o THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES MEMOIRS OF THE REIGN OF GEORGE III, MEMOIRS OF THE REIGN OF GEORGE III. TO THE SESSION OF PARLIAMENT ENDING A. D. 1793. S T W. B E L 5 H A M. VOL. I. THIRD EDITION. ikneficio guam ftietu obligare homines malit ; exterafque gentes fide ic focietate junftas habere, quam trifti fubje&as fervitio. LiV. lib. 26. LONDON: PRINTED FOR c. c. AND j. ROBINSON, PATERMOSTER-ROW. 1796. CON T NTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 1760. A ACCESSION of King George III. - i Aujpicious AJpeft of Affairs 2 Elevation of the Earl of Bute 8 Firft Sejfion of Parliament Memorable Speech from the Throne _ Io Enormous Supplies . . j 2 Commijfions of the Judges made permanent ij Refignation of the Speaker, Mr. On/low 14 1761. Difmiffion of Mr. Legge , j 6 Refignation of Lord Holdernefs . i j Succeeded by the Earl of Bute . ! j State of Parties . ! g Commotions excited ly the Militia Att . 25 Marriage of the King 26 Dominique captured 2 y Belleijle captured 27 VOL ! A- -.1 CONTENTS. Page Ineffectual Negotiation for Peace 28 Refignation of Air. Pitt 42 1762. Rupture ivitb Spain 52 SeJ]i:n of Parliament Sir John Ci'Jt chojtn Martini co captured r 54 War declared by Spain againft Portugal 59 Military Operations in that Kingdom 60 Hmannah conquered 62 Manilla taken . 64 Refignation of the Duke of Newcaftie 69 Earl of Bute Fir ft tyinijter 69 Birth of the Prince of Wales 70 Peace figned at Fontalnebleau 72 Cyder Tax - Si Refignation of Lord Bute 3 Succeeded by Mr. George Greyville 85 Pro petition of Mr. Wilkes 89 1764- ProjeR for faxing America - 102 State of Europe ; 107 Dsniife of tbe Pretender 122 Stamp Act impofed 128 Regency Eili - . - 129 Death of the Duke of Cumberland 133 i of Rockingbam Firft Miniflcr 134 CONTENTS. vlS 1766. Page Sejfion of Parliament Stamp Aft repealed 135-147 Cyder Tax modified 150 General Warrants declared illegal 1 50 Beneficial Regulations cf Trade 151 Treaty of Commerce with Ruffia 15 1 Difmtffion of Lord Rockingbam 156 Duke of Graf ton Firft Minijler 156 Mr. Pitt created Earl cf Chatham and Lord Privy Seal 159 Review cf Indian TranJacJions . 1 6 1 Tumults en account of the High Price cfProvi- fions 194 Bill of Indemnity for ths Embargo en Corn 196 1767. Bill for Jufyending the Legijlature of New York 200 New Projeft of American Taxation 20 r Eaft India Reminding Bill 208 Impolitic ReducJion of the Land-tax 211 Death of Mr. Charles TownJJoend, Chancellor of the Exchequer - - 214 Succeeded by Lord North 215 Death of the Duke of York His Character 2 1 6 Changes in the Adminiftration Lord Chatham refigns 217 Affairs of Corfica . 219 Nullum Tempus Bill 226 A 2 Irijb viii CONTENTS. Page Irijh Oftennial Bill pajfed . 230 biffolution of Parliament 230 1768. General Election productive of excejfive Difor- der 232 Mr. Wilkes returned for Middle/ex 233 committed to the King's Bench 235 1769. Mr. Wilkes expelled the Hoiife of Commons - 238 Confequences cf the Expulfion 239 Charter of the Eaft India Company renewed 245 King's Debts discharged without Inveftigation, 5i3,ooo/. 246 Lord Hill/borough's Circular Letter 247 Ferment in the Ration 248 Letters of Junius 249 1770. Lord Chatham's fucceffive Motions resetting the Middle/ex Election 256 Difmiffion of Lord Camden 263 Changes at Court Duke of Graf ton refigns 264 Farther Proceedings on the Middle f ex Election 268 American Port Duties repealed 'Tea except ed 275 Grenvilfe Aft pajfed 277 Inflexibility cf the Irijh Parliament on the Sub- ject cf Money Bills 279 Petition and Remmftrance of the City cf London to the King -~ 281 CONTENTS. x Page Tranfaftions relative to Falkland's I/lands 283 1771. New Shoreham Disfranchifemsnt Bill 296 'The Lord Mayor of London committed to the Tower 301 1772. Enormous Addition to the Peace Eftablijhment 305 Princefs Dowager of Wales 's Death 306 Royal Marriage Bill 306 Petition of the Clergy to the Houfe of Commons 308 Motion for a further Enlargement of the Tole- ration Aft '318 Character of Mr. Fox 327 '773- India Affairs Enquiry into the ConduH of Lord Ctive 328 War waged by the King of England againfl the Caribbs of St. Vincent's . 356 Second Motion for an Enlargement of the Tole- ration Aft 362 K 4 GEORGE III, IN tracing the long feries of royal defcents which has taken place in this Iflandfince the founda- tion of the Englifh Monarchy, it will be difficult, perhaps impoffiblc, to name any Prince, who has iucceeded to ths Crown under circumftances of greater and more fignal advantage than the prefent Sovereign. At the head of a firm, vigilant, and popular Adminiftration was placed a Minifter il- luftrious by the fplcndor of his talents and the magnanimity of his conduct ; under whofe fuperior afccndcnt, party fpirit and parliamentary oppofi- tion/mwft/extinguimed. Great Britain, in con- jun6tion with her numerous colonies and depen- dencies, exhibited to the world a grand political Aflbciation,, actuated by one common intereft, and tmited, amidft a thoufand fubordinate diversities of opinion, in the facred bonds of duty and affection. That fatal predileclion for the claims of the exiled Houfe of Stuart, formerly fo prevalent, and which VOL. L B had 2 K. GEORGE III. had rendered the taik of Government fo difficult in the preceding reigns., was now no more. Not- withilanding the long continuance of a foreign war, the moft complicated and extenfive in which Great Britain had ever been engaged, the internal ftate of the Kingdom was not only perfectly tranquil, but in the higheft degree fiourifhing' and profperous. The vaft incrcafe of commerce and manufactures enabled her to fupport the im- menfe expence incurred in the profecution of it, with a facility, and even an alacrity, altogether unprecedented and aftonifhing ; and her more re- cent operations had in every part of the globe been attended with the moft brilliant and fafcinating fuccefs. As to the new Monarch himfelf, though his character was far from being as yet perfe ctly developed, a very itrong and apparently juft par- tiality predominated in his favor. During the late reign he had uniformly abftained from all public interference in the affairs of Government. His manners were in the higheft degree decorous, his morals unblemimed, and his perfonal accomplifh- ments correfponded with the elevation of his rank and ftation. All appearances teemed to augur a reign of uninterrupted glory and felicity ; and the regret, which the Nation for a moment felt at the fudden demife of the good old King, was imme- diately abforbed in the tranfports of joy excited by the aulpicious commencement of the reign of the young Ki GEORGE III* * ;;jptfK r r ; Joung Monarch, who had very lately attained the age of complete majority ; being born June 4^ 1738. It mufl however be acknowledged that certain circumftanccs exifted, which in the minda ofperfons of deeper reflection occafioned fufpicions and apprehenfions not perfectly according with the feelings of the national enthuliafm. Through- out almoft the whole courfe of the late reign, the Prince of Wales, father of the prefent King, from various caufes of jealoufy and difcontent too ealily arifing from the doubtful and difficult fituation of an Heir apparent, had been in direct and avowed oppofition to the Court. So far as the means of judging are afforded us, the Prince in his general fyftcm of policy feems to have been difthiguifhed by the rectitude of his intention j the generofity and ingeriuoufnefs of his conduct. He was defirous to govern the Englifh Nation upon maxims truly Englifh, and was fired with the noble ambition of realizing in his own perfon that grand and perfect model of A PATRIOT KING, delineated by the hap- piefl effort of a tranfcendent genius. In confe- quence however of the coalition of the Whigs, which took place after the relignation of Sir Robert Walpole, the Prince^ whofe reconciliation \vith the Court proved of tranfient duration, was left entirely in the hands of the Tories., now af- fecting to ftyle themfelves the " Country Party ;" or, if the ancient nominal diftinction was ever re- B 2 tained 4 K. GEORGE III. tained REVOLUTION TORIES. The leaders of this party alleged^ with too much reafon, that the Whigs, engroffing, as was notorious, the executive offices of the State with little intermiflion lince the Revolution, and without any interval whatever fince the acceffion of the Houfe of Hanover, had introduced maxims of government totally in- coniiftent with the true interefts of the nation. They had involved Great Britain as a principal in all the contentions, and quarrels, of the Conti- nent ; they had pretended a neceffity for fupport- ing a political balance of power, which was never proved to be in danger ; and under this pretext they had made England fubfervient to fchemes of Hanoverian, of Auftrian, of Pruffian aggrandize- ment. In the profecution of their wild and per- nicious plans they had contracted an immenfe debt, the intereft of which was difcharged by taxes the moft odious and oppreffive. This debt had rapidly and alarmingly accumulated ; and as no ferious or permanent meafures had been adopted for its eventual liquidation, the nation was me- naced with the hideous profpec"l of a general bankruptcy. In addition to the enormous fum? raifed upon /the public, and mortgaged for the payment of the national creditors, the remaining branches of the revenue were appropriated to the maintaining a formidable army under the fole com- mand of the Crown, by which the liberty of the Country K. G E R G E in. Country and the very -exiftence of the Conftitution were expofed to imminent and habitual danger. They affirmed, that a fyftem of corruption had been eftablifhed in confequence of the vaft increafe of Minifterial and Regal influence that a very large proportion of the King's fubjecls had been long expofed to a flate of political profcription, though chargeable with no difaffeclion to the pre- fent Government excepting what unavoidably arofe from this injurious treatment. The Prince of Wales had deeply imbibed thefe ideas, and was laudably felicitous to extend the protection of Go- vernment to all who had not by culpable mifcon- duct forfeited their claim to it, without any diftinc- tion of party ; convinced that thofe who fulfilled the duties were entitled to the privileges of good citizens and fubjecls. It may however bejuftly queftionedj whether the moft eminent and refpeclia- ble individuals of the Tory or Countiy Party a Wyndham a Shippen or a Carew, ever at- tained to thofe clear conceptions of government, and to the perfect and cordial adoption of thofe wife and beneficent maxims of policy, which cha- racterized the moft virtuous and enlightened of the Whigs. The grand defect: in the general theory of thefe patriots, who in many refpecls de- ferved fo highly the efteem and gratitude of their country, was their erroneous and imperfect ideas f the nature of toleration. Devotedly attached 63 to 6 K. G E O R G E HI. to the ESTABLISHED CHURCH, they confidered a, diflent from it as a fpecies of dangerous delinquency, or at leaft of culpable contumacy, permitted in- deed by the indulgence of the law, but by no means founded on any immutable claim of equity or juftice. And they were unhappily of an opinion recently revived, snd enforced with all the art of fophiftical malignity, that a Sectary is a Citizen partially dif- affeSfed to the Cvnftitution, including the twofold diftinction of Church and State ; not confidering that the Church, as a civil inftitution, is the mere creation of the State, and exifts only by its fove- reign will -that a voluntary option therefore of aflent or diflent is allowed, and under a free Con- flitution cannot but be allowed, to every citizen pleading the inviolable claims of confcience. In diflenting from the Church, a right is exercifcd which is recognized by the Conftitution, and which it muft therefore be a complication of folly and injuftioe to brand as a proof of difafTeciion to the Conftitution. It does not however appear that the Prince of Wales was , himfelf in any degree tainted with thefe miferable prejudices ; and dur- ing the lifetime of the Prince, there is good reafbn to believe that great and inceflant pains were taken tolnfufe into the minds of his rifing offspring, and more particularly into that of his eldefl-born, " the fecond hope "of Britain,", jufl and elevated fentiments of government, and of liberty civil and religious, K. GEORGE III. 7 religious*. But from the period of the untimely and lamented death of the Prince, the fyitem of education adopted by the Princefs Dowager of Wales, to whom the guardianfhip of the royal iflue was entrufted, appeared to be imprefled with a bias entirely new ; and the ominous refignation of Lord Harcourt and the Bifhop of Norwich, with the reafons affigned in vindication of their con duel:, was the fubject of much anxious apprehenfion efpe- eially as it was but too well known that the Earl of BUTE, a nobleman haughty in his manners, contracted in his capacity, defpotic in his fenti- ments, and myfterious in his conduct, was fucceffc * In an occafional Addrefs or Prologue, fjpoken by Prince George, on a&ing a part in the Tragedy of CATO, performed at Leicefter-Houfe, about the year 1 749, he was mftru&ed thus to exprefs himfelf The poet's labors elevate the mind, Teach our young hearts with generous fire to burn, And feel the virtuous fenuments we learn. T' attain thefe glorious ends, what play fo fit As that where all the powers of human wit Combine to dignify great CATO'S name, To deck his tomb, and confecrate his fame ? Where LIBERTY O name for ever dear! Breathes forth in every line, and bids us fear Nor pains nor death to guard our facred laws, But bravely perim in our country's caufe. Should this fuperior to my years be thought, KNOW, 'TWAS THE FIRST GREAT LESSON I WAS TAUGHT. B 4 fully 8 K. G E O R G E III, fully infinuating himfelf into the confidence of the Princefs of Wales, and of her fon the Heir appa- rent of the Crown. On the 2^th of October 1 760, Sunday only having intervened fince the death of the late King, the Earl of Bute was fworn a Mem- ber of the Privy Council a mark of diftinc~tion fo, ftriking and peculiar as apparently to portend changes of great political importance. After a fliort interval the Rangerfhip of Richmond Park was taken from the Princefs Amelia,, the only un- married daughter of the late King, and whom he had ever delighted to diliinguilh by marks of his affection, and bellowed upon the Earl of Bute; and by an order of the King in Council, the name of the Duke of Cumberland, dear lince the memo- rable day of Culloden to the Whigs, was ftruck out of the Liturgy. The Parliament, which, agree- ably to the falutary provilions of an A61 palled for that purpofe, continued to exercife its functions for a period of fix months after the death of the Sove- reign, met on the i8th November, when the King, feated on the throne with all the fplendid decora- tions of royalty, delivered a fpeech calculated in the higheft degree to confirm all the fond and flat- tering prepon*ellions of the public in his favor. After a decent expreffion of concern for the lofs of the late King, and imploring the bleffing of Heaven on his endeavors to fuftain the weight of Go- vernment which now devolved upon him, the 7 young K. GEORGE III. 9 young Monarch, with great propriety and dignity of elocution, proceeded in thefe remarkable words: " Born and educated in this country, I GLORY iu the name ofB ;iTON,and the peculiar happinefs of my life will ever confift in promoting the happinefs of a people whole loyalty and warm affection tq me I confider as the greateft and moft permanent fecurity of my Throne. The civil and religious rights of my loving fubjecls are equally clear to me with the moft valuable prerogatives of my Crown." After an ample delineation of the flourifhing cir- cumftances of the Kingdom, he concludes as fol- lows : " In this ftate I have found things at my acceffion to the throne of my anceftors happy in viewing the profperous part of it ; happier ilill fhould I have been had I found my Kingdoms, whofe true intcreft I have entirely at heart, in full peace ; but fince the ambition, injurious encroach- ments, and dangerous deligns of my enemies ren- dered the war both juft and neceflary, and the generous overture made laft winter towards a Con-, grefs for a pacification has not yet produced any fuitable return, I am determined, with your cheer- ful and powerful afriflance, to profecute this war with vigor, in order to that defirable object a fafc and honorable peace. The eyes of all Europe are 'upon you. From you the Trot eft ant Intercft hopes for protection, as well as all our friends for the pre- fcrvation of their independency., and our enemies fear set K. G E O R G E III. fear the final difappointment of their ambitious and deftructive views. Let thefe hopes and fears be confirmed and augmented by the vigor, unanimity, and difpatch of our proceedings. In this expecta- tion I am the more encouraged by a pleafing cir- cumftance, whfch I look upon as one of the mod aufpicious omens of my reign. That happy ex- tinction of divifions, and that union and good harmony which continue to prevail amongft my fubjects, afford me the moft agreeable profpect. The natural difpofition and wifh of my heart are to cement and promote them ; and I promife my- felf that nothing will arifeon your part to interrupt or difturb a fituation fo efiential to the true and lafting felicity of this great people." Although this celebrated fpeech was conceived in the true fpirit of Whiggifm, and was expreffed with all the energy and animation which characterized the prefent Minifter, it is probable that Mr. Pitt was not infenfible, or inattentive, to the intrigues and cabals already formed for the purpofe of effect- ing a general removal of the prefent Adminiftration from office. In a few days fubfequent to the meeting of Parliament, Lord Bute declared to his confidential friend Mr. Doddington, foon after- wards created Lord Melcombe, that Lord Holder- nefs, who appears to have been the earlieft convert to the new fyftem, " was ready, at TJIS defire, to QUARREL with his fellow-minifters, on pretext of flight K. GEORGE HI. ji flight and ill ufage, and throw up in SEEMING ANGER, in order that Lord Bute might come in without appearing to difplace any body." This complaifant and courtly, or, to fpeak in jufter terms, this mean and fervile, offer Lord Bute did not deign for the prefent to accept. Very early in. the month of January (1761), ten weeks of the new reign not being as yet completed, Lord Bute informed his confident Mr. Doddington, " that Mr. Pitt MEDITATED A RETREAT." Shortly after this Lord Late faid " it would be eafy to make the Duke of Newcaflle refign but who Ihould be the fucceflbr ? He thought it not ad vi fable to begin there." Doddington replied, " that he faw no objeclion; but, if Lord Bute was averfe, it might le put into lands that would refign it to I'm whenever be chafe to take it" It is obfervable that Lord Bute declared jiis belief that the Duke of Newcaftle har- bored no hoftile intentions, nor, in cafe of refigna- tion, would hcoppofethe future Miniftry. Doubt- lefs this Nobleman, who had grown old in the fervice of the Houfc of Brunfwic, and had long poffeffed the favor and confidence of the late King, felt at this period little propenlity to oppofe the meafures, or refill the inclinations, of a young Monarch borne along by the full tide of popularity and profperity. Perceiving his political confe- quence loft, and confcious of being at once hated ps a rival and contemned as an incumbrance, he appears 12 K. G E O R G E III. appears to have been now folicitous only to fecure an honorable retreat. But, from the difficulty of appointing an immediate fucceflbr, his Grace was permitted yet awhile to linger in office, the mere cypher of a Minifter, and the phantom of his former greatnefs. The enormous fupplies demanded for the pro- fecution of the war amounting to nineteen millions, of which twelve millions were funded at an high intereft, were granted without inquiry or hefitation. Amongft the moft remarkable articles of the na- tional expenditure was the fum of 200,000!. voted by the Commons, in confequence of an exprefs jneflage from the Throne, as a compenfation to the fever al provinces of America for the extraor- dinary expences incurred by them in their vigorous and itrenuous efforts during the prefent warj and which the Parliament virtually acknowledged by this grant to be more than adequate to their pro- portional ability. Nor was the prefent grant the firft of this nature wifely and indulgently conceded by the Parliament ; and affording a pleafing and ilriking contraft to the enormous folly difplayed in the extravagant fums lavifhed in German and Pruffian fubfidies. The Civil Lift was fixed at the clear annual fum of 8oo,oool. payable out of the Aggregate Fund, in lieu of the hereditary and other fpecific revenues fettled on the late King. Towards thcclofe of the feflion, a very popular meafure K. GEORGE III. -13 rheafure was recommended by the new Monarch in a fpeech from the Throne, by which much re- putation of patriotifm and difintereftednefs was gained at a very inconfiderable cxpence. Notwith- ilanding the Act palled in the reign of King William, by which the commiffions of the Judges were continued during their good behaviour, their offices determined at the demife of the Crown ; though no inftance had in fact occurred fince the Revolution in which a Judge had been removed at the acceffion of a new Sovereign. The King however now declared that he confidered the in- dependency and uprightnefs of the Judges as efiential to the impartial adminiftration of juftice^ and one of the beft fecuritics of the liberty of the fubject, as well as conducive to the honor of thfc Crown. He therefore recommended that fucli farther provifion fhould be made for fecuring the Judges in the enjoyment of their offices/ and the permanency of the falaries annexed to' them) notwithstanding fuch demife^ as fhould be thought expedient. The Commons acknowledged, in a very loyal addrefs, their grateful fenfe of his Majefty's attention to an object fo interefting to his people, and a Bill framed for the purpofc pafled both Houfes in a very ihort time, It is evident that no real facririce was made on the part of the Crown in this infiance for neither was any purpofe to be anfwered by the removal of the Judges 14 K. G E O R G E III. , kftfi -fvifj -( aHfi -i iX>t -ftor > jJU"^ $J Judges promoted under the late reign, nor wbuld any Minifter have ventured previoufly to advife, or lubfequently to juftify, fo unprecedented and un- comlitutional a meafure. As Princes are how- ever in general not only fond of power, but of the fhadow of it, praife is due to every indication of a* difpofition favorable to liberty ; arid it is a con- ceffion, however occafionally over-rated, which' ought not to be mentioned but in terms of appro- bation and applaufe. Mr. Onflow, who with the higheft honor and reputation had occupied for more than thirty years' the office of Speaker, in five fucccflive Parliaments, now bending under the weight of incrcaiing years and infirmities, declared his determination to re- tire from public bufinefs. The Houfe, fenfibly affected at the profpecl of this feparation, imme- diately and unanimoufly voted,- " that the thanks of the Houfe fhould be given to Mr. Speaker, for his long and faithful fervices^ for the unfhaken integrity of his conduct-^ for his Iteady impar- tiality in the exercife of his office and his unwea- ried endeavors to promote the real interefts of his King and Country lo maintain the honor and dignity of Parliament, and to preferve inviolable the rights and privileges of the Commons of Great Britain." This venerable patriot rofe to exprefs his gratitude to the Houfe for the diftinguiiLed honor thus conferred upon him -but he found his K. GEORGE III; f 3 !>.is fcnfations too powerful for utterance, and after a vain effort to fpeak he was relieved by a gufh of tears. At length in broken fentences he de- clared to the Houfe his inability to hear, without emotions by which he was entirely overpowered, thefe lafl expreffions of their kindnefs and good- will. He had received the noblefl reward which could poffibly be beflowed upon the higheft merit the thanks and the approbation of his country. He acknowledged the imperfection of his fervices, but he proteiied that wherein he had failed, it was involuntarily ; and he hoped he had obtained the pardon of thofe to whom any caufe of offence had been inadvertently given. To give iatisfaction to all had been his conftant aim, his ftudy, and his pride. In retirement and obfcurity, faid he, jflhall I now fpend the remainder of my days; and in the bofom of that retirement my ardent and conftant prayer will be, that the Conftitution of this coun- try be preferved inviolate, and more particularly that the freedom, the dignity, and authority of this Houfe may be perpetual." The Houfe then una- nimoufly refolved on an addrefs to the King, be- feeching his Majefiy to confer fome fignal mark of his Royal favor on the Right Hon. Arthur Onflow, Efq. for his great and eminent fervices ; and his Majefty in return exprefTed in high terms his efteem and approbation of the character and public conduct of the Speaker ; and a penfion of 3000!. t K. GEORGE III. 3000!. per annum was granted him for his owrt life and that of his fon, afterwards ennobled by the title of Lord Onflow. On the I9th of March (i76i)the Parliament was prorogued,, after afpeech from theThroneexpreff- ing his Majefiy's entire approval of their conduct, and in a fhof t time diflfolved by proclamation, and a hew Parliament convened. Upon the very day on which the diflblution took place, Mr. Lcgge was difmifled from his office of Chancellor of the Ex- chequer ; two days after which Lord Holdernefsj having firft fecured an ample pecuniary indemnifi- cation, together with the reverfion of the War- denfhip of the Cinque Ports, refigned the Seals, which were immediately delivered to the Earl of Bute, who appointed the celebrated Charles Jen- kinfon, now Lord Hawkefbury, his under-fecretary. The cireumftances attending the diimifHion of Mr. Legge are fomewhat remarkable. Not now to ad- vert to the refolution taken to difcard all the mem- bers of the Whig Adminiftration, that Minifter had given peculiar offence to the King when Prince of Wales, by his conducl at the laft general .elec- tion. Mr; Legge had, as it appears, in confe- qucnce of very earneit folicitation, offered bimfelf a candidate as Knight of the Shire for the County of Southampton. After the canvafs was fucceffc fully terminated, and every idea of oppofition had vaniihed, a meilage was received by Mr. Legge from K: GEORGE III. if from the Prince, requefting him, in prefling and fomewhat peremptory terms, to relinquifh his pre- tentious in favour of Sir Simeori Stuart, a near re- lation of the Earl of Bate. Mr. Legge, in reply, reprcfented in very refpeclful language his earned defire to gratify the wifhes of his Royal Highnefs, had timely intimation been given him of his inten- tion ; but, as things were now circumftanced, he could not, in honor to himfelf or juftice to his friends, recede from the nomination already made. This was a fpecies of contumacy altogether unpar- donable ; and the new Monarch took a very early and decifive opportunity td demonftrate to the world how different was his fyftem of thinking from that of Louis XII. who, with a magnanimity truly royal, declared it beneath the dignity of a King of France to revenge the quarrel of a Duke of Orleans. Notwithstanding the advancement of Lord Bute, the entire management of foreign af- fairs Hill remained with Mr. ^itt, matters not being as yet mature for a total change ; and the fall of Mr. Legge, which was trje certain premde to an approaching cataftrophe, and which ought to have been the fignal for an immediate and ge- neral refignatibn, feemed to give little alarm, and made no vifible alteration in the political lyitem. He was fucceeded by Sir Francis Dafliwood, a zealous Revolution Tory, intimately connected dur- ing the laft reign with the Court of Leiceffer .VOL. I. C Houfe. iS K. GEORGE IIL Houfe, and who confidered the Earl of Bute a3 already occupying the poft of Firft Lord of the Treafury : and his firm attachment to that Noble- man, doubtlefs, compen fated for his palpable defi- ciency in the qualifications requifite to the juft dif- charge of the duties of his ftation. Previous to the refurnption of the regular narra- tion of events, it will be neceffary, at leaft ufeful, to advert to the general ftate of parties at this period for it muft no more be inferred, from the perfect ferenity which had, under a wife and magnanimous Administration, prevailed for feveral years paft throughout the kingdom, that no political parties Or dormant feeds of animofity exifted, than, during the peaceful intervals of the eruptions of Etna or Vefuvius, that no combuftible materials threatening future explofion were lodged in the concavities of thefe volcanos. The grand parties which divided the nation at this juncture, nominally indeed co-in- cided with thofe which prevailed at the diftant seras of the Revolution and Acceflion. But a real and moft material alteration had taken place. By the impolitic violence of the meafures adopted by the Whigs on their reftoration to power, a great propor- tion of the Tories were driven into Jacobitifm ; but after repeated unfuccefsful efforts, the caufe of the Pretender was given up as defperate, and his very name had funk into contempt and almoft into ob- livion. The more refpectable part of the Tories, long K. GEORGE III. i long fince abandoning the abfurd fpeculative opi- nions of their anceftors, but retaining at bottom Itrong monarchical prepoffeffions, with high arid arbitrary maxims of government, confined their op- pofition to the new and unconstitutional meafures adopted by the Whigs. Since the death of the late Prince of Wales their political importance had much diminifhed, and they feemed, in gloomy and portentous Silence, myfteriouily to refervethemfelves for more favorable times. The principles of the Whigs, who constituted the bulk of the kingdom, had differed little variation. It might neverthelefs be obferved, that, as the national attachment to the Houfe of Brunfwic increafed, the national diflike of the W^hig or Hanoverian fyftem of politics had proportionally diminifhed. A Standing army, a na^ tional debt, a German war, a feptennial Parliament, a Government by influence terms once of terrific and hateful found no longer excited alarm. The third grand political distinction was that of the DhTenters,comprehending under this general deno- mination all the different claSTes of Proteftant Sec- taries, who had been ever uniformly and clofely connected with the Whigs by their common at- tachment to the principles of liberty civil and reli- gious by their zeal for the Houfe of Hanover, and their indif criminate fupport of the meafures of the Court a zeal at this period fiill SubSiSling and ope- rating on their part with unabated ardor. This C a very to K. GEORGE III. very circumftance however, taken in conjunction with the known fact that the bulk of the Eftabliibed Clergy had lince the aera of the Revolution inva-- riably fided with the Oppofition, plainly fhowed, to adopt the words of a profound and philofophical hiftorian*, " that an extrinfic weight, SOME BIAS, " was yet hanging on the Conftitution, which turned " it from its natural courfe." But the Eflablifhed Clergy, once the firm and paffionate adherents of the Houfe of Stuart, began at length -to be fenfible of the ftrange delufion they had labored under, and were now well difpofed to compenfate for former deficiencies, by the exceflive overflow of their pre- fent loyalty. When acompetition for royal favorwas thus eft ablifhed between the Church and the Secta- ries, it was evident that the latter muftfoon find them- felves unable to maintain the conteft. The interefts of the Church, /. e. of the Clergy, muft be allowed fo far to co-incide with thofe of the Crown, as clearly to fuggeft the policy of oppofing, with united flrength, all innovations by which the power or iplendor of either might be eventually affected. Ex- clufive of this leading confideration, the dignity, the grandeur, the opulence aiibciated with an Efta- blifhment, would give it a decifive fuperiority, in the fcale of royal eftimation, over a body of men entirely deftitute of thefe advantages. Confcious of their prodigious inferiority in thcfe refpects, the * Hume. DifTenters K. GEORGE III. it DifTenters would naturally regard the prerogative of the Monarch, and the authority of the Church, with jealous eyes. They would eagerly feize every occa- lion to fecure and extend the general fyftem of li- berty, and in the ufual courfe of things would be inclined to favor the party in oppolition to the Court. No jnit concluiion however can hence be drawn, that a wife and equitable Government would find it impracticable, or even difficult, to reflrain this difpofition within reafonable and falutary bounds. In proportion as the Sectaries feel that comparative weaknefs and infecurity which muft neceflarily both excite and juflify a certain degree of habitual alarm and apprehenfion, would they be foothed and flattered with any marks of refpecl or confidence from the Executive Power, which, however unimportant in their own nature, would be confidered as proofs of a favorable difpofiticn. And a Government acting either on a felfifh or a bene- volent principle, would find itfelf amply repaid for thefe trivial indulgencies in the gratitude and affec- tion of a numerous clafs of citizens, on every ac- count entitled to attention and regard. Agreeably to the genius of Sects in general, who muft necef- farily pofTefs elevated ideas of their own religious fuperioriiy in doctrine, difcipline, or practice, the Englifh Sectaries will be found not deftitute of a confiderable tincture of enthufialrn or prejudice. Fpr it is abfurd to fuppofe the diffent of the gene- C 3 rality si K.GEORGE III. rality to be founded on reafon, whether it be or be not capable of a reafonable vindication. Sectaries, taking them in the aggregate, will alfo with their religious prejudices combine more rigid morals than can with probability be expected in the pro- jnifcuous multitude. On this account, and from that degree of knowledge and intelligence which, from obvious and permanent caufes, will be very generally diffuled among them, though few perhaps will drink deep of the fountain of Philolbphy, or attain to the higheft feats in the temple of Science, they will certainly, upon the whole, poilefs very ex- tenfive influence in the grand fphere of civil and focial life. If then thefe people obferve a difpofition in Government to treat them with contempt and rigor -if they perceive an eagernefs in the ruling powers, on every occafion, to fhew that they are regarded by them as perfons partially difaffeclecj to the Conftitution, as men undeferving of confi- dence, who are endured by the lenity, and not protected by the juftice of the Government, a fpirit of refentment, animolity, and rancor, will be moft furely excited*. By being confiantly fufpefted, * " An effe ulla major aut infignior contumelia poteft, quam pattern civitatis velut CONTAMINATAM haberi ? Qrn'd eft aliud jaam exiliutn inter eadem moenia, quam relegationem pati ? Sic nos fub legis fuperbiffimac vincula conjicitis, qua dirimatis focie-i tatem civilcm, duafque ex una civitate faciatis." L-U. lib. iv. cap. 4, K. GEORGE III. 23 fufpe&ed, they will become the juft obje&s of fuf- picion. By being fulfily branded as difaffecled, they Thus the wifdom of antiquity pronounced. But in the view of fools wifdom is doomed to appear as folly. A few extracts from the celebrated pamphlet afcribed to the prefent Bifhop of Rochefter (Dr. Horfiey), entitled " Review of the Cafe of the Proteftant DifTenter?/' will afford a complete fpecimen of the language and fentiments which, fince the revival of the TORY STEM, have been moll famionable and acceptable at the Court. " That ;. r >iffenter, whatever may be his integrity and piety, is an unfit perfon to be intrufted with authority or influence in a State, is an axiom in politics, this High-church Prelate affirms, of which a regular proof is not wanting. In this country the Statef- man finds an Eftabliflied Church amiclft a variety of brawling Se8s, all clamorous againft the Hierarchy, to whofe candor and liberality they are in great part indebted for TOLERATION. It becomes the friends of peace and order,whenever the univerfal acknowledg- ment of the right of private judgment is pretended, to proteft ALOUU againft it. The exclufions of the Corporation and Ted A&s haidiy amount to incapacities" and for the reafon which his Lordmip affigns, an Auto de Fe, by wliich the tribunal of the Holy Inquiihiou commits the bodies of Heretics to the flames for the good of their fouls, inflids no pnnimments, " becaufe they jire only fuch as the delinquent hath, by a recantation of his er- rors, in his own power to remove." There is too much reafon, a? his Lord/hip intimates, to fufpeft * that the principles of a Non-conformift in religion and a Republican in politics are infe- parably united ;" and yet the Non-conformifts are univerfally al lowed to have been infaS the firmed friends of thofe Monarcha who have treated them as friends. " The truth feems to be,'* fays his Lordfhip, contrary to the uniform and pofitive tenor of thehiftoric evidence " that the Diffenters were equally with the the original objefts of the Tcft Ad J ! ! The Corpo- C 4 rauoi> a* K. GEORGE III. they will become truly difaffecled : and though that difaffection may not produce any immediately vifible effect ; nay, though the indifcreet expref- fions of anger and political alienation on their part, in confequence of great and recent provocations, fhould expofe them to the temporary warmth of general refentment; yet in the ceafelefs viciffitudes of human affairs an impreffion may, at fome crifis favorable to a fudden and unexpected change of fentiment, be made on the public mind, which fhall ftrikingly demonftrate this odious fyftem of policy to be as devoid of wifdom, as it is of juftice ration Aft with great wifdom andjiiflice hath provided for the perpetual exclufion of the Non-conformifts. It matters little what might be the original purpofe of the Tell Aft. It now ftands in the Statute-book a declared provifion againft the Dif- fenters. This argument (the inefficacy of the Teft) proves the expediency of Queen Anne's itatute againft occafional con- formity. The NON-CONFORMISTS have no claim upon the GRATITUDE, the JUSTICE, or the IMPARTIALITY of the Britifh Government. Should the Teft Law's be repealed, the work of Reformation will go on till one ftone will not be left ftanding upon another of the admired fabric of the Britifh Conftitution." Such are the maxims which conftitute the wifdom and policy of the prefent reign with regard to the Diffenters; and yet it is made a fubjeft of wonder and reproach that the Diffenters are become difcontented and indignant as if Diffenters did not par- ticipate of the common paffions and feelings of human nature. '* REST, REST, IMMORTAL SPIRITS of LOCKE, HoADLEY and; SOMERS! Seek not to know by what improvements on your exploded principles the Houfe of Brunfwic now governs the Empire of Britain.'* and K. GEORGE III. 25 find magnanimity. On thefe general axioms the Hiftory of the prefent Reign will afford in many refpects an inftru&ive and mournful comment. In the month of March (1761) while the Parliament was yet fitting, very alarming com- motions took place in feveral of the northern counties, in confequence of the expiration of the three years term of fervice prefcribed by the Mi- litia Act, and the new ballot now about to take place. At Hexham in the county of Northumber- land, the Juftices being aflembled for the pur- pofe of enforcing the A6t, the populace, regarding this military compulflon as a tyrannical and infup- portable grievance, collected to the number of many thoufands, armed with clubs and other of- fend ve weapons, with which they affaulted the guard of foldiers ftationed for the protection of the Magiftrates. The Riot Act was read without effect, and they were proceeding to ftill greater outrages, when the military received orders to fire upon the affailants, five-and-forty of whom were killed on the fpot, and no lefs than three hundred miferably wounded, amongft whom were many women and children ; and varjpus of the rioters were in the fequcl apprehended, tried, and exe- cuted. By a refolute exertion of military force, a general and fallen fubmiffion to the Act was at length obtained ; but the wifdom and humanity of thofe by whom the Bill was originally framed, ftill remained 26 K. GEORGE III. remained at leaft as problematic as before. In the courfe of the fummer the King declared in Council his refolution to demand in marriage the Princefs Charlotte-Sophia of Mecklenburg Strelitz : and the Earl of Harcourt being appointed AmbafTador Plenipotentiary to the Court of Strelitz, the con- tract of marriage, after a negotiation not very tedious, was figned, and the Princefs conducted to Stade, where fhe embarked on board one of the royal yachts, and arrived at the Palace of St. James's, September 8, the nuptial ceremony being the fame evening performed in the Chapel Royal. And on the azd of September the coronation of their Majefties was celebrated with^nuch pomp and magnificence. The new Queen foon acquired great popularity by the fweetnefs and affability of her manners, which by the prudence and propriety of her conduct fhe has invariably retained. The operations of the war were Hill carried on with the accuftomed vigor and fuccefs. In the month of June, the ifland of Dominique, import- ant from its lituation between the iflands of Mar- tinico and Guadaloupe, was reduced with little difficulty or lofsJ^f an armament commanded by Sir James DougiE and a body of troops under Lord Rollo. A far more hazardous enterprife was undertaken about the fame time againfl the ifland of Belleifle, fituated oppofite the harbor of Vannes en the coaft of Bretagne. The ifland was defended by K. GEORGE III. ij \}j a flrong fortrefs, conftruc~led by the famous Vauban, near the town of Palais. On the firfl difembarkment of the troops, they met with a very fevere repulfe, being compelled precipitately to retreat, with the lofs of near 500 men. But the Englifh commanders, General Hodgfon and Com- modore Keppel, fecure of the zeal and ardor of their troops, rendered bold and fangmne by a long continuance of profperity, determined to make another effort, which was attended with happier fuccefs -and a body of marines and grenadiers, making good their landing on the craggy point of Lomeria, fuftained their portion with wonderful intrepidity againft a very fuperior force, till joined by the remaining troops amounting to eight or ten thoufand men, M. de St. Croix the French commander then recalled his detachments, and prepared for a vigorous defence of the citadel, the avenues to which he had fortified with fix addi- tional redau&s, which, with much effufion of blood, were fucceflively attacked and carried by the Englim, who now urged, with the moft perfe- vering ardor, the fiege of the citadel. On the 7th of June, a practicable breach being made, and a general aflault apprehended on the part of M. de $t. Croix, that officer demanded a capitulation, which was granted on the moft honorable con- ditions. Thus, at the expence of two thoufand Jives, arid an enormous fum expenc^ed in naval and military 28 K. G E O R G E III. military" preparations, the Englifh achieved the conqueft of a barren rock, affording no produce excepting the laurels of viclory. At the termination of the fuccefsful campaign of 1 759, overtures had been made, agreeably to the intimation in the Speech from the Throne, by the Kings of Great Britain and Pruffia to the Courts of Vienna and Verfailles, for a general accommo- dation of differences, which did not appear wholly unacceptable; and after fome communications through the medium of Prince Lewis of Brunfwic, refiding at the Hague in quality of Commander in Chief of the Armies of the Republic, and Guar- dian of the young Stadtholder, it was agreed to open a general congrefs at Augfburg. Various caufes of delay however concurred to prevent the execution of this project*, and the Court of Vienna * The principal obftru&ion to the meeting of this Congrefs, the object of which was to reflore tranquillity to fo many king- doms, arofe, as the Royal Hiftorian tells us, from this curious punctilio : It was obje&ed by England and Pruilia, that as no war was waged againft the Emperor, but only againft the Em- prefs as Qreen of Hungary, &c. his Imperial Majefly had no right to fend an Ambaflador to the Congrefs. But the Em- peror not choofing to defift from his, pretenfions, and being in faci a party concerned as Head of the Empire, under the BAN of which the King of Pruffia in his capacity of Elector had been put by the Diet, and the validity of which would have been thus vir- tually confirmed, the whole plan of pacification proved abortive. Hiiloire de la. Guerre de Sept Ans, 7 was K. GEORGE III. 29 wa3 not yet prepared to relinquish its claim to Silefia. But the enfuing campaign of 1 760 proving very difaftrous to France,, whofe finances were now reduced to a Hate of the moft diftfeffing derange- ment, the French Ambafiador refident at Stock- holm delivered a declaration to the Swedifh Mon- arch in February 1761, importing his Sovereign's earneft defire to adopt eftedlual meafures for re- ftoring the peace of Europe -.that in concerting with his Allies a general plan of pacification,, he was difpofcd abundantly to difplay his moderation whenever Great Britain fhould be inclined to ac- quiefce in rcafonable terms : that in confequence of the expences and calamities attendant on the war, he was contained to lefien his fubfidies ; and fhould the war continue, he could no longer pro- mife an exacl compliance with the letter of his en- gagements. In the month of March, a memorial was tranfmitted by the hands of Prince Gallitzin, the Ruffian Ambaflador at the Court of London, from the Due de Choileul Prime Minifter of France, to Mr. Secretary Pitt, fignifying the firm determination of His Moil Chriftian Majefty fo to act in concert with his Allies at the future Congrefs, as to demonftrate his fincere difpofition to promote the interefts of humanity, and reftore the peace of Europe. His Moft Chriftian Majefty exprefled his defire " that the particular accommodation be- tween France and England (hould be united with the 3* K. GEORGE lit. the general pacification of Europe; but as the* objects of the war between thefe two Powers were totally foreign to the difputes in Germany, he thought it would be previouily neceflary to agree with his Britannic Majefty upon certain principal points which ihould form the bafis of their par- ticular negotiation." Thefe advances were favor- ably received, and Mr. Pitt wrote an immediate anfwer to the Due de Choifeul, expreffing his Bri- tannic Majelty's fincere defire to correfpond with the pacific fentiments of the Molt Chriftian King and propofing that Minifters duly authorifed fhould be immediately appointed at the refpeclive Courts of Verfailles and London, to enter upon this nego- tiation ; and in the month of May Mr. Stanley repaired to Paris on the part of the King of Eng- land, and M. BufTy was received in the fame manner from the Court of France, at St. James's. The inftruclions of M. Bufly were to adhere to the uti fojjtdetis, as the bails of the negotiation to demand an explanation of his Britannic Majefty's fentiments touching the dates or asras at which the propofal fhould take place : and in the conferences which enfued, the French Minifter continued to prefs the fpecification of thofe dates. But the Englifh Minifter evaded the difcuffion of this point until the furrender of the citadel of Belleifle : and then a declaration was made in explicit terms, that the firft of July, the firft of September, and the 6 firft K. GEORGE III. 31 firft of November next fhould be the eftablifhed seras in Europe, the Weft Indies, and the Eaft Indies: after which all the conquefts made on either fide fhould be mutually reftored ; that the preliminaries agreed upon between the two Crowns fhould be conclufive and obligatory, independent of the negotiations of Augfburg for fettling the [feace of Germany. After the interchange of many memorials chiefly reflecting the compenfa- tions to be made for the deviations propofed from the original principle or bafis of the uti pojfidetis, France profefled her willingnefs to cede and gua- ranty Canada to the Crown of England, on con- dition of her being admitted to a participation, as formerly, of the cod-fifhery on the banks of Newfoundland and infifting alfo upon the refti- tution of the ifland of Cape Breton, as an equiva- lent for which France confcnted to a renewal of the article in the Treaties of Utrecht and Aix- la-Chapelle, for the demolition of the harbor and works of Dunkirk that in lieu of the ifland of Minorca, England fhould reftore Guadaloupe and Marigalante and that in confideration of the re- ftitution of Belleifle and Senegal, or Goree, Franca would evacuate her conquefts in Germany. Touch- ing the captures made bv England at fea previous to the declaration of war, his Moft Chriftian Ma- jefty declared that " he would gladly fubmit to the juftice of the King of England, and the determi* Ration 3* X GEORGE III; nation of the Englifh Cdurts of Judicaturethat fubjecls trading under the faith of treaties, and the protection of the law of natidns, ought not to fuffer from the mifunderftandings which may arife in the cabinets of Princes, before thofe mifunderfland- ings are publicly known that the practice of de- claring war was eftablifhed by the law of nations as eflcntial to the general fafety that no feizm* made or prize taken anterior to fuch declaration. could be deemed legal, without violating the moft facred of human inftitutions ; that no fort of affi- nity fubfifted between hoftilities committed on the Ohio and fhips taken in the Weft Indies that fuch hoftilities might indeed be alleged as juft motives for declaring war, but the effects of that declaration ought not to precede the declaration itfelf and that it would be the height of injuftice thus to involve innocent individuals, ignorant of the difputes of Monarchs, or the affairs of Nations^ in the depth of diftrefs and ruin, by the indifcrimi- nate confifcation of their property." Together with this memorial, M. de Bufly delivered to the Englifh Minifter another of a very extraordinary nature, importing that the difputes ftibfifting be- tween England and Spain gave his Moft Ghriftian Majefty caufe to apprehend a new war in Europe and America, unlefs they could be now ndjuited *~ that his Catholic Majefty had communicated to the Court of Verfailles the chief points of difcut- fion, K. GEORGE III. 53 lion, namely, the reflitution of fome fhips taken in the courfe of the war under Spanifh colours, the liberty claimed by the Spanifh nation to fifh on the Banks of Newfoundland,, and the fettlements made by the Englifh on the Spanifh territories in the Bay of Honduras. His Mofl Chriftian Ma- jcfty therefore paffionately defiredthat thefe differ- ences might be amicably terminated, and that the King of Spain {hould be invited to guaranty the treaty between the two Crowns ; becaufe, if thefe differences were the means of kindling a new war, the Moil Chriftian King would be obliged to per- form his engagements to his Allies. Thefe me- morials were accompanied with a third declaration, Signifying that the Emprefs Queen had contented to a feparate peace between England and France, on thefe terms only that France fhould for her be- nefit keep poflMIion of the countries conquered in her name, and as her Ally, from the King of Pruffia ; and that the King of Great Britain fhould no longer afford affiftance either in money or troops to the King of Pruffia, in like manner as France fhould be reftrided with refpecl to the Emprefs Queen. The indifcretion of thefe memorials, containing demands thus novel and offenfive, was fo flagrant, that many perfons fcrupled not to brand the entire proceedings of the Court of Verfailles with the niofl infidious duplicity, though it appeared fuf- ficiently evident to the intelligent and impartial, VOL. I. D that & K. GEORGE ttL that the impolicy of her conduct arofe from hef extreme anxiety of peace, and a too fanguine hope that the profpecl; of an eventual rupture with Spain would induce Great Britain to relax the ri- gor of her terms. The refentment and indigna- tion of the Court of London at this invidious and unexpected interpolation feemed to know no bounds. Mr. Secretary Pitt declared both verbally, and in Writing, to M. cle Bufly, that the King of Great Britain would not fuffer the difputes with Spain to be mixed, in any fhape whatfoever, with the nego- tiations for peace now depending with France, and that all farther mention of fuch an idea would be considered as offenfive to his dignity : and the right of France at any time to intermeddle in like difcuflions between England and Spain, was denied with the moil politive difdam. Upon thefe grounds M. de Burly was informed, that the King of Eng- land had ordered the memorial concerning Spain to be returned as totally inadmiffible ; and alfo the memorial relating to the King of Prnffia, as af- fecting the honor of Great Britain, and the un- ihaken fidelity with which his Majefty will fulfil his engagements with his Allies. The Court of Verfailles now became fully fenfible of the ill con- fequences that might refult from this falfe, per- haps fatal, ftep. In a fubfequent memorial, there- fore, fhe condcfcended to apologife for propoiing a difcuffion of the points in difpute with Spain, and declared K. GEORGE III. 55 declared her readinefs to make new conceffions for the purpofe of accomplifhing the delirable end of general pacification. In reply, a paper was tranf- mitted to Mr. Stanley, containing the ultimatum of the Englifh Court iniifting upon the entire ceffion of Canada and its dependencies ; of Cape Breton and the other iflands in the Gulph of St. Lau- rence ; of the fettlements of Goree and Senegal, in Africa ; the reftoration of Minorca ; the demoli- tion of Dunkirk ; fatisfaclion to the Eaft India Company; the evacuation ofOftend and Nieu- port ; the reftitution of Cleves, Wefel, Gueldres ; and in general of all the territories belonging to the King of Pruffia, and the other Allies of Great Britain. The King of England alfo left himfelf at full liberty to affift his Pruffian Majefty accord- ing to the terms of the fubfifting treaties. With rcfpecl: to the prizes taken after the commence- ment of hoftilities, though before the formality of declaring war, his Britannic Majefty pcrfifted in his opinion, that fuch a demand on the part of France was neither juft nor defenlible. Should France comply with thcfe propositions, the Court of London declared its readinefs to reftore to France her conquefts of Belleifle and Guadaloupe, and to admit the fubjecls of his Moft Chriftian Majefty to a participation of the Newfoundland fifhcry, agreeably to the thirteenth article of the Treaty of Utrecht, and to cede the fmall ifland of Da St. yi K. G E O R G E IIL St. Pierre, on certain conditions, as a harbor for the fifhenncn. Thefe fevcre terms France, in the ultimatum on her part, dated September 13, 1761, accepted with little variation, excepting that fhe refufed to recede from her claim of refutation re- fpedling the merchant (hips captured previous to the declaration of war ; and that his Moft Chrif tian Majefty aflcrtcd it to be not in his power, agreeably to the ftipulations by which he is already engaged, to evacuate the countries belonging to the Emprcfs Queen. To this memorial the Court of London deigned Hot to reply ; and the Ministers Stanley and Bufiy this ineffectual negotiation being at length termi- nated returned to their refpective homes. Not- withilanding the immediate withdrawment of the memorial rcfpecting Spain, and the declaration of France that the offence given to the Englifh Court was perfectly unintentional, much anger and refentment remained, which now indeed appeared chiefly directed againft the Court of Madrid : and the Englim Miniftcr, of a difpofition naturally bold and peremptory, and whom a long courfe of prosperity had rendered haughty and prefump- tuous, tranfmitted inftructions to the Earl of Briftol, the Ambafiador of England at the Court of Spain, to require from his Catholic Majefty an explicit declaration as to the authority by wliiclf the French Minifter acted in presenting a memorial in K- GEORGE III. 37 in the name of the King of Spain, which, to ufe the language of the Englifli Secretary, " belt fpoke its own enormity ; and in cafe it (hall be avowed by the Court of Madrid, to remonitrate with energy and firmnefs the unexampled irregularity of fuch proceedings, and to declare his Majefty's immove- ablc determination not to add facilities for the fatisfac~tion of that Court, in confidcration of any intimation on the part of a hoftile power of union in councils, or of prefent or future conjunctions. In relation to the three points Hated in this " infolent memorial," Mr. Pitt declared it fufficient to fay refpecling the firft, " that the Courts inftituted for the cognizance of fuch matters are open to the parties who think fit to leek rcdrefs in due courfe of law. As to the obfolcte pretenfions of Spain to fifh on the banks of Newfoundland, no conceilion in a matter fo facred would be even thought of. With regard to the difputcs relating to the Log- wood Coafts, his Britannic Majcfty was willing to receive any jufl overtures on the part of his Catholic Majefty, provided they be not conveyed through the channel of France. And he concluded with profeffing his expectation that the Court of Madrid would come to fome explicit eclaircifie- ment as to the deftination of her fleets, and with rcfpecl: to her difpofition to maintain and cultivate friendship and good corrcfpondence with Great Britain," The Eari of Briilgl, who appears D j to 3? K. G E O R G E III. to have conduced himfelf throughout this difficult negotiation with diftinguifhed ability and addrefs, informed Mr. Pitt in his reply, dated Auguft 31, 1761, that, immediately on the receipt of the dif- patches from England, he had waited on the Spanifh. Minifter Don Ricardo Wall, at St. Ildefonfo, and in ; the molt explicit, and at the fame time in the leaft offenfive, mode executed the orders contained ii\ them. In reply, General Wall affirmed that the King of Spain, with a view merely to render the peace more permanent, and without the leaft inten- tion to give offence to his Britannic Majefty, had aflentcd to the propofal made by the Moft Chriftian King, for the joint accommodation of their differ- ences with Great Britain. The Spanifh Minifter afked, whether it was poffible to imagine that his. Catholic Majefty was feeking occalions of provo- cation at a time when England was in the moft flourifhing and exalted fituation it had ever known, in confequence of the moft extraordinary feries of profpcrities that any nation had ever met with that Spain was furprifed Great Britain fhould take umbrage at any naval preparations made fince the acceffion of his prefent Majefty, fince the fhips of war in commiffion were fewer than thofe which had been equipped during the reign of the late King Ferdinand that they ferved in part to maintain the correfpondence between the kingdoms of Spain