Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

growing profperity of the country. Remarks on the budget by Mr. Sheridan.
Melage from the king to both houses of parliament relative to the difputes
with Spain. Addresses voted unanimously. Motions for papers and debates
thereon. Vote of credit for a million. Committee on American claims.
Cafe of Mr. Penn. Compenfation voted for the lofjes of his family. Penfion
granted to Dr. Willis. Amendment of the tontine act.
Account of pro-
ceedings relative to the flave trade. Proceedings relative to the trial of
Mr. Haftings. Speech from the throne. Parliament prorogued. Summary
of the proceedings of the Irish parliament.
[82

CHA P. VI.

Proceedings of the national affembly after the new law had established fome`
order and fecurity in Paris. Apply closely to the vast mass of public buf-
nefs upon their hands. Political annihilation of the two first orders of the
ftate. New laws for regulating elections. Appellation of active citizens,
to whom applied. Much trouble ftill with the provinces, to bring them to a
furrender of their peculiar rights and privileges. France at length divided
into eighty-three departments, and the term Province expunged from the
language. Creation and organization of municipalities. Letters de cachet
abolished. Gabelle, and others of the most obnoxious taxes, abolished. Affem-
bly enter into the intricate business of finance; augment the pay of the army;
and establish a new bank. Grand fcheme for feizing the eftates of the clergy,
and offering them as a prefent to the nation, to ferve as a fund and fecu-
rity for the difcharge of the public debts, and to anfwer other important
purposes. Some difficulties and obftructions, which appear in the way of car-
rying this fcheme into execution, are far out-balanced by the vast advantages
which it is capable of producing. Decree paffed, which declares all the
ecclefiaftical eftates to be at the difpofal of the nation. Stipends allotted for
the maintenance of parish priests, &c. Difcontents rife to the highest pitch
amongst the clergy, many of the bishops, and nearly all the chapters in the
kingdom, protest against the decree. Combination of the canons, and endea-
vours ufed at Rome to draw the maledictions of the church upon the national
affembly. Great prudence and address difplayed by the affembly in its tranf-
actions with the court of Rome. Sovereign pontiff feems to be fatisfied with
their proteftations. France fwarms with publications of every fort, in
profe and in verfe, against the national affembly, its proceedings and defigns.
Several of the parliaments attempt to be troublesome, and protest against the
decrees of the affembly; but having loft all influence with the people, are
obliged to fubmit reluctantly to their fate. Parliament of Bourdeaux con-
tinues longer in a state of turbulence than any of the others, and endeavours
to excite an infurrection in the south. Stories of plots and confpiracies necef-
fary to keep the minds of the people in conftant agitation. Various accuja-
tions against the king's minifters, and a greater number against the aristocrates
in general. Animofities fo violent between the remaining nobles in the af-
Sembly, and the democratical leaders, that frequent duels are the confequence.

