considerable execution. In this critical situation, a bold movement was necessary; and the British general determined to turn the right of the enemy. Fortunately the country accorded with his wishes, and by this movement he was enabled to take the enemy obliquely, and avoid the full front and fire of their works and batteries. In this manner the first line only decided the fortune of the day. Though Hyder, with great dexterity and promptness, formed a new front to receive the British general, and detached a large body of infantry to prevent the second line from obtaining possession of some high grounds, yet at length European order and discipline was victorious over the undisciplined rabble of an eastern camp. Hyder was obliged to retreat, after leaving three thousand of his best troops dead on the field of battle. In the course of the following month the British gained a second victory over Hyder, after fighting from nine in the morning till sun-set, within about sixteen miles of the city of Trepassore. In the mean time the shipping of Hyder Ally was destroyed by Sir Edward Hughes, in his own ports of Callicut and Mangalore. The Dutch also fatally experienced the valour and enterprise of the British forces in that quarter of the globe. Some gentlemen of the factory at Fort Marlborough, in the month of August, undertook an expedition against Sumatra; and all the Dutch settlements on the western coast of that island were reduced without any loss. The town and fortress of Negapatam, in the Taujore country (one of the most valuable of the Dutch settlements on the continent of India), surrendered by capitulation to the English on the twelfth of November, after a siege of twenty-two days. ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DUTCH. THE inactivity of the Dutch has been attributed to the treachery of certain persons, employed in high offices of trust under the States General, secretly in league with the court of London. To harass the trade of Holland, and to protect that of England, a squadron was fitted out at Portsmouth, in the month of June, and the command given to admiral Sir Hyde Parker. The Dutch seemed, at an instant, to awake from their torpid inactivity; and by the middle of July, a considerable fleet was fitted out in the Texel, under the command of admiral Zoutman, who sailed about that period, with a considerable convoy under his protection. The British admiral was then on his return with the convoy from Elsineur. The hostile fleets met and fought on the morning of the fifth of August off the Dogger Bank. The force of the Dutch was seven ships of the line, and ten frigates; and the British squadron consisted only of six ships of the line, and five frigates, but was superior in weight of metal to the Dutch fleet: the firing on both sides was restrained till the ships came within half musket shot of each other; and the action continued with an unceasing fire for three hours and forty minutes, till the vessels on both sides were so shattered that they became unmanageable and unable to form a line to renew the combat. For a considerable time both squadrons lay to in this condition; at length the Dutch, with their convoy, bore away for the Texel; and admiral Parker was in no condition to follow them. The English lost one hundred and four men killed, and three hundred and thirty-nine wounded; the loss of the enemy must have been more considerable. It was attributed to the neglect of the admiralty that the advantages on the part of the English were not greater. It was owing to the remissness of the same department, that the French fleet from Brest, under the count de Guichen, was permitted to form a junction with the Spanish fleet from Cadiz, in the latter end of July. The combined fleets consisted of forty-nine ships of the line, and carried with them ten thousand land forces for the reduction of Minorca. After landing the troops upon that island, the combined fleets returned with the arrogant intention of annihilating, for ever, the naval force of England. The hostile fleets appeared in the British channel before the ministry had any information of their movements; and it was owing to the accidental meeting of a neutral vessel that admiral Darby had time to escape into Torbay with the British fleet. The count de Guichen was for an immediate attack upon the British ships as they lay: a contrary opinion was supported by M. Boussel, an officer of great reputation, who pointed out the danger there would be in attacking admiral Darby, in his present situation, as they could not bear down upon him in a line of battle abreast, but must go down upon the enemy singly. The Spanish admiral, and the major part of the officers of the fleet, coincided with M. Boussel in opinion: besides, the leaky condition of the ships, and the mortality which prevailed among the seamen, were further inducements to refrain from an immediate attack. The combined fleets, after waiting in vain for some time to intercept our homeward bound ships, were obliged, from the hard weather, which set in about September, to return to port as soon as possible. M. Guichen took shelter in Brest; but though the