ditions; not fuch as the expenfes, the risk, and the facrifices, of the war might juftify, but fuch as his majesty thinks himself under the indifpenfable neceffity of requiring with a view to his own fecurity and the future tranquillity of Europe." And who would venture to pronounce what these might amount to, fhould victory attend the arms of the allies confederated in fo holy and so just a cause ?--To speak gravely, it is no wonder that a performance thus abounding in art, and thus deficient in clearness and can dour, fhould produce no sensible effect on even that part of the French nation (and it was certainly at this period a very large and refpectable part) which wifhed for the re-eftablishment of the conftitutional monarchy.

The fcheme, equally vile and vifionary, of ftarving France into fubmiffion, which was begun before any declaration of hoftility was made on either fide, in palpable violation and defiance of a fubfifting treaty of amity and commerce, and even while the last perfidious profeffions of perfect neutrality were quivering on the lips of the English miniftry, was pursued by the court of London, at this period, with unrelenting malignity. During the fitting of the diet at Ratifbon this year, the minister of Hanover prefented a refcript to that affembly, ftating, "That notwithstanding the Imperial prohibition of the export of grain to France, the trade is ftill carried on to the effential fervice of the enemy; but that it was now ordered at Stade that every Hamburgh veffel should be infpected by the guard-fhips. The Hamburgh merchants," the refcript goes on to complain, “made a futile evasion, in saying that the Imperial prohibition had not yet been published at Hamburgh; notwithstanding its publicity could not be doubted, it having appeared in the Directory of the Lower Saxon Circle, and was certainly communicated to the ma giftrates of Hamburgh." Thefe worthy citizens, who had received no injury from France, doubtlefs felt not only fome chagrin for the lofs of their commerce, but fome re

luctance

luctance to heighten the miferies of a great nation, whose refentment they might one day feel, by adding the horrors of famine to the devouring rage of foreign and domeftic

war.

On the 6th of November a moft alarming order was iffued, by the king in council, to all fhips of war and letters of marque," that they fhall ftop and detain all fhips laden with goods the produce of any colony belonging to France, or carrying provifions or other fupplies for the use of fuch colony, and fhall bring the fame, with their cargoes, to legal adjudication in the courts of Admiralty." This ftruck at the root of the regular and lawful commerce carried on between the American States and the French WeftIndian islands, and could be regarded in no other light than as an act of robbery as violent and unjust upon the high feas as any that could be committed on the high-ways. It was, however, revoked, after a vaft number of captures had been made under its authority, by a fubfequent order in fix weeks after its publication. But, to adopt the appofite remark of a refpectable writer and obferver at the time" why this order was issued, or why it was revoked, it is impoffible to fay. The politics of Mr. Pitt are entirely of a novel fpecies, and are so contrary to those of all preceding statesmen as to baffle every effort of the historian to explain or comprehend them."

BOOK

BOOK XIV.

Seffion of Parliament, 1794. Debates on the Addrefs. Pacific Motion of the Marquis of Landfdown. Investigation of the Conduct of the Scottish Judges. Debates on the Landing of Foreign Troops in the Kingdom. Annual Statement of Finance. Bill for the partial Abolition of the Slave Trade--rejected. Increase of the Land Forces. Voluntary Contributions. Addreffes for Peace moved by Mr. Whitbread and the Earl of Guildford. Motion in Favor of La Fayette by General Fitzpatrick. Motion for an Enquiry into the Loffes on the Continent, by Major Maitland. Motion for taxing Places and Penfions. Subfidy Treaty with Pruffia. Meffage from the King reSpecting Seditious Societies-Debates upon the Meffage. Habeas-Corpus Act fufpended. Motion by Mr. Sheridan for the partial Abolition of the Test Laws.

