legislation andiinter^
nal go-pemment, so that the British states ihtough-^
out North America, acting vriUi us in peace ancl.
War, under one common sovereign, may have-
Ae irrevocable enjo3Tnent of eveiy privUege;.
that is short of a total separation of interests, or
consistent wilh that union of force, on whioh:

GEORGE tft.- i^-t
the safety of our common religidtt" arid Uberly
depends. "Whether the congress suspected the sincerity of
these offers, or that, after a negotiation had cora
menced, they might be thrown off their guard, and
less favourable terms be insisted upon ,' yvhelher
their minds, irritated by the devaslatlon of their
country, were now steeled against amity vrilh Great
Britain ; pr whether they thought they had already
pledged themselves Ip I'rance beyond what they
Gpuld honorably retract (for they had now heard
that the treaty ivas signed ), may admit of an argu
ment. Perhaps all these reasons cxnubined in form
ing the answer they returned to fhe commissioners,
which was in substance, that diey had already de
cided against the conciliatory bills, and that no
other prpof of the disposition ofthe king of Great
Britain toward a peace would be accepted, than
his explicit acknowledgment of the independence
ofthe states, or the wilndravring his fleets and ar
mies. Notwithstanding this, the commissioners^
left no means untried to procure a raore amicable
adjustment ; but the congress were inflexible ; and
some reports of an atterapt to bribe certain raem
bers of congress, though positively disavowed by
the commissionersj gained the people over'lo their
opinion. Finding all endeavours to be fruitless,,
the comraissioners Issued a manifesto, in which -
araong other things, it was stated, lhat the ^Vbole
contest was now changed, and the question was
how far Great Britain raight, by every raeans in
her power, destroy pr render useless a cpnnectipn
cpntrived for her ruin, and for the aggrandizeraent
of France. Under such, cireumsfances the laws of '
self-preservation must direct the conduct of Great
Britain, and if the British colonies are lo become an-'
accessipn to France, will direct hertp render that;
ttccessien of as Utile avail as possible to her enemy .
L. 6-

5252 HISTORY OP ENSL-AND,
"We- now return lo the progress of the war.
Larger narrations may adrait ofa rainute detail of
skirmishes and petty encounters ; but these so much
resemble each other in all wars, and contribute so
little to the main purposes of history, that we shaU
/i T) t 1?, ^°^^^ only the more important ac-^
'' ¦ tions. The spring was nearly over
before the contending armies began to act.. Count
d'Esfaing's squadron of twelve ships ofthe line and
four frigates entered the Delaware in the beginning
of. July, which rendered it necessary for the British
to evacuate Philadelphia and remove to New York,
as a grand center. The passage ofthe rpyal array
into New Jersey was effected vrith incredible per
severance, amid innumerable difficulties. The
Araericans detached large bpdies fp faU uppn their
rear; and fp ppppse these Sir Henry Clinfen placed
his grenadi^s, light infantry, and chasseurs, in his
rear, and the baggage in front. General Lee was
apppinied to ccramand the Araerican army on this
expedition, and great hopes were entertained of lis
success; but when general "Washington marched
up to assist, he fpund that Lee had given prders for
a retreat. Soon after, the artiUery of bolh armies
engaged; about 260 of the Americans were killfed
and wounded, and the royalists, including priso
ners, lost abput 55pf but night pul a stpp to the ac-
tipn, and, befbre mprning, the British army had
retreated, learing a few wounded raen behiiid
thera, who could not be carried off, and reached
Sandy Hook wilhout farther interrupt
June 3o.. ^^^^^^ General Lee was brpught to trial
fpr his conduct on this day, and sentenced to one
year's suspension frora pubUc service. The Ame
ricans now posted at 'VVliite Plains, and afterward
marched lo Middlebrook in Jersey. Congress re
turned to Philadelphia, frpm whence they had
been absent only nine months. Here they received

GEORGE III. 2 0,5
a Monsieur Gerard as jilenlpotentiary from the
court of France ; a circumstance which in then-
opinion gave a clignily and consequence to their
confederacy. Count d'Eslaing appeared on the coast of Ame
rica when the British fleet and array were slalioned
in the harbour and cily of New York. Had
d'Eslaing arrived when the English fleet was in the
Delaware, his superlpr fprce must have made an
easy prey. He facecl thera however, in a fe-w days,
off Sandy Hook ; but not thinking an altack either
prudent or practicable, he sailed for New York,
and by this last iriotipii lost an opporlunity of cap-
luring adrairal Byron's sraall fleet. The expedi
tion of Uie French admiral against Rhode Island,
after various manoeuvres, proved abortive; and
the ineificacy ofhis measures, added to the loss of
the season, which was now drayring to a close,,
disheartened lhe Americans, whose expectations
of his success were more sanguine than either his
courage or-hls conduct could justify. The English-
fleet were inferior in force; but in bravery and
raanagement, greatly superior. As soon as Sir
Henry Clinton found that the Americans had left
Rhode Island, h^ sent a detachment to Bedford
and its neighbourhood, who destroyed above se^
venty saU of shipping, with various magazines,
warehouses, and stores, to a great araount. Ano
ther expedition ofa sirailar nature was conducted,
about the sarae time, with equal success, and a re
giment of Araerican light dragoons were surprised
and cut to pieces by a party coramanded by major-
general Grey. A fruitless attempt against East
Florida is tobeadded to die list of American losses,
wliUe the conquest of Savannah, the capital of
Georgia, decided the present campaign almost in
favour of the English.
The system of war became now so far changed^

254 HISTORY OF ENGLA-ND,
, j^ that the year we are entering upoir
• 779" presents us with Utde more than vari
ous acts of distress and- desolation, committed by
detachments from the respective armies. Two
expeditions, lhe one tb Virgiftia, and lhe other fo
(Connecticut, afford melancholy instances of the
miseries of civil war. The most-wanton barbari
ties were praciised on the inhabitants without re
gard to age or sex, and property of aU kinds was-
destroyed.. How these outrages were complained
of by one party or rindicated- by lhe other, is not
now a matter of inquiiy.
Two events of importance, which distinguished'
lhe war in the western world, were fhe capiure of
Sfpney Ppint,. pn Nprth River, and the surprise
ef the British garrispn.pf Powles Hook, opposite to
NewYork. By fhe fbriner, fhe British lost 63 men
killed, ahd 543 who were taken prisoners ; in die
latter, i3o were kiUed, and i6o taken.- In bofb
actions, the courage ofthe A-merican commanders
was not more conspicuous than, their humanity.
In other attempts, however, of this kind, they
were not equaUy successful ; and frora tbe pecu
liar situation of general Wadrington's army, he
was unwilUng to weaken it by diriding it into pre
datory detachments..
In the sontlvthe British were now for die first
time endeavouring lo reestablish government iu
CaroUna and Georgia. Their armies were rein
forced by greal bodies of loyalists ; but , as a consi
derable part of them inlisted merely for the sake
of plunder, or from motives of fear, and tempo
rary security, they contributed neither to the suc
cess nor fhe reputation of our arms ; for no sooner
was a body of Uiem defeated in a skirmish than the
rest returned lo their homes. Notwithstanding
this, the British were extending their fastnesses so
far, lhat general Lincoln thought it adviseable to

GEORGE III. 2,55
crossinlp Georgia, and bpund their prpgress ; but
of I 5po men, sent on this expedition, only 460 re
turned lo their carap, the rest being kiUed by the
English, or taken prisoners, oi- drowned in attempt
ing to make their escape. A like fate attended ano
ther expedition of the Americans into Georgia;
and lhe British army, flushed with success, pushed
on to the capture of Charlestpwn, althpugh, as it
was fpund tp be tpp strpngly fortified, the design
¦was fpr the present abandpued. On the pther-
hand, a great bpdy of the Americans,- who al^
tempted to besiege Savannah, were defeated and!
compelled to raise the siege.. D'Eslaing com
manded on tills occasion, and, after the defeat,
reimbarked his troops and artiUery, and left the
continent ; and the American troops relrealed.
over the river Savannah., The hi,story of this
carapaign is singular. During the whole of It, lhe
perseverance and intrepidity of the English wer?-
as reraarkable as the hesitating and ill conducted:
exertions of the Americans : yet, notvrithstanding,
the former, the English -were yet confined to their-
original boundaries In Georgia; and notwithstand
ing the latter, the spirit of the Americans, though'
-weakened, was not broken ; and no state, to-wn-, .
or rillage, ever thoughtofaccepting the terms hdcl
out by the commissioners.
It remains lo be mentioned^ Uiat, about the end
of last year, count d'Estaing took Sl. Vincent's and-
Grenada ; and the British, St. Lucia, About the
same time, the raarquis de BouiU^, governor of"
Martinico, surprised and took the island, of Do
minica. During these transactions abroad, government.
found it expedient to call forth the most powerful
exertiolfsi Admiral Keppel was ajjpoinled com
mander of the ~ — -
and, ahout the

fleet at Portsmouth; j -p. o
monUi of June, he " ' 77 •

256 HISrcmY OF ENGLAND,
was enabled to set sail with twenty ships of the
line. "War had not at this time been proclaimed,
npr reprisals prdered; but cpming up vrilh two
French frigates, the adrairal cpncelved hiraself to
be justified in taking them ; and learning, at tlie
same lime, lhal the French fleet at Brest consisted
of ihirty-lwo sail ofthe line, he relurned, to Porls
moutb, and, on the 3d of July, he was (enabled to
take to sea with thirty saU ofthe Une. On the aSd
the two fleels were in sight of each other, and, on
the morning of the 27th, an engagement-^ took
2i]aee, which lasted with great fury for upward of
three hours. One hundred and thirty-three of the
British were kUled,andthree hundred and seven ly-
three. wounded : the French lost upward of two
thousand. This would have been cc a proud day
» forGreatBritain,» butforanunfortuiiateniisun-
derstanding between the commander in chief and
admiral PaUiser, vice-admiral of the blue, vvhich
prevented the action from being/ decisive. Few
events have occasioned a greater, clamour at home.
Admiral Keppel was tried by a court martial, who,
after a hearing of thirty days, honorably acquitted
hIra'ofaUthe charges. Neillier he, however, nor
!l'alliser, served afterward in the wa^.
.; "When the parliament raet, the opppsilion pro-
-AT ^ c posed lo inquire, by what fatal coun-
J\O0. 20. ^., , ^1 •' . n T
cils, and unhappy system ot 2'oiicy,
this country -had been reduced to her jiresent -si-
tiiation ; and, as usual, boldly attacked the ministry
on , iheir incapacity and inconsistency. (Jeneral
Burgoyne arraigned lord George .Germaine, tlje
secretary for the American department, wilb great
acrimony; ,and Mr. Fox, at several tiipes, raoved
to censure die conduct of lord Sand wich, ^thefifst
lord ofthe admiralty. The conduct of admirals
Keppel and Palliser, and of lord anji general
Howe, was also the subject pf great altercation in

GEORGE III. 267
both houses. Evidence was heard, and the minis
try appeared to sland convicted pf egregipus blun
ders, ancl ef great negligence, in cbnducting the
war. But wliile these disputes were in agilatipn,
anpther eneray was announced to the t ^ j „
house. Spain had joined iis ancient ,„„„
. , 1 1 77c^.
animosities with those of France, and '''
the ambassadors from the respective courts were
recalled. The minority now m-ged the necessity
of withdrawing our forces from Araerica, and di
recting them against the house of, Bourbon. With
the same effecl, they recommended a total change
of men ?nd raeasures. The whole session pre
sented a scene of useless altercation, and closed its
slllliigs about lhe beginning 'of July.
I'he war between the Freijch and English in
the East Indies comraenced, near the end of last
year, by an allack on the French selllement at
Pondicherry. Tbe siege of this imporlant place
was coriducted by major general Munro, com
mander of llieEasl India company's Iroops on the
coasl of Cororaandel, and by sea'he -was assisted
by die English fleet under Sir Ed^vard Vernon,
who had driven a superior Frencli fleet from the
place. The garrison o f Pondicherry made a brave
defence ; but the governor was obliged at length
to capitulate, and on terras which did honour
to die generosily pf the victors. The company's
Iroops, which amounted to upward of ^
10,000, had jibout 220 slain, and near ' '/-''
700 wounded. The garrison, araounting only to
¦5ooo, had 200 killed, and near 5oo -wounded..
In the beginning ofthis year, the French sent a
squadron, coramanded by the raarquis de Vau
dreuil, and a land force coraraanded by the duke
de Lauzun, to the coast of Africa,, where they
easily took possession of the British sellleraeiils,
forls and properly, at Senegal. Sir Edward

a58 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
Hughes, on the other hand, seized the island of
Goree, and placed a strong garrison in it. Dur^
ing the suraraer, the French made an attempt on
ibe island of Jersey, which was defeated by Sir
James \Vallace taking some of their frigates. The
minislry had as yet adopted no plan lo pre-vent a
junction of fhe French and Spanish fleels, which-
-was aclua-Uy accomplished about the middle of
August, when this formidable combined force, to
the terror of the whole naiion, entered the Bri
tish channel, and after parading for two days off
Plyinoud], retired- without offering any att'acl.
Their purpose, if fhey had any beyond that of
ostentation, seems to have been to watch lhe Bri
tish fleet ; hut Sir Charles Hardy, -who coraraanded'
that fleet, entered fhe channel without any inter
ruption. Such and so various were die chequeied
events ofthe two last campaigns*

LETTER LXXV
The campaign -we are now entering upon was
eorapo.sed of few circurastances which tended lo-
accelerate the decision of the important question.
Afler the departure ofthe French fleet. Sir Henry
Clinton embarked wifh a great army, on an ex
pedition against the capital of South Carolina ;
and rice-admiral Arbudinot was to seccind him-
with a naval force adequate to the object in view.
Though the passage ofthis army, from New York
to Charlestown, was tedious, and in some respects
disastrous, yet fhey arrived before the place in a
condition for iraraediafe altack. On the array
taking post al Ashley river, die assembly of the stale,.
then sitting, broke up, and appointed fhe gover
nor lo take proper steps for its defence. The town
was discovered by the British troops to be sa

CEORdE III. aSg
corapletely fortified, that Sir Henry CUnton thought
it necessary to wait for reinforcements from New
York and Savannali ; but, immediately on their
arrival, he began the siege with great spirit and
effect. His army and navy had a de- 7r/-_„„i ^a
cided superiority, and, after a variety ,„a„
of ineffectual operations pn the part pf ' "
the town, general Lincoln, the commander, was-
under the necessitj' of surrendering on the terms
pffered by Sir Henry Clinton, the nature of which
is highly honorable to his generosity and magna-
niraity. The garrison was to raarch outof lo^vn,
and to deposit their arms in the front ofthe works,
but without beating a British march, or uncasing
the colours. The continental troops and seamen
were to keep iheir baggage, and reraain prisoners
of war, nntil exchanged. The railitia were allowed
to return to their homes, as prisoners on parole,
and ihe other Inhabitanis to- retain, their property
on the same terms.
The loss of men killed in ibis siege was nearly
equal ; but the amount ofthe prisoners of war,
in consequence of the! surrender, was at least six,^
ibousand, a great proportion of which were offi
ces. General Lincpln had to encpunter the cen
sures pf the cautipHs on this pccaslpn ; but it does
npl appear that he erred ptherwise than by depait-
irig frpm the system pursued by general Washing
ton, who never attempied to defend any post oi
place without the possIbiUtypf securing a retreat in
«ase the day shpuld b,e lost.
Before general Clinton went on ail^ other expe
dition, he took some raeasures to bring the inhabi
tants to a sense oftheir duly as British subjecls.
He published sundry addresses and remonstrances,
and combining fear with persuasion^, posted gar-
risoris in different parts of the country, lo keep lhe
people in awe. Two ihousand men were marched

sOo HISTORY OF ENGL.4ND,
to Nprth CarpUiia, and Qplpnel Tarleten defeated
and cul tp pieces a detachment pf,^oo Americans
at "Wachaws, -with hardly any loss on his own side.
After these proceedings. Sir Henry Clin lon em
barked for New "Y'prk, learing fonr thousand men
for the southern service, the chief command de
volving on lord CornwaUis, who, in providing
for the civU and commercial arrangements of this
province, found the people in general subraissive :
in raany places they laid down their arras, and
partly frora fear, and partly from a desire of peace,
jirofessed their obedience as subjects. "J^he persona
who had heen taken in arms in CSiariestown were
novy released from their parol^, and it was expected
fhey vyould have embraced such an ojjjiorf unify to
arm in favour ofthe British government; but to
this they could'not be reconciled, and many began
to arm in their own defence; so difficult -srill it
always be found lo conquer the minds of men.
In the mean time, Uie Americans were pre23ar-
ing a force to check die prpgress pf the Britisli.army,
and a cplonel Sumpter, at the head of a pai-ty of
T , exiles from South CaroUna, defealed a
•^ ¦ de.tachraent of Uie royal army posted in
a lane at "W^illiarason's plantation. Encoura^d
by this success, his troops soon augraented to the
number of 600, who distinguished their intrepi
dity in olher skirmishes; and the British coramau-^
ders had no-w the raortificatipn to see hpslililies re
newed yyhere they lipped ihey had establislied
jjc-ace and Ipyalty. An Araerican array was Uke-
\-\-"ise apprpsiphing to SpuIU Carolina, under the
coraraand of general Gates, and Uie cause of ccn-
gress seemed to re'^i^'e. Gates' army ampunled tp
four thousand raen, including militia. Lord
CornwaUis had not above half tin's nuraber; yet
he raarched frora Charlestown lo Cambden, and
determined to give balUe. In the night the two

GEORGE IIT. 261
anniesmel,andanengageraentensued,in ^ ^^^
which the continentals were completely
defealed, with great loss of men and stores, o-wing,
among olher circumstances, lo the cowardice of
their mUUia. The capture and defeat of Surap-
ter's detaclimenl, by colonel Tarleton, followed
this engageraent, and the success of lhe British, at
this period, might be the theme of panegyric, had
it not been sullied by certain cruel and impolitic
regulations, adopted in order to enforce obedience
among the people, but which in fact produced a
quite contrary efl'ect. Toward tbe .close of this
year, a British detachment was defeated near the
confines of North and South Carolina, by a large
body of newly raised American militia. The Bri
tish, under the command of major Ferguson, be
haved with uncommon spirit ; but iheir encamp
ment being Injudicious, and no chance of retreat
being left, they were obUged to surrender them
selves prisoners to the number of 800. The gal
lant Ferguson was mortally wounded.
The campaign in South Carolina affording no
other action of importance, -we turn no-w lo the
affairs in the norUiern slates, whicli bore a singular
complexion at this lime. General Kniphausen un
dertook an excursion inlo Jersey from NewYork
wilh five thousand men. His progress was mark
ed with considerable devastation, as the American
troops were not able to resist; but the expedition
ended wilhout apparently having any objeet in
view, and certainly without accomplishing any ao-
ticn of importance. The Americans, at this time,
had to contend with great difficulties, araong none
of Uie least ef which was the want pf specie, and
the depreciatipn pf their paper currency. These
occasioned discontents, and sorae few instances of
mutiny in their array ; yet araid all their distresses
and wants, we do riot find that the British array

aGa HISTPRY OP England,
could al all avaU themselves of these circumstances.
For what only extreme distress occasioned, a very
moderate supply wcJuld reraove ; and, as hM been
already observed, the means taken to seduce them
from their duty, only served to bind them closer to it;
while, on the other hand, the juclicious.and humane
expedients contrived by tlie American congress and
coraraander^ in a season pf deep dismay, cheered
the hearts and suppnrted the hppes pf the soldiers.
In this crisis, a French fleet and army arrived at
Julv io Rbode Mand. The fleet, cemmanded
^ ' by M. de Ternay, cpnsisted pf seven
ships of the line, tive frigates, and five sloops. The
«H:my amounted to sis Uiousand men, under count
de Rochambeau. The arrival of admiral Greaves,
however, vrith six sail o^ the Une, and his conse
quent junction vridi admiral Arbuthnot, wIip had
four, gave the British fleet a decided superiority,
and they determined to attack the French at Rhode
Island ; this beiug found impracticable, die English
blocked up the fleet and army of the enemy, and thus
rendered them useless to the Americans ; a disap
pointment -which was yet exceeded by another,
which showed how Utde was to be expected from
the wisdom ofthe French cpmmanders. Count de
Guichen, the French adrairal in the West Indies,
was to have joined M. de Ternay, and thus have
gained a superiority against which the English
cpuld npt have stppd : but, instead of this, Gmchen
sailed for France, leaving the Americans no olher
cpiisplalipn than they cpidd derive frpm the hppes
of another campaign.
"While the a8,sistance, sent by their new ally,
vvas thus rendered ineffectual, an enemy appeared
ill the bowels of their confederacy, who had like
Ip have in^'olved their whole cause in ruin. Ge
neral Arnold, whp had so pften fpught fpr the in
dependence of the states, npw engaged, for -a

GEORGE III. 2S3
stipulated aum, to betray into the hands of the
British, an important ppst, die keeping pf which
he had spliclted; this was caUed West Ppint, the
Gibraltar pf Araerica, and buUt for the defence pf
North River. It was a place of vast cpnsequence,
and the repository of their mosl valuable stores.
The loss would have been severely felt, and, per
haps, would at this time have been fatal; but the
scherae was baffled in the outset. Major Andre>
an English officer of acknowledged spirit and bra
very, was selected Ip cpnduct die secret negptia-
lion between general Arnold and Sir Henry, CUn
ton. By raistake, Andre fell inlo the hands of sorae
of the scouts belonging to the Americans, and his
papers being found upon him, the whole plot Was
discovered- Audre was tried, and conderaned to
be hanged as a spy. It was in vain that lhe Bri-
lish coraraander endeavoured to raake him be con
sidered in any other Ught, or that he himself soU
cited to die as a soldier. The ignominious punisb-
'liient was inflicted without abatement Arnold,
however, made his escape, and joined the British
army, of -which he was made a brigadier general.
The British universaUy censured general "Washing
ton for bis severity toward Andre, while Uie Ameri
cans -were of opinion, thathe had forfeited those pri
vileges -w-hlcli a fair and open enemy may claim. It
docs not, indeed, appear possible to consider Andre
in aiiyotherUghtUianthat of a sjiy; but his courage
and private vii-tues gained hini many friends, who,
in the case of a person of indifferent character,
^vould never have thought twice on the' subject.
General Arnold wrote an ingenious defence of lus
conduct, in abaiidbnliig the cause he had fought
and bled to support, and professed that he went
cordiaUy with the Americans before their alliance
wiUi France, but from Uiat time he had becorae a
loyalist, and only retained his arms and command.