and the Sicilies, of which his Catholic Majefty, during K. GEORGE III. 39 during the minority of his fon, was the guardian and protector. Others were intended to convoy the homeward or outward bound flotas, afibgues, or regifter fhips ; and the remaining ones were to defend their coails againft the infults of the Bar- bary corfairs : and that it was the invariable wifh of his Catholic Majefty to cement and cultivate the friendship fo happily fubfifting between the two Courts. The Spanifh Minifter acknowledged that the greatefc harmony exifted between the Kings of France and Spain, at which, who in this age could affect to wonder ? But if his Catholic Majefty had conceived that the memorial in cmeftion could have been conftrued into a menace, he would never have confented to the delivery of it. On the con- trary, what proceeding, faid the Spanifh Minifter, more noble can an enemy hold, than to fay, as France does to Great Britain I am refolved for the fake of peace to make thefe iacrifices ; but at the fame time, in order to fecure the permanency of it, I am dcfirous that England fhould fettle with Spain their fubje<5ls of difagreemcnt, lell from the nature of our fubfifting engagements I may be entangled in a frcfh war ? As to the differences which had arifen between England and Spain rc- fpecling the capture of the Spanifh fhips during the war, the General allowed they would admit of an eafy accommodation. But the Court of Spain thought the other two articles of much more im- D 4 portance ; '4* K. GEORGE lit portance; and that the refufal of the Englifh Court to enter into any negotiation refpecling the claim of Spain tofifh on the Banks of Newfound- land was violent and harm, efpecially as coupled with the abfolute determination of England not to relinquifli her acknowledged ufurpations on the coaft of Honduras, except his Catholic Majefty would previouily aflure to them the right to which they pretended of cutting logwood within that ter- ritory. In other words, he affirmed this was fay- ing, I will give up the dwelling of which I have taken forcible pofleffion, but firft you fhall engage to give me what I want to take." When the forbearance of Spain refpecting the logwood was compared with the exclufive and dogmatical claim of England to the Newfoundland fifhcry, which was of fo much importance to Spain, as an article not of luxury but fubfiftence, the Spanifh Minifter faid, he thought the Englifh themfelves would helitate to boaft of the fuperior juflice and equity of their conduct. In his fubfequent dif- patches of September and October, the Englifh AmbafTador informed the Court of London, " that umbrage had been taken by the Court of Madrid at the additional fortifications reported to be going forward at Gibraltar, and that General Wall had afked, if it were poffible that England could be ferioufly apprehenfive of a rupture with Spain ; af- firming, that at no time had the Catholic King been more K. GEORGE Jft 4t more intent upon cultivating a good underftanding with his Britannic Majefiy than at the prefent that the flota had arrived at Cadiz, but that the treafure belonging to the Crown was much lefs than had been expected that great abufes and malverfations had been charged againfl the Spanish Viceroys and Governors in the Weft Indies and that his Catholic Majefty's Minifters had ftrongly fuggefted to him the impracticability of reforming effectually the old defective fyftem of Government, fhould the Court of Madrid embroil itfelfin the prefent troubles of Europe that the Spanifh Mi- nifter, Don Ricardo, urged the evacuation of the more recent fettlements on the Honduras coaft, which he faid would ferve as a falvo for the ho- nor of Spain, and greatly facilitate the final ad- juftment of her differences with England. General Wall, faid the AmbafTador, has ever acted in too ingenuous a manner for me to fufpecl: the leaft duplicity in his conducl. The AmbafTador added that, on the notification of the King's marriage to the Court of Madrid, he was particularly enjoined to affure the King of England of the fhare his Catholic Majefiy would ever take in all events that contributed to his happinefs that the SpanifhMi- nifter expreffed a thorough concern at the break- ing offtbc conferences between the Courts of Ver- faillcs and London ; and faid it was the opinion in Spain, that the trench Minifters had gone as great lengths 4 ^ GEORGE Iir. lengths in conceffions as could be expected, confi- deringthe engagements of France with her Allies." Previous however to the arrival of the laft dif- patches Mr. Pitt was no longer Minifler. Having received certain intelligence that a treaty of alliance was recently concluded between the two Courts of France and Spain, and being firmly perfuaded that the articles of this treaty were in the higheit de- gree inimical to Great Britain, and that Spain waited only the favorable moment to act openly againft her, he ftrongly urged in Council the po- licy and neceffity of an immediate declaration of war againft that power ; and recommended that a Itrong fquadron fhould be immediately fent to the Mediterranean, to intercept the flota actually on its paflage from Carthagena to Cadiz. In this opinion he was fupported only by his brother-in- law Earl Temple, Lord Privy Seal * ; and finding his influence in the Cabinet at an end, he refigned the feals, October 9, 1761 in order, to ufe his own words, " not to remain refponfible for mea- fures which he .was no longer allowed to guide." Mr. Pitt was fucceeded in the office of Secretary of State by the Earl of Egremont, defcended from the famous Sir William Wyndham, and a Tory of that modified caft which now clearly appeared to * Lady Hefter Pitt, afterwards Countefs of Chatham, was fcfter to Earl Temple. be K GEORGE III. 43 be the fureft and ftrongeft ground of Court favor in the prefent reign. The King, in order doubt- lefs to mollify the refentment of the late Minifter, granted him a penfion of 3000!. per annum, a re- ward which his indifference to the accumulation of riches rendered it neceflary, though with fome rifque to his popularity, to accept ; and his Lady was created Baronefs of Chatham, with remainder to her heirs male, Mr. Pitt in his own perfon de- clining the honors of the Peerage. Thus did the new Miniller, or the FAVORITE, by which appel- lation Lord Bute was now very generally diftin- guifhed, accomplifh the great object of his wifhes in a manner which reflected much lefs difcredit upon his character than could have been previoufly imagined. For the determination of the Cabinet could not but be approved by the reflecting and intelligent part of the Nation, who faw no clear proofs of any intention in the Court of Madrid hoftile to Great Britain ; and who were of opinion, that to precipitate the Nation, already loaded with a debt of one hundred and thirty millions, into a ne\y and dangerous war, becaufe a treaty had been concluded by Spain with France, which might, when the articles were divulged, poflibly be found contrary to good faith and amity, was a mode of proceeding not to be juftified by an ap- peal to the voice of reafon, or the law of nations. It could not but be remarked, that the refignation of 44 K. GEORGE III. of Mr. Pitt in prcfent circumftances favored more of pride andpaffion than ofwifdom or patriotifm and that an oppolition of fentiment in the Cabinet on fuch a point, did not juftify him in withholding his fervices at a crilis which peculiarly demanded the exertion of his great and acknowledged talents. Neverthelefs, after a fhort and vehement competi- tion between the fupporters of the old iyftem and the new for public favor, it declared itfclf ftrong- ]y for Mr. Pitt. On attending the King to the Guildhall of the City of London, on the firft anni- verfary of the election of a Lord Mayor, agreeably to ancient and eflablifhed cuftom, the air was rent with the acclamations of the multitude, whilft the Monarch himfelf paffed comparatively unregarded, and the FAVORITE was infulted by the rudeftex- prcffions of plebeian malignity and infolence. An unanimous vote of thanks alfo pafled the Court of Common Council to the Right Hon. William Pitt, in the moft flattering terms of refpect and applaufe, for his great and eminent fe-rvices. Had the new Ministers determined to avoid that rupture with Spain, for which no political neceffity, or in fact any rational motive, exifted, they would have been entitled to indifputable praife. But hefitating between their own con- viction of the inexpediency, not to fay injullicc, of the war, and their anxious dcfire to fupport their character with the nation at large for refolution and vigor, K. GEORGE III. 45 vigor, they adopted that equivocal line of con- duel which aimed at no determinate object, and which was really calculated to accelerate the cata- ftrophe they earneftly wifhed to avert. On the 28th of October the Earl of Egremont wrote to the Ambaflador Lord Briilol, that it was highly expe- dient the Court of Spain ihould in the prefent moment be apprifed of the fcntiments of that of Great Britain, and that the King of England had nothing more at heart than to cultivate the moil cordial friendihip of his Catholic Majcfty ; but that his Britannic Majefty cannot imagine that the King of Spain fhould think it imreafonable to de- firc a communication of the treaty acknowledged 1* have been lately concluded between the Courts of Madrid and Verfaillcs, or of fuch articles thereof as can by particular and explicit engagements im- mediately relate to the interefts of Great Britain, before he enters into farther negotiation on the points depending between the two Crowns ; and the Ambaflador is inftrucled to ufe the moil prefT- inginftances to M. Wall to obtain fuch commu- nication as is above mentioned. The Ambaflador is farther afTured, that the refignation of Mr. Pitt will only animate the prefent Miniilry to a more vigorous exertion of their powers, and that the moil perfect harmony, unanimity and confidence now reign in his Majefty 's councils. This dif- patch being written with a view to a confidential com- 46 K. GEORGE III. communication of its contents to the SpanifL Mi- nifter, the Ambaflador is informed in a feparatc and " mod fecret" letter, that if the Court of Spain fhould propofe to give his Majefty folemn afTur- ances of the innocence of the treaty in queftion in relation to the intereftsof England, he is not totally to reject the alternative, but to take it in referendum; provided always that the faid afiurances be given upon his Catholic Majefty 's royal word, fignified in writing either by the Spanifh Secretary of State M. Wall, or by the Conde de Fuentes the Spanifh Minifter in London, to his Britannic Ma- jefty's Secretary of State, and NOT OTHERWISE. The Earl of Briflol, in a letter written to the Earl of Egremont, dated November the ad, remarks the fudden alteration of behaviour in the Spanifh Mi- niflcr, and the haughty language now held by the Court of Madrid General Wall declaring with uncommon warmth, that we were intoxicated with our iuccefles, and that it was evident, by our refufal of the Due de Choifeul's propofals, that we aimed firft to ruin the French power, in order more eafily afterwards to crufh Spain, and, by feizing the Spanifh dominions in America, to fatisfy to the ut- moft our ambition and unbounded third of con- quefl. He himfelf, he faid with paflionate empha- fis, would be the man to advife the King of Spain, fince his dominions were to be overwhelmed, at lead to have them feizcd with arms in his fubjects' 4 hands, K. GEORGE III. 47 liancls, and riot to continue the paffive victim he had hitherto appeared to be in the eyes of the world. It was time, he affirmed, for Spain to open her eyes, and not to fuffer an ally, a neighbour, and a friend, to receive the rigid laws impofed by an infulting victor. For this purpofe, he acknow- ledged, in reply to the requifitions of theEnglifh Ambaffador refpecting the purport of the late treaty, that his Catholic Majefty had judged it ex- pedient to renew his " Family Compacts" with the Moft Chriftian King. This fudden alteration of language and of con- duct: theArnbafTadorafcribcd to the intelligence juft received by theCourt of Madrid, of the proportion made by Mr. Pitt, and recently difcufTed in the Britifh Cabinet, of an immediate declaration of war againft Spain a meafure totally unexpected, and by which Spain, who conceived herfelf to be the in- jured party, was filled with indignation and afto- nifhment. But the offence now given was not thought entitled to any political indulgence ; and Lord Briftol, in the fubfequent difpatch of Lord Egremont, was exprefsly commanded, in the name of his Britannic Majefty, to demand of the Spanifh Minifter an immediate, clear and cate- gorical anfwer to the queftion before ftated ; and to accompany this demand with an aflurance, that any procraftination, ambiguity or evafion will be confidered as ample and fufficient ground for authorizing his Majefty to take fuch fteps as his royal 4* K. GEORGE HI. royal wifdom fhall dilate for the honor of his Crown, and the fecurity of his people. At the fame time the Ambafiador is, with ludicrous incon- liftency, charged not to life any harjbnefs of language Tvhich can have the leaft tendency to indifpofe or ir- ritate the Spanifh Court, or theMinifter M.Wall as if the language prefcribed to the Ambaflador could poffibly fail to produce that effect on the Caftilian pride but in cafe the fatisfaclion required was delayed or refufed, his Excellency theAmbafla- dor was ordered forthwith to quit Madrid, without taking leave, and repair with all convenient fpecd to Lifbon. About the fame time that the above difpatch was tranfmitted by Lord Egremont to the Earl of Briltol, a letter was written to his Lord- ill ip by the Ambaftador, in v/hich he ilates, that General Wall had recovered his ufual temper ; and that after an amicable difcuflion of the points in difpute, enforced by long and difpaffionate rea- fonings, they had parted with reciprocal protefta- tions of their earnefl defire to continue in peace and a copy of the King's Speech to the new Parlia- ment arriving about this period, the Spanifh Mi- nifter highly applauded the candor and modera- tion difplayed throughout the whole affuring at the fame time the Englifh AmbafTador, that he ex- peeled fhortly to receive the Catholic King's com- mands to acquaint him with the refolutions of Spain relative to his applications. But thefe flattering appearances K* GEORGE IIL 49 appearances entirely vanifhed, when, in compliance with the exprefs inftruclions of the Englifh Court, the AmbafTador in peremptory terms demanded the categorical anfvver required in the laft letter of the Earl of Egremont, declaring, in conformity to the orders he had received^ that a refufal, and even a delay of fatisfaclion would be deemed an aggreffion on the part of the Court of Madrid, and regarded in no other light than as an abfolute declaration of war. " I cannot," fays the Earl of Briftol in his official clifpatch, " defcribe the furprife M. Wall exprefled at hearing this : he only brought out thefe words, c What is to follow ? You have then orders to withdraw from hence ?' Upon the AmbafTador's acknowledgment that fuch were his inftruclions, General Wall defired him for greater precilion to put in writing what he was ordered to demand; and, repairing to the palace of the Buen Retiro, he returned, after a fhort interval, an anfwer from his Catholic Majefty, in which the AmbafTador is told, " that the fpirit of haughtinefs and difcord which dic- tated this inconfiderate ftep, and which for the misfortune of mankind ftill reigns fo much in the Britifh Government, is what made in the fame inftant the declaration of war and attacked the King's dignity Your Excellency may think of retiring when and in t)ie manner convenient to you, which is- the only anfwer his Majefty has VOL. I. E direded 5 o K. G E O R G E III. directed me to give." Orders were Tent from Madrid to the Count de Fuentes inftantly to leave the Court and Kingdom of England, delivering firft a Memorial to the Minifters of the King of England, in which the war that the Spanifh and Englifh nations were about to plunge into, is attributed to the pride and immeafurable ambition of him who lately held the reins of Government in Great Britain. " If," faid the memorial, " his Catholic Majefty excufed himfelf from making the explanations required, it was to manifeft his juft refentment of the infulting manner in which the affairs of Spain have been treated during Mr, Pitt's Adminiftration, who, when the juttice of his Catholic Majefty's claims had been incontrover- tibly proved, gave as his final nnfwer, that he would not relax in any thing till the Tower of London was taken fword in hand. If the refpe6l due to Royal Majefty had been regarded, expla- nations it was affirmed might have been had without difficulty. The Minifters of Spain might have faid frankly to thofe of England, what the Count de Fuentes by the King's exprefs orders declares publicly That the faid treaty is only a convention between the Family of Bourbon,- wherein is nothing which has the leaft relation to- the prefent war That there is in it an article for the mutual guarantee of the dominions of the two Sovereigns, but it is fpecified therein that this guarantee K. GEdRGE III. 5t guarantee is not t6 be uhderftood but of the do- minions which (hall remain to France after the prefent wkr fhall be ended That although his Gatholic Majefty might have had reafon to think himfelf offended by the irregular manner in which the memorial for terminating the differences be^- tween Spain and England at the fame time with the war betwixt this iaft and France, was re- turned to M. Bufly, the King of Spain difTembled, and from his love of peace caufed a memorial to be delivered to Lord Briftoi, wherein it is evi- dently demonstrated, that the ftep of France which put the Minifter Pitt into fo bad humour, did not at all offend either the laws of* neutrality or the fincerity of the two Sovereigns That as a frefh proof of his pacific fpirit, the King of Spain wrote to the King of France his coufin, that if the union of intereft in any manner retarded the peace with England, he cortfented to feparate .hirnfelf from it, not to put any obftacle to fo great a hap- pinefs. But it was foon feen this was only a pre- tence on the part of the Englifh Minifler: for that of France continuing his negotiations without making any mention of Spain, and propofing conditions very advantageous and honorable for England, the Minifler Pitt, to the great aftonifh- ment of the univerfe, rejecled them with difdain; and (hewed at the fame time his ill will againft Spain, to the fcandal of the fame Britifh Council ; E 2 and $z K. GEORGE III. and unfortunately he has fucceeded but too far in his pernicious defign." This memorial ferved to demonftrate the fuperior fagacity of Lord Briftol, who declared, in the courfe of this negotiation, his firm belief that the treaty in queftion contained no article injurious to the interefts of England, although the prepofterous pride of the Spanifh Court preventedany pofitive or fatisfactory aflurance being given on this head; and the two nations, from an obftinate adherence to a falfe and foolifh punctilio of honor, found themfelves at length in- volved in a war, which they equally and anxioufly wifhed to avoid. The preparations made for conducting the war againft the united force of the Houfe of Bourbon with vigor and effect, fhewed that the fpirit of Mr. Pitt, againft whom rather than the King of Great Britain the declaration of the King of Spain feemed to be directed, ftill influenced and animated the public counfels. The grand machine of Govern- ment, once put in motion, continued for a time its progrefs with the fame force and velocity as if ftili guided by the powerful hand which firft urged it into action. Letters of marque were ifTued and commiffions granted for privateers to act againft the fubjeets of his Catholic Majefty ; and at length, on the 4th January 1762, war was declared againft Spain with the accuftomed formalities. The new Parliament had been convened in the preceding K. GEORGE III. 53 preceding month of November, and had chofen Sir John Cult, Bart, for their Speaker ; a man not unworthy, from his extenfive knowledge and dif- tinguifhed probity, to fill the chair vacated by Mr, Onflow. The choice being approved by the King, the feffion was opened by a well-compoled fpeech from the Throne, in which his Majefty exprefled "his regret at the unfuccefsful termina- tion of the late negotiation for peace, and his re- folution to profecute the war in the moft effec- tual manner, till the enemies of Great Britain, moved by their own lolTes, and touched with the miferies of fo many nations, fhall yield to the equi- table conditions of an honorable peace." Very loyal addreffes were returned. About 240,000 feamen, landmen, and marines, including the German mercenaries, were voted for the fervice of the year ; and twelve millions borrowed to make up the deficiency of the regular means of fupply. A jointure of ioo,oool. per ann. was fettled on the Queen, with the palaces of Richmond Old Park and Somerfet Houfe ; and after palling a va- riety of acls not diftinguilhed for their peculiar merit or importance, the Parliament was prorogued June 2, 1762. .Towards the conclufion of the preceding year, a plan had been formed for the conqueft of the important ifland of Martinico, the principal of the French Caribbee Illands, and the reddence of 3 the 54 K. GEORGE III. the Governor General and Council, whofe jurifc diclion extends over all the French Antilles. This iiland is about 130 miles in circumference; ami though the climate is fultry, the foil is fertile, ancj. the country pleafantly diversified with hill and dale^ fhaded with thick woods, and watered with nu- merous ftreams. Its produce conllfts of fugar, in- digo, coffee, cotton, ginger, aloes, and pimento; fo that, with the exception of St. Domingo, it was at this period accounted the moft populous and flou- riftiing colony belonging to France in America. The armament deftined for this expedition con- lifted of 1 8 {hips of the line, and as many batta- lions of troops, under General Monckton and Ad- miral Sir G. Rodney, who, rendezvousing at Bar- badoes, proceeded early in the month of January 1762 to Martinique; and on the i6th landed, after filencing the batteries creeled on the coaft in the vicinity of the town of Fort Royal, defended by a ftrong citadel and various military works creeled on the Morne Tortuefon and the Morne Gamier, neighboring heights which commanded the town. Thefe were foon forced by the intre- pidity of the Englifh troops, which on no occafion difplayed itfelf more confpicuoufly than in the attack of this ifland. On the 4th of February the Commandant of the citadel ordered the chamade to be beat, and the garrifon was per- mitted to march out with the honors of war. But K. GEORGE III. 5 But the Governor General, M. de la Touehe, re- treated to the ftrong fortrefs of St. Pierre, fituated to the leeward of Fort Royal, which he at firft feemed difpofed to defend /with vigor ; but o the 1 4th Deputies arrived ,with propofals of ca- pitulation for the whole ifland, and this important ,conqueft was achieved with inconfiderable lofs. In the mean time Commodore Swanton was de- tached from the fleet with a force fufficient for the reduction of the ifland of Grenada and the (Grenadines, which fubmitted without refinance, and proved in the hands of the Englifh a very va- luable acquifition. At the fame time the Englifh took pofleflion of the iflan4s pf St. Lucia, Tobago, and St. Vincent, which, though declared neutral by former treaties, had been for fome time occu- pied by the French. SPAIN, who meant certainly nothing farther than by the weight of her influence and too par- tial mediation to procure for France more favor- able terms of accommodation than were otherwife obtainable, found herfelf unexpectedly engaged as a principal in the war, for which fhe was extremely unprepared. The marine of France, by repeated defeats, was broken, and aimoft ruined; whilit the numerous fleets of Britain feemed to cover the ocean, and rode triumphant from the Ganges to the MhTifippi from the rifing to the fetting fun. The naval power of Spain was utterly unable to E 4 cope 56 K. G E O R G E III. cope with this prodigious force. In one quarter only could England be conlidered as vulnerable. By an attack on Portugal, a kingdom in clofe al- liance with Great Britain, very open to invafion, feeble, opulent, defencelefs, Spain might reafon- ably hope fully to indemnify herfelf for any lories ihe might elfewhere fuftain. The military and heroic fpirit by which the Portuguefe nation had been formerly characterized, was now no more ; her privileged orders were funk in luxury her people in floth, ignorance, and bigotry ; her troops were deftitute of difcipline, her fortrefies of artillery and ammunition. The recent deilruclion of her capital, the myfterious confpiracy againft the life of the Monarch, the confequent execution of her moft diftinguifhed and popular Nobles, the forcible expulfion of tbe Jefuits, and the entire alienation of the Court of Lifbon from the See of Rome all thefe caufes, conjoined, had filled the kingdom with confufion and difcontent. In this fituation it was doubtlefs imagined that Portugal would fall an eafy prey to the arms of Spain, and great mili- tary preparations were made, and a large body of forces afiembled on the frontiers of that king- dom. On the 1 6th of March 1762, a joint memorial was prefented by the Ambafladors of France and Spain at the Court of Liibon, " inviting the King of Portugal to renounce his connection with Great Britain j K. GEORGE III. tf Britain, and engage in the ofFenlive and defenlive alliance which they had formed againftthat infolent and dangerous power." The Catholic King pro- feffing "the moft cordial attachment to the interefts of his Moft Fai'thful Majefty, to whom he was fo nearly allied, infifted that the Englifh fubjects re- fident in Portugal (hould be compelled to depart the kingdom, and the Englifh (hipping no longer be allowed fhelter in her ports ; declaring, that he fhould immediately occupy with his troops the fortrcfTes and maritime places belonging to his Moft Faithful Majefty, to protect them from the refentment of England." To this extraordinary requifition the AmbafFadors of the two Courts demanded a categorical anfwerin four days. The King of Portugal replied, in very moderate and conciliatory language, " That he was (incerely dif- pofed to act as mediator in compromifing the pre- fent differences, but that the unfortunate ftate of his kingdom would not allow him, were he fo in- clined, to engage as a principal in the war ; that the honor of his Crown, and the faith of folemn .treaties, would not permit him to abandon the al- liance of England ; and that he was determined to obferve a ftrict neutrality, making thofe preparations only which were neceilary for his own defence." In a fecond Memorial, dated April i, the con- federate powers declared, in a tone ftill more im- perious, " that his Moft Faithful Majefty's alliance with 5 K. GEORGE IIL with England became in effect an ofFenfive al- liance, from the lituation of the Portuguefe domU nions, and the nature of the Englith power ; that the Britifh fquadrons could not keep the fea with- out the ufe of the ports of his Molt Faithful Ma- jefty ; that the riches of Portugal paffed into the hands of the Englifti ; and they again invited him, fince the differences between the Crowns of Spain and Portugal, which had laid the foundation of the alliance with England, had been long lince happily accommodated, to abandon that alliance, and enter into a ilricl: league of friendfhip with their Chriftian and Catholic Majefties." The King of Portugal perfifting in his refufal of thefe overtures, the Ambafladors of the two Courts, after the delivery of a third Memorial ftill more info-? lent and infulting than the former, were ordered to leave the kingdom *. On * The political and moral reflections of the King of Pruffia, in fpeaking of tliis procedure of the Kings of France and Spain refpe&ing Portugal, muft be acknowledged very edifying ; and, it is unfortunate that the fame mode of reafoning did not hap- pen to occur to him previous to his fuccefliTe invafions of Siltfia, Saxony, and Poland. " Pourquoi," fays the Royal Hiilorian, attaquer le Roi de Portugal, qui n'avoit offenftf perfonne? fur le royaume duquel ni 1'Efpagne ni la Tranc* n'avoient des drpits ? C'^toit le commerce lucratif que 1'Angle- terre faifoit en, Portugal que la France vouloit ruiner. D'aillcurs elle etoit perfuadee que les Anglois auroient rendu Ik meilleure partie de leur conquetes pour faire reftituer ce royanroc an Ri>i de K. GEORGE HI. 5f On the 23d of May, 1762, war was declared by Portugal againfl Spain, the Spanifh arrny hav- ing already palled the frontier. His Mofl Faith- ful Majefty having made previous and urgent foli- citation to the Court of London for affiftance, it was determined to grant him the moft fpeedy and efficacious fuccor, by the embarkation of a large body of troops under Lord Tyrawley, a ve- teran officer, who had formerly refided with high reputation as Ambafiador at the Court of Lifbon, and who now united the different characters of Plenipotentiary and General. The King of Portu- gal had conferred, at the recommendation of the King of England, the fupreme command of his armies on the famous Count de la Lippe-Bucke- bourg, Mafter-General of the. Artillery under Prince Ferdinand of Brunfwic ; a man whofe mi- litary talents were of the higheft clafs, and who pofTefTed all the heroic and romantic qualities which diftinguimed and adorned the ages of chi- valry. Lord Tyrawley returning foon to Eng- land, perhaps in difgutf at this fuperior appoint- ment, the command of the Englifh auxiliaries Devolved on the Earl of Loudon, under whom ferved the Generals Burgoyne, Crawford, Town- de Portugal Mais eft-ce une raifon pour attaquer un Souve- rain qui n'en donae aucune raifon legitime ? O droit public, que ton etude eft vain ct inutile!" Hlftoire de la Guerre de Sept Anf. j iliend, 60 K. GEORGE III. fhend, and other officers of diftinguifhed merit and reputation. In the beginning of May, 1762, the Spanifh army under the Marquis de Sarria patted the Douro, and inverted the important city of Mi- randa. Unfortunately, at the very commencement of the fiege, before the parallels were formed, or the batteries planted, the grand magazine of thefortrefs, taking fire by accident, blew up with a tremendous explofion, occalioning the lots of near 500 lives, and making moreover two large and practicable breaches in the walls. In confequence of this mif- fortune, the city was immediately given up, and the garrifon made prifoners of war. Braganza was next attacked ; but fuch was the coniternation of the Portuguefe, that the keys of the town were prefented without any attempt at refinance to the Spanifh Commander. The city of Chaves, though provided with all the means of defence, was fur- prifed at the fame time by a feparate detachment under Count O'Reilly. The Southern army, com- manded by the Count d'Aranda, being joined by 8000 French auxiliaries, entered the province of Euremadura, and opened the trenches before Al- media in July : after a much better defence than had hitherto been made, that city was compelled to capitulate on the 25th of Auguft. On the arrival of the Count de la Lippe, Lisbon the metropolis, and Oporto the fecond city of the kingdom, were expofed K. GEORGE III. 61 expofed to imminent danger. But that General, knowing the moft effectual mode of waging a de- fenfive war to be the converting it as far as poffible into an offenfive one, determined to carry the arms of Portugal into the kingdom of Spain. An en- terprile againft the city of Alcantara, where con- liderable magazines were forming, was refolved upon, and Brigadier-rGeneral Burgoyne was ap- pointed to the command of the entire force col- lected for this purpofe. This officer, paffing the Tagus at midnight, reached Alcantara at the dawn of day, and, attacking with great refolution the enemy pofted in the vicinity, and unfufpicieus of danger, totally routed them with very inconfider- able lofs. A great quantity of arms and ammu- nition fell into the hands of the victors. Amongfl the prifoners was the Spanifh Major-General Don Miguel D'Iruniberri, who was preparing for an expedition into the Portugueze province of A! en - tejo. The Count d'Aranda, having reduced, after the furrender of Almeida, the fortrefles of Caitel Roclrigo and Caftel Branco, attempted to force a pailage through the mountains, intending to crofs the Tagus at Villa Velha, a poft defended by General Burgoyne, who lay encamped on the fouthern bank of the river. The old Moorifh caf- tle of Villa Velha, on the northern bank, though gallantly defended, was at length compelled to mrrender, and the pafles of the mountains gained. But ** ' K- GEORGE lit But the enemy having weakened tKeir force a? Villa Velha, in order to purfue their advantage in the oppolite quarter, General Burgoyne or- dered a detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Lee to ford the Tagus in the night, and attack the Spaniards in their camp. This enterprife was exe- cuted with equal fpirit and fuccefs. A great num- ber of the Spanifh Officers were flam in attempting- to rally their troops ; their cannon were fpiked, their magazines destroyed, and much valuable plunder became the property of the aflailants. The Spaniards being repeatedly foiled in their de- lign of polling the Tagus, by the ikill and vigi- lance of the Commarider, Count de la Lippe, and embarrafTed alfo in their operations by the heavy rains which fell at this period, at length re- pafled the mountains, and entirely evacuated the province of Eftremadura, firft difmantlhig the for- tifications of Almeida and Caftel Rodrigo. No foorier was war declared by England againfl Spain, than preparations began to be made for a grand, but as yet unknown enterprife ; and in the beginning of March 1762 a very powerful arma- ment failed from Portfmouth, imder the conduct of Admiral Sir George Pacocke, the Earl of Albe- marle commanding the land forces on board. At the beginning of June they arrived off the iilanc! of Cuba, and the troops were landed fix miles to the eaftward of the Havanna, a city of the utmoft import- & GEORGE III. 63 importance to the fecurity and almoft the exift- ence of the Spanifh Empire in America, as being the port where the galleons and flota loaded with the riches of Mexico and Peru conftantly rendez- voufed on their return to Spain, and, from its fituation, abfolutely commanding the only com- modious pafTage by which thefe (hips could fail from the bay of Mexico to Europe ; the wind- ward paffage, by Carthagena, not being practicable without infinite trouble, lofs of time, and danger from an enemy who is decidedly fuperior at fea. This city \vas protected, exclufive of other works, by a very ftrong caftle called the Moro, againfl which the principal attack of the Earl of Albe- marle was directed. It was however bravely de- fended by the Spanifh Governor Don Lewis de X 7 elafco ; and the fiege being protracted beyond expectation, ficknefs began to make its ravages amongft the befiegers. On the 3Oth of July, therefore, although the breaches made were deem- ed fcarcely practicable, an aflault was determined upon, and the troops mounting with the utmoft intrepidity drove the enemy from the ramparts ; and after a (hort but fierce and bloody conflict, the Spaniards were compelled to lay down their arms and petition for quarter. Don Velafco, animated with all the genuine Caftilian heroifm, fell by a promifcuous fhot, whilft inciting his troops, both by his exhortation and example, to fupport the glory of fit K. GEORGE III. of the Spanifh arms. Notwithstanding the conqueft of the- Moro, the city held out till the i3th of Auguft ; when the Governor capitulated, on con- dition of being allowed to march out with all the honors of war, and to have, with his whole garrifonj a free and unmolefted conveyance to Spain. In the capitulation were included twelve line-of-battle ihips then lying in the harbour of the Havanna ; great quantities of ammunition and warlike ftores likewife fell into the hands of the victors, who found in the city prodigious quantities of merchan- dize of various kinds and an immenfe treafure in fpecie. This therefore was a blow, which, at the very commencement of the war, (truck deep into the vitals of the Spanifh power. No fooner was the intelligence of the Spanifh war conveyed to the Eaft Indies, than an armament fpeedily equipped, under the condu,cl of Admiral Cornifh and Sir William Draper, failed from Ma- dras, deitined againil Luconia, the principal of the Philippine Iflands, of which the chief city is Manilla, whence two large (hips are fent annually acrofs the Pacific Ocean to Acapulco, on the coaft of Mexico, laden with the fpices, lilks, and other precious products of India. On the 23d of September 1762 the whole ar- mament, having on. board a land force, including Lafcars, Sepoys, and other irregular troops, amount- ing to about two thoufand live hundred men, anchored K. GEORGE III. 65 anchored in the Bay of Manilla, where they excited great and general alarm. After effecting a land- ing with little lofs, the city was fummoned to fur- render; but the Marquis de Villa Medina, the Go- vernor, returned a refolute refufal. The Englifh were far from being in a condition to form a com- plete inveftment of the city, which was of great extent and ftrongly fortified. The quarter which the General determined to attack was defended by the baftions of St. Diego and St. Andrew, a ra- velin, a wet foffe thirty yards in breadth, a covered way, and a glacis; At the beginning of October the weather grew very ftormy and tempeftuous ; notwithftanding which the befiegers carried on their works with unintermitted ardor. A furious fally was on the 4th made from the town before day-break, in which the regular troops of the forts were reinforced by a ftrong body of the native In- dians, armed only with bows and lances, whofought with aftoniihing perfeverance advancing to the very muzzles of the Englifh mufquets, and with wild and favage ferocity biting the bayonets even in the agonies of death. They were finally re- pulfed with great lofs ; and the works being by this time much damaged, a refolution was taken to ftorm the town. Though no offer of capitulation had been madey the garrifon fecmed ill prepared to fuftain an aA fault, and the Englifh penetrated into the very VOL* I. F centre 66 K. GEORGE III. centre of the city with little oppofition. The Go- vernor retiring into the citadelj the town was ex- pofed for fome hours to all the horrors of a general pillage. At length, the citadel being in no con- dition of defence, the Marquis de Villa Medina, the Archbifhop of Manilla, and the officers of the garrifon, furrendered themfelves prifoners of war; at the fame time propofing a capitulation to fave the city from total deftruction. After fome dif- cuffion, a ranfom of four millions of dollars was offered and accepted. The port and citadel of Ca- vite, with the iflands and fortrefles depending on the Government of Manilla, being included in the capitulation, the whole force of the Englifh fcarcely fufficed to garrifon their conquefts. Intelligence being received of the expected ar- rival of an Acapulco fhip, the Admiral fent the Panther and Argo fhips of war in queft of her, who fell in with the Santa Trinidada, bound for Mexico, pierced for fixty guns, with merchandife on board to the amount of three millions of dollars. This was not the only regifter-fhip taken in the courfe of this war from the Spaniards the St. Hermione, from Lima to Cadiz, being captured by two Britifh fri- gates cruizing off Cape St. Vincent. Her cargo was eftimated at one million iterling, being fup- pofed the richeft prize ever brought into the harbors of Britain. ~ Amongft the military and naval achievements of it GEORGE III. *7 of the prefcnt year, it may be proper tranfiently to hotice the recovery of the town and fort of St. John, in the iiland of Newfoundland (fome months before furprifed and furrendered to the French', by Lord Colville and Colonel Amherft, who, fail- ing from the harbor of Halifax, by their fpirited exertions anticipated the effect of an armament fitted oat exprefsly for this purpofe at Portfmouth. It will now be proper to refume the long ne- glected narration of the civil and domeftic tranf- aclidns of Great Britain. On the refignation of Mr. Pitt, the entire direction of affairs was vefted in the Earl of Bute, who enjoyed the favor, affec- tion, and confidence of the Sovereign s in a degree which no Minifter fince the Earl of Clarendon in the zenith of his power had poffeffed. He had not, however, as yet attained the fummit of his am- bition. The Duke of Newcaflle ftill held the high and pre-eminent office of Firft Commiflioner of the Treafury, but this poft the FAVORITE now thought he might fafely affume. The Duke of Newcaftle,- therefore, at the latter end of May 1762,, the Seffion of Parliament being nearly clofed, received an intimation that his refignation was expeclcd. His Grace was informed, that the King purpofed, in confideration of his paft feFvices, to grant him an ample and adequate penfion. But the Duke, whofe generofity bordered upon negli- gence and profufion, nobly replied, " that if he F a could( 68 K, GEORGE III. could no longer be permitted to ferve his country, he was at leaft determined not to be a burden to it." The difmiffion of this nobleman, who had been ever diftinguifhed for the zeal and fidelity of his attachment to the Houfe of Hanover, and who had impaired his fortune and devoted his life to the fupport of that caufe in which he had been from his early youth engaged, excited extreme indig- nation in the breafts of the whole Whig party, amongft whom his fieadinefs, affability and difin- tereftednefs made him, notwith Handing the medio* crity of his talents, exceedingly popular. It was thought a complication of levity and ingratitude thus to difcard an old and faithful fervant, who in the courfe of nature could not be expected long to trouble any competitor ; and it difcovered fuch an impatience in the new Minifter to en- grofs an abfolute monopoly of power, as gave countenance to fufpicions of deep and dangerous defigns. The Duke, who had been treated with a flattering degree of perfonal attention, or at leaft with a refpectful decorum and civility, fo long as his name was deemed necefiary by the projectors of the new fyftem, appeared himfelf highly to refent the rude and compullive mode of his difmiffion ; ad he hefitated not again to connect himfelf with Mr. Pitt, foi many years his alternate rival and af- fociate ; with whom he had never indeed entered 7 into K. GEORGE III. 6 9 into any very cordial alliance, but their mutual animoiity againft the Earl of Bute now formed a new bond of amity and concord between them. The Duke of Devonfhire, foon after the removal of the Duke of Newcaftle, unable to brook the marked and contemptuous neglect which he expe- rienced, reiigned indignantly his office of Lord Chamberlain., and was by the King's own hand ftruck out of the lift of the Privy Council. The Earl of Harcivv'icke retired in difguft ; and the Duke of Grafton, Lord 'Ravenfworth, and Lord Athburnham, with feveral other noblemen of high diftinction, now ranged themfelves on the fide of the Oppofition. Lord Anfon was fucceeded at this period in the Admiralty by the Earl of Halifax, recently returned from theGovernment of Ireland, in which he was fucceeded by the Duke of North- umberland ; and Mr. George Grenville was ad- vanced to the Secretaryfnip vacated by the Earl of Bute. But in a fhort time this order of things was reverfed : Lord Halifax took the Seals, and Mr. Grenville was placed at the head of the Admiralty. No political conflict however could take place be- fore the enfuing winter, and the fummer months pafled over in angry and ineffectual difcontent. On the 1 2th of Auguli*, a 4ay aufpicious to the Houfe of Brunfwic, as the sera of its acceffion * 1762. F 3 t 9 70 K. GEORGE III, to the throne of Great Britain aufpicious alfo to the kingdom at large, whilit the principles of li- berty civil and religious, on which that acceffion. was founded, continue to be the rule of their go- vernment the nation was gladdened by the birth of a Prince of Wales, whofe aim, whofe itudy, and whofe pride may it be to eftablifh, extend, and improve that free and happy conftitution of which he is the hereditary guardian ancl defender ! The firfl and greateft object of the new Minifter, now honored, by a flattering aflbciation with the Duke of York firft prince of the blood, with the order of the Qarter, after his open afTumption of the office and authority of Premier, was the reftp- ration of peace a laudable and noble defign, but attended with very confiderable difficulty. The majority of the nation, elated or rather intoxicate4 with fuccefs, were eager for the continuance of the war, in the fanguine hope of new victories. Already grafping in their golden dreams the trea- fures of Mexico and Peru, they appeared wholly regardleis of the immenfe fums annually added to the National Debt, and of the oppreffive taxes neceflarily impofed for difcharging the intereft of the fucceffive loans not reflecting that every ra- tional purpofe of the war had been long fince ob- tained, and that additional conquefls were in facl: only additional incumbrances. Exclufwe of this prevailing and popular folly, the K. GEORGE III. 71 the Premier had given extreme difgtift by the ge- neral tenor of his conduct, proud, artful, and felf- ifh ; and by the indecent and precipitate meafures which he adopted to expel all the Members of the late Adminiftration from their pofts, and to intrude himfelf and his partifans into all the efficient and refponfible offices of Government. A powerful party, compofed of men the moil diftinguifhecl for rank, influence, and ability, was now formed in oppofition to the Minifter ; and this oppofition was openly countenanced by the Duke of Cumberland, uncle to the King, who had never connected himfelf with the Tory or Country party in oppofition to the Court in the late reign, and who had imbibed the Whig principles and pre- judices in their full extent. Upon whatever terms the peace might be concluded, it was not to be imagined that fatisfaclion could be given to the political antagonifls of the Minifler, who would not fail to reprefent it as inadequate to the fuc- cefles of the war, if not inconfiftent with the : in- tereft, and difgraceful to the reputation, of Eng- land. Thefe confederations did not however deter the Minifler from caufing fecret intimations to be given, that the revival of the ineffectual negotia- tion of the laft year would be not unacceptable ; and the King of Sardinia was folicited to offer his mediation for this purpofe. The Court of Ver- F 4 faille? 7* K. GEORGE III. iailles readily embracing the overtures now made by England, the Due de Nivernois arrived in Lon- don, in the month of September, inverted with the character of Ambaflador Extraordinary and Pleni- potentiary to the King of Great Britain ; and the Duke of Bedford, a nobleman diftinguifhed for honor and probity, and who had fucceffively occu- pied the high offices of Secretary of State, Firft Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Privy Seal, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was delegated in the fame capacity, inverted with the fame diplomatic dif- tinctions, to the Court of France. And the ne- gotiators being actuated by a mutual anxiety for the re-eftabliihment of peace, preliminaries were ligned and interchanged at Fontainebleau, in the beginning of November 1762, between the Mi- rrifters of Great Britain, France, Spain, and Por- tugal. On the 25th of November the Parliament was convened ; and the King, in his fpeech from the Throne, informed the two Houfes " that the pre- liminary articles were actually figned, on terms which he reprefented as very advantageous to England ; and he recommended that union at home, which was fo necefiary to the adoption of thofe meafures uhich alone could relieve the na- tion from th* heavy burdens entailed upon it by the profecution of a long and expenfive war." When the addfefs in reply came under the confi- deration K. GEORGE m. 7 j deration of the Houfe of Commons, Mr. Pitt, in a long and elaborate fpeech, exprefled his entire .difapprobation of the tenor of the treaty, which he ftigmatized as impolitic, and derogatory to the honor and interefts of the kingdom. He was de- termined, afflicted as he was with illnefs, at the hazard of his life, he faid, to attend the Houfe that day- to raife up his voice, his hand, and his arm againft the preliminary articles of a treaty, which obfcured all the glories of the war, furrendered the dearefl interefts of the nation, and facrificed the public faith by an abandonment of our allies. He was anfwered at large by Mr. Fox, who, although he continued to occupy only the fubordinate poft pf Paymafter of the Army, was, at this time, the ableft advwcate of Adminiilration in the Houfe of Commons ; and after a warm and ample difcuflion, the addrefs, as propofed by the partifans of the Court, paffed the Houfe by a great majority of voices. In the Houfe of Lords the Minifter himfelf vin- dicated the treaty, with a fpirit and energy which was not expected ; and he concluded his fpeech with declaring, " that he wifhed no other epitaph to be infcribed on his tomb, than that he was the advifer of the peace, on the merits of which their Lordlhips were then called upon to decide." Not- withftanding the arguments and objections of the Peers in oppofition, the addrefs pafled in this Houfe alfo 74 K. GEORGE III. alfo by a limilar majority. And in juftice to the Earl of Bute, the impartiality of hiftory will ac- knowledge that this famous peace, fo much and fo long the fubjecl of declamation and inveclive, was in fact liable to no folid or ferious exception*. Had the Minifter been as indifferent to the re- eftabliihment of the public tranquillity as his pre- deceflbr Mr. Pitt, it is poffible indeed that fome farther conceffions of very doubtful advantage to England might have been obtained, or rather ex- torted, from the adverfe parties ; but his folicitude for the attainment of that great and defirable ob- jecl did not prevent him from difcerning and adopt- ing the neceflary provifions for fecuring all the eflential interefts of Great Britain. By this treaty the entire province of Canada was ceded and guarantied to the Englifh, with all that part of Louifiana which is lituated to the eaft of the great river MilHfippi, together with Cape Breton, and the other iflands in the gulph and river of St. Laurence. In the Weft Indies, the ifland of Grenada and the Grenadines were ceded to Eng- land, in full right ; alfo, of the neutral iflands, Do- * The moft plaufible obje&ion to the treaty was the cefiion of the ifland of St. Lucie to France ; the importance of which, from its fituation and excellent harbor, feems indeed to have been better underftood by the French than the Englifh negotiators. Mr. Pitt had pofitively refufed, in his negotiation with M. Buffy, to cede St. Lucie to France. . ^ . minique, K. GEORGE III. 75 rninique, St. Vincents, and Tobago. In Africa, Senegal with its dependencies is guarantied to England. In the Eaft Indies, his Moft Chriftian Majefly acknowledges Mahomed Aly Khan, as Nabob of the Carnatic ; and Salabat Zing, as Subah of the Decan renouncing all acquisitions made on the coaft of Coromandel fince the year 1 749, and engaging not to erect fortifications in any part of the kingdom of Bengal. In Europe, he agrees to reftore Minorca in the fame condition as when conquered by the arms of the Moft Chrif- tiiin King. He confents that the harbor and for- tifications of Dunkirk (hall be demolifhed. Finally, he ilipulates that the territories belonging to the Elector of Hanover, the Landgrave of HefTe, &c. now occupied by the armies of France, fhall be evacuated, together with the fortrefles of Cleves, Wefel, Gueldres, &c. belonging to the King of Pruflia ; and the two Monarchs of France and England engage not to furnifh fuccors of any kind to their refpeclive allies in Germany. The difficult qucftion relative to the validity of the prizes cap- tured before the declaration of war, is pafTed over in profound and difcreet filcnce. The King of Spain on his part cedes and gua- ranties in full right to England the Eaftern and Weftern Floridas, and in general all that Spain pofiefies on the continent of America, to the eaft or to the ibuth-eait of the Miflilippi ; in confc- quence 76 K. G E O R G E III. quence of which important ceffion, in conjunction with that of the eaftern part of Louifiana, and the entire province of Canada, an immenfe country, capable of unlimited improvement, and bounded by a line of demarcation the moft clear and defn nite, was gained to the empire of Britain. His Catholic Majefty alfo relinquishes for himfelf and his fucceflbrs all pretenlions which he may have formed to the right of fifhing on the banks of New- foundland. He confirms and eftablifhes for ever the privilege or indulgence enjoyed by the Englifh of cutting logwood on the coaft of Honduras, fti- pulating only, that no fortifications fhall be erecled upon the territorial dominions of Spain. Finally, his Catholic Majefty engages entirely to evacuate, on the exchange of the ratifications of the treaty, all the lands, cities, and caftles, belonging to his Moft Faithful Majefty, in the fame condition they were in when conquered by the arms of Spain. In return for thefe great and important ceffions, Great Britain engages to reftore to France, in Eu- rope, the Ifland of Belleifle in Africa, the Ifland of Goree in the Weft Indies, the Iflands of Gua- claloupe, Martinique, and St. Lucie in the Eaft Indies, Pondicherri and Chandernagore. The right of France to fifh on the banks of Newfoundland is recognized, and the finall iflands of St. Pierre and Miquelon are ceded as a Ibelter for the fifhermen. The fortrefs of the Havannah, and the other acqui- fitions K. GEORGE IIT. 77 fitions of England, without referve, including the recent and as yet unafcertained conqueft of the Manillas, are reflored to Spain. A great obftacle to the conclufion of the treaty had been removed by the alteration which had taken place in the politics of England refpe&ing the King of Pruffia, and in the beneficial change in the fituation of that Monarch,, who had now concluded a peace with Ruffia and Sweden, and to whom notice had been already given, that the annual fubfidy treaty would be no more renewed. The territories of Pruflia occupied by the French being evacuated, that Monarch had, however, upon the face of the treaty of Fontainebleau, no juft ground of complaint, his native force being equal to his own defence againft the Houfe of Auftria ; or, if it were not, England was under no obligation farther to exhauft her treafures in, order to defend him. Both parties being however weary of a war which had been fo long continued with alternate lofs and advantage, they foon came to terms of accommodation*. Although * If, however, the teftimsny of the King of Pruflia may be confided in, that Monarch had great reafon to complain of what he ftyles the " odious" condud of the Englifh Court, from the jera that Lord Bute's influence began to predominate. It mud indeed be acknowledged, that England by her alliance with Pru- fia was placed in circumftances fo embarrafling, that it was very difficult, ?8 K. GEORGE Ili Although the peace of Fontainebleau was almoft univerfally unpopular in the nation at large, the decided difficult, or, to fpeak the truth, wholly irnpra&icable, at once t J> confult the interefts and to maintain the honor of the kingdom. To continue the war for the fole purpofe of compelling France to RESTORE Cleves, Wefel, and Gueldres > to the King of Pruflia a condition to which France, equally perplexed by her engage- ments with the Court of Vienna, could not without extreme difgrace fubmit would, on the part of England, have been car- rying the point of honor to a degree of romantic extravagance. On the other hand, entirely to abandon the interefts of the King of Pruflia with the cold unfeeling apathy of Lord Bute, which' the warmth of refentment expfefled in the remonftrances of the Court of Berlin feems at length to have converted into abfolute malignity, can never be reconciled to our ideas of good faith, and much lefs to any fentiment of national dignity and gene rofity. The King of Prufiia, in evident allufion and intentional con- traft to the character of the reigning Monarch, fays of the late King George II. " II termina fon regne glorieux par une mort douce et prompte. Ce prince, entr'autres bonnes qualites, avoit une fcrmete heroiq'ie, qulfaifoit guefes a/lie's pouvolent pren- dre une confiance entlcre en fa perform:. " Speaking of the ftate of affairs on the confequent acceflion of the new Monarch, he fays, " Deux hommes fe trouvoient a la tete de ce gouvernement. L'un 6toit PITT ; il avoit 1'amc elevce, un efprit Capable de grands projets, de la fermete dans 1'execution, un attacherfent inflexible a fes opinions, parcequ'il les croyoit avantagenfes a fa patrie, qu'il aimoit. L'autre c'etoit BUTE ; il avoit ete Gou- verneur du Roi. Plus ambitieux qu'habile, il vouloit dominer a t ombre de Pautcrite fouvfraine." After Mr. Pitt, finding the ab- folutc afcendant acquired by his antagonift, had retired from Court, K, GEORGE III. ^9 decided approbation of the Parliament Teemed to enfure the permanency of the Minifter's power ; and the real intrinfic merits of the treaty, with the Court, to ufe the expreffion of the Royal Hiftorian, " plein d'm- dignation," the Minifter Bute not only refufed to renew the fub- fidy, but a&ually made propofitions to the Emperor Peter the Third, through the medium of Prince Gallitzin, to prevent hi$ concluding a feparate peace with Pruffia. The Emperor fent a copy of Prince Gallitzin's difpatch to the King of Pruffia, in order that he might be apprized of the treachery of the Englifli Court. Lord Bute alfo made fecret advances to the Court of Vienna, offering very liberally the fpoils of Prufiia to the Em- prefs Queen, in cafe fhe was difpofed to come to an accommo- dation ; but Prince Kaunitz, in the name of the Emprefs, de- clared) " that /he would accept of no peace of which England was the mediatrix." The Englifh Minifter had, as the King of Pruffia affirms, nofcrup/e to permit France to keep pofleffion of the countries of Cleves, Wefel, and Gueldres, though it was at length agreed that they mould be evacuated ; after which, as Lord Bute heu'tated not to exprefs himfelf in the Houfe of Peers, "they were to befcrambled for." And on the figning of the preliminaries, large bodies of Auftrians and Pruffians were actually beginning their march to the Weftphalian frontier, in order to difpute the pcfleffion. But France, alarmed at the idea of a war in the Low Countries, thought proper to aflent to the reftorat'ion of thefe territories, on condition that Pruffia mould agree to fign a treaty of neutrality for the Netherlands. But, before this neutrality could take effeft, the treaty of Hubertfburg was concluded. The change of Minifters and Counfels which took place at the acceffion of the prefent King, excited fcarcely lef aftonifhment abroad than the difmiffion of the famous Whig Ad m bid rat ion of Queen Anne half a century before. Vide (Euvresdu Roi de Prude, beneficial 8o K. G