VICTORY AT PRINCETON.

55

doubtless have seen it renewed; but Washington, thinking it more prudent to attack the rear, which he believed Cornwallis had left at Princeton, sent his baggage away to Burlington, and by a concealed march reached Princeton by sunrise; here he found three regiments, two of which were on the march to join lord Cornwallis at Trenton. He immediately attacked them; the British troops were soon thrown into disorder and fled, notwithstanding the determined valour they displayed. Washington pursued them as far as Kingston, where he left them, and led his exhausted troops to Pluckenim, giving up the design he had formed of pressing on to Brunswick. Having rested his men, he next led them to Morristown, and established his winter quarters.

These successes not only effectually stopped the progress of the enemy, and removed them from all the posts they occupied in the Jerseys, excepting Brunswick and Amboy, but materially altered the state of feeling among the Americans. Hope took the place of despondency; fresh energy was infused into the public mind, and still greater determination to carry on their resistance, till the new republic should be completely free.

THE

CHAPTER V.

Popular Commotions.-A. D. 1771-1787.

ENGLAND.

OF

APPREHENSION

PRESS AND THE PARLIAMENT. - CROSBY AND OLIVER COMMITTED TO THE TOWER.-CHATHAM AND THE AMERICAN QUESTION.-LEGISLATIVE ATTENTION TO INDIA.-BILL FOR THE RELIEF OF CATHOLICS. ANTI-POPERY RIOTS IN SCOTLAND. LORD GEORGE GORDON.-PETITION FOR REPEAL OF THE RELIEF ACT. -SERIOUS RIOTS IN LONDON.-BURNING OF NEWGATE PRISON. NUMEROUS FIRES IN THE STREETS. EFFORTS OF THE MILITARY.-GREAT SACRIFICE LIFE.- ARREST OF LORD GORDON. AND PUNISHMENT OF RIOTERS.-WAR WITH SPAIN AND HOLLAND.-HOSTILITY OF FRANCE AND RUSSIA. ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE THE NATIONAL EXPENDITURE. -RESIGNATION OF LORD NORTH.-THE ROCKINGHAM ADMINISTRATION. AGITATION IN IRELAND.-ATTEMPTED REFORM OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT. COMMERCIAL DISTRESS.-WILLIAM PITT PRIME MINISTER. HIS INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF IRELAND. -FAILURE OF THE IRISH FREE-TRADE RESOLUTIONS. -DISCONTENTS AND INCREASED AGITATION.-ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE KING.-CONGRATULATORY ADDRESSES.- ATTEMPTED REPEAL OF THE TEST AND CORPORATION ACTS.

IT is of the utmost importance for the preservation of national liberty, that as much publicity as possible should be given to the proceedings of a representative government. Despotism disregards popular opinion as much as it despises the common welfare; but the representative principle requires that the conduct and votes of delegates should be fully known to those from whom they have received their appointment. Hence the value that has

PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS.

57

been attached in modern times to the freedom of the press. This great boon, like most of our privileges, has however been the result of repeated struggles and firm determination in past generations; and a century has not passed since the exercise of this liberty has been conceded in reference to the votes and debates of the British parliament. Prior to 1770, but very little was known by the mass of the people of the discussions, in the results of which they were so deeply interested. To publish the speeches of the members of either house was considered a breach of privilege: hence it was rarely attempted. When the attempt was made to let constituents know what their representatives were doing, mutilated sketches of their speeches were given under fictitious names in monthly magazines. This was part of the work of Dr. Johnson, in 1740, in connexion with the "Gentleman's Magazine." In some cases, the speeches were altogether invented, so great was the difficulty of learning what transpired within. the walls of parliament. As intelligence became more general, and stirring questions were agitated in the halls of legislation, this method of satisfying the public curiosity was soon found to be insufficient, and the public began to feel the need of a reporting newspaper, which should be available as a medium of information as to the proceedings of the legislature.

