THE

HISTORY

OF

ENGLAND,

FROM THE PEACE IN 1783.
TO THE PRESENT TIME.

CHAP. I.

IV.

I.The Struggles of Party-the Succefs of Oppofition. II.
Attempts to form a new Adminiftration fruitless. III.
Confequences of the Want of an efficient Government.
The Commons addrefs the King for a new Adminiftration.
His Majefty's Anfwer. The Minifters refign their Offices.
V. The Arrangement of the new Miniftry. VI. Their
Characters. The Effects of the Coalition. VII. One of
the firft Acts of the new Miniftry, a Bill to conciliate the
Affection of Ireland. VIII. A Bill to forward an Inter-
courfe with America brought in by Mr. Fox. IX. The
diftreffed Situation of the British Dominions in India attracts
general Attention. X. A Bill for the better Government
of India introduced by Mr. Dundas. XI. The ruined
State of the East India Company's Finances. XII. A
Bill to relieve the East India Company passes the Commons.
XIII. The fame paffes the Lords. XIV. Peace with
the Mahrattas. Death of Hyder Ally. XV. The Loan.
XVI. Mr. Pitt's Motion on the Subject of a Parliamentary
Reform. XVII. Lord North oppofes it. XVIII. Mr.
Fox fupports it. XIX. Mr. Dundas unexpectedly fup-
ports Mr. Pitt.
XX. The Reafons for a Parliamentary
Reform ftated. XXI. Alderman Sawbridge's Motion for
fhortening the Duration of Parliaments. XXII. The
Quakers petition the Houfe of Commons against the Slave
Trade: XXIII. Parliament prorogued. XXIV. An
Order of Council, limiting the Commerce between America
and the West Indies to Ships British built. XXV. The de-
finitive Treaties of Peace figned. XXVI. Introductory
Remarks on the Events of the enfuing Seffion. Arguments

in favor of the Coalition ftated. XXVII. Arguments against the Coalition flated. XXVIII. The Meeting of Parliament. XXIX. The Subftance of the King's Speech.. XXX. Addrefs of Thanks paffes with no Oppofition. XXXI. Mr. Fox introduces his India Bill. XXXII. The Provi fions of the Bill. XXXIII. The Character and Tendency of the Bill. XXXIV. A fecond Bill for the internal Government of the British Dominions in India. XXXV. The Aftonishment of the House at the Disclosure of Mr. Fox's India Syftem. Mr. Pitt oppofes it. XXXVI. Mr. Fox replies with great Ability. XXXVII. The Eaft India Company petition against the Bill. XXXVIII. Mr. Fox carries the Bill to the House of Peers-oppofed by Lords Temple and Thurlow. XXXIX. The Bill finally loft in the House of Peers. XL. The Caufe which occafioned the Lofs of the Bill. The improper Interference of Lord Temple in the House of Lords. XLI. An Enquiry into Lord Temple's Conduct in the Houfe of Commons. XLII. The Nature of the Contest between the Crown and Commons de、 fcribed. XLIII. The Appointment of a new Miniftry XLIV. A fpirited Addrefs to the King against a Diffolution of Parliament. His Majefty's Anfwer. XLV. Refolutions of the Commons for the Removal of the prefent Minifters. XLVI. A jecond Addrefs on the fame Subject. XLVII. Mr. Pitt's India Bill introduced and loft. XLVIII. The Address of the City of London against the Late Minifters. XLIX. The Situation of the Country difpofes both Parties to Paufe., Hopes of a general Union entertained. L. The Steps taken by the Meeting at the St. Alban's Tavern towards bringing about an Union of Parties. LI. The Lords declare against the Proceedings of the Houfe of Commons. LII. Another Address by the Commons to the King, for the Removal of his Minifters. LIII. A ftronger Address on the fame Subject. His Majesty's Anfwer. LIV. Addresses unavailing. The Motion of a Reprefentation to the Crown agreed to by the Commons. LV. The Diffolution of Parliament. LVI. The Origin and Progrefs of this extraordinary Conteft reviewed. LVII. The general Election turns out in Favor of the

new

I.

THE

new Minifters. LVIII. The Subftance of the King's Speech on the opening of Parliament. LIX. The Conduct of the High Bailiff of Westminster in refufing to return Mr. Fox brought before the Houfe of Commons. LX. The House decides in favor of the High Bailiff. LXI. Mr. Alderman Sawbridge's Motion for a Parliamentary Reform. LXII. Mr. Pitt's India Bill-a Statement of its leading Provifons. LXIII. Mr. Fox's Objections to the Bill. LXIV. The Bill receives a Variety of Amendments in the Commons. LXV. A Motion of Mr. Burke refpecting the Conduct of Mr. Haftings loft. LXVI. A fecond Attempt of the fame Sort equally unfuccessful. LXVII. The commutation Tax. LXVIII. The Sentiments of Mr. Fox on that Subject.LXIX. Provifions for the Arrears of the unfunded Debt. LXX. A Bill for the Restoration of the Eftates forfeited in Scotland in 1715 and 1745. LXXI. Oppofed by the Lord Chancellor, but passed. LXXII. Parliament prorogued. HE provifional treaty of peace, while it terminated hoftilities abroad, and feemed to promise a general repofe to Europe; produced very different effects at home, by kindling a political war, which foon raged with uncommon violence, and confiderably disturbed the internal tranquillity of the kingdom. The acknowledgment of American independence, though dictated by absolute neceffity, was a measure so humiliating to the national character, that without being accompanied with terms as favorable to this country, as the nature of our fituation entitled us to demand, could not be expected to prove generally acceptable. The advantages and difadvantages of the peace, were repeatedly difcuffed in parliament, with much ability by the leaders of the contending parties, but on every renewed debate, the oppofition evidently gained ground. At last, on the 21ft of February, Lord John Cavendish, by moving the following refolution among others in a very full house, brought the strength of the parties to a final iflue, and obtained for oppofition a complete and decifive victory. "That the conceffions made to the adverfaries of Great Britain by the provifional treaty, and the preliminary articles

A 3

A. D. 1783. articles are greater than they were entitled to, either from the actual fituation of their respective poffeffions, or from their comparative ftrength." A vehement debate arofe on this refolution, but the memorable coalition brought fuch an acceffion of strength and numbers to one fide, that the question was carried against the miniftry by a majority of 207 voices to 190.

II. The fuccefs of this motion ascertained the certainty of a ministerial revolution, and the house of com mons adjourned from time to time, with the view of forwarding a new arrangement. The coalition, confident of their strength, were determined to enter into power upon fuch terms only, as would leave them at perfect liberty to act for themselves, without restraint or controul. The ministry were disposed to form an administration that would admit as few as poffible of their adverfaries; and for this purpose fome fruitless attempts were made to difunite the members of the new affociation. Conferences with the king were repeatedly held on the subject of a change of minifters, and were repeatedly unfuccessful. The fortitude of the coalition was not to be fhaken. Mr. Fox and his friends were determined not to deviate in any point from their preconcerted plan. From these ineffectual endeavours to accommodate party views, the business of the nation was fufpended, and more than a month paffed in a kind of minifterial interregnum.

III. The want of an efficient government could be at no time more feverely felt than at this. At home the difembodying the militia, the difcharge of feamen, the reduction of foldiers, the neglect of giving them their pay, and the spirit of turbulence natural to men accuftomed to arms, contributed to fill Portfimouth and Plymouth with tumult and confufion, and spread mutinies and riots all over the kingdom. But these were not the only matters that called for the attention of government. our negociations with foreign powers were not brought to an end. No definitive treaty was concluded with France and Spain. No commercial alliance was adjusted