E O R G E ill. beneficial confluences neceflarily refulting from the reftoration of peace, might reafonably be fup- pofed gradually to conciliate the minds of the pub- lic. But other caufes of ditfatisfaction foon arofe, which heightened almoft to phrenfy the popular odium againft the Minifter and the Court, and con- verted the national ebullitions of difcontcnt into & tempeft of faction, which moft alarmingly agitated, and in the progrefs of its fury feemed at one period to 1 threaten fcarcely lefs than the abfolute wreck and deftruclion of i\\t political tieffel*. In the courfe of the Seffion it was found necef- lary, the increafing expence of the war having left an immenfe arrear of debt, to negotiate a new loan * In comparing the brilliant and aufpicious commencement of the reign of the prefent Monarch with the dark and dreadful fcenes which enfued (and, it is painful to add, with thofe which at a much more advanced period feem yet impending), the ima- gination is led forcibly to advert to the fublime fymbolical re- prefentations introduced by a poet of the higheftorder, Mr. Gray, into his celebrated Ode of The BARD, in allufion to the cata- ftrophe terminating the reign of Richard II. ; in the fplendor of its opening dawn, and its fubfequentyi/fl/ indifcretions t bearing no' tery diftant analogy to the prefent. Fair laughs the morn, and foft the zephyr blows j While proudly riding o'er the azure realm In gallant trim the gilded veflel goes ; Youth at the prow, and Pleafure at the helm ; Regardlefs of the fweeping whirlwind's fway > That hufh'd in grim repofc expects his everting -prey. to K. GEORGE III. 81 to a very large amount ; for difeharging the intercft of which, amongft other taxes a duty was moved by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of four fhil- lings upon every hogfhead of cider, to be paid by the maker, and with certain qualifications fubjected to all the laws of excife. No fooner was this mofl unpopular, and therefore moft imprudent, propo- fition brought forward, than the Oppofition, eager and joyful to embrace fo inviting an opportunity of attack, opened all their batteries againft it. Cer- tain of the fupport and concurrence of the nation at large, they inveighed with great plaufibility and vehemence againft this extcnfion of a fyftern re- probated as oppreffive, arbitrary, and odious. The arguments by which the nation had been fo much inflamed thirty years before, at the period when Sir Robert Walpole attempted to carry into effect his famous project, were now revived, and anew enforced. The clamor againft the Cider Bill became loud and general ; and the City of London prcfented, at the bar of the Houfe of Commons, a petition againft it. The bill, ncverthelefs, pafled both Koufes by confiderable majorities, though in the Houfe of Lords 43 Peers divided, and two protefts were iigned againft; it. When it lay ready for the Royal fanclion, the City of London, rather to exprefs its deteftation of the bill than from any hope of fuc- cefs, petitioned the Crown to refufc its aflent. In VOL. I. G the 82 K. GEORGE III. the cider counties the abhorrence of the meafure was fo general, that it was found very difficult to carry the act into execution ; and it appears indeed to have been confidered by impartial perfons as liable to objections not applicable to other branches of the excife revenue. Stilly however, it cannot be juftly doubted, that the duties of excife, levied on the proper objects, and guarded from abufe by juft and equitable regulations, conftitute incom- parably the faireft, the eafiefl, the moft produc- tive of all the various modes of national taxation. But a wife Government will and ought to confult the general temper and difpofition of the people in all the meafures of Government, and more efpe- cially in the manner of railing the national fup- plies. For when a fpecific revenue is to be exacted by the fupreme authority of the State, it is furely no exceflive indulgence to permit them to pay it in the manner moil agreeable, though in reality leaft advantageous to themfelves. All that the wifdom and beneficence of Government united can do in fuch a cafe, is to introduce by gradual and infenfible fteps the amelioration of any actu- ally exifting fyftem, however clearly perceived to be abfurd and pernicious. In the prefent inftance, though the object was comparatively trivial, though the arguments urged againft it were forcible, and the oppolition general, the Minifter, who enter- tained doubtlefs very different ideas of political wifdom K. GEORGE III. 83 wifdom from his predeceffbr Sir Robert Wai pole, refolved, with that obftinate inflexibility which is fo often miftaken for dignity and firmnefs, to per- fevere ; and the bill finally parTed into a law. But fcarccly was this favorite meafure carried into execution, when the kingdom was aftonifhed with the intelligence of the refignation of the Mi- nifter, who having, as he boafted, reftored peace to the world, forfeited no engagement, abandoned no friend, and formed a minifterial connection fo pow- erful as no longer to need his affiftance, was now determined, by retiring " to the bleffings of the life he loved," to demonitrate that minifierial greatnefs had for him no charms. All his political purpofes he had completely attained ; and, by vo- luntarily diverting himfelf of his public authority, he was felicitous to {how, that in his private capa- city he dared the utmoft malice and vengeance of his enemies. Thefe motives were however of a nature by which men, even the moil virtuous, and particularly ftatefmen, are fo rarely actuated, that little credit was given by the public at large to profeffions of moderation and difintereftednefs fo inconfiftent with thofe meafures of alternate arti- fice and violence, by which the late Minifter had attained to the fummit of that power and greatnefs to which he now pretended a frigid and philofo- phical indifference. It was affirmed with boldnefs by his enemies, and faintly controverted by his G a friends, 84 K. G E R G E III. friends, that, although his pride would not fuffef him to recede from a rheafure he had once adopted, he found himfelf on the paffing of the late unpo- pular act in a fituation which he had neither the ability nor the fortitude to fuftain. Confcious that he was the object of the general abhorrence that to him alone was imputed the difmiffion of the late popular and patriotic Minifters that he was charged with having betrayed the interefts of the nation by the late Jhameful treaty of peace that he had abufed the confidence of his Sove- reign by introducing a fyftem offavoritifm into the adminiftration of affairs that his partiality to his countrymen the Scots was grofs and palpable that he had facrificed the honor of the King and kingdom abroad, by abandoning to his fate our ally the King of Pruffia and that by the general tenor of his domeftic policy he had given clear proof of his intention to eftabliih a plan of defpo- tifm at home confcious that thefe charges, whe- ther well or ill founded, were almoft univerfally be-, lieved, and that he ftood on that pinnacle of power from which he might be fuddenly plunged into the gulph of political perdition, it was no wonder, in circumftances fo perilous, that he wifhed, while yet within his reach, to fecure a fafe and honorable retreat ; and knowing his influence over the mind of his Sovereign to exift in undiminifhed force, it would tje eafy for him at a more propitious feafon 9 openly K. GEORGE III. 85 openly to re-affume the direction of affairs, or, which better accorded with the myftery and arti- fice pervading his whole character and conduct, whoever might be permitted to occupy the often- lible ports, iecretly to guide the reins of govern- ment, and thus to enjoy the reality of minifterial power without fubjecting himfelf to the refponfi- bility conftitutionally attached to it. To the Earl of Bute fucceeded as Firft Com- miffioner of the Treafury, Mr. George Grcnville, brother to Earl Temple, a man accurately verfecl in the routine of buflnefs, practifed in all the punc- tilios of form, and the minutiae of office ; open and affable in his manners ; not deficient in probity, although ambitious of diftinction. But though his abilities were of a clafs to entitle him in a fub- ordinate ftation to refpect, he was utterly deftitute of thofe commanding talents, that intuitive faga- city, and intellectual comprehenfion, which mark the man whom nature feems to have deftined to the government of empires. On the death of Lord Egremont, which took place nearly at this period, the feals were given to the Earl of Sandwich ; the Earl of Egremont was advanced to the head of the Admiralty ; and the Duke of Bedford, now returned from his embafly to Paris, was appointed Prefident of the Council in the room of the famous Earl Granville, who had for many years pafr, and to the clofe of life, under 03 all 86 K. GEORGE III. all the changing viciffitudes of power, occupied with the higheft reputation that honorable and ex- alted office. In confequence of the retreat of the Earl of Bute, a general coalition of parties feemed now to be again practicable, and overtures to that purpofe were made to Mr. Pitt, and the other leaders in oppofition : but after repeated con- ferences, the negotiations terminated ineffectu- ally ; the King declaring, that the terms infifled on by Mr. Pitt were incompatible with his dig- nity, and of a nature to which he could not in honor accede : and the new Adminiftration feemed refolved to refer to the decifion of experience, whether they were not competent, by their own unaffifted ftrength, in defiance of all oppofition both in and out of Parliament, to eftablifh an ef- ficient Government *. In * Lord Bute had a conference, by his own particular defirc and requeft, with Mr. Pitt, Auguft 25, 1763. He acknow- ledged to Mr. Pitt, that the prefent Adminiftration was too weak to continue ; and intimated, that the King wiftied to ar- range a new Adminiftration with the advice and concurrence of Mr. Pitt. On Saturday the 2-jth, Mr. Pitt waited by com- mand on his Majefty, at the Queen's Palace. The conference lafted three hours, in the courfe of which Mr. Pitt delivered his fentiments on men and things very freely to his Majefty; repre- fenting the prefent degraded fituation of the kingdom both fo- reign and domeftic; that the great Whig families had beeq driven from his Majefty's councils and fervice ; and that it would be equally the intereft of his Majefty and ttie Nation to re ft ore K. GEORGE III. 87 In confequence of the ill fuccefs of the recent attempt at reconciliation, the rage of party feemed more inflamed than ever, and the prefs teemed with political pamphlets on each fide, couched in terms of the extremeft virulence and abufe. reftore them. The King hearkened with complacency ; and upon the renewal of the conference on Monday, Mr. Pitt again enforced thefe topics, faying, that affairs could not be carried on without the great families who have fupported the Revolution Govern- ment, and others, of whofe abilities and integrity the public has had experience. " I mould only deceive your Majefty if I mould leave you in an opinion that I could go on, and your Majefty form a folid Adminiftration on any other foot." The King, whofe behaviour was peife&ly. gracious, at length unexpectedly terminated the conference, by faying, " Well, Mr. Pitt, I fee, or I fear, this won't do ; my honor is concerned, and I mufl fupport it." " Mr. Pitt," fays Lord Hardwicke, who is the relater of thefe particulars (in a letter to his fon Lord Royfton), " affirms, that if he was examined upon oath, he could not tell upon what this negotiation broke off. He believes that my Lord Bute was fincere atjirft, and that the King was in earned the firft day ; but that on the intermediate day, Sunday, fome ftrong effort was made, which produced the alteration* The Minifters, Mr.Grenville and Lord Halifax, his Lordfhip affirms, were highly offended that Lord Bute mould thus attempt to fa- crifice them to his own fears and timidity ; and they give it out, that he is to retire to the Continent for a twelvemonth or more. You know a certain Cardinal was twice exiled out of France ; and governed France as abfolutely whilft he was abfent as when he was prefent." When Mr. Pitt, after the laft conference, ap- peared at the levee, the King behaved to him with fuch marked condefcenfion and affability, that Mr. Pitt was heard to fay, " His Majefty is the greateft courtier in his court." G 4 Thefe 88 K. GEORGE III. Thefe the Miniftry Teemed totally and wifely to difregard, till, on the appearance of the 45th number of a periodical publication ftyled The North Briton, containing a perfonal and very in- decent attack upon the King, charging him with affirming a direct falfehood in his fpeech from the throne, it was in an evil hour judged expedient, for the vindication of his Majefty's honor, to exert every effort of Government to refcue the Sove- reign from an imputation, the impreffion made by which, had it been regarded with the dignity of filent contempt, , would probably have lafted only till the 46th number had promulgated fome new abufe, as impudent, as malignant, and as futile as the former *. The well-known and almoft avowed author of the publication in queftion was Mr. Wilkes, Member of Parliament for the Bo- rough of Aylefbury, a man of ruined fortune and profligate morals, who had made repeated appli- cations to the Miniftry for fome poft that might repair his (nattered circumftances ; but failing of fuccefs, probably through his total want of charac- ter, he refolved in revenge, and it is faid that he fcrupled not openly to declare his refolution, to * NoMinifter had ever been more virulently attacked than Mr. Pitt, nor did the- political publications of the times fpare the per- fon of the late King; but Mr. Pitt, on being urged to profecute the libellers, replied only with a fmile, that the prefs was like the air, " A CHARTERED LIBERTINE." try K. GEORGE III. 3 9 try how far it was practicable to carry the licen- tioufncfs of writing under the pretext of exerciiing the liberty of the prefs. A warrant was ifTued under the hand and feal of Lord Halifax, directed to certain of his Majefty's mefTengers in the ufual official form, commanding them to apprehend the authors, printers, and publishers of that feditious and treafonable paper. On the 29th of April, 1763, late at night, the meffengers entered the houfe of Mr. Wilkes, and produced their warrant, with which, on account of the general terms in which it was drawn, he abfolutely refufed compliance; but on their return the next morning, he was compelled to accom- pany them to the office of the Secretary of State, whence he was committed clofe prifoner to the Tower, his papers being previoufly feized and fealed, and all accefs to his perfon ftriclly prohi- bited. Application being made to the Court of Common Pleas for an habeas corpus, a writ was accordingly iflued, directed to the Conftable of the Tower, in confequence of which, Mr. Wilkes was brought up the next day to Weftminfter Hall ; and the cafe being new and important, he was, after the pleadings were fmifhed, remanded till Friday May 6, that the Judges might have leifure to form their opinion. On that day being again brought before them, Lord Chief Juftice Pratt, afterwards created Lord Camden, a firm and 90 K. GEORGE III. and invariable friend to conftitutional liberty, proceeded to give the opinion of the Court. He declared, as to the leading points involved in this complex queftion, the commitment of Mr. Wilkes to be not in itfelf illegal, being juftified by nu- merous precedents; and though in ftricl; contem- plation of law the warrant of the Secretary of State was not of fuperior force to that of a Juftice of Peace where a combination of circumftances gave a ftrong fufpicion of facts incompatible with the public fafety, he was fupported in the com- mitment even without receiving any particular in- formation for the foundation of the charge. As 'to the fecond objection, the Court was of opinion, that there was no neceffity for the fpecification of thofe particular paflages in the 45th number of The North Briton, which had been deemed a libel. The paper did not, at that time, come under the cognizance of the Court, nor could it without the affiftance of a Jury. As to the third head, the Chief Juftice admitted, that the privilege of Parliament was violated in the perfon of Mr. Wilkes ; for the privilege of Parliament could be forfeited only by treafon, felony, or breach of the peace ; but Mr. Wilkes ftood accufed only of writing a libel, which did not come within that defcription. At moft, it had but a tendency to difturb the peace, and this was not fufficient to deftroy the privilege of a Member of Parliament. The K. GEORGE III. 9 i The Court then discharged Mr. Wilkes, againft whom neverthclefs a profecution was immediately commenced by the Attorney General; and he was at the fame time, by an official notice from the Secretary of State to Lord Temple, Lord Lieute- nant of the County of Bucks, difmifled from his military command as Colonel of the Buckingham- iliire militia ; and Lord Temple was himfelf in a fhort time difmiffed from his lieutenancy, to make room for Lord Le Defpencer, late Sir Fran- cis Dafhwood. Upon the meeting of Parliament, November i5th, .1763, his Majefty, in his fpeech from the throne, exhorted the two Houfes " to cultivate the arts of peace ; to employ their utmofl atten- tion to the difcharge of the heavy debts contracted in the late war : he recommended to them the care and fupport of the fleet ; and towards the clofe of the fpeech he urged them to domeftic union, and that they would difcourage that licentious fpirit which is repugnant to the true principles of liberty and of our happy Conftitu-* tion." Before the King's fpeech could be report- ed to the Houfe, the Minifter,' Mr. Grenville, knowing the intention of Mr. Wilkes to prefer a formal complaint of the breach of privilege com- mitted in his perfon, declared, that he had a mef- fage to deliver from the King. The meflage be- ing read, imported, ie>8 K. GEORGE III. freedom of the Polifh election by force. The Kin* of Pruffia, though his brother Prince Henry had at firft declared himfelf a candidate, was eafily in- duced to acquiefce in this deiign of the Emprefs : his principal object being to prevent the Crown of Poland from becoming hereditary in the Houfe of Saxony. The Court of Vienna, wearied and exhaufted by the late war, though ftrongly biafied in favor of the Electoral family, would not openly oppofe this po- tent combination, being at prefent chiefly intent on fecuring the fucceffion of the Imperial Crown by an election of a King of the Romans in the perlbn of the Archduke Jofeph. The death of the Elector of Saxony, which happened foon after that of his father, decided the conteft. A Diet was fummoned by the Archbifhop of Gnefna, Prince Primate of Poland, on the 7th of May 1764, under the protection of the Ruffian forces. Count Bra- nitzki, General of the Crown, neverthelefs, in con- junction with fixty-feven fenators and nuncios, ligned a formal proteft againft the validity of the Diet, and with their partifans began to afTemble. troops. In return he was diverted of his office by the Diet, and, being purfucd by a fuperior force of Poles and Ruffians, was compelled to retire into Hungary. Many of the Polifh mal- contents found refuge in Turkey, where the Imperial and French Minifters K. GEORGE III. io$ Minifters had been affiduoufly employed in repre- fenting the proceedings of the Diet as inimical to the intcrefts of the Porte. On the 7th of September 1 764, the Pafia Con- venta agreeably to ancient cuftom being previously fettled, Count Poniatowfki was declared King of Poland and Great Duke of Lithuania, and as fuch was either willingly or reluctantly recognized by all the powers of Europe. Amongft the mod early in their congratulations was the King of Pruffia, who, with his own hand, wrote upon this occafion a letter to the King of Poland, in a ftyle rarely adopted by fovereigns. " Your Mnjcfty," fays this great Monarch, " muft reflect, that from a man exalted by the voice of his equals from a fub- ject to a king, every thing is expected that can adorn a Crown. A King who is fo by birth, if he acts derogatory to his Nation, is a fatire only on himfelf ; but an ele6ted one, who behaves incon- fiftent with his dignity, reflects difhonor alfo on his fubjects." During the interregnum the afcendericy ac- quired by Ruflia in the affairs of Poland very ftrik- ingly appeared. In compliance with the requi- fition of the Emprefs, the Diet declared theinvefti- ture of Prince Charles of Saxony, A. D. 1758, as Duke of Courland, to be null and void ; and ac- knowledged Count Biron, whom her Imperial Ma- jefty had re-inflated in the government, as the lawful Duke, no K. GEORGE III. Duke, and decreed that the dignity fhould be per- petuated in the Biron family. At the fame time the Republic formally agreed to give the title of Emprefs to the Czarina, and that of King to his Pruffian Majefty, upon his engaging NEVER to lay claim to POLISH PRUSSIA. It is however very re- markable, that the Emprefs, who had declared her- felf protectrefs of the Diflidents or Non Catholics of Poland, who are very numerous, and chiefly of the Greek communion as profclled throughout the Mufcovite empire, could obtain no fatisfaclion re- fpccting her fubfcquent demands for the re-efta- blimment of that clafs of citizens in the free en- joyment of their religion, and the privileges gua- rantied to them by the treaty of Oliva. " On the contrary," fays the Royal Hiftorian, " the Diet unanimoufly rcfolved, as if by a kind of fanatic en- thufiafm, that the Constitutions made againfl them A. D. 1717, 1733, and 1736, fhould be carried flrictly into execution." The Emprefs, highly offended at the unexpected and daring rcliftance of the Diet as to this point, formed a rcfolution to fupport the Diflidents by force of arms. This unjuftifiable determination being made known, the difcontent of the Poles be- came general and violent. The nation loudly ex- claimed, that it was the fubverfion of the eftablifh- ed faith which Ruflia really meant to effect ; and throughout all the provinces of the kingdom, from the K. GEORGE III. lit ihe Viftula to the Neifter, were at once feen the allonifhing effects of that implacable fpecies of ma- lignity which originates in religious bigotry, and which is by far the mofl fatal and contagious of all the dire diftempers to which the human mind is fubjecl. A Ruffian army entered the kingdom, under the evil aufpices of whom the Diffidents formed a CONFEDERATION for their common fafety and defence. An extraordinary Diet being called to determine this queftion, the utmoft degree of violence was practifed on the Members by Prince Repnin, the Ruffian General ; and even the fliadow of liberty annihilated, by fending into exile the principal adverfaries of the Ruffian mea- fures particularly the Bifhops of Cracow and Kiovia, who had diftinguifhed themfelves by the virulence and pertinacity of their oppofition. The clergy, with clamorous vociferations, founded anew with mofl difaftrous fuccefs the alarm of herefy and fchifm throughout the kingdom. The nobles, feeing the power of the ariftocracy no leis endan- gered than that of the priefthood, employed all their credit and influence alfo to perfuade the people, " that mafs of intellectual imbecility," as the King of Pruffia flyles them, " made only to be the dupes of thofe who will be at the pains to deceive them," that the newly elccled Monarch had joined with the Ruffians to overthrow the holy catholic religion; and in the month of March 1768, the 4 firft If* K. GEORGE IIL firft Catholic confederation was formed at BAR the Count Krafzinfky being chofen marfhal. This was loon followed by many others; and in the de- lirium of paffion and revenge they afpired at no lefs than the dethronement of the King, who was thus compelled to throw himfelf entirely into the power of Ruffia a meafure, however abhorrent from his feelings and judgment, now become neceflary to the retaining pofleffion of a throne which feemed al- ready fhaking under him. By the vigor and promptitude of her proceedings the Emprefs Catherine had attracted in a peculiar degree the attention of the European Courts. In her general iyilem of Polifli politics fhe was ftrongly fupported by the King of Prulfia; and the peace recently concluded with that Monarch was now cemented by a treaty of mutual defence, contain- ing a fecret article to prevent the eftablifhment of hereditary fucceffion in Poland fo far adopting the fentiments of the late Emperor Peter III. who fought with eagernefs the friendfhip and alliance of the Court of Berlin. But in relation to other powers her views widely differed. It is neceflary to recollect that the late Czar was the fon of the eldeft daughter of Peter the Great, married to that Duke of Holftein from whom the Duchy of Slefwick had been violently and unjuftly wrefted by Denmark; though in the fequel ceded and gua- rantied to the Crown of Denmark by all the prin- 6 - cipal K. GEORGE III. 113 clpal powers of Europe ; and amongft the reft by Ruffia, as a party to the treaty of Vienna, A. D. 1731. The Czar, neverthelefs, deeming no lapfe of time or weight of authority fufficient to fane- tion an injury fo atrocious, burned with an eager defire to recover his patrimonial pofleflions, and avenge himfelf upon that power by whom his fa- mily had been fo cruelly opprefled. No fooner had he afcended the throne than great military preparations were made for the avowed purpofe of a war with Denmark, who, juftly alarmed at the profpecl: of a conteft the moft dangerous in which Ihe had perhaps ever engaged, exerted uncommon efforts on her part to maintain by force of arms the validity of her claims. But the depoiition of the Emperor proved in its confequences a moft happy event for Denmark ; for the Emprefs, to whom the recovery of Slefwic appeared a chime- rical and ufelefs project, immediately demonftrated a difpolition to reftore the harmony fo long fub- lifting between the two crowns : and in the fe- quel, in order to attach the Danifh Court by all ' the ties of intereft and gratitude to that of Ruffia, the Grand Duke, only fon of the late Emperor, made a voluntary ceffion to the King of Denmark of the entire Duchy of Holftein Gottorp ; an ac- quifition invaluable to Denmark, though on the part of Ruffia, on account of its remote and de- tached fituation, a trivial facrifice. VOL. I. I An *i 4 K, GEORGE III. An incident of a moft tragic nature at this time occurred in Ruffia, exciting by its fingular and ir- refiftible pathos the fympathy and compaffion of all Europe. The infant Emperor Iwan, of the houfe of Mecklenburg, defcendcd from Iwan, elder brother of the Czar Peter the Great, had been clofely confined fince the period of his depofition by the late Emprefs Elizabeth, for more than twenty years in the callle of Schluflelberg. At the acceliion of the prefent Emprefs, apprehenfions being entertained that an attempt might be made to revive the pretenfions of this young prince, his guards were doubled, and orders given, if any refcue fhould be attempted, in no cafe to fuffer him to efcape alive from the place of his confine- ment. Very early in the morning of the I5th of Augult (1764), the Emprefs being a.t that time refident at Mittan, the capital of the Duchy of Courland, an officer named Mirowitz produced a forged order from the Emprefs to the Governor of the fortrefs, fignifying her refolution to refign the crown to Prince Iwan, as the' lawful heir and fovereign of the Ruffian empire. Upon the Go- vernor's difputing the authenticity of the order, Mirowitz, rufhing forward fabre in hand at the head of his troop, attempted to force a paflage into the caftle, but was rcpulfed by the guard. In the mean time the villains, to whom the cuftody of Prince Iwan's perfon was more immediately en- truftedj K. GEORGE in. f rj trufted, pretending that they could iidt anfwer for the confequences, went immediately to the apart- ment of the young Prince then afleep, and as far as appears entirely ignorant of all the circum- ftances attending this ftrange project of refcue, and in the mofl barbarous manner murdered him in his bed. His body being immediately expofed at a window, Mirowitz, terrified at the fpectacle, fur- rendered himfelf prifoner, and after a public and folemn examination and trial was condemned to lofe his head on the fcaffold a fentence to which he fubmitted with great conftancy and refignation. A relation of this affair was publifhed by order of the Court of St. Peterfburg, but accompanied with certain circumftances of myftery and romance which have never been fatisfactorily cleared up; and there were thofe who did not fcruple to infi- nuate that Mirowitz was the unconfcious inftru- ment and victim of the infidious and deteftable artifices of the Court. By an important article of the late treaty of Hubertfburg, the King of Pruffia had given his exprefs and formal aflent to the election of a King of the Romans, which at a former period he fo ob- ftinately oppofed ; and no fhadow of competition exifting, the Archduke, heir of the houfe of Auf- tria-Lorraine, was chofen, and crowned with great folemnity at Francfort, April 3, 1764; and in the courfe of the following year, the Emperor Francis I a dying n6 K. GEORGE III. dying fuddenly at Infpruck, that prince fucceeded xjuietly to the Imperial throne, under the appella- tion of Jofeph II. France and Spain Teemed well difpofed to eftablifh, by the equity of their conduct, the permanency of the late peace ; and the various occafional grounds of complaint which had arifen were fatisfactorily obviated. Differences indeed ftill fubfified, of a nature fomewhat ferious, refpect- ing the payment of the Manilla ranfom, and the liquidation of the Canada falls of exchange, agree- ably to the provifions of the treaty a large pro- portion of which the French Court affirmed that Bigot, the Intendant of the province, had frau- dulently and furreptitioufly hTued, and for which therefore they would not undertake to be refpon- fible. Frefh caufes of difpute now arofe between the King of France and the different Parliaments of that kingdom. A royal arret being iffued, impof- ing a duty of one per cent, on all alienations of immoveable property, the Parliament of Rouen refufed to enrcgifler this and fome other excep- tionable edicts ; and forcible meafures being em- ployed by the Due de Harcourt to compel them to compliance, they almofl unanimoufly refigned their offices : nor would they be prevailed upon to refume their functions, till fuch alterations as they had luggefted were confented to by the Court. The Parliament of Touloufe was equally refractory^ K. GEORGE III. 117 refractory, and the Due de Fitz- James, Governor of Languedoc, put various of its members under arreft for their refolute refufal to enreg-ifter the edicts in queftion. On which the Parliament pre- fented articles of impeachment againft the Duke, and paired an arret, that the perfon of the faid Duke fbould be feized wherever he, could be found, and brought to the prifons of the Court, and his eftates fequeftered. The Parliament of Parrs, as the fu- preme court of judicature, received without hefi- tatiori the appeal, and commanded the Firft Prefi- dent to wait upon the King, to know whether his Majefty would be pleafed to attend the examina- tion. The King replied, " that, as the Due de Fitz- James reprefented his perfon in the province of Lan- guedoc, he referved to himfelf and his council the determination of this caufe permitting however the Parliament to make fuch reprefentations of his conduct, as they fhould find agreeable to juftice and the laws." When this reply was reported, a grand committee, confifting of the Princes of the Blood, four Peers of France, and fixty other Mem- bers of the Parliament, was nominated to wait upon the King with frefh remonitrances : but the death of the Duke, which took place about this time, put a flop to the proceedings; leaving how- ever upon the reflecting and philofophic mind an impreffion, that views and fentiments of a com- plexion novel and interefting were becoming daily J 3 more ii8 K. GEORGE III. more prevalent in France; and that caufes perma- nent and powerful were now ftrongly, though fe- cretly, operating, which muft in procefs of time, and at the deftined period, produce effecls propor- tionably dangerous and violent *. The tranquillity of the fouthern parts of Europe was at this period interrupted only by the war which had for a feries of years fubtifted with little jntermiffion between the Republic of Genoa and the inhabitants of Corfica, over which ifland the Genoefe had long exercifed a moft imperious and oppreffive dominion. During the war of 1740, England had given repeated aid and affiftance to the Corficans in their conteft with Genoa, then in * The following remarkable prediction was at this precife period penned by M. Voltaire : " Tout ce que je vois jete les femences a une revolution, qui arrivera IMMANOJUABLEMENT, & dont je n'aurai pas le plaifir d'etre temoin. Les Francois arri- Tent tard a tout, mais enfin ils arrivent. La lumiere s'eft telle- ment repandue de proche en proche, qu'on eclatera a la premiere occafion, et alors ce fera un beau tapage. Les jennes gens font bienheureux ils verront des belles chofes." This is in part wonderfully verified ; but, through the fatal extravagancies of thofe who make liberty to confift in fuch wild and chimerical ideas of equality as are inconfiftent with every principle of order pnd fubordination, and inflamed to madnefs by the unprincipled and unprovoked attack of the continental powers, the blifsful aera fo warmly anticipated by M. Vokgire feems yet at a great diftance. From this chaos order will however one day arife ; and of our own times it may ftill perhaps be truly affirmed, " Les jeunes gens verront des belles chofes." K. GEORGE III. 119 alliance with France and Spain ; but at the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle no mention was made of thofe brave and unfortunate, iflanders, who ftill continued to defend their liberties with invincible- refolu- tion and fortitude. A certain German adventurer, known under the title of Baron Neuhoff, a man poftefled of plaufible and popular talents, had found means to obtain their confidence, and was actually elected, A. D. 1736, Sovereign of the ifland, under the appellation of Theodore king of Corfica. But being found utterly incompetent to make good his magnificent boafts and promifes, he was com- pelled to abdicate his fovereignty, and retired to England, where, being deeply involved in debt, he at length died in a forlorn and obfcure lituation. The Corficans, after the banifhment of Theodore, transferred their regards, and in fome meafure their allegiance, to a native chief, of the name of Gia- cinto Paoli, whom they elected General of their armies, and Prelident of their councils, and under whofe direction and guidance they gained very fignal advantages over the troops of the Republic ; fo that, had no other power interfered, there ex- ifted a ftrong probability that they would ultimately fucceed in the eftabljfhment of their liberty and independence, England, during the high tide of her fuccefTes, had demonftrated her regard to the pretended rights of the Republic, by fcrupuloufly refraining 1 4 from no K. GEORGE III. from all intercourfe with the Corficans ; though it would furely have been highly becoming her dig- nity, and that paffionate attachment .to freedom by which fhe was herfelf characterized, to have inter- pofed her powerful influence in order to fecure, as with the mofl perfect eafe fhe might incontro- vertibly have done, to thefe heroic iflanders the bleffings of peace and liberty. But never, never hath an inflance of national generofity fimilar to this found a place in the records of hiftory. On the contrary, a proclamation was iffiied under the adminiflration of Lord Bute, flrictly prohibiting the fubjects of England from granting aid or af- fiftance to the Corfican REBELS ; and the Republic of Genoa flill perfifled in her fruitlefs and ruinous efforts to reduce them to abfolute fubmiffion. At length, General Matra, the Genoefe Commander, being defeated with great lofs in an engagement with the infurgents near Furiani ; and Baflia, the capital of the ifland, appearing in imminent danger of falling into the hands of the Corficans (who in July 1755 had elected, as their chief, Pafcal Paoli, fon of Giacinto) ; the Senate of Genoa was compelled to make a formal application for affift- ance to the Mofl Chriflian King, the ally of the Republic; and in Augufl 1764 a convention was. figned at Compeigne, importing that his Mofl Chriflian Majefly, in confideration of a certain flipulated fubfidy, fhould fend a confiderable force both K- GEORGE III. in both naval and military to the ifland of Corfica the latter there to remain for the term of four years if needful ; and on the refloration of peace his Moil Chriflian Majefly confented to guaranty the ifland to the Republic. The Corficans, how- ever juflly alarmed at this interference, refolved with inflexible conflancy to defend their liberties at whatever rifle, fully and immoveably determined to endure every extremity rather than fubmit them- felves and their poilerity to the insupportable yoke of Genoefe tyranny and flavery. At the fame time General Paoli was commiflioned, refpe6tfully to reprefent to his Mofi Chriflian Majefty, in the name of the Corlican nation, the injury he was doing to the free Corficans, by fending his troops thither at the time they were upon the point of driving their enemies out of their ifland. And well knowing how unavailing this reprefentation would probably prove, they charged their Chief to folicit at the different Courts of Europe, particularly thofe of Vienna and London, their mediation with his Mofl Chriflian Majefly, and to implore their pro- teclion in defence of their rights and liberties. Thefe applications, however, were doubtlefs re- ceived with coldnefs or contempt ; for the French troops under the Marquis de Marboeuf arrived without any impediment at the place of their def- tination within or about the end of the year, and were immediately put into poffeflion of the princi- pal iz* K. G E O R G E III. pal fortrefles of Corfica yet remaining in the hands of the Genoefe. In this general review of foreign politics, fcarcely can be accounted worthy of mention the difpute fubfifting between his Britannic Majefty, as Elector of Hanover, and the Chapter of Ofnaburg, to the bifhopric of which the King of England had, agreeably to the provifions of the treaty of Weft- phalia, nominated his fecond fon Prince Frederic ; during the minority of whom it became a fubjecl: of doubt and difcuffion, to whom belonged the ad- miniftration of the temporaries of the See, and the comitial fuffrage in the Diet of the Empire the appointment of an infant bifhop being a new cafe in ecclefiaftical hjflory. In a conteft fo unequal it will eafily be fuppofed that, on an appeal to the Diet now aflembled at Ratifbon, a decilion was given without helitation in favor of the Mon- arch. It remains only to remark, that on the 3oth of December 1765 died at Rome, in a far advanced age, the famous Chevalier de St. George, only fon of the late King James II. Born with the profpecl of inheriting three powerful kingdoms, he expe- rienced during the courfe of a long life only a fiicceflion of misfortunes. So entirely had he fur- vived his political confequence, that the intelli- gence of his death was received in Great Britain with the utmoft coldnefs and indifference ; though bit K. GEORGE III. , tj his pretenfions to the Britifh Crown had, within the memory of the majority of perfbns living, excited the higheft appreheniions and alarm. And thefe claims, however futile in themfelves, or with what- ever ferious mifchief to the ftate attended, were at lead produclive of this good confequence, that they compelled the reigning family perpetually to recur to thofe great principles of liberty civil and religious on which their own title to the crown was founded. But the annihilation of all competi- tion will too naturally lead to the revival of thofe high and lofty ideas of regal authority fo flattering to the pride and ambition of kings, but which in this country at leaf! cannot be a6led upon but at their utrnoft peril. The Chevalier left two fons, upon the eldeft of whom devolved that lhadow of a (hade, the divine and indefeafible right of ilicceffion to the throne of Great Britain. The younger, educated an ecclefiailic, had been ad- vanced to the purple under the appellation of Car- dinal of York; and he is at this moment the laft furviving male of the ancient and royal houfe of Stuart, which, having been precipitated from the height of regal fovereignty in confequence of its attachment to the Catholic faith, thus, to clofe and confummate its glories, ** pays the laft tribute of a faint to Heaven." The Parliament of England was convened at the lifual period of the enfuing winter, and early in the year 124 K. GEORGE III. year 1765 the queftion refpecting American taxa^- tion was revived with redoubled warmth and vigor. The indulgence of the Minifter in deferring the im- pofition of the ftamp duties till the prefent year had not produced any advances towards an ac- commodation. The difference of principle occa- Coned by the agitation of this new and dangerous queftion, was in facl far too great to admit of any amicable cornpromife. Numerous petitions or me- morials were tranfmitted from the different Colo- nies, none of them exprefsly admitting, but the majority on the contrary pofitively denying, the right of the Britifli Legiflature to impofe any tax for the purpofe of railing a Colonial revenue, at the difpofal of the Britifh Parliament, and payable into the Britiih Exchequer. On the part of the Colonifts it was urged, that the claim of England was not only abfolutely novel, but diametrically oppofite to the fpirit and letter of the Englifh conftitution, which has eila- blifhed as a fundamental axiom that taxation is inseparably attached to reprefentation that as the Colonies were not, and from local and political ob- ilacles could not, be reprefented in the Britifh Par- liament, it would be of the very eflence of tyranny to attempt to exercife an authority over them, which from its very nature mufl lead to grofs and inevitable abufe. For when Great Britain was in full poileffion of the power now contended for, cou!4 K. GEORGE III. 12$ could it poffibly be imagined, when a fum of money for the fupply of the exigencies of Govern- ment waswanting-, that the Britifh Parliament-would not rather choofe to vote, that it (hould be paid by the Colon ifts, than by themfelves and their confti- tuents ? In reply to the argument which ftated as highly reafonable that America fhould contribute her pro- portion to the general expence of the empire, it was faid, " that America had never been deficient in contributing, at the conftitutional requilition of the Crown, in her own Aflemblies, to the utmoft of her ability, towards the expcnccs cf the wars in which conjointly with England flic had been in- rolved that, in the courfe of the laft memorable conteft, large fums had been repeatedly voted by Parliament, as an indemnification to the Colonies for exertions which were allowed to be difpropor- tionate to their means and reiburces * that the proper * In the month of February 1756, the fum of r 15,000!. was voted by Parliament, as a free gift and reward to the Colonies of New England, New York, and Jcrfey, for their paft fervices ; and as an encouragement to continue to exert themfelves with vigor; May 1757, 50,000!. was in like manner voted to the Caro- linas; and in 1758,41,0001.10 the MafTachufetts and Connedti- cut. April 1759, 200, cool, was voted as a compenfation to the refpe&ive Colonies in North America March 1760, 200,000!. 1761, zoo,oool. 1762, 133,000!. 1763, 133,000!. in all, one million feventy-two thoufand pounds. Exclufive, however, of thefe ii6 K. GEORGE IIL proper compenfation to Britain for the expence of tearing and protecting her Colonies was the mo- nopoly of* their trade, the abfolute direction and regulation of which was univerfally acknowledged to be inherent in the Britifh Legiflature." It was however clearly intimated, that a fpecific fum in lieu of all other claims might be obtained from the Colonies, if accepted as a voluntary offering, not as a revenue extorted by a tyrannical and law- lefs force, which left them no merit in giving, and which might ultimately leave them nothing to give. The argument or pretext which appeared to excite moft indignation in the bread of the Ame- ricans and of their advocates, was that which af- fected to deem them already reprefentsd ; and as being, if not actually, yet virtually included in the general fyftem of reprefentation, in the fame man- ner as that very large proportion of the inhabitants of the Britifh ifland who have no votes in the election of Members or Reprefentatives in the Britifh Parliament. " The very efTence of repre- thefe indemnifications, and of the extraordinary fupplies granted In the different Colonial Aflemblies, a debt of above two millions and ahalf had been incurred by America during the war; and this debt Vras far from being as yet liquidated. But it might be inferred from the conduct of the prefent Miniftry, that the moft trivial revenue extorted from America was deemed preferable to the largeft fums freely and voluntarily granted. fentation," K. GEORGE lit 127 fentation," faid America, " confifts in this that the reprefentative is himfelf placed in a fituation analogous to thofe whom he reprefents, To that he fhall be himfelf bound by the laws which he is entrufted to enact, and liable to the taxes which he is authorifed to impofe. This is precifely the cafe with regard to the national reprefentation of Britain. Thofe who do, and thofe who do not elect, together with the elected body themfelves, are, in refpect to this grand and indifpenfable re- quifite, upon a perfect equality that the laws made and the taxes impofccl extend alike to all. Where then in this cafe is the danger of oppref- fion, or where the inducement to opprefs ? But in the cafe of American taxation, thefe mock reprefen- ta fives actually relieve themfelves in the very fame proportion that they burden thofe whom they falfe- ly and ridiculoufly pretend to reprefent. Where then in this cafe is the fecurity again ft oppreflion ? or where is the man fo weak and prejudiced as not to fee the irrefiftible tendency of this fyftem to oppreflion, however honeft and upright candor would reprefent the intentions of thofe by whom it fhould be originally cftablifhed ? It is painful to reflect how little influence thefe clear and irrefragable reafonings had in an Afiem- bly fo intelligent and dignified as that of the Par- liament of Great Britain. Jealous in the higheft degree, in common with all other bodies of men in E tir, in whom power is vefted, of the flighteft violation of their authority, they unanimoufly concurred, however divided on other points, in not fuffering the memorials which queftioned their jurifdiclion to be read in the Houfc of Commons. The Mi- nifter indeed propofed, that the Colonial Agents might be indulged in being heard at the bar of the Houfe by counfel, contrary to the ufual par- liamentary practice, againft the tax, in behalf of their refpeclive Colonies ; but this was refufed as derogatory to the honor of the Colonies, who would not on this occafion petition, but proteil : and the STAMP ACT, after paffing through the ufual forms, and confiding in the fupport of great and decilive majorities, received at length the royal aflent. The oppofition to this famous act, though weak in refpect to numbers, was neverthelefs unufually ardent and animated. General Conway, with the magnanimous firmnefs of an ABDIEL, fingly pro- tefted againft the right \ and Colonel Barre, a fpeaker of great eminence in the Houfe, in reply to the reflections of Mr. Charles Townfhend on the pretended ingratitude of the Americans, whom he ftyled " children planted by our care, and npu- riflied by our indulgence," broke out into a moft eloquent and indignant exclamation " They planted by your care !" faid he, " NO your op- preffions planted them in America they fled from 6 your K GEORGE lit. 129 your tyranny to a then uncultivated and inhofpita- ble wildernefs, expofed to all the hardfhips to which human nature is liable. They nourifhed by your indulgence !- No ; they grew by your neglect of them ; your care of them was difplayed, as foon as you began to care about them, in fend- ing perfons to rule them who were the deputies of deputies of Minifters men whofe behaviour on many occafions has caufed the blood of thofe fons of liberty to recoil within them men who have been promoted to the high eft feats of juftice in that country, in order to efcape being brought to the bar of a court of juftice in their own. I have been converfant with the Americans, and I know them to be loyal indeed ; but a people jealous of their liberties, and who will vindicate them if ever they fhould be violated : and let my prediction of this day be remembered, that the lame fpirit of freedom which actuated that people at firft, will accompany them ftill." The houfe fat awhile apparently hefitating and amazed, but the event (hewed how tranfient was the impreffion. An occafional indifpofition of the King exciting much alarm in the poffible profpect of a long mi- nority, for which no public provifion had been made, on the aad of April 1765 the King went in ftate to the Houfe of Peers, and in a fpeech to both Houfes of Parliament recommended to their fe- rious attention the making fuch provifion as would Voi,. I. K be fjo K. GEORGE 111. be neceflary in cafe any of his children fhould ftfc- ceed to the Throne before they fhould refpeclively 'attain the age of eighteen years. In confequence cf this recommendation a bill was brought into the Houfe of Lords, framed on the plan of the Regency Act of the twenty-fourth of the late King, empowering his Majefty to appoint, by inftrument in writing under his fign manual, either the Queen or any other perfon cf his royal family ufually refi- clent in Great Britain, to be Regent of thefe king- doms until the fucceflbr to the Crown (hall attain the age of eighteen years. The Council of Re- gency to confili of the Dukes of York and Glou- cefter ; the Princes Henry Frederic and Frederic William, brothers to the King ; William Auguftus Duke of Cumberland, uncle to his Majefty ; and the great Officers of State for the time being. Some remarkable circumftances attended the origin and progrefs of this bill. It was underftood to be introduced into Parliament officially only, the oftenfible Minifters not having been previoufly or confidentially confulted on the fubjecl. A doubt arifing on the queflion, " Who were the Royal Family ?" it was explained by the Law XKDrds to be the defcendants of King George II. and in this conftru6lion Lord Halifax, the Secretary of State, moft readily acquiefced, declaring it to be perfectly confbnant to the royal intention. In this point however his Lordfhip appeared to be egre- 4 gioufly K. GEORGE III. TL 2 t gioufly miftaken ; for when the bill was tranfmitted to the Commons, a motion was made by Mr. Mor- ton, a confidential friend of the Earl of Bute, to infert the name of her Royal Highnefs the Princefs Dowager of Wales, the omiffion of which was de- clared to be a grofs indignity offered to a Princefs who merited the efteem and gratitude of the En- glifh nation. The bill accordingly pafled with this important amendment ; but it foon appeared that a very deep refentment was harbored by the Prin- cefs at the conduct of the Minifters in the whole of this tranfaclion, which fhe confideredas an open and flagrant affront, inftigated by a malicious and infidious defign on their part to exclude her alto- gether from the future eventual adminiftration of affairs. A refolution was immediately formed by the Cabinet of Carl ton Houfe to difcard theprefcnt Minifters, who had lately on various occalions been, found very refractory. For this pnrpofe it was neceflary to make overtures either to Mr. Pitt or the Duke of Newcaftle, the leaders of the two great parties now in Oppofition. At the latter end of May (1765) the Duke of Cumberland held a conference with Lord Temple and Mr. Pitt at Hayes, and acquainted them that the King had refolved to change his Minifters, and wifhed to engage his Lordfhip, Mr. Pitt, and their friends in his fervice ; but firft the Duke re- queftcd " to know the conditions." Mr. Pitt with K 2 warmth 13* K. G E O R G E IIT. warmth affured his Royal Highnefs, " that he was ready to go to St. James's on this provifo that he could carry the Conftitution along with him.'