CHAP. VIII.

Meeting of parliament-petition of Mr. Wilkes-charges

against him, at the instance of ministers-expelled the house-

re-chofen-declared ineligible during the present parliament

-chofen a third time-election again declared void-a

competitor fet up-Mr. Wilkes returned by a great ma-

jority-Mr. Lutterel declared by parliament duly elected.-

Violent debates, and national ferment.-Revival against the

Americans of trials within the realm for treasons com-

mitted beyond seas.-Debt on the civil lift.-Affairs of the

East India company-Hyder Ally-war in the Carnatic.

-Europe-gallant resistance of Corsica against the French

at last overpowered.-America discontent increases from

the new mode of trial.-Extreme dissatisfaction in England

-the chief topic the Middlesex election. - Johnson's Falfe

Alarm.-Junius-object and character of that extraordinary

work.-Petitions-remonftrance of the city of London.

Meeting of parliament-lords Chatham and Camden oppose

miniftry-refignation of the duke of Grafton.

Page 23

CHAP. IX.

Commencement of lord North's administration. The remon-

ftrance of the city of London-and reply of bis majesty-are

difcuffed in parliament.-Bill to prevent officers of the re

venue from voting at elections-negatived.-Mr. Gren-

ville's law for regulating contested elections.-Lord North's

bill for repealing all duties on America, except on tea. Tu-

mult at Boston-captain Preston and the foldiers interfere-

tried and acquitted. The minister wishing conciliation, over-

looks the riot. Session rises. - War between Ruffia and Tur-

key.-Catharine is favoured by England-fends a fleet to the

Mediterranean-her armies over-run Moldavia and Wal-

lachia-alarm Prussia and Austria.-France-disputes be-

tween the king and parliaments. Dispute between Britain

and Spain about Falkland's island. Spain, the aggreffor, re-

• fuses to make adequate fatisfaction-trusts to the co-operation

of France-disappointed-offers conceffions that fatisfy the

Britishcourt.-America becomes more tranquil. Discontents

still continue in England.-London addresses the king-dig-

nified arswer of his majesty-noted reply of Beckford, the

lord mayor -Meeting of parliament.-Lord Mansfield's

doctrines on the law of libel-are controverted by lord Cam-

den-Camden challenges the chief justice to a legal difquifi-

tion on the fubject-lord Mansfield declines the contest.-

Profecution of printers. - Misunderstanding between the two

bouses. Singular confederacy for bribery in the borough of

Shoreham.-Oppofition censure the terms of fatisfaction ad-

mitted from Spain. - Supplies. - Session rises.

Page 53

CHAP. Χ.

-

State of the colonies. - Effects of lord North's conciliatory at-

tempt. Striking diversity of fentiment and spirit between

New England and other colonies is not fufficiently regarded

by ministers. Difcontents in England begin to fubfide.

Meeting of parliament. - Petition for exemption from fubfcrib-

ing the Thirty-nine Articles. - Opposed by one class on grounds

of theological principle-by another on political expediency.-

Petition of the diffenters.-Haughton's bill for the relief of

the dissenters is passed the house of commons, but thrown out

by the lords. Clerical nullum tempus bill is rejected.-Law

for restricting the marriage of the royal family. -Arguments

against it-for it-paffed.-East India affairs. - Supplies.

-Seffion rifes.-Death of the princess dowager of Wales.

-Operations between Ruffia and Turkey. - Scheme of Fre-

deric and Catharine for partitioning Poland-offer Auftria

a share-she objects to the inequality of the divifion-ber

fcruples are vanquished by a larger distribution. Dismem-

berment of Poland. -Revolution in Sweden. - State of Den-

mark.-Incapacity of the king. -Character and conduct of the

A 3

P

queen.-Artifices of the queen Dowager.- Struenfee. - Ac-

cufation and arrest of Matilda. Remonftrances of the court

of London.-His Britannic majesty demands and rescues his

fuffering fifter and affords her an asylum in his German

dominions.

Page 86

-

CHAP. ΧΙ.

America, tranquil in the fouth, is turbulent in the north.-

Massachusets disavows the authorities of the British confti-

tution.-Britain. -Mercantile failures of 1772.- Alex-

ander Fordyce. Change of mercantile character.-Influence

of accumulation in India. - Stock-jobbing-fictitious credit-

extravagant adventure without capital.-High estimation

of lord North for financial skill.-Affairs of the India com-

pany-its pecuniary embarressments-conduct of its fervants,

and distresses of the natives-reported to the house of commons by

a committee. The companypropose a scheme for correcting and

reftraining its fervants.-Parliament undertakes the task.-

Company's petition for a loan-granted on certain conditions.