2

Nation,

Nation, in general, faid to be unanimous in fupporting the affembly, and offers to raise three millions of foldiers in defence of the new conftitution. Situation of the captive king and of the royal family in the palace, now ftate priJon, of the Thuilleries. Ill effect produced at home and abroad, and worfe confequences likely to enfue, from the king's captivity, when his free fanction is neceffary to give validity to their laws, caufes great uneafinefs in the national aflembly. Scheme formed to obviate thefe difficulties, by inducing the king to appear to come voluntarily to the national affembly, to declare himfelf fully fatisfied with all their proceedings, and that he confiders himself as being at the head of the revolution. Liberal conduct of the affembly with refpect to the civil lift. King notwithstanding firmly rejects all the perfuafions used to induce him to pay the defired vifit. Great diftreffes of the country. 20,000 people fed by charity at Lyons. 6,coo eftates advertized to be fold. Decretot's noble manufacturies at Louviers nearly ruined. Riots at Verfailles. Some obfervations on the extraordinary conduct of that people through the courfe of the king's troubles. Parifians become again tumultuous, and, without regard to the general famine, want to have the price of bread fixed at a lower rate than it could have been afforded in the most plentiful feafons. Their rage increased to the highest pitch upon the acquittal of Bezenval by the chatelet. Form a plot for forcing the prifon, and murdering him, on their own principles of fummary juftice. All their Jchemes overthrown, and Paris reduced to order, through the activity and vigour of La Fayette, well fupported by the Bourgeoife militia. Surrounds a body of 1,100 of the mutineers at night, and makes 200 of them prisoners. Chatelet proceed to the trials of Lambefc, Broglio, and others of the principal refugees, for the real or fuppofed plot of the preceding month of July. Are all acquitted, through the failure of any evidence to fupport the charge. Various confpiracies apprehended or jpoken of for the rescue of the king's perfon. The fubject of the king's inftant death, as the affigned penalty for any attempt to his rescue, a matter of public converfation in all companies and among all ranks, without the smallest expreffion of horror, at the idea of fo deplorable a catastrophe. King's firmness at length gives way, and he fubmits to pay the propofed vifit to the national affembly, and to make a Speech nearly fimilar to that prescribed. Affairs of the clergy finally fettled, their property feized, and affignats created? [107

CHAP.

VII:

Ineffectual attempts made by the French privileged orders, for procuring redrefs or fuccour from the neighbouring continental powers. State of political affairs in Europe, which, with other caufes, tended to produce that indifference with respect to France which now appeared. Courts of Madrid and Turin. Rafh and impetuous proceedings, along with the contemptuous language used by the national affembly, ferves continually to create new enemies abroad as well as at home. Wrong offered to the German princes with respect to their poffeffions and rights in Alface, embitters the whole empire

againft

against the new government, and implants deeply the feeds of future conten-

tion and war. Weft India colonies thrown into a state of the utmost dif-

order and confufion, and at length precipitated into the most dreadful fcenes

of defolation, conflagration, and maffacre, which terminate in final deftruc-

tion, by a feries of ill-judged and precipitate measures, of impolitic, impracti-

cable, or contradictory decrees. Great disorders in the army. Soldiers throw

off all fubordination and difcipline. The people being now in possession of

liberty, a defire of uncontrolled rule and fovereignty becomes the leading and

general paffion, a circumftance which ferves greatly to unite them, and to

ftrengthen the new fyftem. The weak attempts of the royalifts, and the con-

tinual reports of plots, confpiracies, and invafions, caufe fuch a general

alarm, that the provinces affociate and arm; so that France feems covered

with camps and armies. State of the ariftocrates and parties adverfe to

government. Corfica annexed to France as part of the kingdom. Applica-

tion from the court of Spain relative to the difpute with England, brings on

a debate on the question, in whofe hands the right of peace and war fhould

be lodged. Second application from Spain brings on a change of the mi-

niftry. Mutiny of the fleet at Breft. Anacharfis Clootz introduces to

the affembly his ambassadors from all mankind. Decree for abolishing all

titles, and obliterating all memorials of nobility and family distinction, for

ever in France. Grand national confederation at Paris. Bloody conteft

at Nancy. Mr. Neckar quits the kingdom, after various difgraces, and

narrowly escaping the fury of the Parifians. Schifm of the French

clergy; the greater part of whom fubmit to the loss of their penfions, and

to expulfion from their paftoral duties, rather than to take the newly-

prefcribed oaths.

[131

APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE.

Dr. Johnson's monument

[247

Report of a committee af the house of commons, respecting the houses and other buildings joining to Westminster Hall, the two houfes of parliament, offices thereto belonging, &c.

and the

[ibid.