264 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
waiting for an pppprtunity to surrender them lo
Great Britain. On this defence il is needless lo
add any coraraent.
I should now return to the war with France and
Spain ; but it wiU be necessarj' first to glance at fhe
state of aflairs at home, especially as an event of a
yery extraordinary kind occurred in the metropo
lis, which cannot soprpjierly be intreduced as in
its cpnnectipn with iheaffairs ef parUaraent!
When the legislature assembled in the latter end
of last year, the ministers announced their design
to prosecute the war with spirit, and to break that
mostunnalural confederacy which had been fprm
ed against this island. The ppppsitipn, resuming
their accustpmed topics, cried aloud for a change
of men and measures, deprecating a continuance
of that systera of foUy and "debility, which had
brought the nation info ifs present dilemma, and
eritaUed disgrace on the British narae and arras.
In Ireland, a spirit ef discpntent had Ipng been
observed, arising frpm incumbrances cyi their
trade, and they had now formed a powerful mi
litary association, the use of which, it did net ap
pear, was to be cenfined ,tp prpteclipn frpra fp
reign eneraies pnly. Alarraed at this rapde of re
sistance, lord Shelburne endeavoured lo call the
attention of the house to an object of so rauch ur
gency, and sorae bUls -were brought in by the mi
nister fpr the reUef of the trade of lhat countiy.
Petitions were now presented from all parls of
England against the measures of administration.
Many undeniable eveiils had confirmed die argu
ments of the ojjppsllion, and a general bias ap
peared in fav^our of economy and retrenchment
in public expences. In.parUamenl, however. Utile
or nodiing was conceded to the wishes of the. mi
nority, diough now backed by a great proportion
of die pepple, and a prerpgatipii was apprpachiiig,

GEORGE HI. aB5
-when the raetropoiis becarae on a sudden a scene
of confusion and ferocious liol, that has no parallel
in our history. It is necessary to trace tills lo its
souj-ce. About. two years ago, a bill had passed both
houses, granting certain relief to the Roraan catho
Ucs fi-ora the penal laws. The tiraes were con
ceived to be sufficientiy liberal for this indulgence,
and it is probable, that it would have been uni
versaUy acceptable had not a set of bigots arisen,
who disgraced the dose of the eighteenth century
by inflaraing the minds ofthe people against the
Roman catholics. Lord George Gordon, a mera
ber of the house of coramons, had often talked
yvildly on this subject; bul lillle attention was paid
fo hira, and he placed hiraself at the head ofa so
ciety of numerous, but obscure individuals, who
called themselves the protestant association. By
means ofthe hand-biUs of this society, nearly fifty
thousand persons assembled, on a day appointed,
in St. George's fields, to accompany lord j
George to the house of 'commons, with a ¦'""^ ^•
petition for the repeal of the lenient act in favour
of the Roman catholics. This mob proceeded
over London-bridge, through the cily and "W^est-
miiister, to the parUaraent, where they completely
surrounded the several avenuesj waiting die fate
of Iheir petition, which was ordered lo be read on
fhe Tuesday foUovying. On this, the raajority of
die raob began to disperse ; but a body of ihem ira
raediately went to the Romish chapel in Duke-
slreet, Lincoln's-inn-fields, and lo that in "W"ar-
wick-street. Golden-square, both of which thev
demolished, burning the valuable furniture, pie-
lures, &c. On-*he appearance of a party of the
guards they dispersed, and that night and fhe fol
lowing day passed without any repetition of vio
lence. On Sunday, however, die mob aga'n
Vol. II. M

HISTQRY OF ENGLAND,
assembled, and destroyed the popish chapel ih
Moorfields. Next clay, they demolished some houses
belonging to Roman calbolics in the same place,
and dividing theraselves into parties, carried de?
struction lo the houses of several gentlemen in
"Westrainster, who had been active in promoting,
what they called, the Popery Act. AU this time,
no efforts of any kind had been made to repress
these riots. A general panic had seized aU, ranks
of men. On Tuesday, 'die day appointed by par
liament to lake the petition of the protestant asso
ciation info consideration, the mob, as numerous
as on the preceding Friday, though less regular,
again surrounded the house, and insulted many
of the merabers, insorauch Uiat both houses broke
up, declaring that no act of theirs could be legal,
^vhile fhey were lhu.» awed by a licentious mob,
and surrounded by a miUlary force. That night the
mob attacked, and, -in a few hours, sel fire to the
.^oal. of Newgate, liberating the prisqners, who
joined their deUverers ; ibey also destroyed lhe
houses bf some of the magistrates of "Westminster,
of lord Mansfield, wliose valuable manuscripts and
library were irrecoverably lost, and of many pri
vate citizens in different parts. Parries ofthe guards
yyere caUecl ont in Weslminster ; but they either
came too late, or did nothing.
On lhe foUowing day, the mob; reiriforced by
the pri-soners of Newgate, ClerkenweU Bridevyell,
and New Prispii, extended their havoc to varipus
parts of the city pf Lpndon and bprough pf Sputh-'
wark , In wliichlal ter they wei-e opposed by an asso
ciation ofthe inhabitants, who kUled and wounded
several, look others prisoners, and put the rest to
flight. The King's-benoh prison, howevc^r, wilh -
three houses adjoining, and Uie New Bridewell,
were set on fire, and almost enlirely consumed.
In the cily of hqndon, ihe outrages of ihis mob

¦DEPRGE III. 267
vrere as yet uninterrupted; the valuable premisejs
pf an erainent distiller in Holborn were set on fire,
and owing to the vast quantiiy of spirits in that
manufactory, burnt with immense fury ; a great
many ofthe rioters are said lo have lost their lives
here, by being surrounded with the flames, whUe
in a stale of intoxication. Nothing could exceed
the terror and consternation which pervaded the
city al Ihis time. The Bank, and all public offices,
were known to be raarked out for desti-uction,
and property of every kind seeraed an easy prey
to these ferocious banclifti,when an order was issued
by the authority of the king in council, for the rai
litary lo act, wilhout waiting for directions from
Uieciril magistrate!!, and to use force for dfspeUing
lhe iUegal and tumultuous assembUes ofthe people.
In consequence ofthis, many ofthe rioters -were
killed by the military, in various parts of the town,
and the lord maybr of London, recovering in
sorae degree from that wretched pusIUanlmily, of
v^diichbe was so justly accused, began to take some
slops for tbe protection of the city.
On the 8tn, the guards having been found insuf
ficient in number to defend every part of-the me-.
Ii-opolls, all the Iroops and militia within thirty
miles were sent for, and by iheir exertions, peace
vvas at lengih restored. Such was the lenity, or ra
lher the foibearance ofthe civil and raUitary power,
Uiat only about two hundred and eighty, in all, of
lhe rioters were kiUed, and about eighty wouiided-
aiid taken prisoners. I'he day following this resto
ration of order, lord George Gordon was appre
hended for high treason, and committed lo the
Tower; he was tried a few months afler, and ac
quitted. CVther persons connected wilh the pro
testant association were also taken up and exa
mined, bul dismissed for want of e\idence.
- This riot was, in etery respect, the most extia-
M. ,2

aG8 HISTORY or England,
ordinaiy lhat ever happened. It wiU, perhaps, in
fulure limes, be scarcely believed, lhat a mob of
obscure and unarmed men, without a visible plan
of aclion, or ostensible leaders, should carry devas
tation into every part of the melropplls for nearly
a week, while the civil and military powers stood
by as harmless spectators. That the cily of Lon
don, which contains a properly, the destructipn of
wluch could not fail lo penetrate to fhe mest dis
tant parls ofthe island, shpuld be thus left a jirey
te a lawless rabble, is with cUfficully to be accpunted
for. Perhaps, the forraidable appearance pf the
petitipner.s, whp surrpunded the parUaraent hpuse,
might have its share in pccasioiiing a greater panic
llianhadareal foundation. Perhaps the cowardly
titpidify of the chief magislrale of London might
coramuiiicale like an infectious disorder Ip his fel
low ciiizens. It is certain, Uial a very sraaU share
of spirit on liis part would, at the beginning, have
checked the violence of the mob; but by some
strange infatuation it liappened, lhat neilher in
Iiondon nor "Westminster were any effectual steps
laken, before a property ol several miUions w^s
deslroyed, and the commercial prosperity of the
nation brought into imminent danger.
As to the causes of this riot, they are not so dif
ficult lo find, although, as is often die case where
fhe mob govern, the original object was changed
in the cou rse of dielr progress. The protestant as-
sociation laboured hard to throw the weight of
odium from tiieU- shoulders, and to persuade the
world lhal none of dieir bpdy had any hand in the
general destructipn. This may he true ; bttt they
wiU find it net an easy mailer to prove that nene
of the petitioners who assembled in St. George's
fields belonged lo the mob ; and slUl less easy wiU
diey find it lo separate the sentiments of bigotry
ti'pm the actions of persecution. There can he no

GEORGE III. Z&Q
doubt, that the clamour raised against the Roman
cathoUcs, and that only, was lhe primary cause of
the riot. And those who fly for support to the pas
sions of a mob, ought lo learn frora the history of
ihese riols, Uiat il is not by inflaraing the passions,
bill instructing the raind, that the people can be
rendered useful; and they ought to remember, that
this mob, which first assembled lo burn the cha
pels ancl deslroy the properly of Roman cathoUcs,
in a few days aimed destruction at all property
without distinction. In some parls of Uiecountry,
-about this tirae, a riotous disiiosition had appeared,
but the mischief done was tiifling.
The business of parliament had now been infer-
rujited for nearly a fortnight. "When the houses
met, some altercation took place respecting the or
ders which had been given fo employ the mili
tary without waiting for the directions of Uie civil
power; and at ihesame time it was acknowledged
that a deUcjacy in this very point had been Uie cause
of all the inischief which happened. Soon after, this
parUament was prorogued, and on the eighUi of
September following dissolved.

LETTER LXXV.
The naval advantages gained by the EngUsh
fleet over that of France and Spain, if not equal in
proportion to those of former wars, were at least
sufficient f o vindicate the superiority of Great Bri
tain on her proper element. Toward the close of
last year. Sir Hyde Parker, who was slationedin
the "West Indies, took several war and raerchant
ships' from the eneray; and rear-adrairal Rowley
took three shijis of war, one of forty-two, one of
thirty-six, and one of twenty guns, having onboard
m aU about six hundred men. But the most bril-
M 3

270 .^rflSTORT OF ENGLAND,
liant actions of tbe campaign of tbis year wei-6 re
served for the gaUant Sir George Bi^dges Rodney.
This officer, who was entmsled vrilh a fleet, the par
ticular destination of which was to reUeve Gibral-
•lar (now besieged by the Spaniards) in his voyage
Jan 8 *° '*^' place, feU in vrith a fleet of fwen-
n8o ' 'y*'^*' ***1 of Spanish merchanlmen un
der protection of seven ships pf war, be
longing to the royal company of Caraccas. In a
few hours. Sir (Jeoi^e made himself master ofthe
whole fleet. About a week afler, he engaged, near
cape Sl. Vincent, another Spanish fleet, consisiing
of eleven ships of the Une, and two frigates, com
manded by don Juan de Langara; and, notvrilh-
s'anding thegkllant defence made by tbe latler. Sir
-George cairied four of their largest ships, one of
eighty, and three of seventy guns, into Gibraltar.
Two others were taken af the sarae time, one of
-which was driven on shore and lost ; fhe other was
also run on shore, but recovered. Four shijis of
fhe line escaped, two of them very much damaged ;
and iri the course ofthe action, the San Domingo
of seventy gnns, and six hundred men, was blown
up. No rictory could be more complete. The
five men of war taken were soon after added lo Uie
British navy. The treatment of the Spanish priso
ners on this occasion, was in general so humane,as
to make a great impression on the Spanish nation,
and fhe good effects ofthis poUcy was felt in die
course ofthe war.
After supplying the garrison of Gibraltar with
provision and ammunition. Sir George proceeded
on his voyage to the "W^est Indies, where he took
the chief comraand of his majesty's ships at llie
. ^ Leeward islands. Soon after his ar-
-'' ' 7- rival, an engagement happened be-
hveen his fleet, amounting to twenty ships ofthe
line, be.side frigale,s, and the French fleet, which

<-,Eon(-.E HI. ^7^
conai.sled of I wenly-lhree sail of the Uue and some
frigates, cpramancled by cpunt de Guichen. The
day was undecided, bolh parlies claiming lhe vic
tory ; but HP ship was taken by eilher. The
Fi-eneli fought bi-.-ively; from admiral llodney 'a
dispatches to the admiraltj-, it would appear, lhal
he did npt lliink himself so well siinporled as he
oiighl to have been. Ofhis men, one hundred and
Ivveiity were kdl<-d, and three luindred and fifty-
three wounded. On the fifteenth of May, and on
tho nineteenth, two other engagements took place
between ihose fleets, which ended in nothing de
cisive. The English lost sixty-eight men, and had
two hundred and ninety-three wounded. The
French fleet staled their loss in Uie three engage
ments at only one hundred and fifty-eight killed,
and eight hundred and twenty wounded. Before
admiral Rodney arrived in fhe West Indies, a part
of Sir Peter Parker's squadron, cpmmanded by
commodore CornwaUis, consisiing ofa sixty- four,
a fifty, and a forty guri ship, engaged a squadron,
commanded by M. de la Motle Piquet, of two
seventy-four gun ships, a sixty-four and a fifty-six ;
but thougb the aclion lasted the whole night, and
part of Uie following day, no ship -was ji^^,,.^,;^ ^^
laken on eilher side. Rear-adriiiral
Digby, -who was appointed by admiral Rodney to
eari-y home from Gibraltar ])art of his fleet wiih
the .S|)anish prizes, fell in wilh a Frencli man of
-(\ar of sixty-four guns and seven hundred men,
which w^as added to the list pf captures.
In the nipnlh pf June, the French and Spanish
fleets jpined in die "West Indies, and ccmposed a
Ibrmidable fprce pfthirfy-six sail pf the line. 'Willi
these lhe English fleet cpuld upl ha^-e cpntcnded ;
and the situatipn pf our islands appeared to be
alarmingly critical. The combined fleet, how
ever, made no allack on any of Iheni, nor seera%l
M 4.

a7-2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
desirous lo meet -with Sir George Rodnej', who nt
this time lay at Gros islet bay. The forlress oi' Gi
braltar continued lo be besieged by the Spaniards,
who raade an ineffectual atterapt lo burn the Eng
lish shipping by means of fire ships; but such was
the actlrity of the EngUsh, and the exceUent dis
positions made to counteract the plot, lhal the Spa
niards were compeUed to retreat wilhout executing
their design in fhe least degree.
But, in August, the comraeree of this country
received a considerable shock, by the unexpected
capture of a valuable fleet of five East India arid
fifty "West India ships, which were proceeding on
their voyage oulward, under convoy ofthe Rami
fies of seventy-four guns, and two frigates, and un
fortunately feU in with fhe combined fleet ofFrance
and Spain. The Ramilies and the two frigates es
caped, but fhe merchantmen unavoidably became
a prey. It was on this occasion first, that fhe good
efl'ecls of Sir George Rodney's humanily appeared.
The Spanial-ds seeraed to make il a peint pf hpn
pur to repay the favpur by a similar treatment of
the numerous EngUsh who now became their pri
soners. The close of ibis year was attended by a cir
cumstance, which allhough by some foreseen,
yet was by none supposed wanting to increase
the embarrassraents of Great BriWn. Another ene
my was added to the formidable combination al-
readj' in arms lo crush her enried povver. Com-
jilainls from England had repeatedly been made
to the slates general of HpUand, that their ships
carried pn a cpnlraband trade pf ammunition, &c.
widl our enemies; diis was asfrequenUy denied
on the part pf their high mightinesses, who retaliat
ed by complaining that pur ships of war had done
greal mischief to their trade by stopping and cap
turing theii- vessels, on pretence of having contra-

GEORGE III. a'jS,
band goods on board. Various remonstrances
passed between the Iwo courls on this subject, very
little to the satisfaction of either; and it was easy
to discover, that the temperate and conciliating
language of allies was merging inlo the cold and
haughty style of two powers whose friendship was
on the wane. An affair which happened at- the
condusipn of this year brought the dispute tb an
issue. Among the papers of a Mr. Laurens, an
American, who was taken on board a congress
packet, ancl who was bound to Holland on an
embassy, was the sketch of a treaty of amity and
comraerce between the republic of HoUand, and
the United Stales of America. The English am
bassador at Hague demanded lhat this should be
disavowed on the part of the slates. They, after
various delays, informed the ambassador, that his
memorial was taken ad referendum, a tedious pro
cess peculiar to the constitution ofthe republic, but
which eridently appearing In the present case to
be a manoeuvre to gain time, the ambassador was
ordered by the British court lo withdraw from
Hague, and a declaralion of hostUities was pu
blished against Holland. "Whatever an- ^
swer the "Dutch intended lo return to the ^'^* ^°'
EngUsh raeraorial, it was plain Uiey were not pre
pared for iramediate hostilities. To have been
permitted lo be common carriers to all the belli
gerent powers, would no doubt have been far
more grateful to the genius of lhal people. So un
prepared were they for a war, that, in a few weeks
after this declaration, almost tiieir whole shipping
trade feU into the hands ofthe English raen pf war
and privateers, a raisfortune which very consider
ably checked Uieir first efforts lo equip a fleet. It
has been doubted, whether Great Britain was jus
tifiable on the score of wisdora and prudence in
thus adding anolher eneray to her Ust; bul what-
M 5

274 histpry'' OF ENGLAND,
ever npinipu prevailed on the'poUcy of tlie mea
sure, its boldness seemed to invigorate the nation,
between -which and the republic pf HoUand there
ever have been certain lurking prejudices, arising
frpm a rivalship in trade, and a cpntrariety in ge
nius and dispnsitipn.
Althpugh, cpntrary fp the praclicie pf former
times, the present administratipn had carried on
the war without any ally, yet exjieclallons of as
sistance from Russia were enlerlained. But lhat
power was never less disppsed than at present fo
co-operate vrilh Great Britain. In fhe course of
this year, a grand project was contrived by tho-
norlhern courts, which fhey termed cc an armed
neutraUty, for the protection of neutral narigation
and commerce. » The courts of Denmark,. Swe
den, Holland, Russia, Vienna, Lisbon, and Na
ples, were concerned in this confederacy. The
scheme, which originated in the court of Sf. Pe-
lersburgh, was communicated by the empress lo
the courls of London, Versailles, and Madrid.,
By the former, it was acknowledged with civility ;
but the satisfaction it evidently afforded to lhe two
other courls, very plainly pointed to lhe nature of
its operation ; for they were now certam of a con-
slant supply of every article necessary to carry on
the war, safely and cheaply conveyed to them, In
any quarter-where it shoud be wanted. The merit
br demerit, however, of this scheme, does nof,
after aH, resi wilh the empress of Russia. It has
been since discovered, that she was but, the dupe
of her rainister, who wished, for certain "pbll-
lical purposes, to ruin the English minister at her
court.

OEOH(-.E III.

375

LETTER LXXVI.

"We are now arrived al the last campaign in
North Araerica, which began with appearances
the raost unfavourable that can be conceived to
the continentals, and yet ended in the total defeat
ofthe British array, and the complete overthrow
of the royal cause. The events which led to this
unexpected revolution were few, but slriking.
The present year comraenced with the revolt of
a very great part of the American army, j^^^ ^
which forraed what was caUed lhe Pen- , „ g , . '
svlvanla lino. Independent of the wretch-
eel stale of the continental soldiers as to dress,
provisions, &c. soirie misunderslandiii-g had arisen
respecting the articles of iheir service. Thirteen
hundred of them in one day assembled, and de
clared diey would serve no longer unless their
grievances -were redressed. Some rioting ensued,
ancl a few lost llieir lives. Collecting all their
artillery, stores, waggons, &c. the revollers march
ed out of the camp, in spife of the earnest re
monstrances of their coraraander general ^Vayne,
and afler proceeding to a considerable distanee,
took an advantageous post, and elected officers
frora among themselves. IntelUgence of ihis hav
ing arrived at Now York, Sir Henry Clinton
judged it to bea favourable opportunity .to Induce
them to join the royal standard, and sent messeri-
gers informing them, lhat they should be directly
taken under the proteclion of the British govern
ment, receive a free pardon for all former offences,
and that the pay due frora the congress should be
made up to them without any condition of mili
tary service, unless il should be voluntary, and that
diey were only expecled to lay dcwn Uieir ami*,
M (i

27^ history op ENGLAND,
and return lo their allegiance. They were also~
recpramended Ip mpve beypnd the Soulh river,
and were prpraised the iirptection ofa body of
British trppps whenever they desired it. But these
revollers were net influenced by disaffection lo
the American cause, and Uierefore rejected general
CUnton's terms wiUi disdain, at the same time deU
vering up his messengers tp cpngi-ess. A cpm-
mittee was npyy sent from congress to them, and
assurances having been made, lhat aU gi-ievances
should be redressed, such as desired it were per-,
milted lo return lo their own homes. The British
messengers, after a trial before a board of officers,
were condemned and executed. The revolfers,
whp appear tp have acted from a sense of die strict
est honour, refused the pecuniary reward pffered
by the president pf cpugress for haring appre
hended fhe messengers. Their example, how
ever, created a spirit of mutiny ; about one hun
dred and sixty of the Jersey troops revolted, but
-with less justice and moderation; and it was found
necessary io punish the ringleaders in tbis mutiny
vrith severity ; in consequence of whieh, lhe rest
returned lo their duty.
On the outset of this carapaign, lord CornwaUis
was preparing to enter into North Carolina^ His.
first step -was considerably embarrassed by the--
American general Morgan having attempted to
possess himself ofthe important district of Ninely-
six. It was necessaiy, if possible, to prevent this,
and colonel Tarleton was detached with three
hundred cavalry, three hundred Ught infantry, lhe
seventh regiment, the first battaUon ofthe seventyT
first regiment, with two three pounders. These
jioon came up with the Americans, whose troops
were more numerous, but so inferior in other re^
spects, Uiat a rictory seeraed certain. After a bloody
engagement, however, in which it has been con-

GEORGE III. 277
ceived, thatthe precipitation of Uie British, and
the jieculiarly happy disposition ofthe Ameiicans
turned the tide bf fortune contrary to all proba
bility, the royalists were completely defeated. Up
ward of Soo were kiUed or wounded, and above
5oo prisoners laken. Eight bund red muskets, tvs'o
field pieces, ihirly-five baggage waggons, beside
horses, fell inlo the hands ofthe Americans, whose
loss amounted only lo 12 killed, and 60 wounded.
All the delachment of the royal artiUery were either
killed or wounded in defence of their colours^
After the engagement, colonel Tarleton retreated
lo Hamilton's ford.
Disappointed in this object, lord CornwaUis en
deavoured to forra a junction yvith general LesUe ,
-who had been ordered lo raeet hira with a body
of Iroops from 'Wyn nesborough, while part ofthe
army were eraployed In an inefi'ectual atterapt lo
regain lhe prisoners taken by general Morgan, and
intereept his corps on its relreat to lhe Catawba^
Halting fortwo days lo disencumber his Iroops from
their superfluous baggage, his lordship marched
through North Carolina with great rapidity, and
reached the remotest extremities ofthe province ,
on the banks of the Dan. The only opposition
he met -with, deserving of notice, -was when he
crossed the (Catawba at M'Gowan's ford, where -
general David.son, vrith a parly of Ame- -, ,
rican mUitia, endeavoured to oppose his ''
passage ; but lhat officer being killed in the first
discharge, his men retreated, and lhe royal army
landed without anyfarUier interruption. At Hils-
bprpugh, his lordship set up the king's standard,
inviting aU loyal subjecls to repair to it. Sorae
hundredaof the inhabitants came tptlie camp, but
seemed mere desirpus fp secure themselves than fo
fake any active part in the war. While fhis at
tempt was making fo revive loyalty, general Greene,

27^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
whp had been apppinied fp an impprtant service,
was fprmiqg plans fp irapede the prpgress pf the
rpyal army. Having in part accpraplished diese,
March lo. ^'^ joining a continental regiraent of
men raised for eighteen mpnlhs, and
two large bodies of railitia from Virginia and
North Cai-plina, he resplved tp attack lprd Cprn-
walUs' army. On the i5th the aclien commenced
at GuUdford, wilh great siiirit pn bpth sides, and,
after a series pf weU managed manoeuvres, wliich
seemed to leave rictory dpubtftU, she At lengih de
clared for lhe British army ; but il was so dearly
bought on their part, lhat there was no rppm for
triumph. If proved Uiat the Araerican troops,
under disadvantages almost insurmountable, were
arriving al perfection in the art of vvar ; and what
was wanting in discipline was made up by the
superior skUl oftheir officers. The British lost in
this battie 532 kiUed, wounded, and missing. Ge
neral Greene stated the loss ofthe continentals at
3ag kiUed, wounded, and missing ; but the loss
of militia are not included here.
After the battle of Guildford, general Greene re
treated, and lord CornwaUis removed toward WU
mington. His army at this time was riearly desti
tute nf necessaries; but, here meeting VN-ilhrefresh-
menf, fhe raarch -was ccntinued acrpss the cpuntry
tp Petersburgh in Virginia. General Greene had
fpUpwed his army for some time, but no^v con
ceived the design of opposing lhe king's forces in
South Carolina. On the 19th of April, lie appeared
before Camden, a post defended by lord Ra-wdon
with about 800 British and provincials. Finding
it impossible tp storm the town, he endeavpured
tp induce llie trppps Ip make a saUy. Lprd Raw-
dpn, a few days after, gratified the American ge
neral's- wishes, and attacked him in his camp with
such spirit, that the Americans -y^ere obliged Icrfly,

1/..AGE III. 279
and were pursued nearly three miles. The relreat
of two of their companies is saI4 to have pccasipned
this defeat. The loss of the English was about
1 00 killed and wounded : the Americans had about '
1 20 killed and wounded, and 100 taken prisoners.
Afler the engagement, general Greene retired to
Rugley's mills, about twelve miles from Camden,
where he was contriving to repair the loss of this
day by a more certain attack on lord Ravydon.
His lordship, sensible thathe could not retain his
post without hazarding his troops, evacuated the
place, and marched to the southward of Sanlee.
The Americans had lately made themselves mas
ters of several other posls that had been occupied
by the king's Iroops. In the siege of Ninety-six,
however, general Greene -was repulsed with great,
loss. During these transactions a large body of
British troops, under the comraand of majpr gene
ral Philips and brigadier general Arnold, embark
ed on an expedition, the orily object of which was
to destroy American stores, and ihis Uiey accom
plished to an immense amount, thereby exasperat
ing the Americans against the British nation, but
in no respect advancing the royal cause.
Lord CornwaUis, before he reached "Wilming
ton, after his victory over general Greene, pubUsh-^
ed a proclaraation in favour of the royal cause,
holding forth considerable inducements to such of
the Araericans as woukl accept his terms. This,
it does not appear, produced rauch effect. WhUe
in Virginia, his Iprdship's situation began to be
very critical ; no reinforcements and supplies came,
as were expected, from Sir Henry Clinton, at New
York, who was prevented by his fears for that cily,
against which, it was supposed, general "Washing
ton had meditated a formidable attack, in con
junction with die raarquis de la Fayette, and an
immense body of French troops wliich had lately

aSo HISTORY OP i ROLAND,
arrived from lhat kingdom. A manoeuvre, itisas-
serted, was praciised to dra-w Sir Henry Clinton
into this belief: a letter from the American general
was intercepted, which contained the design of an
altack on New York. Itis said,however, on the
other hand, that this was no manoeuvre, but a real
accident, and lhat when .this letter was wrilten,
the plan ofthe American army was directed against
New York. Be this as it raay, the effect was the
same, and Sir Henry -was accordingly prevented
from sending lhat assistance which lord Cornwal-
lis judged lobe necessary fo the success ofhis ope
rations. Lord CornwaUis, in the raean time, had
taken possession of York-town and Gloucester in
Virginia, and was fortifying them in the best man
ner he could.
The truth is, the American generals, in concert
'with the Frencli generals and admirals, had origi
nally formed the design of such an attack, bolh
by land and Water, oi»-New York, as, in all hu
man probability, must have been successful. Sorae
circumstances, however, occurred to make them
change their plan, and general \'\''ashington sud
denly quitted his camp at While Plains, crossed
the Delaware, and marched toward Virginia;
and count de Grasse, the French admiral, pjo-
pared lo enter the Chesapeak, and co-operate with
hira. Toward the end of August, Sir Samnel Hood,
with a squadron from the "West Indies, joined ad
miral Greaves, who lay at New York, and, after
some delay, which has been Uiought blameable,
arrived in the Chesapeak on the 5th of Septem
ber, widl nineteen ships of die Une ; but De Grasse
had anchored in dial bay, some days before, with
twenty-four ships ofthe Une. The fleets, notvyith-.
o , f- standing this disparity, carae to action,
"^ which ended without a decisive loss on

GEORGE IIT. 281
either side. The Eritish fleet had 90 kUled, and
246 wounded, and sorae of the ships were greatly
damaged, one so terribly shattered, that they were
obUged to set fire lo her. The fleets remained in
sight of each olher for five days, afler which the
French anchored wilhin the Cape so as to block
up the passage. The British fleet then retired to
New York, and the French remairiing in posses
sion of Uie Chesapeak, it was thought inexpedient
to send assistance imraediately to lord CornwaUis.
The corabined forces jiroceeded to York-town,
partly by land, and partly down the Chesapeak : on
the 25Ui of September, they rendezvoused at ^Vil-
liarasburgh, and, in fivedays after, raoved down
lo invest York-town; tip^French fleet at the same
tirae taking such a position as jsrevenfed lord Corn-
walUs frora retreating by water. The array halt
ed, in lhe evening, about two railes frora York-
town. The Americans amounted to near 8000 coii-
tiiientals^ and 5ooo militia. The French troops
amounted to nearly 7000, with a very considerable
train of artiUery, under the command of Ihe count
de Rochambeau. General "W^ashington acted as
commander in chief. On the agtb of September
the town was completely invested, and the British
army quite blocked up.
The works erected for the security of York-town
on the right, were redoubts and batteries, -with a
line of stockade in the rear. A marshy ravine lay
in the front ofthe right, over which -was placed a
large redoubt. The morass extended along the
centre, which was defended by a Une of stockade,
and by batteries. On the left ofthe centre was a
horn-work with a ditch, a row of frise and an ab-
batis. Two redoubts were advanced before the left.
On the gth and i oth of October the French and
Americans opened iheir batteries ; in six days
after, the works of the place were so much

r-Ba HISTORY of England,
damaged, that they could scarcely show a gun. All
hopes of assistance were gone, and with the fai-*
lure of an attempt to escape, which was baffled by
a storm, the last hope of ihe royal army expired.
On the 19th, lord CornwaUis surrendered himself
and his wliole army, prisoners to the combined
armies of France and America. The principal
articles of the capitulation were ; lhat the troops be
prisoners of -war to congress, and the naval force
of France ; the officers to retain their side arms
and private properly of every kind; but all jiro-
perty, obviously belonging fo fhe United States, fo
be subject lo be reclairaed. The soldiers to be kept
in Virginia, Maryland, jmd Pensylvania, and lo
be suppUed vrith the sanie rations as are allowed
to soldiers in the serrice of congress; a proportion
ofthe officers fo march into fhe country wilh fhe
prisoners ; the rest lo be allowed fo jiroceed on
parole fo Europe, fo New York, or lo any olher
American maritirae post in the possession of the
British. On these articles lord CornwaUis observes :
cc I sincerely lament tbat belter could not beob-
» tained ; but I have neglected nothing to aUeriale
¦» the misfortunes and distress of bolh officers and
j; soldiers. » He indeed endeavoured to obtain per
mission for the British and German Iroops lo return
lo their respective counlries, under no other re
striction than an engageraent nol to serve against
l^ance and Araerica. He Iriecl also to obtain an
indemnily for such of Uie inhabilanis as had joined
liiin; but these were refused. The only indulgence
granted, was that die Bonetta sloop should jias
unexamined lo New York. By her il was con
sequentiy supposed, lhat some ofthe most obnoxi
ous loyaUsts made lljeir escape.
In lhe siege of this place, the combined army had
about ,^ao killed and wounded ; the British, about
5oo. The number of men who were surrendered

G'r.ORGE III. ^S-'
>i'isoners of war, exceeded 7000 ; but the number
,of the sick was so great, that nolmuch above half
of these were able to bear arms. The quantity of
stores was veiy considerable.
The joy yvhich the news of Uils great viciory di f-
fused over the United Slales,could only be exceeded
by the grief and mortification it occasioned in tins
counlry. All our victories combined, all that had
been gained by traversing an immense continenl,
and carrying misery and desolation into the very
heart of our enemies country, were no balance for
the loss of two such armies as fell at Saratoga , and
York-town. With this defeat, the war concluded
in North Araerica, and the British remained iiv
New York, Charlestown, and Savannah, until
tbe subsequent negotiation for peace was con
cluded. In this detaU of the operations which led to a
termination of the war, I have purposely omitted
many petty skirmishes, and the actions of maraud
ing parties. These are much the same In aU wars ;
aud, ifthere is any thing lo be learned from them,
it is die humUIating fact, that bravery and huraa
nity do nol always go togelher, and that the name
of war gives a charm of impunity lo actions, which
are not to be defended by any acknowledged prin-
cilple of true wisdom, or justice.

