English Ambaffador recalled from France Unfolicited Offer of Assistance to the States General Embargo on Corn Veffels freighted for France Terrors of Innovation-Associations formed Royal Proclamation---Militia embodied - - 431 K. GEORGE III. THE fixth feffion of the present parliament began at Westminster on the 25th of November, 1779. The king informed the two houses, in the speech from the throne, " that he had met them at a time when they were, in concert with him, called upon by every principle of duty, and every confideration of interest, to exert their united efforts in the support and defence of their country, attacked by an unjust and unprovoked war, and contending with one of the most dangerous confederacies that ever was formed against the crown and people of Britain. In the midst of his care and folicitude for the safety of this country, he had not been inattentive to the state of his loyal and faithful kingdom of Ireland; and, in consequence of the addresses presented to him in the preceding feffion, he had ordered such papers to be laid before them as might assist their deliberations, and he recommended it to them to consider what farther benefits and advantages might be extended to that country. Echoes of the speech in the usual style being proposed, lord Rockingham moved in the house of peers a very spirited amendment, " beseeching his majefty to reflect upon the extent of territory, power, and opulence-of reputation abroad and concord at VOL. II. home B home, which distinguished the opening of his majesty's reign, and marked it as the most splendid and happy period in the history of this nation; and to turn his eyes on the present endangered, impoverished, and distracted ftate of the empire; and stating to his majesty, that if any thing can prevent the confummation of public ruin, it can be only new counsels and new counsellors, a real change from the conviction of past errors, and not a mere palliation, which must prove fruitless." This was negatived after a very warm debate by eighty-two voices to forty-one. A fimilar amendment was moved in the house of commons by lord John Cavendish, and occafioned a debate no less violent, in the course of which Mr. Fox particularly distinguished himself by the boldness and energy of his observations. He faid, " that the plan of government which had been in this reign invariably pursued, had been very early adopted. It was not the mere rumour of the streets that the king was his own minister, the fatal truth was evident: and though denied by the members of the administration, it was propagated by their followers. It was a doctrine in the highest degree dangerous, as tending to relieve ministers from their responsibility, and to transfer it to a personage who could not by the principles of our constitution be called to an account. But, he faid, it should be a warning to sovereigns, that though in general the evils of a reign were, according to the principles of our government, ascribed to the wicked counsels of ministers, yet when these evils reach to a certain height, ministers are forgotten, and the prince alone is punished. Thus it was with the royal house of Stuart. CHARLES and JAMES had no doubt wicked minifters, to whom the errors of their reign were justly in a great degree to be attributed; yet the one lost his life, and the other his crown. The patience of the people i was not unlimited, and, however paffive for a time, they would at last do themselves justice." The amendment was |