Spanish squadron was scarcely in a condition to reach its destined port, the etiquette of that frivolous court forbade its entrance into a French harbour. In the beginning of December M. de Guichen sailed again from Brest with nineteen ships of the line, and a considerable convoy of merchant-ships. Admiral Kempenfelt was despatched to intercept them with no more than twelve sail of the line. On the twelfth the British admiral encountered the enemy in a hard gale of wind, when both fleet and convoy were considerably dispersed. With much professional skill he cut off twenty of the convoy, and afterwards drew up in a line of battle to face the enemy, when, for the first time, he was apprised of his great inferiority, and was obliged to retreat. The gross neglect of the admiralty excited the discontent of the public when they saw so favourable an opportunity lost of regaining the honour of the British flag. 179 CHAPTER XVIII. Decline of lord North's influence-Session of Parliament-King's Speech-Motion against offensive War with America-Petitions against the War-Misconduct of Admiralty-General Conway's Motion against the War-Dissolution of the Ministry-New Ministry-Popular measures-Affairs of Ireland-Reform bills-Minorca taken-French Fleet in the West Indies defeated by Rodney-Misfortunes of West India Fleet-Bahamas taken by the Spaniards-Defeut of Spaniards at GibraltarNew Administration. DECLINE OF LORD NORTH'S INFLUENCE -KING'S SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT. N OTWITHSTANDING ministers had flattered themselves that they had secured such a majority at the general election as to render their power permanent and irresistible, yet it soon ap. peared that they were mistaken in this opinion, and that of the new members the majority were secretly disposed to favour the whig party. From the moment of the capture of lord Cornwallis all discerning men foresaw the downfal of lord North's administration, and the wavering and venal phalanx in the senate had already begun to make overtures to the leaders of opposition. In the midst of the dissatisfaction and general ill-humour created by the repeated disgraces which had attended the British arms in America, the parliament assembled on the twenty-seventh of November 1781. In the speech from the throne his majesty observed, "that the war was still unhappily prolonged, and that to his great concern, the events of it had been very unfortunate to his army in Virginia, having ended in the total loss of his forces in that province. But he could not consent to sacrifice, either to his own desire of peace or to the temporary ease and relief of his subjects, those essential rights and permanent interests upon which the strength and security of this country must ever principally depend." His majesty declared, "that he retained a firm confidence in the protection of Divine Providence, and a perfect conviction of the justice of his cause;" and he concluded by calling "for the concurrence and support of parliament, and a vigorous, animated, and united exertion of the faculties and resources of his people." had led him to a very different conclusion: and he the motion, such as the impolicy of pointing out to had been protracted, made it necessary to defer One hundred thousand seamen It was however stated by lord George Germaine, and mariners had been already voted by the house. the present situation of affairs, and the misfortunes "that the ministry were of opinion, considering any longer the plan on which it had hitherto been of the war, that it would not be right to continue conducted; and that a fresh army would not be Town. sent to supply the place of that captured at Yorkposts in America as might facilitate and co-operate It was intended only to preserve such with the enterprises of our fleets." General Conway declared himself "anxious for a A motion for an address of thanks, in the usual recall of our fleets and armies from America. Of two style, was made in the house of commons. MOTION AGAINST AMERICAN WAR. Nor discouraged by repeated defeats, the minority on the twelfth of December renewed their opposition to the American war under the form of a specific motion; two of the leading men among the landed interest, Sir James Lowther and Powys, were appointed to introduce the motion. In the beginning of the debate, lord North rose to make a declaration, that it was no longer in the contem. plation of government to prosecute the war internally in America, but that the whole form and conduct of it was to undergo a total change. The motion of opposition however went no farther than to declare, that the war has hitherto been ineffectual to the purposes for which it was undertaken, and that all further attempts to reduce the Americans by force, would be injurious to the interests of the country. In the course of the debate general Burgoyne acknowledged "that he was now convinced the principle of the American war was wrong, though he had not been of that opinion when he engaged in the service. Passion, and prejudice, and interest, were now no more, and reason and observation evils he would choose the least, and submit to the Fox remarked, "that four