which had given rise to various political associations of an alarming nature, and in which ideas of government reform were carried to a visionary and dangerous extreme; it was thought proper by many of the most distinguished advocates of constitutional liberty, about this period to institute a society under the name of the "Friends of the People," for the fole purpose of effecting a reform in parliament on the principles so often stated and so ably enforced by Mr. Pitt, and other judicious patrons of reform, prefuming that all other necessary and beneficial reforms would follow in fafe and regular gradation. About thirty members of parliament entered their names as members of the affsocie ation, which also comprehended many of the most eminent characters in the kingdom, whether in respect of po litical or literary ability. It is remarkable, that this most useful and laudable association, this broad and lofty mound thrown up for the defence of the constitution against the rage of republican innovation, seemed to excite more the alarm of the government than all the other afsociations united. And when Mr. Grey, himself a member of the new society, gave notice of his intention to move, in the course of the ensuing session, for an enquiry into the state of the representation, Mr. Pitt rose with unufual vehemence to declare "his total disapprobation of introducing, at a period so critical and dangerous as the prefent, a difcuffion of such difficulty and importance. This he affirmed was not a time for experiments; and if he was called upon either to risque this, or for ever to abandon all hopes of reform, he would say he had no hefitstion in preferring the latter alternative. He saw with concern the gentlemen to whom he alluded, virtually united with others who professed the reform of abuses, and meant the fubversion of government." The expediency and policy of timely and temperate reform were on the other hand powerfully argued by the friends of the pro jected motion. "As to the obnoxious allies of the late affociators,

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associators, Mr. Fox faid, the objection might be completely retorted by asking the minister, whom have you for your allies?' On the one part there are infuriated republicans, on the other the flaves of despotism. The first are the rash zealots of liberty, the latter its inveterate and determined foes." The consternation of the ministers evidentally appeared by a ROYAL PROCLAMATION almost immediately issued against the public dispersion of all seditious writings, and against all illegal correspondenciesexhorting the magistrates to vigilance, and the people to fubmiffion and obedience.

This proclamation being laid before the house (May 25), and an address moved of approbation and fupport, it was opposed by Mr. Grey with much warmth, and the proclamation itself condemned in severe terms as a measure infidious and pernicious. The " diligent enquiry" enjoined by the proclamation after the authors and diftributors of wicked and feditious writings, could only tend to establish an odious and arbitrary system of ESPIONAGE This was the system which had made the old government of France so much the object of general detestation, and it was a system unworthy of the sovereign of a free people to recommend. Mr. Grey strongly intimated his belief, that the real object of the proclamation was merely to difcredit the late afsociation in the view of the public."

This Mr. Pitt disclaimed in very explicit terms; and expressed his high respect for many of the members of the afsociation in question, declaring " that he differed from them only in regard to the time and mode which they had adopted for the attainment of their object. The affociation in question, he said, did not come within the scope and purview of the proclamation, which was levelled against the daring and seditious principles which had been fo affiduoufly propagated amongst the people, under the plaufible and delusive appellation of the rights of man." The address was finally carried without a division, and receiving ceiving the concurrence of the upper house was presented in form to the king. It was followed by addresses from all parts of the kingdom: and the ministry, finding their strength, commenced profecutions against a prodigious number of offenders, amongst whom Thomas Paine stood most confpicuous. Notwithstanding the profeffional ability of Mr. Erskine, whom he had engaged as his advocate, he was found guilty of the charge; but foreseeing the probability of this event, he had previously abfconded to France.

The attention of parliament towards the conclusion of the feffion was forcibly drawn to the situation of Indiafor some time past involved in a general war, the origin and progress of which it may be proper concisely to explain. From the æra of the peace of Mangalore, concluded by the company with Tippoo Saib in 1784, the power of that prince had been regarded as very formidable. He was avowedly and devotedly attached to the interests of France, to which country he had foon after that event sent a splendid embassy, and established an intimate friendship and alliance. The period however at length arrived, when, France being occupied with other and greater objects, a severe vengeance might be safely taken on the TYRANT OF MYSORE for all his real or pretended perfidies and oppressions. The Dutch East India company had in the last century conquered from the Portuguese two forts, situated within the territory of Myfore, called Cranganore and Acottah. These they had recently disposed of by purchase to the rajah of Travancore, an ally of the English company. Tippoo resenting the conduct of the Dutch, and affirming that the rajah had no right to make any such purchase within the limits of his territory, marched a confiderable military force in the summer of 1789 against Cranganore, with a profefsed intent to reduce it to his dominion. The conduct of the rajah in making the purchase in question, on so precarious and invidious a title, was severely

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verely censured by the government of Madras; and Mr. Holland, the prefident, warned him to desist from his ambitious defigns.

In confequence of the powerful mediation thus interpofed, Tippoo withdrew his troops, still, however, afferting his claim to the feudal fovereignty of the forts, and offering, as it is faid, to submit his pretenfions to any impartial arbitration. But on the 1st of May, 1790, the rajah, relying, as it afterwards appeared, on the support of the fuperior presidency of Bengal, made an offensive attack on the army of Tippoo Sultan; and the war having thus commenced, the English government was bound in honor and justice to defend their ally. This the company were the better enable to do, not merely from their knowledge of the state of France, but from the treaties they had actually formed with the nizam of the Decan, and the Mahratta states, for the express purpose of humbling the power of Myfore.

The grand Carnatic army immediately assembling, under the command of general Meadows, marched through the fouthern or Coimbatore country, and penetrating the Ghauts or passes of the mountains, advanced towards the city of Seringapatam, the capital of Myfore,

On the western fide, the Bombay army, under general Abercrombie, after reducing Cannanore and several other places on the coast, entered the kingdom of Myfore; which, notwithstanding the pretended oppreffion of the government, exhibited every where the marks of the higheft cultivation and profperity. The sultan defending himself with great resolution, and no mean display of military skill, general Meadows found himself under the neceffity of retreating to the vicinity of Madras; where, in the month of December (1790), lord Cornwallis affumed the command of the army in person.

The plan of the war was now entirely changed, and a grand effort refolved on, to force a paffage to Seringapatam through the country lying directly westward of Madras.

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On the 21st of March, 1791, the important town of Bangalore was taken by storm, with little loss on the part of the British, but with a dreadful carnage of the unrefifting garrifon.

On the 13th of May, the army, by extraordinary exertions, arrived in fight of the fuperb capital of Myfore, defended by the sultan in person: and, on the next day, an action took place, in which Tippoo was said to be defeated; though he does not appear to have sustained any very confiderable loss: and the swelling of the Cavery (in an island formed by the branches of which Seringapatam is situated), together with the want of provisions, compelled lord Cornwallis to begin his retreat to Bangalore, almost before his victory could be announced.

General Abercrombie, who had advanced through the Ghauts on the oppofite fide, with a view to form a junction with lord Cornwallis, was now also obliged to lead back his army, fatigued, haraffed and disappointed, over the mountains they had so lately and with fuch difficulty passed. During these transactions the troops of the Nizam and the Mahrattas kept discreetly aloof, leaving the burden of the war almost entirely to the British.

But the next campaign, for which lord Cornwallis made unremitted preparations, opened under more favorable aufpices.

Early in February, 1792, the eastern and western armies, resuming their former plan of operations, effected, before the end of the month, a junction under the walls of Seringapatam; the forces of the Peishwa and of the Nizam encamping also at a small distance, and furnishing to the British army a plentiful supply of stores and provifions.

On the 7th of February, a general attack was made by moonlight on the lines of the sultan, which was attended with important effects; Tippoo being compelled to relinquish his former advantageous position, which covered his capital,

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