LETTER LXXVII.
In England, the public mind had undergone
great changes, previous to the dissolution of the
last parUament. A general conviction began lo
prevail, that the conquestof America was impos
sible, and that we had the shadow of power over
part of that country, only while it was awed by
the presence of our troops. The immense expense

o

a84 ' HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
attending lliewar, the known prodigality of admi
nistration in the disposal of public money, and the
vast supplies deraanded every year without being
properly accounted for, ^vere complaints lhat now
were echoed from oneparl of the kingdon to ano
lher. Nevertheless, when the new parUament
r\ f. rz wiel, the state of parties was found lo be
'o ' nearly the same as before. Sir Fletcher
' ¦ Norton, by his boldness in addressing
the throne, on an occasion which -was taken notice
of in a former letter, had given pffence to admi
nistratipn, and they prpppsed,. and carried, that
Mr. CprnwaU shpuld be elected speaker in his
rppm. His majesty, in addressing lhe house, ad
verted, with an e^ressipn pf satisfactipn, tp lhe pro
gress ofhis arms in "Virginia and CaroUna, which,
it was conceived, would have important conse
quences in bringing Uie war to a happy coricln-
sipn. The address pf thanks was cpmbated by
the whple strength pf ppppsitipn. It was pbjecled ,
that the advantages resulting frpm- die celiquest of
Charleslp-wn, and the submission ofthe CaroUnians,
were neither durable nor important ; for, on the
£rst appearance of the Iroops coraraanded by gene
ral Gates, great nurabers ofthe inhabitants deserted
frora the rpyal standard, and again inlisted under
the banners pf Araerica. This incident alpne,
araid a raultifude, ail equally decisive pf an inve
terate antipathy to the gpvernment pf Great Britain,
stppd forward as the unqnestipiiable prppf, that our
most animated and enlarged exertions could never
effect the total subjugation of the colonists. Per
severance in the attempt raust drive us lo disgrace
and ruin ; while not only the house cif Bourbon,
but every power in Europe, would rise upon the
fall ofa deserted empire. Notwithstanding these,
and a midlitude of olher forcible arguraents, the
addresses were carried, in boUi houses, by great

GEORGE III. 285
majori Ues. The other business transacted before the
recess, related to the bill for contin"uing the suspen
sion of the Habeas corpus act, with respect to per
sons accused of high treason, eilher in America,
or on the high seas. The navy eslimates and su2i-
filies were combated with great firmness ; but the
minisler, backed by his usual majority, carried
every ^loiiit succesfuUy. Ninety-one thousand sea
men, including upward of twenty ihousand ma
rines, were voted fbr the service ofthe year 1781,
and the sura of 4]. per man, per month, granted
for their support and mainlenance, including ord
nance and stores. Of lhe army, diirty-nine thou
sand raen were voted for the same service and
year. The thanks of the house were given lo Sir.
Henry Clinton and lord CornwaUis for their im
poitant services in America.
After the recess, the minisler coramunicated to
parUament a message from the king, in » j-
wbich his raajesty acquainted them, that, '„ '
duiing the recess of parliament, he had 7°t.
been obliged to direcllelters of marque and general
i-eprisal, lo be issued against the states general of
die United Provinces, and their subjects. For the
causes arid motives ofhis conduct on that occasion,
he referred to his public manifesto against lhat re
public, which he had ordered to be laid before the
house. In the course ofthe debates on ihissubjecf,
it was asserted, and not disproved, that the copy
of a treaty between the slates general ancl Araerica
was raerely the outline of a treaty vvhich had nei
ther been concluded nor signed. ' The ministry
repelled this and other arguments -with a more than
common share of.appai-ent justice on their side,
and an address was carried by a considerable raa
jority, that the house would, with a firra and de
iermlned resolution, support the just and necessary
war against Holland for the maintenance pf the

i86 IlISTORY of ENGLAND-,
hpupur pflhe crpwn, and the rights and inleresis of
the people.
A few days afler this, Mr. Edmund, Burke, a
gentleman of greal talents and eloquence, who had
devpted much pf his time and attention lo the sub
ject of retrenchment and reform in sundry parts
Feb i5 of the eslablishraent, moved,, that leave
¦ be given to bring in a bill, for tbe better
regulation of his raajesly's civil eslabUshraenl, and
ofcertain public ofiices; forthe Umitati'on of pen
sions, and the suppression of certain useless, ex
pensive, and inconvenient places; and for apply-
iftg the raonies saved thereby to fhe pubhc service.
As this bill vi'asnow rejected, I shall only observe,
that it was on this pccasipri fhe ppposition were
jollied by Mr. "WiUiam Pitt, second son fo the ce-
lebraledearl of Chatham, who delivered a long and
argumentative speech, with great force and elo
quence, in support of M. Burke's propositions.
Both parlies seemed to agree, that lhe virtues and
abUities of Uie late earl were happily revived in
his son.
"When the house resolved itself into a committee
-J, , of ways and means, the minister stated,
«'¦'' "• j},gj the vast sura pf Iwerily-pne mU
lions wouldbe required for the service ofthe year.
Beside the powerful arguments urged in the house
of commons against ihis excjess of nalional expence,
it drew forth a spirited protest from several peers,
who reprobated the lean, made by the minister,
as iraprpvident in its terras, cprrupt in its ppet-ation,
and partial in its distribulipn. Twenty one mil
lions, said they, are added to the capital of tbe debt
/or a loan of twehe ; five ; nd a half per cent,
jierpetual annuity isgranled; six hundred and fifly
ihou-sand ppunds are to be levied in the yearly taxes
upon the jieople. In such a silualion, the most
i-lgid economy ought lo have Jieeu used, and die

GEORGE III. 287-
preraium on the loan ought lo have been reduced
In proportion lo the exorbitance of the" interest,
lo be paid. Several circumstances appeared favou
rable lo the minister, if his object had been lo serve
his counlry, rather than lo raise a faction for bis
own support. , These arguments had weighl with
out doors, and the subsequent events of the vvar
increa.sed the odium whicli ad min istration soon
found to be irresistible. The remaining traiisac-
fions of Uiis session , as they bear no direct re
lation to the war, I sliall omit, except as far as
the affairs of the East Indies are concerned, a
brief statement of which it is now necessary to.
give. , _
. In the mass of facts which compose the English
history, thereis nothing more extraordinary, than
that a company of English merchants should, from
being mere adventurers In a foreign trade, by de
grees acquire such power and ascendency, that In
the year 1765 we find them masters of Bengal,
Bahar, ancl Oriza, three of Uie largest and richest
jirovlnces of the Mbgul's empire, which are sup
posed to cpiitain upward uf ten milUpns pf inha
bilanis, a number equal tp that pf the inhabitanis
of England, or, according to some comjiutalions,
greater. Such, however, is the vast territorial ac
quisition ofthe English East India company. As
their servants who resided abroad were under no
controul, or under a controul that was weak and
ineSicIeiit, thai held out no terrors, and could be
easily eluded ; the inhabitants of these provinces
were plundered and oppressed in every shape that
avarice prompted. The few of the company's ser
vants -who possessed greater integrity and huma
nity, endeavoured to counteract those evils by sun-
d ry wise regulations and arrangements ; but the cry
of the oppressed had reached England, ancl the
«t,rong hand of legislative authority was thought

288 MISTOilY OF ENGLAND,
nece.ssaTy, lo take lhe management of lerrilorial
affairs from men who could so easily abuse it.
In 1 773, an act was passed, by which the mayor's
court of Calcutta, originally eslablished by fhe au
lhorily of the East India company, should be con
fined to sraall mercantile causes, and lhat a new
court shpuld be eslabUshed, consisting of a phief
justice, and ihree puisne judges, lo be apiiointed by
the crown, wifh Uberal salaries. A superiority
was likewise lo be given fo the presidency of Ben
gal over the other presidencies. Accordingly, the
follpwing year. Sir EUjah Impey, as chief justice,
with three plhers, saUed for India. Tliis cpurt hacl
a suprerae ppwer over every department pf law,
and ifs jurisdicticn extended to aU persons, whe
ther Eurppeans pr natives, -whp acted in the serviM
of the company. A. scheme, so apjiarently well
contrived, faded ofthe expected effects, o^ving lo
their not making a new code of laws, adapted to the
existing circumstances of the governments there,
but introducing the English laws in their fuUletter
and spirit, in a country where they could not but
mUitate against ancient customs, religion, and ha-
bils. Nor -were the Europeans rauch betier pleas
ed vrith lhe new judicature than the natives.
Fi-equent cbraplaints were transmitted fo the court
of directors at home, who, in 1 777, found il neces
sary lo represent lo one ofhis majesty's secretaries
of state, the improper manner in which they con
ceived fhe suprerae judicature had acted, and the
dangers arising therefrora to the inlerests of the
corapany. About the end ofthe year 1780, a pe
tition was presented lo the house of coramons from
a number of the British inhabitants ofthe company's
jirovlnces, complaining ofthe indiscriminate raan
ner in which the judges of the supreme court
attempted to exercise the English laws in that
country, at the game time that these very judges

GEORCE III. '-i. 9
look away the benefit of a trial by jury. They ap
pealed .to Uie huraanity ofthe British parUament,
and besought thera lo reflect on lhe jniiuraeral.'io
hardships which must ensue, and the universal con
fusion which must be occasioned, as weU to per
sonal rights as lo private and public properly, by
giving to die voluminous and intricate laws of
England a boundless relrosjjeclive power in the
midst of Asia, and by an apjiUcalion of those layvs,
,iiiade for the fieesl and most enlightened people
on earth, the jiriiicijile of -whose constitution was
formed on viilue ancl libei-ty, to transactions wilii
the natives of India, who had from time immemo
rial lived under a de.sjiotic government, established
on fear and restraint. A petition was afterward
presented to lli^ house of commons from VVarren
Hastings, esq. governor, general, and Philip Fran-
:cis and Edward W^lieeler, esqrs. counsellors for
the go^ernmciit of lhe presidency of fort "WUUam
in Bengal, in wluch they represented, that though
.the jurisdiclion ofthe .supreme court bf judicature
at Calcutta, and the privileges ancl Immunities
granted to lhe governor general and council, were
clearly defined and limited by parliament and the
lung's letters patent, yet the oljief justice ancl judges
of that court had exercised auUiority over persons
.not legaUy within their jurisdiction, and had irre-
guLirly and improperly advised and admitted suits
against the governor general and council; lhal they
had attempted to execute their writs upon persons
of high rank in Bengal, natives of die country, and
over whom the supreme court had no just pretqnce
to exercise anyjm-isdic tion whatever. lUyas added,
that the attempt to exlend to the inhabitaiils of Uiose
proTginces the jurisdiction of the supreme court ol'
judicature, and the authority of the English law,
aild ofthe forms and fiction,? of lhat law, which
were vet more iulolci-able, because less capable of
Vol. ji. N

ago HISTORY OF liNCLANTl,
being understood, would be such a restraint on
the rainds of the people of those provinces as raight
iiiHanie them, notwithstanding lhe known mildness
and patience wliich constitute their general clia^
racter, lo an open rebeUion. And they soUcited
tbat they, the governor general and council, and
all others under their authority, might be indem
nified against all the legal consequences of their
resistance to that court.
In consequence of these petitions, and the ge
neral disconlent occasioned bolh at home and
abroad by the conduct of the supreme court of
Feb 12 J"<iioature, fhe house of commons or-
^'gj ' dered, that the petitions frora fhe British
7-. • inhabitanlsofBengaJ, Bahar, and Oriza,
and frora the governor general and council of
Bengal, should be referred to a select coraraittee of
fifleen inerabers, tp be chosen by ballot. The
report of this committee -was taken inlo conside
ration in the month of April; bul, before I enter
on the subject of that report, it is necessary lo
advert to lhe war -which had broke out in India,
and which, joined lo the discontents among lhe
company's servants, greatly endangered their in
terests in that quarter.
The company's servants, as -we have seen alread}-,
had engaged in a war wilh the Mahrattas, who llke-
ivise had Hyder AUy, regent of the kingdom of
Mysore, for Iheir enemy ; but he had Uiought pro
per to make peace with ihem, and join them in
a war vrith lhe English, on pretence that the latler
had not kept Uieir treaties vrith him. About the
close of 1 779, he- had an immense military force,
consisting of 70,000 infantry, 3o,ooo cavalry,
10,000 CJarnatic horse, 400 Europeans, and • fine
artilleiy, worked by Eurojieans. In die month of
July 1780, he entered the Carnatic with a large
army, aud committed great devastation; and, the

GEORGE IU. 21)1
French having jiroraised him jxiwerfnl assistance,
he vo-vved he would ruin the English. On lhe
7lh of September, lieutenant colonel Baillie, vrilh
a detachment of 3oo European infantry, some
artillery, three battaUons of sepoys, and ten pieces
of cannon, was attacked by the son of Hyder Ally,
whom he defeated. Hyder failed also in his atterapt
on Arcot, the chief town of lhe Carnatic ; but
owing to lhe irapossibUity of an Intended junction
between the troojis of colonel Baillie and Sir Hec
tor Monro, the former was attacked by Hyder
with a rauch superior force, and totally o _,
defeated. All the Europeans were ^^^g '
either cut to jiieces or taken prisoners,
and about 2000 ^epoys are said to have fallen. Sir
Hector Monro retreated immediately to Madras,
and Hyder, renewing his attempt on Arcot, raade
himself master of it, and found an iraraense quan
lity of stores. His cavalry was overrunning the
-whole country, -wheri Sir Eyre Coote arrived at
Madras yvilh a reinforcement bf British ^^ ^
Iroops, and, taking the coramand of the
array, dislodged Hyder's troops frora sorae place*
of which they had possessed themselves ; while SLi-
Ed -ward Hughes, the British admiral, co-operated
ill distressing Hyder, by destroying several ships at
Mangalore, his chief seaport on lhe coast of Mala
bar. On the firstof July, in the following j- ,
year. Sir Eyre Coote brought Hyder lo " ¦''o '
a general action, between Porto Novo '
and Mooleapollara, wliich lasted eight hours, and
ended in the defeat of Hyder's troops, who were
far superior in nuraber lo the British. Hyder's
principal genei-al was mortally wounded, ancl
araong the killed, who araounted to 4000, were
many ofhis officers. The British lost few officers,
and not raore than 400 privates.
Before this. victory, a motion was raade by lhe
N 2

292 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
Avril ^i '"inisler, that a commitlee of secrecy
^ ¦ ¦ should inquire into the causes of the war
riow subsisll&g in the Carnatic, and ofthe present
condition ofthe British possessions in these parts.
This was agreed to by the hotise, the opposition
only contending, that lhe committee should be
select, and not secret, which was refused. "SVheii
the riames of the commiltee were read, it was'
observed, that, of the fifteen, only two were not
friends of administration. On the aSd of May,
the report of the former committee, appointed lo
consider lhe pelitibn of the governor and council
of Bengal, was read in the house, and leave given
to bring in a bUl to explain and amend that part
bf the act passed in the i5fh ye^r of his present
majesty, w-liich related to Uie administration of
justice in Bengal; and also to indemnify flic go
vernor and council of Bengal, for haring resisted,
by force of arms, the execution of an order of the
s'.ipreme court of judicature in that kingdom; By
this act, which received lhe royal assent after being
discussed in bolh houses, it was declared, that the
governor general and council of Bengal were not
sijbject lo the jurisdiction of the suprerae court, on
account of any thing-done by them in their public
capaciiy; and they'-were indemnified in the resist-'
ance which they had made to the orders of that
court. It was also enacted, lhat no jJerson sliould
be subject to the jurisdiclion ofthe supreme court
on account of his being a landlord, or farmer of
land, in the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and
Oriza ; that no judicial officers in the countiy courts
should be Uable to actions in the supreme court
for their decisions; and two raufties, and Behader
Beg, who. were then in prison, in consequence of
the decisipn pf thai cpurt in a particular cause, were
ordered to be discharged.
From this sketch of lhe affairs of Iiidia, it is ne-

GEORGE III. ag.'?
cessai'y now to follow up the events of the war as-
carried on this year between, the ii^ritiine powers,
in various parts of Europe and America. In this
detail you will find a variety of success, a raixture
of gain and loss, which lilUe tended to balance the
disgrace we incurred by the capture of the British
army in Virginia,
On the coraraencement of ihe.present year, the
French made anoUier attempt to take the » /.
island ef Jersey. The baron de RuUe- A '
court, with eight hundred French Iroops, '
landed at the bank du Vipletin that island, without
meeting with the least resistance from the militia
guard, and fiUed the raarket place of St. Hillier,,
soon after dawn of day, without a gun having
been fired. The lieutenant governor was sur
prised in bed, and raade prisoner, bul not before
he had found means lo send notice to three regi
ments, .stationed ill different parls of the island.
The French general urged hira to sign articles of
capil uial Ion, and threatened, in case of refusal, to
fire the- town, adding, a mpst egregious falsehood,
thai he had landed about 5ooo men pn the island.
The lieutenant governor answered, that, being a
prisoner, and without 'all authority, he could sign,
no capitulation that would be binding ; bul in
consequence of repealed threats, he was induced
to sign .some articles, and sent orders to the officers
uiide'r his command lo obey Uiem. Captain Aly-
ward, however, who comiuaiided Elisabeth castle,
refused lo surrendei-,"fired upon the French, and
corapelled them lo retire ; whUe the Brllislr trobp,",-^
commanded by raajor Pierson, with the raUilia,
assembled upon the heights near the town, and
threatened to attack lhe French if they did not
lay do^vii their arms, and subrait as prisoners of
war, wilhin l-weiily ininutes. At the expiration
ofthis lime, major Pierson led on his troops, and
N 5

2g.'t HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
attacked the enemy with such vigour and imiie-
tuosity, lhal in less than half an hour they surren
dered themselves. The French general, -who had
compeUed the captive lieutenant governor to stand
by his side during the engagfemenl, was mortally
wounded, and the gaUaiit major Pierson was kiUed
in the very moment of victoryj The lieutenanl
governor was afterward tried by a court martial,
and superseded.
In the beginning of February, admiral Rodney
and general Vaughan took ppssessipn of lhe defence
less island of St. Eustatius, belonging to the Dutch.
The inhabitants were even ignorant that hbstiUties
had commenced between the States General and
Great Britain, untU the governor -was suramoned
to surrender the island and its dependencies. As his
situation would admit of no pariey, he compUed;
and recomraended the town and its inhabitants io
the raercy of tbe British commanders. But the
inhabitants of this place were doomed to suffer a
degree of rigour that is unprecedented in the con--
duct of British commanders. All the properly
found- upon the island, both private and public,
said to be worth nearly three miUions, was de-
dared lo be confiscated. The inhabitants were
compeUed to deliver up aU their money and effects;
Their warehouses were locked up, and access de
nied to the proprietors, which depri-ved them of
an opportunity of ascertaining the amount oftheir
commodities, or of securing any future claira to
their property by inventories,, or olher docuraents.
The merchanls' books, letters, and pajaers, were
also seized. About thirty Jews were firsl stript of
iheir raoney to the amount of eight diousand
pounds, and then carried lo St. Christopher's, vrith
out being informed of their destination, or per
milted lo take fheir famUies with thera. Odier
Jews, who were stript in Uke manner, w^ere sufr

CEoRoE III. agS
fered lo remain on the island. By jiroclanialioii,
all Americans, w-ithoul distinclion, aU French in
habitants, the Dutch inhabitanis who had been
citizens of Amsterdara, and all other foreigners,
except the settled inhabilanis of the island, were
ordered lo depart. The jiroperty of the iiihabl-
f ants was sold by auction, and was permilted lo be
shipped off in English or neutral ships.
The pretence for this severity yvas, lhat the in
habitants of St. Eustatius had afforded assislance
to the Americans, and to the enemies of Great
Britain. This, however, seemed a shallow justi
fication ; and every man in the kingdom who
valued national honour, joined in execrating so
wanton a breach of humanity, so unprovoked ancl
useless an addition to the calamities of -war. It was
afterward the subject of parliamentary inquiry,
and 2ierhaps no subject was ever reprobated with
greaier force of argument, or defended in a manner
more lame and impotent.
The Dutch, as I- have already observed, were
never worse prepared for -war, than when his
Britannic majesty ordered that hostilities should
coramence ; but the firstaiaval engagement which
took place betvveen their fleet and that of ^ .
Britain, off the Dogger- Bank, was highly ¦^"^¦^•
in favour of their courage and spirit as seameni
The Dutch fleet on this occasion consisted of
one 74, one 68, one 64, three 54, and one 44 gun
ships, beside frigates, commanded by admiral Zoul-
man. The British fleet, under -rice-adrairal Hyde
Parker, consisted of one of 80, two of 74, one of
64, one of 60, one of 5o, one of 54, one of 40 guns,
three frigates, and a culler. The action began
about eight in the morning, when the fleels were
vritliin half musket shot, and continued for nearly
four hours. Little advantage was gained on either
side. The British had io41aUed, and 33g wound-
N4

SgG IILSTOBV OF E.NC.LAND,
cd; the loss ofthe Dutch was supposed lo be great-'
er',' and their -74 gun ship sunk soon after lhe
action. The Dutch jijore away for the Texel, and
the English were too much 'disabled lo foUow
them. The English admiral complained wilh
justice of being sent out without a sufficient fleet,
for which he certainly had applied, and which at
this time could have been spared.
In the "West Indies, lo which we again return,
J • f a partial engagement took place between
^ "'a British squadron of eighteen ships of
the line, commanded by Samuel Hood, and a
French squadron of twenty- four sail of die line,
commanded by count de(J-rasse^ but neidier side
gained or lost materiaUy. Soon afler, the French
made an unsuccessful attempt on the island of
,Sl. Lucia, but 'were more fortunate against Tobago;
which surrendered to them on the second of June. -
About the beginning pflhe present year, cpm-
inodore Jphnstpne was apppinied lo the command
ofa squadron 'destined to altack the Cape of Good
Hope; but die French, by sending a well timed
assistance, prevented the success ofthis design; in
dieir allack, however, on die commodore's squa
dron at Port Praya, in the island of St. Jago, diey
were bealen off, and die comraodore afterward
surprised five Dulch East Indlaineri In the bay of
Saldanha, four of which he took, and the other
was burnt. The original object ofhis expedition.
having faded, he returned horae with his prizes.
The arms of Spain were so successful in Ame
rica,. lhat4bis year they reduced aU our settleraents ,
on the Missisippi, and" enlirely conquered the pro
vince of West Florida. 'Pensacola surrendered to
Uie, Spanish go\ei-nor of Louisiana, who treated
the garrisoh with great huraanity. .
The island of St. Eustatius was retaken, on the
aolh of Noy-eniber, by a sraall force of 400 French-

GEGIlCE III. 297
troops, commanded by the marquis de Bouillo,
who a,ssured the inhabitants tbSt he retopk the:
isL-iiid, not to add it to lus master's posse.ssions, but
lo defend it until their high mightinesses the Stales
General sliould relieve it by a garrison of ihelrown.
Aboittthe same time, the island of St. iVlarlin fell
into lhe hands of the French.
Itis -w^ilb pleasure that- -we can close the history
ofthis year wilh one of the most gaUant exploits
of this, or perhajis,' any olher war. The fortress
of Gibraltar continued to be bested, and it was
now judged expedient to carry inlo ?«/-
execution an "attempt lo storm and de- ' ''
stroy the whole bf the enemy's advanced Works,
wbich had been perfebted at iraraense expence
and labour. For Uiis purpose a considerable delach
ment was formed In three cjolurans,- ancl raarched
from the garrison, upon the setting of the moon,
at three in the raornirig. The columns were se
verally coraposed of an advanced corps", a body
of pioneers, artillerymen carrying conibuslihles,
and a sustaining corps, wilh a reserve in the rear.
The pi^neei's of the left column -were seanieni
The vigorous efforts of these troops, on every part
of tbe exterior front, were irresistible ; and the
enemy, afler a scattering fire of short duration,
gave -way on all sides,' and abandoned their stu
pendous works with great precipitation. The pio
neers and artillerymen spread their fire with such
amazing rapidily, lhat, in half an hour, two mor-
lar batteries often ihirleen-inch mortars, ancl three
batleiies of six guns each, with all the Unes of ap
proach; communication, traverse, &c. were in
flames, and soon reduced lo ashes. The morlars
and- cannon -were spiked, and iheir beds, carriages,
and platforms deslroyed. Tlieir magarines blew
up, one afler another, as tite fire approaplied them.
The enemy, seeing all opposition lo be ineffecliial.
N 0

.29& HISTORY OF ENGLANB,
ottered no Other resistance than an ill directed
fire of round and grape shot from fhe forts of St.
Barbara and St. Philip, and the batteries pii lhe
lines, and reraained in their carap spectatprs pf
the cpnflagralipn. The whole detachment, whose
loss had been veiy inconsiderable, was in fhe gar
rison again by five, just before break of day. An
enterprise so admirably contrived, and so success
fully executed, could nol fad lo give the Spaniards
an exalted idea of the wisdom of general EUiot fhe
governor, and^ fhe courage of liis troops, who
to these rirtues*oined the tenderest regard fo the
duties of huraanity, by their kind treatraent of the
prisoners, raany of whora they a.ssisted fo rescue
frora destruction. The value of the works de
stroyed by this saUy, has been estimated at nearly
three millions.