* The refult of the conference not being fatisfactory, it became a matter of indifpen fable neceffity to continue for fome time longer the prefent Mi- nifters in office. But Mr. Grenville, now tho- roughly apprized of the hoftile refolutions of thofe who directed the Interior Cabinet, and prefuming on their prefent inability to carry their defigns into execution, kept no meafures with the Court, and infilled, in concert with the Duke of Bedford and his other colleagues, upon the immediate difmil- iion of Mr. Stuart Mackenzie, brother to Lord Bute ; the Duke of Northumberland, whofe fon had recently married the daughter of Lord Bute ; and Mr. Fox, his conftant and powerful parliamen- tary advocate, now created Lord Holland. And the Duke of Bedford is faid to have made per- fonally to the King warm and indignant remoii- firances againft that fyflemof bafenefs and duplicity of which his Majefty's Minifters found themfelves the victims. Another advance was now made on the part of the Court to gain over Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple,, who by command waited on his Majefty together at the Queen's Palace (June 25), but without ef- fect the brother patriots infixing upon a total change of men, meafures, and counfels, whilft on the K. GEORGE III. 733 tbe part of the Court it was made an indifpenfable condition, that the " King's friends" who held Subordinate offices fhould be permitted to continue in their prefent fituations. His Majefty being refolved at any rate to part with his prefent Minifters, now at open war with the Cabinet of Carlton Houfe, the Duke of Cum* berland was again applied to; and a negotiation 1>eing opened through his mediation with the Duke of Newcaftle, the arrangements for a new Ad- mininration were in a fhort time fettled *. His Grace, unable to fuftain the fatigues and cares of the department he had formerly occupied, now chofe for himfelf the honorable iinecure of Lord Privy Seal, to which, in consideration of pafl fer- vjces and obligations, was now for the firlt and laft time annexed the patronage of the CHURCH, * This was the laft public tranfa&ion in which the Duke of Cumberland took part, his Royal Highnefs dying fuddenly of an apoplexy in the autumn of the prefent year, October 31, 1765, in the forty-fifth year of his age. This Prince being the youngeft of the numerous family of King George II. Louifa Queen of Denmark excepted, and not born till fome years after the Acccf- fion, was eonfequently a native of England ; and happily not being fent to GERMANY^ EDUCATION, he might boaft " that his heart was truly Englifh." His perfonal and public virtues rendered him highly refpeftable ; and by the viflory of Culloden he had the glory of eftablifhing, it may be hoped for ever, the liberties of his country, and of fixing the crown of thefe realms beyond all danger of future attempts on the head of his father, K 3 The 134 K - GEORGE III, The Marquis of Rockingham, a nobleman of great probity and clear underflanding, of juft and ge- nerous fentiments, and of amiable and conciliating manners, was placed at the head of the Treafury ; Mr/ Dowdefwell, a man of fterling talents and in- flexible virtues, equally a ftranger to the artifice and fervility of Courts, being appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Earl of Northington was confirmed in his pofl as Chancellor of Great Bri- tain, and Lord Egmont as Firft Lord of the Ad- miralty. Lord Winchelfea fucceeded the Duke of Bedford as Prefident of the Council ; and the Seals, lately in the pofTefTion of the Earls of Sand- wich and Halifax, were transferred to the Duke of Grafton (a young nobleman diftinguifhed by his parliamentary talents, and who had' early attained to an high degree of political eminence) and Ge- neral Conway, a name of unfullied honor, upon whom the talk of conducting the bufinefs of Go- vernment in the Houfe of Commons chiefly de- volved. The Earl of Hertford, brother to the General, fucceeded the Duke of Northumberland in the Government of Ireland. Lord Temple condemned in terms of bitternefs and acrimony, and Mr. Pitt with more decorum and referve, the acceptance of the new Minifters. Had the Duke of Newcaftle and his friends been proof againft the temptations and allurements of office, it was faid that an effectual termination muft K. GEORGE. III. i jj inuft have been put to the fecret reign of the favorite ; whereas now his influence was at the moft but fufpended until a more fuitable oppor- tunity offered for making another difplay of his power and verfatility. And the nation at large, though not unwilling to acknowledge the merits of the prefent Minifters, were aftoniihed and dif- pleafed to fee a new arrangement of Adminiftration formed on Whig principles, from which Lord Tem- ple and Mr. Pitt were excluded. On the other hand, the Minifters complained of the inflexibility of men who, when great conftitutional points might be with certainty fecured, would not fcruple to put all to the hazard rather than accede to terms of reafonable accommodation. On the 1 4th of January 1766 the Parliament was convened for the difpatch of bufinefs, and their attention was immediately excited and en- grofled by the difturbances and tumults which had taken place in almoft all parts of the Continent of America, in confequence of the STAMP ACT pafled in the laft feffion. As the queftion relative to this famous act was chiefly a conteft of principle, it is fcarcely worth while to remark the abfurdity and oppreffion ariiing from the nature and regu- lations of the act itfelf, and which afforded a mofl flriking and hideous fpecimen of the defpotifm which would be eventually exercifed when the new fyftem fhould be fully eflablifhed. Such was K4 the ij6 K. GEORGE III. the difficulty, in a country fo thinly peopled in proportion to its extent as America, to procure the necefiary ftamps, that the cod of obtaining them from the diflributors was in many parts faid to be tenfold the amount of the duty. By the provifions of the act, the profecutor might bring his action againft the fuppofed delinquent in a court fituated at one extremity of the Continent, though the trefpafs were committed, more than fifteen hun- dred miles diftant, at the other yet the defendant, {hould the plaintiff be caft, could obtain no da- mages if the judge fhould certify that there was a frobabh foundation for the profecution. The judge moreover had an evident intcrcft in procuring a verdict for the plaintiff, being allowed a large pro- portion of the penalty in cafe of conviction. Well might it be afked, " whether the mod abject vaf- fals of the moft tyrannic Government would paf- fively fubmit to fo humiliating a yoke * !" Upon receiving authentic intelligence that the vote of the preceding year was converted into an act of the legiflature, the portentous melancholy .. :,f *-. * An abominable claufe offered by the Minifter, to enable the American Governors to quarter the foldiery in private houfes for the purpofe of enforcing this a6t, was, greatly to the honor ef the Houfe, unanimously rejected ; but it ferves to (hew what tillanous means an hbneit man, for fuch was Mr. Grenviile, will fpmetimes not fcruple to adopt, when blinded by prejudice or paftlon, and obilinately bent on the accomplifhment of a favorite - < which K. GEORGE Iir/ *# which had univerfally prevailed was on a Hidden converted into fury, and broke out every where into deeds of violence. The (hips in the harbor of Bofton hung out their colors balf-maft high, <& a fignal of the deepeft diftrcfs. The bells of the churches throughout the city, being muffled, rang out a dumb peal. The act itfelf, as foon as it came from the King's print ing-houfe, was burnt by the populace, with the effigies of the men moft active in paffing it. The mafters of thofe veflels which had conveyed the ftamps to America were compelled to deliver up their execrated cargoes to an enraged multitude, who treated them with the fame ignominy which the acl itfelf had expe- rienced. Thofe who had accepted commiffions to acl as diftributors of ft amps, were forced by public oath to renounce all concern in them at this or any future juncture ; and in fome inftances the houfes of thofe who were mod obnoxious were demolifhed, and their effects plundered or de- ftroyed. The juftices of the peace in many parts gave public notice, that they would never, by act- ing in that capacity, be inftrumcntal to the fubver- fion of their country's liberties : the gentlemen alfo of the law, fired by the fame patriotic enthu- fiafm, univerfally renounced, in the exercife of their profeffion, the ufe of the Britifh ftamps. But the moft alarming oppofition was made by the merchants, who entered into folemn engagements not 8 K. GEORGE III. jiot to import any more goods from Great Britain till the Stamp Acl was repealed. By the id of November (1765), the day on which the acl: was to take place, not a fheet of (lamped paper was to be found throughout the Colonies : fo that all bu~ iinefs which could not be legally carried on without ftamps was entirely at a ftand. Every where the courts of juftice were fhut, and the ports clofed. The Provincial Aflemblies, far from taking any effectual meafures to enforce fubmiffion to th acl, palled refolutions in oppofition to it, declara- tor} 7 of their conftitutional and unalienable right?, and eftablifhed committees to correfpond and ad- vife concerning the common affairs of the Conti- nent. From thefe committees delegates were ap- pointed, who, meeting at New York, unanimoufly concurred in framing and publifhing a fort of ma- nifefto expreffive of their grievances. A great variety of papers were, by order of the King, laid before Parliament, relative to thefe alarming tranfaclions ; and in that fpirit of equity, moderation, and juftice, which denoted the pre- valence at this period of the maxims and counfels, of genuine Whiggifm, his Majefty declared, in his fpeech to the two Houfes, " his firm confidence in their wifdom and zeal, which would, he doubted not, guide thm to fuch found and prudent refo- lutions, as might tend at once to preferve the con- ftitutional rights of the Britifh Legiflature over the> Colonies i K. GEORGE III. 13$ Colonies ; and to reflore to them that harmony and tranquillity which have lately been interrupted by diforders of the moil dangerous nature. I have, faid the Monarch, nothing at heart but the afTertion of legal authority, the prefervation of the liberties of all my fubjects, the equity and good order of my government, and the concord and profperity of all parts of my dominions." The mild policy which dictated this excellent fpeech, was by the late Minifters and their partifans made the theme of their reproach and invective. The numerous petitions prefented to the Ho Life from the principal commercial cities of the kingdom, . for the repeal of the Stamp Act, were falfely and ridiculoufly reprefented as the effects of minifterial artifice. " Let the diitrefs of the mercantile part of the community be however what it may, they exclaimed, it ought to be fubmitted to, rather than by a repeal of the Act to hazard the total lofs of the juft fuperiority of Great Britain over the Colonies :" for, feeing with inverted optics, they were wholly infeniible that it was only by obfti- natelyperfifting in the iyftem of folly and oppreffion already begun, that the juft authority of Britain would be really and truly hazarded *. * In the fame fpirit of blind and deplorable infatuation has the exclamation been recently repeated, " Perim our commerce, but let our Conftitution live!" whilil in faft the meafures in queftion were at both periods equally fubverfive of commerce and Conftitution. In H<* K. GEORGE III, In the courfe of the debate on the motion of Addrefs, Mr. Pitt rofe to offer his fentiments on the prefent alarming fituation of affairs. He pro- nounced every capital meafure taken by the late Minifters to have been [entirely wrong. As to the prefent Minifters, though he acknowledged them to be men of fair characters, and fuch as he was happy to fee engaged in his Majefty's fervice, he profefled, that he could not give them his confi- dence. " Confidence," laid he, " is a plant of flow growth in an aged bofom : youth is the feafon of credulity. By comparing events with each other, . reafoning from effects to caufes, methinks I plain- ly difcover the traces of an over-ruling influence. I have had the honor to ferve the Crown ; and could I have fubmittcd to influence, I might flill have continued to ferve but I would not be re- fponfible for others. I have no local attachments, It is indifferent to me, whether a man was rocked in his cradle on this fide or that fide of the Tweed. I countenanced and protected merit wherever it was to be found. It is my boaft, that I was the firft Minifter who fought for it in the mountains of the North I called it forth, and drew into your fervice an hardy and intrepid race of men, who were puce dreaded as the inveterate enemies of the State. When I ceafed to ferve his Majefty as a Minifter, it was not the country of the man by jvhich I was moved, but the man of that country K. GEORGE HI. 14* held principles incompatible with freedom. It Is a long time, Mr. Speaker, fince I have attended in Parliament : when the resolution was taken in this Houfe to tax America, I was ill in bed. If I could have endured to have been carried in my bed, fo great was the agitation of my mind for the con- fequenccs, I would have folicited fome kind hand to have laid me down on this floor to have borne my teftimony againil it. It is my opinion, that this kingdom has NO RIGHT to lay a tax upon the Colo- nies. At the fame time, I aflert the authority of this kingdom to be fbvereign and fupreme in every circumftancc of government and legiflation what- foever. Taxation is no part of the governing or legiflative power; the taxes are a voluntary gift and grant of the Commons alone. The concurrence of' the Peers and of the Crown is neceflary only as a form of law. This Houfe reprefents the Commons of Great Britain. When in this Houfe we give and grant, therefore, we give and grant what is our own ; but can we give andgrant the property of the Commons of America? It is an abfurdity in terms, There is an idea in fome, that the Colonies are vir- tually reprefented in this Houfe. I would fain know by whom ? The idea of virtual reprefentation is the mod contemptible that ever entered into the head of a man : it does not deferve a ferious refutation. The Commons in America, reprefented in their /everal AfTemblies, have invariably exercifed this confix $4* K. GEORGE If?. conflitutional right of giving and granting theif own money ; they would have been flaves if they had not enjoyed it. At the fame time this king- dom has ever poflefled the power of legislative and commercial control. The Colonies acknowledge your authority in all things, with the fole excep- tion that you fhall not take their money out of their pockets without their confent. Here would I draw the line quam ultra citraque neqiiit con- fiftere reflum" After fome minutes of profound lilence, Mr. Grenville flood up ; and, with all the fyflematic obflinacy of a fincere but cloudy and narrow mind entangled in the web of its own fophiftry, entered into a labored vindication of the meafures of his adminiflration. He aflerted, that the tumult in America bordered on open rebellion ; and if the doclrine promulgated that day were confirmed, he feared they would lofe this name to take that of revolution. He affirmed taxation to be a branch of the fovereign power, and that it hail been frequently exercifed over thole^who were never reprefented : it was ex- ercifed over the Eafl India and other chartered Companies, and over the proprietors of flock, and many great manufacturing towns. It was exercifed over the Palatinate of Chefler and the Bifhop- ric of Durham before they fent reprefentatives to Parliament. He appealed for proofs to the pre- ambles of tlje act which gave them reprefentatives, and K. GEORGE III. 143 tmd which by his defire were read to the Houfe. He faid, that when he propofed to tax America, the right was by no one called in queftion. Pro- tection and obedience were reciprocal ; Great Bri- tain protects America ; America is therefore bound to yield obedience. " If not, tell me," faid he, " when were the Americans emancipated ? The fcditious fpirit of the Colonies owes its birth to the factions in this Houfe. We were told we trode on tender ground ; we were bid to expect difobedi- ence ; what was this but telling America to ftand out againft the law ? to encourage their obftinacy with the expectation of fupport from hence ? Un- grateful people of America ! The nation has run itfelf into an immenfe debt to give them protection ; bounties have been extended to them ; in their favor the Act of Navigation, that palladium of the Britim commerce, has been relaxed : and now they are called upon to contribute a fmall ihare towards the public expence, they renounce your authority, infult your officers, and break out, I might almoft fay, into open rebellion." Mr. Pitt, fired with difdain and refentment, im- mediately rofe to reply, but was called to order by Lord Strange, as having already fpoken ; the pri- vilege of fpeaking a fecond time being allowed only in a Committee. But the Houfe refounding with the cry of Go ox, he proceeded with an ani- mation and enthuiiafm which no art or ftudy can imitate, *4* K. GEORGE til, imitate, fpontaneouily flowing from the corifcl* oufnefs of great talents engaged in a jufl and no- ble caufe. " Sir," faid he, addreffing the Speaker, " a charge is brought againft gentlemen fitting in this Houfe, for giving birth to fedition in Ame- rica. The freedom with which they have fpoken their fentiments againft this unhappy Act, is im- puted to them as a crime ; but the imputation iliali not difcourage me. It is a liberty which I hope no gentleman will be afraid to exercife ; it is a liberty by which the gentleman who calumniates it might have profited. He ought to have defifted from Vis frojeft. We are told America is obfti- nate America is almoft in open rebellion. Sir, I REJOICE that America has refifted; three mil- lions of people fo dead to all the feelings of liberty, as voluntarily to fubmit to be flaves, would have been fit inftrurnents to make flaves of alt the reft. I came not here armed at all points with law cafes and acts of parliament, with the ftatute-book dou- bled down in dogs ears to defend the caufe of li- berty ; but for the defence of liberty upon a ge- neral, conftitutional principle it is a ground on which I dare meet any man. I will not debate points of law : but what after all do the cafes of Chefter and Durham prove, but that under the moil arbitrary reigns Parliament were afbamcd of taxing a people without their confent, and allowed them reprefentatives ? A higher and better exam- ple K. GEORGE III. *4$ pie might have been taken from Wales ; that prin- cipality was never taxed by Parliament till it was incorporated with England. We are told of many clafTes of perfons in this kingdom not reprcfented in Parliament ; but are they not all virtually repre- fented as Englifhmen refiderit within the realm ? Have they not the option, many of them at leafi, of becoming themfelves electors ? Every inhabit- ant of this kingdom is neceflarily included in the general fyftem of reprefentation. It is a misfor- tune that more are not actually reprefented. The Honorable Gentleman boafls of his bounties to America Are not thefe bounties intended finally for the benefit of this kingdom ? If they are not, ne has mifapplied the national treafures. I am no courtier of America -I maintain that Parlia- ment has a right to bind, to reftrain America. Our legiflative power over the Colonies is fdvereign and fupreme. The Honorable Gentleman tells us, he underfiarids not the difference between in- ternal and external taxation ; but furely there is a pilain diftinclion between taxes levied for the purpofe of raifirig a revenue, and duties impofed for the regulation of commerce. f When,' faid the Honorable Gentleman, were the Colonies emancipated ?' At what time, fay I in anfwer, were they made Haves ? I fpeak from accurate know- ledge when I fay, that the profits to Great Bri- tain from the trade of the Colonies, through all its VOL. I. L branches, i 4 6 K. GEORGE III. branches, is two millions per annum. This is thg fund which carried you triumphantly through the laft war ; this is the price America pays you for her protection ; and fhall a miferable financier come with a boaft that he can fetch a pepper-corn into the Exchequer at the lofs of millions to the nation ? I know the valor of your troops I know the Ikill of your officers I know the force of this country ; but in fuch a caufe your fuccefs would be hazardous. America, if fhe fell, would fall like the ftrong man ; fhe would embrace the pillars of the State, and pull down the Conflitution with her. Is this your boalied peace ? Not to fheathe the fword in the fcabbard, but to fheathe it in the bowels of your countrymen ? Th e Americans h a ve been wronged they have been driven to madnefs by injuflice. Will you pu-nilh them for the mad- nefs you have occasioned ? No : let this country be the firft to refume its prudence and temper ; I will pledge myfelf for the Colonies, that, on their part, ammolity and refentment will ceafe. Let af- fection be the only bond of coercion. The iyftem of policy I would earneftly exhort Great Britain to- adopt, in relation to America, is happily exprefled in the words of a favorite poet : Be to her faults a little blind, Be to her virtues very kind j Let all her ways be unconfin'd, And clap your padlock on her mind. PR IOR, Upon fc. G E b R G te Hi. 147 tJpori the whole., I will beg leave to tell the fefoufe in a few words what is really my opinion^ It is, " That the Stamp Act be repealed ABSO- LUTELY, TOTALfcY, and IMMEDIATELY." In a fhort time a bill was brought in by the new Minifters for this purpofe, which, after veiy vehement oppofition, pafled both Houfes by confi- derable majorities, and received the royal aflent ; accompanied at the fame time with a DECLARA- TORY ACT, averting the power and right of Great Britain to bind the colonies in all cafes what- foever. The joy in America was extreme at the intelli- gence of this repeal ; and the mere declaration of an abftraft right, which they imagined to be with refpecl to the claim of taxation in faff relinquish- ed, and which feemed chiefly intended as a falvo for the honor of Parliament, gave them little ap- prehenfion or tineafmefs ; and it was not till after an interval of feveral years, when the Colonies had been harafled and weaned out by a long feries of vexations and encroachments on their eftablifhed privileges, that the AfTembly of Maflachufetts at length, by a formal refolution, voted the Declara- tory Act to be a grievance. The mere affertion of the claim, though harfhly exprefled, would have excited no ferious difcontent, had the authority of Great Britain been exercifed in the old conftitu- L a tional 1 48 K". G E O R G E III , tional and regular mode : and the Council of tfrer Maflachufetts, with a degree of wifdom which it would have been happy if the Parliament of Grert Britain had deigned to imitate, fay in their excel- lent anfwer to the bold political dogmas advanced in a ftudied fpeech by the Governor : " If, from the nature and end of government, the fupreme au- thority of Government muft be limited, the fupreme authority of Parliament mvift be limited ; and the enquiry will be, what a?e the limits of that autho- rity with regard to this eolony ? To fix this with- precifion, to determine the exa6l lines of right and wrong in this cafe, as in fome others, is diffi- cult, and we 'have not the prefumption to attempt it," Exclr.fi ve of the merit of carrying into execit- tion, in contempt of the reproaches and clamors of the late rafh and blundering Minifiers, thfs wife and conciliatory meafure, the prefent Adminiftra- tion, in the general tenor of their conduct, acled- in a manner which 'reflected the higheft credit on their integrity and underftanding. The Decla- rator v A cl. however theoretically difputable, ferved to difplay their folicitude to fuftain tlie honor of the nation ; which was made farther apparent by an A61 paiied under their patronage, requiring- compenfation to be made by the American Afiem- blies to thofe who had fullered by the riots confe- quent ' K. GEORGE III. 149 on the Stamp AcT*. The Cider tax, fo odi- ous to the nation, was, in thecourfe of the feffion, as to its moft obnoxious claufes, and fo far as its operation extended to private individuals, repealed. The oppreffive and juftly unpopular duty on B win- dows * The Act repealing the Stamp A, when transmitted to America, was accompanied by a circular letter to the Gover- nors of the feveral Provinces by Mr. Secretary Conway, written in that firm and temperate ftyle which was at once calculated to maintain the honor of Government, and to appeafe the dif- contents and apprehenfions of the People. In a very important feparate difpatch to Sir Francis Bernard, Governor of the Maf- fachufettt, this Minifter fays : " Nothing will tend more effec- tually to every conciliating purpofe, and there is nothing there- fore I have in command more earneftly to require of you than that you mould exert yourfelf in recommending it ftrongly to the AfTembly, that full and ample compenfation be made to thofe who, from the madnefs of the people, have fuffered for their de- ference to the Afts of the Britifh Legiflature." Notwithftand- ing the moderation which now pervaded the Englifh Councils, and which dictated the difpatch received by the Governor, it is very remarkable that the fpeech by whigh Sir Francis Bernard opened the next General Court of the MaiTachqfetts, June 1766, breathes the fpirit of haughtinefs, irritation, and difcord. He declares the juilice and humanity of this requ'ifitlon to be fo forcible that it cannot be controverted. The authority by which it is introduced mould preclude all difputations about complying with it." In a tone of reproach he adds " Both the bufmefs and the time are moft critical. Let me entreat you to recollecl: yourfelves, and consider well what you are about Shall the private interefts, pafllons, pr refentrnents of a few men deprive this whole people of the great and manifold advantages which L 3 tl I 5 o K. GEORGE III. dows was modified and mitigated. General War- rants were, by a refolution of the Houfe of Com- mons, declared illegal ; various ufeful and im- portant regulations made in the Weft India and American trade, and the many abfurd and perni- cious reftraints impofed by the former Miniftry removed. Mr. Grenville, by the introduction of the favor and indulgence of their Sovereign and his Parliament are now providing for them? Surely, after his Majefty's COM- MAKDS are known, the very perfons who have created the pre- judices and prepofleffions I now endeavor to combat, will be the firft to remove them." It did not appear, by their fub- fequent conduft, lhat the Aflembly were at all difpofed to refift the recomtncndat'wn enjoined in the letter of the Secretary, which, in their reply to the Governor, they declare their refolution to embrace thcfirft convenient opportunity to confider and aft upon. But, highly offended at the general ftrain and tenor of the Go- vernor's fpeech, they add, " In the mean time we cannot but ob- ferve, that it is conceived in much higher and ftronger terms m the fpeech than in the letter. Whether in thas exceeding your Excellency fpeaks from your own authority or a HIGHER, is not with us to determine. If this recommendation, which your Ex- cellency terms a regui/ition, be founded onfo muchjuftice and hu- manity that it cannot be controverted if the authority with, which it is introduced mould preclude all difputation about com- plying with it ; we mould be glad to know what freedom we have in the cafe ? With regard to the reft of your Excellency's fpeech, we are conflrained to obferve, that the general air and. flylc of it favors much more of an aft of free grace and pardon, than of a parliamentary addrefs to the two Houfes of Affembly ; and we moft fincerely wifli your Excellency had been pleafed to referve it, if needful, for a proclamation." Q certain K. GEORGE III. 151 certain new and onerous claufes into the Hovering A3, andrigoroufly enforcing the execution of them by ftationing a long and formidable line of fhips of war off the American coafts, had, as has been already intimated, in a great degree fucceeded in his project of deftroying the contraband trade from time immemorial carried on between the Britifh Colonies and the Spainifh Main, and which was in fact equally conducive to the profperity, if not ef- fential to the exiftence, of both. So oppofite were the commercial politics of this weak and opinion- ated Minifler to thofe of his predeceflbr Sir Robert Walpole, who, on being urged to adopt mea- fures to the fame effect, replied, " that he ihould think himfelf ill employed in fuch an attempt ; for he was certain that if America gained 500,000!. by this traffic, 250,000!. of it would find its way to England." A new and beneficial treaty of commerce was alfo concluded with Ruflia ; the long-contefted affair of the Canada Bills fettled to the fatisfac- tion of the holders, and ftrong and effectual re- monftrances made to the French Court for the more complete demolition of the harbor and forti- fications of Dunkirk. Notwithftanding, however, the happy effects fo vifibly refulting from the ge- neral fpirit and difpofition, yet more than the acts of this Adminiftration, the tranquillity at home and the reputation abroad which they had already L4 eftabliflied j l$2 K. GEORGE III. eftablifhed ; fcarcely were the Minifters fixed in their offices, than a fecret refolution was taken to remove them. The repeal of the Stamp Adi wag a meafure odious to the Cabinet of Carl ton Houfe, and it was inceflantly inveighed againft, both in and out of Parliament, by the adherents and par- tifans of the Favorite men who prefumed to arro- gate to themfeJves the appellation of the KING'S FRIENDS as a dereliction of the honor and dignity of Government. * f During the adminiftration of the Marquis of Rockingham," fays a celebrated writer, " an at- tempt was made to carry on the government without the concurrence of the CABAL, and to reftore the principles and policy of the Whigs. But this was only a tranfient cloud. No one will doubt that fuch men were abhorred and violently oppofed by the Court faction, and that fuch a fyf- tem could have but a fhort duration. This plan of FAVORITISM is the fountain of all thofe bitter, waters of which the nation has been made fo deeply to drink. There has not ^en one Adminiftration, which has not fufficiently experienced the utter in- compatibility of that faction with the public peace, and with all the ends of good government ; fince, if they oppofed it, they foon loft every power of fcrving the Crown ; if they fubmitted to it, they loft all the efteem of their country*." * Thoughts on the Caufes of the prefent Difcooteut*. Lord K. GEORGE III. 153 Lord BUTE, undemanding the perfect concur, fence of Lord Temple with his brother Mr. Gren- ville on the fubjecl of American politics, and that he had even declared the repeal of the Stamp Act to be a virtual mrrender of the authority of the Britifh Legiflature over the Colonies, determined upon making advances to his Lordfhip in order to form a new Adminiftration. Lord Temple, who appears to have been a man upright^ difinterefted, lincere, pofleffing an high fenfe of honor, gracious in his manners, but ftifr'in his opinions, and endow- ed with a capacity not perhaps much more elevated than that of his brother the late Minifter, refufed with little ceremony to hearken to any proportions from a quarter fo obnoxious. During the progrefs of the Bill of Repeal through the Houfe of Peers, it was more than insinuated by the Favorite himfelf^ that the repeal was a meafure very difagreeable to the King; upon which Lord Rockingham aflert- ed, that his Majefty's approbation of the meafure was clear and unequivocal. Notwithstanding which, Lord Strange the next day repeated the afiertipn, that the King highly difapproved the Bill. On this Lord Rockingham, greatly furprifed, requefted, at the next audience, his Majefty's opinion in writ- ting : but this was refufed ; and the new Miniftcrs were now convinced that they had loft, or rather that they had never pofleffed, his Majefty's confi- dence. An *54? K- GEORGE III. An unfuccefsful effort was now made to effect an accommodation between the Whigs in and out of office ; and an interview took place between Lord Rockingham and Lord Chatham. In the courfe of the conference, Lord Chatham declaring " that for this purpofe a TRANSPOSITION of OFFICES would be neceflary," and this expreffion being fuppofed to imply the removal of Lord Rocking- ham from the Treafury, the negotiation was dif- iblved in its very commencement. A difference arising foon after this, between the Mrnifters and the Chancellor, refpecling the plan or project of a Conftitution for the province of Canada, which the Chancellor, naturally morofe and furly, and who had never been cordially their friend, con- demned in terms of indignation and intemper- ance, the Cabinet of Carlton Houfe were again encouraged to renew their efforts for the forming of a new Adminiilration ; and, for this purpofe, it was determined to offer Mr. Pitt a carte blanche. Mr. Pitt being introduced to the King at Rich- mond (July 12, 1766), was told by his Majefty, that he had no terms to propofe. He put him- felf entirely into his hands." Mr. Pitt, now in the fulnefs of exultation, fent immediately for Lord Temple, then at Stowe, and acquainted his Lord- fhip, that being empowered by his Majefty to form an Adminiftration, he was defirous to fee his Lord- Ihip at the head of the Treafury, he himfelf pur- pofing K. GEORGE III, ij| pofing to take the poft of Privy Seal ; at the fame time producing a lift of names deftined to occupy the other great departments of Government. Lord Temple faid, (( he did not conceive, from the tenor of the conference with which healfo had been ho- nored by the King, that Mr. Pitt was to be abfo- lute mafter : if he had been previoufly fo informed, he fhould not have given himfelf or Mr. Pitt the trouble of this vifit, being determined to come in upon an equality with Mr. Pitt ; and in cafe he were to occupy the moft refponfible place under Government, he fhould infill upon the introduc- tion of fome of his friends into the Cabinet, and he thought Mr. Pitt muft be feniiblehe could not come in with honor unlefs he was allowed his fhare of the nomination. It was his idea to con- ciliate and unite all parties, which was the ground pn which Mr. Pitt's former glorious Adminiuration had been erected : but if Mr. Pitt inlifted upon a fuperior dictation, he defired the conference might be broken off, for that he would not fub- mit to the propofed condition." Mr. Pitt, firm to his purpofe, and dreading with rcafon, not- withftanding his perfonal regard and affection for Lord Temple, the predominance of the Gren- ville interefl in the new Cabinet, refufed to recede in any point from the arrangement he had formed ; and Lord Temple finally withdrew, full of refent- ment. At I $6 K. G E O R G E IIL At the latter end of July 1766,. the Duke of Grafton, who had fome months before refigned the feals, " not from any objeclion, as his Grace de- clared in Parliament, to the perfbns or meafures of the late Minifters, but becaufe they did not poffefs that efficiency which was neceflary to their fuccefs," was now appointed to the high office of Firft Lord Commiffioner of the Treafury ; the Right Honorable Charles Townfhend, a man of riling parliamentary reputation and brilliant talents, but capricious, inlincere, intriguing, and wholly deftitute of difcretion or folidity, being , made Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Earl of Shel- burne, in the room of the Duke of Richmond,' was nominated Secretary of State for the Southern Department, General Conway being continued in pofleffion of the Northern. Sir. Charles Saunders was placed at the head of the Admiralty, in the room of Lord Egmont ; Lord Chief Juftice Pratt, who had been recently created Lord Camden, was declared Chancellor of Great Britain ; the Earl of Northington fucceeded the Earl of Winchelfea as Prefident of the Council; and Mr. Pitt, being advanced to the peerage by the title of Earl of Chatham, chofe for himfelf the office of Lord Privy Seal, vacated by the Duke of Newcaftle. The Earl of Briftol was nominated to the govern^ ment of Ireland, of which he never took pofleffion ; the adminiftration of-afFairs in that kingdom re- maining K* GEORGE llii 157 maining with the Lords Juftices, till at a fubfe- quent period it was configned to Lord Townfhend. Lord Rockii>ghain retired from office with an high character for pure and difmterefted patriotifim, and \vithout fecuring place, penfion,, or reverfion to himfelf or any of his adherents. The numerous addrefTes of approbation prefented to this Noble- man from the different cities and towns through- out the kingdom, on his unmerited difmiffion, fufficiently proved the high and juft fenfe enter- tained of his eminent fervices. The Merchants of London trading to the Weft Indies and North America expreffed their fentirnents in a manner peculiarly refpectful and flattering: " We beg leave," fay they, " when, your Lordfliip being no longer in a public ftation, we are exempt from even the fufpicion of flattery, to exprefs our fenfe of the effential benefits received during your Lordfhip's adminiftration ; a period Ihort indeed, but truly memorable for the nobleft exertions of a Patriot Miniftry in favor of the civil and commercial in- terefts of thefe kingdoms ; happily difpelling the threatening clouds which hung over us, and open- ing a fyftem of commerce liberal andufeful beyond all former example." On Lord Rockingham's retiring to his man- lion in the North, he was met near the city of York by a cavalcade of 200 gentlemen. AddrefTes, during his refidence there, were prefented to him by i& K. GEORGE Ht by the towns of Leeds, Halifax, Hull, Wakefield, and York; expreffive of the higheft refpecl, gra- titude, and efteem. Such was at this period the happy afcendancy of Whig principles in the nation^ and fuch the contrariety between the Court and Country fyflems of politics; It is furely fuperflu- ous to fay, that the new minifterial arrange- ment very ill accorded with the idea of that firm,, efficient, and extended Adminiftration which was calculated to reftore the empire, weakened and diftracled by the late political contentions and ani- mofities, to its former enviable Hate of fame and felicity. Mr. Pitt, by imperioufly infifting on the fole nomination of the Cabinet Minifters, too plainly appeared ambitious to fecure to himfelf a monopoly of power ; vainly and unreafonably pre- fuming, that thofe who owed to his recommenda- tion their /advancement, would in all things fub- mit themfelves to his guidance and direction. The principal fource of the popular difcontent * however arofe * The difienfion s prevailing amongft the Patriotic Leaders of the Oppofitton, or WHIG Party, at this period, at once gratified the malignity and facilitated the manoeuvres of the PANDEMO- NIUM of Carlton-Houfe. The Newcaftle or Rockingham con- nection, acceding with improvident eagernefs to the overture* of the Court, after the pofitive rejedion of the Lords Chatham' and Temple, quickly found their Adminiftration refted on a bafis much too weak to be permanent. Lord Chatham, fubfe- quently invefted with full powers, inftigated by ambition and refentment, K. GEORGE III. i & fcrofe from the unexpected circuijfiflance of Mr* Pitt's acceptance of a peerage, in confequence of which he was fuppofed to be gained over by the Court. He had been fo long diftinguifhed by the title of THE GREAT COMMONER, and had on fo' many occafions profefled himfelf the champion of the refentment, fell Into that fatal error which he afterwards fo deeply and bitterly lamented. On the total failure of his high; and fanguine expectations, he faw how greatly he had deviated from the path of true wifdom, in not adopting a plan of gene- fous and liberal comprehenfion. In the celebrated pamphlet already quoted, are to be found many memorable obfervations relative to the fyftem of Court policy, introduced at the acceffioa of the prefent Sovereign. " To fecure to the Court," 1 fays this then patriotic writer, " the unlimited and uncontrolled ufe of its own vaft influence, under the fole direction of its ovvn pri- vate favor, has for fome years paft been the great objecl of policy. For the future, Court and Adminiftration were to be confidered as things totally different. By this operation, two fyftems of Adminiftration were to be formed : one which mould be in the real fecret and confidence ; the other merely oftenfible, to per- form the official and executory offices of the State. This COURT FACTION proceeded gradually, but not {lowly, to deftroy every thing of ftrength which did not derive its principal nourifhment from the immediate pleafure of the Court. Mettre le Rot hurt de page became a fort of watch-word ; as a foundation of their fcheme, the CABAL have eftabliflied a fort of rota in the Court. All forts of parties by this means have been brought into Admi- niftration, from whence few have had the good fortune to efcape without difgrace. In the beginning of each arrangement, no profeffions of confidence and fupport are wanting to induce the leading men to engage. But while the Minifters of the day- appear ife K. GEORGE III. the PEOPLE, tl;at they had flattered themfelves nd other title could have for him equal attra6liori. He had now voluntarily diflblved that connection" which was formerly his pride and his boaft. He was no longer one of the people ; and the people, conceiving their peculiar intereils henceforth ne- glected, perhaps abandoned, no longer repofed their tmft and confidence in him. Thus, what he gained in dignity he loit in popularity and power : and even impartial and difpaffionate perfons were appear in all the pomp and pride of power, while they have all their canvas fpread out to the wind, and every fail filled with the fair and profperous gale of royal favour, they find, tlty know not bow, a current which fets directly againft them, which pre- vents all progrels, which even drives them backwards. That the CABAL may be enabled to eompafs a41 the ends of its inftr- tution, its members are fcarcely ever to aim at the high and re- fponfible offices of the State. They are diilributed with art and judgment through all the feccndary but efficient departments cf office, and through the houfeholds of all the branches of the Royal Family * If an attack be made upon one of this corps, immediately he flies to fanftuary, and pretends to the me/l inviolable of all promifes. Gonfcious of their independence, they bear them- felves with a lofty air to the exterior Minifters. Like JANIS- SARIES, they derive a kind of freedom' from the very condition of their fervitude. They may aft juft as they pleafe, provided they are true to the ruling principle of their inftittition. The name by which they choofe to diftinguifh themfelve?^ is that of the KING'S FRIENDS. The whole fyftem, comprifing the exterior and interior adminiftrations, is commonly called, in the technical language of the Court, Double Cabinet in French or Englifh as you choofe to pronounce it.*' Of K. GEORGE ill. iffi of opinion, that though there was -nothing in his acceptance of a peerage which necefTarily implied a dereliction of principle, yet, in ^his peculiar cir- cumftances, it afforded fuch a prefumption of va- nity and verfatility as niight eaiily excite, and iii ibme degree excufe, the anger and prejudice now prevailing againli him. But before we enter upon the intereflirig events which took place under the new Adminiftration, events fo nearly affecling the welfare arid even the exiftence of the Britifh em- pire in the Weft, it will be expedient to advert fo thofe tranfactions in the Eaft, which, in confe- quence of the aftonifhing fuccefles of the Englifh &rms in India, riiuft now be regarded as forming an eiTential part of the general hiftory of the Britifli Nation. The wAii on the continent of HINDOSTAN terminated, as we have feen, in the entire fubvef- ilon of the Gallic empire in the Eaft. By the peace of Fontainebleau, Pondicherry, Chanderna- gore, and the other fettlements of France had in- .^leed been reftored ; but the afcendancy acquired by England was fo great, that a political com- petition could fcarcely be faid in the prefent iituation of things to exift. The events fucceed- ing the memorable revolution of 1757 in Bengal, and which it will now be proper in a clear and fummary manner to recount, feemed, in fplendor and magnitude, to furpafs all former exploits, and VOL. I. M to 162 K. GEORGE lit to make the wonders recorded by ancient hiftd* rians of Alexander and Lucullus credible. No Iboner was Mcer Jaffier Ally Khan irivefted with the fovereign authority as Subah of Bengal and its dependencies, than he appeared, as might well be expected, filled with all thofe apprehenfions and jealoufies of the Englifh power by which his predeceffbr Su-Rajah Dovvla had been actuated. He augmented his army by numerous levies, at the fame time pleading inability to clifcharge the arrears due by treaty to the Company. Being, however, compelled to take the field againft Ram-* narain, the Nabob of Patna, who refufed to ac- knowledge his authority, he found it neceflary to folicit aid of the Governor and Council at Cal- cutta ; and Colonel Clive, by their order, accord- ingly joined him with his troops, fnil condition- ing that the revenues of the diftric~ts of Burdwan;, Nuddea, and Houghley, Ihould be affigned over in perpetuity to the Company. On the approach of the Subah and the Englifh General, Ramna- rain fubmitted, and was confirmed in his govern* inent molt reluctantly by Meer Jaffier, through the mediation of Colonel Clive, who faw that he might prove an nfeful check on the too great power of the Subah. 'Y\\z pbirmaund of the Em- peror now arrived, by which Meer Jaffier was declared lawful poffellbr of the Subahdary, and Colonel Clive was created an Omrah of the Empire ; K. GEORGE III. 163 fempire ; receiving alfo from the bounty of the Emperor the titles of Zubdut-Ulmulk, Nuflcera- Dowla, Sabut-Jung-Bahader ; /'. e. the Perfection of the Empire, the Sword of Victory, the Experi- enced Warrior. On the 2,3d of June 1758, the anniverfary of the victory of Plaffey, Colonel Clive was nomi- nated to the government of Bengal, and the Subah paid him on this occalion a vifit in perfon at Cal- cutta, where he was magnificently entertained, and returned apparently well fatisfied to his capi- tal of Moorfhedabad. New caufes of difcord however foon arofe. Sha Zadda, el deft fon of the Emperor, and heir to the imperial crown of Hindoftan, at this period left fecretly the Court of Dehli, where his father, opprefled by a tyrannic and rebellious faction headed by the Prime Vi- zier, pofTefled fcarcely the fhadow of authority, and appeared in arms on the frontier of the Su- bah's dominions, having actually paflcd the Ca- rumnafia, which is the boundary of the province of Bahar, and being on full march towards the city of Patna. Ramnarain, thinking this a fair and in- viting opportunity to acComplifh his own ambi- tious views, declared in favor of the Prince. In this exigency, Meer Jaffier, not being able to de- pend on his native forces, who mutinoufly de- manded the payment of their arrears, applied to the Council at Calcutta for aid and afliftance. M 2 Colonel 164 K. GEORGE III. Colonel Clive immediately put his troops In mo- tion, and arrived at Moorfhedabad the 2oth of March 1759. From this city he difpatched a letter to Ramnarain, reminding him " that it was- through hrs mediation he had been confirmed in his government; that he looked upon himfelf therefore as refponfible to the Scbah for his fidelity; that if he offered to fvverve from his duty, he fhould feel his utmoft refentment ;. for which pur- pofe he was marching- towards him with all expe- dition." Intimidated by this letter, Ramnarain fhut the gates of Patna againft the Prince, who, furprifed and enraged at this fudden change, in- ftantly commenced the fiege of the city, which was on the point of furrender, when Colonel Clive, whofe army had marched 400 miles in twenty- three days, appeared in view. The Prince imme- diately withdrew his army, which, notwithftand- ing its prodigious fuperiority of numbers, leemed to think it vain to contend. On the icth of April the Colonel entered Patna in triumph ; and,, at the requeft of the Subah, quickly reduced to mbmiffion the Rajahs inhabiting the interior of the country, who had joined the Sha Zadda. This unfortunate Prince, perceiving the Colonel to- be the grand and alraoit fole obftacle to his fuo cefs, reprefented in a pathetic letter the peculiar wretchednefs of his fate ; " that, though born to a crown, the perfecution of the Vizier had not left o him K. GEORGE III. 165 him a fpot to reft on ; that he had no intentions againit Meer Jaffier's life or government ; that all he aimed at was to collect a force to make head againft the Vizier ; and that, if it pleated God to favor his caufe, the Colonel might command any advantages for the Company or himfelf." But the Colonel, confulting with Ramnarain and the Ion of the Subah, thought it dangerous that a Prince of the blood (bould be allowed a refuge or afylum in any of the provinces; that it might prove a conftant fource of plots and confpiracies againft the Subah, would draw on him the refentment of the Vizier, and finally involve the country in trou- bles. The Colonel, therefore, in a refpectful let- ter, informed the Prince of the decifion of the Subah, under whofe orders he profefled to acl ; and on the i4th of January 1760, Colonel Clive, intending to return to Europe, refigned the com- mand to Colonel Caillaud at Moorfhedabad. Sha Zadda, hopelcfs of relief from the Englifh, took advantage of the abfence of the Commander; and, previous to the expeded arrival of his fuc- cefibr, he attacked and totally defeated Ramna- rain, and immediately re-invefted Patna. But be- fore the end of February, Colonel Caillaud ar- riving with a large reinforcement of Europeans, the liege was again raifed; and a general engage- ment taking place, the Princo, now,' in conic - quence of the death of his father, declared Em- M 3 peror 166 K. GEORGE III. peror of Hindoflan, by the name of Sha Allum, was defeated with lofs, and compelled, not how r ever without a vigorous refinance on his part, to retreat back to the Carumnaffa. In the fummer of 1760, Mr. Vanfittart arrived at Calcutta as Governor General, and fucceflbr to Colonel Clive: and in a SelecT: Committee convened by him, September 15, and vefled with the efficient powers of the Council, a difpofition appeared to adopt meafures very oppofite to thofe which had been of late purfued. It was faid, " that in confequence of the recent fitccefles of the Prince's partifans in the city and vicinity of Dehli, his affairs wore a far more favorable afpect than formerly ; that ex- perience demonftrated, that repeated victories over the Prince did not deprive him of the means of renewing his attempts ; that the whole conduct of the Subah and of his fon had been in the higheft degree unjuft, treacherous, and ungrateful ; that no fooner was Meer Jaffier in pofleffion of the government, than a party was formed at the Dur- bar, headed by the young Nabob, who were daily planning fchemes to fliake off their dependence on the Engliih ; and that the Subah himfel weak and irrefolute, too foon fell into thefc fentiraents ; that we had, in fine, drawn our fwords in fupportof a family unworthy to reign, and this to the mani- fefl hazard and ruin of the Company's trade and concerns. It was therefore unanimously deter- minedj K. GEORGE III. 167 mined., that the entering into an alliance with the Prince was a neceffary and expedient meafure ; that to fupport him in his pretenfions to the crown of Dehli will be in its immediate confe- quences the means of clearing Bengal of a danger- ous enemy, and probably of enfuring ultimate fuc- cels to his juft claims on the Empire; in which cafe, WHAT ADVANTAGES MAY NOT THE COMPANY EXPECT ?" The principal obilacle to the accom- plifhment of this new project, was the irrecon- cilable enmity fublifting between the Prince and the Subah. It was believed that Meer JafBer could by no arguments be induced to enter into thefe views ; and that Sha Allum would not, without extreme reluctance, be prevailed upon to confirm the Subah in his government. It therefore be- came a neceflary part of the plan to diveft the Su- bah of that authority which it was pretended he had fo grofsly abufed; and it was fecretly refolved {o raife Coffim Ally Khan his fon-in-law to the entire management of affairs, leaving to Meer Jaffier the mere name of Subah. At a confer- ence held by Governor Vanfittart with the Subah, October i8th, 1760, he therefore prefented to him a Memorial, containing a long ftatement of the grievances and oppreffions which had taken place under his government through the influence of evil counfellors, and recommending to him to no- minate fome co-adjutor in the government, on M 4 1 68 K. G E O R G E JIJ. whofe attachment and fidelity he might rely in- finuating, that Coflim Ally Khan was the moil proper perfon to affift him in his prefent exigen- cies. " It evidently appears," fays the Governor in his Memorial,, " that your Minifters, lince the . death of your fon the late Chuta Nabob, regard- ing only their own interefts, neglect the good of the country and the welfare of the fubjects, an4 employ themfelvtss in oppreffing the poor, in ra- pine, violence, injuftice, and iniquity *. When I faw the affairs of government in the hands of fuch unworthy men, and every thing tending ftill far- ther to ruin, I lifted up my eyes to Heaven, and bewailed my ftrange fate, that Providence fhould fend me into this country, at fuch a time, and in the midft of fuch calamities." The Subah feemed much affecled, and at length confefled himfelf through age and grief incapable, fince the death of his fon, of ftruggling againft fo many difficul- ties. On his departure, it was determined to * Neverthelefs, during the lifetime of the Chuta Nabob, he was conftantty reprefented as the chief caufe of the diforders prevailing under the Subah's government, and the difpatches of the times are filled with complaints of his civil and military mif- conduft. In the courfe of the late campaign, he was found dead in his tent, killed, as Colonel Caillaud fuppofes, by a Jlaft of lightning. The troops which accompanied Governor Vanfittart to Moorfhedabad were faid to be intended as a reinforcement to the garrifon of Fatna. take K. GEORGE III. ify lake immediate and effectual meafures to cany ihe purpoie of the Council into execution. The rpth of October is celebrated arnongrt the ,Gentoos as a grand feflival ; and this being fup- pofed a favorable circumstance, to obviate fufpi- cion, Colonel Caillaud was ordered to crofs the river between three and four o'clock in the morn- ing; and having joined Coflim Ally Khan, they im- mediately marched their troops to the palace of the Subah, and iurrounded it juft at day-break. The gates being fhut, the Colonel formed his men with- out, and fent in a letter, addrefled by the Gover- nor to the Subah, in which he declares, " that he has detached an armed force in order to expel his bad counfellors, and to place his affairs in a proper Jlate. Let not, fays the Governor, your Excellency be under any apprehenfions I folemn- Jy declare, / have no other views but your good." The Subah, in a rage, at firft threatened refinance; tut his resolution foon failed, in confequence of repeated meflages from the Englfth Commander, who at laft openly declared, that if the Subah any longer delayed compliance, he fhould be obliged to STORM the PALACE. His Excellency, afto- nifhed and terrified at this menace, and exclaim- ing, " that no oaths could bind the Englifh," pro- fefled his willingnels to abdicate the government in favor of Coffim Ally Khan, on condition that his life and honor were fafe, and an allowance fecured To K. GEORGE III. fecured to him fufficient for his maintenance, Thefe terms being acceded to, the Subah furren- dered himfelf to the Colonel, afking permiilion to refide under the protection of the Britifh govern- ment at Calcutta ; which was readily granted him. Coffim Ally Khan was now proclaimed, in form, Subah of the three provinces; and, being feated on the throne, received the congratulations of the- Governor and principal inhabitants of the city ; in which no tumult or difturbance arofe, or was in the event occafioned, by this fudden and extraor- dinary revolution. By the terms of an agree- ment or treaty previoufly figned at Calcutta, Cof- fim Ally Khan, in reward of this great fervice, re- figned to the Company the entire revenue of cer- tain diftricts of the Subahdary ; alfo engaging for the fpcedy payment of the great arrears due from Meer Jaffier. Five lacks of rupees were prefented as an immediate aid from the new Subah, for the life of the army then before Pondicherry ; and Prefident Vanfittart, Mr. Hoi well, Mr. Sumner, and Colonel Caillaud, who cornpofed the Seleft Committee, were plcafcd to Signify their acceptance of u a free gift" of twenty lacks of rupees, a fum equivalent to about 230,000!. when the more urgent demands upon the treafury of the Subah were fatisfied, r.s a compliment from the Subah, and a -voluntary, mark of his affection and re<- Mr, K. GEORGE III. jyi Mr. Amyatt, Mr. Verelft, and the remaining members of the Supreme Council, who, not being of the Selec"l Committee., were not in the fecret of this revolution, and who did not participate in any of the advantages refulting from it, exprefled in very indignant terms their entire difapprobation. of the whole tranfacliqn. They declare in a long and elaborate memorial, tranfmittedby the Council to the Court of Directors, their belief that few will imagine Meer Jaffier to have been depofed by reafon either of a want of ability to rule, or of his bad principles ; they would willingly fuppofe, that it proceeded rather from the want of a true knowledge of the country policy, and from an error of judgment, had not Mr. Vanfittart and others made no fecret that a prefent was promifed them, by Coilim Ally Khan, of twenty lacks of rupees. They pronounce Coffim to have been a man de- tefted and defpifed, before his elevation to the Mufnud; and that the people in general were ex- tremely diflatisfied with this revolution. They exprefs their aftonimment at the prefumption of Mr. Vaniittart, who, not having been as yet three months in Bengal, had taken upon him to annul a treaty ratified in the moil folemn manner by Admiral Watfon and Colonel Clive, guarantied by the credit of the Company and the honor of the Nation. Jf, fay they, the prefent Subah has pur- phafed the power h,e is inverted with, it is to be expected i;2 K. GEORGE III. expected that he will indemnify himfelf by extor- tion and oppreffion ; and as the fate of Jaffier Ally Khan muft have convinced him how little we regard the moll folcmn engagements, he will of neceffity endeavor to eftablifh himfelf on a foun- dation lefs precarious than that of the Englifh." This prediction of the Council was unfortunately but too foon verified. The cruelty, the tyranny, and mifconduct alleged as the caufes of the depo- fjtion of Meer Jaffier, were magnified in a ten- fold proportion under the adminiftration of Coffim, who was with difficulty prevented from making the aflaffination of Meer Jaffier the firft acl of his go- vernment. So little weight, however, had the re- prefentations and reafonings of the Council in Eng- land, that the Court of Directors, highly delighted with the conduct of the new Governor, pafled a resolution, " That as the great increafe of revenue ariiing out of the provinces ceded by Coffim Ally Khan, and the vaft improvement of thofe reve- nues, are principally owing to the wife, prudent, and difmterefted conducl of Prefident Vanlittart, he fhall be allowed a commiffion of two and a half per pent, on all fuch nett revenues as may arife out of the above-mentioned grants, fo long as hefhall continue in the government of Bengal." On the final reduction of the French fettle- ments on the coaft of Coromandel, Colonel Coote repaired to Bengal, where he arrived January 1761, K. GEORGE III. 175 1761, and immediately took upon him the com- mand of the army at Patna. In compliance with the new plan adopted by the Prefidcnt, he in- formed the Prince Sha Zadda, now ftyling himfelf Sha Allum and GREAT MOGUL, of the favorable fentiments of the Englifh refpecling him, and their defire to affift him to the utmoft of their power ; which the Prince heard with extreme fa- tisfaction : and being then actually on his march to join Sujah ul Dowla, Nabob of Oude (a large and rich province contiguous to Bengal), and He- reditary Vizier of the Empire, who had recently declared in his favor*, it was agreed, with the concurrence of Coffim, that Major Carnac, with part of the army, fhould efcort him to the limits of the Subah's dominions ; and that, immedi- ately on his repairing the Carumnafla, he fhould be proclaimed Emperor at Patna. No fooner however was Sha Allum departed, than Cof- lim, anxious to eftablifh his independency, re- tracted all the promifes he had made, and abfo- lutely rcfufed to acknowledge the Prince as Em- * It may be proper to remark, that the Hereditary Vizter of the Empire is a perfonage very different from the Prime Vizier, who refides at Dehli, and holds his office at the pleafure of the Emperor. The Hereditary Vizier is Nabob of Oude, from the pofleffion of which he derives his real power and im- portance ; the dignity of Perpetual and Hereditary Vizier being merely nominal and honorary. peror ; *74 K. G E O R G E III; peror ; offering at the fame time a large Aim to' Colonel Coote to deliver up Ramnarain, the firm friend of the Englifli, and not left the object of the prefent than of the late Subah's jealouly and hatred. This the Colonel pofitively refufed ; but receiving a fubfequent order from the SELECT COMMITTEE, to withdraw bis pro te&ion from Ram- narain, that unfortunate man was immediately feized and afTaffinated. On the 24th of June 1761, Sha Allum patted the Carumnafia, and was met at a few miles dif- tance by Sujah ul Dowla ; but the differences which arofe, and daily inereafed, between the Englifh and Coffim, prevented his receiving that powerful aid which he had flattered himfelf would enable him to march without oppofition to the gates of Dehli. Coflim's implacable hatred and jealoufy of the Englifh fhewed itfelf in every part of his conduct : he removed the feat of go- vernment from Moorfhedabad, as too near Cal- cutta, to Mongheer, and was employed in build- ing, in a fituation yet more remote, a ftrong for- trefs for his future relidence at Raja-maul. He had caufed to be apprehended many of the prin- cipal perfons of the country, diflinguifhed for their attachment to the Englifh; he was diligent-' ly employed in recruiting and difciplining his army ; cafhiering all thofe officers, and even re- giments, whom he fufpe&ed of fecretly inclining to fc, GEORGE III. *7$ to the Englifh intereft. At length matters were brought to a crifis by the barbarous murder of Mr. Amyatt and his fuite, returning under the faith of a fafe-conducl: from an embafty to trier Court of the Subah. This is a cataftrophe involved in great obfcurity. It appears that Coffim, fome time after his elevation to the Mufmtd, had con- cluded with the Prefident Vanfittart a commercial treaty, by which heavy duties were impofed on the inland trade carried on by the Company's fervants. In a letter written by the Prefident to the Subah, he fays, " Your gracious perwantiab is arrived,, and has greatly honored me. I am informed of all the particulars of your high commands'. It fhall be written to the Chiefs of our Factories, thztt they are to give a dujiuck for the buying and felling of fhip merchandize, &c. paying in upon the coft of the merchandize nine per cent. ; nor (hall they ufe any manner of force or violence, extor- tion, or unfair dealing." The Factory of Dacca complained to the Council at Calcutta, that they muft be abfolutely undone if this treaty were carried into execution. The Council voted it to be dif- honorable, difadvantageous, and a breach of their privileges ; and Mr. Amyatt and certain other gentlemen of the Council were deputed to nego- tiate with the Subah for better terms. But the Subah infilled upon the validity of the treaty con- cluded with the Prefident Vanfittart. And on the 24th 176 K. G E O R G E III. 24th of June 1763, Mr. Amyatt and his com- pany fet out in boats on their return to Cal- cutta. Scarcely had they left the city of Moor- fhedabad, before -they were attacked and fired upon by feparate parties of the Subah's troops' Rationed on both banks of the river ; but whether through mifapprehenfion or by defign, is not clearly afcertained. That Coflim knew how decidedly hoftile to his interefts had been the conduct of Mr. Amyatt, cannot be doubted; and the cruel and revengeful difpoiition of the Subah renders the furmife of an intentional maflacre but too probable. On the intelligence of this calamitous event, the Preiident Vanlittart no longer ventured to op- pofe the determination of the Council to declare war againft Coflim. War was therefore declared in the month of July 1763, and a proclamation at the fame time iflued for the reiteration of Meer Jaffier to the Subahfhip, which was now faid to be the leaf! atonement that could be made him for his unjuft depofition. Colonel Goote be- ing departed for Europe, the chief command of the army devolved on Major Adams, who, being joined by Major Carnac, forced his way, in fpite of all oppofition, to the capital of Moorfhedabad, which he immediately attacked and carried by ftorm. Major Adams foon afterwards received a letter from Coflim, threatening, if he advanced farther, K. GEORtJE IIL 177' further, to cut off the Englifh gentlemen who were his prifoners. Secret intelligence having been given to Mr. Ellis, chief of the factory, and. the other gentlemen, of their danger, and