Series of Refolutions moved by the Duke of Bedford and Mr. Fox. Parliament prorogued. Changes in Adminifiration. Military Tranfactions. Landreci captured by the Allies. Battle of Fleurus. Continued Succeffes of the French. General Pichegru croffes the Maefe and Waal. Difaftrous Retreat of the English Army. Amfterdam furrenders to the Conqueror. Campaign in Spain-and in Italy. Naval Tranfactions. Conquest of Martinico, of St. Lucia, and Guadaloupe. Guadaloupe re-captured. Conqueft of Corfica, King of Great Britain accepts the Gift of the Crown of Corfica from a Corfican Convention. Victory obtained over the Breft Fleet by Lord Howe. Proceedings of the French Convention. Fall of Robespierre. Arrival of Mr. Jay, Ambaffador-Extraordinary from America to the Court of London. Emigrations to America. High Treafon.

Trials in Scotland for

Pretended Plot to affaffinate the King.

Trials of Hardy, &c. for High Treafon-Mr. Pitt examined as an Evidence---His incredible Want of Recollection. Lord Macartney's Embay to China. Tranfactions in Poland---Final Partition of that Kingdom. Political Occurrences in America. Mr. Monroe nominated Ambafader to France--- His cordial Reception in that Country.

HE SESSION of PARLIAMENT opened January 21, 1794. The king declared "the circumstances under which they were affembled to require the most serious attention. We are," faid he, "engaged in a conteft, on the fue of which depend the maintenance of our conftitution, laws, and religion, and the fecurity of all civil fociety." His majesty observed with fatisfaction the advantageous change which had taken place in Europe fince the commencement of the war. The circumstances by which the further progrefs of the allies has been hitherto impeded not only,' faid the monarch, "prove the neceflity of vigor and perfeverance on our part, but, at the fame time, confirm the expectation of ULTIMATE SUCCESS. Our enemies have derived the means of temporary exertion from a system which has enabled them to difpofe arbitrarily of the lives and properties of a numerous people, and which openly violates every restraint of juftice, humanity, and religion. But these effects have also tended rapidly to exhaust the natural and real strength of the country.---His majesty declared, "that he reflected with unspeakable fatisfaction on the fteady loyalty and firm attachment to the established constitution and government which, notwithstanding the continued efforts employed to mislead and feduce, had been fo generally prevalent among all ranks of his people."

The addreffes moved in anfwer to the fpeech gave occafion to very warm and animated debates in both houses. In that of the peers, the earl of Guildford, fon of the late celebrated minifter, lord North, obferved, "That the object of the war appeared, in the fhort time that had

elapfed

elapfed fince its commencement, to be totally changed. It was at first affirmed to be the protection of our allies and the fecurity of this realm; it now appeared to be the restoration of the French monarchy. The French had, in the course of the laft fummer, been repeatedly depreffed and defeated was it not probable, therefore, that they would, in thefe circumstances, have liftened to fuch pacific terms as it became the dignity and justice of this nation to offer." His lordship thought it reasonable to inquire, whether we had not obtained the end originally propofed, after which his majesty's ministers had folemnly declared their intention to purfue every method for obtaining peace? He combated the opinion that the French had made efforts which they could not repeat; and he asked whether minifters had calculated the refources neceffary for fubduing them. As to the danger apprehended from the diffemination of French principles, they certainly were not to be prevented by the fword. They could be counteracted effectually only by an impreffion upon the minds of the people of the bleflings they derived from their own conftitution. His lordship, in conclufion, fubmitted to the houfe an amendment to the address," imploring his majefty to feize the earlieft opportunity to terminate hoftilities by an honorable peace." The amendment was ably supported by the earls of Derby and Lauderdale, the duke of Norfolk, and the marquis of Lanfdown. The fecretary of state, lord Grenville, in reply, entered into a long account of the contentions and miseries of the French." It was by terror alone that the French were governed; the consequence MUST foon be that they would rife to oppose it. We had no fecurity for a permament peace."---His lordship concluded by expreffing, in the words of his majefty's fpeech, his perfect confidence of ultimate fuccefs.---On the divifion, the voices in favor of the amendment were twelve only to ninety-feven against it. A fimilar