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CHA P. III.

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Declining fate of the king's health in the month of October, 1788, which

terminates foon after in a continued delirium; grief of the people, and

measures taken by public characters in confequence thereof. Parliament

meets pursuant to the laft prorogation. Notification to both houses of the state

of his majesty's health; immediate adjournment for a fortnight, and fummons

for the attendance of members ordered; examination of the king's phyfi-

cians before the privy council; minutes of the council board laid before

both houses at their fecond meeting; doubts ftarted in the house of com-

mons, whether it would not be necessary to examine the phyficians at the bar

taken into further confideration on the 8th of December, and a committee ap-

pointed in each house to examine the physicians; their report brought up on

the 10th, and a committee appointed to fearch for precedents; Mr. Fox afferts

the right of the prince of Wales to the regency; his opinion controverted by

Mr. Pitt; Mr. Pitt's conduct farcaftically remarked upon by Mr. Burke;

Mr. Fox's opinion condemned by the prefident of the council, and other lords

in the upper house; defended by the lords Loughborough, Stormont, and

Portchefter. The report from the committee of precedents brought up on the

12th; Mr. Fox explains, and reafferts his opinion relative to the prince's

right, and is warmly oppofed by Mr. Pitt; farther explanation of Mr.

Pitt's opinions upon the regency; difcuffion of the question of right deprecated

in the house of lords; Speeches of the duke of York and of the duke of Glo-

cefter; three refolutions moved by Mr. Pitt, December 16; the fecond refo-

lution, declaratory of the right of the two houses of parliament to appoint a

regent, frongly oppofed by lord North and Mr. Fox, and fupported by the

mafter of the rolls, the lord advocate of Scotland, the attorney and folicitor

general, and Mr. Hardinge; reflections of Mr. Rushworth on the minifter's

conduct; the refolution carried by a majority of 268 to 204; oppojed on the

report of the committee by Sir Grey Cooper and Mr. Wyndham; amendment

moved by Mr. Dempster, and withdrawn ; amendment to the third refo-

lution moved by Mr. Dempster; debate thereon adjourned to the 22d of

December.
[68

CHAP. ív.

Amendment pro-

lords; referred to a committee on the state of the nation.
pofed in the committee by lord Rawdon; Supported by lords Stormont, Port-
chefter, and Loughborough. Original refolutions defended by lord Camden,
the duke of Richmond, and the chancellor; fubftance of their Speeches.
The marquis of Lansdowne's approbation of the measures of the minifters,
and his argument in oppofition to the claims of the prince of Wales. Amend-
ment negatived by 99 to 66. The refolutions finally agreed to, and the com-
mons acquainted therewith. Proteft by forty-eight lords. Addrees and
petitions fent up from feveral counties and corporations.
[89

CHA P. V.

Death of the Speaker, Mr. Cornwall. Election of his fucceffor. Mr. William
Wyndham Grenville propofed by lord Eufton and Mr. Pulteney; fir Gilbert
Elliot, by Mr. Welbore Ellis and Mr. Frederick Montagu-the former cho-

Jen by a majority of 71. Mr. Pitt communicates to the prince of Wales the

plan of the regency. Motion propofed by Mr. Loveden for the re-examination

of the king's phyficians, previous to the confideration of the restrictions upon

the regency. Perfonal invectives thrown out on that occafion. Committee

appointed to re-examine the phyficians. Their report taken into confideration

Jan. 16th. Mr. Pitt's Speech on that occafion; proposes three objects for

their deliberations. ft. Nature of the king's illness; Anecdote relative to

the queen. 2d. Principles on which they were to proceed. 3d. The limi-

tations which thofe principles pointed out; viz. in the power of creating

peers, of granting places or penfions for life, of alienating the perfonal pro-

perty of the king, refpecting the care of the king's perfon, and the difpofal of

the offices of the household. Mr. Pitt moves five refolutions founded on these

principles. They are strongly oppofed by Mr. Powys, lord North, Mr. She-
ridan, and colonel Fullarton. Celebrated fpeech of Mr. Grenville in fupport
of the refolutions; amendment moved by Mr. Powys, and negatived by 227
to 154. Second refolution, relative to the creation of peers, voted by a ma-

•jority of 216 to 159. Third and fourth refolutions carried without a divi-

fion. Debate on the fifth refolution, relative to the officers of the houshold,

oppofed by lord Maitland, Mr. Grey, and Mr. Fox; amendment moved by

Mr. Bouverie, and rejected by a majority of 54 Debate on the Refolutions

in the house of lords. Able Speech of the bishop of Llandaff. Convicts

deprived of the benefit of applying to the royal mercy. Lord Camden's opi-

nion relative to the creation of peers by act of parliament. Refolutions car-

ried by a majority of 26. Protests figned by 57 lords. Refolutions ordered

to be prefented to the prince and the queen. Their answers. Debate, on the

motion for putting the great feal to a commiffion for opening parliament. Sef-

fions opened. Motion by Mr. Pitt for leave to bring in the regency bill. Bill

read a first and fecond time. Debates in the committee. Debate on the third

reading. Regency bill fent to the lords. Notification of the king's recovery.