years ago, after the Pitt reprobated with the utmost force of language, PETITIONS AGAINST THE WAR-MISCON DUCT OF ADMIRALTY. THE approbation of the people to the cause of the minority now appeared in several petitions and remonstrances which were presented against the war. The city of London, on this occasion, led the way in a very strong remonstrance, in which they tell his majesty," Your armies have been captured; your dominions have been lost; and your majesty's faithful subjects have been loaded with a burden of taxes, which, even if our victories had been as splendid, as our defeats have been disgraceful; if our accession of dominion had been as fortunate as the dismemberment of the empire has been cruel and disastrous, could not itself be considered, but as a great and grievous calamity." Several other remonstrances and addresses were brought in from other places; and the speedy dissolution of the ministry appeared evident. 1782. An inquiry into the conduct of the first lord of the admiralty was the first business of parliament after the recess. The accusation was opened on the twenty-third of January 1782, with great address and ability, by Mr. Fox. In support of the motion it was urged that our naval armaments had been always too late to be attended with any success; and that the earl of Sandwich had uniformly neglected to send fleets, at the opening of the several campaigns, to prevent the junction of the French and Spanish squadrons; nor had he, at the conclusion of those campaigns, made any attempts to attack cr to annoy their separate force. The confederate fleets, amounting to sixty sail of the line, under count d'Orvilliers, had appeared in the channel, with every mark of triumph, for two campaigns, not only unresisted but even shunned by our naval armaments. The chevalier de Ternay had also been suffered to proceed unmolested with his ships to America, when he transported thither those French troops which afterwards served under general Washington, and assisted in the capture of Lord Cornwallis and his army. Captain Moutray, and the large fleet of East and West Indiamen under his convoy, had been betrayed into the hands of the enemy, by being directed to repair to Madeira; whereby they were of necessity obliged to proceed in that track which could not fail to conduct them to the naval armaments of the enemy. Indeed, the first lord of the admiralty had acted uniformly as the ally and servant of the house of Bourbon; and so had the rest of his majesty's ministers; without whose aid, the wisdom of a Franklin, the valour and the prudence of a Maurepas, the vigilance of a Sartine, the craft of a de Caistres, the policy of America, and all the vigour and resources of France and Spain, though doubly formidable from their confederacy with Holland, could never have attained the power of overwhelming our once invincible dominions with so much disgrace and calamity. of a court martial, should be recommended by the crown as a proper person to sit in that house." The motion was evaded by the question of adjournment; but lord George Germaine having actually taken his seat in the house under the title of lord viscount Sackville, the marquis of Carmarthen renewed his attack, and urged, "that the house of peers being a court of honour, it behoved them to preserve that honour uncontaminated, and to mark in the most forcible manner their disapprobation of the introduction of a person into that assembly who was stigmatized in the orderly books of every regi ment in the service." Lord Abingdon, who seconded the motion, styled the admission of lord George Germaine to a peerage" an insufferable indignity to that house, and an outrageous insult to the public.-What (said his lordship) has that person done to merit honours superior to his fellow-citizens? His only claim to promotion was, that he had undone his country by executing the plan of that accursed invisible, though efficient cabinet, from whom as he received his or ders, so he had obtained his reward." Lord Sackville, in his own vindication, denied the justice of the sentence passed upon him, and affirmed" that he considered his restoration to the council-board, at a very early period of the present reign, as amounting to a virtual repeal of that iniquitous verdict." The duke of Richmond strongly defended the motion, and said "that he himself was present at the battle of Minden, and was summoned on the trial of Lord George Germaine; and had his deposition been called for, he could have proved that the time lost when the noble viscount delayed to advance, under pretence of receiving contradictory orders, was not less than one hour and a half; that the cavalry were a mile and a quarter only from the scene of action; and it was certainly in his lordship's power, therefore, to have rendered the victory, important as it was, far more brilliant and decisive; and he had little reason to complain of the severity of the sentence passed upon him." Lord Southampton also, who, as aid-de-camp to prince Ferdinand on that memorable day, delivered the message of his serene highness to his lordship, vindicated the equity of the sentence. On the