LETTER LXXVIII.
'W^HEN the parliament of Greal Britain met at
the close of the year we have just reviewed, in
telUgence bad been received of mpsl pflhe leading
events that had happened during the recess, and
particularly pf the defeat pf the British army in
Virginia, which was gendy alluded to in his ma
jesty's speech, but which had shaken the power
and popularity of the minislry to such a degree,
thalfrfieir downfall, in the eyes of many thinking
men, did not seem far distant, and the principal
business ofthe present session was a war of words,
which hastened if. Their weakness, indeed, be
gan to appear so glaringly, that victories and de
feats, towns taken and towns evacuated, gain and
loss, seemed pnly parts pf a rapnsfrpus aggregate
yvhpse characteristic features were errpr, impolicy,
and ignorance. The address in answer lo his

GEORGE III. )2Cj9
majesty's speech, was combated by arguments
which carried convictipn intp every part pf the
British dominions; and such was ^e force of po
pular excitement, such the obvious necessity for
putting an end to this unhappy war, that the mi
nister, whose majority -was nearly as two to one
at the commencement of Uie session, had the mor
tification to be left in a minority, within four
months afler.
It is not necessary for the purpose of these let
ters, lo give a minute detail of all the various-mo
tions broughl forward. A few of the mosl pro
minent wiU be sufficient. Mr. Burke moved for
a strict inquiry into the conduct of the British
commanders al St. Eustatius, and brought e-vi-
dence of cruelty and confiscation, ready to be ex
amined. The debate on this motion was long and
warm, and adrairal Rodney and general Vaughan,
w-ho were present, entered into an able defence
of their conduct; but the minislry were determined
that no further inquiry should be riiade, and Mr.
Burke's motion was rejected by a great- raajority.
Another iraportant motion, though ably supported,
fell to the ground. It went lo state diat the wai:'
carried on against the colonies and plan tation s« of
Nordi America had been ineffectual to the pur
poses for which it was undertaken, and lhat all
further atterapts to reduce, the Americans to obe
dience by force would be ineffectual, and must
be injurious lo this counlry by -weakening her .
powers to resist her ancient and confederated ene
mies. Against this plaiirprpppsition, the minisler
opposed a ne^v design, namely to keep up a war
of posts in America, for the annoyance ofthe ene
my and the protectipn pflhe West India islands.
The division, hpwever, pn this questiun, ihough
in favpur pf administratipn, exhibited the incon
siderable majprity of only forty-one.
N 6

"500 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
After the recess, the opposition gained ground
Feh 22 *'^P''^^y' ^""^ general Conway haring
'n ¦ moved for an address lo his majesty, be- '
' ¦ seeching him to lake inlo his considera-
t;on the calamities of the American war, and adopt
the proper measures for putting a stop fo il, the
motion was rejected by only one vote ; this en
cpuraged the rapver to offer It a seconcl tirae on
lhe 27th of the same raonth, Uiough in the form'
of a resolution of fhe house. That happened to
be backed by a petition from the cily of Lon
don, and oUier places, and was carried by a ma
jprity pf nineteen. It was foUowed up by an ad
dress to his majesty, which was presented by the
whole house on the 1st of March. His majesty,'
in his answer, declared there were no objects
nearer to his heart than lhe ease, happiness, and
prosperity of liis people : and that the house of
comraons raight be assured, that, in pursuance of
their advice, he should lake such measures as
Icould appear to hira to be raost conducive to the
restoration of harmony between Great Britain and
her revolted colonies, so essential lo tbe prosperity
of both; and lhat his efforts should be directed, in
i^e most effectual manner, against our European
eneraies, until such a peace could be obtained, as
should consist with lhe interests and perraanent
welfare ofhis kingdom.
But Uiis answer not appearing sufficiently ex-
March a P^'''''' general Coriway moved, Uiat the
house of commons would consider as
enemies lo his majesty, and this country, aU those
-who should endeavour to frustrate his majesty's
paternal care for the ease and happiness of his
people, by advising, or by ariy, means attempting,
the further proseculion of offensive war on the
continent of North America, for the purpose of
reducing the revulted cplbnies tc bbedience by

Ceorge'iii. 3o1
force. Afler some debate, this was carried wiU.-
out a division ; but the purpose df tliese motions
seemed yet, In some mea.sure, lo be defeated. The
ministry slill lingered In their silualions, and it
became necessary for opposition lo remove them
before any substantial service could be done to^
the country. Accordingly, blher raolions, directly
pointed at them, were advanced, when, al lengih,
lord "North announced lo Uie house, Uiat bis ma
jesty had 'come lo a ftill determination to change
his rainisters. His lordship concluded- ,, ,7

hisspeech, with ihanklng the house

9-.
for the' many instances of favour ancl incliilgence
which he had received from them diriing lbe<
course of his admiiiislration ; and declared, that
he considered himself as responsible, in all senses"
of the word, for every circumslance ofhis raliiis-
lerial conduct, and that he should be ready to an-
.swer,lo his country, whenever he should be called
upon for thai purpose. In consequence of this
change, a complete adralnislrallon was fonried
from lliat party who had composed the opposi-'
tion, and who were considered as holding -whig
princijiles. The raarquis of Rockingham was appointed
first lord of the treasury ; lord John Cavendish,
chancellor of the exchequer ; the earl of Shel
burne and Mr. Fox, principal secrelaiies of state ;
lord Camden, president of the conncil; the duke
of Richniond, master of the ordnance ; the duke
of Gi-aflon, lord piivy seal ; admiral Keppel, first
lord of the admiralty ; general Conway, com
mander in chief; Mr. Thomas Towiisend, secre
tary a I war ; Mr. Burke, paymaster ofthe forces';
and colonel Barre, treasurer of the navy. Admi
ral Kejipel, Sir I'lelcher Norton, and Mr. Dun
ning, were at the sarae tirae oreafed peers.
Thus ended the administration of lord North,-

3oa HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
of -which it is nol loo much to say, that Uiough it
was not deficient in lalenls, or perhaps integrity,
yel a principle or sysiem had been adopted which
rendered the years of ifs duration Uie mosl cala
mitous thai are lo be found in our annals. . The
people were so fully sensible ofthe weight of pu
blic burdens, and of die incapacity of ministers
to alleviate them, that the news of their removal
was very generaUy received with satisfaction, and
from the abiUlies, the professipns, and the knnwn
integrity of the new adrainistration, great hopes
were entertained that they would yet be able to
rescue the nation frora the gulph inlo -which she
had fallen.
As a close lo the present leller, I may fake no-
lice, lhat in Ireland a sjiirit of resistance to the de
pendent state of that kingdom and parliament, was
this year crowned wilh success. After various
meetings had beeu held for fhe purpose of express
ing fhe sense of the nation on certain important
cpnstitutipnal reformalipns, Mr. Grallan, an 'able
and pppular meraber ef the Irish hpuse bf com
mons, moved and carried an address to bis ma
jesty, declaratory ofthe independence of die Irish
parliament. This was afterward acceded lo by
the English parUament, under the auspices of die
new administration. The utmost joy and exul-
tatipri>%read over Ireland on this occasion, and
Mr. Grattan's serrices appeared so meritorious,
that the parliament of lhat kingdora voted a grant
of fifty thousand pounds for purchasing an estate,
and building a mansion for bim.

'&¦

LETTER JLXXIX.
The change of men in the government of this
kingdom, has always been attended -yvilb a par-

GEORGE III. 3o.T
tial change of raeasures. The present adrainistra
tion began their career by executing sorae of ihose
plans which they had so often aud so earnestly re
coramended lo their predecessors. The first and
greatest object of their attention, was, lo adopt
such measures as might lead to peace. Overtures
were accoi-dingly made to the Stales General of
HoUand, and negotiations for a general peace
comraenced at Paris. His majesty made an offer
to acknowledge the independence of the Uniled
States of America in the first instance, instead of
making it the condition ofa general treaty. .Ad
miral Digby and general Carleton were also di
rected to acquaint the American congress -with the
pacific intentions of the British court, and wilh his
majesty's offer to acknowledge Uie independence
of the Uniled Slales. Beside this, a variety of re
solutions were entered into concerning the affairs
of the East Indies, which fprebpded an entire
change in the administralipn pf pur territories in
that quarter. A retrenchment tppk place, in ccn
sequence pf a message from the king, in the ex
penditure of his civil list ; and tbat system of pubUc
econoray, whioh Mr. Burke had fprraerly in vain
attempted tp recemmend, npw began Ip be prac
tised In earnest. An act was alsp passed for ex
cluding custorahpuse and excise pfficers frcra vpt-
ing at parliamentary eleclipns ; and cpiitractprs
were splemnly excluded frpm being members ef
the hpuse pf comraons. All the orders and reso
lutions of lhal house respecting the Middlesex
election and the conduct of Mr. Wilkes, were ex
punged frora the journals, as being subversive of
the rights of the whole body of electors in the king
dom. As a part of the systera of economy,- the
board of trade, the board of wprks, and the great
wardrpbe ; fhe pffices of the third secretary of
state, or secretary for the American cleparlmentj

304 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
of ireasurer of lhe charaber, cofferer of the lionse-
hold, lhe lords of police in Scolland, and sorae
olher offices, ^vere aboUshed, and a jirorision raade
for liquidating the debts of the cl^il list, which at
this tirae ¦were very considerable. These acts met
wiUi lillle or no op^iosillon, and lhe popularity of
the new adrainistration -was advancing rapidly,
when an accident created a difference of opinion
among Uiem, which ended in their overtlirow;
But before entering on this subject, it is necessary
to advert lo the naval and military transactions ,
yvhich closed ihe war, of which the "West Indies
continued lo be the chief theatre.
About the beginning of this year Uie island
J of Ne^is surrendered fo fhe arms of
^" Uie king of France, and 8000 Frerich
troops -were landed, about the same time, on the
island of Sf. Christopher. Adrairal Hood, wiUi
fwenly-two sail of the line, atterapted to relieve the
island, and beat off, with considerable loss, 'the
French fleet, comraanded by count de Grasse,- of
twenty-nine saU of the Une. The island, however,
-was obUged lo capitulate, after a brave defence.
Deraerara and Issequibo, with several English
vessels, were also laken by the French.
Soon after, admiral Rodney arrived in the "West
Indies, and took the command there. His good
fortune stUl followed him ; for, on Uie 12U1 of
j'^pril, he encountered and gained a complete ric
tory over the Frencli fleet commanded by count
de Grasse. His fleet consisted of thirty - se^ en
shl'Js, and lhat ofthe French of ihirfy-four. The
en.s;agemeiil lasted from seven in the raorning un
til half past six in the evening. No action could be
more decisive, orconducted with greaier bravery.
Il was, in fact, in itself, and lis consdcmeiices, die
greatest naval defeat eyer given to any enemy.
By a bold niancemie of admiral Rodney's ship,-

tl-

GT,JRGE III. i>05
iho Formidable, the French line was broken* and
thrown into confusion. The first Fiench shiji
tli.'it struck v«is the Cesar of 74 guns, which a I
Ihis Inslant had not a fool of canvass not pierced
with a shot. Unfortunately after striking, she
blew up, by which accident 200 Frenchraen, an
English lieiileiiant and ten sailors, lost their livesi
Le Glorieux and le Hector, of 74 guns each, were
also laken by the English, together wilhl'Ardent
of G4 guns. A French 74 gun ship was sunk dur
ing the engagement. The "VUle de Paris, a ship of
I 10 guns, bn board of which was de Grasse, the
French admiral, struck toward the closeof the en-
.^agement. The havoc amongthe French seameri
was inimerise. The EngUsh had aSo killed, and
709 wounded.
A few days afler this engagement, a squadron
of the British fleet, commanded by ad- > ., g
rairal Hood,t took the Cato and Ja.son, ^
two French men of war of. 64 guns each, the
Amiable of 32, and the Ceres of 18 guns. Admi
ral Ban-ington's fleet, about the same lime, took
from tbe French, oft' Usbant, le Pegase of 74, 1'Ac-
tionnaire of 64 guns, and ten sail of vessels under
their convoy. Before' these events, the new mi
nistry had sent to recall admiral Rodney, and, as
it was thought, meant #) instilule an inquiry inlo
his conduct al St. Eustatius. But Uie .splendor of
his victories eclipsed all Iraputations, and he, as
well as adrairal Hood, received the thanks of both
houses of parliament, ancl were advanced to the
peeiage. The count de Grasse, afler his defeat,
yyas condiicled to .Taraaica, and Uience lo Eng
land, ^vhere he was received al court, and treated
wilh the respect due to his rank and silualion.
These victories, however, were counterbalanced
by very considerable losses. The Ville de Paris,
Glorieux, and Hector, werejost at sea. The Ccri-

SoG HiSTORY OF ENXLANfe,
taur, a British ship of 74 guns, sunk in fhe month
of Septeraber, few ofthe crew being saved ; and
the Royal George, of 100 guns, overset and sunk
Auff o '" ^^^ harbour of Portsmouth. Admiral
^' •"' Kerapenfelt, a very brave officer, with
other officers, upward of 400 seamen, and 200
women, perished on this melancholy occasion.
The island of Minorca, afler a siege of 1 7 1 days,
surrendered, on the 6th of February, fo the king
of Spain ; fhe English gai-rison amounted fo 2693
men ; but the Spanish army, under the command
of the duke de CriUon, exceeded 1 6,000. Dnring
fhe siege, the duke attempted to bribe general Mur
ray, the governor, to dehver up the fortress, an
insult which was resented in a y^ery spirited man
ner ; and the conduct ofthe duke, after surrender;
shewed, tbat notwithstanding such an attempt, he
entertained a very proper sense ofthe courage and
iiiflexible virtue of .the govemor. In fhe month
of May, the Bahama islands, which were inca
pable of making- any defence, surrendered lo the
governor of Havannah.
The defence of Gibraltar sliU continued to at
tract the eyes of Europe, as lo a scene of uncom
mon bravery and success. The governor, accord
ing to his custom, allowed the Siianiards fo bring
their works nearly lo jienKtion, and then alraost
totally demolished them. On the 8fh of Septem
ber, at seven in the morning, a heavy fire com
raenced from the English batteries, with carcasses,
hot shot, and shells, upon die Spanish advanced
works and batteries, and, before ten, two of their
principal batteries were completely destrpyed.
The attack raade by the Spaniards cn the i3lh pf
this month, requires a more particular descriptipn.
It was raade -with fen battering ships, under the
cpramand pf adrairal Mprenp. These ships were
• of diflerent sizes, from 14PP to 600 tons burden.

GEORGE IIJ. S07
Their guns, which in all araounted lo 212, were
brass twenty-six pounders, all entirely new. Tbe
nuraber of raen on board of these ships, includ
ing officers, araounted to near 8000. The Spa
niards had also collected, from different ports,
aboul Soo large boats, which ¦w-ere lo carry their
troops. At len in the raorning, don Moreno's
ship was placed about 1000 yards frora the king's
bastion, and began firing ; the others posted lo tbe
north and south, al sraall distances asunder, Uke
wise discharged their cannon. The fire was heavy
on bolh sides, the English opening their batteries
as the eneray carae before thera. Redhot shot was
sent wilh such precision from the garrison, that
in the afternoon the smoke was seen to issue frora
the upper part of the Spanish adrairal's, and from
another ship, and raen were .seen labouring lo ex
tinguish the fire by the use of fire engines. Their
efforts, however, were ineffectual ; for, by one in
the morning, the Spanish admiraJ, and seveial
others, were In flames. The confusion of the Spa
niards was now sufficiently manifest, and the nu
merous rockets thrown up, from each of their
ships, were a demonslration of the greatness of
their distress. Their signals were Iraraediately an
swered froni the Spanish fleet, and atlerapls were
made to bring away the men, il being irapossible
to reraove the ships. Twelve English gun boats,
each carrying a twenty-four or eighteen pounder,
under the coraraand of captain Roger Curtis, then
advanced, and were so drawn up as lo flank the
line of the Spanish battering ships, while they -wei'e
-also extremely annoyed by an excessive heavy and
well directed fire frora the garrison. The fire
frora the English gun boats was kept up with such
rigour and effect, that the Spanish boats did nol
venture to ajiproach ; on the contrary, they aban
doned iheir ships, and the men left in them, to lhe

568 history op engl.4,nd,
mercy of the English. The scene -was now truly
dreadful ;, great numbers of men were seen amid
the flames, some upon pieces of wood in lhe wa
ter, others appearing in lhe, ships wbere the fire
had as yel made but Uttle progress, all expressing
by speech and gesture the deepest ctistress, and aU
imploring assistance. The English made every
exertion to relieve them ; but the blowing uf> of
the Spanish ships, as the fire got to Uie magazines,
and the firing of sorne of their cannon, as ihemelal
becarae heated by the flaraes, rendered this a very
perilous eraployraent. In consequence, however,
of their intrepid exertions, i3 Spanish officers, and
.^44 men, ivere saved. Tbeir loss must have heen
immense. Afler this memorable victory, lord
Howe succeeded in reUe^ ing the garrison, and
engaged with the French and Spanish fleet; but,
after a severe cannonade, the lalter bore away vrilh
all the saU they coidd. ¦ '. >
In America, no action of any importance oc
curred afler the capture of the British army at
A cr oP, York-town. In India, l^ir Eyre Coote
. '^'q ' gained, anolher viciory over Hyder AUy ;
^ '' *¦¦ bul the loss lo die English was very con
siderable, the enemy having been very advan
tageously posted. - :¦ ¦•
In the following month, general Coote was again
successful over Hyder, and. with less loss. On
the lotllpfNpvember, after asliert siege, Cliittpre
surrendered to the English. Twp days after, lhe
Dutch setlleraent of Negapalara feU into ibe hands
of the EngUsh ; and Sir Edward Hughes, abput
the cpraraenceraenl of the jiresent.year, took Trlii-
coraale, wilh two Dutch ships richly laden, beside
olher vessels then in the harbour. A few days
before this transaction, general Medows arrived
at Bombay, wilh a reinforcement of land forces,
-under convov of three saU of the Une ; and TelUr

GEOKOE HI. 30f)
cherry, which had for a considerable time been
besieged by Hyder Ally's troops, -^vas re- r l,
lieved by major Abingdon, who com- o '
pletely routed lhe besiegers, killed about '
400 raen, and lojk I Soo prisoners, ainong whom
was their leader, yvilh an immense c[uaiility of ar
tillery, stores, and money. Bul on the 18U1 of
February, colonel Bratliwaile, -with a detachment
of the comjDany's troops, was altacked, near ^ the
banks of the ColerOon,- by Hyder Ally's son. Tip-
poo Saib, arid totally defeated. The whole do-
lachmenl, consisting of ,"3000 infantry, 25o cavalry,
18 ofBcers, and a field train of i3 pieces, were
either captui-ed or destroyed. The French after
ward laid siege lo Cuddalore, which surrendered
to them. ' About thistime a cessation of lioslUilies
look place between the company's Iroops and the
Mahrallas. Two partial engagements, however,
lofok place between the English fleet, coramanded
by admiral Hughes, and the French, commanded
by Mons. de Suffren, in which the forraer had
the advantage. After this, peace was concluded
with the Mabratlas,and was folio-wed. by the dealh
of Hyder Ally, the raost intrepid and inveterate
eneray of the English,

LETTER LXXX.
APTEp. what the nation had suffered from the
errors and prodigality of the administration -which-
cbnducted the war, it cannot be wondered if very-
great expectations were formed -of the advantages
to be derived from the accession of njen whcse
principles were purely patriotic, and -whose talents
commanded the adniii-ation even oftheir enemies.
The leading principles in the systera -which Ihty
proposed lo pursue, were, to offer to America,

SlO HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
unlimited, unconditional independence, as the ba
sis ofa negotialion for peace ; lo establish a system
of econoray in every department of government ;
and adopt the spirit, and carry into execulion the
provisions of the bill of reform introduced by Mr.
Burke ; lo annlhilale every kind of influence o-N'er
bvery hranch of the legislature ; and to continue
to the kingdom of Ireland, and to secure lo it, fhe
freedora as now settled by parUaraent ; and to do
this in the raost unequivocal and decisive way.
This -was a grand, open, and manly system. It
-was what the distresses of the nation suggested,
and what her recovery required. But how far it
vi'ould have been carried into effect cannot now
be ascertained. The death of the marquis of
J. J Rockingham took place about this tirae,
" -^ ' and was folio-wed by the appointment of
'7 ^" (he earl of Shelburne lo be firsl lord of
the treasury. This gave so much oflence to his col
leagues, lhat Mr. Fox, lord John Cavendish, Mr.
Burke, and seme pthers, immediately jesigned
their places, assigning as a reasen, tbat a new sys
tem, pr ralher the rerival pf the pld sysiem, had
been altempted, and that cpnsequenlly they could
not act widl ihe.present cabinet. These reasons
did not appear very satisfactory to aU their friends,
and their vacancies in die new administration
were soon filled up. Mr. "WilUam Pill was ap
pointed chancellor of the exchequer, and a firm
and concerted opposition was plarined.
The new administration went on with the trea
ties of peace, which were submitted to parUaraent
on iis meeiing in lhe beginning ofthe foUowing
year ; bul the opposition having, in two instances,
outvoted tlie riiinistry, ihe latter were compeUed
to yield, and a new administration waS formed
by a coalition of parties lhe most discordant lhat
(san weU be imagined. The duke of Portland was

GEORGE HI. 3ll
ajipoliiled to be first lord of lhe treasury ; lord
North and .Mr. Fox were appointed principal se
cretaries of state ; lord John Cavendish was made
chanceUor of the exchequer ; lord Keppel, first
lord of the admiralty ; lord Storraont, president
of the council ; ancl the earl of Carlisle, keeper of
the privy seal. "W"ithout entering inlo a detail of
the proceedings of this administration in lesser
mailers. It is necessary lo state, Uiat the negotia
tions for peace were at length concluded, and ara
111 substance as follow.
In the treaty between Great Britain and France,
it ^vas agreed, that peace should take place to the
fullest extent, and lhat measures lhe raost effica
cious should imraediately be executed for jputllng
an end to hostUities of evtery kind. Newfound
land was to reraain with England as before the
corameiicement of the war ; and, lo prevent dis
putes about boundaries, it was accorded, that the
French fishery should begin from Cajie Sl. John
on the eastern side, and, going round by Uie north,
should have for its boundaries Cape Ray on the
western side. The islands of St. Pierre and Mi-
quelon were ceded in full right to France. The
French were to continue to fish in the gulph of
St. Lawrence, conformably to the fifth article of
the treaty of Paris. The king of Great Britain
agreed to restore lo France the island of St. Lucia,
and to cede and guarantee lo her lhat of Tobagc,
The king of France was to surrender to Great
Britain the islands of Grenada and Uie Grenadines,
St. Vincent, Dominica, St. Christppher's, Nevis,
and Moiitserrat. The river of Senegal and its de
pendencies, with the forls of St. Louis, Podor, Ga-
lara, Arguin, and Portendlc, were Ip be given to
France ; and the island of Goree was to be restpred
tp il. Fort Jaraes and the river Gambia were
guaranteed lo his Biitannic majesty ; and the gum,