exhort- ing them to endeavour to purchafe their liberty of the guard fet over them at any rate, they nobly re- plied, " that no attention ought to be given to them, and that they were ready to fubmit to their fate." The two armies at length met, Auguft 2, on the plains of Geriah ; the army of Coffirh be- ing reported to amount to 60,000 men, and the Englifh not exceeding 3000 firelocks. After an obftinate difpute of four hours, a complete victory was gained ; the enemy abandoning their cannon and 150 boats on the river Coffimbuzar, laden with grain and other ftores. The army then pro- ceeded to Mongheer and Patna, of which import- ant places they made themfelves in a fhort time mailers ; after which Coffim made no farther Hand, but with the fhattered remains of his army, and all his treafures, retreated, by means of a bridge of boats which he had thrown acrofs the Ganges, into the territories of Sujah ul Dowla, having firil lig- nalized his flight by the infamous maffacre, in cold blood, of all his prifoners, amongft whom were about 200 Englifli of all ranks civil and mili- tary. No fooner was the Council at Calcutta ap- prized that Coffim had taken refuge in the pro- vince of Oude, than a peremptory requifition was VOL. I. N made 1^8 . GEORGE III. made to the Nabob Vizier to fcize and deliver him up, with all his effects. The Vizier, however, far from being inclined to comply with this de- mand, was actually concerting meafures with the Mogul Sha Allum, for reftoring CofTim to his dominions. "CONSIDER," faid the Vizier, in a letter written by him to Major Carnac, to whom , the command of the army had now devolved, " how the Kings of Hindoftan have given your Com- pany fettlements and factories, exempted them from duties, and conferred greater privileges upon them than upon other Europeans, or the mer- chants of their own dominions. Notwithstanding all thefe favors, you have been guilty of ingrati- tude to the Court. You have turned afide from your former paths, and have been continually marching your troops into the King's country. You have prefumed to remove the Officers of the Imperial Court, and to turn out and eftablim Nabobs : WHAT KIND OF BEHAVIOUR is THIS ? In cafe you have your King's or your Company's, orders for thefe proceedings, be pleafed to inform me of it, that I may fhew a fuitable refentment. But if it is from your own inclinations that you carry on your evil deligns, it is proper you fhould deiilt from fuch proceedings." And in an expof- ttilatory memorial or addrels to the Governor and Council, accompanying the former, he thus ex- prefieS -hirafelf: " Notwithstanding the varioua- & favors. K. GEORGE ifL i?0 Favors fhewn you, you have interfered in the King's country, poflefled yourfelvcs of diftricts be- longing to the Government, crumed the inhabitants by your acts of violence, and turned out and efta- blifhed Nabobs at pleafure, without the confent of the Imperial Court, expofing the government of the KING of KINGS to contempt and difhonor. To what can thefe proceedings be attributed, but to a wicked defign offeizing the country for yourfelves? Defift from fiich behaviour in future ; withdraw your people from every part, and fend them to their own country ; carry on the Company's trade as formerly, and confine yourfelves to commercial af- fairs. In this cafe, the Imperial Court will more than ever confer its favors upon you. If, .which GOD forbid ! you are haughty and dilbbedient, the heads of the difturbers fhall be devoured by the fword of juftice, and you will feel the weight of his Majefty's difpleafure, which is the type of the wrath of GOD. Speedily fend me your an- fvver." No anfwer however was thought neceflary to remonftrances, however forcible, accompanied by menaces fo futile. In the profpecl of an approaching rupture, it was determined, without farther negotiation or jdelay, to carry the war into Sujah ul Dowla's do- minions. Meer Jafiier, neverthelefs, difcovered extreme reluctance to concur in this or any meafure which might beconftrued as a commence- ment of hoftilities on his part. But the Council N a advifed iSo K. G E O R G E III. advifed the Commander, Major Cam ac, "that they would not have the perations of the war fufpended even for an hour ; that they will enter into no treaty with Sujah ul Dowla, but on the condition of the delivery of Coffim ; that the Subah Meer Jaffier muft not in the prefent circumftances be allowed to carry on any corre- fpondence with Sujah ul Dowla, or to receive any furmud from the King, from whom they are ap- prehenfive he is dciirous to hold the Subahdary, independent of their frotetlon\ but that in all things the Subah muft be entirely ruled by him while the war continues." The operations of Ma- jor Carnac not being deemed by the Council fufficicntly decifive, that Officer was fuperfeded, and the command given to Colonel afterwards Sir Heclor Monro, who, as foon as the periodical rains would permit, put himfelf at the head of the army, and advanced, on the 22,d of October 1763, to Buxar, within fight of the enemy, who lay encamped, with the Ganges on the left, and the fortrefs of Buxar in their rear. Early in the morn- ing of the 23d, they were feen in motion, advan- cing, to the aftonifhment of the Englifh comman- der to the attack of the Englifh camp. The action lafted three hours, and the Afiatics then gave way in great confufion, and were driven two miles be- yond a rivulet, over which they had laid a bridge of boats. This being funk by thole who firft pafled, the rear of the Nabob's army were drowned, or K. GEORGE III. iSr or deftroyed in the purfuit. The day after the battle, the MOGUL, who was little better than a ftate prifbner in the hands of Sujah ul Dowla, wrote to the Englifh commander, congratulating him on his victory, and defiling the Colonel to take him under the protection of the Englifh, faying, If he would do this, he would give the Englifh Snja Dowla's country, or any thing elfe they pleated to demand. This proportion being tranfmitted to and approved by the Council, the MOGUL repaired to the Englifh camp, where a treaty, previously prepared, was figned and exe- cuted. - At this period, the Subah Meer Jaffier Ally Khan was taken ill at Moorfhedabad ; and finding his diforder rapidly increafing, he fent for his fe- cond fon Najim ul Dowla, the eldeft now living, and delivered to him a paper of advice, recom- mending the Rajah Nund-comar as his Minifter ; and in the prefence of the Englifh Rcfident, and other Englifh Gentlemen, defired that his orders might be given to obey his fon in every refpecl as they had done him. After this laft exertion of au- thority and affection, he expired January 14, 1765. An extraordinary embafly of condolence and congratulation was upon this occafion fent by the Prefident and Council at Calcutta, in the name of the Company, to wait on Najim ul Dowla, of which the young Subah himfelf, in a letter writ- N 3 ten i8z K. GEORGE III. ten to the Committee at Calcutta, has tranfmitted fome curious particulars. " Inftead," fays he, " of condolence and comfort, they began to en- cumber me with many troublefome things; they fent out all the people prefent, together with my brother, Nabob Symd Dowla, and then told me to fend for Mahomed Reza Khan from Dacca, and fet him up as Naib of the Nizamut ; faying, that till he arrived I muft not fit in the Dewan. I defired them to perufe the paper of advice of my deceafed father, who had always deemed Reza Khan his enemy. In anfwer to this they re- plied, e Your paper of advice is of no force or virtue : every thing muft be done as we think proper.' They prefented me with a paper (arti- cles drawn up by the Committee at Calcutta), and requeued I would fign it. I fent for Meer Maho- med Irrick Khan, Mah-Rajah Nund-comar, &c. who acquainted the gentlemen that it was proper to perufe it firft. The gentlemen alked, in a very angry manner, who they were that wanted to per- ufe the paper ? adding, that if I did not fet up Mahomed Reza Khan in hisNaibfhip, and imme' diately fign the paper, I fhould extremely repent it. On which I thought proper to fign. There is no- thing done with my will or order. Titles, employ- ments, kelauts, elephants, hories, and jewels, are diftributed as he the abovefaid Reza Khan pleafes. The bad treatment I have received, and Ma- homed K. GEORGE III. 183 homed Reza Khan's promotion, are to me as if I was day and night in a flame. On the firft ar- rival of \\\t AmlajTadors at the Court of Moorfhe- dabad, they cauled the following meilage to be delivered by an agent named Mootyram, to Jug- get Sect, a man of high rank at the Subah's Court, and entrufled with the cuftody of his treafures. ' Make us fome acknowledgement, and we will fettle all your bufinefs according to your heart's clefire; othenvife we fhall be'difpleafed, and your bufinefs meet with no affiftance, for you formerly made an acknowledgement to Lord Clive and other gentlemen.' I informed them, fays Jug- get Sect, that Lord Clive never faid a word on this fubjecl, and that I did not give him even a fmgle damn. They anfwered, ' You may not be acquainted with it, but your fathers made us ac- knowledgements Give us five lacks : if you wifh to have your bufinefs go freely on, make us fome acknowledgements.* Being remedilefs, I confent- ed to give them 125,000 rupees. The money was fent in ^.fiackeree ; at which the gentlemen were very angry, and faid, * Why was it not given to Mootyram, or fent more privately ?'" In February 1765, all things being fettled to the' (atisfaclion of the Ambafladors, Najim ul Dowla was proclaimed at Moorfhedabad, Subah of the three Provinces; at which time advicr was tcdeivcd from England, of Lord dive's being ac- N 4 tually i?4 K. G E O R G E III. tually on his paflage to India, inverted with extra- ordinary powers from the Company. On the refignation of Colonel Monro, and his return to Europe, Major Carnac refumed the command. At the latter end of April 1765, the Englifh army croffed the Ganges ; and on the 3d of May the Englifh General engaged the enemy then encamped on its banks, over whom he ob- tained a fignal and decifive victory ; in confe- quence df which, Sujah ul Dowla, alarmed at his fituation, and the recent treaty between the MOGUL and the Englifh, of which his depofition might be fuppofed the probable and fpeedy con- fequence, fent a letter to the Englifh Commander, lignifying his intention to furrender at difcre- tion, perfuaded that he would treat him in a man- ner befitting his own honor. The General re- ceived him with all pofltble marks of diftinclion, and, with equal generofity and policy, recom- mended to the Governor and Council to ufe their fuccefs with moderation, profefling it as his opi- nion, " that an equitable and honorable accommo- dation with the Vizier, who was undoubtedly the fecond man in the empire, would greatly raife the reputation of the Englifh name;" adding, " that from the extreme regard in which he is held throughout the country, his alliance would prove a much better fecurity to our frontiers than that of any .other, perfon who could be fubftituted in his K. GEORGE III. 185 his room." Lord Clive was by this time arrived at Calcutta. On the firfl meeting of the Com- mittee of Council, he declared to them, " that he little imagined, when he refigned the government of Bengal five years ago, that he fhould enter upon it again ; but the late diftracled flate of affairs in India had alarmed the proprietors of flock, and at one of their moft numerous General Courts he was unanimoufly defired to refume the govern- ment of Bengal. The fuccefs of the forces," faid his Lordfhip, " which I had the honor to com- mand in 1757, completed a revolution in favor of Meer Jaffier ; an event on which the exiftence of the country at that time depended. My fuc- cefTors, foon after my departure, thought proper to raife Coffim Ally Khan to the Subahfhip ; the confequences of which, whatever were the caufes, have been moft unfortunate. What do we hear of, what do we fee, but anarchy, confufion, and, what is worfe, an almoft general corruption ? To eftablifh a permanent government, to fecure the commercial interefts and revenues of the Company, to reform the military, to amend the civil departments ; thefe will be the objects of our fcrious attention. By your affiftance, I hope to fee thefe important matters completely regulated before I refign the government ;" intimating at the fame time his intention no longer to continue^ than his perfonal aid fhould be thought necef- fary i?6 K. G E O R G E III. fary to the accomplishment of thefe great and falutary purpofes. But his Lordfhip's plan of regulation and reform was more diftindlly deve- loped in a letter written at this period to Mr. Rons, then at the head of the direction in Eng- land. " The particulars of the late fuccefies, and now very flouri filing ftate of the Company's affairs in Hindoftan, were, he obferves, already known. We have at laft, fays his Lordfhip, ar- rived at that critical period which I have long fore- feen ; I mean that period which renders it necei- iary for us to determine, whether we can or fhall TAKE THE WHOLE TO OURSELVES. Stljah Dowla is expelled from his dominion we are in pofief- iion of it ; and it is fearcely hyperbole to fay, to- morrow the whole MOGUL EMPIRE will be in our power. A large army of Europeans will ef- fectually preferve us fovereigns. You will, I am fare, imagine with me, that, after the length we have run, the Princes of Hindoftan mu'ft con- clude our views to b'e BOUNDLESS-- -they have feen fuch inftances of our ambition, that they cannot fuppofe us capable of moderation. The' very Na- bobs whom we might fupporf, v/ouM be watching to dcfiroy us ; we muft indeed become Nabobs ourfelves in fact, if not in name. In fhort, if RICHES and SECURITY are the objects of the Company, this is the only method for fccuring them." ' The K. GEORGE IIF. 187 The Sele<5l Committee, in reply to the difpatches of General Carnac, exprefs much approbation of the generofity of fentiment contained in them. They inform him, that Lord Clive is veiled, in con- junction with him, with full powers to negotiate a treaty with the Vizier on honorable terms. They affirm, that their great aim is to obtain a lafting and honorable peace, to revive their languifhing com- merce, to imprefs the natives with a fenfe of our juftice and moderation, and to reduce thofe heavy military charges which have hitherto rendered the ceflion of rich provinces ufelefs to the Company. " We mufl," fay they, " APPEAR difinterefted; and if you ftipulate for any fums to be paid, they ought to be on account of the Company, whofe intereft muft be primarily regarded." ,. Lord Clive foon afterwards joined the army, and in a conference with Sujah Dowla it was agreed lhat fifty lacks of rupees, amounting to about 6co,ocol. fhould be paid to the Company by the Vizier, as an indemnification for the charges incur- red by the war. Coffim Ally Khan having effected his efcape to the country of the Rohillas, nothing now impeded the completion of the treaty with the Vizier. On the i ith of Auguft. (1765) Lord Clive and General Carnac had an audience of the Emperor Sha Allum, who delivered his demands to Lord Clive in the Ferfian language. In return the KING 188 K. G E O R G E III. KING of KINGS was requeued to grant to the Company the dewannte^ or collection of the reve- nues of the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and OrhTa. His Imperial Majefty figned the fhirmaund, and gave them that revenue for ever, referving only an annual tribute of twenty-fix lacks of rupees to be paid into the royal treafury ; and the Com- pany agreed to affign a fpecific fum for the main- tenance of the Subah and the expences of his houfehold. In confequence of the Imperial grant, the Seal of the Governor and Council bore hence- forth the following infcription, in accommodation to the lofty ftyle of oriental oftentation : " The magnificent Merchants of the Eaft-India Com- pany, the Dewans of the magnificent Provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orifla, Servants of the mag- nanimous Emperor SHA ALLUM." On his re- turn to Calcutta, Lord Clive advifed the Court of Direclors of this extraordinary and amazing ac- ceffion of revenue, The Nabob's allowance, he informs them, is reduced to forty-two lacks pf ru- pees, the tribute to the Emperor is fixed at twenty- fix, and their civil and military expences he efti- mates at fixty lacks, which will, as he calculates, leave a clear annual refidue of one hundred and twenty-two lacks, or one million fix hundred and fifty thouland pounds, to the Company. The re- iloration of the Vizier's dominions, his Lordfhip ingenuoufly acknowledges^ proceeded not from any generality K. GEORGE III. 189 generality of fentiment, as fome had miftakenly imagined, but from the policy of not extending the Company's territorial pofleffions. " Confidering," fays his Lordfhip, {i the excefles we have of late years mahifeftcd in our conduct^ the Princes of India will not readily imagine us capable of mo- deration ; nor can we expect they will ever be at- tached to us by any other motive than FEAR. If you mean to maintain your prcfent pofleffions and advantages, the command of the army and the re- ceipt of the revenue muft be kept in your own hands." SUCH was the nature of the reform and regulation which his Lordfhip exerted his influ- ence to enablifti, and SUCH the GREAT AND SA- LUTARY PURPOSES he was folicitous by his au- thority and perfonal prefence in India to effect. But in order to fhew how excellently ambition can moralize, he concludes with faying Ci All is not iafe. Danger ftill fubfifts, from more formidable enemies within luxury, corruption, avarice, rapa- city thcfe mufl be extirpated, or they will deftroy us : for we cannot expect the fame caufes which have ruined the greateft kingdoms, fhall have dif- ferent effects on fuch a ftnte as ours." NOR, as his Lordmip's fuperior lenfe and fagacity might have fuggeited, can we expect that the public and private vices, againft which he fo juftly and fe- verely inveighs, will ever ceafe to threaten the fub- verfion of aftate, whilft the " riches and fecurity" of i 9 o K. GEORGE III. of the GOVERNORS, and not the welfare and hap- pinefs of the GOVERNED, are without hefitation admitted and avowed to be the grand end and ob- ject of GOVERNMENT. It is now time to revert to the fituation of af- fairs in England. The Earl of Chatham, late Mr. Pitt, notwithstanding the ideas which he had too flatteringly indulged on his re-elevation to the pinnacle of power, foon found himfelf in a predi- cament not lefs embacraffing than unpleafant. The lofs of his popularity was a fource of perpetual chagrin. The fraternal breach which had taken place with Lord Temple, who had been for many years his confidential friend and advifer, excited in his bread the moft feniible uneafinefs ; the pro- fpect of the powerful oppoiition forming againft him, contrafted with that glorious period of his life when civil difcord " bound in brazen chains" feemed expiring at his feet ; and finally, perhaps the proofs already perceivable that he was far from pofleffing that abfolute authority in the Cabinet which he had with hopes loo fanguine previouily expected to exercife ; all thefe considerations conjoined de- prefled his genius, corroded his temper, and vifibly impaired his health. He perceived the neceffity of ftrengthening his intereft previous to the meet- ing of Parliament, by a partial coalition at leaft with one or more of the political parties now com- bined againft him, however difuuited amongft <. ' them- K. GtORGE III. | 9I themfelves. At the beginning of October the Earl of Chatham and the Duke of Bedford being* then o on a temporary viiit at Bath, an interview took place at the defire of the former, who declared in explicit terms, " that he i^ould be happy to fee the King's Adminiftration countenanced and fup- ported by his Grace's approbation and intereft," and proceeded to Hate thb meafures which he purposed to purfue: i. To keep the peace inviolate, and to endeavour to prevent any infraction of it by fo- reign powers. 2. He would enter into no conti- nental connections, nor make any fubfidiary treaty with any European power. 3. He firmly refolved to obferve, in the expenditure of the civil govern- ment, a it net and rigid oeconomy." The Duke replied, " that thefe were prccifely the meafures for' which he had ever contended, and which he would' certainly fupport, whether he and his friends were in or out of office." This interview, which terminated 1 amicably, was underrtood to be only the prelude td another. Having fo far fucceeded, Lord Chatham, on his return to London, no longer Icruplcd to rifque an open rupture with the Newcaftle or Rockingham party ever, as it but too evidently ap^; pears, the object of his fecrct averfion by the dii'- miffion of Lord Edgecombe, a nobleman diilin- guifhed by his attachment to that connection, from his office of Treafurcr of the Houfehold, which was conferred on Mr. afterwards Sir John Shelley. Upon 193 K. G E O R G E III. tlpon this, the Duke of Portland Lord Chamber- lain, Sir Charles Saunders Firft Lord of the Admi- ralty, the Lords Scarborough, Befborough, Mon- fon, &c. refignecl their offices. Thefe refignations Lord Chatham purpofed to fupply by his intended coalition with the Bedford- party ; but on exhibit-, ing his ultimate plan of promotions, new and for- midable obflacles arofe in the way of its accom- plifhment. Much larger conceffions being exacted by the auxiliary party than they were thought en- titled to expecl, the negotiation with the Duke of Bedford was abruptly broken off. In a fhort time Sir Edward Hawke was placed at the head of the Admiralty ; Lord Le Defpencer, late Sir Francis Dafhvvood, who under the admi- niftration of Lord Bute occupied the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, was appointed Poft- mafter ; Mr. Charles Jenkinfon, Lord Bute's pri- vate fecretaiy and confidential agent, was made a Lord of the Admiralty; and Mr. Stuart Mackenzie, brother to Lord Bute, reitored to his office of Privy Seal for Scotland. Lord Chatham was now univerfally confidered as reconciled in a very extraordinary and alarming degree to thcfiftem of the Court. This, however, was an opinion altogether founded on mifappre- henfion ; the great and efficient offices of Govern- ment were ftill entirely in the hands of the Whigs, who at this period wanted only unanimity to carry their K. GEORGE III. X93 their own plans of government into full and vi- gorous execution. After the firft moments of re- flection were pa/Ted, confc^ous of the additional odium he had incurred by the late proceedings, Lord Chatham again retired in all the gloom of difcontent to Bath, where he fell into a paroxyfm of the gout, which feemed to threaten his exig- ence. His corporeal infirmities were increafed by the conflict of paffions which agitated his mind torn at once with jcaloufy, disappointment, anger, and unavailing regret*. During his abfence, the Minifters his affbciates, fuppofing him for ever incapacitated for public bu- finefs, were engaged in a variety of hoftile political intrigues; Mr. Charles Townmend, Chancellor * In a letter written about this period by General Lee to the King of Poland, that extraordinary and eccentric genius thus expreffes himfelf : " I am apt to agree with the majority of the better fort, that ' this once noble mind is quite overthrown.' Can it be reconciled to reafon, that the fame man who rendered his name fo illuftrious, fo tremendous, fhould fplit upon ribbands and titles ? By linking into a peerage, his popularity would vanim of courfe. I recollect your Majefty was of the fame way of thinking, that there was nothing very monftrous in hi* ac- ceptance of a peerage, but that it argued & ftnfdejfnefs of glory to forfeit the name of PITT for any title the King could be- flow. He has fits of crying, ftarting, and every effect of hyf- t erics it is affirmed indeed, that ten years ago he was in the very fame condition that therefore a poffibility remains of his recovering once more his uerves, and with them all his func- tions." VOL. I. O of 194 K. G E O R G E III. of the Exchequer, a man of afpiring views and deep defigns, making, as it was affirmed, fecret advances to the Ex-minifter, Lord Rockingham, for the removal of the Duke of Grafton, with whom he had been for fome time on terms by no means the moft cordial. Difappointed, but not difcouraged, at the rejection of his overtures, this verfatile and reftlefs genius foon turned his atten- tion to a different and oppofite quarter, ftill pre- ferving however the appearances of friendfhip to the Duke. During the courfe of the preceding fummer, riots and tumults had in various parts of the king- dom taken place in confequence of the high price of provisions, and the magiftrates were at length obliged to call in the military to the aid of the civil power. Many lives were loft, and a fpecial com- miffion was iffued for the trial of the numerous rioters apprehended, who were neverthelefs treated with every degree of lenity that the nature of the crime would permit. Few examples were made- the fentence of the majority being mitigated to tranfportation, and many receiving a free pardon. The incefiant rains which fell during the fummer and harveft months afforded however a very alarm- ing profpecl of increasing fcarcity; and it was* thought expedient in the autumn, when the ex-, treme deficiency of the crop was fully afcertained, to ifiiie by virtue of the royal authority an em- bargo K. GEORGE III. 195 bargo on the exportation of corn, though as yet below the fixed and legal ftandard*. When the Parliament met at the ufual feafon, it was found indifpenfably requifite to bring in a Bill of Indemnity., in order to prevent any profe- cutions, in the courts of law, of the Officers of the Crown concerned in the execution of the act. But it was remarked, chat though this bill provided for the indemnity of the executers of the proclama- tion, it made no mention of the ADVISERS. The amendment * A fucccflion of wet and unfavorable feafons may fufficiently account for the extraordinary fcarcity which prevailed at this particular period ; but the grand and interefting problem yet remains to be folved: WHEREFORE is it, that the means of fub- fidence have been for thirty years pail lefs eafily attainable by the bulk of the people than at any former aera ? that while on the one hand our ears are foothed and delighted with thofe an- nual parliamentary prolu/ions, in which the profperity of the na- tion is defcribed in the moft brilliant and glowing colors of eloquence, on the other our eyes are grieved and (hocked at the difplay of wretchednefs and mifery which the habitations of the poor every where exhibit ? Whence is it that the poors' rates are fo alarmingly increafed, that the workhoufes of the king- dom are crowded, and the villages deferted ? that the laborer is bereft of the comforts which once made his cottage the abode of contentment ; his family pining under the accumulated evils of cold, nakednefs, and hunger ? That this is an ideal picture, thofe who move in the gay and fplendid circles of fafhion would no doubt willingly affeft to believe : but the evidence of fadts is too ftrong to be refilled or weakened by a pompous parade of words ; and where fuch a ftate of things exifts, to talk of the O 2 profperity 196 K. G E O R G E III. amendment propofed in confequence of this omif- fion occafioned fome warm altercation. The Lords Chatham and Camden, in their too eager vindica- tion of the late exertion of prerogative, maintained " that no indemnity was wanting for thofe who had advifed the Crown to adopt this wife and ne- ceflary meafure. Citing the words of LOCKE, they aflerted, " that it was ridiculous to fuppofe any ftate without the power of providing for the public fafety in great emergencies." This power muft in profperity of the country is a grofs abufe of language. Effefts fo fatal muft no doubt originate in fomething radically wrong in the general fyftem. Two caufes obvioufly prefent themfelves as jointly and powerfully co-operating to their production : J. The enormous increafe of the national debt, which is in fact only a taxation of the poor houfeholder for the benefit of the rich ftockholder ; and, 2. The vaft and prodigious fortunes amafled by individuals, particularly by the oppreflbrs and plun- derers of the Eaft, which have contributed more than is eafily conceivable to the rapid and aftonifhing increafe of luxury, i. e. of the confumption of fuperfluities, which has an immediate and irreflilible tendency to raife the price of the neceflaries of life while by the exceffive influx of wealth the value of money is perpetually decreafing. Thus the blood WE have fo profufely fhed in our fucceffive wars, the treafures WE have lavifhed, and the treafures \v have extorted, all combine to induce a ftate of political debility, languor, and decay, in which it may be truly affirmed " that the whole head is fick, and the whole heart is faint." And as there is no profpeft of a change of fyftem, it muft neceffarily terminate in a cataftrophe, which will be the more dreadful in proportion as it is procraftinated by artificial and temporary expedients. all K. GEORGE III. i 97 all focictics be lodged fomewhere, and in ours it is lodged in the King. This doctrine their Lord- fhips concurred in affirming to be by no means fubverfive of the fecurity of the constitution, or contrary to the fpirit of liberty, as it can only be reduced to practice on occafions of extreme neceffity, when the Parliament does not fit, and cannot be conveniently aflemblcd. " At any rate the evil can- not be very formidable, fincc at worft, laid Lord Camdcn in the unguarded warmth of debate, IT IS BUT A FORTY DAYS TYRANNY ; and there feems to be but little foundation for indemnifying thofe who have only neglected the letter 1n order the better to prcferve the fpirit of the law." , In reply to thefe reafonings it was urged with great force by Lord Mansfield, who diftinguifhed himfelf in the debate, " u that the law of England knew of no power of fufpenfion in the preroga- tive that if the pica of neceffity is once admitted, and the Crown allowed to be the fole judge of that neceffity, the power of the Crown would be unli- mited ; for there is no cafe to which it might not be made to extend, and difcretion would quickly degenerate into defpotifm. For this reafon the wifdom of the Legiflaiurc has deprived the Crown of all difcretionary power over pofitive laws. Though Parliaments are not immortal, their acts never fleep ; they are not to be evaded by flying into a fan ct nary no, not even that of neceffity. The O 3 LAW 198 K. G E O R G E III. LAW is above the King, and he as well as the fub- jecl is as much bound by it during the recefs as during the feffion of Parliament ; becaufe no point of time or emergent circumftance can alter the conftitution, or create a right not antecedently inherent. Thefe only draw forth into action the power which before exifted, but was quiefcent. If the Crown has a legal right to fufpend or violate one law, it muft have the fame right to violate another, and another, till the whole fyftem of our jurifprudence is overturned. A juft regard to the fafety of the Sovereign, and to the LIBERTY of the SUBJECT, render it neceflary for us to fhut up every avenue to tyranny, that, as it has hitherto been, fo it may continue to be, the diflinguifhing charac~leriftic of our Kings, that their authority is the authority of the laws, and that they reign over freemen, and not over flaves*." Imprefled by * General Lee, In a letter written December 1 766, to his cprrefpondent the Prince de * * *, fays, " Lord Mansfield lately drew upon him the laugh of the Houfe of Lords, by making ufe of the term ' liberty of the fubjeft/ and expreffing great regard for it Conway is ftill Secretary of State, and much regarded as a man of ability and integrity' Lord Shelburne, the other Secretary, has furpafled the opinion of the world ; he fpeaks well, and is very diftind in office The Puke of Grafton is an abfolute orator, and has a fair character An Irifhman, one Mr. Burke, is fprung up in the Houfe of Commons, who baa aftonilhed every body with the power of his eloquence, and com- prehenfivc knowledge in all our exterior and internal politics. thefe K. GEORGE III. i 99 thefe confiderations, the Houfe pafled the bill with the amendment ; and Lord Mansfield muft be al- lowed for once the honor to have obtained the ad- vantage over Lord Chatham on a conftitutional queftion, and this merely in the abftracl, for that the meafure was practically right no one pretended to difpute ; but at this crilis the enemies of Lord Chatham were eager to reprefent him as renoun- cing thofe principles to which he owed his fortune and his fame. Affairs of far greater importance occupied the attention of Parliament in the fubkquent part of the feffion. Though in actual circumftances no- thing could be more wife and feafonable than the repeal of the Stamp Act by the late Minifters, it is not to be imagined that this was a meafure at- tended with no political inconvenience ; far from it ; but in the dilemma to which they were un- fortunately reduced, they adopted that line of con- clu6t which juftice and policy marked out, and which appeared incomparably the leaft of the two difficulties. By an egregious want of prudence and penetration, the Government of Great Britain had attempted to carry into effect an odious and arbitrary meafure, which upon trial it was found impoffible, without involving the whole empire in fcenes of bloodfhed and confufion, to enforce. But as political power exifls only by opinion, this pro- ject, however ruinous and abfurd, could not be re- O 4 linquifhed 2co K.' GEORGE III, linqui(hed without expofing the legiflative autho- rity of Great Britain to the rifqueof at leaft a tem- porary degradation and diminution. By their fuc- cefs in this firft inftance of oppofition and refinance, the Americans would be encouraged and incited .. fuch is the nature of man to difpute the autho- rity of the mother country when it happened to be in other inflances exerted in a mode not agree- able to them, however neceflary to maintain the juft and conftitutional fubordination of the Colo- nies. This was remarkably exemplified in the conduct of the AfFembly of the province of New York, who came to a relblution, that they would not regard the provifions of an act pafled in the laft feffion, by which they were required to fupply the troops flationcd in the province with necef- faries in their quarters. When this inftance of clifobedience and con- tumacy was laid before Parliament, very rigorous meafures of vengeance were urged by thofe whofe violent counfels had already been productive of fo much mifchief. But the prefent Minifters, pur- pofely avoiding all harfh and pofitive penalties, adopted a meafure at once forcible and dignified, by enacting a law prohibiting the Governor, Coun- cil, and AfTembly of New York to pafs any act till they had in every refpect complied with the requifition of Parliament. This in a fhort time produced the defired effect, and it afforded a de- monftrative K. GEORGE III. ^oi monftrative evidence, that the real and practical authority of Great Britain, wifely and temperately exerted, was fully equal to the purpofe of main- taining that relation of fuperiority and dependence which indifputably ought to fubfift between the head and the members of a great and widely-ex- tended empire. Happy would it have been for the world, had the prefent Minifters difcovered in all other parts of their conduct the fame prudence and policy. But through fome unaccountable fatality, or more pro- bably from the fecret operation of that invifible and malignant influence which feemed perpetually to fhed its poifonous and deadly dews over the political atmofphere*, the project was revived, in- credible as it may feem, of drawing a revenue from America, in a mode not indeed in all refpects analogous to that which had been fo recently aban- doned, but which in her prefent irritable ftate of mind equally ferved to rekindle thofe alarms and jealoufies which might reafonably be fuppofed rather allayed than extinguimed. Mr. Charles Townfhend, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in one of his vain and capricious moods (if his apparent levity of conduct is not rather to be attributed to -talis fcfe halitus atris Fauclbus effundcns fnpera ad convexa ferebat." VIRGTI,. an 002 K. GEORGE III. an higher and Ids fortuitous fource) boafted in the Houfe of Commons, " that he knew how to draw a revenue from the Colonies without giving them offence." Mr. Grenvilleinftantly and eagerly urged this Minifter, yet in the noviciate of his office, to pledge himfelf to the execution of this fine pro- ject ; which he hefitated not in the moft decifive manner to do General Con way, Secretary of State, liilening with filent aftonifhment. When this engagement came under fubfequent difcuffion in the Cabinet, it was warmly fupported by a cer- tain defcription of its members, and reluctantly aflented to by others, who dreaded a fatal divifion in the Admin iftration fhould they obftinately re- fufe their acquiefcence. Unfortunately Lord Chat- ham was not at this time capable of attending the Cabinet Councils, nor was he at all confuited in his prefent ftate of health by the Minifters on this or any other bufmefs. From this period, indeed, that Nobleman perceived himfelf, or from his excels of jealoufy fancied himfelf, become a mere cypher in the Adminiflration. His opinions, even after his partial reftoration to a capacity for bufinefs, were according to the general report and belief over- ruled or difregarded; his perfon treated with rude- nefs and neglecl ; and having loft the confidence of the People, he now became the object of the contempt of the Court. . In a remarkable debate which took place in the Houfe K. GEORGE III. aoj Houfe of Lords at a fubfequent period*, Lord Chatham exprefTed without referve the fenfations which he had experienced in the fituation he now occupied. He fpoke in indignant terms of " the lecret influence of an invifible power of a. favorite, whofe pernicious counfels had occafioned all the prefent unhappinefs in the nation who had ruin- ed every plan for the public good, and betrayed every man who had taken a refponfible office. He faid that there was no fafety, no fecurity, againft his power and malignity that he himfelf had been duped, he confefTed with forrow that he had been duped when he lead fufpecled treachery at the time when the profpect was fair, and the appear- ances of confidence were ftrong when he had with great pains, attention, and deliberation, formed fchemes highly interefting, and of the utmoft im- portance to this country. Thefe fchemes had been propofcd and approved in Council, and aflented to by the King ; but on his return from a fliort, and in his ftate of health a neceflary abfence at the Bath, he found his plans all vanifhed into air ' into thin air !' In the dofet he faid he had invariably found every thing gracious and amiable he had received the moft condefcending PRO- MISES of SUPPORT. I own, faid this illuftrious fiatefman, I was credulous, I was duped, I was * March 2, 1770* 6 deceived.. 204 K. G E O R G E III. deceived. I foon found there was no original Ad~ mmiftration to be fuffered in this country. A long train of infidious practices at length unwillingly convinced me that there is fomething behind the throne GREATER than the THRONE ITSELF." On another occalion he affirmed, " that the late good old King pofTefled the feelings of humanity and, amongft many other princely virtues, was endowed with juftice, truth, and SINCERITY, in an eminent degree. He had fomething about him by which it was poffible for you to know whether he liked you or difliked you." Matters being in this ftate, a bill was in the courfe of the prefent feffion introduced and pafted, with the appearance, it muft be confefled, of general approbation, for the impoiition of cer- tain duties on glafs, tea, paper, and painters' co- lors, imported from Great Britain into the Colo- nies; for though by the repeal of the ftamp act the exercife of the right of internal taxation was allowed to be virtually relinquished, the claim of external taxation was affirmed ftill to remain in full force. The Americans by this act were re- duced to a molt grievous and vexatious political embarraffinent. It had been ever uniformly ac- knowledged that Great Britain poflefled the right of commercial regulation and control it could not be denied that port duties had been at former periods impofed for the purpofe of commercial re- gulation^ K. GEORGE III. 205 gulation, particularly by the act paffed in the fixth year of the reign of the late king, on the impor- tation of foreign rums, fugars, and melafles, from the Weft Indies. It could not be pretended with confiftency and plauiibility that the fame power did not now inhere in the Britifh Parliament; but it was at the fame time impoffible not to difcern that this power was in the prefent inftance exercifed with a very different intention, and for the accom- plifhment of a very different object ; and that, by a fpecies of artifice unworthy of a great nation, an attempt was now made to inveigle them into the payment of that revenue which could not be ex- torted by means more direct and unequivocal. When the intelligence of this new plan of ' ftate policy reached America, a fudden and angry gloom inftantly and univerfally took place of the hilarity and good humour which had predominated fince the fuppofed relinquifhment of the plan of Ame- rican taxation ; and the intrigues of Courts being to the Americans happily unknown myfteries, it was to them inconceivable how fiich men as thofe who compofed the prefent Administration could now act in a manner fo diametrically oppofite to their former profeffions. Mercantile combinations immediately became general, not to import thofc articles on which the new duties were laid the* trivial amount of which did not diminifh the odium attending them the Americans comparing thefe- duties *o6 K. GEORGE III. duties to an entering wedge, defigned to make way for others which would be greater and hea- vier. The laft bufmefs of national importance which occupied the attention of Parliament during this Jong and interefting feffion, related to the affairs of the Eaft India Company. The prodigious acquili- tions recently made by the Company in the Eaft, and the princely fortunes accumulated by thole who occupied the higher departments in its fervice, ftrongly attracted the attention, as may eafily be fuppofed, both of the Proprietary and the Parlia- ment. At a General Court held at the India Houfe, it was affirmed by many of the Proprietors to be highly reafonable, that a larger dividend fhould be declared by the Directors, and that the whole body fhould participate in the advantages of their late fuccefles; infifting, that fo low a dividend as fix per cent, agreed but ill with the prefent flourifh- ing ftate of the Company's finances. It was plauli- bly urged, that the Dutch Eaft India Company divided twenty per cent, upon its capital, though their poffeffions and revenues were in no degree equal to thofe of the Englifh. The Directors, who, by the fuperior fagacity of their conduct, have frequently expofed the dangerous fallacy of a con- fident reliance on the collective wifdom of a po- pular Aflembly, combined as it muft neceflarily be with K. GEORGE III. joj with their collective ignorance and folly, replied with much good fcnfe and prudence, " that al- though great advantages had certainly been gained, it was not lefs true, that vafl expences had been in- curred by the unexampled extent and duration of their military operations. The profits of the Com- pany, they faid, were comparatively remote and pre- carious; their debts urgent and certain. Juftice and good policy, therefore, concurred in recom- mending the previous difcharge of incumbrances ere they thought of appropriating the profits. Re- call, faid they, the tranfactions of the South Sea year, and confidcr the pernicious effects of the fraudulent arts then ufcd for railing the value of that Hock. Will not this premature attempt be attended with limilar confequences? A coniider- able augmentation of dividend will raife the price of our fund to an extraordinary heignt, at which it cannot poflibly be fupported. Thus frefh fuel will be added to the ardor for gaming, a wider field will be opened for ftock-jobbing, and all the myfterious iniquities of 'Change-Alley. By your precipitance you will create a new South Sea bubble, which will ultimately burft upon your own heads." The Proprietary, far from being fatisfied with thefe reafonings, greatly refented what they ftyled " the invidious mention of the South Sea bubble,", and reproached the Directors with an intention to monopolife the riches of the Company, and, by their 2 o It. 6EO&GE III their futile and abfurd cavils, prevent all increase of dividend, to fwell their own enormous heaps. A dividend of twelve and a half per cent, was ac- cordingly declared ; when the Parliament, in con- fequence of an application from the Company for the renewal. of their charter, entered into a ferious inveftigation of the ftate of the Company's affairs* It was without hcfitation averted, that a commer- cial company could not legally acquire territorial rights ; and that the revenues annexed to thofe rights appertained folely to the Crown. The Com- pany, dreading the confequences of a competition fb formidable, voluntarily offered an annual fum of 400,000!. to the Government, in lieu of all other claims; and a temporary agreement for two years only was concluded upon thefe terms, the queftion of right remaining undecided. A bill, which the urgency of the cafe only could warrant, was at the fame time brought into the Houfe, RESCINDING, by an high exertion of le- giflative authority, the late refolution of the Ge- neral Court, and confining the dividends of the Company to ten per cent, during the con- tinuance of the agreement made with the Go- vernment, which pafled with much oppofition; the Secretary of State and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on this occafion, to the aftonifh- ment of the public, voting in the minority. This important bill originated with, and was. fupported by the powerful patronage of the Noble Duke K. GEORGE III. 209 Duke at the head of the Treafury, who clearly dif- cerned the neceflity of adopting timely and deci- live meafures of prevention, in oppofition to the daring and nefarious deiigns of thofe perforis, who hoped, by declaring an enormous dividend, and ad- vancing the transfer price of the ftock to a propor- tionate height, to take the fame advantage of the public deliilion, as their predeceflbrs in the ever me- morable year 1720. General Conway, from motives free from any taint of mfpicion, oppofed the bill in queftion, under the too fcrupulous apprehenfion of its eftablifhing an arbitrary precedent. But Mr. Townfhend, whole character with far more diffi- culty repelled the fhafts of calumny, did not efcapc the fevereft animadverlion. The oppofition to this bill in the Houfe. of Lords was truly formida- ble. The Rockingham and Grenville parties united in the reprobation of it. The divilions in the dif- ferent ftages were uncommonly clofe ; and the Minifter, who defended the meafure in perfon with undaunted refolution and great ability, was able on two fucceffive trials to command a majority of three voices only -more than 120 Peers being prefent. At length it parTed on a divifion of 59 to 44 voices. A protelt, drawn with Angular acute- nefs and energy, and confifting of no lefs than fixteen fpecific articles of difient, was figned by nineteen Peers againft this bill ; Lord Rocking- ham and Lord Temple being of the number. VOL. I. P The 210 K. GEORGE III. The moft remarkable claufe of this proteft is that which refers to a propofal made by the Company, of fubmitting to a reftriclion of dividend at the rate of t\Velve and a half per cent, and extending that reftriclion during the temporary agreement ; " which," fay their Lordfhips, " would have fe- cured every good end propofed by this bill, and have obviated all the mifchiefs which they depre- cate, as fuch restriction, with the Company's con- fent, would have been liable to no objections of injuftice or violence." Whether the end propofed might not have been accomplished in a milder and more conciliatory mode, may perhaps admit of doubt; but, at this diftance of time, there can fcarcely exifl a difference of opinion as to the ef- fential rectitude and wifdom of the meafure itfelf. The ideas of Lord Chatham, who Hill main- tained an intimate and confidential intercourfe with the Duke of Grafton, went to an abfolute and unqualified denial of the legal and conftitutional right of the Company to the territorial revenue, and the political jurifdiction annexed to it, as ut- terly incompatible with their commercial capacity, and totally foreign to the nature of the privileges vefted in them by charter. Unfortunately, by a too timid and wavering policy, the natural refulli *of the minifterial jealoufies and animofities too evidently fubiiiting, the Company was left in the pofTeflion of powers, which they in the fequel 7 exercifed K. GEORGE IIL 211 Cxercifed extremely to their own detriment, and the infinite diftrefs and oppreffion of the nations and provinces Subjected to their dominion. If it was not without labor and difficulty that the Minifter was able to carry the relciriding bill into a law, in another great arid favorite meafure he was absolutely and moft unexpectedly defeated. Since the termination of the war, the land-tax had been wifely continued at four (hillings in the pound; and the Duke of GraftOn was anxioufly felicitous that no : reduction Should at this time take place, as it would materially obStruct the grand arrangements formed for the liquidation of the public debt. But when the ufual land-tax bill \vas brought forward by the Chancellor of the Ex- chequer, it was vehemently oppofed by the country gentlemen, who infilled upon its being reduced to three Shillings in the po'und, according to the inva- riable practice of former Adminiftrations in time of peace. The original motion was very faintly Sup- ported by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whoSe Conduct wore upon this, as on many other occa- Sions, the appearance of unaccountable negligencey or the mo'ft inSidious duplicity : and the amend- ment propofed was earned in opposition to the Court by a very decisive majority. Many perfons augured from hence the fpcedy and inevitable dowrifall of the prcfent MiniShy ; but the oppo- ilt ion of the country gentlemen, in thrs inftance, P I being 2i* K GEORGE III. being prompted folely by motives of private in^ tereft, did not extend to the general fyftem of ad- miniftration, to which unanimity alone was want- ing to give every necefiary degree of ftrength and liability. But the illnefs of Lord Chatham, and his confequent utter incapacity for bufinefs, afford- ed unfortunately the mod inviting and unlimited fcope for political intrigue and all the arts of court- ly diffimulation. The feflion did not terminate till late in the fummer (July 2d, 1767), when the want of cor- diality amongft the Minifters became more public- ly apparent. Soon after the prorogation, the King wrote with his own hand a letter to the Earl of Chat- ham, acquainting him with his intention to make certain alterations in the Adminiftration, and de- firing his Lordfhip's affiftancc and advice. But Lord Chatham fignified to his Majefty, that fuch was his ftate of health as to render him incapable of affording the leaf I aid in fettling any future arrangement ; but acknowledging the neceffity of ftrengthening the hands of Government, by a coalition either with the Rockingham or Gren- ville party. A change of Miniftry being now con- fidently expected, the Duke of Newcaftlc, long experienced in the arts of political intrigue, exerted his utmoft efforts to unite the houfcs of Ruflel and Wentworth, confcious that a firm and cordial coalefcence could alone render their oppofition K. GEORGE III. 213 oppofition formidable, or their adminiftration per- manent. This, however, was extremely difficult to effect, not merely on account of the reluctance of each party to act ill a fubordinate capacity, but from the real difference of opinion that fubfifted relative to the affairs of America. At length va- rious mutual facrifices being made to facilitate the formation of a new Adminiftration on a compre- henfive balls, at a meeting of the Leaders of the dif r ferent political parties convened atNewcaftlcHoufe, July 20, Lord Rockingham was, by univerfal con- fent, fixed upon as the moft proper perfon to pre- lide at the Board of Treafury. The Marquis then propofed General Conway for Secretary of State and Miniiter of the Houfe of Commons ; to which the Duke of Bedford pofitively objecting, the con- ference was difiblved: and at a fubfequent meet- ing, the Marquis periifting in this nomination, all ideas of a union vanifhcd, it being fully undcr- ftood that the two parties would not recede in any degree from their oppofite fyftems refpecting America : and the Minifters actually in office finding numerous and unexpected obfbcles to a coalition, one party requiring too great a facrifice of power, and the other of profit, and perceiving no profpect whatever of a general comprehenfion, determined to maintain their ground in defiance of all oppofition. P 3 Lord *i 4 K. G E O R G E III. Lord Chatham, who had exhibited Tome flatter- ing fymptoms of recovery, relapfing into his for- mer ftate of illnefs and imbecility, Mr. Charles Townfhend renewed his intrigues with redoubled affiduity; and, highly refenting that his name was wholly omitted in the late projected arrangements, he refolved to devote himfelf entirely to the Court ; by whom his advances were fo favorably or ra- ther eagerly received, that the ultimate confe- quences of his plotting and perverfe politics might have proved very perplexing and pernicious, had not his death prematurely and unexpectedly in- tervened in the month of September 1767*. The term of this Minifter's public life was too fhort, and his fituation too fubordinate, to allow that full and free fcope of action which is neceflary to the perfect development of a character. From what appear*, his ambition, increafing with his increafe * During the fhort funfhir.e of Court favor which Mr. Townfhend enjoyed, his Lady was created a P.oerefs in her own right, by the title of Baronefs Greenwich. In allufion to the extraordinary degree of influence and authority poffeffed by Mr. Townfhend at this period, when Lord Chatham advanced ra- pidly to the clofe of his miniflerial career, a celebrated orator, Mr. Burke, in a fpeech forae years afterwards made in the Houfe of Commons, thus expreffes himfelf:" Even then, Sir, before this fplendid orb was entirely fet, and while the weftern horieon was in a blaze with his defcending glory, on the oppo- fite quarter of the heavens arofe another luminary, and for his hour became lord of the afcendant," K. GEORGE m. 215 of honors, was much better fuftained by political ability, deftitute as that ability was of a clear and correct judgment, than his ability by political recti- tude. He was fucceeded in his office of Chancel- lor of the Exchequer by Frederick Lord North, eldeft fon of the Earl of Guildford a man as yet but little known to the public, but who fbon rofe to great eminence in the State. Although his no- tions of government evidently appeared of -the high and Tory caft, his temper was mild, equable, and pleafant. His abilities, though by no means of the firft clafs, were far removed from contempt ; his knowledge of bufmefs was'extenfive, his integrity unimpcached ; and, though .indolent and unenter-r prifing by conftitution, he was occafionally capa- ble of refolute and perfevering exertion. It muft however be remarked, that a certain indiftinclnefs and confufion of ideas unfortunately pervaded his general fy Hem of thinking; and though he fcetned habitually to aim at the thing which was right, and often made a confiderable approach towards it, he almofl invariably flopped fhort of the true and genuine ftandard of political propriety. With the reputation of meaning well, therefore, he acquired the imputation of indecilion and inftability and the general tenor of his adminiitration muft cer- tainly be allowed to exhibit very few indications of energy, wifdom, or force of penetration. But the character of this nobleman will be beft appreciated P 4 by 2i6 'K. GEORGE III. by pofterity, in contemplating that faithful por- traiture of his a&ions and conduct, which it is the province of hiftory to delineate. Mr. Thomas Townfhend fucceeded Lord North as Pay matter of the Forces j Mr. Jenkinfon, Mr. Townfhend, as a Lord of the Treafury. Lord Chatham, who had retired in fullen lilence, opprefled with illnefs and difcontent, to his feat in Somerfetfhire, was no longer confulted, from caufes which require no additional explanation, either as to the arrange- ments actually made, or with refpect to thofe which were ftill in view. In the autumn of the prelent year 1767, died at Monaco in Italy, Edward Duke of York, eldeft brother to the King and on this account only entitled to hiftoric notice ; his political cha- racter remaining as yet unknown, or known only from the unfavorable circumftance of his giving his vote in Parliament againii the repeal of the Stamp Act. He is ufually reprefented as a Prince of pleafmg manners, and comparative vivacity of genius ; but of fuperficial attainments in know- ledge, and very diflolute in his morals. He was of the naval profeffion, and had diftinguifhed him- felf in the laft war, when very young, in the attack on Cherbourg, under Lord Howe, by his fpirit and gallantry. His aftability and courage, con- joined with the common advantages of youth, had acquired him no inconfiderable degree of popula- rity K. GEORGE III. atj rity amongft the vulgar, and the efteera of the wife he never fought. The Earl of Northington, who had occupied, amid the fucceffive changes of five different Ad- miniftrations, the high offices of Lord Keeper, Lord Chancellor, and Lord Prefident, now broken in health, and weary of politics, at this juncture de- claring his refolution to refign; new advances were made to the Bedford party, who, convinced that an accommodation with Lord Rockingham was impracticable, determined at length to clofe with the offers of the Court. About the end of the year, Earl Gower was nominated Prefident of the Council, in the room of the Earl of Northing- ton ; Lord Weymouth, Secretary of State, in the room of General Conway promoted in the military line ; and Lord Hilliborough was appointed to the new office of Secretary of State for the Colonies, the creation of which was fuppofed with reafon to indi- cate that the Court was preparing to make them the objects of fome extraordinary meafures. The Earl of Chatham, at prefent only the fhadow of a mighty name, and fequetlered in the groves of Burton Pyn- fent, ceafed to be mentioned by the public. After the lapfe of fame months, perceiving, or believing that he perceived, the fixed and invincible predomi- nance of that malignant influence, which from the accefiion of the prefent King had invariably op- pofed, and more or lefs openly counteracted, the eflential 2i8 K. GEORGE III. effential interefts of the people, this Nobleman de- termined upon a refignation ; and in the month of October 1768, not being ablo, or not deigning himfelf to appear at Court, he fent the Privy Seal to the King, by the hands of Lord Camden : it was immediately delivered to the Earl of Briitol. Nearly at the fame time, the Earl of Shelburne, zealoufly attached to the Earl of Chatham, refigned the feals of the Southern department to the Earl of Wey mouth, who was fucceeded by the Earl of Rochford, late Ambaflador at Paris. For fome time previous to thefe changes, the feelings of the public had been in a peculiar man- ner interefted, and their attention engaged, by the iituation of Corfica, which, neglected as it had been by one Adminiftration after another, now at length forced itfelf upon the notice of the Government. This ifland, fo celebrated in all ages for its ardent and invincible paffion for liberty, was on the fall of the Roman Empire poffefled by the Goths, and afterwards by the Saracens, from whom it is faid to have been wrefted by the famous Charles Mar- tel. In a fhort time, Corfica was refigned by the Kings of France as a free gift to the Holy See, which,from the inceflant irruptions of the Saracenic Powers, and the ungovernable fpirit of the natives, finding the acquifition very unprofitable, ceded the ifland to the Republic of Pifa, then in the me- ridian of its greatnefs. But Genoa gaining the ultimate K. GEORGE III. 2 ,j ultimate afcendancy over this rival nation, Corfica unfortunately, about the beginning of the i4th century, fell under her dominion, which from its very commencement was diftinguifhed by the moft cruel and oppreffive feverity. In the wars between France and the Houfe of Auftria in the i6th century, Corfica made a fpi- rited effort to recover her independency under the protection of Francis I. and his fon and fuc- ceflor Henry II. But the Genoefe, being ftrongly protected by the Emperor Charles V. reduced, under the aufpices of the renowned Andrew Doria, the ifland again under their yoke Sampieri d'Or- nano, the principal leader of the infurgents, whom Thuanus ityles " vlr betto impiger et ammo in- vi&us" being bafely aflaflinated, A. D. 1567, by the treachery of Genoa. Defpifed, plundered, and opprefled, the Corficans, after a long fucceflion of wretched and calamitous years, fuddenly and un- cxpecledly rofe in arms in 1729, and poflefljbd themfelves of the city of Corte, the capital of the ifland. But the Republic applying for, and receiving, powerful fuccors from the Emperor Charles VI. an accommodation took place, and a treaty was concluded under the Imperial guarantee. This being almofl immediately broken fay the Genoefe, the Corficans in a few years rofe anew; and, after a fhort interval, eleclcd the famous Theodore Baron Neuhoff for their Sovereign. 