division, nevertheless, it was rejected by a majority of ninety three to twenty eight voices: but to the inexpressible chagrin of lord Sackville, a protest was entered on the journals of the house, declaring his promotion to be "an insult on the memory of the late sovereign, and highly deroga. tory to the dignity of that house." GENERAL CONWAY'S MOTION AGAINST THE WAR-DEFEAT OF MINISTRY. THE appointment of Welbore Ellis to the office of secretary to the American department, in the room of Lord Sackville, and Sir Guy Carleton to that of commander in chief in North America, ocThe culprit was defended by captain John Luttrel, casioned an alarm among those who were persuadlord Mulgrave, and lord North. After some alter-ed, that there still existed a secret and obstinate cation, however, it was agreed, that the inquiry attachment in the court to the prosecution of the should be referred to a committee of the whole war against the Americans. Another attempt, house, on the following Thursday; and this was therefore, was made in the commons, on the twenfollowed by resolutions for certain papers, which ty-second of February, to bind the hands of the exwere necessary to substantiate the criminal charges.ecutive power, by the strong and explicit declaraThe committee of inquiry having been, from various tion of parliament. To this purpose general Concauses, delayed to the seventh of February, Fox on way made a motion," that an address should be that day rose to move a resolution of censure, presented, imploring his majesty, that the war founded on facts contained in the papers which might be no longer pursued for the impracticable. were laid in evidence before the house. Though purpose of reducing the people of America by no charges could be better founded, or more satis- force." The motion was seconded by lord John factorily proved, than those against the first lord Cavendish, and opposed by the new secretary for of the admiralty, the vote of censure was negā- the American department, who declared," that it tived in a very full house by a majority of twenty- was now in contemplation to contract the scale of the war, and to prosecute hostilities by such means as were very dissimilar from the past. In order to obtain peace with America we must vanquish the French; and as in the late war, America had been said to be conquered in Germany, so in this America must be conquered in France. In the present circumstances, the administration were conscious of the necessity of drawing into a narrow compass the operations of the American war, a change of circumstances demanding a corresponding change of measures." The decision of this question was a real triumph to opposition, as the motion was lost only by a single vote; and as a majority of the absent members were supposed to be adverse to the two. LORD GEORGE GERMAINE MADE A PEER. THE creating of lord George Germaine a peer, and consequently calling him to that house which lord Chesterfield has emphatically termed, "The hospital of incurables," was the first happy omen for the country of the mouldering state of the ministry; but before he assumed his new title of lord viscount Sackville, he resigned his office of American secretary. A motion was made by the marquis of Carmarthen (afterwards duke of Leeds), intimating, "that it was derogatory to the honour of the house, that any person, labouring under the heavy censure ministry, it was thought expedient to bring the, question again before the house in a different form. On the twenty-seventh of February, therefore, general Conway, brought forward a new motion to the same effect, which was seconded by lord Althorpe, and petitions from several trading towns were read in disapprobation of the war. In order to evade the question, the attorney-general, Wallace, recommended that a truce should be proposed with America; the intended deception, however, was too obvious to impose upon the house; and, on a division upon his amendment, a majority of nineteen appeared against the ministry. The motion of general Conway was immediately followed by another, for an address to his majesty, to put an end to the war; and it was further resolved, that the address should be presented by the whole house. When the house went up to St. James's with the address, it was observed as a remarkable circumstance, that the noted general Arnold was found standing at the right hand of his majesty. This circumstance drew forth some pointed observations in parliament from lord Surrey, afterwards duke of Norfolk, who declared, "that it was an insult to the house, and deserved its censure." His majesty's answer to the address was in gen eral terms, that he should take such measures as might appear to him most conducive to the restoration of peace. A reference to the prosecution of offensive war was cautiously avoided. The evasive nature of this answer induced general Conway to move another resolution in the commons, declaring," that the house would consider as enemies to his majesty, and to the country, all those who should advise the further prosecution of offensive war on the continent of North America." After a feeble opposition, the motion was permitted