3l3 HISTORy 01-- ENGL.i.ND,
trade -was lo reirialn in the .same condition as be
fore the coramenceraent of- hostilities. The king
of Great Britain waste restore to his most Chris-
tlaii majesty all the establishments which belonged
lo him at the breaking out of die war on the coast
of Oriza and Bengal, with- a liberty lo surround
Chandernagore with a ditch for draining Uie wa
ters ; and becarae engaged lo secure to the subjects
^ of France in lhat part of India, and on the coasts
of Oriza, Malabar, and Cororaandel; a safe, free,
and independent trade, either as private traders,
or Under the direction of a corapany. Pondi
cherry, as -well as Karical, was to be rendered
back to France ; and his Britannic majesty was to
give as a dependency round Pondicherry, Uie two
districls of Valanour ahd -BaboUr; and as a de-:
•jieridency roiiiid Karical, the four conliguoiis Ma-
gans. The French were again lo enter into the
possession of Mahe, and of the cpmiiloir at Surat.
The allies of France and Great .Britain were to
be invited to accede to the present pacification ;
and the terra of four months ¦was to be allowed
them for the purposes of making their decision.
In the event of their aversion from peace no as
sistance on eilher side was lo be given Uiem.
Great Britain renounced every claira wilh re
spect to Dunkirk. Coraraissioners were to be ap
pointed respectively by the two nations to inquire
into the slate oftheir coraraerce, and lo concert
new arrangemenls oflrade, on the footing of re
ciprocity and mutual convenience. All conquests
on either side, in any part of the world whatever,
not mentioned nor aUuded to in the present treaty,
•were to be restored withoul difficulty, and wiUi
out recjulring compensation. Tlie king of (^reat
Britain w-as lo order the evacuation of Sl. Pierre
ancl Mlqudon ihree months after die ratification
of ihepreliniina I-y treaty, and if possible, he'shoiild,

GEORGE HI. .?l3
before the explralion of that period, relinquish all
connection wilh St. Lucia in the West Indies,
and Goree in Africa. It was stipulated in like
manner, lhat his Britannic majesty should at the
end of three months afler the ratification of the
freaty, or sooner, enter inlo the possession of the
island of Grenada and the Grenadines, St. Vincent,
Dominica, St. Christopher's, Nevis, and Montser-
rat. France was lo be put into possession of the
towns and comploirs which -were lo be restored
fo her in the East Indies, and of the lerrilories
which -were to serve as dependencies round Pon
dicherry and round Karical, six months after the
ratification of the definitive treaty ; and ai the
lermination of the same term she was to restore
the towns and dislricls -which her arms raight have
taken frora the English or their alUes in lhat quar
ter of the globe. The prisoners uppn each side
^-s^ere reciprpcally to be surrendered, and without
ransora, upon the ratification of the treaty, and
ou paying the debts they raight have contracted
during tlieir captivity. Each crown was respec
tively to reimburse lhe sums which had been ad
vanced for the raaintenance of their prisoners by
the country where they had been detained, accord
ing to attested and authentic vouchers. "W^ilh a
view to prevent every -dispute ancl coraplaint on
account of prizes whicb might be made at sea afler
the signing of the preliminary articles, it was mu-
lually settled lhat the vessels and effecis which
mighl be laken in the channel, and In the North
seas, after the space of twelve days, to be computed
from the ratification of the jiresent preUminary
articles, were lo be restored upon each side ; lhat
the term should be one month from the channel
and Nortii seas, as far as the Canary islands In
clusively, whether in the Ocean or the Mediter
ranean ; two months from the Canary islands a<!
Vol. II. O

•^'i ' HISTOEY OF ENGLAND,
far as the equinoctial line or equator ; and lastly,
five raonUis witiiout exception in all other parls
of the world,
Betvyeen Great Britain and Spain, it was agreed
that a sincere friendship should be reestablished.
His caUiolic majesty was lo keep the island of
Minorca, and was to retain Wesl Florida. East
Florida was to be ceded lo him by the king of
Great Britain. Eighteen months frora the date of
the ratification of Uie definitive treaty were fo be
allowed fo the subjects of thelafter-who had settled
in the island of Minorca and in the two Floridas,
lb seU their estates, fp recover their debts, and lo
lran.sport iheir pefsons and effects, wilhout being
i-estrained on account oftheir religion, or on any
ofher pretence whatsoever, except that of debts,
and proseculion for crimes. His Britannic ma
jesty was, at the same tirae, to have the ppwer to
cause aU fhe effects that might belong to him in
East Florida, whether artiUery or ofliers, tp be car
ried ay\'ay. The Uberty of culling log\vocd in a
district, of which the boundaries were to be ascer
tained, without mdlestsltion or disturbance of «ny
kind, was permitted tp "Great Britain. The kingof
Spain was to reslpre the islands pf Pi-pridence, ancl
ihe Bahamas, wifhput excepticni,'in die condition
in vvhich fhey -were when fliey -were conquered
by his arms. All other conquests of terriloiies
and countries upon eilher side, ndt included in
the present articles!, were IP be mutually restpred
yyithput difficulty or corapensation. "The epoch
for the restitutions to 'be made, and for the eva
cuations to lake place, and regulations for the re-
lease bf prisoiiers, '8cc. were settled in the same
manner as iri the articles wifh France.
In the li-ealy wifh America,, his Britannic ma
jesty acknowledged (he United "Slates', viz. New
Hmiipshire, Massachuset's Bay, Rhode Island and

GEORGE III. SiS
Providence Plantations, Connecticut, NewYork,
New Jersey, Pennsylvaiila, Delaware, Maryland,
Mi-ginia, North CaroUna, South Carolina, , and
Georgia, to be free, sovereign, and Undependent
states. He consen led lo treat witblhera.in this capa
city ; and -for hinwel'f, his heirs, and his'successors,
he relinquished all 'dairas to the governraent of
them, to their piroperty and lerrilorial riglils. That
no disputes riiiglit arise in future on the subject of
die boundaries of these Uniled States, It was de
clared Uiat they should be from the north-vvest
angle of Nova -Scotia, that angle which is formed
by a line drawn due north ; from the source of St.
Croix river to the highlands, along the said high
lands, which divide those rivers that empty lliem-
aelves into the river St. Lawieuce ; from those
which fall inlo the Atlantic ocean, to the norlh
weslernmosl head of the Connecticut river; thence
down along, the middle of that river to the forty-
eighth degree of north latitude ; from thence by a
line due wesl on ihatlatilude until itstrlkes the river
Iroquois or Caleraquy ; thence along the middle
of the said river into lake Ontario, tiirough the
middle of that lake, until il strikes the Gommuni-
calion between the said lake and^lake Eric ; thence
along the raiddle of that coraraunication inlo lake
Eric, through the middle of the said lake, until it
arrives at the water comraunication between that
lake and lake Huron ; thence along die middle
of the said water comraunication to the lake Hu
ron ; thence through the middle of lhe said lake
to the water comraunication between lhal lake
and lake Superior ; thence through lake'Superior
norUiward of the isles Royal and Phihpeaux, to
the Long lake ; thence through the raiddle of lhe
said Long lake, and the wafer communication
between it and the lake of the Woods, lo lhe said
lake of the "Woods ; thence through the said lake
C 3

3l6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
to the most north-western point thereof, and from
thence on a due west course to die river Missisijipi;
thence by a line Ip be drawn along the middle of
the river Missisippi, until it shall intersect the
northernmost part of the thirty-first degree of
north latilude : south, by a Une to be drawn due
east frem Uie delerminafapn pf the line last raeii-
tipned, in lhe latitude pf thirty-pue degrees iierlh
pf the equatpr, Ip the middle pf the river Apala-
chicpla, pr Catahpuche ; thence along the middle
thereof, lo its junction wilh the FUnt river ; thence
strait to the head of St. Mary's river, and thence
down along die middle of St. Mary's river to the
Atlantic ocean : east, by a line to be drawn along
the middle of the river St. Croix, from ifs mouth
in the bay of Fundy, to its source ; and from lis
source directly north, lo the said highlands, which
divide the rivers dial faU inlo the Atlantic ocean,
from those which faU into the river St. Lawrence;
comprehending aU islands vrithin twenty leagues
of any part of the shores of the United Stales, and
lying between lines to be drawn due east from
the points where the said boundaries between
Nova Scotia on the one part, and East Florida on
the other, sliaU respectively touch the bay of .fun
dy, and the Atlantic ocean ; excepting such islands
as now- are, or heretofore have been yvithin Uie
Umits of the said province of Nova Scotia.
The people of the United Slates were to conti
nue to enjoy, without moleslafion, the right to take
fish of every kirid on the Grand Bank, and on aU
the other banks of Newfoundland ; and were
likewise to exercise and continue Uie sarae privi
lege in the gulph of Sl. Lawrence, and at every
Plher place in the sea, where lhe inhabilanis used
heretpfpi-e tp fish. , They were likewise lo have
the Uberly lo take fish of every kind pn such part
of the cpaslpf Newfbnndland,,as British seamen

GEORGE lll3 ,3l7
shall resort lo ; but not to cure or dry them on
tbat island. They were also lo possess die privi
lege of fishing on the coasts, bays, and creeks of
all the other dorainions of bis Britannic raajesty
in Araerica ; and lhe Araerican fishermen were
perraitted to cure and drj' fish in any of the un
settled bays, harbours, and creeks of Nova Scotia,
Magdalen islands, and Labrador. But it was
agreed; lhat after'sucb places should be .setUed,
this right could not be legaUy put in jiractice
without the consent ofthe inhabitants and jiro-
prlelors of the ground. Il -was accorded that cre
ditors upori: either side should meet wilh no ira
pediraent in the prpsecUtion oftheir clairas. It
was contracted that die cpngress'shpuld earnestly
recommend it to the legislatures ofthe respective
states to proride for the restitution of all estates
ancl properties -v^rhich had been confiscated, be
longing to real British subjects, and of the estateg-
and properties of perspris resident In districts in
the ppssession of his majesty's arras, and who had
not borne arms against the Uniled States. Per
sons of any other description should have free 11-
bei-ly to go to any part whatsoever of any of the
thirteen United States, and reraain in it for twelve
months unraolesled in their endeavours to recover
such oftheir estates, rights, and properties as may
not have beeri confiscated ; and it was concerted,
dial the congress should earnestly recommend lo
the several stales a revision of aU acts or laws re
garding the premises, so as to render them per
fectly consistent, not only with justice and equity,
but with diat spirit of conciliation, which, on tlie
return of die blessings bf peace, should universally
prevail. It was understood, that no fiilure con
fiscations should be made, nor prosecutions com
menced against any person, or body Of men, on
account pf the part which he or tbey had taken
O 3

-^'8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
in the present war ; and that those who may be
in confiiiement on such a chajpgp, al the time of
the ratification of the treaty in America, should
be immediately set at liberty; It was concluded
that there should be a firm aad perpetual peace
between his Britannic majesty and tha United
Slates ; that all hostilities by sea and land should
immediately cease ; and thai prisoners Oir bolh
sides should be set at Uberty. His Britannic ma
jesty engaged, expeditiously and without commit
ting destruction on any fort, to wilbdi'aiw all his
armies, garrisons and fleels, from- every port^-place,
and harbour pf the United Stales. The navi^-
tion of the river Missisippi fsom. it^ source lo the
ocean, was to reraain for ever free and open lo
the subjects of Great Britain, and the citizens of
^he United States., If any place or territory be^-
Ipnging Ip Greal Britain, pr tp Uie United SJatesj
Should be conquered by the arms of either, be
fore (he arrival of tliese articles in America, it
^lould be restored without ccmipensation.- or diJii->
culty. The arllcles of peace belween the>F-»eneb and
_ , British were concluded at Versailles, be*-
'*¦ *^' tweeriMr.Alleyne Fil^ierbert, minister
plenipotentiary on the part of his British majesty,
and Charles Gra.vier, count de Vergeancs, the mi
nister plenipotentiary on the part of the king of
France. At the same lime the preUmina-iy articles
between (ireat Britain and ^js^ki -were' also con
cluded by Mr. Fil»liei-bei't , and the count
d'Aranda, the minisler {deni-potenliary for the
Spanish monarch^ Ttie provlMbnal articles be
tween Great Brifain and America were framed
and adjusted in the month of November preced
ing at IParisi by Richard Oswald, esq. , the com
missioner of his British majesty, and Mess. John
Adams, Benjamin Franklin ( the celebrated phi-

GEORGE III. 3 '9
losopher), John Jay, and Henry Lawrence, as
coramissioners ofthe Uniled Slales of America.
When these articles, were laid before parlia
ment, they underwent a severe scrutiny ; ^^^^ ^^
and the minislry having, as I observed
before, been defealed in two raotions, thait change
took place, which Introduced a mimstry composed
of men whose principles were long known to be
discordant. The treaties of peace, however, were
definitively concluded soon after the prorogation
of parUament, and at the same time the prelimi
nary articles pf peace with tbe Dutch were g^ ^
subscribed al Paris, by the duke of Man- ^ '
Chester, as plenipotentiary for Great Britain, and
their excellencies Lestevenoii de Berkenrode, and
Gerard Brantseii, ambassadors extraordinary fot
die Slales General.
Il, was stipulated in these articles, that a sincere
and Gonslant friendship should be eslablished be
tween his Britannic majesty and lhe Slates Gene
ral ; thai hostilities should cease upon each side ;
and lhat there should be a general obUvion of all
tliin'gs commllted since tine! com-meiicemen I of the
war. "With regard tto the hoiioHr and salute by
sea given by the vessels of the republic to ihose of
Great Britain, it was pjfdained tba't they should
cpiitiiiue respectivdy according to the meUiod in
practice before the commencement ef hostilities.
All lhe prisotaers ancl hostages on each sidle; were
to be restored -wtllhonl ransom ; each power de
fraying the expence incurred foir their subsistence.
Security for payment of debts eonlracted by pri
soners was reciprocally lo be given; ancl all ves
sels, whether of war or of coraraerce, taken after
die period of the cessation of hostiUties, were lo
be restored, vrilh iheir crew.s and cargoes. The
Slates General yielded and guaranteed to his Bi-i-
Unnic m.ajesty the town of Negapalara with its
O 4

3aO HISTORY OF ENGL-4.ND
(lependencies ; but the king of Cereal Brifain con-
sicTermg lhe high importance and value which, the
Slates General attached lo the possession of lhat
town, agreed to treat with them for its restitution
in the event of being presented wilh an equixa-
lent The king of Great Britain became engaged
to restore to lhe United Provinces, Trincomale,
wiUi all the other towns, forts, harbours, and esta
bUshraents, which had been conquered, and taken
in any part of ihe world during fhe course of the
war. "The Stales General bound themselves not
fo molest tbe navigalion of lhe subjects of Great
Brifain in fhe eastern seas. Cerlain differences
between "the English African company and Uie
Dulch Eastlridia company were to be determined
by comraissioners on each side, and a lime was
fixed for the restitutions and evacuations agreed
to in these articles.
Thus ended fhe most extraordinary war in
which Great Britain had ever engaged, a wav
commencing in the revolt of an immense part of
her empire, and ending in her acknowledging die
freedom and independence of that, part. The enlire
progress of this war was distinguished by events
which are interesting to nations and lo individuals.
An allempt was made, in pursuance of the com
mon system of courts, to restrain and subdue the
spirit of a \vliole people. Every step in .lliis at
tempt led to disgrace and defeat. The capture of
two such arinies as those pf Burgpyne and Corii-
yvallis is an accident lhat has no parallel in our
history. ' Il could not therefore be surprising if lhe
people became more desirous of peace in conse
quence of these losses, than induced to protract
Ih^ war frora the briUiant successes of a Hodney
or an EUiot. The grand object for which the na
tion arraed was lost for ever ; no hopes could jios-
sibly be enlerlained' of conciuering lhe Americans;

GEORGE HI. 3"3I
and though the valour of our navy had been at
tended with its usual success, yet no victory seem
ed lo defray its own expences. One hundred mil
lions were added to our national debt ; trade was
drooping under the dangers of war, and the ac
cumulation of taxes, and peace on any terms
became eligible. That France and Spain were
equally desirous to terminate hostilities, cannot
well be doubted ; bul whether in the existing cir
curastances of these two ppwers, articles pf peace
mpre favpurable cpuld have been gained, did net
appear from the firm Ipne held by fheir negptia-
Iprs, and the eager claraeurs pflhe pepple pf this
cpuntry fpr peace.

LETTER LXXXL
Nptwithstanding the ackncwledged ability
pf all, and the integrity pf a cpnsiderable part pf
the new adrainislratipn, usually knuwn by the
name of the coalition administration, the voice of
the people never cordlaUy approved a step which
brought togeUier raen of such opposite principles
as a Fox and a North; Very able defences were
set up in spe.eches and pamphlets; but lhe mear
sure was so radically wrong, so adverse to plain
sense and upright deaUng, that lhe new rainisters
lost all public confidence, and were consequentlv
watched with a jealousy, perhaps, exceeding die
usual bounds of reasonable caution. Nor was it
long before they araply confirmed the worst sus
picions of the public, and armed their enemies In
full hostility against them.
, The situation of lhe East India company had
been recoramended in his majesty's speech to par
liament, as an object of the first importance, and
it was said, that the utmost exertions of their wis-
O 5

Sl2. HISTORV OP ENGXaND,
doin would be required lo maintain and improVg
the valuable advantligeS derived frbm our India'
possessions, and lo proraote and secure the hap
piness ofthe native 'Wihabifanfs of those provinces.
1783 ^<'<'«"'c»Hgly, on the iSeh of November,
'' ' Mr. Fox intr«d«>eed a hil which proposed
to lake from the dlrecfors and proprielors, the en
tire adimiwistration, not onlly of their terriforiflj
but of their commerGiffl affairs, an'd ta vest the
managemewt of IhenK-in the barrf* of seven com
missioners named iw fhe &iJl^ an'd nof removeable
by the crown, except in consequence of an ad-
d-i'ess of either h«nse of parliawewf. The seven
comraissioners were, earl FitzwiHiam', president
ofthe board : the right hon. Frederic Montague,
;the right hon. lord Levrishara, the hon. George
Augustus North, sfr Gil^ri EllJot, sir Henry
Fletcher^ baronets ; and Robert Gregory, esq.
These comrarissionefij -were to' fee a'ssisted by a
subordinate beard of nine dSrecHorsp, fo be named
in the first i'nst^ance hypavbaMnent, and afterwareP
chosen' by tbe preprietofM. And these coram is-
»oners and directofs wei-e ettbpowe*ed lo- enler
knmediately into-|>os8es«otto# a'M lands, feneraerits;
"books, records, vesseBs, goods, merehandiaes', and
securities) in trust for the company. The aet lb
eonlinue in force for four years, and' it was ae-
cpmpaaied fey a seeowd feJB- of reguktipn for the
fulure government of the British territbries i»
Hindooslan. Nothing could exiseed tfee' asftmishmeiTt of the
pubhc on the dfjsclosure of this gigantie plan, and
«he opinion entertaiwed, which undotibtedly cam«
to them through lhe me<li«m of the opposition
members of paJ-Kamenf, was; that s^feough India
wanted a refcn-m, il was a eonstituiiional and' not
a tyrannical one. By fhe biU befbte the horus^', an
altack was vaade en the most solemn charters' : it

GEORGE Hi. Sa,^
pointed a fiital blow against tbe faiUi and integrity
of parliaraenl ; it broke through every lie by which
raan was bound to raan. The principle of ihis
bill once eslablished, what security had lhe other
public, companies of the kingdom 'i' "What secu
rity had the Bank of England ? the national crt-
ditors, or the public corporations, or even the
Great Charter itself, the foundation af all our li
berties ? It would be extreme foUy to suppose, that
the principle, once admitted, would operate only
on the present occasiipn. Good principles might
sleep, bul bad ones never, it was the cui-se of
society, that when a baid principle was once eslai-
blished, bad men would be always found to give
it its full effect. The bUl under ccnsiclieration in
cluded a confiscation of the property and a disi-
franchisement of the members of the East India
corapany : all the several articles, of whose efeclis
were transferred by riolence to strangers. Ima-
ginatipn was at a loss' to gness at the most Insigni-
ficant trifle that bad escaped the liarpy jaws of a
ravenous coalition. The power was pretended,
indeed, to be given in trust for tbe benefit of the
proprielors ; but in ease of the grossest abuse of
trust the power of appeal -was not to tbe proprie
tors, bu't lo the majority of either hoiiise pf parlia
ment, which the most CPU temptible miinister could
not faU to secure, vrith the patronage o£ above two
miHions sterliiBig gcveu by IMS' bill. The infineiice
whicb wpuld accrue from ibis bill — ai new,
enprmous, and unexampled; influence, was, in
deed, in file Irighest degree akurmlng. Seven com
missioners; cbosem ©steHsiftly by pariiament, but
really by administntiion, were to- involve jjn the
voptex of dieir walhority, the patrunage andi trea
sures of Ind^a. The ri^t honourable mover had
acknowledged himself to fee a man' of ambition,
smd tt wew appet»reet ^stt h« was prepared to
O 6

324 IliSlORy OF ENOLAiND,
sacrifice the king, the parliament, and the people,
at the shrine of his arabition. He desired to ele
vate hispresenlconaections lo a silualion in which
no poUtical convulsions, and no variations of
power, might be able lo destroy their importance,
and put an end lo their ascendency.
Such were the arguments advanced against this
biU by Mr. WilUam Pitt, whose popularity en-
creased with the abiUty he displayed on this occa
sion, and they were the more generaUy and ccir-
diaUy adopted by the nation, as a strong prejudice
prevaUed in the minds of aU men of principle
against the coaUtion. The India company, lhe
cily of London, and other pubUc bodies jietitioned,
or entered into r,asolMtipns expressive pflhe tyran
nical invasien medilaled pn chartered rights. In
the hpuse of comrapns, meanwhile, die bill was
carried ihrcugh by a majprity pf twP to one, the
numbers for lhe second reading being 2 1 7 lo iOi5.
But in the house of lords, to which it was sent on
lhe qth of Deceraber, its reception vvas diflerent
It vvas opposed by the duke of Richmond earl
Temple, lord Thurlow, earl Camden, and others,
and finally-rejected by a majority of 96 to 76
The history of this rejectapn js Ip be traced Ip^a
¦nroceedlne which was as strongly reprobated by
Te panels d^^fended by die blher On the 1 . di of
DecLbe;,eari Temple demanded a conference
wilh the king, and laid open to his majesty die ful
tendency ofthis biU ; in consequence cif wriicli; it
is said, that a card was handed about, intimating
lhal hi; raajesty aUowed earl Temple *« say, tha
whoever voted for Uie India bUl was not onty not
his friend, bul would be considered as bis enemy
And if these words were not strong enough eari
Temple might use whatever words he might deem
stronger, or more to the purpose. -Against this
proceeding, a resolution was carried in the bouse

GIOKCE HI. ?a5
of comuioiis. jmrporting that it was necessaiy lo
declare, Uial to reporl any opinion, or pretended
opinion, of Uie king upon any bill, or other jiro-
ceediiig depending In eilher house of parUament,
with a view to influence lhe votes of the raerabers,
was a high crirae and raisdemeaiiour.
This, however, did not serve the cause : the
fears of the public were awakened, and the right
of a peer to give advice to- his majesty "could not
be questioned, although II might be allowed there
w-as some irregularity in this instance. A change
of ministry was now unavoidable, and on fhe 1 8th
o^December, a raessage frora his raajesly -was sent
to the two secretaries of state, and next day to the
oilier merabers of Uie cabinel, demaiidinglhe seals
of office ; and in a few days an administration was
formed of such members of the two hpuses as
were uncpnnected with the cpaUtipn, and pre-
senled lalenls pi-esuma(i.»qualified for their several
departments. Mr. Pitt -was appointed firsl lord
of the treasury, and chancellor of the exchequer ;
the marquis of Carmarthen, and Mr. Thomas
Townsend, created lord Sydney, secretaries of
stale ; lord Thurlow, lord ohaneeilor ; earl Gower,
jiresident of Uie councU ; die duke of Rutland,
lord privy seal ; lord Howe, first lord of the ad
miralty; and die duke of Richmond, raaster ofthe
ordnance. Earl Temple was made lord Ueute
nant of the kingdom of Ireland. These appoint
ments were haUed by the nation with universal
joy, and the ap2irobatlon bestowed, il will soon
appear, was not unsubstantial, or teraporary.
The raajority of the house of coraraons, how
ever, still adhered to the disraissed ministers, and
¦gave a remarkable proof of it by voting, thaf an
address be presented to fhe king, stating, that
alarming reports had gone forth, of an intended
dissolution of parliament, and humbly representing

SaC HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
fo his majesty the inconveniencies and dangei's of
a prorogation or dissolution in the present con
juncture; and entreating tbe sovereign lo hearken
to fhe adviceof thathouse, and iiotto lhe secretad-
vlce bf particular persons who might have private
interests of their own separate frpm the true in
terests pf the king and the people. To this singular
address, his majesty answered, that it had been his
constant object to employ the aulhprity entrusted
to him by the constitution for ifs true and only
end— the good of fhe people ; and he -was always
happy in concurring wilh fhe vrishes and opinions
ofhis faithful coraraons. He trusted tbey woiild
prpceed in the iraportant raatters mentipned in
their address with all cpnvenient speed, assuring
thera that he shpuld tipt interrupt their raeeting,
after then- adjpurnment, by any exercise ef his
prerogative either of prorogation or dissolufion.
After the recess, sever^mctipns were made by
Q the ppppsitipn, which were at first carried
7 *¦ by great m-ajorities ; but these gradually
dwindled, until ihey were reduced to eight only,
whUe addresses of thanks and congratulation to
Iris majesty, en the dismissal pf his late ministers,
flowed in from aU parts of fhe kingdom. A ne
gptiatipn was npw set pn foot fpr an efficient mi
nistry, in which some pf the least obnoxious of
the late ministry might have a sharer but "diis could
not be concluded in the present temper of parties;
and after various attempts on the..part of the late
ministers to regain the con-fi-dence of fhe hcuse,
and pn the part pflhe new ministers to carry pn
public business, which neither couftf effect ia a
deci^'-e raanner; his majesty was advised lo lake
die only step in his power to procure for the
counfry an efficient administrarion, byan appeal
to the people in their character of electors, and
accordingly the parliament was ^ssolved by pro-

GEORGE III. -^27
clamatibn on fhe 24di of March, and a new one
convened to meet on the i8th of May.
This measure was effectual : the adherents to the
cparlilipn, some men pf greal influence, and un-
cjueslionable probity, were rejected by their con
stituents, and a derided majority for the new mi
nisters was returned. The coalition was In fact
die fatal rock upon which lord North and Mr. Fox
split ; and altiipugh the forraer lest perhaps the least
in point pf ppjmlarity, for he bad the least lo Ipse,
the latter was never fuUy able to regain the confi-.
dence he forfeited on this occasion, and Ihe friends
w^ho adhered to him, although they continued for
a long time to form a powerful opposition, had
always to struggle wilb the opinion, or prejudice,
ejEcited in the public mind by what was consi
dered as a derdiictioBi of public principle.

