Retrospective view of American affairs in the year 1778. Expedition to
Bedford, Fair Haven, and to Martha's Vineyard. Admiral Montague
dispossesses the French of the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.
Lord Cornwallis, and Gen. Knyphausen, advance into the enemy's coun-
try, on both sides of the North River. Surprize of Baylor's light horse.
Success of the expedition to Egg Harbour. Surprize of Pulaski's le-
gion. Cruel depredation by Butler, Brandt, and the savages, on the
back frontiers. Destruction of the new settlement at Wyoming, attended
with circumstances of singular cruelty and barbarity. Col. Clarke's
expedition from Virginia, for the reduction of the Canadian towns and
settlements in the Illinois country. Consequences of Clarke's success.
Expedition from Schoharie to the Upper Susquehanna. Destruction of
the Unadilla and Anaquago settlements.
p. [1
Island of Dominica taken by the Marquis de Bouille, governor of Marti-
nico. State of the French fleet at Boston. Riot between the French and
inhabitants. Desperate riot between the French and American sailors
in the city and port of Charles Town. M. D'Estaing sails from Boston
for the West Indies; having first issued a declaration addressed to the
French Canadians. Admiral Byron's fleet driven off from the coast of
New England by a violent hurricane, which afforded an opportunity for
the departure of the French squadron. British fleet detained at Rhode
Island, to repair the damages sustained in the tempest. Reinforcement
sent from New York to the West Indies, under the conduct of Commo-
dore Hotham and Major-General Grant: narrowly miss falling in
with the French fleet: join Admiral Barrington at Barbadoes, and
proceed together to the reduction of the island of St. Lucia: troops
land, take the French posts in the neighbourhood of the Grand Cul de
Sac: proceed to Morne Fortune and the Viergie. M. D'Estaing ap-
pears in sight, with a vast superiority both of land and marine force:
attacks the British squadron in the Grand Cul de Sac; and is bravely
repulsed by Admiral Barrington, twice in the same day. French land
their troops in Choc Bay: attack General Meadows three times in the
Viergie; are repulsed every time, and at length defeated with great
loss. Great glory obtained by the British forces, both by sea and land,
in these several encounters. M. D'Estaing, after ten days longer
stay, abandons the island of St. Lucia, without any farther attempt for
its recovery. The Chevalier de Micoud, with the principal inhabitants,
capitulate before the French fleet is out of sight. [36
Speech from the throne. Amendment moved to the address in the House
of Commons. Great Debates. Amendment rejected upon a division.
Opposition to the address in general, in the House of Lords, but no
amendment proposed. Address carried upon a division. Motion to ad-
dress the Crown, in the House of Commons, for a disavowal of certain
passages in the late manifesto issued by the Commissioners at New York.
The motion, after long debates, rejected upon a division. Similar motion
by the Marquis of Rockingham, likewise causes much debate, and is re-
jected upon a division. Protest. Circumstances which tended to the
rendering the late action off Brest a subject of parliamentary discus-
sion. Admiral Keppel, being called upon, gives some account of that
business in the House of Commons. Answered by Sir Hugh Palliser.
Reply. Court martial ordered for the trial of Admiral Keppel. Con-
duct of the Admiralty censured and supported: Question, relative to
the discretionary powers of that board, much agitated. Bill brought
in and passed, for the holding the trial of Admiral Keppel on shore
(in consideration of his ill state of health), instead of its being held a
board ship, as before prescribed by the law. Recess.
Debates arising on questions of supply, previous to the recess. Augmenta-
tion of 14,000 men to the land service. Trial at Portsmouth. Ad-
miral Keppel honourably acquitted. Receives the thanks of both Houses.
Vice-admiral of the blue resigns his employments, and racates his seat
in the House of Commons. Memorial, signed by twelve admirals, pre-
sented. Great discontents in the navy. Resolution of censure moved
by Mr. Fox, on the conduct of the admiralty. Motion, after lung
debates, rejected upon a division. Second motion, of a similar nature,
by Mr. Fox, rejected upon a division. Two great naval commanders
declare against acting under the present system. Resolution of naval
Debates on the army extraordinaries. Motion for printing the estimates re-
jected upon a division, Committee on East India affairs. Resolutions
moved for and carried, relative to the violence committed on the late Lord
Pigot in his government. Motion for prosecuting certain members of the
late council at Madrass agreed to. Mr. Fox's motion, for the removal
of the first lord of the admiralty from that department, is, after long
debates, rejected upon a division. Committee of enquiry into the conduct
of the American war. Amendment moved to the motion for the examina-
tion of Earl Cornwallis, by the minister, and carried upon a division in
the committee. Amended motion then put, and rejected upon a division.
Third motion rejected. Transactions in the committee discussed in the
House, and rescinded. Committee revived. Earl Cornwallis, and other
witnesses, examined in behalf of Lord and Sir William Howe. Counter-
evidence proposed, and agreed to. In the interim, General Burgoyne's
evidence brought forward and examined.
Committee suddenly dissolved.
Two enquiries in the House of Lords tending to the same object, and car-
ried on through the greater part of the session. Enquiry into the state
of the navy, and the conduct of the admiralty, instituted by the Earl of
Bristol. Motions for naval papers bring out much debate, and are re-
jected upon a division. Motion by the Earl of Bristol, for the removal
of the first lord of the admiralty from his employment. Great debates.
Motion rejected upon a division. Protests. Enquiry into the govern-
ment and management of Greenwich Hospital, conducted by the Duke of
Richmond. Moves for a compensation to Captain Baillie, late lieute-
nant-governor of Greenwich Hospital. Motion rejected upon a division.
Minority Lords quit the House. Resolutions in vindication of the Earl
of Sandwich. Hard case of Captain Baillie. Marquis of Rockingham
endeavours to bring forward an enquiry into the affairs of Ireland.
After several ineffectual attempts, a kind of compromise takes place, re-
ferring the business of that country to the ensuing session. Mr. Towns-
hend's motion to defer the prorogation of parliament, rejected upon a
division. Spanish manifesto. Address from the Commons. Second
address moved by Lord John Cavendish. Motion of adjournment car-
ried upon a division. Amendment to the address of the Lords, moved
Admiral Byron takes the command in the West Indies.
draw M. D'Estaing to an engagement without effect. Mortality at St.
Lucia. Mr. Byron convoys the homeward-bound trade. Loss of the
island of St. Vincent's, during the absence of the fleet. French fleet, re-
inforced by the arrival of M. de la Motte, proceeds to the reduction of
the Granades. Lands a body of forces, which invest the Hospital Hill
in the island of Granada. Attack the works by night, and carry them
by storm. Lord Macartney proposes to capitulate; but, the terms offered
by D'Estaing being deemed inadmissible, surrenders the fort and island at
discretion. Admiral Byron returns to St. Lucia; proceeds with the
fleet and army for the recovery of St. Vincent's. Receives intelligence
at sea of the attack upon Granada, and, being ignorant of the great su-
periority of the French fleet, changes his course in order to succour that
island. Different views and conduct of the hostile commanders. En-
« PoprzedniaDalej » |