to pass without a division. The embarrassment of ministers, and the triumph and exultation which pervaded the whole nation on the success of these inotions, are hardly to be described. The whigs were regarded as the real friends and saviours of their country. The continuance of the ministry in office was, however, thought to be a favourite object with certain persons in high authority; and it had been intimated by ministers themselves, that though par liament had interfered with its advice respecting the American war, still since it had expressed no direct censure on their conduct, they could not be expected to resign. In order to remove this impediment, lord John Cavendish, on the eighth of March, moved a direct vote of censure upon the administration, which was seconded by Powys, in a forcible speech. The debate lasted till two in the morning, when, on a division, there appeared, in favour of administration, a majority of ten. The unpopularity of lord North, however, was now further augmented by his proposal of some new taxes; particularly that on soap, the carriage of goods, and places of public entertainment; all of which were finally rejected by the house. The interval between the eighth and fifteenth was generally supposed to have been employed in various unsuccessful attempts to divide the party in opposition; and as lord North still seemed averse to resign, on the latter day a motion was made by Sir John Rous, and seconded by the younger lord George Cavendish, the design of which was to accelerate a change of administration. After reciting the facts contained in the resolutions moved on the eighth, it was proposed to resolve, "That, on consideration thereof, the house could have no farther confidence in the ministers who had the direction of public affairs." In the debate, the necessity of some new arrangement in the administration of public affairs was no longer denied; but the im policy, and even the danger of throwing the country entirely into the hands of any party, was still strongly contended. A coalition was loudly called for by many moderate and independent members, and the propriety of leaving the noble lord at the head of the treasury in possession of his office, till such a measure could be accomplished, was much insisted on. On the other side it was urged, that the bait of a coalition had been thrown out by the court merely for the purpose of delay, and giving room for intrigue and cabal; and that, in order to secure to the nation the advantages which it was now universally admitted would arise from a total change in the public councils, it was necessary not to re lax, for a moment, the vigorous pursuit of such measures, as could not fail of being speedily crowned with success. Lord North endeavoured to vindicate his own administration. He affirmed, that it could not be declared with truth, by that house, that the loss of the American colonies, or of the West India islands, or our other national calamities, originated from the measures of the present administration. The repeal of the American stamp-act, and the passing of the declaratory law, took place before his entrance into office. As a private member of parlia ment, he gave his vote in favour of both; but, as a minister, he was not responsible for either. The house at length divided upon the question, when there appeared for it two hundred and twentyseven, and against it two hundred and thirty-six; so that there was a majority of nine in favour of administration. He MINISTRY DISSOLVED. NOTWITHSTANDING this seemingly favourable determination, it was so well known that the ministry could not stand their ground, that four days after (March nineteenth) a similar motion to that made by Sir John Rous, was to have been made by the earl of Surrey; but when his lordship was about to rise for that purpose, lord North addressed himself to the speaker, and observed, that as he understood the motion to be made by the noble earl was similar to that made a few days be fore, and the object of which was the removal of the ministers, he had such information to communicate to the house, as must, he conceived, render any such motion now unnecessary. could with authority assure the house, that his majesty had come to a full determination to change his ministers. Indeed, those persons who had for some time conducted the public affairs, were no longer his majesty's ministers. They were not now to be considered as men holding the reins of government, and transacting matters of state, but merely remaining to do their official duty, till other ministers were appointed to take their places. The sooner those new ministers were appointed, his lordship declared, that, in his opinion, the better i would be for the public business, and the genera interests of the nation. He returned thanks to the house for the many instances of favour and indulgence which he had received from them during the course of his administration; and he declared, that he considered himself as responsible, in all senses of the word, for every circumstance of his ministerial conduct, and that he should be ready to answer to his country, whenever he should be called