LETTER LXXXII.
Although times of peace ha"ve hitherto' afford
ed but barren materials for history, yet the mea
sures Hiccessary to remedy the consequeiijces of a
war so tcaifortijinateiasUie last, -were of that general
imporlance to the- nation, and involved so many
¦weighty alterations in the system of finance, and
go^vernmenl;, sts to require considerable alien I ion,
and to draw fortli the ulmcst resources of that
wisdom which now guided lhe helm. The greater
part of administration were young. Mr. Pitt had
scarcely attained his- Iwenly^fourth 3 ear ¦when be
assuraed the important offices of first Ibrd of the'
treasury, and chancellor of the exchequer. His
coadjutors, if not as young, had had liitle expe
rience, and perhaps not all lhe advantages of edu
cation which the son of Chatham enjpyed : and
the whole had io- contend against ^, party very

3|,8 IIISTOI'IY OP ENGLAND,
considerable in point of numbers, and particularly
formidable for vigour and splendor of talents.
In lhe ojiening speech, his raajesly again i"e-
quested the allention of parliament lo the affairs
of India, and, on the 6lh .of July, Mr. Pitt intro
duced a bill for that purpose. By it a board^ of
contronl was to be established, composed pf a cer
tain number pf cpmraissipriers, ef the rank pf pri-
vy cpunsellpi-s, the members pf which were lo be
appointed by the king, and removeable at his
pleasure. This board was authorised to check, su
perintend, and controul the civU and miUtary go- ,
vernment and revenue of the company. The
dispatches transmitted by fhe court of directors to
the different presidencies were fo be preriously
subjected lo the iiisjiection of Uie superipr board,
and countersigned by ihem ; and the directors
were enjoined to pay due obedience to the orders
of the board, touching civil and miUtary govern
ment and. revenues ; and in case such orders do
at any time, in the opinion of Uie directors, relate
to jioints not connected therewith, tbey are im
powered to appeal to his raajesty in cpuncil, wliose
decision is declared final. The apppintment pf
the cpurt of directors to the pffice pf governor-
general, president, or counseUor in the different
jiresidencies, shaU be subject to the approbation
and recal of liis majesty. A high tribunal was
created for the trial of Indian delinquents, con
sisting of three, judges, one from each court, of four
peers,, and six raerabers of the house of coramons,
who -svere authorised to judge -withoul appeal, to
award, in case of conriclion, the punishmenls of
fine and imprisonment, and lo declare the party
convicted incapable of serving die East India com
pany. This bill was warmly contested by the ad
herents of Uiejate adrainistration; but appealing-
o be divested of the exceptionable parts of Mr.

GEORGE HI. 329
Fo.x's bill, it was acceded to by the compariy, and
was finally passed in the monlh of August.
During this session, Mr. Pitt opened a plan for
die prevention of smuggUrig; and after enlarging on
die alarming increase of srauggUng, in the article of
lea, he proposed to lower the duly lo so sraall an
amount, as lo make Ihe profit on the illicit trade npt
adequate Ip the risk : but as die lowering ef the
duty must inevitably create a deficiency in the reve
nue, this deficiency he proposed lo supply by an
acldilioiial tax on windows. This has usually heen
known by the nanie ofthe coramutalion-tax, and
was at first strongly opposed, and generally unpo
pular. The supplies ofthe year demanded a loan.
of six millions, which was negotiated by Mr. Pitt, at
about five per cent, with a douceur to the subscri
bers of six lottery tickets on every ihousand pounds.
The unfunded debt amounted, at this period, lo
thirteen millions, only one half of which 'was lo be
fimcled at present; and -was invested in a fiveper
cent, fund, and some new taxes were i-aised, none
of which merit particular notice. The last measure
of the session was particularly gratifying to tbe li
beral feelings of the age. It was a bill, introduced
by Mr. Diinda.s, president of the board of controul,
for lhe restoration of the estates forfeited in Scot
land, in consequence of the lehelUons of 171a
aild 1745. He did not, however, raean lo free
the estates frora the claims existing against them-at
the tinie of forfeiture, wbich might be regardecl as a
premium for rebellion ; and iherefore proposed lhe
appropriation of such sums, amounting to about
.8o,oool. lo public purposes. This bill passed the
honse of commons unanimously, but, in the house
of lords, was resisted by the lord chancellor, wlio
ujion this occasion -was left In a small minority.
The counlry reraained Iranqull during this year,
and parliament did not assemble uiilil ihc 241I1 of

S3o History op England,
j_gr .Tanuary. The principal object recom
mended in die royal speech was the adjust-^
ment of such points in the. commercial inter
course between Great Britain and Ireland as had
not been fina-Uy arranged. In Ireland, political
disturbances had arisen lo a considerable height,
and the volunteers, with olher friends lo their
country, had formed a kind of national congress,
in which, as -well as in parliament, various con
stitutional questions were agitated, but wilhout
producing any decisive changes.
On die iSth of April, Mr. Pitt inlroduced a
measure ofthis kind inlo parliament, which it was
understopd he stppd pledged fp pipmole. This
went to a reformatien of the stale of lhe represen-
lallon in the house of commons, ancl his plan was
fo preserve the actual number pf lhat hpuse iii-
Viplale, but to select a certain number pf the de
cayed and rnlten berpughs, the right pf represen
tation attached to thirty-six of wliich should be
transferred to- the counties, in such proportions as
die vrisdom' of parliasnent might prescribe ; and'
that- all" unnecessary harshness mighl be avoided,
he recommended the approprlallpn pf a fund of
one mUlion to be applied to purchase the fran
chise of such boroughs, on their volunlary appli
cation to parliament. This done, he proposed to
extend the bill to the purchasing the franchise of
other boroughs, beside lhe original diirty-sijt, and
to transfer the riglit of returning members to large
fpwns, hitbertp unrepresented, uppn their peti-
fipning parUament to be indulged vsith fhis privi
lege : cppyliplders were lo be admitted to an equa
lity wiUl freeholders, and in populous towns,
where the electors were fe-w, the franchise was to
be extended to the inhabitanis in general. By
this means one hundred merabers would be elect
ed by the popular interest, and one hundred

GEOUCE III. S.?!
diou.sand' persons be cremated electors. This plan,
however, ihough ably supported by sorae of both
jDarties, was rejected by a majority of 248 to 174-
voices. But the regulations proposed with respect to
Ireland were the principal source of debate -and
discussion during the present session. These re
gulations, or proposillons, -were first proposed- in
the Irish house of commons by Mr. Orde, and ra
tified by that assembly, and are in substance, as
follow : Thai it is highly important lo the general
interest of the Brilish empire, that the trade be-
IXveen Great Biilain and Ireland be encouraged
and extended' as much as possible, and for lhat
jKirpose, Uiat? the intercourse and commerce be
finally settled and regulated on permanent and
equitablepiinciples, for the rautual benefit pf bolh
countries-. That all articles, not lhe growth or raa
nufacture of Great Britain or Ireland, should be
imported into each kingdom from the other, reci-
procaUy, at the same duties to which they are- liable
when imported' directly from the pla-ee of their
product ; and that all duties originally paid' on the
importation into' eilher counlry respectively, sliaU
be fully drawn back on exporlalioii lo Ute oUier.
That no prohibition should exist in either country
against the imjiortalion of any article of the olher,
and lhat the duty on iraportallon should be pre
cisely the sarae in both counlries, except -where
an addition may be necessary in consequence of
an internal duty on any such article of its own
consuraption. That where the duties on arllcles
ofthe product of eilher counlry are different on
the importation inlo the olher, they should be re
duced, where they are highest:, to the araount pay
able in the other : and tbat aU such articles should
be exportable from the kingdom into which they
shall be imported as free from duty, as the similar

332 HISTORY or ENGLAND,
commodities or home manufacture of the same
kingdom. That in aU cases where eiUier king
dom shall charge articles of its own consumption
with an internal duty, the same articles; when
imported from the other, may be charged vrith a
duly adequate to countervail the internal duly.
Thai no prohibition, or new duty, shall hereafter
be imposed in either kingdom on fhe importation
of any artiple the product of Uie other, except
such additional duties as may be requisite to coun
tervail the duties on internal consuraptipn. That
HP prohibitions, or new duties, shaU be hereafter
imposed on the exportation of any article of native
growth, except such as eilher kingdora raay think
expedient frora tirae,, to lime, upon corn, meal,
mall, flour, and biscuit ; and also, except where
there now exists any prohibition not reciprocal,
or duty not equal : In, every such case, the prohi-
bitloa may be made reciprocal, or the duties raised
£0 as to make them equal. Thaf no bounties what
ever sho>ild be payable in eiUier kingdora on. the
cyportalion of any article to UiepUier, except suoh
as relate-lo corn, meal, malt, flour, and biscuits,
and such as are Iir the nature of drawbacks, or
compensations for dulies paid ; and thai no bounty
should be granted in Ireland on the exportation
of any article imported from die British planta
tions, unless in cases where a sirailar bounty is
payable in Britain ; or where such bounty is mere
ly in the nature of a drawback or compensation
for duties paid internally, , over and above any
duties paid thereon in Britain. Thal.,die impor-
lation of articles frora foreign states should be re-
gukled ill each kingdora, so as to afford an effec-
1 ual preference tP "simUar articles pf the grpwlh
aud prpduce pf die other. Thai it Is essential tp
the cpmmeroial interests of Ireland, to prevent, as
much as possible, an accumulation of national

GEORGE III. 33.1
debt : and lhat therefore il is highly expedient Uiat
the annual revenue ofthis kingdom shaU be raade
equal lo its annual expence. That whatever sum
the gross hereditary revenue ofthe kingdora, after
deducting all diawbacks, repayments, or bounties
granted iu lhe nature of drawbacks, .sliaU produce
above the sum of six hundred and fifty-six thou
sand pounds ill each year of peace, whereiri die
annual revenue shall equal the annual expence,
and In each year of war, without regard lo such
equality, should be appropriated toward the suji-
port of the naval force of the empire, in such
manner as the parliament of Ireland shall direct.
For some lime this scheme excited very little at
tention, and probably was npt sufficiently under
stppd. An ppposition to It in parliament, however,
soon created a general alarm and dissatisfaction
among the public, and petitions were presented
against it frora considerable bodies of merchants
and manufacturers. Various alterations -were
adopted iu the propositions before they finally
passed through both houses, and the houses were
adjourned lo a distant day. In the interim tbey
were laid before the Irish pai-llainent in Uieir
amended stale, but there, after much debate, wei e
carried by so sraall a raajority, that it was thought
prudent to let the raatter drop. Parly zeal seems
to have predominated in this contest; for, as has
beenjusUy observed, though the scheme might Le
perhaps regarded as too daring an experiment,
the probabiUty is, lhat a comniercial treaty, found
ed on the basis ofthe original propositions, -would
have proved very beneficial in practice. The pro
digious inferiority of skiU, credit, and capital, raust
have effectually prevented Ireland frora becoming
formidable as a competitor to England : and in
proportion as Ireland advanced in opulence, her
artificial wants would have increased, and consc^

•33,^ HISTORY ¦:OF ENTJLAND,
quenUy her consumption of British manufactui*^
and commerce.
Next year, a proposition of a more successful
J 786 ^'"^^ ^^ brought forward by Mr. Pitt, in
' ¦ cpnsec[uence nf a recomraeiidatipn in the
speech frcni the ihrpne : this was no less than a
plan for the gradual diminution of Uie national
debt, and as it was adopted, ihpugh after the usual
share of opposition, to wluch all the minister's fi
nancial-plans were doomed, and, nofvriUistanding
its seeraing iraperfeclions, is still in existence, and
in pi-bgression, it ^vIU be necessary to give some
detail of if . The plan was founded upon a report
framed by a select coinmitfee, appointed early in
the session, -for the purpose cif examining.the, an
nual amount of (he income and expenditure. By
the report of fhis commitlee it appeared, that
the annual income fbr the year 1786, had been
fifteen raiUions three .hundred and seventy-nine
thousand one hundred and elghty-l-wo pounds ,
and the annual ex-penditure, fourteen milUons
four hundred and seventy-teight thousand -one
hundred and eighty-one powHids, leaving a sur
plus of nine hundred and-one diousand and one
Eouuds : and that -in die year 1786, .the income
ad been fifteen millions three hundred and
ninely-seven thousand fonr hundred and seventy-
one pounds, and 'the expenditu e the same as in
the precedent year, leaving a surplus of nine
hundred and nineteen diousand two hundred
and ninety pounds.
Upon the basis of this sui'illus, Mr. Pitt reeled
the whole fabric of his system. He proposed -'to
appropriate one million annually as' a sinkiiig
fund, fo be applied to no other purpose whatever,
in any circumstances of the stale, but to die-gra
dual extinction of fhe national debt. This sum
was lo be vested in the bands of certain trustees,

GEORGE III. 5535
namely, the chancellor of the exchecjuer, the mas
ter of the rolls, the governor and deputy governor
of the Bank, and the accomptanl-general, to be
by them applied quarterly to the purchase of stock
at the current piice of the market. To complete
tbe annual sura of one million, he added a fe-w
small taxes. According lo bis calculalion, this an
nual million, properly improved, would, in the
course of twenty-eiglit year.s, produce an annual
income of four iinillions, and the operation of Uie
plan, he said, would diminish (he national debt
so eftbctuallj', as to jirevent the exigencies of war
ever raising it so enormously as they had previ
ously done. Ill the cour.se of the pi-ogre.ss of the
biU, Mr. Fox suggested a clause, which the chan
cellpr pf fhe exchequer readUy adopted, to Ihis
efi'ect, fhal whenever a new loan should hereafter
,, be made, the commissioners should be empowered
to accept the loan, or .such proportion of it, as
sbould be equal to the cash then In their hands ;
the interest and douceur annexed to which should
be applied to the purposes of the sinking fund.
Theyear was Ukewise dislinguished by thecbm-
menoemeiit'of the impeachment of "Warren Ha.st-
ings, esq. late governor general of Bengal. T(ie
Jirincipal burden of 'this undertaking, vast as it
proved to be, lay with Mr. Burke, who had long
applied his attention to the subject of India iiiis-
management, and upon Mr. Hastings' arrival in
England lhe preceding year, gave notice of his
intention to inquire into his conduct. Accord
ingly, on the fourth of April of this year, he rose
lo charge Mr, Hastings with high crimes and mis
demeanours in the execulion of his office, exhi
biting at the same time nine articles of accusation,
which were afterward extended to twerity-two.
Il would be irapossible in a history upon the scale
we have adppted, to enter inlo a detail of aU the
/

536 HISTORY or EN6I..i.N-n,
prpceedings jirevious to ibis raemprable trial. "We
shaU, therefpre, briefly;: give the putline pf the
charges, as priginally advanced.
The first related lo the war lhat had been cai
ried on against the Rohillas ; the second, lo the
provinces of Cora and Allahabad, wluch had heen
conferred on the Mogul by lord Clive, and the
revenues of which had been detained, -when that
prince wiUidrew to his capital of DeUii, and put
himself under the protection of the Mahratla^.
The third treated of the extraordinary aid vshich
hacl been demanded, on acoount of the war, from
the rajah of Benares ; the fine which had been
imposed upon him for refractory conduct, and Ms
consequent expulsion frpm his dpminipns. The
fourth related to the confinement ol lhe princesses
of Onde, the iraprisoning and fettering pf their
servants, with a view Ip extprt money ; the dis- .
tresses which were experienced by their families,
and their cpmpulsury resignatlpn pf their jaghlres
pr appanages. The fifth regarded die treatraent
of the rajah pf Farruckabad ; the sixth, cf die
rajah pf Sahlpne. The seventh, tenth, eleventh,
and twelfUi, treated pf certain extravagant cen-
tracls into which Mr. Hastings had entered en
the part pf the cpmpany ; and the enorraous sala
ries which he had bestowed upon sir Eyre Coote,
and upon certain. boards of his own Instilution.
The eighth l^aled of raoney privately received,
and of illegal presents. The ninth regarded the
authority which Mr. Hasting? had given to cer
lain persons in England, to resign the govern
raent in his name ; and the refusal he had given
iaindia, to submit to die consequent appointraent
of his successor. • The thirleenlh respected cer
tain ambassadors lo the nabob of Arcot, and the
isuba of the Decan. The fourteenth related to the
desertion ofthe rana of Gohud, in the conclusion

0EORGE III. 337
iof the Mahralla peace ; the fifteenth, lo the un-
ec?nomical ancl arbitrary management of the re
venues of BengaL The sixteenth charged upon
Mr. Hastings lhe declension and ruin ofthe pro
vince of Oude. The seventeenth regarded a cer^
lain native, called Mahomet Beza Khan, who had
for a long lime been entrusted wilh lhe iiileriial
management of Bengal, and was displaced by Mr.
Hastings. The eighteenth accused Mr. Hastings
of haring, al a recent period, delivered up the Mo
gul into the hands of lhe Mahrattas. 'The nine
teenth charged hira wilh llbelUiig the court of
directors. The t-^venlielh related to the guilt of
occasioning the Maliratla war, and the ill faith
Uia,t had attended the conclusion of the Mahralla
peace. The twenty -first regarded lhe suppres
sion of correspondence ; and ihc' twenty-second
lelaled lo the Irealment of Fizula Khan.
Tliese charges were regularly discussed in the
house of coraraons ; and the raajority having detei--
inined in favour of an impeachraent, "W^estmins-
ter-hall was filled up for the occasion. The ma
nagers of the impeachraent yvere Edmund Burke,
esq. ; right hon. Charles Jaraes Fox; Richard Brin s-
ley Sheridan, esq. ; sir James Erskine ; right hon.
, Thomas Pelham ; right hon. "WUUam "W"ynd-
ham ; hon. Andrew St. John ; Jphn Anstruther,
esc|. ; "WiUiam Adam, esq. ; M. A. Taylor, esq. ;
sir Gilbert Elliot ; Dudley Long, esq. ; lord Mail-
land ; hon. G. A. North ; general Burgoyne ; Char
les Grey, esq. ; colonel Filzpalrick, Mr. "Wilbra-
hain, Mr. Courtenay, and Mr. F. Montague. The
trial coraraenced on the 1 5tli of February 1788,
and was continued by adjonrnraenls for several
years. Allhough out of the order of time, it may
be necessary lo mention heie, lhat it finally closed
on the 14th of April 1795, when each ofthe lords
dien present having severally given their solemn
Vol. II. P

538 HISTORY OP BNGLjVND,
decision, and Mr. Hastings being called in, tho
lord chanceUor addressed him in these words :
« Mr. Hastings, you are acquitted of all the charges
» of impeachment brought against you by the com-
» mpns, and the matter contained therein ; you
» and your bail are therefore discharged, upon
» paying your fees. » This trial apparently of se
ven years standing, had in fact occupied only one
hundred and forty-nine days, and was carried on,
on the part of the managers, -vrith ardour and assi
duity, but, after the first two sessions, became a
matter of indifference to the pubUc, who hegrd
the decision as a thing they were prepared for ;
while, in the opinion of the judicious,, there was
an imperfection in the mode of trial, occasioning
its extreme lengih, which militated against fhe
principles of justice.

LETTER LXXXIII.
During the summer of this year, an incident
or- happened which occasioned sorae alarm.
*7 ¦ On the 2d of August, as the king was alight
ing from his carriage al St, James's palace, a -wo
man, who stood in the court-yard, struck at his
majesty vrith a knife, but without injuring the royal
person. The woman, whose name was Margaret
Nicholson, was iramedialdy apprehended, and
on examination proved lo be a lunatic. The af
fair, however, erinced his majesty's popularity, as
addresses w-ere sent from aU quarters, -congratu
lating him on his escape.
A very beneficial treaty of coraraerce with
France was concluded at the same time by Mr,
Eden, a gendeman of acknowledged commercial
talents, who had seceded from fhe .coalition party,
by whose influence he had enjoyed the appoint-

GEORGE HI. 339
mentof secrelaiy to tbe lord lieutenanl of Ireland.
By this treaty, Uie hardvyare and cabinel manu
factures of England gained free adraissipn intp
France, on paying the easy duly pf ten per cent.
ad valorem, which -was afterward, with respect lo
many articles, leduced to five ,per cent. : lhe cotton
manufac lures, woollen, hosiery, mUlinery, porce
lain and earUiern ware of Great Brifain, were ad
mitled at Uie reduced duty of twelve per cent, ad
valorem ; sadfery, at fifteen per cent, and the linens
and cambrics were reciprocaUy admitted into
both cpuntries at equal duties. In return, the du
lies pn French wines imported into Great Britain,
were to be lowered lo the standard of Portugal ;
the duties on brandies -were reduced t-wo shillings
per gaUpn, and oUve oil was admitted on the sarae
terms as from the most favoured nations. Some
plausible objectieus were pffered Ip this treaty by
the ppppsifion, when its merits carae to be „
discussed in the next session of parUaraent, ' ' '
whioh comraenced January 23d; but the sense of
the house, and the opinion of all irapartial judges,
-v%'ere for it. Various regulations in the colleclion
of duties were introduced about this time, which
gave general satisfaction.
One ofthe first topics of general concern agitat
ed this session, respected the protestant dissenters.
On the aSlh of March, Mr. Beaufoy,a young mera
ber of considerable talents, made a motion for
amending, and in part repealing, the laws known
by the appeUation of the Corporation and Test
Acts. This was opjiosed by Mr. PItt,on whom the
dissenters had considerable dependence, they hav
ing supported his rise and the early measures of
his administration, and by lord Noi-Ui, who had
uniformly resisted any alteration in those laws.
The motion was supported by Mr. Fox, but lost
-on a division, by a majority of 1 78 lo 1 00.
P 2

340 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
The measures adopted in the erabarrassed slat?
of die prince of "Wales' affairs occasioned at this
lime considerable agitation araong the pubhc, to
whom the personal conduct of the heir apparent
pflhe cro-wn can never be a matter of indifference.
Il appeared lhat in 1786 the prince had contract
ed debts' lo the araount of one hundred thousand
pounds, exclusive of more than half that sum
which had been expended upon his town residence,
Carleton-house. His royal highness' income be
ing only fifly diousand per annum, this debt ex
cited no great astonishment widi those who knew
how lo make allowances for the expences incident
fo his age and spirit. Having, however, on ap
plication for reUef to his royal father, beenrefused,
his highness determined to approjsriate forty thou
sand jiounds of his revenue lo fhe payment of his
creditors, and live on the remainder in a private
characier, disposing of all his horses, equipage, and
laying down aU the forms of slate. "This was not
a situatipn in which it was agreeable te see a prince
of "Wales, and his highness was persuaded to per
mit an application to be made tp parliament. "This,
after seme demur, was met half-way by the minis
ter, and the hpuse veled the sura pf one hundred
and sixty-one thousand ppunds for the reUef of
the prince of Wales, and twenty thousand pounds
on account of the works at Carleton-house. Dur
ing lhe short discussion which took place pn thia
subject, a member of the bpuse pf cpramons sug
gested a report in a very general circulation, -and
considered as a ^ery alarraing one, that his royal
highness hacl been privately married to a lady of
the Roman catholic persuasion. His highness'
friends embraced this opportunity lo contradict
the report, and their assertion has been amply con
firmed by subsequent events.
The parUament assembled again on lhe 27111 pf

GEORGE Hi. 341
November. The king Informed the houses, that
al the dose of lhe last session he had e.-spressed the
concern -wilh which he observed lhe disputes un
happily subsisting in the republic of the United
Provinces. Their silualion soon afterward be
came more critical ancl alarming. The king of
Prussia having demanded salisfaclion for llieiiLSult
ollered to the princess of Orange, his sister, the
party which hacl usurped the government applied
lo the king of France for assistance ; and that
prince having notified lo his majesty his intention
of granting their request, the king did not hesitate
lo declare lhat he could not remain a quiel
spectator, and gave immediate orders for aug-
meiiling his forces by sea ancl land : and in the
course of this ti-ansactlon, hehad concluded a sub
sidiary treaty vrilh the landgrave of Hesse Cassel.
In the mean lime the rapid success of the duke of
Biiinswic enabled the provinces lo deliver tliem-
sel\ es from the oppression under which they la
boured ; and all subjecls of contest being thus re
moved, an amicable explanation bad taken place
betvveen the courts of London and Versailles. This
information respects certain disturbances wbich
had broke out in Holland, where a parly of rather
a forraidable kind had been endeavonring to
abridge the privileges of the stadllioldor. The king
of Prussia reraonslraled with lhe stales; but find
ing lhat pacific measures would nol answer, be
sent an array under the com mand of the duke of
Brunswic, who soon resloi'od tranquillity. Al first
it Vi'as thought that this affair woukl have involved
England and France in a war, the Dutch patriots,
as tbey -were caUed, being inclined lo-ward the
French, and encouraged by them. France -was
not, however, at this lime in a condition tb break
oil' any exterior relations, and the explanation,
aUuded to by his majesty, soon took place. The
P 3