Account of transactions relative to the regency in the Irish parliament. [105

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С НА Р. VI.

New commiffion iffued in confequence of the king's recovery.

Speech of the

commiffioners to the two houses. Addresses of thanks and congratulation.

Mr. Fox's obfervations upon the address of the house of commons. Ad-

dreffes to the queen. Debate on the ordnance extraordinaries. Question of

fortifying the Weft India Islands discussed; plan opposed by general Bur-

goyne, Mr. Courtenay, and Mr. Sheridan; fupported by Mr. Pitt and colo-

nel Phipps. Mr. Beaufoy's bill for commemorating the revolution, passes the

houfe of commons, rejected by the lords. Mr. Fox moves for the repeal of the

Shop tax; agreed to by Mr. Pitt. Preamble to the bill of repeal objected.

Reftrictions on hawkers and pedlars taken off. Meffage from the king rela-

tive to the public thanksgiving day, and the refolutions of the boufe of com-

mons thereon. Mr. Beaufoy's motion for repealing the corporation and teft

ats, fupported by Mr. Smith and Mr. Fox, and oppofed by lord North

and Mr. Pitt; loft by a majority of only 20. The earl Stanhope's bill for

repealing certain penal ftatutes rejected on the fecond reading. The confide-

ration of the flave trade poftponed to the next feffions. Mr. Grenville made

fecretary of state, and Mr. Henry Addington fpeaker of the boufe of commons.

Budget opened. Animadverfions thereon. Motion by Mr. Sheridan for a

new committee of finance. The report of the committee of 1786 defended

by Mr. Grenville. Plan opened by Mr. Pitt for transferring the tobacco

duties to the excife. Strong oppofition made to it by the manufacturers, and

in both houses of parliament. Extraordinary conduct of the chancellor.

India budget opened by Mr. Dundas; animadverted on by Mr. Francis,

Bill paffed to enable the company to add one million to their capital. Pro-

ceedings relative to the trial of Mr. Haftings. His petition to the house of

commons, complaining of Mr. Burke; proceedings of the house, and refolution

moved thereon. Libel on the house of commons, ordered to be profecuted. Ap-

plication from the French government for the exportation of flour, voted in-

admiffible. Seffions prorogued.
[142

CHAP. VII.