upon for that purpose. Upon this intelligence the motion was withdrawn, and the house adjourned to the Monday following. Thus ended an administration which had plunged the nation into a war, under the pretext of levying a tax which would not have paid for the collection of it; and which refused every offer of accommodation from the revolted colonies short of the most unconditional submission. The venerable Franklin, and the judicious Penn, were equally insulted, with proposals in their hands for the adjustment of the disputed points between the Americans and the mother country. NEW MINISTRY. WHILE the nation at large evinced the most unfeigned joy at the sudden dissolution of this cabal, it was still feared by many, that great difficulty would arise in the formation of a new and efficient administration, on account of the unfortunate division which had long subsisted among the whigs in opposition to the court. Of the two parties, that of lord Rockingham was by far the most numerous and powerful; but, from various causes easily and distinctly ascertainable by attentive observers, the other party, of which since the death of lord Chatham the earl of Shelburne was accounted the head, were in less disfavour with the king; and the highest department of government was upon this occasion expressly offered to that nobleman by his majesty. For, not to descend to subordinate reasons of preference, it is evident that the chief of the inferior party, lord Shelburne, would, from his comparative weakness of connection, have been more immediately and necessarily dependant than his competitor lord Rockingham upon the crown for protection and support. But the noble lord had the generosity and wisdom to resist the tempta- | London, informing him, that his majesty was ready tion; and the marquis of Rockingham, to the uni- to enter into a negotiation, for the purpose of setversal satisfaction of the kingdom, was a second ting on foot a treaty of peace, on the terms and contime, in a manner the most honourable and flatter-ditions of that which was agreed to in 1764, being to his character and feelings, placed at the tween his majesty and the republic of Holland; and head of the treasury; under whom lord John that in order to facilitate such a treaty, he was wilCavendish acted as chancellor of the exchequer ; ling to give immediate orders for a suspension of the earl of Shelburne and Fox were nominated hostilities, if the States-general were disposed to secretaries of state; lord Camden was appointed agree to that measure. But the states of Holland president of the council; the duke of Grafton rein- did not appear inclined to a separate peace; nor, stated as lord privy seal; admiral Keppel, now perhaps, would it have been agreeable to the prin created lord Keppel, placed at the head of the ad- ciples of sound policy, if they had agreed to any miralty; general Conway, of the army; the duke propositions of this kind. However, immediately of Richmond, of the ordnance. The duke of Port- after the change of ministry, negotiations for a gen land succeeded lord Carlisle as lord lieutenant of eral peace were commenced at Paris. Grenville Ireland; Burke was constituted paymaster of the was invested with full powers to treat with all the forces; and colonel Barré, treasurer of the navy. parties at war; and was also directed to propose Lord Thurlow alone, by the unaccountable and un- the independency of the thirteen united provinces merited indulgence of the new ministers, continued of America, in the first instance, instead of making in possession of the great seal. it a condition of a general treaty. Admiral Digby and general Carleton were also directed to acquaint the American congress with the pacific views of the British court, and with the offer that was made to acknowledge the independency of the United States. Previous to their coming into office, the whig ministry stipulated for peace with America, and the acknowledgment of its independence, should it be necessary to that object; a reform in the several branches of the civil list expenditure, upon the plan suggested by Burke; and the diminution of the influence of the crown by excluding contractors from the house of commons, and by disqualifying revenue officers from voting in elections for members of parliament. While these changes were taking place, the Irish began to be dissatisfied with the opposition which the ministry had manifested to what they considered as their natural rights. At a general meeting of the volunteers of the province of Ulster on the fifteenth of February 1782, it was resolved, "That the claim of any body of men, other than the king, lords, and commons of Ireland, to make laws to bind that kingdom, is unconstitutional, illegal, and a grievance; that the powers exercised by the privy councils of both kingdoms, under the colour of Poyning's law, are unconstitutional: and that all restraints imposed upon the trade of Ireland, except by the parliament of that kingdom, are likewise unconstitutional." These resolutions they determined to support by every legal means. AFFAIRS OF IRELAND-EFFORTS FOR PEACE. THE parliament met on the eighth of