-Company allowed to export tea from Britain duty-free.-

Lord North's plan for the government of India-difcuffed

in parliament-passes into a law. - Inquiry into the conduct

of lord Clive. Diftinguished abilities of Messrs. Thurlow

and Wedderburne shewn against and for lord Clive. The

war with the Caribs.-Increase of half-pay to naval cap-

tains.-Petition of the dissenters-is rejected. -Supplies.-

Reduction of the national debt. -Continental affairs. -Com-

pletion of the dismemberment of Poland. - Violent attacks of

Roman catholic powers on their clergy.-America-tran-

quillity, and flourishing commerce. --Britain-discontent

and licentiousness fubfide.-Increasing trade and prosperity

imputed to the policy of lord North. The minister now

at the zenith of his fame.

-

115

CHAP. ΧΙΙ.

Object of the minifter in his propofition respecting the export of

tea.-Alarm at Boston. - Discovery of the governor's letters to

the English ministry. - News arrivesin Boston, that ships laden

with tea are on their way. -Riots. - Governor's proclamation

is difregarded. Ships arrive at Boston.-A mob throws

the cargo into the sea. Meeting of parliament. King's

message respecting the disturbances at Boston, is discussed in

parliament.-Bill for blocking up the port of Boston. The

punishment of a whole community for the acts of a part, is

defended by ministers. The principle and provisions of the

bill are impugned by oppofition as unjust and unwife.-Pre-

cedents difcuffed.-Oppofition predict, that it will drive the

colonies to confederate revolt. The bill passes into a law.

Mr. Fuller's motion for repealing the duty on tea. Mr.

Burke's celebrated speech on American taxation. Coercive

plan of ministers farther developed. -Bill for changing the

civil government of Massachusets. -Bill for changing the

administration of justice therein. - Quebec bill.-Inquiry into

the state of prisons. Howard. Supplies.-Literary pro-

perty ascertained by a decision of the house of peers.-Seffion

clofes.-Expectations and apprehenfions from the coercive

measures of the legislature.

Page 142

CHAP. XIII.

-

Continental affairs.-Progress and conclufion of the war be-

tween Russia and Turkey-terms of peace-motives of Ca-

tharine.-Poland. - Vierus of Pruffia and Austria. - France.

-Death of Louis XV. -character, tool of his favourites,

he did not difcern the commencing changes of public opinion.-

Promifing beginnings of Louis XVI.-Spain deprives the

inquifition of its most terrible powers. - America. -Effects

of the Boston port bill-ferment through the provinces

communicates to other colonies. Resolutions of the provincial

affemblies-general concert proposed-folemn league and co-

venant.-A generat congrefs meets at Philadelphia-ap-

proves of the conduct of Mafssachusets, and promises support-

declares principles and objects of association. Declaration of

rights-of grievances, and proposed redress.-Petition to the

king.-Address to the people of Britain. - Of Canada. Re-

monstrance to general Gage.-Address to the colonies.-

Meeting breaks up. - General spirit of the colonial proceedings.

-Military preparations. Massachusets Baythe great hinge

of peace and war-contention with the governor-forms a

provincial congress, which affumes the fupreme power.

CHAP. XIV,

Page 182

Impreffion in Britain from the American disputes. Diffolution

of parliament. General election.-Leading characters in

the new parliament-Meeting of parliament-king's

Speech-address-indecision of ministers. Character and

policy of lord North-opinions of his power and effi-.

ciency.-Petitions presented from America, and American

merchants, to parliament and the king-dismissed without a

hearing.-Lord Chatham, though loaded with infirmities,

returns to the house his introductory speech-his plan of

conciliation rejected. - Conquest of America conceived by mi-

nifters to be easy.-Americans afferted to be all cowards.

Mr. Fox's obfervations on the inspiring efficacy of liberty.-

Parliament declares Massachusets Bay to be in a state of re-

bellion.-Meffage from the king, requiring an augmenta-

tion of forces.-Bill for prohibiting the New England

provinces from commerce and fishery. - Lord North's plan

of conciliation-apprehended by courtiers to concede too much,

by oppofition to concede too little. - Mr. Fox opposes its in-

confiftency.-Lord North's policy wavering and irrefolute.

Dexterous retreat to fatisfy the fupporters of coercion. Mr.

Burke's conciliatory plan, on the grounds of expediency-out-