542 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
conduct of the English minister on this occasion
had the sanction not only ofhis own party, but of
some of the most distinguished members on the
side of opposition. In a short time, treaties of
friendship and alUance were concluded between
the courts of London, Berlin, and the Hague, by
which the two former guaranteed the stadfholde-
rate in perpetuity io the serene house of Orange,
as an essential part of the constitution ofthe Unit
ed Provinces. By the treaty belween Great Bri
tain. and Prussia, each of the contracting parties
engaged, in case of attack, lo furnish the other
¦with sixteen thousand infantry and four thousand
cavalry, or an equivalent in money, wilhin the
ferm of two months from the date of the requi
sition. In the course of this year, fhe ministry lost some
of that popularity which at the commencement of
their career they had obtained witb all persons
concerned in the affairs of lhe East India com
pany, by introducing what -was caUed a Declara
tory BiU, which settled all disputes between the
board of directors and the board of controul, by
throwing die weight of power into the scale of
the latter. This appeared to be so much in the
arbitrary spirit of Mr. Fox's bill as to occasion a
very formidable opposition bolh -vrithin doors and
without. It was carried into a law, however, al
though not by the usual majorities.
The last business of impor-lance introduced this
session, was a biU brought iiito the house of com
mons by sir "WUliam Dolben,to regulate the trans
portation of slaves from the coast of Africa to Uie
West Indies. A great multitude of petitions had
for some time been presented to the house, pray
ing for the aboUtion of the slave trade, and this biU
which vvas passed, though with some difficulty,
may be considered' as die first step to that great

GEORGE HI. 54?
end, and gave many gentlemen of the first cha
racter aud consequence, among whom was Mr.
Pitt, an opportunity to express their abhorrence
of lhe slave trade, and their vrishes that so greal a
najional disgrace might be soon effaced.
The summer]passed on in tranquiUity, and, on
the 4th of November, men of all parties ._q« "
united in celebrating Uie centenary anni
versary of the glorious revolution in 1 6881 Un
coramon festlrity prevailed on this occasion; but
the attention of the nalicm was almost iraraediately -
diverted to an ailair of the raost raelancholy na
ture, and which for a considerable tirae absorbed
every ofher consideration. This was a disorder
of the mental kind, with which it pleased God to
afflict his majesty, ancl -which rendered him ut
terly incapable of exercising the high functions of
sovereignty. No case exactly parallel to this had
ever occurred in our history, and the proceedings
of parUaraent -were iberefore unusually interest
ing, solemn, ancl affecting. ParUaraent asserabled
on the aotli of Noveraber, when the stale of his
majesty's health -was communicated to bplh houses,
to the house of peers by the lord chancellpr, and
to the house of commons by Mr. Pitt, An ad
journment of fourteen days w-as then prpposed,
and on the 4th of December, when they a^ain
mei, a report of the privy coimcil, who had ex
amined his raajesly's physicians, -was laid before
them. But as doubts were started in the house of
commons on the prppriety of receiving this report,
a committee was appointed of twenty-one mem
bers, by each house of parliament, to prepare a
further report. On the 1 oth of December, Mr.
Pitt moved for another cpramlttee to inspect the
jpurnals for precedents of such proceedings as had
been adopted in former instances, when the sp
vereign aulhorily was suspended by sickness,
P 4

344 HISTORY OP ENGLAND,
infirmity, or any' other cause. This motion was
imraediately opposed by Mr. Fox, who contended
that whenever the sovereign, from sickness, or any
other cause, was incapable of exercising the func
tions ofhis high office, the heir apparent; if of full
age and capacity, had as indisputable a claim fo
• the exercise of the executive authority, in the name
and behalf of the sovereign, during his incapaclty;
as in the case ofhis natural derajse.
This principle -was strenuously and instantane--
orisly denied by Mr. Pitt, who declared that it was
little short of treason agairist the constitution, and
pledged hiraself to prove that the heir apparent^
in the instances in quesfa'on, had no raore right
to the exercise of the executive power than any
other person ; and that it belonged entirely fo lhe
two rerriaiining branches of the legislature, to raake
such a provision for supplying the temporary de
ficiency as ihey raight think proper. \^'^hen the
regular exercise ofthe po-wers of governraent ^-sas
from any cause suspended, to whom could the
right of provicUng a remedy for the existing defect
devolve, but lo the people, from whom all llie
powers of government devolved ? To assert an iii-
.herenl right In the prince of "Wales tp assume the
gpvernment, -was virtually to revive ihpse explpded
ideas pf the divine and indefeasible authprity of
princes, \vhich had sp jusfly been cpiisigned tp
cpntempt and oblivion. Kings and princes de
rived their power frora the people, and to the
people alfone, through the organ pf dieir represen
tatives, did il appertain to decide in cases for which
die constilutioii had made no .specific or positive
prorision. These argumenls prevaUed, and Mr.
Fox nol choosing to lake the sense of the house,
Mr. Pitt's motion yvas carried without a division,
as was a similar motion made in the house of 2ieers
by lord Camden. Here likewise the measures of

GEORGE HI. 345
ministry were in sorae degree assisted by a decla
ration made by his royal highness the duke of
York, who, in the name ofthe prince, expressed
his wishes lhal the question might be waved. No
claim of right, his highness declared, had been ad
vanced by the prince of Wales ; and he was con
fident lhat his brother too well understood the
sacred princiiiles which seated the house of Bruns
wic upon the throne, even to assume or exercise
any jiower, be his claim what it might, that was
not dei'ivecl fiom the -will of the people expressed
by their, representatives.
The dispute between lhe two parties, however,
did not end here, but was coritinued -wilh unusual
ardour, when, on the i6lh of December, Mr. Pitt
inoved tv^'o resolutions, one respecting the inter
ruption of the royal authority, and the other, lhat
it was the duty of the two houses of parUaraent to
provide the raeans of supplying lhat defect. This
resolution -was carried by 268 against 204 voices,
and, on the u3d,alhlrd resolution -was passed, em
powering the chancellor of Great Britaiii to affix
the great seal lo such bill of limitations as might
be riecessary to restrict the power ofthe fulure re
gent. An amendment, purporting that the prince
of "Wales be requested to lake upon hiraself the
adrainistration of the government duiing the roya I
incapacity, was negatived by 26 1 lo 1 78 voices. The
triumph of the ministry would not perhaps have
been complete if other circumstances had not con
curred frora the zeal of Uielr opponents. Il was,
in particular, proposed that Uie royal physicians
should be again examined on the subject of the
king's IUness, and the probabiUty of recovery, and
the delay occasioned by Uiis was highly in favom;
of the ministry.
In the raean tirae a leller yvas sent lo the prince
of Wales by Mr. Pitt, infoi-ming his highness that
P 5

346 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
it -was Uie opinion ofhis majesty's confidential ser
vants, that his royal highness should be empowered
to exercise the royal authority, during the illness
and in the name of his father ; providing never
theless, that the care of the king's person, wilh the
disposition of his household, should be coramilled
to the queen ; and thatthe power to be exercised
by the prince should not extend lo the personal
property of his father ; to the granting pf any of
fice, reversion, or pensinn, except where the law
absplutely required it, as in fhe case pf the judges,
- for any pther terra tiian during the king's plea
sure; ner tothe conferring of any peerage, unless
upon snch persons of the royal issue as should
have attained the age of twenty-one years.
The prince's answer was in effect, that it was
with deep regret, that he perceived in the propo
sitions of administration, a project for introducing
weakness, disorder, and insecurity inlo every
branch of poUtical business ; for separating the
court from die state, and depriring government
of its natural and accustomed support ; a scheme
fpr discpnnecling the aulhprity to coraraand ser
rice from the power of animating it by reward ;
and for aUotting to him aU the inridious duties of
the kingly station, withoul the raeans of softening
them to the public by any ene act pf grace, faveur
or benignity. He pbserved, that the plea pf public
utility must be strung, manifest and urgent, that
eould thus require the extinction or suspension of
any one of those essential rights in the supreme
power of its representative, or which coidd jus
tify the prince In consenting, Uiat in lus person an
experiment should be raade to ascertain with how
small a portion of kingly power the executive gp
vernment pf this cpuntry cpuld be cenducted. In
fine, Uie prince declared, that his cpnvictipn of
the evils which might otherwise arise, outweighed

GEORGE III. ?47
in his mind every other consideration, and would
delerralne hira to undertake the painful trust ira
posed upon hira by that melancholy necessity,
which pf aU the king's .'ubjecls he deplpred the
most. These were undoubtedly the sentiments of the
party in oppositipn, the leaders of which at this
lime enjoyed the confidence of the prince and of
his royal brothers; but both in parliament and
throughout the nation, the plan of the ministi'y
had the approbation of the majority. The Re
gency BiU, agreeable to the outlines laid down in
Mr. Pitt's leller lo the prince, was introduced into
the house on the 1 6th of January, and pc- «
casipned Ipng and riplent debates. In the ' "'
lipuse pf peers, a pretest was entered en the jeur-
nals, signed by the dukes pf Yprk and Curaber
land, and fifty-five pther peers, expressive pf their
aVersipn tp the plan pf the regency. Tpward
the clpse ef February, cpnsiderable prpgress had
been made in this biU^ when, tp the great jpy pf
the kingdpm and the satisfactipn in particular pf
thpse -who dreaded tbe weakness and evUs that
might arise from restrictions on the executive
power, all prpceedings were suspended by his raa
jesly's * recpvery. On the 25th pf February; his
majesty was declared by his physicians free frpm
cpraplaint, and, on thfe 27 th, the reports of his
heallh, which had been daily pubUshed, were dis
continued by the royal comraand. On the lotli
of March, the lord chancellor, commissioned by
die king, addressed the IWo houses of parliament
in a speech announcing his majesty's recovery, arid
commission lo resume the functions of legislation
in the usual manner.- Beside thte voluntary ancl
instant demonstrations of joy shown by the people
on this occasipn, the aSd pf April was appointed
as a day of national thanksgiving, when the whole
P 6

348 HISTORY or ENGLAND,
royal fariiUy^ accpmpanied by both houses of p.ar-'
liaraent, -weiit in processien to divine service at
St. Paul's cathedral. On the succeeding evening,
the metrppplis, and, indeed, all (he cities, tpwns
and villages in Uie kingdom, were illuminated in
a raanner far surpassitag in splendor all forraer
shows Of that kind. Never was joy more unfeigned
or so generally expressed.
But while the British parUament were dirided
as to the nature of the regency to be appointed,
the Irish parliament, in which the minislry were
¦weak, proceeded upon a different plan, and de
termined that an address should be presented to
the prince of "Wales, requesting hira to take upori
hiraself lhe governraent of that kingdom, as re
gent, during the king's incapacity. The lord Ueu
tenant, the earl Temple, refused to transmit this
address to England, and therefore coriimissioners
¦were appointed by parUaraent to present It; but
before their arrival in England, this measure hap
pUy became unnecessary.
in the course of this session, Mr. "Wilberforce
made a motion, whicb he had before announced,
•relating to the aboUtion of the slave trade ; bul
very small progress was made in the affair before
ibe prorogation. The only olher business of a
public nature was a biU brought in by Mr. Pitt to
lay the tobacco trade under the excise. This mea-
suifc, once so dangerous to sir Robert "Walpole,
was finally carried, ihough after long debates, by
so voices, in a liorise composed of only 90 mera
bers. The session was terminated, August 1 1 , by
a speech from the lord chancellor, in the name of
the sovereign ; in which it was observed, lhal al
though die good offices of the king and his aUies
had not been effectual for the restoration of the
tranquUlity of Europe, he had lhe, satisfaction of
' seeing tiiat the furdier extension of hostilities had

GEORGE III. 343

been prevented, and that the silualion of affairs
continued to promise to tills country Uie uninler-
lupled enjoyraent of the blessings of peace. The
norlhern part of Europe was al thistime distracted
by a war of ambition between Russia, Sweden,
Denmark, and Turky. Extensive as the destruc
tion created by this war was, it attracted little at
tention when compared with the events ' which
took place in France in the suinmer of this year,
and which were attended wilh the most iraportant
- consequences to the whole cirilized world. Some
account of these must now be given, althciugh if:
wdl be imjDossIble, in the compass of a work of this
nature, to do complete justice to an occurrence of
such raagnitude.
LETTER LXXXIV.
Various causes have been assigned for the
French revolution. Of these sorae -were latent and
some more obvious and intelligible, although slid
not deemed adequate to such vast effects. Of the
former description, was a spirit of insubordination,
and certain ideas of liberty disseminated among
the people in a crude form, by writers who had
long combined their talents to produce a change
in the constitution of government, and who were
decidedly hostile lo the civil and religious esta
blishments of the counlry. Among tbe more ob
rious causes raay be reckoned the distressed state
of the finances, the necessity for heavy iraposillons
on the peojile, and the discontent that naturally
follows such measures. The American vvar occa
sioned expences which were found to be rauch
greater than the revenues of the kingdom could
support, and the miserable exigencies to which
government was reduced; tended to accelerate

35o HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
that revolution for whicli the minds of the people
had been in some degree prepared. But we are
too near the period of this revolution to decide
what share these causes might have had respective
ly, in producing so great a change in the senti
ments of a people for many generations notori
ously devoted lo their sovereigns, and now affected
by an aversion and hatred of their king and kingly
governments, which is not easUy to be accounted
for on any known principles. All we know for
certain is, lhat taxes were multiplied, that the
people were poor, and that the promoters of lhe
revolution seduced their affections by pointing
their attention to the court, as fhe source of every
evil of which they complained.
The reigning raonarch, Lewis XVI, one of the
mUdest and most humane sovereigns in the history
ofFrance, bythe advice ofhis ministers, had call
ed an asserably of notables, or the chief raen of
the king3pni : but this expedient being frustrated
by a variety pf pbstacles, it was determined early
in Uiis year tb call tpgether the states general, an'
assembly whicb had npt met since the yea:r 1614.
The number pf deputies tp this assembly exceeded
eleven hundred, and the representatives of the
third estate, pr ccmrapns, equalled in nuraber these
pflhe nobUity and clergy united.
This asserably met on the 5Ui of May, and the
session was opened by the king, in a speech ex
pressive of paternal regard for the welfare of the
nation. Nearly six weeks, ho-wever, were wasted
in disputes belween the difl'erent orders, and, on
the 1 7th of June, the Tiers Etat, or coraraons, de
clared itself the legislative body, by lhe narae of
the National Assejvibly ; on the 19th, the clergy
acquiesced in this decision : but, on the 23d, the-
king in person declared the proceedings ofthe 1 7II1
Mull and void ; on his retiring, the majority of the

GEORGE HI. 35l
assembly resented this proceeding, and finally p\-e-
Vailed in establishing their power as an assembly
met to reform and change the state at their discre
tion. In consequenceof this assumption, they laid
down the principles of -what they deemed a free
constitution ; they annihUated all feudal-privUeges;
"abolished all distinctions of orders, resumed the
tithes and other ecclesiastical properly, pronounced
the dissolution of all monastic instilutions, and
made a new division of the kingdom inlo portions
called Departments, eighty-three in nuraber. The
general principles of these and olher changes were
conlained in a set of propositions called a Decla
ration of Rights.
In the raean time, the court, which had at first
shown some spirit, and had called together a
great body of troops to overa"we the assembly and
people, becarae irresolute, and, indeed, soon dls-^
covered that the soldiery were not to be depended
upon. The people of Paris took advantage ofthis
weakness, and, on the i4lhof July, a raob com
posed of citizens and soldiers invested the forlress
called the Bastille, and within a few hours ob
lained possession of it. The governor, who had
made considerable resistance, was immediately put
to death, and his head carried in triumph through
the streets.
The authority of the king may from this event
be considered as totally lost ; and in the raonth of
October an iraraense raultitude of Parisians -went
to VersaiUes, and compeUed his majesty and family
lo proceed to Paris, where their residence was
then fixed, and where the king was in fact a state
prisoner. In England ihese events were not heard of with
indifi'erence, allhough no general sentiment pre
vailed on the subject, and at first no great degree
of regret was expressed at the humiliation of a

^32 HISTORY OF ENGL.t'ND,
court which hacl so recently contributed to sever
America from Uie mother cpurilry, and wlipse in
trigues had so oflen involved this nation in ex
pensive ^vars. Those societies and dubs, however,
which more particularly used to claim the title of
friends to Uberty, celebrated the destruction of the
French government with greater enthusiasm, and
their conduct upon this occasion precipitated the
declaration of other opinions which soon engaged'
the -whole kingdom in a political contest, and oc- ,
casioned the introduction of the naraes aristocrat
and democrat, which being ill understood, and III
applied, soon produced aU the mischiefs of party
spirit and acrimony.
The parUament met on the 21st of January. In
the opening sjieech his majesty indirectly
'" ¦ adverted to the affairs ofFrance, by saying
that the internal situation of the diflerent powers
of Europe had been productive of events which
. had engaged his majesty's most serious attention.
Some merabers of parliament, however, contrived
to introduce the subject raore plainly, ancl tbe sen
tiraenls of the majority may be considered as fairly
expressed by Mr. Burke, who inveighed against
the French as the ablest architects of ruin that had
hitherto appeared in the world. In one short sum
mer they had puUed down to the ground their
monarchy, their church, Uieir nobility, their law,
their army, and their revenue. He represenled
the danger we were in of being led from admi
ration lo imltatipii pf the excesses cf an unprin
cipled, plundering, ferpcipus, blpody and tyran
nical deraocracy, of a people -whose government
was anarchy, and wliose religion was atheism.
"What they valued themselves upon was, in his
opinion, a disgrace to thera ; they had gloried, and
sorae people in England had thought fit lo take
share in Uiat glory, in making a revolution.

GEORGE HI. 5.'!,3
These sentlmeiils, however just, ajipcared so
conlrai-y lo the general tenor of Mr. Burke's ftjr-
mcr princljiles as to pccasipn np small degree of
aslonislnnenf, and were certainly conliai-y to the
scnllmenls held by those with whom be had for
many years acted. In particular they called forth
an answer from Mr. Fox, wlip vindicated Uie
I'l-enchrevelulioii, while he lamented the excesses
that had been comiiiilted. Mr. Sheridcin foUpwed
upon the same side, and this dispute laid the fouu-
dation for a disunion among the opposition, of
whig party, which was attended afteiward by very
extensive and important consequences.
- The first business of a public nature, was ano
ther atlemjDt to procure a rejieal of the laws af
fecting die dissenters. The success of tbe former
motion was such as appeared to justify the hojies of
fhe ajipUcanfs. Accordingly on the 2cl of March,
Mr. Fox opened the business in a long sjieech in
favour of the repeal • but the sentiraenls of the
majority were now so much changed iijioii ihi.s
subject, and the conduct of the dissenters viewed
-with so jealous an eye, that the motion was nega
tived by a majority of 294 to io5 ; so that the vo
ters against the repeal on the former occasion were
now, increased from 20 to 1 8g.
Soon afler this decision, Mr. Flood, raany years
a celebrated orator in the Irish house of coraraons,
-who had oblained a seat in the British parliaraenl,
inlroduced apian of parliamentary reform, by
which one hundred raembers were to be added
lo lhe legislative body, in a proportional ratio lo
the ^lopulation of each county, by the eleciion of
the resident householders only. But any plan that
so- immediately aflecled the civil establishment
appearing at this time to be particularly dan
gerous, Mr. Flood was induced to wilhdraw his
molion. '

354 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
On the Dlliof May,a matter of raore importance
was inlroduced Into the house, by a royal message^
announcing that the naiion was menaced by -war,
from the conduct of cerlain persons acting under
the cpurt pf Spain. It appeared dial frpm the
year 1788 spraeof our cpunlryraen had precured
frpm the Indians pf Nprth Araerica a spot of
ground, and had made an eslabUshraenl, defended
by a sraaU fortification, al a place called Nootka
Sound, situated about lhe fiflielh degree of latitude.
VVliile here, two Araerican vessels had -vrinlered
in the harbour, and on the 6lh of May 1788, a"
Spanish ship of war, pf 26 guns, and afterward
anolher Spanish vessel of 1 6 guns arrived in the
sarae harbour. CIviUties were at first exchangetl
between these ships and Uie selllei-s ; but, on Ihe
i4lh of May, the Spanish commander seized one
of fhe English vessels, and conveyed the officers
and men on board the Spanish ships, where they
were put in irons, and othervrise ill treated. At
the sarae tirae he took possession of the whole settle-
rrient, reraoved the British flag, aud declared that
all the lands coraprised belween Cape Horn and
the sixtieth degree of north latilude were the actual
property of his catholic raajesty.
In consequence ofthis affair having been cora
municated to parliament, addresses were presented
lo his majesty, and a vote of credit of one milUon
passed without opposition. Preparations for-(var
were iraraediately begun both. by sea and land ;
but the Spanish court was al length induced to
l-enounce its clairas and raake restitution, upon
yvhich further preparations were discontinued.
On the 10th of June, the session of parliament
ended, and, on the day following, the parliament
was dissolved by proclamation.
* During the summer, die disputes on principles
of government fo which the French revolution had

GEORGE HI. 355
given rise, were still more agitated by a publication
from the pen of Mr. Burke, condemning the
whole conduct and progress of the actors in lhat
revolution, and the English societies which had
counlenanced the French reforraers by resolu
tions and addresses. Soon after, though nol in
the same year, this work drew forth a great raany
replies, and one in particular frora Thomas Paine,
'whose wrifings In America, during lhe -war there,
'were supposed to have contributed very consider
ably to exasperate the Araericans against Great
Britain, andhad consequently procurecl the author
a name. His answer to Mr. Burke's -work was
entitled the Rights of Man, and contained a severe
invective against monarchical governraents, con
veyed in a popular and seductive style. This in
its turn occasioned raany replies, and for a consi
derable time the minds ofthe people were divided
belween the two parlies, who seemed to raonopo-
>Uze the Eritish press.
In the raean tirae the French national asserably
proceeded in completing what they termed a con
stitution, according lo -which the king was ac
knowledged as lhe sole depositary of the executive
power, as the supreme head of lhe general adini-
nistralion of Ihe kingdom, and his sanction was
declared necessary to acts of the legislature. He
was also declared chief of the army and navy,
and had in other respects the prerogatives usually
annexed to royalty, and a civil list revenue was.
appointed of one million two hundred and fifty
thousand pounds per annum. On the 14th of
July, the anniversary of the revolution was cele
brated in Paris with great pomp. The king, the
national assembly, and the arraed citizens, assem
bled together, look an oath lo maintain the consri-
tutipn : and it has with justice been pbserved, that
a mere solemn act of perjury never was com-

^-'fi HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
luitted in Uie face of heaven. In England, lit ewise,
this revolulion ^vas coraraemorated by some spcie-
ties whp impatiently augured the happiest effects
tp mankind In general, frem the day-slar pf liberty
having thus risen pn benighted France.
The new parliaraenl assembled pn the 25th of
Noveraber. In the opening .speech, his rnajesly
expressed his satisfaction lhat lhe dUferences with
Spain were brought lo an amicable condusion,
and observed, lhal a foundation had been laid for
a pacification belween Auslria and the Porle, lhal
a separate peace had taken place belween Russia
and Sweden, but lhat the war between Russia
and Uie Porte still continued ; and that lhe prin
ciples upon which his majesty had hilherto acted
-would always make him desu-ous of emiiloyingthe
weight and influence of this .country in contriljut-
ing lo the restoration of general tranquiUity.
The first object with lhe minisler was to proride
for the expence of the armaraent against Spain,
This, which araounted lo four raillipns, he prp
posed lo effect, without any permanent increase
ef debt, by seme teraporary taxes, which would
discharge fhe Incurabrance in four years, wiUi the
assistance pf five hundred thpusand pounds to be
taken frora the unclaimed dividends lying in the
bank, and which were estiraated at six hundred
and sixty thousand pounds. This la.st scherae oc
casioned some alarm among chartered bodies, and
excited the ojiposilion of Uie bank dri-ectprs, and,
after much cpntest, the rainister accepted, in lieu
therepf, a Ipan pf five hundred thousand pounds
frora the bank, ^vilhout interest, so long as a float
ing balance to that amount should remain in the
hands of the cashier. The directors of fhe bank,
however, were compelled lo publish a Ust of the
unelalined dividends wilh the claimants' names,
and many Individuals had the happiness to repeive

GEORGE III. 357
yery considerable suras of which they were lolally
ignorant. Very warm debates look place in parliament
soon after on a motion being raade by Mr. Buike,
lo continue the impeachraent of Mr. Hastings. It
was contended by all the lawyers in the house of
commons that in consequence ofa dissolution the
impeachraent had abated ; bul the sense of the
house was decidedly against this opinion, and the
irapeachraent was ordered lo jiroceed. We have
in a forraer leller anlicipaled iis conclusion.
Soon after lhe recess, a bill passed for the reUef
of English catholics from Uie legal penalties
slill existing and in force against them. '^ '
This act, however, was confined la snch of the
catholics as should subscribe a certain declaration
or protest against tbe assumed authority of the
pope. In the month of April, Mr. "Wilberforce
made a motion-for the abolition of the slave trade,
but it yvas negatived by a majority of seventy-
five voices. A bill, however, was passed for char
tering a company for the purpose of cultivating
"NWest Indian and other tropical products al Sierra
Leone on the coast of Africa, by the use of free
negroes.