April; and on the following day Fox presented a message from his majesty to the house of commons, recommending to them to take the affairs of Ireland into consideration. In the Irish house of commons the celebrated orator Grattan moved an address to his majesty, which was unanimously voted, stating, that Ireland was a distinct kingdom, the crown of Ireland an imperial crown; and that no authority except the king, lords, and commons of Ireland, could make laws to bind that nation. It represented the power assumed by the councils of both kingdoms, of altering bills, as an unconstitutional grievance; and insisted upon a mutiny bill, limited in duration, as essential to the liberty of the nation. Justice and policy seconding the views of Ireland, the obnoxious acts of parliament were immediately repealed; by which the whole powers of govern ment were vested solely in the king, lords, and commons of Ireland; the controlling power of the English parliament, and the practice of altering the hills in the privy council, were renounced for ever. The parliament of Ireland in return for these concessions immediately voted one hundred thou sand pounds for the purpose of raising twenty thou. sand seamen for the public service. At the same time fifty thousand pounds was voted to Henry Grattan, esquire, for his services. war. Whilst measures were thus happily pursuing for restoring order and tranquillity in the sister kingdom, the new ministry were no less anxiously intent on effectuating a general peace with the differ. ent foreign powers with whom the nation was at No time was lost in pursuit of this great object, or in taking the necessary steps for its attain ment. Accordingly, the empress of Russia having offered her mediation, in order to restore peace be tween Great Britain and Holland, secretary Fox, within two days after his entrance into office, wrote a letter to Mons. Simolin, the Russian minister in REFORM BILLS. THE British parliament prosecuted with vigour the plans of reformation and economy, which had been recommended by the new ministry. The bills for excluding contractors from seats in the house of commons, and incapacitating revenue officers from voting at elections for members of parliament, were passed with a feeble opposition from lord Mansfield and the chancellor, the latter declaring it to be a " puny regulation, only calculated to deceive and betray the people." Every good patriot will indeed agree with the noble lord in the truth of the assertion, that it was a "puny," that is, an inefficient "regulation," but on very different principles. Burke's bill for the reforma of the civil list expendi ture was introduced with augmented splendour, but diminished utility. By this bill, which now passed the house with little difficulty, the board of trade, and the board of works, with the great wardrobe, were abolished; together with the office of American secretary of state, now rendered useless by the loss of the American colonies; the offices of treasurer of the chamber, cofferer of the household, the lords of police in Scotland, the paymaster of the pensions, the master of the harriers, the master of the stag-hounds, and six clerks of the board of green cloth. Provision also was made to enable his majesty to borrow a sum for the liquidation of a new arrear of three hundred thousand pounds, by a tax on salaries and pensions; for a debt to this amount had been again contracted by the shameful prodigality of the late ministers, notwithstanding the addition of one hundred thousand pounds per annum, so recently made to the civil list. The economical abolitions and retrenchments of the reform bill met with a violent opposition in the upper house, from the lords Thurlow and Loughborough, but it finally passed by a great majority. A bill sent up from the commons, for disfranchising certain voters of the borough of Cricklade, who had been proved guilty of the most shameful and scandalous acts of bribery, was also impeded and embarrassed in all its stages by the same law lords, with every possible subtilty of legal quibble and chicanery. The duke of Richmond was upon this occasion provoked to charge the chancellor with indiscriminately opposing every measure of regulation and improvement which was laid before the house. And lord Fortescue, with unguarded but honest warmth, remarked, "that what he had long feared was at length come to pass; from the profusion of lawyers introduced into that house, it was no longer a house of lords, it was converted into a mere court of law, where all the solid and honourable principles of truth and justice were sacrificed to the low and miserable chicanery used in Westminster Hall. That once venerable, dignified, and august assembly, now resembled more a meeting of pettifoggers than a house of parliament. With respect to the learned lord on the woolsack, who had now for some years presided in that house, he seemed to be fraught with nothing but contradic tions and distinctions and law subtilties. As to himself," lord Fortescue with a noble pride added, "he had not attended a minister's levee, till very lately, for these forty years; and the present ministry he |