[251 [252

Particulars refpecting the last illness and death of the emperor
Account of the miraculous efcape of Captain Bligh, of the Bounty floop
Account of the difafter which befel his Majesty's fhip Guardian, Lieut. Riou
commander

[254

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Account of the lofs of the Vanfittart Indiaman

[262

Trial of Renwick Williams, commonly called the monster

[264

A general bill of all the christenings and burials in the cities of London and Westminster, &c. for the year 1790 [268 An account of all corn and grain exported from, and imported into, England and Scotland, with the bounties and drawbacks paid, and the duties received thereon, for one year, ending the 5th of January 1791 Prices of flocks for the year 1790 State of the barometer and thermometer for the year 1790 Public acts paffed in the feventh feffion of the feventeenth parliament of Great

[269

[271 [272

Britain [273 Abstract of an act for limiting the number of persons to be carried on the outfide af ftage coaches and other carriages, 28 Geo. III. c. 57, 1788 [274 Supplies granted by parliament, for the year 1790 [276 Account of the net produce of the duties of cuftoms, excife, ftamps, and incidents, between the 5th day of April 1788, to the 5th day of April 1789; and between the 5th day of April 1789, to the 5th day of April 1790 [280

1

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

STATE PAPERS.

[281

His Majefty's most gracious fpeech to both houses of parliament, on opening the feventh feffion of the fixteenth parliament, Jan. 21, 1790 Address of the house of lords, Jan. 22, 1790; and his Majefty's anfwer thereto [282 Addrefs of the boufe of commons, and his Majesty's answer thereto His Majesty's Speech to both houses of parliament, at the close of the feffion,

[283

June 10, 1790 [283 Speech of the fpeaker of the house of commons, on presenting certain money bills to bis Majesty

[284

Melage

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Meffage from his Majefty to both houses of parliament, relative to the capture of certain veffels by the Spaniards, in Nootka Sound [285 Addrefs of the boufe of lords, in confequence of the foregoing message [286 Subftance of the memorial prefented by Lieut. Mears to the right hon. W.W. Grenville, one of his Majesty's principal fecretaries of state, with explana

[ocr errors]

tions

[287 Declaration of his Catholic Majefty, June 4, tranfmitted to all the European [292 Memorial of the court of Spain, delivered June 13, to Mr. Fitzherbert, the British ambaffador at Madrid

courts

[294

Mr. Fitzherbert's answer to the foregoing memorial
The Count de Florida Blanca's reply, June 18

[298

[299

Declaration and counter declaration, exchanged at Madrid the 24th July [300 Letter from Count de Fernan Nunez to M. de Montmorin, fecretary of the foreign department of France

[301 Decree of the national affembly of France on the family compact [303 Convention between his Britannic Majefty and the king of Spain, figned at the

Efcurial the 28th of October [ibid. Addrefs of the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, on the convention with Spain, prefented Nov. 24, with his Majesty's answer

thereto

[306

[307

[305 Treaty of peace concluded between the king of Sweden and the empress of Ruffia, Aug. 11. Speech of John earl of Westmorland, lord lieutenant of Ireland, to both houfes of parliament, Jan. 21 Amendment of lord Portarlington to the Addrefs moved on the foregoing fpeech; together with the proteft on its rejection Speech of the speaker of the house of commons of Ireland, on presenting the bills of fupply to the lord lieutenant [310 Speech of the lord lieutenant of Ireland to both houses of parliament, April 5 [311 Seventh report of the commiffioners appointed to examine, take, and ftate the public accounts of the kingdom; presented to the house of commons June 18,

[308

1782

[ocr errors]

--

[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

-

[ibid Eighth report from the fame commiffioners; prefented Dec. 20, 1782. [329

CHARACTERS.

Biographical and literary anecdotes of Haller-From Coxe's travels in S-wit

zerland, vol. ii.

Account of the late Mr. Howard.-From the Gentleman's Magazine for

IZ

March 1790

16

Account of the late Mr. Ledyard.-From " Proceedings of the Society for pro"moting the Discovery of the interior Parts of Africa" Extracts from the life of John Elwes, Efq; by Edward Topham, Efq; 18

Anecdotes

« VorigeDoorgaan »