1

that excellent fovereign. Selim, his nephew, foon fhews how unworthy he
is of being his fucceffor. The wealth of the Grand Vizir, Juffuf Pacha,
dooms him to be the first victim to his avarice and cruelty. His deftruc-
tion followed by that of many others on the fame bafe motives. New Sultan
changes all the plans for conducting the war which had been formed by
his predeceffor and by the late Grand Vizir. Precipitancy, weakness, and
rafbness, along with rapacity and cruelty, the characteristics of the prefent
reign. Turkifo commanders and troops lofe all their wonted fpirit, hope, and
vigour, a misfortune which foon produces the most fatal confequences. Small
but fevere war carried on between the Ruffians and Turks through the
winter in Moldavia, as well as in the Budziack. Young Tartar prince,
fon to the Khan, killed in an action near Bender. Humane and honourable
conduct of general Kamenskoi, with respect to the body of the prince, and in
reftoring it to his father. Grateful acknowledgments of the Khan to the
Ruffian general for his generofity and compaffion, and the pious confolations
with which he endeavours to footh his own grief. War renewed with
great animofity along the frontiers by the Turks and Auftrians upon the
expiration of the armistice. Empress of Ruffia exceeds even her ufual
magnificence in the rewards and honours which he bestows upon the con-
querors of Oczakow. Has not yet given up her defigns on Egypt, where the
Baron de Thorus, late Ruffian conful at Alexandria, being fent in difguife,
and furnished with powers to make great proposals to the Beys to induce
them to enter into a treaty, and excite new commotions in the country, the
Baron is feized by Ifmael Bey, and fent bound, with his credentials and
papers, to the Turkish Basha, who commits him close prisoner to the castle of
Grand Cairo. Defperate and ferocious valour displayed by the Bofniacs,
fighting entirely on their own account, in defence of their eftates, families,
and country, against the Auftrians. Turkish Spirit finks totally before the
Ruffians. General Dorfelden's victory on the banks of the Sereth; purfues
his fuccefs, attacks the Turkish ftrong camp at Galats; forces the camp;
feizes the whole as a spoil; and routs, difperfes, or deftroys the enemy's
army. War rages in Transylvania and the Bannat. Marshal Laudobn,
with the Auftrian army on the fide of Croatia, makes preparations for the
fiege of Turkish Gradifca, where he had been foiled the preceding year.
That place, the grand outwork to Belgrade, and hitherto famous for its
repeated fuccessful refiftance, ftrangely abandoned upon receiving a bom-
bardment. The Marfbal immediately commences his preparations for the
fiege of Belgrade. Prince of Saxe Cobourg has the fortune of retrieving
the bonour of the Auftrian arms, by obtaining the first victory of any
moment which they gained in the course of the war. Totally defeats and
ruins an army of 30,000 Turks, under the command of a Serafquier, in the
frong fortified camp of Fockzan, in Wallachia. Prince of Anhalt Bern-
bourg, with a part of Kamenfkoi's army, defeats a body of Turks who
were going to the relief of Bender, and takes the whole convoy. New
Grand Vizir, with a vast army, totally defeated at Martinefti, by the
prince of Saxe Cobourg and general Suwarow, with very inferior forces.
Grand Turkish army totally difperfed and ruined. Belgrade befieged and
taken by Marshal Laudohn, who grants favourable conditions to the gar

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С НА Р. VI.

New commiffion iffued in confequence of the king's recovery.

Speech of the

commiffioners to the two houses. Addresses of thanks and congratulation.

Mr. Fox's obfervations upon the address of the house of commons. Ad-

dreffes to the queen. Debate on the ordnance extraordinaries. Question of

fortifying the Weft India Islands discussed; plan opposed by general Bur-

goyne, Mr. Courtenay, and Mr. Sheridan; fupported by Mr. Pitt and colo-

nel Phipps. Mr. Beaufoy's bill for commemorating the revolution, passes the

houfe of commons, rejected by the lords. Mr. Fox moves for the repeal of the

Shop tax; agreed to by Mr. Pitt. Preamble to the bill of repeal objected.

Reftrictions on hawkers and pedlars taken off. Meffage from the king rela-

tive to the public thanksgiving day, and the refolutions of the boufe of com-

mons thereon. Mr. Beaufoy's motion for repealing the corporation and teft

acts, fupported by Mr. Smith and Mr. Fox, and oppofed by lord North

and Mr. Pitt; loft by a majority of only 20. The earl Stanhope's bill for

repealing certain penal ftatutes rejected on the second reading. The confide-

ration of the flave trade poftponed to the next feffions. Mr. Grenville made

fecretary of ftate, and Mr. Henry Addington fpeaker of the house of commons.

Budget opened. Animadverfions thereon. Motion by Mr. Sheridan for a

new committee of finance. The report of the committee of 1786 defended

by Mr. Grenville. Plan opened by Mr. Pitt for transferring the tobacco

duties to the excife. Strong oppofition made to it by the manufacturers, and

in both boufes of parliament. Extraordinary conduct of the chancellor.

India budget opened by Mr. Dundas; animadverted on by Mr. Francis.

Bill paffed to enable the company to add one million to their capital.

ceedings relative to the trial of Mr. Haftings. His petition to the house of

commons, complaining of Mr. Burke; proceedings of the house, and refolution

moved thereon. Libel on the house of commons, ordered to be profecuted. Ap-

plication from the French government for the exportation of flour, voted in-

admifible. Seffions prorogued.
[142

СНА Р. VII.

State of the contending armies on the borders of the Danube and the Black Sea.
Imperialists. Marshal Haddick, to supply the Emperor's absence, appointed
to the command of the grand army. Ottomans in a much worfe fituation
than they had been in the preceding campaign. Fatal confequences of the
lofs of Oczakow, and the flaughter of their bravest men. Grand Vizir
tried at Conftantinople, on the double charge, of not providing for the pre-

fervation of Oczakow, and of caufelessly evacuating the Bannat. Honour-

ably acquitted of both, he returns to the command of the army. Death of

Abdul Hamet, the Grand Signior, the greatest misfortune, at that critical

period, which could have fallen upon the Turkish empire. Character of

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