2*o K. G E O R G E III. Sovereign. The Republic, no longer adher- ing to the political fyftem which connected her with the Court of Vienna, now applied to France for afliftance; and in the year 1739 a great force was fent over under the Count de Maillebois, by whofe able and at the fame time relentlefs exertions of military Ikill and vigor the ifland was once more totally vanquifhed ; the French auxiliaries leaving it, at the end of the year 1741, in a ftate of the jnoft perfect fubmiflion, exhibiting every where marks of the jnoft frightful defolation. A re- markable manifefto was in the courfe of this hor- rid warfare publifhed by the Genoefe, in which they with apparent gravity fay, " All the world knows the mildnefs and love with which the Re- public of Genoa governs her people, and, above all, with what goodnefs and affection fhe hath ever regarded thofe of Corfica." This was farther fignally difplayed in the propofal made by them, after the reduction of the ifland, to tranfport a great number of the difaffefled inhabitants to the diftant colonies of France. " It fhould fcem by this," lays a French writer, M. Jauffin, " that they would have been fatisfied with remaining fove- rcigns of the rocks of Corfica, though they had no fubjccts." Scarcely, neverthelefs, were the French departed, than the Corficans were again in motion. As if actuated by a kind of infpiration, not only men, but women and beardlefs boys, appeared in the K* GEORGE III. 211 the field, and the whole nation burned with re- newed and redoubled ardor to burfl the bonds of their ignominious thraldom. The war between England and France having now commenced, and Genoa taking a decided part with the latter, the Englifh fleet in the Mediterranean gave frequent and efficacious fuccors to the Corfican infurgents, and St. Lorenzo and Baftia were in the year 1745 recovered, by their ailiftance, from the Genoefe. In the fucceeding year, the Corficans, now con- dueled by Count Rivarola, made propofals to the Earl of Briftol, then Ambaflador from the Court of London at Turin, to put themfelves entirely under the protection of Great Britain. This was, however, in terms of refpecl, declined by the Eng- lifh Court : and, on the conclufion of the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the Corficans were ungencroufly and with true political apathy left to their fate. The contefl was neverthelefs continued with vari- ous fucceis. But the Corficans having, A. D. 1755, elected as their Chief, Pafcal Paoli, foil of their former leader Giacinto, a man of diitiri- guifhed talents and virtues, a regular government on a free and democratic bafis was formed under his invigorating influence, and great advantages gained over the Genoefe in the fubfequent con- duel: of the war. The hoary and venerable Chief, Giacinto, had many years before retired to Na- ples, devoting himfelf to the education of his fon. Embracing *22 K. GEORGE III. Embracing him at parting, with patriotic and pater- nal exultation he faid in broken accents, " My fony I may poffibly never fee you more; but in my mind I fhall ever be prefent with you : your defign is a great and noble one, and I doubt not but GOD : will blefs you in it. The little that remains to me of life I will allot to your caufe,, in offering up my prayers and fupplications to Heaven for your protec- tion and profperity." The proclamation rflued by the King of England in 1762, under the inaufpicions admin iltration of the Earl of Bute, prohibiting his fubjecls from giv- ing aid or afliftance in any fhape to the Corfican rebels when England was in a lituation to have eftablifhed, by a fingle word, the liberty and inde- pendency of Cornea -was a terrible blow to thefe unfortunate iflanders, and no doubt emboldened the Court of Veffailles to conclude the fubfequent treaty with Genoa, by which the progrefs of the CorficarV General was arreiied in the midft of his victories *. The * Oil this occafion, M. Roufieau indignantly wrote to his friend M. de Leyre, at Parma : " II faut avouer que vos Fran- gois font tm peuple bien fervile, bien vendu a la tyrannic, bien* cruel, et bien acharne fur les malheureujr. S'ils favoient un homme libre a 1'autre bout du monde, je crois qu'ils iroient pour le feul plaifir de 1'exterminer." On the other lund, Mu- ratori, who publiflied, from the King of France's libja-y, an account of Corfica written i'n the r6th century by Petrus Cyr- BZUS, a prieft of the dioeefe of Aleria in that ifland, fay^, Corii;: K. GEORGE III. 323 The aid of France was however granted in a mode conformable to the infidious policy of that Court^ which, influenced by the afpiring counfels of the " Corfi, ferocium atque agreftium hominum genus, et in feditio- nem facile pronum, Seremjjimx Genuenfium RelpubTicit, converfis in rebellionem animis, a multo tempore negotium nou leve fa- ccffunt Chialem Petrus Cyrnaeus gentem fuam defcribit, per- petuis contentionibus ac turbis flu&uantem, talera prefens quoque xtas agnofcit ac fentit." The difpofition of the Serene Re- public, thus difquieted by the turbulence of the nation flie fo eagerly defired to hold in her chains, is curioufly depi&ured in an anecdote related by the Abbe Richard : " Le Royaume de Corfe," fays this writer, " dont la Republique poflede quelques places maritimes, lui coute prodigieufement. Elle n'en retire aucun avantage reel, et elle a toujours a combattre un peuple inuifcipline arme pour la liberte. Mais comme les Nobles Ge- nois fe regardent tous comme folidairement Rors DE CORSE, cette raifon, qui eft tres forte fur leur efprit, les determinera toujours a. ne rien epargner pour conferver au moins ce titre; C'eft 1'objet d'ambition qui les touche le plus. Rien n'eil auffi intcreffant pour eux que les nouvelles de ce pals furtout quand la balance paroit pancher du cote des rebelles. Une dame Ge- noife, fort inquiete de quelque fucces qui fembloit annoncer une revolution totale en faveur des infulaires, apprenant que les elperances de la Republique fe retabliflbient, dit dans un tranf- port de joie, DIEU merci ! nous fommes done encore UN PEU REINES !'' Mr. Bofwell, in his interefting account of Corfica publifhed at this period, tells us, that General Paoli feemed deeply hurt at the treatment which Corfica had received from this country; and particularly mentioned to him the fevere pro- clamation of 1762, in which the brave iflanders were ftyled the REBELS of CORSICA. He faid with confcious pride and feeling, *' REBELS ! I did not exped that from GREAT BRITAIN !" Due .* K. GEORGE lit Due de Choifeul, was ambitious to annex Corficd to its other dominions. The Genoefe, perceiving 1 no profpecT: of a termination of the war, at length made a formal ceilion of the ifland to the French King ; and a very large body of forces was imme- diately ordered to embark, for the purpofe of tak- ing pofTeffion. This could not fail to excite great jealoufy and alarm in the feveral Courts of Europe moft adverfe to France ; and England and Hol- land, in particular, prefented, by their refpeclive Ainbaffadors, ftrong memorials to the Court of Vcr- failles, expreffive of their refolution not to fuffer this addition to the power of the French Monarchy/ In confequence of this fpirited language, the Due de Choifeul began to waver ; and Lord Rochford, in his difpatches tranfmitted at this pe- riod to England, feemed not to harbor a doubt that France would finally concede in every point required of her. Moft unfortunately the Due dc Choifeul received, at this critical moment, whether through treachery or grofs and unpardonable in- difcretion is not clearly afcertainable, fatisfaftory ajjurances that the Cabinet of England would not, in the prefent circumftances, involve the nation in' hoftilities on account of this objecl. Suddenly the* language of the French Court became haughty and peremptory, and breathed an air of hoftility and defiance. The Englifh Minifters, ailonifhecJ at this alteration, and at a lofs how to decide, fent, together K. GEORGE III. 225 together with a confiderable fupply of arms and ammunition, a private meflage to General Paoli, defiring full information refpecling the defence he was able to make, and how long he deemed that Corfica would be competent to refift the force em- ployed on this fervice. General Paoli, inftead of ingenuoufly acknowledging that the ifland muft fall without immediate and powerful fuccors from England^ affirmed, that it could not be reduced in lefs than eighteen months ; erroneoufly imagin- ing perhaps, that to magnify the ftrength and re- fources of his country might be the mofl efte&ual means of inducing England to take a decided part in her favor. But while the Englifh Mi- nifters were hefitatingand deliberating^ the French arms made a rapid and alarming progrefs ; and Paoli, difcerning no fymptoms of vigor in the Eng- lifh connfels, thought proper to make a feafonable retreat, leaving his unfortunate country to its hard and unmerited fate. He was however well re- ceived by the Court of London on his fubfequent arrival in England, and an ample penfion was fet- tled upon him in reward of his heroifm, or, accord- ing to the malicious conftruction of fome, as the guarantee of his filence. Parliament was convened early in the prefent year 1 768; but nothing peculiarly interefling or important occurred in the courfe of the feffion, with the fingle exception of a bill introduced and VOL. I. Q patronifed it? K. GEORGE III. patronlfed by the Oppofition, under the denomi- nation of the Nullum Tempus Bill, for quieting the pofieffions of the fubjecT:, and fecuring them from all obsolete and vexatious claims, with a par- ticular view to the claims of the Crown, again ft which it was held to be a maxim of law that no prefcription could be pleaded. This bill origi- nated in an incident of an extraordinary nature. The Portland family had, in confequence of a grant from King WILLIAM, pofTefled for feventy years the honor of Penrith and its appurtenances, lituated in the county of Cumberland. The foreft of Inglewood, and the manor and caftle of Car- lifle, being confidered as parts of this grant, were quietly enjoyed by the family for feveral defcents, under the fame tenure, though not particularly fpecified. Sir James Lowther, the fon-in-law of Lord Bute, being apprized of this omiffion, made, a clandeftine application to the Crown for a leafe of the premifesin queftion ; and the Surveyor-Gene- ral of the Crown Lands, though no lawyer, nor act- ing on the opinion of any lawyer, took upon him to decide, that thefe eftates were ftill veiled in the Crown. Orders were therefore iflued for a new grant to Sir James Lowther, in which the foccage of Carlule was rated at 50!. per annum, and the foreft of Inglewood at 143. 4d. though in reality of immenfe value, and commanding an extenfive election influence. When 1 the Board of , Treafury K, GEORGE III. 227 Treasury met after a long adjournment, the Duke of Portland prefcnted to the Lords a memorial, in which he prayed to be heard by their Lordfhips in defence of his title. He was informed that no Itep would be adopted to his prejudice, till an im- partial inveftigation had taken place. But whilft the Duke's agents and folicitors were employed in a laborious fearch into antient and mouldered mo- numents, furveys, and court-rolls, his Grace was informed, that the grant was actually completed ; and, notwithstanding the caveat entered in the Court of Exchequer, the Chancellor Lord North affixed the feal, in purfuance of a pofitive order from the Lords of the Treafury. When this moft extraordinary bufinefs came under parliamentary difcuffion, the advocates of the Court maintained, " that the premifes in quef- tion were no part of the honor of Penrith, and that the rcfumption was therefore juftifiable ; that the family of Portland was fufficiently paid for any fervices which it might have rendered the nation ; and after enjoying for the fpace of feventy years an eflate to which it had no right, it was faid they might now be contented to refign it into the hands of the true owner." The Oppofition indig- nantly replied, " that the revival of the obfolete and dormant prerogative of refumption, in the face of a long and uninterrupted prefcription, was in the higheft degree deteftable and alarming ; that re- Q 2 fumptions 2i* K. GEORGE III. fumptions had been practifed only by the worft or moft arbitrary of our princes, and even by them with caution, as fenfible of the general abhorrenc which every act of that kind muft excite. The maxim on which they were founded, was aflerted to be the difgrace of the prerogative, and the fcandal of the law ; and it could fcarcely have been imagined, that the moft enlightened ages would revive a practice which the darkeft times had held in deteftation. All the lands of the kingdom have been at different times in the hands of the Sovereign, and a large proportion of them, from the lofs of authentic deeds, may be liable to fimilar claims ; and thus the fubjecl may be harafled and ruined by frivolous and vexatious fuits, whenever he becomes obnoxious to an arbi- trary Miniftry. To ground a proceeding of this nature upon the mere report of the Surveyor-Ge- neral of the Crown, unfupported by any authority of law, was reprobated as a mockery and infult, amounting to an evident abandonment of every principle of equity and juftice. When our Kings liad little other fixed revenue than what arofe from their demefne lands, refumptions might be more eafily deemed pardonable ; but when a vaft perma- nent revenue was fettled by Parliament on the Crown, the plea of neceffity is wholly precluded ; not to mention that the referved rent was too con- temptible a confederation to be fuppofed in the re - moteft K. GEORGE III. 229 moteft degree to have influenced the refumption. This act is evidently a continuation of that vile and pernicious fyftem which had its origin at the commencement of the prefent reign ; a fyftem, one of whofe favorite obje6ts it has been to affront and difgrace thofe families who were moft ftrenu- ous in effecting the Revolution, and in fecuring the throne to the Houfe of Hanover." The Mi- ni fters of the Crown contented themfelves with al- leging,, that farther time was neceffery for the full inveftigation of this bill, and a motion was made for the poftponement of it till the enfuing feliion. This was carried by a majority of 20 voices only ; and, not to refume the fubjedl, it may be here re- marked., that the Nullum Tempus Bill palled fub- fequently into a law ; and thus the oppreflion of an individual, agreeably to, the happy genius of the Englifh Conflitution, became the means of ex- tending and fecuring the rights and liberties of the community at large. When this great caufe was fubfequently ar- gued before the Barons of the Exchequer, the late grant was judged invalid, as contrary to the ftatute of Queen Anne, which ena - cornpelled the inhabitants to illuminate their houfes, as if fome fignal victory had been gained ; and the Chief Magiftrate Harley was openly and grofsly infulted by a. violent aflault upon the Man- fion Houfe. The Miniftry, who had remained unaccount- ably pailive at his firfl appearance, now feemed to awaken from their lethargy. Mr. Wilkes, having with much difcretion furrendered him- felf to the jurifdiction of the King's Bench, ob- tained a reverfal of his outlawry ; but the verdicts given againft him on both trials were now affirm- ed by Lord Mansfield, and he was in confequence condemned to fuffer two years imprifonment; to pay a fine of one thoufand pounds ; and to find fe- curity for his good behaviour during the fpace of leven years. The feverity of this fentence was rendered more odious by the extraordinary and unjuiliflable methods taken to procure his con- vidion, and by the arbitrary and unprecedented alteration of the records, by direction of the Judge, on the very night preceding the trial. The multitude, enraged at this oppreffive proce- dure, refcued by force Mr. Wilkes from the officers who were conducting him to prifon, and carried him in triumph through the city ; but through his earneft endeavors and entreaties they were pre- vailed on to abftain from all farther acts of out- rage. At midnight, when the mob was difperfed, Mr. 1 3 6 K. GEORGE III. Mr. Wilkes again furrendered hknfelf to the cuf- tody of the Marfhal of the King's Bench, in me- ritorious obedience to the laws of his country. Many perfons being accuftomed to affemble be- fore the gates of the prilbn, it was judged expedi- ent to ftation a military guard in the vicinity for its feeurity. On the loth of May 1768, the new Parliament was convened, and vaft multitudes were collected about the King's Bench and the fields adjacent, tinder the idea of feeing Mr. Wilkes go to the Houfe of Commons. Having waited a long time in vain, they began to grow infolent and clamor- ous; and the Juftices of the Peace, who attended for the purpofe, thought it neceflary, after endur- ing much outrage and perfonal injury, to read the Riot Act ; on which the people, highly exafperated, interrupted them with throwing (bowers of ftones and other miffile weapons. The foldiers, irritated in their turn, and impatient of attack, were now ordered to fire, and more than twenty perfons were killed or wounded at the firft difcharge. Se- veral of the military, purfuing a fuppofed offender, foot moil unfortunatety in his ftead one Allen, a youth who had taken no part whatever in the affray, dead, in a hovel or cow-houfe belonging to his father, in the very act of imploring mercy. This incident awakened the pity, as the conduct of the magiftrates, however juftifiable in their" circum- 3 fiances, K. GEORGE III. i j? fiances, excited the indignation of the public. It was faid with bold and injurious affeveration, that the Juilices caufed the riot by reading the Riot Acl ; and the thanks returned in the King's name to the detachments employed in this odious fervice, who were all drafted from Scotch regiments., height- ened and inflamed to an incredible pitch the paf~ lions of the people. After a very fhort feffion, and merely pafling ene or two bills pro forma, the Parliament was prorogued till November, and the Minifters had full leifure to confidcr what fpecific meafures, after the multiplied errors of their predeceffors, pru- dence and moderation, words of hateful found within the verge of a Court, now dictated as the rule of their future conduct. During the recefs, and while the fecret advifers of the Court were yet perhaps fufpended in doubt, a trivial event turned the fcale in favor of that plan of mean and mif- chievous revenge which feemed moft congenial tr> the genius and policy of the prefent reign. A letter from Lord Weyrnouth, Secretary of State, addreffcd to the Chairman of the Bench of Juftices for the County of Surry, and expreffive of the higheft approbation of the late proceedings of the Magiftrates, fell into the hands of Mr. Wilkes, who immediately publiihed it with a preface fufiicicntly daring and indignant. When the Parliament met, Lord Weyrnouth made a formal complaint of breach 238 K. GEORGE III. breach of privilege, and the Houfe of Commons with little helitation refolved this prefatory intro- duction to be " an infolent, fcandalous, and fedi- tious libel." And it being alfo urged that Mr. Wilkes was fentenced to a long imprifonment for former offences of a fimilar nature, and incapa- ble of attending his duty in Parliament, it was moved by Lord Barrington, Secretary at War, that he be expelled the Houfe. His Lordfhip's motion was feconded by Mr. Rigby, Paymafter of the Forces, a man who under a fpecious veil of hilarity and urbanity concealed a difpofition fervile and corrupt, combined with a profligate contempt of the obligations of morality and even the appear- ances of decorum. The motion was carried by a great majority, but not without fevere animadver- fion. It was intimated to be very extraordinary that fuch zeal fhould be difplayed againft the au- thor of an obicene and impious libel, by him whole life had been one continued fcene of obfcenity and impiety. It was affirmed " that the libel with which Mr. Wilkes now ftood charged, did not come pro- perly under the cognizance of the Houfe. If the privileges of the Peers were violated, or their pro- ceedings arraigned, they were competent to the vindication of their own honor. For the other libels he has been already expelled. Shall the Houfe punifh twice for the fame offence ? In order to fatisfy the vengeance of the Court, ihall we K. GEORGE III. 23$ we aft in direct oppofition, not to the forms only, but to the very eflence of the Conftitution ? Shall we blend the executive and judicial powers with the legiflative, and take upon ourfclves the odium of trying and punifhing in a fummary manner an offence cognizable by the laws in the ordinary courts of judicature? Will not this pretended zeal for the honor of religion, and the fupport of good order and government,, be clearly difcernerd to originate in a flaviih complaifance to the man- dates of the Court ? Diffimulation is a falfe garb, which fools put on, and think they wear the robe of \Vilclom. In the profecution of this clefign, if the Houle ihcmld condelcend to become the paf- five inftruments of rniniitcrial oppreffion, nothing can enfue but humiliation, contempt, and dif grace." It is notwithstanding fingular, that the apparently obvious and probable confcquence of this expulfion does not feem to have occurred either to the Mi- niftersof the Crown, or to the Members in oppo- fition. But whatever might have been previoufly expected, the fa6t is, that, a new writ being iffued, Mr. Wilkes was a fecond time returned with the greatefl unanimity. The Houfe now began to perceive the dilemma in which it had with fuch palpable indifcretion involved itfelf. By proceed- ing in this bufmefs, they muft incur the refentmcnt, perhaps the detection, of the public ; by receding, it *4<* *> GEO&GE III. it were impoffible to efcape their contempt. Pre- ferring what appeared to them the leaft of thefe two evils, they refolved, " that Mr. Wilkes, hav- ing been once expelled, was incapable of fitting in the fame Parliament, and that the election was therefore void." The freeholders of Middlefex, equally determined with the Houfe of Commons, chofe him a third time their reprefentative, with the fame Unanimity. The election was again de- clared void by the Commons ; and, in order to ter- minate a conteft in which the Houfe appeared to ib little advantage, Colonel Luttrell, a Member of that Affembly, had the courage voluntarily to va- cate his feat in Parliament, with a view to offer himfelf as a candidate for Middlefex ; being pre- vioufly affured that he fhould at all events, and whatever might be the difparity of numbers upon the poll, be the fitting Member. At the fourth election Mr. Wilkes was again returned by the Sheriffs; the votes in his favor being 1243^0296: but, on a petition from Colonel Luttrell, he was, after a vehement debate continued to a very late hour (March 3, 1769), declared DULY ELECTED ! By this decifion the nation was thrown into a paroxyfm of rage and confirmation, which the oc- cafion certainly could not juftify, and which only ferved to (hew how a comparatively trivial quef- tion may be magnified into artificial importance, by making it the object of political and perfonal contention. K. GEORGE m. jjj contention. It could not be denied that the Houfe of Commons had ever exercifed a judicial autho- rity, which could in no other hands be fo properly placed, in determining upon the validity of returns, and the qualifications of their own Members. This authority might undoubtedly be abufed or indif- creetly exercifed, but all power is in its own nature liable to abufe ; and if fo vague an objection be admitted, the powers vefted in all political bodies, however conflituted, muft be annihilated, and the bands of civil fociety are at once diflblved. The power of expulfion for fuch offences as appear to the Houfe to render any of its members unworthy of the trull repofed in them, had been exercifed in numerous inflances from time immemorial ; and though no cafe precifely fimilar to the prefent in all its circumfiances could be adduced, the Houfe of Commons now exifting had certainly as valid a right to make a precedent in a new cafe within the limits of their own peculiar jurifdicfton as any for- mer Houfe of Commons, or as the Courts fitting in Weftminfter Hall. And had the expulfion of Mr. Wilkes been itfelf a popular meafure, the fubfequent fteps taken by the Houfe would no doubt have been deemed perfectly regular, as ana- logous to the fpirit of former decifions, conforma- ble to tha general powers of adjudication vefted in the Houfe, and neceflarily flowing from the ori- VOL. L R 242 K. G E R G E IIL ginal and eftablifhed parliamentary right of expul- lion. In the famous cafe of Sir Robert Wai pole, ex- pelled the Houfe, A. D. 1 7 1 i, for " breach of truft, and corruption," and re-ele3ed for the borough of Lynn Regis, the Houfe refolved, that he was in- capable of fitting in that parliament, though they did not on that occafion venture to declare Mr. Taylor, the candidate next upon the poll, duly elected. But in the cafe of Serjeant Corny ns, who, being returned for the borough of Maiden in the year 1715, had refufcd to take the qualification oath, the Houfe more confiftently determined that the votes given to Comyns were loft, and that Mr. Tuffhell, next upon the poll, was duly elected. And in the cafe of Bedford, 172,7, the Houfe, in conformity to the former decifion, declared Mr. Orlebar duly elected, though inferior by no left "than two hundred and twenty-five votes on the "face of the poll to Mr. Ongley, who was prcvioufly difqualified by holding the office of Commiffioncr of the Cuitoms. From thefe authorities combined, a complete precedent might therefore be formed ; the firft affirming that a Member once expelled "could not fit- in the fame Parliament the two lat- ter, that votes given to a difqualified perfon were 'absolutely, and to every elective purpoie, null and ^void. But if no precedents could have been ad- duced. K. GEORGE III. 4J dueed, the reafon of the thing would evidently have dilated to the Houfe fuch a decifion as was eflential to the dignity and confiftency of their own jurifdiction, and to the avoidance of an ab- furdity fo palpable and ridiculous as would be the doctrine now for the firfr time promulgated, that Parliament had a right to expel in infmtum, and the electors a right to re-elect in infinitum. It muft nevertbelefs be acknowledged, that a difcre- tionary power of expulfion is liable to be perverted to very bad purpofes ; and therefore it was judged proper by an Act palled in the courfe of the en- fuing feffion,to fpecify the offences which fhall in future render incapacitation the neceflary refult of expulfion : and thus, inftead of encroaching on the rights of the people in matters of election, this obnoxious Houfe of Commons did in reality fix legal and definite boundaries to their own power. To charge therefore, as many fcrupled not to do, in confequence of their determined conduct in this ill-fated conteft, the Minifters of the Crown with a premeditated defign to fubvert the Conftitution would be very unjuft ; though it may fairly be con- fidcred as difplaying a moft dangerous excefs of complaifance to the Crown on the part of the Commons, precipitately to involve themfelves in a quarrel with their conftituents, in order to gratify the intemperate refentment of the Court againft R 2 an *44 K. G E R G E III. an obfcure and unprotected individual, and as a cogent proof of the alarming influence of the exe- cutive power over the legiflative body. The worfl Miniitcrs of the Crown during the prefent reign cannot indeed be reafonably fufpecled of a defign fo extravagant as that which hath been fometimes ferioufly afcribcd to them, of railing the preroga- tive above all control ; but it is the characleriftic of the prefent reign, that a wife Government has been molt unwifely adrniniftt-red that high and arbitrary principles have been revived and^acled upon that the Ipirit of Toryifm, i. e. the fpirit of pride, f vk)?ence, and domination, has, with very ihort intervals, prevailed ; and that the mild, the moderate, the conciliatory maxims of genuine Whiggifrn have been difcountenanccd and dif- carded *. The * November 17, 1768, died at a very advanced age the Duke of Newcaljle, who for more than fifty years had occupied the jrreateft offices in the State. The famous quadruple alliance wa figned by this Nobleman at Whitehall, July 22,17 *8. ^e might, in the laft years of his life, with propriety adopt the words of the poet " I've been fo long remember'd, Pm forgot." His Grace was iucceeded in the Chancellorftiip of the Umverfity of Cambridge by the Duke of Grafton. In the autumn of this .year alfoditd-the molt Rev. Dr. Thomas Seeker, Archbifhop.of .Canterbury, \vhich metropolitan fee, after the death of Dr. Her- ring, had been filled for a very fhort interval by Dr. Hutton, on whofe deceafe in 1-58 this high dignity was conferred on Dr. Seeker, K. GEORGE III. 245 The Houfe of Commons proceeded, after the queftion of the Micldlefex election was thus deter- mined, to the ufual bulinefs of the feffion, and thirty-three thoiifand men were voted for the lea: and land fervice of the year 1769. The charter of the Ealt-India Company was prolonged for the further term of five years, on conditions fimilar to the laft agreement ; but the Company were now allowed to increafe their dividend to twelve and a half per cent, during this term, provided they did not in any one year raife it above one per cent. On the other hand, fliouldthe dividend be reduced below the prelent ftandard of ten per cent, the Seeker, then Bifhop of Oxford ; a prelate of a life rigidly vir- tuous, completely verfed in all branches of ecclefiaftical learning, but of a capacity by no means elevated, and whofe zeal was at lead as confpicuous as his candor and judgment. His ardent defire to eftabliih epifcopacy in America is well known ; and if no fears and jealoufies had been entertained that the new blfhops would have been inverted with fome fort or degree of temporal jurifdiftion, the plan would not have been oppofed by the Ame- ricans, who declared, that they objected not to the introduction of bifhops, but they were determined not to admit of LORt> BISHOPS. Bifhops on the primitive model, unconnected with the State, have been fmce the Revolution introduced into the dif- ferent provinces, even of New England itfelf, without exciting the flighteft alarm or apprehenfion. In the character of Seeker, though in many refpeds excellent, we may look in vain for the benignity, the liberality, the generous and enlarged views of his predeceflbr Archbimop Herring. Dr. Seeker was fucceeded by JDr. Frederic Cornwallis, Bifhop of Lichfield and Coventry. R 3 ftipulated *4 K. G E O R G E III. ftipulated payment of 400,000!. per annum to the public fhould be proportionally diminifhed ; and if the dividend fhould fink to fix percent, the pay- ment to the public fhould wholly ceafe. A meffage from the King was on the laft clay of February (1769) delivered to the Houfe by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, acquainting them, that the arrears of the civil lift amounted to the fum of 513,000!. and defiring the affiftance of his faithful Commons to difcharge this heavy incum- brance. Such were the zeal and loyalty of the Houfe, and fuch their unlimited confidence in his Majefty 's prudence and economy of expenditure, that on the 2,d of March the fum required was granted, without any formality of inveftigation. On the 9th of May, Parliament was prorogued ; his Majefty delivering upon the occafion a fpeech in which the loyalty and affection of his " faithful Commons" were highly applauded and a promife made, of confining for the future the expences of his Civil Government within fuch bounds, not as the law had prefcribcd, but as the HONOR of his CROWN would admit. At this period a circular letter was written by the Earl of Hillfborough, Secretary of State for America, to the different Colonies, acquainting them, " that it was the intention of his Majefty 's Minifters to propofe, in the next feffion of Parlia- ment, taking off the duties upon glafs, paper, and colors, K. GEORGE III. 247 colors, on conlideration of fuch duties having been laid contrary to the true principles of commerce ; and alluring them, that at no time had they enter- tained any defign to propofe to Parliament to lay any farther taxes On America for the purpofe of raifing a revenue." Notwithstanding the faho of commercial principle?, it was fufficicntly evident that this conceffion was folely and wifely made with a view to conciliate America in this.crifis of difaffcc'lion and difcontent in England. But as the wifdom of man is generally blended with a portion of folly, the duty on tea was purpofely and invi- dioufly left as a mark of the legiilative fupremacy of Britain, very contrary to the inclinations and earned endeavors of the Minifter, who, by cogent arguments, demonftrated in Council the impolicy of leaving that fatal germ of contention to expand into incurable animofity. But though the Duke of Graflon was on this occafion powerfully fup- ported by Lord Camden, and various other names of the higheft respectability, his Grace's fyftem of moderation was moft unfortunately over-ruled in the Cabinet, in a favorite point of primary import- ance within his own department, by the operation of that fecret and baleful influence which it might furelv have been imagined that the evil genius of Britain alone could at this momentous conjuncture have awakened into action. And from this period the Duke of Grafton entertained fixed and ferious R 4 ideas 2 4 * K. GEORGE III. ideas of relinquishing his ftation fo foon as a fuo ceflbr could be provided by his Majefty. The ferment raifed in the nation by the late de- cilion of the Houfe of Commons feemed in the mean time daily to increafe in violence. A very bold petition was prefented to the King by the Freeholders of the County of Middlefex, in which they enlarged on the uniform tendency of the meafures of the prefent reign to deftroy that har- mony which ought to fubfift between the Prince and the People ; and they concluded a long cata^- logue of grievances and apprehenfions, by declar- ing, that the right of election had been wrefted from them by the unprecedented feating of a can^ didate who was never chofen by the county ; who, even to become a candidate, was obliged fraudulently to vacate his feat in Parliament. " Deign then/' fay they, Cf molt gracious Sovereign, to Men to the prayer of the moft faithful of your fubjects, and to banifh from your royal favor, truft, and confidence, for ever, thofe evil counfellors who have endeavored to alienate your Majeity's affections from your moll iincere and dutiful fubjecls, and who have TRAITOROUSLY dared to depart from the fpirit and letter of thofe laws which have fecured the crown of thefe realms to the Houfe of Brunfvvic." The City of London prefented a petition to the fame purport. But the City of Weftminfter, fen,- fible, as they profefTedj that decifiye meafures are the K. GEORGE III. Z4f the beft policy, petitioned exprefsly for an imme- diate diliblutiori of Parliament, The county of York, and fourteen other principal counties, with many opulent cities and towns, followed this ex- ample: but it is not to be imagined that they could flatter themfelves with any ferious expecta- tion of fuccefs. A few counter addrefles were, with great difficulty, procured by the Court, and one in particular from a refpeclable, though in number an inconfiderable proportion of Merchants of London, who, in their procefiion to St. James's, were grofsly infulted by the populace. The tumult alarmingly increasing as they approached the pa- lace, the Riot Act was read at the palace-gate ; and Lord Talbot, Lord Steward, attempting to in- terpofe, had his ftaff of office broken in his hand. Several perfons were after a daring refinance taken into cuilody by the military; but the indictments fubfequcntly preferred againft them at Weftminfter Hall were all thrown out by the Grand Jury. Amidft the innumerable multitude of political publications, in which the condu6t of the prefent Administration was arraigned in the bittereft terms of feverity, the national attention was particularly attracted by a feries of letters appearing under the iignaturc of JUNIUS, and written in a ftyle fo maf- tcrly as to be generally deemed, in point of com- pofition, equal to any literary productions in the JSnglifh language. They confifted, however, of 6 little 250 K. GEORGE III. little elfe than fplendid declamation and poignant invective, and difcovered a cool and deliberate ma- lignity of difpofition, which, now the paffions and follies of the day have vanifhed, and given place to other paffions and other follies, mull excite dii- guft at leaft proportionate to our admiration*. Of thefe celebrated letters, by far the moft memo- rable is that addrefled to the KINQ, in which the writer, with equal elegance and energy of diction, exhibits to the view of his Sovereign a moft ftrik- ing and faithful picture of his adminiftration. " "Whichever way," fays this anonymous and invi- fible fpeaker, at the conclufion of his cpiftle, " you * This writer did not hefitate, in numerous inftanccs, to infi- nuate charges the moft. heinous and criminal again ft perfons the moil diftinguimed in life, without pretending to fupport them, though repeatedly and loudly called upon, by even the fliadovr of a proof. Of the Duke of Bedford he fays, fpeaking of the treaty of peace, " It is not pofllblc that fo many public facrificcs Ihould have been made without fome private compensation." The Princefs Dowager of Wales he compares to " the aban- doned royal inamorata of the detefted Mortimer." Sir William Draper he accufes of having " fold the companions of his vic- tory '* the Duke of Grafton, with betraying Lord Rocking- bam, and facrificing Lord Chatham ; and, in a tone of ftill more impudent and contemptible abufc, with having, as ranger of one of the royal forefts, * refufed the King's timber to the royal navy." When a man brings forward anonymous accufations of this nature, and bafely flmnks from the fubfequent inveftigation, he ftands recorded to all future times, a LIAR, an ASSASSIN, and COWARD. turn K. GEORGE III. 251 turn your eyes, you fee nothing but perplexity and diftrefs. You have ftill an honorable part to acl: . Difcard thofe little perfonal refentments which have too long directed your public conduct come for- ward to your people lay alide the wretched for- malities of a king tell them you have been fatally deceived. This is not a time to trifle with your fortune the people of England are loyal to the Houfe of Hanover, not from a vain preference of one family to another, but from a conviction that the eftablifhment of that family was neceflary to the fupport of their civil and religious liberties. This, iir, is a principle of allegiance equally folid an.d rational, fit for Englimmen to adopt, and well worthy of your Majefty's encouragement. \V r e can- not long be deluded by nominal diftinclions the name of STUART of itfelf is only contemptible ; armed with the fovereign authority, their princi- ples are formidable the Prince who imitates their conduct fhould be warned by their example, and, while he plumes himfelf upon the fecurity of his title to the throne, fhould remember, that, as it was acquired by one revolution, it may be loft by another." On the appearance of this letter, the Attorney General had orders immediately to file a bill ex officio in the Court of King's Bench, againfl the publifher Wpodfall, for uttering 3 falfe and fedi- tious 2$2 K. GEORGE III. tious libel. Lord Mansfield, who prafided on thd trial, in fumming up the evidence, informed the jury, that the/## of publication was all that came under their cognizance ^-the queftion of libel or no libel being a mere qtieftion of law, to be decided by the Court. This diftinclion moft unqueltion- ably was not authorized by the antient practice of the Court, though in modern times it had gra- dually advanced itfelf into an eftabliihed principle of jnrifprudence. But it is evident that, if this doctrine be admitted, the proper ufe of Juries is wholly fuperfeded; and the Judge is made, what the Conftitution never intended him to be the arbiter of the fate of his fellow-fubjecls. In reality, it might as plaufibly be aflertcd, that, in the cafes of murder or robbery, the mere fact of deprivation of life, or feizure of property, mould be found by the Jury, and the Judge be left to pronounce upon the criminality or innocence of the aclion, as that the queftion of law and fact fhould be feparated in the matter of libel. Lord Mansfield himfelf was com- pelled in the prcfent inftance to admit the power of the Jury to include both in a general verdict, though he affirmed the exercife of this power to be incompatible with their duty and their oath. That the determination of any mere queftion of laia^ ariiing out of the circumitances or facts given in evidence, properly and folely appertains to the Court, 1C. GEORGE lit 153 Court, has never been difputed ; and indeed fuch mere queltion of law is never fubmitted to the Jury : but it is on the other hand equally clear to common fenfe, that when the charge or criminal allegation, compounded as it muft necefiarily be of law and facl, is referred to the Jury, they betray the trait repofed in them, if, when the law \sficffi- aently apparent, they relinquifti their grand confti- tutional privilege of deciding on the guilt or inno- cence of the perfon accufed. In cafes of peculiar difficulty, the Jury are indeed with great propriety permitted to return a fpecial verdict, in which the facls only are found, and it is left to the Court to apply the law in conformity to fuch fpccific ftate- ment : and fnrely it may be allowed by thofe who are moft deeply verfed in the myfleries of the law, that a Jury, however incapable in certain cafes to determine, i. e. to underftand the law with the bed affiftance of the Pleaders and of the Court, are at leaft competent to judge whether they do under- ftand it or not. After long deliberation, the Jury impanelled in the prefent caufe returned their ver^ diet, " Guilty of printing and publifhing ONLY;" thus virtually negativing the feditious meaning and intention, which being of the cflence of the charge, though according to the new doctrine a queftion of pure law, the verdict amounted to an abfolute a,c~ quittal, and the defendant Woodfall was difcharged am id ft *$4 K. GEORGE IIT. amidft the univerfal and unbounded acclamation's of the people*. * In the famous cafe of Buftiel, in the reign of Charles if. that great lawyer and- magiftrate Lord Chief Juftice Vaughan. maintained at large, and with diflinguifhed ability, an opinion diametrically oppofite to the new-fangled do&rine of the Courts, as delivered by Lord Mansfield. * In fpecial verdi&s,'* fays Lord Vaughan, " the Jury inform the naked fact?, and the Court deliver the law ; but upon all general i/ites the Jury find, not, as in a fpe- cial verdict, the fad of every cafe by itfelf, leaving the law t,o the Court, but find for the plaintiff or defendant Upon the iffue to tie tried, wherein they refolve both LAW and FACT complicately, and not the fact by itfelf fo as though they anfwer notfogty to the queftion, * What is the law ?' yet they determine the la .v in all cafes where iffae is joined and tried in the principal cafe, ex- cept where the verdict is fpecial.'* JUNIUS himfelf very juftly remarks in his Letter to Lord Mansfield " In other criminal profecutions the malice of the defign is confeffedly as much the fubject of confederation to a Jury as the certainty of the faft. If a different doctrine prevails in the cafe of libels, why fhould it not extend to all criminal cafes ? why not to capital offences ? What good reafon can be afligned why the life of the fubje8 K. G E O R G E IIL ferious consideration the caufes of the difcontents which prevail in fo many parts of your Majcfty's dominions, and particularly the late proceedings of the Houfe of Commons, touching the incapacity of John Wilkes, Elq. expelled by that Houfe, to be re-elected a Member to ferve in this prefent Parliament ; thereby refuting, by a refolution of one branch of the Legislature only, to the fubject his common right, and depriving the electors of Middlefex of their free choice of a reprefentative." This amendment was very powerfully oppofed by Lord Mansfield, who began with affirming, " that he had never delivered any opinion upon the legality of the proceedings of the Houfe of Com- mons on the Middlefex election, nor {hould he now. He had locked it up in his own breaft, and it {hould die with him. He acknowledged the un- happy diffracted ftate of the nation, but he was happy to affirm that he had in no degree contri- buted to it. Declarations of the law made by either Houfe of Parliament were," heafferted, " al- ways attended with bad effects ; he had conftantly eppofed them, whenever he had opportunity, and in his judicial capacity thought himfelf bound never to pay the lead regard to them. But he made a wide diftinction between the general decla- rations of law, and the particular decifions which might be made by either Houfe in their judicial capacity, upon a cafe coming regularly before them, 4. and K. GEORGE III. 249 and properly the fubjecl: of their jurifdiclion that for his own part, whenever the ftatute law was filent, he knew not where to look for the law of Parliament, or for a definition of the privileges of either Houfe, except in the proceedings and deci- fions of each Houfe refpeclively that a queflion touching the feat of a Member in the Lower Houfe could only be determined by that Houfe ; there was no other Court where it could be tried, nor to which tfiere-ceuld be an appeal from their deci- lion that wherever a Court of Juftice is fupreme, and their fentence final, the determination of that Court mull be fubmittedto as the law of the land. He admitted that Judges might be corrupt, and their fentences erroneous; but thefe were cafes for which, in refpect of Supreme Courts, the Conflitu- tion had provided no remedy. If they wilfully de- termined wrong, it was iniquitous indeed, arid in the highefl degree deteftable ; but it was a crime of which no human tribunal could take cognizance. He avoided entering into the merits of the late decifion of the Houfe of Commons, becaufe it was a fubjecl he was convinced their Lordfhips had no right to difcufs ; but he affirmed, that the amend- ment propofed manifeftly violated every form and ufage of Parliament, and was a grofs attack upon the privileges of the Houfe of Commons that there never was an inftance of the Lords inquiring into the proceedings of that Houfe with refpecl: to S a their z6o K. GEORGE III. their own Members, much lefs of their taking upon them to cenfure fuch proceedings, or of their advifing the Crown to take notice of them. If indeed it be the purpofe of the amendment to pro- \'oke a quarrel with the Houfe of Commons, Icon- fefs, faid his Lordfhip, it will have that effect cer- tainly and immediately. The Lower Houfe will undoubtedly aflert their privileges, and give you vote for vote. I leave it therefore to your Lord- fhips to confider the fatal effects which in fuch a conjuncture as the prefent may arife from an open breach between the two Houfes of Parliament.*' Lord Chatham once more role, to complain that the fcope and defign of the amendment propoled by him had been totally mifreprefented. " The amendment contained a mere ftatement of facts, and cenfure was no farther implicated than as the facts themfelves were illegal or unjuitifiable. He made no fcruple however to declare, that the Con- flitution of the country had been invaded by the Houfe of Commons, and he now heard with afto- nifhment that invafion defended upon principle. What, faid he, my Lords, is this myfterious power, undefined by law, unknown to the fubject, which we muft not approach without awe, not fpeak of without reverence, which no man may qu eft ion, and to which all men muft fubmit r When our Kings were obliged to confefs that their title to the Crown and the rule of their Government had no 3 other K. GEORGE III. 261 other foundation than the known laws of the land, I never expected to hear a divine right or a divine infallibility attributed to any other branch of the Legiflature. Power without right is the moft odious and deteftable object that can be offered to the human imagination. The Noble Lord aflurcs us that the Houfe of Commons, when they acl as Judges, have no law to direct them but their own wifdom that their decifion is law and, if they determine wrong, the fubjecl; has no appeal but to Heaven. What then, my Lords, are all the generous efforts, the glorious contentions of our anceftors reduced to this concluiion, that, inftead of the arbitrary power of a King, we muft fubmit to the arbitrary power of a Houfe of Commons ? Tyranny, my Lords, is in no i'hape fo formidable as where it is atfumed and exercifed by a number of tyrants. But, my Lords, this is not the Conflitution; for we all know that the firft principle of the Confutation is, that the fubjecl: fhall not be governed by the ar- bitrium of any one man or body of men, but by certain laws to which he has virtually given his aflent. That the decifion of the Houfe of Com- mons violates the fpirit of the Constitution is indif- putable, but the Noble Lord affirms that this great grievance admits not of a remedy. My Lords, I have better hopes of the Conftitution, and a firmer confidence in the wifdom and authority of this Houfe. It is poffible that the inquiry now recom- S 3 mended ztz K. G E O R G E III. mended may lead us to advife his Majefty to dif- folve the prefent Parliament, nor have I a doubt of our right to give that advice if we mould think it neceffary, and his Majefty will then determine whether he will yield to the united petitions of his, people." The amendment, after a vehement debate, was at length negatived ; and it may be remarked upon the oppofite reafonings employed by thefe juftly celebrated Noblemen, that the arguments of Lord Mansfield are incontrovertible, on the fuppofition of the exiflence of a regular fyftem of govern- ment ; and that the reafonings of Lord Chatham, however abflractedly noble and juft, are applica- ble only to cafes which imply, if not an actual fubverfion of government, at leaft the expedi- ency of incurring the eventual rifque of fuch fub- verfion. That the jurifdiclion of the Houfe of Commons extended to the cafe of the Middlefex election, as well as all other elections, and that the validity of their decifion could not on any eftablifhed judicial principles be difputed, is fuffi- ciently apparent ; and if it be admitted that this decifion was in fact unwifc, or even unjufi, it cannot without the utmoft extravagance be deem- ed fuch an inftance of oppreflion or mifrule as to juftify a public or national refiftancc, or the adop- tion of any meafures which evidently bore that complexion or tendency. Lord K. GEORGE III. *6j Lord Camden, having in the courfe of the de- bate condemned in decisive terms the proceedings of the Houfe of Commons, and actually dividing on this occafion with Lord Chatham, was imme- diately compelled to relinquifh the Great Seal ; but fuch was the political confirmation prevail- ing at this crifis, that no perfon competent to the office could be perfuaded to accept it. Mr. Yorke, Attorney- General, fon of the late Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, a man of the higheft pro- feffional ability, had given a pofitive afiurance to the Earl his brother, that he would not upon any terms liften to the offers of the Court : but on being fent for by the King, and earneftly folicited, he at length in a fatal moment of weaknefs and guilt confented, and a patent was immediately ordered to be prepared for his elevation to the peerage, by the title of Lord Morden. On re- pairing to the relidence of his brother, in order to explain to him the motives of his acceptance, he was refufed admijfion ; and in the agitation of his mind, unable to endure the torture of his own re- flections, he in a few hours put a period to his exiftence. The Great Seal was after this cata- ftrophe put into commiffion, and at length (Ja- nuary 1771) given to Mr. Juftice Bathurft, only Ton of Lord Bathurft, created Baron Apfley, a Nobleman by whofe talents the fplendid reputa- tion of Lord Camden was in no danger of being S 4 cclipfecj, 264 K. GEORGE III. eclipfed. The removal of that great Magiftrate was followed by the refignations of the Dukes of Beaufort and Manchefter ; the Earls of Coven- try and Huntingdon, and Lord Granby, Comman- der in Chief of the Forces of Great Britain. The Earl of Briltol choofing the tranquil and irrefpon- lible poft of Firft Lord of the Bedchamber, va- cated by the Earl of Huntingdon, the Privy Seal was delivered to the Earl of Halifax. On the aad of January 1770, the Marquis of Rckingham moved for fixing a day to take into confideration the State of the Nation. His Lord- fhip infifted, " that the prefent unhappy condition of affairs, and the univerfal difcontents of the peo- ple, did not arife from any immediate temporary caufa, but had grown upon the nation by degrees from the moment of his Majefly's acceffion to the throne : that a total change had then taken place in the pld fyftem of Englifh government, and a new maxim adopted, fatal to the liberties of this country, viz. that the royal prerogative alone was fufficient to fupport Government, to whatever hands the adminiftration ihould be committed. The operation of this principle, his Lordfhip faid, could be traced through every a6l of Government during the prefent reign, in which his Majefty's fecret advifers could be fuppofed to have any influ- ence. He recommended it therefore ftrongly to their Lordfhips, to fix an early day for taking into confideration. K. GEORGE III. aSj consideration the ftate of this country in all its re- lations and dependencies, foreign, provincial, and domeftic, for we had been injured in them all. That coniideratjon would, he trufted, lead their Lordfhips to advife the Crown, not only how to correct pail errors, but how to eftablifh a fyftem of government more wife, more permanent, bet- ter fuited to the genius of the people, and con- fiftent with the fpirit of the Conftitution." The Duke of Grafton himfelf rofe to fecond the motion ; and Lord Chatham, declaring his inten- tion anticipated by his Grace, protefted, " that his infirmities mult fall heavy on him indeed, if he did not attend his duty in the Houfe that day; and he wifhed his avowed approbation of the motion now made to be underftood as a public demon- flration of the cordial union that now fubfiftcd between the Noble Marquis and himfelf. There was indeed a time, he faid, when thofe who wifli- ed well to neither, found a furficient gratification for their malignity againft both. But the Noble Lord and his friends are now, faid he, united with me and mine, upon a principle which I trufl will be found as permanent as it is honorable ; not to fhare the emoluments of the State, but, if poffible, to lave it from impending ruin." The ad of February was fixed upon by the Houfe for refolving itfelf into a Committee of Inquiry ; but on the 28th of January, the Duke of *66 K. GEORGE III. of Grafton unexpectedly refigned his office as Firft Lord Commiffioner of the Treafary ; and Lord North., who had now been two years Chan- cellor of the Exchequer, was nominated his fuc- ceflbr. Thus was at length formed that famous Adminiftration, which exercifed the powers of go- vernment for twelve fucceflive years ; and which, not deriving a fingle ray of reafbn from the errors of their predecefTbrS;, by their rafh, violent, and vin- dictive meafures fliook the mighty and majeftic fabric of the Britifh Empire to its very foundation. The character of the Nobleman who at this crifis voluntarily relinquished the helm of govern- ment, has been, in conlequence of the violent, not to fay the malignant and factious fpirit which pre- dominated under his adminiitration, grofsly mif- reprefented. Educated in the pureft principles of antient Whiggifin, for a zealous attachment to which his Grace's anceftors had from the era of the Revolution been confpicuoufly diftinguilhed *, he made an early and brilliant entrance into pub- lic life, under the aufpices of the Earl of Chatham, who, in a manner not .to be refifted, urged his acceptance of the Treafury, which the Duke, on * The lirft Duke of Grafton, of whom hiftorians have uni r verfatly fpoken in the higheft terms of applaufe, loft his life, when fcarcely pad the prime, in defence of his country, at the fiege of Cork, under the Earl of Marlborough, in the year fuc- [ cceding the Revolution. K. GEORGE III. 26; the firft offer, had pofitively declined. The unfor- tunate illnefs and confequent incapacity of that Nobleman proved the fource of infinite inconve- nience ; and the Duke of Grafton, deprived of the powerful fupport which he expected from the wifdom, experience, and popularity of his illuflri- ous friend and co-adjutor, was in points of great moment oppofed and over-ruled in the Cabinet ; though, in the delufive hope of more propitious times, he was reluctantly perfuaded to continue at the head of affairs; the oftenfible patron of meafures which he in reality difcountenanced and difap- proved. ThedifmiffionofLordCamden, injurioufly imputed to the influence of the Duke of Graf- ton, was in fact the immediate caufe of his Grace's refignation ; and the friendship which had long fubfifted between thefe two Noblemen, fuffered no interruption in confequence of the unhappy political differences now prevailing. The late Minifter, neverthelefs, on his feceffion from office, was far from joining the ftandard of Oppo- lition ; and on the grand popular queflion of the Middlefex election, however farther refleclion might fuggeft the idea, or, to fpeak more properly, enforce the conviction of the total inexpediency of the meafures adopted by Government ; he at no fubfequent period, even when his connection with the Court was entirely difiblved, appeared at all to recede from his original opinion refpecling the conftitutional 268 K. GEORGE III. constitutional and parliamentary rectitude of the vote of incapacitation. And the whole tenor of this Nobleman's political life has fufficiently evinced, that he was incapable of acting in a man- ner which he conceived to be in any refpecl con- trary to the true and eflential interefts of his country. On the day fucceeding the refignation of the Minifter, the Houfe of Commons refolving itfelf into a grand Committee on the State of the Nation, Mr. Dowdefwell moved, " That the Houfe, in the exercife of its jurifdiclion, ought to judge of elec- tions by the law of the land, and by the cuftom and practice of parliament, which is part of that law." The motion, if adopted, was intended to be followed by other refolutions, purporting the un- equivocal condemnation and coniequent rcfcind- inent of the vote of the laft feffion. This leading proportion was fo Ikilfully worded, that it was impoffible to put a direct negative upon it ; and to evade it by the previous queftion would only lead to a revival of the fame motion in a new and varied form. It was therefore with equal parlia- mentary adroitnels at once laid at reft by the Court party, who, through the medium of the new Minifter, Lord North, moved as an amend- ment the additional words : " And that the judgment of this Houfe in the cafe of John Wilkes, Efq. was agreeable to the law of the land, K. GEORGE IIL 769 land, and fully authorized by the practice of par- liament." Though the amendment was oppofed with vehemence, as a moft unfair and difingenu- ous perverlion of the true meaning of the refolu- tion, it was carried upon the divifion by 2,24 to 1 80 voices: thus precluding all hope of redrefs by any kit are effort in that Houfe of Parlia- ment. On the 2,d of February 1770, being the day previoufly fixed upon by the Peers for refolving themfelves into a limilar Committee, Lord Rock- ingharn, after an introductory fpcech of fome length, moved, " That the Houfe of Commons, in the exercife of its judicial authority in matters of election, is bound to judge according to the law of the land, and the known and eftablifhed law and cuftom of parliament, which is part thereof." The motion was fupported with all his accuftomed warmth and energy by the Earl of Chatham, who condemned the conduct of the Houfe of Com- mons in terms of great afperity. He denominated the vote of that Houfe, which had made Colonel Luttrcll reprefentative for Middlcfex, " a grofs in- vafion of the rights of election, a dangerous viola- tion of the Englifli Confutation, and a corrupt facrifice of their own honor. To gratify indfoi- dual refentment" he faid, " the laws had been de- fpifed, trampled upon, deftroyed thofe laws which had been made by the Hern virtue of their anceftort 270 K. G E R G E III, anceftors the iron Barons of old,, to whofe virtue and whofe blood to whofe fpirit in the hour of conteft, and to whofe fortitude in the triumph of victory, \heji1ken Barons of this day owe their ho- nors and their fecurity. Thefe meafures," he af- firmed, " made a part of that unhappy fyftem which had been formed in the prefent reign, with a view to new-model the Conftitution as well as the Go- vernment. What might have been only matter of fufpicion before, was now demonitrated to univer- fal conviction, viz. that Minifters held a corrupt influence in Parliament. It was therefore particu- larly neceflary for their Lordfhips to interpofe at this critical and alarming period, in order, on the one hand, to moderate the rage of an incenfed na- tion, and, on the other, to form a conftitutional barrier againft the criminal depredations of his Ma- jefty's Minifters." The queftion being now put, it was by a great majority refolved, that the Speaker fhould refume the chair ; and the original mo- tion being thus evaded, Lord Marchmont, it be- ing now paft midnight, moved, " That any refo- lution of this Houfe, directly or indirectly im- peaching a judgment of the Houfe of Commons, in a matter where their jurifdiction is competent, final and conclufive, would be a violation of the conftitutional right of the Commons, tends to make a breach between the two Houfes of Parlia- ment, and leads to a general confulioa." This K. GEORGE III. 271 This motion being zealoufly fupported by Lord Mansfield, Lord Chatham again rofe, and by co- gent reafonings endeavored to (hew the neceffity of the interference of that Houfe, in cafe of an in- vafion of the people's liberties, or an unconftitu- tional determination of the Houfe of Commons ; and he affirmed, that the cafe of the County of Middlefex fell under both thofe denominations. Then fucldenly apoftrophizing the Houfe, he con- jured the Peerage of England, by the noble blood which had flowed for fo many ages in their veins, by the glorious itruggles of their anceftors in behalf of liberty, not to behold with indifference atranf- action fo alarming. " If," faid he, " my Lords, the Conftitution mutt be wounded, let it not receive its mortal flab at this dark and midnight hour, when almoft ever)- eye is clofed in fleep, and when rob- bers and aflaffins only are awake and prowling for their prey." At half pail oneinthemorningthequef- tion was put, and decided in the affirmative, though accompanied by a ftrong and animated proteft. The exertions of Lord Chatham during this re- markable feffion were vigorous and unintermit- ed. On the ift of May 1770, his Losdfhip prefent- ed to the Houfe a Bill " for rcverfing the Adju- dications of the Houfe of Commons, whereby John Wilkes, Efq. has been adjudged incapa- ble of being elected a Member to ferve in this prefent Parliament, and the Freeholders of the Countv *7* It. GORG III. County of Middlefex have been deprived of one of their legal Reprefentatives.'