LETTER LXXXV,
¦"fHE two remaining transactions of this session
were on many accounts interesting, though ap
parently of a very different nature. In consa--
quence of an intimation conveyed in his majesty's
speech, Mr. Pitt moved for leave to bring in a bill
to repeal certain parts of the act, respecting the
governraent of Canada, passed in the 24lh year of
his raajesly's reign, and to, enact further 2Voyi-
sions for the belter gavein'jnent thereof. -That

3oS HISTORY or ENGLAlCl),
country, it had been complained, had long con
tinued under a government highly arbitrary and
inconsistent. By Mr. Pitt's bUl, the province was
divided into twp distinct gpvernments, by die ap
pellations pf Upper and Ipwer Canada. Cpuncils
nprai nated by the spvereign, and hpuses pf assem
bly chosen by the people, were estabUshed in each.
The Habeas corpus act was asserted as a funda
mental law of their constitution, and the British
parliament were restrained from imposing any
faxes whatever, but such as might be necessary for
the regulation of trade and comraerce : and to
guard against the abuse ofthis power, the produce
of such taxes was to be at fhe disposal of the re
spective provincial legislatures. Tins plan raet
with the approbalipn pf parliaraenl, bul Mr. Fpx
pffered seme pbjeclipns to it respecting the power
reserved fpr his majesty pf annexing tP certain
henorary and titular distinctions an hereditary
right of sitting in councU. In making his pbjec
lipns, Mr. Fpx pbserved, that as tp hereditary hp-
npurs, pr hereditary powers, to say they -were good
or not, as a general proposition, was difficult, but
he sa-w nolhing so good in them as lo warrant
their introduction inlo a counlry where ihey were
not known. He did not think it wise lo destroy
thera where they existed ; but lo create them where
they did not exist, he considered as exceedingly
unwise. He added, that he could not account for
it, unless it -was that, Canada having been formerly
a French colony, there might be an opporlunity
of reriving diose tides pf honnur, the extinctipn pf
which sprae genUeraen sp much deplpred, and to
revive in the AA^est lhat spirit of chivalry which
had fallen into so much disgrace in a neighbour
ing coimtry.
These expressions, on a future day when die
bill came to be i-ecommitted, excited the indigna-

GEORGE HI. 359
lion of JVIr. Burke, who reprobated the conduc'
pflhe French in the most violent terras, and -was
caUecl to order. Mr. Fox arose to defend his priu'
ciples, and glanced at the apparent change of sen
tiraenls in his old friencl. This again called up
Mr. Burke, -who conleiided that he had' been
perfectly in oj^der ; and that the discussipn pf lhe
Quebec bid -was a prpper pppprtunity to put the
country on its guard against thpse dangereus dpc-
trines which prevailed in France, and wliich had
fpund SP many advpcates here. He pbserved lhat
he had difl'ered- on many pccaslpns frpm Mr. Fox,
bul there had been no loss of friendship between
diem. But there was soraething in the accursed
French constitution that envenomed every thing.
Mr. Fox said there was no loss of friendship cer
tainly ; on which Mr. Burke declared with great
riolence, that there was ; he knew the price ofhis
conduct ; he had done his duty, and their friend
ship was at an end. Mr. Fox, bursting Into tears
at this harsh reply, said, lhal however events
mighl have altered the mind of his right honor
able friefld, for such he must still call bim, he
could not so easily consent to relinquish and dis
solve lhat intimate connection which had for
twenty-five years subsisted between them. He
hoped diat Mr. Burke would lliink on past tiraes ;
and, ¦whatever expressions of his had caused the
offence, lhat he would at least believe such was
not his intention.
Mr. Burke, however, reraained inflexible, and
frora that day was for ever separated frora the
parly wilh which he had been accustomed to act,
and it was not long after dial otiiers of the most
distinguished merabers of the whig parly threw
their weight into the scale of rainislry, consider
ing the silualion of the times, and the dangers
which menaced Pur constitutional establishments.

56o HISTORY or ENGLAND,
as a just ground for waving the distinctions' bf
parly, and joining the common standard.
The other imporlant transaction related to th?
state, of, the war belween' Ru.ssia arid the Porte.'
The courts of London and BerUn, to the Latter of
which it was highly injurious lo suffer the Turkish
erapire to be diminished in force arid consec(uence,
signified to the enifiress of Russia their pleasure
that peace should be restored belween the Otto
man and Russian emjjires, on the fei-ms of a gene
ral restitution of conquests. The empress, although
she 21U bllcly refused her assent to Uiis intervention,
secretly inlimaled her vriUingness fo conclude a
peace with Turky, on condition of retaining lhe
country eastward of die Neister, as an indemnifi
cation for Uie exjJences of fhe war. Tbis tract of
country afforded security fo her forraer acquisi
tions, and included in ifs Umits fhe strong fortress
of Ogzakow ; bul this offer being refused, she
broke off the conference.
On die 28th of March, Mr. Pitt delivered a
message to the house of comraons from his ma
jesty, importing, that the endeavours -which he had
used in conjunction ^-\rilh his allies to effecl a paci
fication not haring j^roved successful, his majesty
judged it requisite, in order lo acid weight to his
representations, lo make some further augmeiila-
lioii ofhis naval force. This intention to enforce
the represenlalious of the British court by arms,
excited warm and long continued debates in boUi
houses ; and so strong ^vas Uie opposition lo the
measure, that the rainister did not tJiink it proper
to persist in it. In consequence of fhis, Oczakow
and its dislrict were ghen up to Russia, and- a
peace concluded in the' ensuing summer belween
the Russians and Turks. The session of parlia
ment closed on lhe loth of June.
In France the stale of afl'airs wore a very critical

GEORGE HI. 36 1
aspect. Popular jealousies and discontents yvere
fomented by a variety of clubs which aimed too
successfully lo overawe die deliberations of lhe
national assembly. It was frequently complalried
that the king was insincere in his proteslations or
respect for the changes every day brought about
by that asserably ; yet the charge of insincerity raight
be raade with equal justice against ihose who gave
the king a mutilated power, inconsistent with its
own motions, whUe neither his person nor his
opinions were at Uberty. At lengih, tired wilh
the repeated insults offered to his family, he de
termined on a step -which proved fatal to hiraself,
and perhaps in sorae degree to the country. Thl.i
was an atterapt to escape from Paris. On the
night of the aolh of June, the king, queen, dau
phin, and princess Elisabeth, sister to the king,
with some attendants, escaped through a subter
ranean passage extending from the Tuileries to
the Seine, and tbok the road fo-ward Monlmedi.
They reached St. Menehould, a small town about
1 5o miles frora Paris, where lhe king -was recog
nized by one Drouel, a postraaster, who gave the
alarm, and the royal party were taken prisoners
and brought back to Paris.
The assembly behaved on ihis pccasipn with
mpre mpderatipn than cpuld have been expected ;
what was past seemed to be fprgiven, and the new
cpnstitutipn was presented Ip the king pu the 3d
of September, who, on the i3th, signified his ac
ceptance of it in -writing, and the following day
he appeared in the assembly, inlroduced by a de
putation of sixty raerabers, and soleranly conse-^
crated the assent which he had already given, and
concluded with an oath to be faithful to the na
tion and to die law, and to eraploy the powers
vested in him, forthe maintenance ofthe consti
tution, and the due execution ofthe law. . On tho
Vol. IL Q

56a HISTO^-V QF Syjf&LAND,
3olhpflhis month, ibis assembly terminated aa
«niiilerrui>tecl session pf two years and fo*W
mouths, and dissolved itself, and with it;, ended all
appearance of talesfs>, justice pr moderation ia
the councUs of France. CUribs and intrigues un^
interruptedly distracted tie country, and prepared
scenes of horror and cruelty unparalleled in thq
history pf that country.
In England, the French rev©l«tion was not
now the theme of approbation as it had is spme
degree been. It was, indeed, cpmmemcwated ia
the laetropolia, as in tbe preceding year, by a so
ciety, and the day past in tranquUlity ; but at
Birminglram, where a. simUar society had assem
bled on the i4lh of July; a mob arose, and set on
fire and destroyed several bouses belonging to the
(lissentere, and two meetiiig-houses. The whnle
of the library, and philosophical apparatus of Dr.
Joseph PifiesUey, fell a sacrifice to this mob, who
were wilh difficulty ireatrained from acts of yet
greater violeiiee ; and it was not unlU, a consider
able hoidy of frocks bad been cpUected, that djey
were quelledi. Except in this instance, the recess
from parliament this year afibrds no tc^ie for
remark. The parliam^it vras not convened tUl the 3ist
of January, w^hen his majesty ansoimiced
•^-79^' the marriage of hia:'son the duke of York
with the p?inces8 Frederica, daughter of die king
of Puussia. He also informed the parliament that
a treaty had been concluded, under his media
tion and that ofhis allies, between the emperor of
Germany and the Ottoman Porte, and preUmina-
riesagi'eed upon belween die PQ»te arid Rus,sia. His
majesty added, tbat the stele of affairs in Eurcipe
pnomised a continuance of peace, and he was in
duced to hop© for an immecJiate reduction of die
naval and n.iUtary establishmeata

GEORGE III. ? 363
The Russian armaraent was the subject of much
discussion, which, however, ended favourably for
the ministry. Mr. "Wilberforce, in the month of
April, again introduced a motipn for the abelilion"
of the slave trade, which.was most decidedly sup
ported by the minisler. Mr. Duiidas, now pro
moted, to the office of secretary of stale, by the re
signation of the duke of Leeds, proposed an
amendment lo the raotion by inserting the word
gradual before abolition, and this was carried by
a majority, pf 68 vpices. He then raoved that the
iraporlation of negroes into the Brilish colonies
should cease on the ist of January 1800 ; but this,
on the motion of lord Mornington, was changed
to January i, 1796. A series of resplutions -were
then agreed to, and sent up to the house of lords,
where the business terrainated, and although il has
been oflen revived, has never raet with success.
A law; proposed but not carried in the last ses
sion, was finally passed now, ihough with consi
derable opposition. Mr. Fox raoved for a bill to
ascertain the rights of juries in cases of libel, and
it set forth that juries in cases of libel sbould have
a power of judging of the whole matter, and of
finding a general verdict of guilty or nol guilty.
This was lost in the house of lords the preceding
year, but carried now, notwiihslanding the opjio-
sltion of the law lords, Thurlow, Kenyon, and
Bathurst, who entered a protest against it, exjiress-
i»g that the rule laid down in the bill, contrary to
die determination ofthe judges, and the unvaried
practice of ages, subverted a fundamental andlm-
^ portant principle of English juiisprudence, which,
leaving to the jury the trial of the fact, reserves to
the court the decision of the law.
, It has already been remarked that in conse
quence of the many poUtlcal pubUcations which
the Frenob revoltttion had provoked, a spirit of
Q 2

S64 MISTOHY of ENOIiAND,
discontent, with avowed sentiraenls of an alarm
ing tendency, hacl very generally gone forth. "With
a view, as asserted, to end these discionlents in a
•constitutional manner, a society was formed in the
spring of this year, caUg^ the society of the friends
of the people, assembled for the purpose of effect
ing a reform in the commons' house of parUament,'
One of its members, also a member of parliameni;
gave notice that in the course of the next session
¦he should move for an inquiry into the state of
the representation. The minister declared liis total
disapprobation of introducing at a period so cri
tical and dangerous as the present, a discussion of
such difficuUy and importance. This was nof a
lime for experiments ; and if he was caUed upon
eilher to risque this, br for ever to abandon aU
hopes of reform, he would say he had no hesita
tion in preferring the latter alternative. He saw
widi concern tbat some gendemen virtually united
with others who professed the reform of abuses,
and meant the subversion of gpvernment.
PubUcations, it is certain, of a dangerous ten
dency, and whicb conlained die raost wild and
extravagant theories of government, were now so
multiplied that it was ibought expedient to issue a
proclamalion against the public dispersion of all
seditious writings and iUegal correspondence, and
die magistrates were exhorted to vigilance and the
pepple to submissipn and pbedlence. This prp-
plaraatipn was professedly levelled against the dar
ing and seditious principles which had been so
assiduously propagated araong the people, under
the plausiiile and delusive appdlation of die rights
of raan. The two houses of parliaraenl presented
loyal addresses tp bis majesty on this occasion,
which -vv^re followed by addresses from all parts
pf the kingdora, and some check appeared to be
given to the dissemination of the obnoxious pam-

GEORGE HI. 3fi&
pnlels. A prosecution was instituted against Tho
mas Paine, whora we have raentioned before, as:
the author of one of them, and he was found
guUly ; but no punishment could fpUow, as he hacl
previously made his escape intp France, where he
became a legislator, and a decided enemy to
Great Britain.
Befpre returning to the affairs pf France, il will
be necessary to give seme detail pf a war which
had brpke out in India, and -w^as successfully ler-
mlnaied in this year by the British arms. Tippoo
Saib, who had^ concluded peace with the East
India company in 1784, became afterward very
formidable,- and was avowedly attached to the in—
terests of the French, by whose suggestion, it was
supposed,, he -was to give some disturbance lo t'he
English settlements. The revolution in France
had, however, interrupted any design, of that kind,
and afforded the compariy an opportunity to chas
tise his insolence. The occasion was this : 'Pippoo
thought proper to resent the conduct of the Dutch-
in selUng two of their forls to Uie rajali of Tra-
vancore, one ofthe English allies. This conduct
on the part of the Dulch was disapproved by the
government of Madras, and in consequence Tip-
ppp -withdrew the troops he had collected, but
still asserted his feudal sovereignty of the forts,
which -were named Cranganore and Acotlah,
On the 1st pf May 1 790, however, the rajah made
an attack on, Tippoo's army, and the war being
thus commenced, the EngUsh company were
bound to assist their ally., A general war imme
diately took place, conducted on lhe part of the
English by lord CornwaUis, wiUi great bravery
and success. Before the 7th of February 1 792,.
Tippoo's situation becarae hopeless, as the allles^
had invested Seringapatara, his capital, and he
thought proper lo sue for peace, which was granted
Q3

366 HISTORY OF ENGtAND,
by lord Corn-waUis on the foUovring terms : i. Of
his ceding one half of his dtmiinions to the allied
powers ; 2. of paying three crores and thirty
lacks of rupees, as an indemnificaticm fbr the ex
pences of the war ;- 3. the release of aU prisoners ;
and 4. the delivery of his two sons as hostages for
die due performance of the freaty. On the iglb
of March, the definitive treaty was signed by the
sultan, and deUvered by the young princes -wilh
great solemnity into die hands of lord ComwaHis,
and the temiS-were afterward compUed -with.
LETTER LXXXVL
The situation of aflairs in France now wore a
menacing aspect fo all Europe.. The new assem
bly, which had neilher the talents nor the wisdom
of the preceding, w«re cem tinually promoting
jealousies between tbe king and ptstjpte, and ac
cusing lhe former of combining -wifli ftweign
courts for lhe overthrow of the constitution. Tw-0
decrees were presented to the king, one respecting
the princes who had fled for safely into foreign
states, and the other against such of the clergy as
refused to lake the oaths to the new govemment.
To bolh of these the king thought proper to op
pose his negative, a power granted by the consti
tution, but evidently a trap to ensnare monarchy
and degrade it intp the new system lhal was pre
paring by the repubUcan parly, whp now acquired
die name pf Jacpbins. "These procured addresses
from fhe people,, indicating fheir dissatisfaction
with the court, and die dangers which menaced
the counlry from the hostile appearance of the
courts of Vienna and Berlin ; and, on the aolh of
AprU, war -was declared against the king of Hun
gary, Ulc tiUe of emperor being at present vacant

I fiEOSGE III, 367
by the death of Leopold II. On tfce 6th of June,
a decree passed the a.9»embly, for forming a camp
of tweuty thousand men in the ricinity of Pavis,
to whioh die king refused his sanction.
In July, the combined armies of Austria anti
Prussia entered France under the coraraand of
the duke of Brunswic, -who issued a proclamation
denouncing the most dreadful vengeance against
the French nation, Uirealning to punish as rebels
such of them as shbuld be found in arms against
lhe troops of the allied powers, and lhat the city of
Paris should be delivered Up to the hpr)»Pi-s pf mi
litary execution, unless the king, queen, and rpyal
family were immediately set al liberty. In cen
sequence ofthis proclamatipn, the popular party
in Paris madv a full display of their designs, by
demanding- the decheance ofthe king, and on the
I oth of August lhe assembly were about lo deli
berate on the proposition, when they were pre
vented by tbeJlmry of the populace. On lhat morn
ing, th&' palace of the Tuileries was attacked
by them ; and the king, queen, and royal family
were forced lo take refuge "in the national assembly.
At first the Swiss guards, who were bbiioxioiis lo
the people, repelled them ; but these being rein
forced by hordes of banditti from -Marseille ancl
Brest, brought thilher by the Jacobins, and by
Some of lhe national guards, the gales of lhe palace
were burst open, and a bloody coriflict look place,
in -svliich llie Swiss guards were completely de
feated, with great slaughter.
In the assembly a decree passed, declaring the
executi-ve power suspended, and summoning a
national Convention to meet on the aolh of Seji-
lember. The king and queen were commilled
close prisoners in the Tem2:>le. The i-age of the
jippulace was, hewever, not yet satisRed. An
immense mob arose on the 2d of September, and
Q4:

368 HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
proceeding lo the Carmes, where a number of the-
non-juririg priests were detained liU an opportu^
nity should occur of putting in force the sentence
of banishment issued against them ; these remorse
less assassins sacrificed every one of these defence
less, and probably innocent men. Froiri this
place they proceeded lo the Abbey-prison, in
which were confined the Swiss pfficers, and these
arrested for treaspnable offences against the natien
on the lolh of August. The murderers here im
pannelled a jury, nine of whom, it is said, were
Italians or assassins from Avignon, and the other
three French. Befofe these selfconstiluted judges,
the -wretched prisoners underwent a suraraary
examination ; the watchword that pronounced
the culprit guilty was, cc He must be set at liberty, »
when the victa'm was precipitated from die door, lo
pass through a defile of miscreants differently arm
ed, and" he -was cut lo pieces -widi sabres, or pierced
through with innumerable pikes. These dreadful
massacres, lasted the whole of the ad aud 3d of
September. Al the Abbey prison 169 -were mas
sacred ; at the seminary of St. Firrain, 92 ; at the
Carmes, 141 ; at the Hotel dela Force, i68 ; at
the Chatelet, 214 ; at the Conciergerie, 85 ; at the
Bicetre,^! 53 ; at the cloister of the Bern.ardins, rj3i
Massacres look place also in spine parls pf the
cpuntry, and in all vrilhput any inlerruptipn from
the ruling powers. "When appUcation was made
to an officer, called the minister of justice, to in
terpose his authority in order to put a slop to these
enormities, he replied, cc When, the people have
cc done their pari, I wUl perform mine. »
On the 2Pth pf September the natipn alConven-
lipn met al Paris, and declared the abplitipii of
royally, and the estabUshment of a republic upon
the principles of Uberty and equality. On No-
-» ember 19, they passed a decree in these terms.

\ OEORGE III. 569
« That the nalional Cnnventipn declares, they wiU
» grant fraternity and assislance (p aU ihpse people
» who wish tp procure liberty. And they charge
» the executive power to send orders to fhe gene-
» rals to give assistance lo such people, and to
y> defend ciiizens who have suffered or are now
» suffering in the cause of liberty. » They also
decreed that the duchy of Savoy should be the
eighty-fourth departraent of the French republic,
although expressly contrary lo a fundamental ar
ticle bf their constitution ; and lhat the navigation
on the river Scheldt should be free. It may be
here necessary to raentlon that although the French
received sorae checks in the comraenceraent ofthe
war, the tide of fortune turned remarkably in
their fayour, so lhal before the close of the year
the whole of Uie Austrian Netherlands, Luxem
bourg only excepted, and the cily and territory
of Liege, were subjected by their arms, and the
armies of Prussia and Germany were compelled
to evacuate the French dominions. Intoxicated
by these successes, they passed Uie decrees above
mentioned, allhough obviously in contempt of the
independence of the neighbouring nations.
In consequence of fhe overthro-w of royalty in
August, the English ambassador, by orders from
his court, quitted Paris ; but the French ambassa
dor,- though no longer acknowledged in that capa
city, remained in London. Our court also macle
an offer of assislance to our ally the Stales General,
-who seemed al this time under no apprehensions.
An erabargo -was at the sarae tirae laid on aU ves
sels freighted -vrith corn for France.
The intelUgence lately received in England of
the riolent and barbarous proceedings in Paris
excited araong the people a general sentiraent of
loyalty and attachment to the constitution of the
country, and associations were fbrmed'in all coun-

S^O HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
ties, eities, and boroughs, against tbe designs of re
publicans and leveDers. These societies w^ere the
more animated in making such declarations, that
an address was sent from cerlain persons bekmg-
ing to -what tbey called palriolic societies, to the
French Convention, and presented at their bar in
ibe b^inning of November, ap{»roviRg of their
conduct, and expressing seniiinents wnfiriendly to
the respect due to tbeir country and its sovere^n,
and in a style the most insolent and daring.
Tlie reception this address met with, from the
national Convention, together with the decree al
ready mentioned of the igdi of November, were
s^inploms of aggression which the English minislry
were determined nol fo overlook. Accordingly,
on fhe isl of December, a royal prodamation vt-as
issued, announcing. -« that noivriihstanding the
» lale proclamation of the 21 .-I of May, the utmost
» industry -was slDl employed by evil- disposed
B persons -vrithin tbe kingdom, actkifi in concert
r -with persons in foreign parts, -with a -vie-w te.
» subvert the laws and constitution ; and that a
» spirit of tumult and disorder, fheieby excited,
» bad lately shown itself ia acts of riot and insur-
» recfion : and that these causes moring him ihere-
» lo, his majesty had resolved forthwith to embody
» part of the mihtia of the kingdom, b Troops
-were at the same time marched towai-d the me—
tiopolis, the guard at the Bank doubled, and the
fortifications ofthe Tower put into a. stale of repair,
Tlie parliament assembled on the i3tb of De
cember. In Uie opeuiiig speech, his majesty, after
reoapilulating the beads of ihe procfamalion, de
clared, thai be had carefully obst. rved a strict neu-
ti-alily in the present war on the continent, and
bad uniformly abstained fixmi any interference
wilh respect to ihe infernal affairs of prance : but
it « as impossible for him tP see, without lhe most

GEORGE III. S7I
serious uneasiness, the strong and increasing indi
cations wliich had appeared there of an intention
lo exciie distorbances in other counlries, to disre
gard the rights of neutral nations, and to pursue
views pf cpnquest and aggrandizement, as well as
lo adopt toward his allies the States General (who
had observed the same neutrality with his majesty)
measures whicb were neilher ooufol'mable to the
law of nations, nor to the positi-ye stipulations of
existing treaties. Under all these circUBistan-oes,
his majesty felt it his iadispensable duty to have
recourse to those means of prevention and inter
nal defence with which he was entrusted by law ;
and had also thought it right to take steps for mak
ing some augmentation ofthe naval and miUtary
forces. The address moved to, this speech occasioned
very animated and long debates in the bouse of
commons, where it neverUieiess was carried by a
majority of ago to 5o, in sp greal a degree had the
ranks of opposition been thinned by desertion. In
die house of lords, it passed witiiout a division.
The opposition, among oUier distinguished charac
ters, had lost in the upper hou.se, ihe prince of
Wales, the duke of Portland, and fords FitzwU
liara, Spencer, and Loughborough ; in the house
of commons, messrs. Burke, W^yndhara, Anstru-
iher. Sir GUbert Elliot, and raany others yvhose at
tachraent to that party had been hitijertp unshaken.
A war between France and England seemed
new inevitable, yel France affected to pi-eserve a
shew of conciliation. On tbe 1 7th of Deceraber,
a memorial was presented by M. Ghauvdin, the
ambassador, to lord Grenville, in which he in
forms his lordship that tbe executive council of
the French republic, thinking it a duly which they
owe to die French nation, not to leave it in the
slate of suspence into which it has been thrown

373 HISTORY OF ENGtAND,
by the lale measures of the Brilish government',.
ha-ve authorized him lo demand with openness,
whether France ought to consider England as a
neutral or hostUe power : at the same time being
solicitous, that nol the smallest doubt should exist
respecting the disposition ofFrance toward Eng
land, and of its desire to remain in peace. He also
endeavoured in this memorial lo explain the de
cree of the igdi of November, to declare that
France wIU not attack Holland so teng as Holland
remains neutral, and that the narigation of the
Scheldt -was a question of top Utile impprlance to
be raade the sple cause pf war. The purpprt pf
lprd Gren-viUe's answer was, that if France was
reaUy desirous pf maintaining frienddnp and peace
vrith England, she mnst shew herself disposed to
renpunce her rie-ws of aggression and aggrandize
ment, and to confine herself wrilhin her own ter
ritory, vrithout insulting other governments, -vrith
out disturbing their tranquiUity, and -without rio-
laling their rights.
A farther correspondence on this subject was
continued at various times unlU the 24th of Janua
ry 1 793, when lord GrenvUle notified to M. Chau-
velin, that the character vrilh -which he had been
invested at the British court, and the functions of
which had been suspended so long, being now
entirely terminated by the fatal death of his most'
christian majesty, be had no Ipnger any public-
character here ; and his majesty had diPught fit tp
prder that he shpuld retire frpra this kingdpm
Vl ilhin the term pf eiglil days. In ccnsequence
of this dismission, the Conventipu unanimously
passed a decree, declaring the republic at war
¦with fhe king of Great Britain, and the stadtholder
of Holland.
The death of the king of France, above aUuded
t9, took place pii the a ist pf January, and was urn—

GEORGE III. 373
-doubtedly one of the raost atrocious and unpro
voked acls of cruelty which had yet disgraced the
French revolution. It was effected by the same
party which had long meditated the subversion of
royally, and had prepared fhe people to accede to
this public exhibition of cruelty by imputing to
the king crimes which he eilher could not comrait,
or could not avoid from the inconsistent and per
plexed nature ofthe authority granted to hira. A
tribunal was appolriled in whichTtheGoriventibn
sat in the capaciiy of judges, juVbrs, and ¦witnesses.
The trial had few ofthe regular forms pf law; and
radically was destitute ofthe basis of justice. His
death was, however, formally , decreed; and he
was beheaded at the public place of execution.
with every circumstance of cruel indignity.
It -was wilh great justice said, on this occasion,
by a member of the Brilish senate, that the con-^
demnation'and execution of the king of France
yvas an act as disgraceful as any that history re
cords, and that none could rie-w, but -vrith the
greatest detestation, the injustice and inhumanity
that hacl been coraraitted toward that unhappy
monarch. Not only were the rules of criminal
justice, rules that raore than any other ought lo be
strictly observed, overthrown ; not only was he
.Iried and condemned without any existing law lo
which he was personally answerable, and even
contrary to laws that did actuaUy exist ; but the
degrading circurastances ofhis imprisonment, the
unnecessary and insulting asperity with which he
had been treated, and the total want of repubUcan
magnaniniily in the whole transaction, added eve
ry aggravation to its inhumanity and injustice.

39002637'JJi"

Date Due
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