Accordingly, at the commencement of the year 1771, the printers began to give tolerable reports of the speeches with the names of the speakers. This innovation—or, as it would now be termed, this improvement-immediately excited the jealousy of the ministry; and on the 5th February, colonel George Onslow, one of the lords of the treasury, rose in the house of commons, and, in severe terms, denounced the insolence and "wickedness" of the practice, and moved that a resolution passed in 1728 should be read. This resolution stated, "That it is an indignity to, and a breach of privilege of this house, for any person to presume to give in written or printed newspapers any account or minutes of debate, or other proceedings of this house, or any part thereof; and that upon discovery of the authors, printers, or publishers of any such written or printed newspaper, this house will proceed against the offenders with the utmost severity."

58

THE COMMONS AND THE CITY.

Onslow followed up the reading of this resolution with a motion, that the printers should be called to the bar of the house to answer the charge of infringing a standing order, and the sergeant-at-arms was directed to take them into custody for treating the order of the house with contempt. The officer not being able to find the delinquents, £50 reward was offered for their apprehension. Some of the printers being seized, were carried before alderman Wilkes, who immediately discharged them, and made them enter into recognizances to prosecute the man by whom they had been taken. Onslow thereupon obtained another order for the sergeant-at-arms. This functionary sent Whitham, one of the messengers, into the city to execute the order; but the messenger was himself apprehended and brought before Crosby, the lord mayor, and aldermen Wilkes and Oliver. These three bold men then committed the messenger to the Compter, for attempting to arrest a man within the city without the sanction of the lord mayor. The quarrel was now altered in reference both to the parties and the matter, and the house summoned the three civic dignitaries to appear before them : Crosby and Oliver obeyed, and were committed to the Tower. Wilkes refused to submit; he was therefore summoned to appear on a given day, but at the same time the commons adjourned their meeting till after the specified date, thus allowing the matter to drop through mere technical arrangement. These indications of despotism and weakness, produced alarming riots both in London and Westminster, in which some of the members were severely treated; but the result, important in every point of view, was, that it allowed the practice of reporting the debates to become common, and acquire a strength and authority which encountered no further resistance: a consequence, the value of which cannot be over-estimated, and which has continued to the present day.

The state of affairs in America continued to be the subject of frequent discussion in both houses, with what success is seen in the history of that country. In these debates, the earl of Chatham made himself very prominent, and exerted all his influence on behalf of the colonists, while many of the most eminent men of the times joined him in his opposition to the royal and ministerial policy;

ROMAN CATHOLIC DISABILITIES.

59

but the condition of parliament was such, that government could always secure majorities sufficiently large to neutralise the power of popular opinion.

India also occupied a considerable share of the attention of the legislature from time to time, in consequence of the extensive dominions that the company had acquired, and the wars which the growing influence of Europe in the East produced; but an account of these matters may be more appropriately given in a distinct chapter.

In the session of 1778, a bill was introduced to parliament for the purpose of relaxing the severity of some of the laws relating to Roman catholics. This measure passed through both houses with very little opposition, and received the royal sanction. The act, just in itself, excited but little attention out of doors, and might be passed over but for the serious consequences to which it led.

The catholics of Scotland, encouraged by the apparent liberality of the British parliament, hoped that the same relief might be extended to them, and petitions were about to be presented to that effect. This purpose was no sooner known, than it excited the most intense feeling in Edinburgh. A "committee for the protestant interest" was formed; and so much agitation pervaded all classes, that the Romanists found it necessary to request lord North to abstain from introducing his proposed bill on their behalf. But the "no popery" feeling was so strong, that it was resolved by the misguided and bigoted people to punish the catholics for attempting to obtain their freedom. With this view, copies of a letter were dropped about the city of Edinburgh, in which was written, "Men and brethren, whoever shall find this letter will take it as a warning to meet at Leith Wynd, on Wednesday next, in the evening, to pull down that pillar of popery lately erected there. Signed, A Protestant.-P.S. Please to read this carefully, keep it clean, and drop it somewhere else. For king and country. Unity." The place referred to was a catholic chapel and priests' residence, which had recently been erected. At the time appointed large numbers assembled, composed of the rabble and lowest class of inhabitants. Not content with breaking the windows, they forced an entrance into the building, broke the