* In defcanfing on the fubjecl: of this bill, he declared, " that a violent outrage had been committed, which .ftmck at every thing dear and facred to the liber- ties of Englifhrnen. I am afraid," faid he, " my Lords, that this meafure has fprung too near the throne. I am forry for it ; but I hope his Ma- jefiy will foon open his eyes and fee it in all its deformity." The motion for the fecond reading 1 being negatived, Lord Govver moved for its rejec- tion ; and, on a divifion, 89 voted for the motion, 4^ againft it. Before the Houfe adjourned, Lord Chatham delired their Lordfhips might be fum- moned for the 4th of May; " for," faid he, "I have a motion of great importance to make relative to the KING." And the Lords being fummoned accordingly on the day appointed,* Lord Chatham moved, " That it is the opinion of the Houfe, that the advice inducing his Majeily's anfvvej to the late Addrefs of the City of London, is of a moft danger- ous tendency, inafmuch as the exercife of the clear- eft rights of the fubjecl: has been thereby checked and reprimanded an anfwer fo harfh," his Lord- ihip affirmed, " as to have no precedent in the hif- tory of this country, and fuch as the Stuarts had never dared to venture upon in the zenith of their power." In the Addrefs alluded to by his Lordfhip, which alib bore the unufual title of a Remonftrance to the K. GEORGE III. 273 the King,, the addreffers hazard the extravagant af- firmation, " that the Houfe of Commons have done a deed more ruinous in its confequences than the levying of (hip-money by Charles I. or the dif- penfing power aflumed by James II. a deed which muft VITIATE ALL THE PROCEEDINGS of this Parliament; for the Acts of the Legiflature can no more be valid without a legal Houfe of Com- mons, than without a legal Prince on the throne." Thus we fee how folly on the part of the Govern- ment generates faction on that of- the People. Notwithstanding the deference due to the opinion of Lord Chatham, whofe patriotic ardor tranfport- ed him on this occalion far beyond the fober limits of difcretion, it muft be acknowledged that the King, in his anfwer, with too much reafbn pronounced the contents of this Remonftrance " to be difrefpectful -to himfelf, injurious to Parlia- ment, and irreconcileable to the principles of the Conltitution." It is fcarcely neceflary to add, that the motion of Lord Chatham was negatived by a vafl majority; and the Addrefs itfelf gave birth to a re- folution of the Houfe of Commons, that " to deny the legality of the prefcnt Parliament, or to afTert their Acts to be invalid, was unwarrantable, and tend- ed to deftroy the allegiance of the fubje6ts:" and a joint Addrefs was prefented to the King by the two Houfes, thanking him for his conduct on this oc- cafion. The language of the courtiers againft the VOL. I. T framers *74 K. GEORGE III. framers of this Remonftrance was high and mena- cing; but no Minifter of the Crown durft, at this juncture, take upon himfelf the refponfibility of a judicial profecution againft them. Not to be diverted or intimidated from his pur- pofe, Lord Chatham made, after a (hort interval, a motion for an Addrefs to the King to diflblve the Parliament. He ftated " the public difcon- tents in England, Ireland, and America ; affirmed, that the people had no confidence in the prcfent Houfe of Commons, who had betrayed their truft; and fhewed, from the lituation of publie affairs, the great neceffity of having a Parliament in whom the people can place a proper confidence. Inftead," he faid, " of depriving a county of its reprefentative, one or more members ought to be added to the reprefentation of the counties, in order to operate as a balance againft the weight of the feveral cor- rupt and venal boroughs *." All arguments were in & This was a very favorite idea with Lord Chatham, and re- peatedly fuggefted by him on various occafions, both public and private. In a letter to Lord Temple, dated April 17, 1771, he fays, " Allow a fpeculator in a great chair to add, that a plan for more equal reprefentation, by additional Knights of the Shire, feems highly reafonable, and to fhorteii the duration of Parliaments not lefs fo. If your Lordftiip mould approve, could Lord Lyttelton's caution be brought to tafte thofc ideas, we fhould take pofleflion of ftrong ground, let who will decline to follow us." To this plan of reform, however, feriouB objec- tions K. GEORGE III. 27 , in x r ain fcareely indeed was the appearance of decorum preferred. The Court Lords called for the queftion ! the queftion ! and a rude negative Was put upon the motion. He had the fatisfaction, nevertheleis, to perceive his conduct during the whole of this interefting feffion highly acceptable to the nation ; and on the ift of June a Commit- tee, delegated by the City of London, waited on his Lordfhip with a vote of thanks for the zeal he had (hewn in fupport of thofe invaluable and facrcd privileges, the right of election and the right of pe- tition, as well as for the wifhes exprefled by him that parliaments may be reftored to their original purity, by fhortening their duration, and intro- ducing a more full and equal reprefentation." But no efforts could after all reinftate this Nobleman in the pofleffion of his former envied and fplendid height of popular affection and favor. In the former part of the feflion, Lord North, as one of the firft acts of his adminiftration, had moved the repeal of the obnoxious port-duties of 1767, EXCEPTING the DUTY on TEA, which was intentionally omitted, on the avowed principle of afTerting the fupremacy of Great Britain; and tions maybe made; and Lord Chatham himfelf, with the candor and ingenuoufnefe of a great mind, {peaks of it on another occafion as " a plan humbly fubmitted to the public wifdom, to be deliberately weighed, accurately examined, and maturely digefted." T a whn 276 K. GEORGE III. when ftrongly urged by the Members in oppo- fition, both of the Rockingham and Grenville par- ties, not to prcferve the contention when he relin- quifhed the revenue, his language was the reverfe of conciliatory. " Has the repeal of the Stamp Act," fuid this Minifter, " taught the Americans obedience? Has our lenity infpired them with moderation ? Can it be proper, while they deny our legal power to tax them, to acquiefce in the argument of illegality ? and, by the repeal of the whole law, to give up that power ? No the pro- percft time to exert our right of taxation is when the right is refufed. To temporize is to yield ; and the authority of the Mother Country, if it is now unfupported, will in reality be relin- quifhed for ever. A total repeal cannot be thought of till AMERICA is PROSTRATE at our FEET." Such were the political axioms which poftcrity will be amazed to learn, under the ill-fated reign of George III. pafled forwifdom. Even concel- lion was combined with infolence ; and a feeble effort to regain the affections of America was converted, by an unaccountable infatuation, into an unpardonable infult to her feelings. In vain was it urged, that the repeal of the Stamp Act had in fact produced all the happy and beneficial ef- fects which had been previoufly expected or pre- dicted by its advocates ; that lenity on the part of Britain had produced moderation on that of America ; K. GEORGE III. 277 America ; and that the fubfequent difcontcnts or violences had arifen from fubfequent provocations. " If the aflertion of an abftract claim of risrht," O * laid the Members in oppofition, " be of fuch mighty importance, a pofitive law already exifts declaratory of the right a law in which America iilently acquiefces ; but an attempt in any mode to cany this abftracl right into practice, will be productive of nothing but civil confulion and in- terminable difcord." Thefe arguments made no impreilion on the phalanx of Courtiers and King's Friends, who were neverthelefs compelled on this occafion to exert their full Itrength ; the minifte- rial majority on the divifion in a full Iloufe being only 62. Nearly at this period Mr. George Grenville introduced into the Houfe of Commons his fa- mous Bill for regulating the proceedings of the Houfe on controverted elections, commonly known under the appellation of the GRENVILLE ACT. This was laudably defigned by the Mover, and as laudably patronized by the Houfe, as a fuppofed radical remedy for a great and acknowledged evil ; the negligence and partiality of the Houfe in their elective dccilions being notorioufly palpa- ble and difgraceful. But, agreeably to the general character of the framer, this Act difplays much more of integrity than of penetration or ability. Conformably to the provifions of it, a Jury of ^ T 3 thirteen 278 K. GEORGE III. thirteen perfons are elected by ballot, in a Houfe confiding of not lefs than one hundred members, to whom the petition is referred ; and till fuch Jury is chofen, the Houfe is reftrained from proceeding on any bufincfs. But the remedy has in fact proved more intolerable than the evil. The rights of election, and the qualifications of the electors, are in different places fo varied, intricate, an4 complex, and fo uncertain is the legal iffue of the generality of election contefts, that no fooner was the chance of a fair and impartial hearing obtained, than the multitude of petitions prefented to the Houfe impeded in a molt perplexing degree the courfe of public bufinefs. The trials themfelves jvere frequently protracted to a length fo infuffer- ably tedious, that it was juftly confidered as a very heavy penalty to be chofen upon an Ele^ion Com- mittee, and it was ufually found very difficult tq make a Houfe on the day appointed for the ballot j and feffion after feffion has elapfed, before a con- fiderable proportion of the petitions could even come to a hearing ; and, by a mockery of juftice, after an extravagant expence has been incurred in fees to counfel, indemnifications to witnefles, and gratuities to agents, a man is perhaps de T clared duly elected to a feat in Parliament, when Parliament itfelf may be approaching to its djflb- lution. A remedy of a totally different nature therefore is evidently wanting as a preparatory K. GEORGE III. 2?9 ftep to which, the qualifications of the different defcriptions of electors throughout the kingdom ought to be (amplified, and clearly defined; and were the Houfe, upon the eleclion of a new Par- liament, previous to its entering upon bufinefs, to divide itielfinto different Committees to deter- mine upon the merits of the petitions prefented, the whole procefs of inveftigation might doubt- lefs be completed within the compafs of a very few weeks. Although the Parliament of Ireland, in the courfe of the prefent year, had gratified the wifhes of the Court by confenting to raife the eftablifli- ment of troops in that country from twelve to fifteen thoufand men; an incident occurred in the courfe of the feffion, which ferved to difplay in a finking point of view their riling fpirit of in- dependency. By the famous law pafled in the reign of Henry VII. under the adminiftration of Sir Ed- ward Poyning, and thence called Poyning's Law, it was enacled, " that the Lord Lieutenant and Council (hould, under the Great Seal of Ireland, certify to the King and Englifh Privy Council the laws propofed to be pafled in each fucceeding Parliament, in order to have the fandlion of the Great Seal of England, previous to their being fubmitted to the Irifh Parliament for its aflent or diflent." The rigor of this law, which had been ever regarded as the chief bond of the conftitu- T 4 tional 280 K. G E O R G E III. tional dependence of that kingdom, was in mo- dern times mitigated by the practice of introducing Heads of a Bill into the Iriih Parliament, in order, when the approval of that Aflembly was obtained, to be tranfmitted to England under the ufual forms. At this period a Money Bill originating in the ufual and eftablifhed mode, being returned from England under the Seal of Great Britain, was rejected by the Irifh Houfe of Commons, un- der the plea that it did not originate in that Houfe. In j unification of this proceeding, they maintained that Poyning's Law, and the other fub- fequent ftajutes by which that law was modified and enforced, made no fpecific mention of Money Bills, which might therefore by juft inference be fuppofed excepted; that if the origination of Money Bills were not in reality the fole right of the Commons, this muft at leaft be admitted to be the better and more conftitutional mode; and that in rejecting this Bill they exercifed an indu- bitable right, even fuppofing the right of the Coun- cil to originate the Bill to be equally indifputable. The Lord Lieutenant, Lord Townfhend, though he thought proper to allow the Irifh Parliament to grant their own money in their own way, protected againft the right claimed by the Houfe of Com- mons, and endeavored, but in vain, to enter his proteft upon their Journals. The Houfe would not permit this violation of their privileges ; but the K. GEORGE III. 2 3t the Lords were found lefs inflexible, and, after much oppofition and debate, his Excellency's pro- teft was folemnly recorded on the Journals of the Peerage. The Parliament was immediately pro- rogued in anger, and with much inconvenience to the public ; and thefe proceedings becoming the fubjecl of ferious difcuffion in England, it was moved in the Britifh Hoafe of Commons, that the infiruclions in confequence of which the Parlia- ment of Ireland had been prorogued mould be laid before the Houfe : but this was negatived by a great majority. Soon after the rifing of Parliament, a third Ad- drefs was prefentcd to the King by the City of London, in which they lament the heavy difplea- fure under which they had fallen with his Majefty, in confequence of the fentiments exprefTedin their late Petition and Rcmonftrancc, to which they neverthelcfs inform his Majefty they ftill adhered ; and they again renewed their prayer for the diflb- lution of the prefent Parliament. His Majefty in anfwer declared, " that he mould have been wanting to the public, as well as to himfelf, had he not exprcffed his diflatisfaclion at their late Addrefs ; and that he fhould ill deferve to be con- fidered as the Father of his people, could he fuffcr himfelf to be prevailed upon to make fuch an ufe of his prerogative as was inconfiftent with the intereft, and dangerous to the conflitution, of the kingdom." The 2 $ 2 K. GEORGE III. The Lord Mayor, Beckford, who prefented the petition, a man of an undaunted fpirit and much democratic pride, demanded leave to ANSWER tie KING. In the momentary confuiion which this demand occafioned permiffion was granted, and, with great prefence of mind and fluency of language, he delivered an extempore Addrefs to his Majefty, concluding in the following words : " Permit me, Sire, farther to obferve, that who- ever has already dared, or fhall hereafter en- deavor, by falfe infinuations and fuggeftions to alienate your Majefty's affections from your loyal fubje&s in general, and from the City of Lon- don in particular, is an enemy to your Majefty's perfon and family, a violator of the public peace, and a betrayer of our happy Conftitution, as it was eftablifhed at the GLORIOUS and NECESSARY REVOLUTION." The KING, who was accufed of the incredible indecorum of laughing at the former Addrefs, now reddened with anger and aftonifhment, and remained in profound filence. But when the Lord Mayor, a fhort time afterwards, went to St. James's with the cultomary congratu- lation on the bifth of a Princefs, he was informed, " that as his Lordfhip had thought fit to fpeak to his Majefty after his anfwer to the late Remon- ftrance, as it was unufual, his Majefty defired that nothing of the kind might happen for the future," For K. GEORGE III. ,g| For more than two years the Micldlefex election, and the proceedings confequent upon it, had fo engrafted the attention of the Miniftry, the Par- liament, and the Nation, as almoft to exclude the confideration of other fubjects in themfelves far more important and interefting. At this pe- riod, however, an affair of great political mo- ment forced itfelf upon the public notice ; and the Nation at large, wearied with the tedious and fruit- Jefs conteil with the Court, hopelefs of redrefs, and impatient for fome change of fcene in the political drama, was now fully prepared to fix its- regard upon any new object which ihould happen to prefent itfelf. A fhort time previous to the clofe of the fef- fion, Lord Chatham had declared, " that a great blow either was, or would foon be, flruck in fome part of the world." The high idea univerfally entertained of this Nobleman's political informa- tion and fagacity, necefTarily kept the public mind in a ftate of anxious fufpenfe ; but the myftery was quickly developed, and it was in a few weeks publicly afcertained, that a fquadron of Spanifh fhips from Buenos Ayres had feized upon the Ma- louine or Falkland Iflands, fituated in the Ma- gellanic Ocean, and of which the Englifh had been for fome years the actual occupants or pof- fetTors. Thefe iflands, confirming of two larger pnd many of fmaller fize, divided by very deep interfection* 284 k. G E O R G E III. interfections of water, are bleak, barren, and marfhy; expend, even during the fummer months* to ftorms and tempefts almoft perpetual ; and no regular fettlement, in the fpace of 200 years which had elapfed fince the firft difcovcry of them, had been attempted by any European nation. It was firft remarked by Lord Anfon, on his re- turn from his famous voyage round the globe," that the poffeffion of a port to the fouthward of the Brazils would be of fignal fervice to future navigators for refitting their fhips, and providing them with neceflaries previous to their pafHige through the Straits -of Magellan, or the doubling Cape Horn : and Falkland Iflands were particular- ly fpecified by him as well adapted to the purpofe. On his Lordfhip's fubfequent advancement to the head of the Admiralty, it was in ferious contemplation to form a fettlement on the fpot. Strong remonitrances againft this defign being however made by the Court of Madrid, with whom the Court of London was at that time very felicitous to maintain a good under- Handing, the project was wifely rclinquifhed. But in the year 1764, under the ill-fated aufpices of Mr. Grenville, " every capital meafure of whofe adminiftration, as Lord Chatham juftly ob- ferved, was radically wrong," Lord Egmont be- ing then at the head of the Admiralty, Commo- dore Byron was fent out to take poflejlion of j thefc K. GEORGE III. &$ thefe iflands ; and a fettlemcnt was made, and a frnall fort erected, in the vicinity of a commodious harbor, to which the name of Port Egmont was given. It happened that about the fame time a fettlemcnt had alfo been made, and a fortrefs creeled, by the celebrated French navigator M. de Bougainville, on another of thefe iflands to the eaftward of the Englifh fettlement, under the name of St. Louis. Bat in confequence of the reprcfentations of the Court of Madrid to the Court of Verfailles, this was in a fhort time, by a generous policy, freely yielded to the Spaniards, who gave it the name of Port Solidad. It was well known that, Brazil and Surinam, countries long pofTefled by Portugal and Holland, excepted, Spain pretended to the abfolute fovereignty of the whole fouthern continent of America, with the various iflands on the coafts and feas by which it is furrounded. The new fettlement of the Eng- lifh, therefore, excited at the Court of Madrid the higheft alarm and uneailnefs, not merely as an encroachment on the right of dominion, but as it was evident that the principal inducement of Eng- land to form this fettlement, was the facility which it would give, in cafe of a future war between the two Powers, to an attack upon the Spanifh territo- ries bordering on the Great South Sea. Urgent remonftrances therefore were made to the Court f London againft an encroachment confidered by a6 K. GEORGE III. by the Court of Madrid as both unjuft and invi dious, but without effect. Such however \vas at that period the dread of the power of England, and fo recent the recollection of the lofies fuf- tained in the former war, that Spain, jealous in the extreme as (he had ever fhewn herfelf refpect- ing her rights of fovereignty in America, was re- duced to the humiliating neceffity of fubmitting to an aggrefiion which (he wanted the force to repel. But the fubfequent domeftic diftraclions which prevailed in England, and which to the Na- tions on the Continent appeared as through the medium of a magnifying mirror, the threatening afpeci of affairs in the Englifh Colonies, and the lofs of reputation fuftained by England from her tame acquiefcence in the ceflion of Corfica to France, emboldened the Court of Spain to revive her pretcnfions to the iflands in queftion, and to take vigorous meafures to enforce her rights. To this fhe was ftrongly, though fecretly, incited by the Due de Choifeul, Prime Minifter of France, a man of talents, and whofe ambition was at leaf! equal to his ability whofe ruling paffion was the depreffion of the power of England, and who con- ceived this to be a favorable opportunity for ef- fecting his purpofe. Towards the clofe of the year 1769, Captain Hunt, of the Tamer frigate, cruizing off the iflands, fell in with a Spanifh fchooner belonging to K. GEORGE III. aij to Port Solidad, and, agreeably to what he con- ceived to be his duty, charged the commander of the fchooner to depart from that coaft, as it was the property of his Britannic Majefty. The fchooner obeyed ; but foon returned with an Of- ficer on board, bringing with him a letter from the Governor of Buenos Ayres, addrefled to Capt. Hunt, in which the Governor in his turn warned the Captain to depart from a coafl belonging to the King of Spain ; but on the fuppofition that Capt. Hunt's touching at thefe iflands was mere- ly accidental, the Governor exprefled his earned defire to fhew him all poilible civilities. Captain Hunt replied with warmth, that thefe iflands were the property of the Crown of Great Britain, both by difcovery and fettlemcnt : and the Governor maintaining with equal warmth the rights of the Crown of Spain, an altercation of confiderable length enfucd. But in the rcfult, Captain Hunt was charged with a direct violation of treaties by the Governor, who declared it to be his duty to tranfmit the particulars of this tranfaction to the Court of Spain. Captain Hunt, percejving that this bulinefs was of greater importance than he had at firft apprehended, and not choofing to take any further fteps without proper authority, fet fail for England, where he arrived in June 1770, two final! Hoops only remaining at Port Egmont. v Soon 288 K. GEORGE III. Soon after his departure, a very confiderabfe ar- mament, confifting of five (hips of war, with their attendant veffels, furnifhcd with all the apparatus neccffary for a regular fiege, appeared before Port Egmont. Captain Farmer, the commandant, knowing the place to be utterly untenable, fub- mitted, after a few (Lots were fired, to a capitu- lation ; by which he and his whole garrifon were allowed to evacuate the place, carrying with them fuch of their (tores as they were able. The Com- mander of the Spanifh fquadron, not caring how- ever that very early intelligence of this outrage ihould be carried to England, enjoined Captain Farmer not to fail without his permiffion ; and in order to enfure compliance, he caufed the rudder of Captain Farmer's fhip, the Favorite, to be taken off and kept on fhore, and it was not re- Itored for the (pace of twenty days ; an infult to the Britifh flag not cafily paralleled. The Fa- vorite was at length permitted to depart, and, after a voyage of feventy days, arrived fafe at Portfmouth. No fooner were the particulars of thefe extraor- dinary proceedings known in England, than the whole nation appeared inflamed with refentment a and eager to avenge the national honor, thus grofsly and daringly violated. It was faid with great confidence and plaufibility, that there was in K. GEORGE III. 2 g ? in the prefent inftance no room for negotiation ; for, whatever difference of opinion might exift reflecting the oppofite abftracl claims of the two Crowns, an attack upon an Englifh fort and gar- rilbn by an armed force was .equivalent to a de- claration of war. A fuperior force ought there- fore to be fent without delay, in order to retake the iflands ; and then it might be proper to enter into a negotiation, with a view to determine what reparation was due from Spain for fo unprovoked and unprecedented an outrage ; after which it would be time enough to enter upon the difcuf- lion of the claim of right. But the fpirit of Lord Chatham no longer actuated the Britifh counfels ; and the language of menace and haughtinefs was in this wretched and unfortunate reign referved for thofe National Colonies, which it had been the policy of that Minifter to attach to Great Britain by indiffbluble bonds of affection. A negotiation between the two Courts immediately commenced ; but the Minifters of Great Britain infifling upon, the reftitution of the ifland on the part of Spain as a previous ftep to the determination of the quefiion of right, there was little appearance that an amicable accommodation could take place. At the meeting of Parliament in the enfuing month of November 1770, the King acquainted the two Houfes, in his fpeech from the Throne, that an infult had been lately offered to the honor VOL. I. U f 290, K. GEORGE of this nation, by an act of " THE GovERX-d2 OF BUENOS AYRES, in feizing one of his Ma- jetty's poffeffions ; and that, ihould fatisfaction be . refufed by the Court of Spain for this injury., preparations had been and were ftill making to do ourfclves juftice." Addrefles were prefented from both Houfes on this occafion, in a ftrain calculated to con- vince the Court of Spain, that Englifhmen, how- ever at variance amongft themfelves, are ever united, as in a common caufe, in oppolition to a common and foreign enemy. The conduct of the Miniftry was neverthelefs the fubject of bitter animadverfion. It was remarked, " that intelligence of the holtile intentions of Spain had been received in June laft, but that no mea- fures had.been taken of timely prevention or vi- gorous redrefs no preparations made either of Security or 'attack both army and navy had been neglected and now, when danger is at our gates, our Miniflers tremble at its approach. It was alked, whether the Governor of Buenos Ayres was a Pirate or a Buccaneer, that Us name fhould be brought forward as the author of the injury in queftion ;? If the King of Spain did not difavow the act, and punifh the actor, he was himfelf the perfon who committed the outrage ; and it was beneath the dignity of the Britim Crown to make the leaft mention of the name of the Governor, who had done no more than his duty required. The K; cfcbRGE m; 291 * . , The paft transactions, and the general tenor of the policy adopted throughout the prefent reign, un- derwent a moft fevere review. Had the Govern- ment poflefled the confidence of the people, and the harrriony which ought ever to fubfift between them not been interrupted and broken by tlie ar- bitrary arid oppreffive conduct of the Court, Spain, it was boldly affirmed, would not have dared to rifque the event of a war : but in fact Spain knew that no real rifque was incurred; for the puiillanimous acquiefcence of the Englifh Govern- ment in the affair of Corfica plainly mewed, that the Minifters of the Crown would not Icruple to facrifice both the honor arid intereft of the king- dom, rather than venture upon a WAR, which would probably heighten their unpopularity, and to the management of which they no doubt felt their courage and ability very incompetent." The Minifters, in order to obviate the force of thefe imputations, now exerted themfelves to the utmoft in the equipment of a formidable fleet; and the Court of Madrid was at laft convinced, that, unlefs fome conceflions were made, an open rupture mufl eulue. The King of France, who dreaded nothing fo much as a renewal of hoftili- ties with England, being apprized of the fecret intrigues of the Duke de Choifeul at the Spanifli Court, and highly diffatisfied alfo with the counte- nance given by the Duke to the popular and patrio- tic party at home, fent that Minifter into exile, and U 2 . mad 2JZ K. GEORGE lit. made preffing instances with his Catholic Ma- jefty to come to an amicable accommodation with Great Britain. In- reply to the demand of disavowal made by England, the Marquis de Grirrraldi, fhe Spa- nifh Miniffer, alleged, that as England vvdl kne\v in what light the Court of Madrid had ever viewed the fettlement at Port Egmont, it could not be imagined that the King of Spain coald real- ly difapprove the conduct of the Governor Don Buccarelli. But as it was neither the intereft nor inclination of Spain to involve herfelf in a war with England, his Catholic Majefly was willing to make fuch conceflions as fhould be confiftent with his honor and the welfare of his fubjecls : and that inftrucYions had been tranfmitted to Prince Mafe- rano, his Ambaflador in London, for this purpofe. Prince Maferano accordingly acquainted the Englim Secretary of State, Lord Weymoutb, that the King of Spain had empowered him to difavow any particular orders given to M. de Buccarelli, and at the fame time to fey that he had acted agreeably to his general inftrufiions and oath as Go- vernor ; that the iflands fhould be reflored ; and that it was expecled his Britannic Majelty would on his part difavow Captain Hunt's menace, which had prompted the Governor to act as he had done. At this period Lord Wey mouth refigned the Seals of the Southern Department to Lord Rochford, and K. GEORGE III. 293 and a convention was foon after concluded on the terms propofed, but with a fecret article or en- gagement annexed, that the iflands fhould be eva- cuated by England within a certain fpecified term. To this mode of accommodation Lord Weymouth refilled to accede, as injurious to the honor of Great Britain : but the condition not being known or fufpecled, it afforded at the time no public ground of objection ; and when the evacuation of the iflands actually took place three years afterwards, the quarrel being almoft forgotten, and the attention of the public othervvife engaged, it patted off with i'ught and tranfient animadverfions. The Earl of Halifax now took the Seals of the Northern Department in the room of Lord Roch- ford ; Lord Suffolk fucceeding Lord Halifax as Lord Privy Seal : and Sir Edward Hawke relin- quifhed his feat at the head of the Admiralty to the Earl of Sandwich. Mr. George Grenville had departed this life November 13, being the firft day of the prefent feffion ; and many of his friends joining the Adminiftration, the majorities in both Houfes, notwithstanding the general unpopularity of the Minilters, became very formidable. On the aad of January 1771 the Parliament met purfuant to their adjournment ; and the declaration of the Spanifh Ambaffador, and the acceptance of Lord Rochford, were laid before the Houfe. Prince Maferano, after difavowing in the name of his U Catholic *94 K. GEORGE III. Catholic Majefty the violence ufed at Port Egmont, and engaging formally for the reftitution of the iflands, declared, that his Catholic Majefty cqn- liders this reftitution as not affecting the queftion concerning the prior right of fovereignty of the iflands. The admiffion of this refervation was hea- vily cenfured, as leaving the main queftion ftill in difpute, and furnifhing Spain with a full j unifica- tion, fhould fhe immediately re-commence hoftili- ties, or at any future period that fhe may deem more favorable to the eftablifhment of her claim. If the right of Great Britain to the iflands in quef- tion were juft and valid, it was affirmed, that no proper or adequate atonement had been made for the aggreffion committed by Spain : on the other hand, if the right of Great Britain could not be fuuained, the impolicy of our conduct in forming this diftant fettlement could be equalled only by its inj uft ice. An addrefs of thanks and approbation being moved, a violent debate enfued, and it was not carried without a long and obftinate oppoli- tion nineteen Peers entering their proteft in the Journals of the Upper Houfe againft it. The laft header article of this proteft concludes with the following remarkable vyords : " Any counter- claim or affertion whatever of his Majefty's right of fovereignty has been ftudioufly avoided from the beginning to the accomplifhment of this unhappy tranfaction, which,, after the expence of millions, fettles K. GEORGE III. 295 fettles no conteft,, afTerts no right, exacts no repa- ration, affords no fecurity ; but {lands as a monu- ment of reproach to the wifdom of the national ; councils, of difhonor to the cflential dignity of his Majefty's crown, and of difgrace to the hitherto untainted honor of the Britifh flag." Upon the whole it muft be acknowledged that Spain, in this tranfaclion, notwithstanding her re- cent abafement, negotiated on at leaft equal terms with England : and though precipitately to have in- volved the nation in a war for the (like of an object ib infignificant and contemptible as the pofleffion of two or three barren rocks under a ftormy iky, would have redounded little to the honor of the prefent Adminiflration, great and heavy cenfure necefTarily falls on the former Minifter, Mr. Gren- ville, who, knowing the nature and extent of the claims of Spain, and the eventual probability of a rupture, would raflily rilque fo great a calamity for what at the beft could be confidered only as a tri- vial, remote, and uncertain advantage. It would not indeed be difficult to turn into ridicule th extra- vagant pretenfions of Spain refpecting the empire of Southern America, and the ideas entertained by herofBritiih encroachment and ufurpation ; but fhis certainly would be neither politic nor juft on the part of Great Britain, who advances pretenfions in her own favor at leaft as chimerical and ridicu- lous : and if Spain had attempted to form a fettle- U 4 ment, K - GEORGE III. ment, or to eftablifh a garrifon, in any part of the immenfe and frozen regions of Hudfon's Bay, or the difmal wilds of Labradore, ilretching to the Arctic Pole, the pride of Great Britain would have been no doubt equally alarmed, and her interefts fuppofed equally endangered. Let us then at lead act confiftently, and refpect thofe rights whether real or imaginary in others which we dare unblufh- ingly to claim for ourfelves. A remarkable Bill was introduced into the Houfe of Commons, and paffed into an Act in the courfe of the prefent feffion, which, by the unanimous and zealous concurrence of all parties in its fupport, reflected much honor on the Houfe. This was a Bill for disfranchifmg a very large proportion of the freemen of the borough of New Shoreham, and for extending the right of voting to the contiguous hundreds. It appeared in evidence before the Select Committee, appointed under the Grenville Act to try the merits of the late election for this place, that a great number of the freemen of the borough had formed thernfelves into a fociety under the name of the Chriftian Club. This Chrif- tian Club was in fact no better than a mart of ve- nality. A junto was appointed to difpofe of the borough to .the higheft bidder; and after the elec- tion was decided, the profits were fhared equally amongft the whole. The Attorney General was, ia coniequence of an Addrcfs of the Houfe to the K. GEORGE lit. , 97 King, ordered to profecute the perfons compofing the junto of this Club, and who had diftinguifhcd themfelves as the peculiar agents of infamy on this occafion. The Nation, angry and difgufted as they were, could not avoid applauding the fpirit and con- ititutional tendency of this Bill, which fhewcd that the Houfe was- neither inattentive nor infenfible to the prefervation of its own dignity or the na- tional honor. Unfortunately about the fame time an incident occurred, which revived in an alarming degree the indignation and refentment of the people againft their reprefentatives. Though nothing can appear more reafonable than that the. public at large ihould be furnifhed with all fuch means of infor- mation refpecling the conduct of their reprefenta- tives in Parliament as may confift with the order and dignity of the Houfe, it had been long a fub- jecl: of complaint, that the fpeeches of the Mem- bers were, in contempt of the refolutions of the Houfe, regularly printed in the public papers; and ieveral Members of the Houfe having formally Hated that their fpeeches had been mifreprefented in the report, although fuch mifreprefentation, if of any real importance, might doubtlefs have been eaiily corrected, a motion was made and carried, not indeed unanimoufly, that the printers Wheble and Thompfon mould appear to anfwer this com- plaint at the bar of the Houfe. The printers taking *9* K. GEORGE III. taking no notice of this general fummons, a fecond order was nTued, and declared to be final. No more regard being paid to the fecond order than to the firft, a motion was made, that Wheble and Thompfon fhould be taken into thecuftody of the Serjeant at Arms. The minority, who had ob- jected to the original motion, now ftrongly urged that the prefent irritable temper of the public ren- dered it very improper for the Houfe to commit itfelfby engaging in a doubtful and invidious con- teft that the executive authority of the Houfe was reftraincd within very narrow limits and that the prefent moment was by no means favorable to the full exertion, and much lefs to the extenfion of it. The majority neverthelefs vehemently in - filled upon the neceflity of fupporting the DIG- NITY of the Houfe, which, whenever paflion in any degree influences the determination, is gene- rally facrificed by the very means adopted to pre- ferve it. In confequence of information from the Serjeant at Arms that the parties had abfconded, a royal proclamation \vas iflued, offering a reward of 50!. for apprehending the two printers. In the mean time fix other printers were for fimjlar offences ordered to the bar of the Houfe, five of whom obeying the fummons were reprimanded and dif- charged ; and the remaining delinquent. Miller, was ordered to be taken into cuftody for contempt of K. GEORGE III. ?9 9 pf the Houfe. Wheble being apprehended in con- fequence of the proclamation, and carried before Mr. Wilkes, recently chofen an Alderman of Lon- don, he was difcharged by that Magiilrate, and bound over to profecute the perfon who appre- hended him : and in a letter addrefled to the Earl of Halifax, Secretary of State, Mr. Wilkes declared, " that Wheble had been apprehended in violation of the rights of an Englimman, as well as of the chartered privilegesof a citizen of London." Thomp- fon alfo was apprehended, and difcharged in the fame manner. Miller being taken into cuflody by the meffenger of the Houfe of Commons, at his own dwelling, was carried before the Lord Mayor (Crolby), and the Aldermen Wilkes and Oliver, at the Manfion Houfe, The Serjeant at Arms at- tending to demand the prifoner, the legality of the warrant was denied, and the printer not only dif- cjiarged, but the meflengcr of the Houfe, on pre- text of a falfe arreft, ordered to be committed to prifon in default of bail, which was at the nrft re- fufed, but at length reluctantly given; and forthefe proceedings the thanks of the Corporation of Lon- don were immediately voted them. The Houfe of Commons now found themfelves once more reduced, by their own rafhnefs and in- difcretion, to a mod vexatious perplexity ; and the Oppolition, who, as Members of the Houfe, felt for it* 3x> K. GEORGE III. its honor, and participated in the general indigrra- tion excited by this unparalleled affront, reminded the Minifters that to them muft be imputed the odium under which the Houfe had fallen with the people, who embraced with eagernefs every occa- lion to mock their power and baffle their mea- fures. Thefe reflections admitted of little reply, and the Lord Mayor and Mr. Alderman Oliver, as Members of the Houfe, were ordered to attend in their places the next day. The Lord Mayor pleaded, in his juftification, that he was bound by oath to preferve the franchiics of the city, that his conduct had been ftrictiy agreeable to law, and he demanded to be heard by counfel. This was re- fufed, on the ground that no counfel could be heard in opposition to the privileges of the Houfe; and the Lord Mayor's book of minutes being called for, the recognizance of Whittam the meflenger was ex- punged from the record by order of the Houfe ; and a refolution pafFed, that to inftitute any pro- ceeding at law in this cafe was contrary to the pri- vileges of the Houfe ; and alfo that it was a breach of privilege to apprehend the mefienger of this Houfe executing his warrant, under the pretence of an afTault ; and that it was a breach of privilege to hold the mefienger to bail for fuch pretended af- fault. Mr. Oliver was proceeded againit in a fimi- lar manner; and the two Magiftrates relblutely re- ni^i filling K. GEORGE III. 301 (xifing to make any conceffion or apology, it was at length by a very great majority voted that they be committed prifoners to the Tower. On the laft day of the attendance of the Lord Mayor, vaft multitudes of people aflembling in the vicinity of Weftminiler Hall, a violent riot took place, and feveral of the minifterial Members were grolsly infulted Lord North himfelf being per- fonally attacked, and with difficulty refcued from the fury of the populace. Mr. Wilkes, having re- ceived a fummons to attend at the bar of the Houfe, addrefled a letter to the Speaker, in which he de- clared that he could attend only in his place as Member for the county of Middlcfex. After fome fruitlefs repetitions of the order, .the Houfe, now eagerly defirous to difmifs the bufinefs, ordered a new fummons for the 8th of April, and at the fame time wifely appointed, with much more attention to their fafety than their DIGNITY, the 9th as the firft day of meeting after the Eafter recefs. The Lord Mayor and Mr. Oliver foon after their commitment applied for a writ of habeas corpus, which was accordingly iffiied by the Court of Com- mon Pleas ; but after very long and learned plead- ings thefe magiftrates were remanded by the Court, and continued in cuftody till the end of the fef- iion, when their liberation was celebrated by great and univerfal rejoicings ; and from this time for- ward the proceedings of Parliament and the fpeeches go$ . GEORGE III. Ipeeches of the Members have been publifhecf without interruption or moleftation. So dangerous is it to bring undefined privileges or prerogative^ Into conteft, where a difpofition prevails to difpute all doubtful afTumptions of authority. It did not tend to diminifh the public difcontentS that a Bill was brought into Parliament at this pe- riod, " for enabling certain perfons to enclofe and embank pail of the river Thames adjoining to Dur- ham Yard, &c." it being confidered as an invalion of the property claimed by the City of London irt the foil or bed of the river. But whatever might bei the motives in which this Bill originated, or what- ever indemnification the City of London might be entitled to expecl: as proprietors of the foil, certain 1 it is that the magnificent and ftupendous pile of buildings conftruc"led in virtue of this ac% under the appellation of the Adelplii, will remain to fu- ture times a noble monument of architectural ge- nius and utility; and will be confidered as reflecting honor on the reign of George III. when the vaft fums expended in fubfidies, penfions, and extrava- gant grants to the Crown are configned to indig- nation or oblivion. Soon after the rifing of Parliament the' City of London prefented another Petition and Remon- {trance to the King, in which they complain of this Bill as a violation of their chartered rights, of the arbitrary imprifonment of their Chief Magif- trate, E. GEORGE III. 303 trate^ of the enormity of erafing a judicial record in order to flop the courfc of jufiice ; and ao~ain urge, On thefe accounts, as well as upon the grounds for-* merly ftated,the immediate diffolution of the Parlia- ment, and the removal from his Majefty's perfon and councils, for ever, of the prefent wicked and defpotic Minifters. But this petition, however vehement arid intemperate in its language, excited neither alarm nor very peculiar attention. The liorm had in a great meafure fpent its rage; and, though the waves ftill flucluated with apparent violence, the danger of miniflerial fhipwreck was paft. The King, in anfwer to this petition, coldly exprefTed his readinefs to redrefs the real grievances of his fubje&s ; but he was forry to find that a part of them renewed requefts which he had repeatedly refufed to comply with. In the fpeech from the Throne at the termina-r tion of the feffion May 8 (i 771), his Majefty con,- gratulated the Parliament on the profpecl of a per- manent continuance of peace, and earneftly ex^ hortcd them to difcourage and fupprefs all ground-* lefs fufpicions and domeftic difturbances, in order that the national happinefs might be rendered complete. His Majefty declared, " that he had no other olyefl, and could have no other intereft, than to reign in the hearts of a free and happy people." Certainly, if this could by an high ftretch of courtly complaifanco be fuppofed " the only object" of hi$ Majefty's 304 K. GEORGE III. Majelty's reign, it muft at leaf! be allowed that he had hitherto been peculiarly unfortunate in the choice of thofe means and minifters which he had employed in the attainment of it. During the recels of Parliament died the Earl of Halifax, a nobleman generous, liberal, and accom- pliihed ; but as a Minifler unpopular and unfor- tunate. He was one of the few Whigs who en- joyed any (hare of Court favor during the prefent reign ; but Tory maxim* were unhappily predo- minant, and his ambition induced him to acquiefce and temporize. Neverthelefs he filled the high office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to which he was appointed on the return of the Duke of Bed- f6rd in 1761, with diftinguiftied ability and ap- plaufe. The Earl of Suffolk fucceeded the Earl of Halifax as Secretary of State for the Northern De- partment, and the Duke of Grafton accepted the vacant poft of Lord Privy Seal. The fummer and autumnal months rolled away in a fort of fuHen languor, and, no circumflances of a nature peculiarly urgent arifing, the Parliament was not convened till January 2,1, 1772, when the fcffion was opened with a fpecch from the Throne, in which his Majefty confidently announced the continuance of peace from the repeated affurances he had received of the amicable difpofition of the powers on the Continent. It occafioned therefore great furprife, Avben in a few days a demand was made K. GEORGE III. 305 made on the part of the Adminiftration for twenty- five thoufand feamen to be employed in the fervice of the current year, under the pretext of the ne- ceffity of our maintaining a fuperior 'force, both in the Eaft and Weft Indies, to the French^ who had lately fent conliderable reinforcements to thofe dif- tant quarters. It was faid in reply, " that this was in fact a war eftablifhment in the midfl of peace that if fo great an augmentation was in prefent circumftances thought neceflary, it was impoffible to fay when it could with propriety be diminifhed > that the apprchenlion of an attack from France was futile and ridiculous, and that the naval force of that power employed in actual fervice was to- tally inadequate to any hoflile attempt that the prefent motion would add 500,000!. to the public expence and that, bending under the weight of an enormous public debt, it behoved us to adopt ef- fectual meafures for its reduction ; inftead of which our peace eftablifhment was every year increafing, and was now nearly double what it had been at the acceffion of King George I." Such however was the inefficacy of thefe arguments, in oppofition to thofe urged by the Minifters of the Crown, that the motion was carried without a divifion. Soon after the meeting of Parliament (Febru- ary 8, 1772) died her Royal Highnefs Augufta Princefs Dowager of Wales, in the fifty third year of her age a princefs pofTefled of many virtues VOL. I, X perfonal 3o6 K. G E O R G E III. perfbnal and relative, and, till the acceflion of the prefent Sovereign, greatly beloved and efleemed by the EttgHfh nation : but, in the latter years of her life, it too plainly appeared that the exteniive in- fluence -fhe pofTefled over the mind of the King her fon was exercifed in a manner very pernicious to the nation. It might appear harfh to doubt the general rectitude of her intentions ; but unhappily, bred up in the defpotifm of German Courts, flic attained mot to juft ideas of the fpirit of the Eng- glim Constitution, or the genius of the people, with whom her name became at length the continual theme of reproach and obloquy. A remarkable bill was about this period intro- duced into Parliament, for " making more effectual provifion to guard tbe def. endants of the late King r GEORGE IT, from marrying without the approba- tion of his Majefty, hrs heirs and fucceflbrs, firft had and obtained." This bill had its origin in the marriage lately contracted by the Duke of Cum- berland, fecond brother to the King, with Mrs. Horton, relicl; of Colonel Horton, and daughter of Lord Irnham. It had been alfo long univerfally believed that the Duke of Glocefter, elder brother to the King, was privately married to the Countefs of Waldegrave, which marriage the Duke now openly avowed. By the provifions of this new and very extraordinary act, the marriages contracted by the royal family from this time are declared null o and K. GEORGE III. > 7 arid void, unlefs the previous approbation of his Majefty be obtained but in cafe the parties lhall have attained the age of twenty-five years, and give notice to the Privy Council of their intention of marriage, fuch marriage mail be held good in law, imlefs the Parliament mail within the fpace of twelve months declare its difapprobation of the lame. This bill excited great diflatisfaclion, and it did hot pafs without considerable difficulty. Two very animated protefls againft it, figned by eighteen Peers, difplay, with great precifion and energy, the reafons employed in oppofition to the bill. " The defendants of GEORGE II." it is affirmed, " may in time comprehend a very numerous clefcription of people ; arid it would be an intolerable grievance, that the marriages of fo many fubjects, difperfed amongft the various ranks of civil life, fhould be fubject to the reftraints of this aft. It fcems in- decent to the royal family, to.fuppofethat they ar- rive later at the age of difcretion than others, and abfurd to allow them to be capable of governing a kingdom at an age when they are not to be trufted in the choice of a wife. It feems," lay their Lord- fhips, " to be a mere act of power, having neither the force nor obligation of law, and contrary to the inherent rights of human nature, to difable a man from contracting marriage, perhaps for life; and it is pregnant with civil difcord and confuiion, as X 2 having 3ofc K> G E O R G E lit having a natural tendency at ftime future period to produce a difputcd title to the Crown and all this for ends wholly difproportionate to fuch ex- traordinary efforts, as the main purpofes of the bill might have been anfwered without creating that perpetuity of rcftraint which they think them- felves in confcienre bound to oppofe." In the courle of the feffion, a petition was prc-> fen ted to the Houfe of Commons of an interefting nature, and, from the fingular importance of its object, demanding peculiar attention. This was a petition figned by fome hundreds of the Clergy of the Eftablifhed Church, humbly praying to be re- lieved from the obligation of fubfcribing the Thirty- nine Articles of Faith as impofed by law. " Your pe- titioners," fay they, "apprehend themfelvesto have certain rights and privileges which they hold of GOD alone of this kind is the exercife of their own reafon and judgment. They conceive they are alfb warranted, by thofe original principles of refor- mation from popery on which the Church of Eng- land is conttituted, to judge, in fearchingthefcrip- lures, each man for himfelf, what may or may not be proved thereby. They find themfelvcs, how- ever, in a great mcaftirc precluded the enjoyment of this invaluable privilege, by the laws relative to fubfcription, whereby your petitioners are required to acknowledge certain articles and confeffions of faith and doctrine, drawn up by fallible men, to be all K. GEORGE III. 509 all and every one of them agreeable to the faid Icriptures. Your petitioners therefore pray th#t they may be relieved from fuch an impofition upon their judgment, and be reftored to their undoubted right, as Proteftants, of interpreting fcripture for themfelves, without being bound by any human explanations thereof Holy Scripture alone being acknowledged certain and fufficient for falvation." And they elfewhere ftyle the impofition of fublcrip- tion vcr which no human power had cognizance or jurifdiction ; that thefe rights were too facred to be held at the caprice of a Court, or the difcre- tion of a Judge ; that the penal laws, though dormant, might be at any time awakened into ac- tion by the malice, the avarice, or the revenge of individuals ; that were the lenity of the Execu- tive Government fuch as had been reprefented, it would doubtlcfs be eager to embrace fo favor- able an opportunity of eftablifhing, by law, what it had hitherto been unable to confer othcrwifc than as a grace ; that the lenity of the Ruling Powers was the very rcafon for bringing forward this claim, for it would certainly be fruitlefs and abfurd to apply for relief and fecurity when an inimical difpoiition on the part of Government was previoufly known to exift. If nothing of real perfecution is intended, why fufpend the fword by a fingle hair over their heads ? As to the charge of republicanifm, as alleged againft the DifTcnters, it was declared to be equally futile and unjuft. The original opposition to the meafures of the Court in the reign of Charles I. was highly lauda- ble ; and the unjuftifiable lengths to which that op- pofition was carried, were to be afcribed to the mi- litary and defpotic violence of comparatively a few individuals. The anceftors of the prefent race of DifTenters had a diflinguimed lhare in the refto- ration of King Charles II. ; and the uniform y 2, tenor "321 *K. GEORGE ttl. * tenor of* their conduct fince the aera of the Re- volution plainly proved them to be as loyal and obedient to juft Princes, who made the law the ' rule of their government as they had been firm and refolute in their oppofition to Tyrants, who aimed at the fubverfion of the Conftitution. Not to mention the abfurdity and injuftice of punifh- ing any clafs or description of men now exifting for the fuppofed crimes and errors of a former ge- neration, who had been more than a century in their graves." A vaft majority of the Houfe, penetrated with the force of thefe reafonings, and pleafed with an occalion to difplay their attachment to the princi- ples of Whiggifm, from which they had been charged with a difpofition to depart, pafled the bill with the full concurrence of the Minifter, almoft by acclamation ; but when it was carried up to the Peers, it met with a very different reception and ,the Bed-chamber Lords, the " King's Friends," .and the BISHOPS, marfhalled in one formidable phalanx, concurred in its rejection \ the non- con tents on the divifion being no lefs than ica againft 2,9 Peers who fupported the motion, As this bill had been highly and generally ap- plauded in the Houfe of Commons, and was appa- rently well approved by the Nation at large, the ill fuccefs which finally attended it could only be afcribed to the predominance of that fecret and fatal K. GEORGE III. 325- fatal influence fo frequently alluded to, which feem- cd obftinately bent to thwart every meafure ema- nating from a juft, wife, and beneficent .policy. So that on this, as on other occafions, a ftranger to the manifold virtues and excellencies of the SO- VEREIGN might have been pardoned forjuppo- Jing the throne filled by fome fullen and malignant bigot, absolutely ignorant of the firft principles of civil and religious liberty, or to whom thofe prin- ciples appeared odious and dcteflable. In the royal fpeech at the clofe of the feffion, which terminated June 9, 1772,, his Majefty, in the cuftomary ftrain, , exhorted the Members of both Houfes to cultivate and improve a fpirit of harmony and confidence amongft all ranks of men, and to make it their conftant care to inculcate a cheerful acquiefcence to juft authority. This is no doubt an highly ufeful and important leflbn ; but, in order to fecure that ready and cheerful ac- qiiicfcence arifing by juft gradations into confi- dence and affection, it is no lefs neceflary that rulers and governors fhould fhew themfelves dif- pofed to exercife their authority with mildnefs, with equity, with moderation. A truly patriot prince will fuffer no private or perfonal confedera- tions to divert his attention from the great and fole object of government, tie general welfare : and he will be fenfible that the honor and dig- nity of government are far more effectually fuf- Y 3 tained 326 K, GEORGE III. tained by a magnanimous neglect of unmerited reflections and reproaches, which no might nor greatnefs. in mortality can hope to elcape, than by indulging a paffionate and inceflant folicitude to punifhqr avenge them. The extreme unpopularity which had inva- riably attended the meafures of the Court under the fucceffive administrations of the prefent reign, that of Lord Rockingham only excepted, at length began to fufFer a feniible abatement. The new Minifter, Lord North, notwithltand- ing fome falfe fleps, evidently gained upon the Nation, by the fuavity of his manners, and his apparent candor and ingenuoufnefs of difpofition. The late rupture with Spain, in the view of the public, who were not apprized of the fecret article of reftitution, had terminated honorably for Eng- land. Notwithftanding the great expencc attend- ing the armament of the lad year, progrefs had been made in the reduction of the national debt ; and the repeal of the oppreflive port-duties, though with one unfortunate exception, fhewed at leait fome inclination to accommodate the dilputes ib long fubiilting with America. This was farther confirmed by the relignation at this period of the parl of Hillfborough, Secretary of State for Ame- rica, who was on various accounts very obnoxious to the Colonies ; and the fubfequent appointment pf the Earl of Dartmouth, a Nobleman of acknow- ledged K. GEORGE III. 527 lodged probity, of a mild and lenient temper, and who had uniformly oppoled in Parliament American taxation in every form. Various other changes and promotions alfo took place during the recefs of Parliament. The Earl ofHarcourt fuccceded Lord Townfhend as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Lord Stormont was appointed Ambaflador at the Court of Verfailles in the room of Lord Harcourt. Mr. Charles Jenkinfon being .nominated Vice-Treafurer of Ireland, his feat at the Board of Treafury was filled by the Honorable Charles James Fox, fecond fon of Lord Holland, a young man who had already ar- reiled the attention of the public by the extent of his political knowledge, and the fplendor of his parliamentary talents. This appeared the more extraordinary, as it was known that he indulged without referve in all the famionable levities and diffipations incident to his age and ftation. It ought, however, at the fame time to be remarked, that he (topped fhort of thofe vices which efien- tially debafe and contaminate the moral character, and which are equally incompatible with prefent efteem or future hope. For though diffipation borders upon the region of moral depravity, and too often terminates in it, there is a real and very important difference between them. A youth of high fpirit and elevated rank, endowed with live- ly fenfibilities, and pofieffing all the advantages y 4. which 3 2- E. GEORGE III. which nature and fortune can bellow, may bd conlidered, on his firft entrance into life, as placed in a fcene of abfolute enchantment. Pleafure-pre- fents herfelf in a thoufand forms, and, in the ardor and effervefcence of paffion, no other object is per- ceived for which exiftence is deiirable. At length the fafcination diflblves, and it will be indeed for- tunate if he is then able to transfer his regards to thofe fuperior purfuits which are calculated to give full fcope to the intellectual and rational facul- ties. In the higher walks of life, when the con- comitant temptations are furmounted, and ad- vantages improved, are the higheft and moll accomplimed characters formed : and in juftice to Mr. Fox it mult be acknowledged, that he has greatly redeemed the errors of his youth by the attainments of his maturer years, and by devoting his unrivalled talents almoft exclufively to the no- ble and tranfcendept purpofe of advancing, by the moft unwearied and unremitting exertions, the peace, welfare, and happinefs of mankind. On the a6th of November, 1772, the feffion was opened by an ^interefting fpeech from the throne, in which " the attention of Parliament was particularly called to the prefent ftate of the Eaft India Company, and the difficulties in which they appeared to be involved ; and his Majefty re- commended making fuch provilions for the com- jnon benefit and fecurity of all the various interefts ^ concerned^ K. GEORGE III. 529 concerned, as they fhould find befl adapted to the exigencies of the cafe." Little certainly could it have been imagined, that in the fhort interval which had elapfed fmce the acquifition of the De- uvannee of the provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orifla, by which the Company appeared to be elevated to the height of profperi'y, they fhould be reduced to a ftate of embarraffinent and dif- trcfs verging upon ruin. A general however tranfient review of the tranfaclions of the Com- pany, commercial and political, from that memo- rable period, is neceflary to the explanation of this paradox. No fooner had the Prefidency of Calcutta obtained, in the mode already related, the government of thofe vaft and opulent territo- ries, than a grand project was formed by the Pre- fident, Lord Clive, and unanimonfly approved by the Board ; agreeably to which, the Members of the Council, and other civil and military fervants of the Company, might be enabled to derive vaft emoluments, not only without prejudice to their principals, but with great advantage to the Com- pany's revenue. This was no other than the efta- blifhment of a commercial aflbciation, for the pur- pofe of carrying on an Inland traffic in the import- ant articles of fait, betel nut, and tobacco. Thefe are articles of general confumption in India, and confidcred as amongft the abfolute neceflaries of life ; and they had under the antient government been 33 e K. GEORGE III. been fubjecl to the trifling duty of the fortieth penny. But in order to obtain the ianction of the Company to the commercial fyftem now eftablifh- ed, a duty of thirty-five per cent, was impofed on fait, which, with fifteen per cent, on betel nut, and twenty-five per cent, on tobacco, produced an annual additional revenue of 160,000!. to the Company. This however was regarded by the natives as a trivial grievance, in comparifon of the modern which the traffic was conducted : for the fervants of the Company acting at once in the two-fold capacity of merchants and fovereigns, " in order," as they expretfed themfelves, " to affift this infant branch of commerce," the Council decreed to the aflbciation, i. e. to themfelves and their co- partners, "the free and exchifive purchafe and fale, or, in other words, the complete monopoly of the above articles ; and their governing rule of trade appears invariably to have been to reduce to the loweft extreme of depreffion the price in the pur- chafe, and to enhance it in the fame extravagant proportion in the fale. When this plan was com- municated to the Directors, they exprefied much difpleafure that fuch extortion fhould be prac- tifed under their authority. " We leave," fay they to the Council, " the adjnftment of the duties on thefe commodities to your judgment and confide- ration ; but we think the vaft fortunes acquired by the inland trade have been obtained by a fcene o of K. GEORGE III. 331 of the moft oppreiiivc and tyrannic conduct ever known in any age or country. Were we to allow it, we (hould consider ourfelves as afTenting and fubfcribing to all the mifchiefs which Bengal has prefented to us for four years pail." They approved therefore the oppreffion of the natives Jo far as they themfelves were benefited by it, and no far- tier. But thefe feeble and inconfillent remon- ftrances were little regarded. Another device or projccl of legal plunder was, to declare void at once, to the inexpreffible con- fternation of the zemindars and polygars, who con- ftitute the great landed intereft of the country, all the Icafes held by them under the Government, pn very low and beneficial terms, by a kind of feudal tenure. The pretext for this was, that many of thefe leafes had been collufively ob- tained ; and it was faid, that impartiality required that they fhould be now relet without diftinclion to the highcft bidder. By this enormous act of defpotifm, many individuals of very elevated fitu- ations in life were entirely ruined, immenfe for- tuaes were made by the favored few, and the landed revenue of the Company after all was ac- knowledged to be very little improved. Not- withftanding, indeed, every expedient that could be put in praclice for the accumulation of wealth, the aggregate receipts of the Company's treafury alarmingly clccreafed i the natives, reduced to poverty 35* K. G E O R G E III. poverty and almofl defpair by perpetual exactions,' could no longer purchafe their favorite articles at the extravagant prices demanded by the mono- polifts. Thofe that cultivated the foil, planted in doubt, and reaped in uncertainty. A large pro- portion of land was left unfilled, and a general fcarcity of provifions, particularly of rice the great ftaple of Indian fuftenance, unavoidably enfued. It was poffible to exifl without betel nut and to- bacco, but not without their daily food. The commercial monopolists feized with avidity the op- portunity of collecting the rice into ftores. As the Genloos would in no extremity violate the precepts of their religion by eating flefh, they had no other alternative than to part with the remains of their property., or die with hunger.- The people being in a ihort time reduced to a wretched fubfiftence on unwholefome and unac- cuftomed roots, a dreadful licknefs and mortality enfued. In fome diftricts, the living fcarcely fuf- ficed to bury the dead ; and peftilence and famine in horrid combination defolated the land. The waters of the Ganges were infected by the mul- titude of carcafTes caft into the river; whilft flights of vultures and other birds of prey, attracted in aftonifhing numbers by the putrefcent effluvia, completed the (hocking and terrific picture. Striking, indeed, is the contraft between the fitu- ation of the country at this period, and that which we K. GEORGE III. * 3 # ^ve are told it enjoyed in the happy times of the Mo- gul government. The kingdom of Bengal, dur- ing a long period of peaceful repofe, is defcribed as exhibiting the mofl charming and piclurefque fcenery " opening into extenlive glades, cover- ed with a fine turf, and interfperfed with woods filled with a variety of birds of beautiful colors ; amongft others, peacocks in abundance, fitting on the vail horizontal branch es,difplayed theirdazzling plumes to the fun; the Ganges winding its mighty waters through the adjacent plains, adding to the profpect inexpreffible grandeur ; while the artift at his loom, under the immenfe fhade of the ban- yan tree, foftencd his labor by the tender {trains of mufic." In the calamitous circumftances to which this country was now reduced through oppreffions, the retrofpective view of which takes away all boafting from the name of Englifhmen, it will not be deemed wonderful, efpecially when the great increafe of the civil and military eftablifh- ments of the three provinces is alfo taken into the account, that the difburfements of the Com- pany fhould far exceed the amount of their reve- nues. Impelled by urgent demands and empty coffers, the Council hefitatcd not to write to Mr. Beecher, Refident at the Durbar : " In conjunctures like this, neceffity compels us to make the conveni- . e nces of dependents, and even the letter of engage- ments, 334 K. GEORGE ill. merits, fubfervient to the exigencies of the It would be a ridiculous and unprecedented maxim to regard any tribute or ftipend before the fup- port of our own government. They therefore de- cree, that the fum of thirty-four lacks of rupees, at the leaft, fhall be deducted from the tribute to the Emperor, the allowance to the Nabob, and other contingencies." The pecuniary embarraii- ments of the Company were exceedingly increafed by a war of folly and ambition, in which they were at this period involved on the coaft of Coromandel with the famous Hyder Ally, a powerful prince^ Tvho, from very low and obfcure beginnings, had cftablifhed a great empire in the fouthern parts 6f the continent. The Subah, or, as he is more ge- nerally ft} led, the Nizam of the Decan, a poten- tate of high rank in India, and whofe territories bordered upon thofe of the Company, had en- tered into an alliance with Hyder ; but the united forces of the Indian princes were defeated with great lols by Colonel Smith, near Trinomallee, September 2,6, 1767 ; after which the Nizam made a feparate peace with the Englifh, yielding up to them a conliderable territory called the Bala- gat Carnatic. But the war with Hyder, who had retired to the interior and mountainoiis parts of his dominions, was carried on without advantage, and at a ruinous expence. At length, by a feries of ikilful manoeuvres and rapid movements, he contrived K. GEORGE III. 3 tf contrived to leave the Englifti army feveral days march in the rear ; and, after ravaging the domi- nions of the Nabob of Arcot, the antient and faithful ally of the Company, he fuddenly appear- ed in force at the gates of Madras. The Prefi- dency now thought proper to enter into a nego- tiation for peace, propofing a truce of fifty days for that purpofe ; but Hyder would grant a cefla- tion of arms for fcven days only, in which fpace articles of accommodation were figned April 1769, and the conquefts on both fides reciprocally re- ftored. Alarmed at the novel and 'dangerous fituation of affairs in India, which had prodigioufly funk the value of the Company's flock in England, the Proprietary, previous to the knowledge of this event, had determined to fend out a Committee of Supervifion to Bengal, with full authority to examine into and reclify the concerns of every de- partment, and vefted with an abfolute power of control over all the fervants of the Company in India. Mr. Vanfittart, Mr. Scrafton, and Mr. Ford, were nominated Stipervifors, and failed from England, in the Aurora frigate, September 1769 ; but, by fome unknown and fatal mifchance, this fhip never arrived at the place of her deftination. When it could no longer be doubted that the gentlemen appointed to this high commillion were irretrievably loft, it was refolved by the Company to 35 6 K. GEORGE III. to nominate new Commiffioners ; and fix Gentlev men, during the fummer recefs of the prefent year 1772, were actually chofen for this purpofe. But it being certain that Parliament would be con- vened at an early period, with the exprefs view of entering into a full difcuffion of the affairs of India, it was not deemed advifable, in th'e prefent perilous fituati on of the Company, and its abfolute inability to difcharge their public engagements, to carry fo important a refolve into execution til! the lanclion of the Legislature could be obtained. A bill had, late in the preceding feilion, been introduced under the patronage of the Company itfelf, for the better regulation of the government and commerce of India ; and it was without he- : fitation acknowledged, that the powers actually .veiled in the Company were totally infufficient for the prevention of the grofTeft abufes and mal- adminiftration. It was on the other hand urged, .thattopafs a bill for the redrefs of any grievances .without fome prior proof that the grievance ex- . ified, was unparliamentary. It was faid, that the grievance might lie too deep to be remedied by the propofed bill ; and the partifans of the Court did not fail to intimate, that the conftitution of the Company rendered them wholly unfit for the purpofe of exercifing any degree of political au- . thority, and that an accurate investigation would --.demonitrate the neceffity that Government fhoutd take K. GEORGE III. 337 take the whole under its immediate jurifdiclion. After the fecond reading, therefore, the bill was thrown afide : and in the room of it, a Select Committee, confifting of thirty-one perfons, was chofen by ballot to enquire into the ftate of the Eaft India Company. The Committee continued their fittings during the fummer, and it was re- vived early in the prefent feffion. But this ap- pointment, not originating with the Minifter, was regarded by him with little fatisfa&ion ; and as foon as Parliament afTembled, Lord North moved for another Committee, under the name of the Committee of Secrecy, to confift of thirteen per- fons, to be alfo chofen by ballot, for taking into confederation the flate of the Company's affairs, which, his Lordfhip obferved, might by this means undergo a full inveftigation,, without any unnecef- fary expofure of them to the world. It was alfo faid, that thefe different Committees would ope- rate as a check upon each other, and that between them the Houfe would obtain every requifite de- gree of information upon the whole bufmefs. On the other hand it was alleged, that the motion for a Secret Committee was unconftitutional, and a mode praclifed only when criminal charges were made : that the very name of a Secret Com- mittee was ominous, and carried with it the idea of an arbitrary and inquiiitorial tribunal ; that by a fair and open inveftigation in a Committee of VOL. I. Z the ; 5 ?i K. GEORGE III. the whole Houfe, a clear view of the Company's affairs \vonld be obtained, and an adequate remedy for all the exifting evils provided ; but by this nar- row partial enquiry of a eabal, they could obtain no information but what the members of it thought fit to communicate, fo that they might in effect bo degraded into the dupes of a Minifterial junto. Notwithstanding this oppoiitioii, the motion of the Miniftcr palled without a divilion ; and in a very fhort time, a Report was prcfented by the Committee, itating, that, although the Company v/cre reduced to great pecuniary cliftrefs, they were preparing to fend out an expenfive Comrnif- ilon of Supcrvifion to India ; and recommending that a bill be brought in to reft rain the Company for a limited time from fending out fuch Com- miflion of Supcrvifors. A Bill was immediately ordered in for this purpofe : and though a Petition was prefented againft it from the Company, and connfel heard in their behalf, it pafTed by a ma- jority of 153 againft 28. From the different examinations which took place at the Bar of the Houfe on this occasion, it appeared in evidence, That the annual expen- diture of the civil and military eltablifhments in Bengal had arifen, iince the year 1765, from feven hundred thoufand pounds to one million feven hundred thoufand pounds : That, including the four hundred thoufand pounds paid by the Com- pany K. GEORGE III. 339 pahy in confequence of the agreement made in 1767, the whole fum received by Government in cuitoms and duties, &c. from- the Company, at an average calculation of the laft five years, amount- ed to little lefs than two millions : That, dur- ing the fame term, the dividends of the Company amounted not in the aggregate to one million above the rate of fix per. cent, upon their capital, which was the loweil trading dividend that had been ever made during the moll expenfive and dangerous war. It appeared, that the mercantile profits of the Company, during this period, amounted on the average to four hundred and fixty-four thoufand pounds annually, which would have afforded a dividend of twelve and a half per cent. So that this ftriking and memorable truth was fully ertablifhed, that the Company, fo far from deriving any advantage from the poiTeffion of her immenfe territories, acquired by means the moft violent and unjuft, was in fact a lofer in an exact proportion to the difference between the low dividends actually made, and the high dividends which their mercantile profits, unin- cumbered by their territorial dominion, would have fecured to them. So true is it that honefty is ufually found to be the beft policy. And, not- withftanding the reduction of their dividends, which, elated as they had been by their fancied profperity, was a fource of bitter chagrin to the Z 2 proprietors, &o K. GEORGE lit proprietors, they now found themfelves in s ftate of the moft mortifying humiliation, utterly unable to fulfil the engagements they had contracted, their refources exhaufted, their expenditures increafing, and their very exiltence depending upon the will and pleafure of a foperior power, of whom they were at the fame time compelled to folicit the fa- vors, and' fuitain the injuries. Previous to the laft reading of this Bill, 2 fecond Report was prefented by the Secret Committee, containing a flatcmcnt of the debts, credits, and effects of the Company, both at home and abroad, by which the finances of the Company appeared to be dreadfully deranged. During the rccefs of Parliament, the Company, with an empty trcafury at home, had accepted bills from Bengal to a vaft amount, and which were now coming round in a courfe of payment. They were at the fame time deeply in debt to the Bank for cafh borrowed,- to the Cuftom Houfe for du- ties unpaid, and to the Exchequer for the arrear of the annual ftipulatecl payment of four hundred thoufand pounds. The Directors were therefore under the neceffity of entering into a negotiation \vith Government for a loan, which might fervc at leaft as a temporary relief. The Minifter re- ceived their application with a cold and haughty referve, and referred them to Parliament for fatis- faclion ; and thus, without poilibility of remedy, they, K. GEORGE III. $4.1 t&ey found themfelves at the mercy of thofe by whom they had, as they well knew, long been viewed with hoflile and jealous eyes. The Re- itraiaing Bill pafled both Houfes previous to the Chriftmas adjournment ; foon after which, a Peti- tion was prefented from the Eaft India Company, containing a requisition for a loan of one mil- lion five hundred thoufand pounds for four years, at four per cent, to be repaid by inftalments, on condition that the dividends of the Company fhould not exceed fix per cent, until the loan was reduced to feven hundred and fifty thoufand pounds ; after which it fhould be lawful to divide eight per cent. ; and after 'the whole loan was difcharged, the fur- plus of the Company's nett profits above the faid dividend fhould be appropriated to the payment of the Company's bond debt until it was re- duced to one million five hundred thoufand pounds ; and from thence, that the furplus profits lliould be equally divided between the Public and the Company. The petitioners farther en- gaged that the account of the Company's reve- nues, fales, debts, &c. fhould be annually laid before Parliament ; and they humbly requeued to be difcharged from the payment of the four hun- dred thoufand pounds for the remainder of the five years fpecified in the Act of 1 769, and that leave might be given to export TEAS, free of all duty, to America, and to foreign ports. 3 342 K. G E O R G E III. This Petition being read, Lord North rofe and obfervcd, that the granting relief to the Company was a matter of obvious policy and expediency, but in no degree a claim of right or of juflice : that, though he waved for the pre- fent the particular difcuffion of the Company's claim ofexcluiive right to its territorial pofleffions, he was upon high authority fatisficd of the exift- ence of a prior right in the State : it being aq axiom in politics, that fuch territorial poffeffions as the fubjecls of any State (hall acquire by con- queft, are virtually the property of the State, and not of thofe individuals who acquire them. He therefore inferred the juflice and legality of the difcretionary interpofition of the State in al} cafes reflecting the affairs of the Company. He concluded with moving, "That it is the opinion of this Houfe, that the affairs of the Eaft India Company are in fuch a ftate as to require parlia- mentary affiftance ; that a loan of one millioq four hundred thoufand pounds be granted to the Company, provided that due precautions {hall be adopted to prevent the Company's experiencing the like exigencies in future." After an interval of fome days, the Minifter again moved, " ThattheCompany's dividend fhould be reftricled to fix per cent, until the repayment of the fum advanced, and that the Company be allowed to divide no more than feyen per cent. until K. GEORGE III. 34J until their bond debt be reduced to one million five hundred thoufand pounds." Laftly, he moved, " That it is the opinion of this Houfe, that it will be more beneficial to the Public, and to the Eaft India Company, to let the territorial acquifitions remain in the poffeflion of the Company for a limited time not to exceed the term of fix years, the charter of the Company expiring about that period : That no participation of profits fhall take place between the Public and the Company until after the repayment of the one million four hun- dred thoufand pounds advanced to the Company, and the reduclion of the Company's bond debt to one million five hundred thoufand pounds : That after the payment of the loan, and the fpecificd- reduction of the bond debt, /^m'-fburtbs of the nctt furplus profits of the Company above the fum of eight per cent, upon their capital flock, fhall be paid into the Exchequer for the ufe of the Public ; and the remaining one-fourth fhall be fet apart, either for farther reducing the Company's bond debt, or for compofing a fund for the difcharge of any contingent exigencies the Company may labor under. In fine, that, .as the Company had in their warehouses a ftock of teas amounting to above feventeen millions of pounds, which it would ,be greatly to their advantage to convert into money, they fhould be allowed to export any (Quantities of it duty free. 4 Such 34* & GEORGE III. Such were the fevere terms annexed by Parlia- ment to the relief folicited by the Company, and fo foon were the fatal effects difcernible of the new fyftem of ambition and aggrandifcment embraced by thefe royal merchant adventurers. So ftrong neverthelefs at this period was the indignation of the Public again ft the enormous oppreffions com- mitted under their name, rather than by their authority, that little companion or iympathy was excited by the loudnefs of their exclamations and complaints in this day of their humiliation and diftrefs. Nor was it diffidently adverted to, that the Government, by appropriating to itfelf fo large a proportion of the profits and revenues of the Company, became in fact a participant and accomplice in the general fyftem of extortron and oppreffion. If the acquifitions of the Company were obtained by fair and equitable means, what right could the Parliament pretend to cliveft them of the juft reward of their policy and valor? If, on the contrary, thofe acquifitions were the fruit of treachery, bloodmed, and the moft enormous ra- pacity, as the advocates for the mealures now de- pending in Parliament but too iuftly alleged, on what principle human or divine could the Parlia- ment vindicate its own conduct, in wrefting by force from the Companv, and converting to its own emolument and advantage, the fruits of their injuftice ? Slender confolation certainly would it afford K. GEORGE III. ,34; ifford to the natives of Bengal, to be informed that the people of England, fully apprized of the nefarious means by which their country was inv- poveriihecl and laid wafte, had refolved to avenge them by plundering the plunderers. In fact, a territorial revenue, in any mode, or under any pretext, extorted from India by England, is in the VlCW of ETERNAL JUSTICE an ACCURSED THING, and the immutable laws of morality will not bend to the haughty boafts of parliamentary omnipo- tence. The Earl India Company, in the higheil degree alarmed at the refolutions recently pafted by the Commons, prefented a fecond Petition to the Houfc, in which they reprefent, " That terms and conditions are annexed to the loan which they prefumed to requeft from Parliament, mate- rially differing from the proportions on which their requitition was founded; that the limitation of the Company's dividend to feven per cent, after the difchargc of the loan, is an hardfhip exceed- ingly aggravated by a confederation of the great lofTes which they as proprietors have fuflained, and the expences they have incurred in acquiring and fecuriug the territorial revenues in India ;-r- that the rciblution limiting the Company to a term not exceeding lix years for the pofTcilion of their territories in India, appears to be altogether arbitrary, as it may be conitrued into a*conclu- Jive dccifion again.il the Company refpedting thofe territorial 346 K. G E O R G E III. territorial pofleflions, to which they humbly In- fift they have an undoubted right ; that they can- not acquicice in the rcfolution refpecling the fur- plus nett profits of the Company, bccaufe fiich dif- }X)fal of their property appears to them fubverfive of all their rights and privileges ; and rather than fubmit to fuch conditions, they defirc that any claims againft the Company which can be fuppofed to give rife to fuch reftriclions may receive a legal decifion, from which, whatever may be the event, thrv will at leaf! have the futisfaction of knowing what they can call their own." The Loan Bill, however, founded on thefe re- folutions, pafled with as little difficulty as the for- mer; and, to complete the new fyftem of Indian government, a third bill was in quick fucceffion introduced by the Miniftcr, '' for eftablifhing cer- tain regulations for the better management of the affairs of the Eafl India Company, as well in In- dia as in Europe." The principal provifions of this bill were, " That the Court of Directors fhould in future be chofen for the term of four years, ipr {lead of being elecled annually, fix members va- cating their feats each year; that the qualifica- tion for voting fhould be railed from five hundred to one thouland pounds capital Hock, and the term of previous poficffion be extended from fix months to twelve; that the jurifdiction of the Mayor's Court at Calcutta be confined to mer- 4 cantile X. GEORGE III, 347 cantile caufcs, and a new Supreme Court of Ju- dicature be eftabliftied in India, confifting of a Chief Juftice and three Puifne Judges of the ap- pointment of the Crown. Ladly, that a fupc- riority with refpecl to all politieal concernments be given to the Prefidency of Bengal, over the other Prcfidencies in India ; the prefpnt Govern - nor and Council bejng confirmed by the bill, cer- tain other perfons added thereto, and a negative upon the future nomination of the Company vetted in the Crown." Though the prodigious majorities by which the former bills had been carried, fuffi- ciently demonstrated the inutility and hopelcflhefs of oppofition, Petitions were anew prcfcntcd to the Houfe againfl the prcfent bill by the Eaft India Company, the City of London, and the Pro- prietors of five hundred pounds ftock disfranchifed by the new qualification claufe, a refpcclable clafs of men, amounting to above twelve hundred in number. The Company in their Petition declare, " That the appointment of Officers by Parliament or the Crown to be vcfted with the whole civil and military authority of the Prefidency of Bengal, in- dependent of any choice or power of control in the Directors or General Courts of the faid Com- pany, is deftruclive of their eflbntial rights and interells, and of the moil dangerous tendency to the liberty of the fubjecl, from the immenfe addi- tion of power it mini give to the influence of the Crown ; 348 K. G E O R G E III. Crown ; that the Company have never been made acquainted with any charge of delinquency brought againft them in Parliament : nor have they been called upon to enter on their defence, although this delinquency is made the ground of the new regulations." The bill neverthelefs patted both Houfes without difficulty, the majority in the Houfe of Commons being fix to one ; and in the Houfe of Peers, on the final diviiion, the numbers were 74 to 1 7. The nation were in a great mcafure reconciled to t'hefe harfh end arbitrary meafures, by which fo dangerous an acceirion of power, patronage, and influence was gained to the Crown, by the enquiries of the Select Committee, in confequcnce of which, fcencs of unexampled oppreffion and iniquity were unfolded to the public view. In the courfe of tlie prefent feffion, a Report was prefentccl to the Houfe by General Burgoyne, Chairman of the Select Committee, containing heavy charges againil individuals in very exalted itations, and in which the character and conduct of Lord Clive in particular underwent a moft fe- vcre inveiiigation. The depofition and confe- quent death of Su-Rajah Dow r la, the direful remit of a confpiracy between the fervants qf thp Com- pany and the fubjects of the Subah, was repre- fented as an act replete with treachery and cruelty. The incxtinguilhablc thirli of lucre was affirmed tQ . GEORGE III. 349 to be the real and primary caufe of this revo- lution, which proved the fource of infinite mif- chief, and the means correfponded in 'bafenefs and turpitude with the end. It appeared in evidence, That Omichund, one of the chief of the confpira- tors at the Court of Moorfhedabad, infilled upon five per cent, on all the Nabob's treafures, and thirty lacks in money, for his nefarious fervices j and that this condition was cxprefsly inferted in a formal treaty concluded and figned by the parties previous to the attempt : That another treaty was framed and ligned by the fevcral parties, Omi- chund excepted, in order to defraud him of the reward he had ftipulated for his villany : That Admiral Watfon, a man of ftricl probity and ho- nor, had abfolutcly refufed to fign the fictitious treaty ; but that Lord Cltve had caufed the Admi- ral's 'name to be affixed without his knowledge to this inftrument : That, on the fubfequent ac- complifhment of the revolution, a conference was held at Moorfhcdabad in prefence of the new Subah Meer Jaffier, and the real treaty, figned by L the Subah and the Englifh Council publicly read ; on which occafion Lord Clive himfelf de- clared to the Committee, that the refentment and indignation exprcfled in the countenance of Omi- chund baffled all defcription. He faid, " This cannot be the treaty ; it was a red treaty that I faw." On which his Lordfhip replied, " Yes, Omi- chund, 3;o K GEORGE lit chuncl, but this is a white treaty." It was affirm- cd, that Lord dive acquired, in confequence of the deposition of Su-Rajah Dowla, vaft fums un- der various pretexts, amounting in Englifh money to no lefs than two hundred and thirty-four thou- laiul pounds, exclufive of a jaghire or life annuity of thirty thouiand pounds charged on the revenue of the diftricls ceded by Meer Jaffier to the Com- pany. That Lord Clive declared, " he had never made the Icaft fecret of thefe tranfaclioris ; that his Lordmip held prefents fo received to be not difhonorable ; that the Subah, agreeably to the cudoms of the Eaft, had in a manner fuitable to his rank and dignity rewarded thofe who had been happily inftrumental to the fuccefs of fo hazardous an cntcrprife ; adding, that it was well known to every gentleman in Bengal, that the honor of his country, and the intcreft of the pro- prietary, were the principles that governed all his actions." Colonel Barre, in the debate tthich arofc on reading the Report, obferved, " that the fortunes niiKified by the Company's fervants were no doubt till honorably acquired. If the property of the na- tives was taken without their confent., it was mili- lary plunder ; if otherwise, it was comfenfallon for .ftn-ices; if by a commercial monopoly, it was inland trade. The nice and ingenious diitinc'tions made by the Noble Lord between bribes and prefeuts, Iv. GEORGE III. 35l prefents, exactions and gratuities, reminded him of a certain Spanifli Governor of Gibraltar, who, amongft other pcrquifites of office, had been ae- cuftomed to receive an annual donation from the Jews. This people bringing him on one of their anniversaries only a thoufand fequins, the Gover- nor indignantly declared, " that the Jews ftiould not have audierice, as they were fprung from anceftors who crucified our Lord Jefus ChrinV'- The Jews went back difconfolate, but, on farther confideration, returned with two thoufand fequins, on which they were again admitted " for," faid the Governor, " poor men ! they had no hand in the crucifixion." General Burgoyne concluded the Report with moving, " i. That all acquifitions made under the influence of a military force, or by treaty with foreign princes, do of right belong to the State ; 2. That to appropriate acquifitions fo made to the private emolument of perfons entrufted with any civil or military powers of the State, is illegal ; 3. That very great fums of money and other valuable property have been acquired in Bengal by perfons of this defcription, and appro- priated to their private ufe." Thefe refolutions, amidft the general indignation excited by the Re- port, pafled with great unanimity. The fubjecl being refumed after a fhort interval, the Chairman cf the Committee moved, " That Lord 3** K, GEORGE III. Lord CLIVE, about the time of the depofition of Su-Rajah Dowla, did obtain and poffefs himfelf of leveral fains amounting to two hundred and thirty-four thoufand pounds, under the denomi- nation of private donation, to ile dijbonor and de- triment of tie State" Lord Clive now entered with great ability into his own vindication, and fhewed the urgent po- litical neccflity w r hich had induced him to cm- brace the meafurcs for which he was at this dif- tancc of time fo unexpectedly and injurioufly arraigned. He affirmed, that the power and for- tune of the Englifh nation in India had been en- tirely owing to the boldnefs and promptitude with which thofc meafures had been conducted ; that what he had acquired for himfelf, was inconlidera- l>le in comparifon with what he had acquired for ihc Company, whole welfare had ever been his crrcat object ; that he had been placed in great and eminent ftations, furrounded with tempta- tions ; the civil and military powers were united in him, a circumftance which had never happened to any other individual ; that, being circumfcribed bv no rcflraint but that of his own conference, he anight have accumulated a fortune too great for a iubjccl ; but that he had then determined to reject: all future opportunities of gain, and from the day f.n which, he entered the city of Moorfhedabad in triumph, after the victory of Plafley, which was a K. GEORGE III* 355 a fpace of fifteen years, he had not benefited him- felf a tingle (hilling directly or indirectly, the jag- hire only excepted." Many of the moft refpectable and impartial Members of the Houfe could not on reflection but think it an harfh and invidious thing, " that the vengeance of Parliament fhould be directed againft a man who had raifed fo hjgh the reputation of the Britifh arms in India who had fought the battles of his country with fuch unparalleled glory and fuc- cefs and who would to the latcft generations be accounted amongft the moft illuftrious of her he- roes. That the fyft em of policy adopted by the Com- pany's fervants in India was totally indefenfible muft be admitted; but it did not appear from the nature of the regulations, which had received thefanction of Parliament, that any radical alteration of that fyftem was in contemplation. A great empire had been founded in the Eaft, chiefly through the exer- tions of the Noble Lord againft whom this charge of delinquency was brought. Is it fcrioufly meant to relinquifh this empire ? to reftore thofe immenfe fums to the native princes and inhabitants, of which they have been plundered? Far from it. The queftion is merely, whether jthe State or the Com- pany ftiall enjoy the advantages arifmg from thefe vaft poficflions ? Of this conteft the remit is known. The Company, loaded with reproach and obloquy, are ccnfured, condemned, and punifhcd, without VOL. I. A a & 354 K. GEORGE III 1 ; fo much as being heard in their own defence ; but reftitution is made, not to the princes of India, but to -the people of Great Britain : and almoft at the fame inftant that we are paffing bills for the pur- pofe of transferring the riches of Hindoftan from the Treafury of the Company to the Royal Exche- quer, we are called upon to vote impeachments againft the man by whofe heroic efforts of valor and plans of policy thofe riches were acquired. Is there any trace of dignity, of confift cncy, or vir- tue in this conduct ? If we are deliberately deter- mined to keep pofleffion of thofe dominions, which #re univerfally allowed to have been unjuftly ac- quired, we are parties in the injuftice, and thofe who were the original actors of it are entitled from the juflice of the nation (for there is a juftice even in injuftice) to indemnity at leaft, if not to grati- tude and applaufe ; and all that can with propriety be done, fhort of reftitution and emancipation, is to fecure, by wife and equitable regulations, the future happinefs and welfare of thofe diftant na- tions, who are become by an aftonifhing viciffitudc of fortune fubjecl to our dominion." On putting the queftion, the laft claufe of the rcfolution was rejected, although the Minifter de- clared in favor of the words of cenfure, and divided in the minority. An amendment was then moved, " that Lord Clive did at the fame time render great and meritorious fervices to this country ;" which was K. GEORGE III. 35j was carried by a confiderable majority, and an END put to the ENQUIRY. A deep impreffion was ne- verthelefs made upon the mind of, this Nobleman by this public accufation, and by the odium and obloquy which from this time attached itfelf to his character. His faculties, no longer roufed to ac- tion by the neceffity of great and vigorous exer- tion, languifhed in retirement and folitude, and gradually preyed upon themfelves till exiftcn~e became infupportable. Originally educated in ftricl principles of religion, it is probable that his early affociations now recurred with redoubled force ; and though acquitted by the higheft human ju- rifdiclion, he could not acquit himfelf, or hope for acquittal at that far more awful tribunal at which he dreaded to appear. After a few years paflcd in a flate of wretchcdncfs and defpondency, he at length put a voluntary period to his life; by this melancholy cataftrophe demonstrating to mankind the vanity of human purfuits and wifhes, and the infinite fupcriority of confcious virtue to all the gifts of fame and fortune *. The * Magne Pater Divum ! fasiqi punire tyrannos Haud alia ratione vclis, cum dira libido Moverit ingcnium fervcnti tin&a vencno ; Virtutem vidcant,intabefcantqne relidU. PERSIU5. A a 2 Great 35& K. G E O R G E III. The difcuffion of the different bills relative to India occupied the attention of Parliament the far greater part of the feflion ; but in the courfe of it an investigation took place, of far inferior import- ance indeed,, yet not devoid of intereft to thofe who think nothing foreign to themfelves which bears any relation to humanity. The ifland of St. Vin- cent, one of the neutral iflands ceded by France to Great Britain by the laft treaty of peace, was in great part occupied by a race of yellow Caribbs, accounted the aboriginal poffeflbrs of the entire chain of the Great and Lefler Antilles ; and it was calculated that, reduced as they were in number, they could ftill mufler, within the narrow limits of St. Vincents, more than a thousand fighting men. The French fettlers had long lived on terms of perfect peace and amity with this remnant of a once great and powerful nation, who are reprc- fented as a quiet and inoffenfive people, fubfifling chiefly by hunting and fiihing, and little verfed in Great Father of the GODS ! when for our crimes Thou fend'ft feme heavy judgment on the times ; Some tyrant wretch, the terror of his age, The type and true vicegerent of thy rage ; Thus plinifh him Set Virtue in his fight, With all her charms adorn 'd, with all her beauties bright; But fet her diftant make him pale to fee His gains immenfe outweigh'd by loft felicity. I)RYDEN,Sat. TO. the K. GEORGE III. 3n the arts of pafturage or agriculture. The French Government, agreeably to the generous policy of that nation rcfpeclingthe favage tribes of America, had treated thefe Caribbs with uniform refpecl and diflinclion, as the original and rightful proprietors of the ifland, and flill remaining a free and inde- pendent people. Soon after the peace many of the French fettlers, choofing to remove to .the French iflands, difpofed of their plantations at St. Vincents to Englifli ad- venturers, who foon became considerable in num- bers and property. Though no ilipulation had been made in favor of the Caribbs by the treaty of Paris, inftruclions were transmitted by the Englifli Court, that they fhould not be difturbed in the poflefiion of their lands. But the new fettlers, quickly perceiving that the moil fertile diftriels of the ifland were in the hands of the Caribbs, made repeated rcprefentations to the Government to di- veft thefe people of the lands which they actually occupied, and the fertility of which rendered them of no additional or peculiar value to the Caribbs, and to beftow upon them in exchange other lands in the ifland or ELSEWHERE, as fhould be thought expedient. The advantage ariiing from the fale of thefe lands to the Crown, and the danger re- fulting to the Englifli fettlers fiom the vicinity of a lawlefs banditti ftrongly attached to the French nation, were urged as arguments highly meriting A a 3 the 35* K. GEORGE III. the attention of Government. At length orders were iflued early in the year 1768, by the Board of Treafury, for the furvey and dijpofal of the lands poflefted by the Caribbs, for the cultivated parts of which they were to receive a compenfation irt money, and jto have other lands allotted for their fupport in a diftant and mountainous part of the ifland. Five years were allowed for the purpofe of effecting this tranfplantation. The Caribbs, who from the firft had with good reafon entertained jealoufies and fufpicions of the Englim, were at the communication of this intel- ligence feized with universal confternation ; and being perfuaded that the llavery or extermination of their whole race was determined upon, they ap- plied to the Governor of Martinique, in this dread- ful exigency, for advice and protection ; but he informed them that he had no power to interpofe, and exhorted them to fubmit to their fate without attempting a refiftance, which muft prove inevi- tably fruitlefs. But this brave people, animated with an ardent love of liberty, and paffionately attached to their native woods and favannahs, re- folved to afiert, and, fo far as it fhoulcl be in their power, to maintain their rights. In reply therefore to the Englifh Commiffioners, they reprefented that the whole ifland was originally their property that the French nation had, indeed, with their per- miffion and good will, fettled upon a part of it, 7 and K. GEORGE in. 35> and their King might doubtlefs difpofe of that part as he pleafed ; but as they were not his fubjcds, he could exercife no authority over them, nor grant to any other people the lands which they rmd re- ferved to themfelves. In conclufion, they pofi- tively rcfufcd to part with their lands, or to admit of any exchange. The Englifh Commiffioners, regardlefs of thefe remonftrances, proceeded in their furveys, advan- cing roads into the heart of the Caribb country. The Caribbs, however irritated and provoked, care- fully abilained from any direct acts of violence, far- ther than the dcftruction of the new roads, and burning the huts of the furveyors, who abandoned their works, and were permitted to retire in fafety. Frefh remonftrances were now made in England againft the Caribbs, who were reprefented as daring and incorrigible rebels, and it was propofed to tranl- port them to fbme defcrt iiland or wade on the coaft of Africa ; but the Government flill feemed unwilling to proceed to thefe extremities, and new propofals were made to them for a partition and exchange of lands, which they rejected with unal- terable firmncfs. And being aiked whether they acknowledged themfelves fubjecls to the King of Great Britain, and would take the oath of alle- giance ? they replied without hefitation in the ner gative declaring that they were an independent people, fubject neither to the King of Great Britain nor 360 K. G E O R G E III. nor the King of France. In confequence of this contumacy, orders were ifilied for two regiments to embnrk from North America to join an equal number already at St. Vincents or the neighbor- ing iflands, which, with the naval force on that ftation, were deftined to reduce the Caribbs to a due fubmiffion to Government ; or, if they conti- nued obftinate, they were to be entirely removed from the ifland to fuch place as fhould be deter- mined upon. At this period an enquiry was inftituted in the Houfe of Commons refpecling this bufmefs, and the following refolutions were moved by Mr. Al- derman Trecothick, Member for the Gity of Lon- don : " i. That the expedition againft the Caribbs was undertaken without fufficient provocation on the part of thefe poor people, and at the inftigation of perfons intercfted in their deflruclion. 2. That fending the troops in the unhealthy feafon of the year, unprovided with camp equipage and necef- faries, on that fervice, is not juftifiable by any exifting neceffity. 3. That an addrcfs be pre- fented to his Majcfty, defiring that his Majefty will be pleafed to acquaint the Houfe by whofc advice a meafure was undertaken equally repug- nant to the humanity of his Majefty 's temper, (Jifgraceful to his arms, and derogatory from the character of the Britifh nation." Thefe motions were fevcrally negatived by great majorities j but the 5. GEORGE in. 361 tjie bufinefs occupying a confiderable (hare of at- tention, and tiie public feelings being awakened, i,t would probably bave been foon revived, had not intelligence arrived that a treaty of peace was at length concluded with the Caribbs, after feveral fierce encounters, in which the regular troops had fevcrely fuftc:-ed the lofs in this expedition, in-* eluding the fick and wounded, amounting to little lefs than feven hundred men. Ey this treaty the projedt of tranfplantation to Africa was wholly abandoned, the Caribbs were confirmed in their pofTeffions, and the antient rights annexed to them, with the exception of certain diilriets to be furrendered to the Commiffioners appointed by his Britannic Majefty, whom they recognized as rightful Sovereign of the ifland and domain of St. Vincents, acknowledging that the lands held by them are granted through his Ma- jefty's clemency. Thus, by a refolate exertion of valor, tempered as it appears with no fmall degree of difcretion, did this handful of people ultimately eitablifh their privileges and virtual independency, againft the attack of a mighty power which me- naced their total ruin and extermination ; and the treaty between the Caribbs of St. Vincents and the King of Great Britain is a monument of hiitorical curiofity, fingularly valuable as a finking confir- .ination of the utility and importance of the mag- nanimous 35a K. G E O R G E III. nanimous maxim, " in no circumftances to defpair of the commonwealth." It muft not be omitted, that the bill for the en- largement of the Toleration Acl in the courfe of the prefent feffion again paflcd the Houfe of Com- mons by a prodigious majority, and was again reject- ed by the Lords. The debate in the Upper Houfe was on this occafion illumined by a ray of genius fuddenly emanating from the Earl of Chatham. Dr. Drummond, Archbifhop of York, having in a virulent fpeech fligmatized the Difienting Mini- fters as l( men of clofe ambition ;" Lord Chatham faid, this was judging uncharitably, and whoever brought fuch a charge againft them without proof PEPAMED." Here he paufed : but, feeling the workings of a generous and indignant enthufiafm, he thus proceeded : " The Diflenting Minifters? are reprefcnted as men of clofe ambition they are fo, my LordSj and their ambition is to keep clofe tQ the College of Fifhermen, not of Cardinals; and to the doctrine of infpircd Apoftles, not to the de- crees of interefted and afpiring Bifhops THEY contend fora Spiritual Creed and Spiritual Wor- fhip ; WE have a Calviniftic Creed, a Popifh Li- turgy, and an Armmian Clergy*. The Reforma- tion * It is well known that the Englifh Liturgy is taken chiefly from the Catholic Mafs Book, nor does this et all detraft from ' its K. GEORGE HI. 3^ has laid open the Scriptures to all let not the Bifhops fhut them again. Laws in iupport of ec- clefiaftical power are pleaded for, which it would (hock humanity to execute. It is faid that reli- gious feels have done great mifchief when they were not fcept under reilraint ; but hiftory affords no proof that feels have ever been mifchievous when they were not opprefled and perfecuted by the ruling Church." An end was at length put to the feffion, which had now continued more than feven months, by a fpeech from the Throne, in which his Majefty ex- prefled to the two Houfes hi$ high approbation of the zeal, affiduity, and perfeverance with which they had applied themfelves to the very important bulinefs which had been recommended to their attention. its great and acknowledged merit as a devotional compofition. But its origin is too evidently difcernible in the authoritative Papal form of absolution, the vain and perpetual repetition of the Gloria Patri, and the folemn invocations of the TRINITY, which, faith Luther, " is a word of ftrange found, and of mere human inven- tionit were better to call Almighty God Goi; than TRINITY." -And Calvin fb'll more explicitly declares, " I like not this prayer, O holy, bkffcd, and glorious TRINITY ! it favors of barbarifra. The word TRINITY is unintelligible, profane, grounded upon no teftimony of God's word the POPISH GOD unknown to the Pro- phets and Apoftles." It is remarkable that the greateft geniufel which this country has produced, BACON, MILTON, LOCKE, NEWTON, CLARKE, &c. have concurred in the rejection of this ?iogma of th popular and orthodox Creed, 364 K. G E O R G E III. This may be confidered as the moft brilliant sera of Lord North's adminiftration. Supported by vaft parliamentary majorities, and the general concur- rence of the nation, he had carried into complete effect a plan of government and reform for India, the vigor of which was apparent, while experience only could prove its deficiency in wifdom. With refpect to America, every thing might be hoped from that difpofition to conciliation which was known to characterize the Nobleman who now pre- lided over that department. There appeared a fair profpecl: of permanent peace abroad; and thofe difturbances which had fo long prevailed at home, feemed gradually fubfiding into a tranquillity which the nation had rarely, and for very fhort inter-r vals, known fmce the commencement of the pre- fent reign. There yet remained at the extremity of the weftern horizon a dark cloud, which, however flightly noticed by the generality of perfons, feem- ed to the more difcerning to bode a diftant but DREADFUL TEMPEST. END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 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